What to pack for a vacation in Orlando Florida

The Ultimate Guide in what to pack for your holiday to Orlando Florida with Checklist

A question we always get asked is: What to pack for a holiday/vacation to Orlando Florida? We set out to answer this question for you. One of the top sun vacation destination hot spots on the East coast of the United States is of course the state of Florida. Known as the sunshine state for its year-round sunny weather with average highs of 28℃ / 82℉ in its hottest month July and average lows of 16℃ / 61℉ in its coldest month being January. We have compiled a list of things you will need to pack for your vacation in sunny Orlando Florida to maximize your fun. We have tried to make it an easy process for you with our easy-to-follow checklists guide.

Our number one top tip for packing for your Orlando Florida vacation is to pack lite but bring all of your essential must haves. Orlando is known for its amazing shopping malls and discounted designer shopping outlets. From our experience, bringing too much with you will only lead to cramming your suitcase at the end of your trip, or even purchasing a new suitcase for all the new items you have purchased, we’ve all been there right! So we will kick off our list of essential travel items and must haves.

sitting on crammed packed suitcase as it is too full

Orlando vacation must pack checklist

Here is a list of suggested items that are essential for traveling, some of the items on our checklist are updated for the current situation we find ourselves in 2021. We hope you get some value from our checklists and they help you towards preparation for a fantastic vacation.

Valid ID
Passport / Passport Card / Driving License (some are mandatory for international travel).
Resevation Tickets
Be sure to check what is required beforehand to avoid any delays and make it a seamless experience, some hotels / airlines / car hire require physical printouts of reservation information, some may even have a handy mobile app to save on all that paper.
Travel Insurance
It is always a wise choice to purchase travel insurance. Just in case a flight or accommodation for your dream holiday gets cancelled. You also never know if any unexpected health issues arise while on vacation. Health services in the U.S can be very expensive so make sure you are covered.
Money
Make sure you have your budget made out in advance and have the correct currency especially if your traveling from oversees. Handy tip would be to use a prepaid top up credit card that has a cheap or even free currency conversion options to pay in the local currency which is USD to save some money. One example would be Revolut.
Cell Phone
Don’t forget chargers or any local voltage converters if visiting from oversees U.S voltage is 110V – 120V.
Medications
Please don’t forget any specific medication you may need to take with you on your vacation and bring enough of a supply with you in case you get delayed by a few days.
Sat Nav
If you plan on hired car rental while in Orlando Florida, you should consider bringing your own sat nav. These can be costly at the car rental desk, so having your own can save you a lot of money.
Small backpack / Day bag
Within my larger suitcase or carry-on baggage, I like to pack a smaller backpack to take on excursions. I place it in my larger suitcase empty so it’s easier to fit in and I use it for shopping days, days at theme parks, or days at the beach. This bag also gets double usage. As I’ve brought it on vacation empty I can always use it as extra storage for when I’m heading back home if I have over shopped.

Unfortunate must haves today!

Face Mask
Hand sanitizers
Face shield / Gloves (both optional)

Pack these items if traveling by plane checklist

Carry-on baggage
You will need a carry-on bag to bring the following items on the plane with you. If you can get away with traveling lite and just take a carry-on bag, we highly recommended it. You can most definitely buy a larger suitcase in Orlando and fill it with your new shopping items.
Something warm to wear
Traveling aboard a plane is always freezing cold. A lot of travelers dress for the beach before they have even taken off at the airport. Aircraft can often be quite cold, my top tip, bring a hoodie!
Travel Pillow
Unless your traveling in business or first class, a comfy neck pillow is highly recommended to make your flight a more enjoyable experience.
Noise cancelling headphone / ear plugs
When traveling by plane, one of my pet hates is the noise of other passengers, if you like a peaceful flight, you’ve got to get yourself a pair of noise-canceling headphones. They’ll drown out the noise of the engines and any little kiddos making noise, even if they’re your own.
Travel blanket
Sometimes aircraft are not fully booked and you can take a center row of free seats if allowed by the cabin crew. If you get this opportunity take it! That travel blanket will have you comfy in no time at all.
Eye mask
The days are gone when airlines handed out free eye masks. A good tip is to buy your own, if you like to get a bit of shut eye before you land in sunny Orlando.
Travel socks
When you travel by air and sitting for too long your feet will swell. So it is a good idea to get up and walk around every now and then to keep the circulation moving around your body. Kick your shoes off and use a pair of comfy travel socks.
Travel toothbrush and toothpaste
Always a good idea to bring a disposable or travel toothbrush and toothpaste to freshen up before landing.
Hand sanitizer / wet wipes
Especially today it is good to carry a small hand sanitizer with you r to keep your hands clean. Wet wipes are also a great way to keep fresh during the flight.
Book / Magazine / Newspaper
Depending on how up to date you are with your movies, sometimes inflight entertainment can be a little dated. Always a good idea to bring a backup. A good book or magazine should keep you busy for a couple hours of your flight.

