There’s a very specific kind of chaos that happens at TSA with five young kids, seven water bottles, five Nintendo Switches, and a line of impatient travelers behind you. I know this chaos personally. I live this chaos. After years of flying to Disney World and other places with my crew — ages 12, 11, 10, 9, 6, and occasionally my adult daughter — I’ve finally gotten our airport routine down to a real system, and honestly, so have my kids. They deserve a shoutout here, because they’re total rockstars.
There are times I’m flying solo through security with all five of them while my fiancé, Mark, handles returning our rental car. And every time, those kids know exactly what to do. They take the initiative without me even asking. On our last trip, my bag got flagged for an extra check, and I turned around expecting to manage five kids and a delay at once. Instead, I found them already working together like an assembly line, pulling our scanned items off the belt and clearing them out of the way. We were flying out of a small airport, and between the seven of us, our luggage took up the entire belt from one end to the other.
This isn’t a theoretical packing list. Every item below has survived real security lines, real gate-boarding scrambles, and real “why is there a granola bar in my hood” moments. If you’re planning a Disney trip with kids in tow, here’s exactly what’s in our bags, and why.
Quick heads up: this post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you shop through them — at absolutely no extra cost to you. Think of it as pixie dust for my blog.
Setting Expectations Before You Even Reach the Airport
Before we ever step foot in security, I sit my kids down and walk them through exactly what’s going to happen: bags on the belt, water bottles out, electronics out. I also remind them that water bottles go in one security bin and electronics go in a separate bin. Kids handle chaos so much better when they know what’s coming. A two-minute conversation at home saves you ten minutes of confusion at the checkpoint.
The Water Bottle Trick That Speeds Up Security
Here’s a small thing that makes a big difference: I just use one of my reusable Aldi shopping bags to hold all of our empty water bottles. Everyone dumps their bottle in before we get to the checkpoint, and instead of five kids fumbling with five bottles, the TSA agent gets one bag, one scan, done. It’s a small change that keeps the whole family moving instead of holding up the line behind you. These reusable grocery bags are a great option too, and they double as a laundry bag for each kid, keeping your room neat and tidy.
The MVP of Our Travel Gear: A Luggage Organizer for Every Kid
If I had to pick one item that’s changed our airport game the most, it’s the luggage organizer that slips onto each kid’s suitcase. Here’s how we use it:
- Before TSA, it holds their water bottle, snacks, and whatever device they want on the plane (usually a Switch).
- At the checkpoint, it comes off in seconds so they can send it through the scanner separately.
- After security, everything goes right back on and they’re ready to roll.
I actually bought this exact one (on the blue luggage) for my kids but purchased a pricier version for myself (the one on the pink luggage) — and I’m embarrassed to admit theirs is better. Mine has Velcro in the middle to secure it to the handle, which sounds nice in theory, but it makes it a pain to remove quickly at security. It also has two separate drink holders, so if I want to put something larger in, like a book, I don’t have that option. The kids’ version simply slips over their handle and has a center bungee instead, which you can cinch down for a smaller coffee cup or take out entirely to fit bigger items. It’s simpler, more flexible, and honestly does the job better. I’ll be swapping mine out for good.
Give Every Kid Their Own Portable Charger
We learned this lesson the hard way. When only the grown-ups have portable chargers, every kid suddenly needs to borrow one at the exact same moment. Now, everyone has their own portable charger with the cord already built in. No hunting for a cord, no losing a cord, and it plugs straight into the wall without extra cubes or cables.
Speaking of cords — we’ve also had a cord get tangled in a kid’s rolling suitcase wheels while boarding, with a full line of passengers behind us. Not a fun experience. Built-in cords solve that problem before it starts.
Wireless Earbuds Beat Headphones, Every Time
For our kids, wireless earbuds win over headphones every single time. They’re smaller, they tuck easily into a luggage organizer or pocket, and — this is the big one — there’s no cord. If you’ve traveled with young kids, you already know they pull absolutely everything out of their bags while waiting to board. The fewer cords involved, the fewer tangles and snags you’ll deal with while you’re trying to keep track of everyone’s stuff.
The Personal Item Bag Built for Budget Airlines
Flying with five kids means we fly discount airlines, and that means we watch our bag count closely to avoid pricey baggage fees. I tried more “budget airline approved” bags than I’d like to admit. Some claimed to be the right size, but weren’t even close. Then I finally found a bag built specifically to match free personal item dimensions called take-off luggage. Pop the wheels off, and it fits the exact size allowed as a free personal item.
Before this bag, I was the one hauling my bag plus half the kids’ bags through the airport, and my back paid for it. Now, the kids wheel their own bags down the aisle themselves. That alone makes it worth it.
