Shortcut to Sunshine Travel

Whether you pack for vacation days (or weeks… or months!) in advance, or you throw things in a suitcase at the very last minute, packing for a theme park vacation can be a little different than packing for other types of vacations. While the basics may be the same (make sure to pack your underwear!), some items are unique to this type of trip. Here are my top five recommendations for items that you might not think to pack, along with a free printable Universal Orlando packing list that you can download and share.

1. A reusable water bottle

Tumblers and water bottles have gotten to be quite trendy – and they’re of course way more environmentally friendly than single-use bottles – but they somehow tend to be an item that gets left at home when embarking on a theme park vacation. There are lots of reasons for this, of course. They can be clunky to carry around and challenging to refill at drinking fountains, for starters. Luckily, in recent years Universal Orlando has been at the cutting edge of making it easy for you to stay hydrated. Go ahead and pack your favorite water bottle, because Coca-Cola Freestyle machines can be found all throughout the theme parks and onsite resorts. You absolutely can purchase refillable mugs if you’d like to enjoy all of the sodas and other drinks available, you can also choose to simply fill any cup, mug, or bottle with ice water for free.

Bonus: Universal Orlando is now also selling fantastic water bottle slings that are a perfect fit for the Owala 19 and 24 ounce FreeSip bottles. And the FreeSips are leak-proof and fit easily on their sides in the free lockers that you’ll find near any ride that doesn’t allow loose items. (I promise Owala isn’t paying me! I’ve just had such great experiences traveling with their water bottles that they’re my go-to recommendation!) See me rocking my Owala in a Universal Orlando water bottle sling in the photo above!

2. Collapsible metal straws

In another environmentally-friendly move, Universal Orlando has made the switch to paper straws. Yay for turtles, but not so much yay for the sodas, milkshakes, and other libations you might want to enjoy on your vacation. If mushy paper straws aren’t your jam, consider bringing along reusable, collapsible straws for each member of your travel party. You can find lots of options on Amazon.com, including some that come with carrying cases and cleaning brushes.

3. Travel ponchos

The weather in Orlando can be, well, fickle. Blazing heat one minute can be replaced by a torrential downpour the next. Universal Orlando does sell their branded ponchos – which are quite nice quality – for a fair price. If you are caught unprepared, most merchandise locations are well-stocked with ponchos. But if you’d prefer to not shell out for brand new heavy-duty ponchos for everyone (especially once you’re already soaked!), this is one of those situations where, as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Grab a bunch of individually-wrapped travel ponchos from Amazon or your local dollar store, and have each person in your party throw one in their park bag. Yes, they’re flimsy, but they do the trick in a pinch and can save you time and money and sanity when it suddenly pours!

4. Cooling towels and mini rechargeable fans

Speaking of fickle weather, central Florida can get HOT. Average temperatures in Orlando are above 90º in the summer months, and the humidity can be oppressive. Some of Universal Orlando’s shows and queues are outdoors, and you’ll do a fair amount of walking outside throughout the day. If you don’t love the sweltering heat, you may want to bring cooling towels or fans to help you stay as cool as possible.

While all cooling towels tend to work the same way (get them wet – and some people even put them in the fridge or freezer for a while! – and then wear them around your neck or shoulders), you’ll find a bit more variety in mini fan options. Handheld fans that spray water can be purchased in the parks, and similar varieties can be found on Amazon or in big box stores before your vacation. Smaller options include some that can be worn on a lanyard, and others that sit on a frame perched around your neck, with one or two little fans blowing straight at your face. Whichever option you choose, these little gadgets can save the day when the heat gets oppressive.

5. Double-sided lanyard pouches

Many Universal Orlando visitors choose to wear a lanyard to hold their park tickets, room keys, and other essentials. Universal sells dozens of styles (and I often like to select a new lanyard at the beginning of each vacation as a souvenir that is also useful throughout the trip), and you can also find endless options on sites like Amazon and Etsy. Here’s the kicker: the lanyard pouches sold at Universal, and many of the pouches that come with other lanyards – if they come with a pouch at all – are one-sided. That is, they have a decorative backing on one side of the pouch, leaving just one transparent side available.

On a typical Universal Orlando vacation, you’ll want to be able to access your park ticket AND your room key (and also perhaps an Express Pass, or a Universal Photos card…) without having to take them out of the lanyard pouch. Packing a double-sided transparent lanyard pouch (which you can find easily on Amazon) is the perfect solution. Put your park ticket facing out on one side, and your room key facing out on the other side. This way both cards can be scanned through the clear plastic without having to be removed from the pouch. (Universal actually used to sell double-sided clear pouches, but they no longer do. If you don’t bring one with you, you’re out of luck.)

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All of these items are always included when I pack for a Universal Orlando vacation. For more packing ideas, you can download and print this handy Universal Orlando packing list! Please feel free to share, and to ask any questions you might have about packing for your upcoming vacation!