Staying safe in the sun on vacation checklist

Packing sunscreen for your vacation in Orlando Florida

Sunscreen
It may seem obvious but many people forget to pack it. This is not such a big issue if you do forget or even decide to buy it while on vacation as often drug store in the U.S can be cheaper for products like sunscreen.
After sun cream
We have all been there! There is nothing worse than getting sunburned. So please don’t forget the previous item above, however there is no harm in carrying after sun in case you over do it a little.
Moisturiser
Even if you have used sun cream, it is always a good idea to moisturize your skin afterwards. Its also handy against peeling if you have over done it also.
Sun Hat
With the Florida heat beating down on you it is important to keep the direct heat off your head. Wear head protection of some sort, a cap, sun hat, or bandana should do the trick and help stop you from overheating.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are also a necessity in the sunshine to help protect your eyes. It’s always a good excuse to go shopping for a new pair while on vacation.

What clothes to pack when going on vacation to Orlando Florida checklist

What clothes to pack for vacation in Florida

Comfortable walking shoes / trainers
Most likely on your vacation you will visit a theme park or two. I can not stress enough how important it is to be wearing a nice comfortable pair of walking shoes. A day at a theme park is a great day out but with long hours of walking endlessly. There are very limited seating areas at theme parks, they are built to keep people moving from ride to ride. So definitely bring comfortable shoes.
T-shirts
The thing I love most when heading on vacation to Orlando Florida is just being able to dress casually.
Shorts
As previously mentioned above, that feeling of freedom of wearing a t-shirt and shorts everyday and feeling the warm sunny Florida heat on your skin is something that you just can’t beat. Pack those shorts folks, it’s so hot you’ll need them.
Swimsuit
This is an absolute essential item not to forget on your list of clothes to pack for your vacation. Most hotels in Orlando have swimming pools and there are a number of water parks to visit also. This item is a must for beach days!
Flip Flops
Kick off those shoes and sneakers / trainers, whatever you call them! Put on some flip flops and enjoy the summer vibe. Don’t forget to pack your flip flops.
Hat
This item of clothing makes it onto a couple of our lists and it’s an important one. Wear a hat folks the Floridian sun can be extremely hot. Whether its lounging by the pool, out walking on one of the fabulous beaches, or strolling around one of the many theme parks. Wear a sun hat, baseball cap, bandana, they’re great for keeping you cool.
Hoodie or Fleece
Depending on what time of year you travel to Orlando, the weather can warrant wearing something warm in the evenings. In the summer you’ll be just fine Florida’s balmy weather should keep you nice and warm but in the winter the temperatures can get low at night.
Evening wear
You should vacation like you want to, and if that means going casual for the whole time that’s great. However there are some amazing fine dining options to try in Orlando. The nightlife also has many options to try out, so evening wear could be a good choice to pack. The relaxed atmosphere means you can try both ends of the scale if you wish.
Rain Poncho / coat
It can rain occasionally in Orlando and when it does wow, lets just say you don’t want to get caught in a rain storm. A good idea is to pack a foldable rain coat for long days out to the beach or theme park. Make sure to check the local forecast beforehand and if there is any chance of rain then at least you are prepared.

What to pack for day trip to the theme parks checklist

Comfortable shoes
As mentioned on a previous list comfortable shoes are a must for theme parks. Waiting in line and walking nonstop for 12-15 hours straight takes its toll on your legs and feet. Wearing comfortable shoes can lesson the effects of a day at the theme parks.
Camera
So you’ve paid a fortune to get into a theme park for the day, that’s awesome! Now you want to make the most of the fun and capture every moment. Mobile phones are great nowadays and have super high definition camera aboard. Whether its your phone of your action camera, don’t forget to pack in for your day trip to the theme park. Also packing extra batteries or a portable charger for your phone is a great way to extent their life on the day.
Enough money
Theme parks are know to be on the expensive side. If you’re planning on eating at some of the restaurants they have inside the parks make sure to budget enough money for this as they can be more expensive than regular restaurants. You may also want to budget for souvenirs and keepsakes to remember your day.
Comfortable clothes
Plan on wearing loose comfortable clothes when heading to the theme parks, to maximize your day and to keep cool while you are buzzing around enjoying the attractions.
Hat
Here it is again folks. Always a good idea to pack a baseball cap, hat, bandana etc. when heading to the parks for the day.
Rain coat
Check those weather forecasts folks and don’t forget to pack your rain poncho. They will keep you dry if there is a chance of rain, so it won’t spoil your day.
Fanny pack / money belt
A top tip for the theme parks is to pack a fanny pack or money belt. If you plan on riding roller coasters on your day trip it is a great idea to have some storage space. These types of bags provide space for your sunglasses, wallet, or loose change which may fall out when doing 360 degree barrel rolls at 70 MPH.
Packed lunch
if you are on a budget and would rather save a few dollars. Packing a lunch and taking it to the park with you is a great money saving trick. Just remember certain sizes of liquid containers may not be permitted at the park entry gates. So be sure to check out the rules and guidelines before going.
Theme park mobile app
Our final tip is not really something to pack but more download to your mobile phone. Most theme parks nowadays have mobile applications to help you enjoy your experience. Some park apps contain maps, ride waiting times, special discounts, plus many more cool stuff to look up while you’re there. So check on the theme parks website before you go to learn if they have an app to download.