Individual Toothbrushes and Toothpaste for Every Kid
My kids are all particular about their toothpaste, so I keep each kid’s own travel toothbrush and toothpaste packed in their take-off bag. It’s a small thing, but it keeps everyone set with what they actually like.
For the toothbrushes, I use these inexpensive toothbrush holders — they have air holes so the brush can actually drain and dry out instead of sitting in a sealed case and growing mold. For toothpaste, we use these individual travel-size tubes, so each kid gets their own without anyone having to share.
Snacks and Meals: Keep It Cold and Keep It Organized
If you’re packing food for the parks, a few things make it so much easier:
- Refillable ice packs go through TSA without issue, and at around $10, they’re cheap enough to pixie dust to another family before you head home if you don’t want to pack them back up.
- This backpack cooler has been part of our packing list for over five years. It’s held up through countless trips, and I even wear it biking on rail trails when we’re not at Disney. It’s got a chest clip for support, paper plate storage, and a built-in whistle and bottle opener — it’s just a well-thought-out bag.
- These reusable meal containers have worked great for us. We pack two in each of our carry-on bags for park lunches and dinners.
Airplane Tray Table Organizer (Adding This for Next Trip)
This one didn’t make it onto our last trip, but it’s officially on the list for next time. On our last trip, I noticed our kids’ stuff ended up everywhere — under the seat, on the seat, on their laps, stuffed into the pocket of my hoodie. It was disorganized, and honestly, a little stressful to keep track of. That got me on the hunt for better storage options while in flight.
This tray table organizer is designed to hold snacks, a water bottle, and entertainment right at their seat during the flight. The best part: kids can move items straight from their luggage organizer into the tray organizer and back again, and the whole thing folds flat to store in the luggage organizer when they’re done.
Beat the Florida Heat
If you’ve never felt Florida heat in the middle of summer, let me save you the surprise: you will sweat. Not drip — flow. A neck fan or cooling towel will earn its spot in your bag fast once that 100-degree heat hits.
Choosing the Right Stroller
If you’re traveling with a little one, stroller choice matters more than you’d think. We use this compact, umbrella-style stroller with its own carrying bag, and it’s become our go-to for a few reasons:
- It works great on buses.
- If you’re worried about theft on rides, you can just fold it up and take it with you instead of leaving it in the stroller parking area.
- It fits easily in an overhead bin, which makes it airline-friendly.
- It carries like a purse when folded.
We previously used the Baby Jogger City Mini GT, and while it folds easily, nothing beats being able to sling a stroller over your shoulder and walk away with it.
A quick note on strollers at the parks: First, Disney cast members will move your stroller to the designated stroller parking area if you didn’t already park it in the correct spot, and they also shuffle strollers around within that parking area to make room for others. That’s why you can come out of a ride and find your stroller in a completely different spot than where you left it — yes, this has happened to us. Second, there’s actual stroller theft, which is rare, but it does happen. Either way, it’s worth thinking through ahead of time.
As for accessories — you’ve probably seen the TikToks with fully decked-out stroller setups: attachments, cooler bags, handle caddies, the works. I’ve done that before, and honestly, it’s just more things to keep track of while you’re navigating crowds, boarding buses, and watching your kids. These days I lean minimalist. The less I have to manage, the more hands and attention I have free for the actual kids.
Teaching Kids to Budget with Spending Money
If you’re giving your kids spending money for souvenirs, gift cards are a great tool. Having a physical card with a set amount helps kids track what they’re spending, learn to budget, and actually appreciate what these souvenirs cost instead of treating it like a bottomless well.
Rain Gear That Won’t Weigh You Down
I’ve tried reusable rain ponchos, and honestly, I don’t want to be hauling around seven-plus soggy ponchos once the rain passes — plus they tend to get everything else wet in the process. Disposable rain ponchos do the job just fine without the extra baggage (literally).
Don’t Forget: Two Pairs of Sneakers
Pack two pairs of sneakers per person. If it rains — and in Florida, it might — you’ll want dry shoes ready to go for the next day.
Refillable Water Bottles Are a Must
Every quick service restaurant in the parks will give you free ice water, but even with free refills everywhere, it’s still smart to keep a full water bottle with you while you’re waiting in those long Disney lines. I keep mine in my Big Hero 6 Loungefly bag, and I use an Owala water bottle — it’s simple, has minimal components, and is easy to clean.
What Am I Missing?
That’s our current Disney packing list, built from years of trial, error, and more than a few “lesson learned” moments. Is there something you swear by that we haven’t tried yet? I’d genuinely love to hear it.