What to pack for heading to water parks checklist

going down the slide at volcano bay water park orlando florida

Swimsuit
Imagine rocking up to a water park and forgetting your swimsuit! Well it happens more than you think. This can be an expensive blunder, swimwear can be expensive if you have to purchase something at the park. A trip back to your hotel can also be another waste of time and you wind up missing valued time at the park. Tick this item of your checklist first. Better still wear your swim costume under your clothes on the way to the park, that’s what I do. Just don’t forget to bring your under garments to change into after your day at the park. Otherwise it’ll be a wet seat for your trip back to your hotel.
Towel / Beach towel
There are facilities to rent towels at water parks in Orlando. However to save a considerable amount of money its a good tip to bring your own.
Sunscreen
As previously mentioned, a really important item not to forget to pack for your day trip to a water park.
Flip flops / Water shoes
Flip flops are an essential item at a water park, you want your feet free to feel the sun and water on your toes while splashing around. Another option that is highly recommended are water shoes, these shoes are meant to be worn in the water. They are made of a hard sole but have soft outer spandex material that allows water to flow through them when worn. They can be great for protecting your feet and are comfortable to wear while walking around the water park.
Cash / credit cards
Water parks, just like theme parks are expensive. The cost of water park food is generally more expensive then at normal restaurants so make sure you budget for this. Storage locker rental, towel rental, dining and beverages all cost money so be sure to budget enough and to check out the water park website for more information.
Action camera
Water parks are awesome fun! Spending the day slashing around, going down slides, relaxing on the lazy river all make for an amazing day. Don’t forget to pack your action camera to take some awesome footage! Selfie sticks at most theme parks are not permitted so check your water park rules and guidelines for more information about them.

What to pack for a day trip to the beach near Orlando Florida checklist

Swimsuit
Well, this has got to be your number one right? You’d be surprised how many people forget their swimming costumes when heading to the beach. I personally like to wear shorts already before I leave, so I’m ready to hit the water right away.
Beach bag / backpack
It is a great idea to pack a smaller bag or backpack for day excursions as I’ve mentioned in a previous list. Especially for these next items you plan to take to the beach, especially to keep them dry, safe, and to keep sand off of them.
Beach towel
Beach sun loungers can be expensive to rent, so a cheaper option is to just bring your own beach towel and sit on the sand. If you are a beach lover, a great investment to make is a good quality large sized beach towel. Smaller foldable quick drying microfiber towels can be great for using just to dry yourself off from the sea water.
Foldable camp chair
If your not a sit on the sand type of person and prefer to have some sort of seating for the beach. Foldable camp chairs are all the rage and some even come with cup holders and pouches to store items. They’re inexpensive and can be purchased while on vacation in most large stores like Walmart or Target.
Camera
Some of the beaches near Orlando Florida are breath taking and can provide spectacular photo opportunities. Palm tree lined beach fronts, white sandy beaches and turquoise water can provide some amazing holiday scenes for family pictures.
Cooler box
Cooler boxes are a great option to keep you picnic food and beverages nice and fresh for your day at the beach. These can be purchased locally in most larger drug stores like Walgreens or CVS, or larger stores like Target or Walmart. If the beach will feature prominently on your vacation it’s definitely worth purchasing one. Top tip, if your hotel accommodation has an Ice machine, you can top off you new cooler box with fresh Ice before you head out to the beach for the day.
Sunscreen
Don’t forget your sunscreen guys! Once again an obvious one but it can be a major pain if you have traveled across state to a beach just to find out you need to go buy sunscreen.

We hope you have liked some of our checklists of what to pack for your vacation to Orlando Florida. If you feel we have left anything out from your experience please drop us a line on social media and let us know what to add to make our list even better. Please feel free to share this on social media with someone you know maybe heading to Orlando Florida on vacation and could use the help of one of these lists.

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1 reply

Jesse says:
April 1, 2021 at 1:52 pm

Thanks for compiling this list, it’s a great resource. J
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