This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MagicalFamilyFirsts #CollectiveBias

Usually a rule of thumb with diaper bags is to be overly prepared, but when packing a diaper bag for a day at Disney World it's a fine line between being prepared and not over-packing.  The last thing you want to do is lugging a large and heavy bag around your Magical vacation.  We've had the pleasure of experiencing a Disney World Vacation a handful of times; we have family in the general area which makes it easy to tie it in.  I first took my older boys when Jack was 2+ years and Calvin was 5 months - my cousin was getting married in the area but we had fun exploring the magic pre-wedding.  I remember Jack wanting to ride the merry-go-round and Dumbo the flying elephant over and over..  We've since been back a few times, including Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (which was my favorite), and we are looking forward to taking Baby W. at some point soon. Here's my take on packing a diaper bag for Disney World:

While the right bag certainly depends on your needs and the size and ages of your crew, an ideal bag for Walt Disney World is one that is really lightweight, easy to carry (I highly recommend the backpack option), big enough to fit your stuff but not too big that you can't take it with you on rides, and one that is well organized. 

Keep in mind your needs will vary depending on the size of your clan and your kiddos ages, but here is a general idea of what I recommend bringing in your baby bag, of course in addition to your wallet and smart phone:
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1. Huggies Diapers - little movers are our current favorites, they are great for our wiggly/squirmy and almost on the move Baby W., made with Leak Lock® (with up to 12 hour protection) they would be ideal for a long day at Disney.  BJ's Wholesale Club is a great place to stock up on Huggies.

2. Huggies Wipes - in an easy to open travel size container.  Wipes are absolutely essential at Disney for everything from sticky hands, to messy faces, and of course for diaper changes.

3. Changing pad - ideal one that is light and compact

4. Wet-bag/or Ziploc bag - it's pretty much inevitable that at some point during a day at Disney your little one will get messy or wet

5. Change of clothes for baby - I usually store the change of clothes inside the wet-bag to save space

6. Sippy cup or water bottle to refill - bring a lightweight and reusable cup you can refill for your little one

7. Bottle & formula - if you are bottle feeding at all, these are obviously essential.  Powder formula in a small container or single serve packets work great.

8. Lightweight muslin blanket - These are great and serve so many purposes including a nursing cover, shade,

9. Small first aid kit with thermometer and fever relief- this is optional as the baby care center surely has these available but I like to keep these on me

10. Pacifier - I like the ones that have a cover that that you can keep on it until you need it

11. Baby food/snacks - single serve snacks and baby food in squeeze pouches are usually the easiest to pack and most sanitary.

12. Burp cloth/Bib - I like the lightweight ones that double as both

13. Hand sanitizer- obviously essential

14. Small toys - ones that clip on to the stroller are great to prevent getting dirty or lost

15, Sunscreen and hat - because it's Florida and the sun is bound to come out

16. Ponchos for the family - because it will either rain or you'll go on wet rides

17. Table toppers - not a necessity, but I like to throw them in my bag so we are ready to dine out.  It makes meals and clean up so much easier especially for the stage Baby W is at.

18. Energizing snacks for parents - always good to throw in an energy bar or a single serve packet of trail-mix so us parents can keep up with our eager kiddos.

18. Baby carrier- I like to have a baby carrier with me, I usually either pack a sling in my bag or stick a soft structured carrier at the bottom of the stroller.

19. Small stroller fan/stroller rain cover- obviously not for the bag, but helpful to toss in the bottom of the stroller

Give yourself time to pack wisely and efficiently.  Some things I always try to do- pack the change of clean clothes inside the wet-bag until you need them keeping them dry and saving space, fill the baby bottles with water ahead of time, and if you're using powder formula put it in a smaller and easy to open and close container.

1. Take a break - When traveling with little guys, taking a break in your Disney day is a good idea.  Enjoy a few hours in the park and then go take a rest, a swim, or have a meal; not only will you feel refreshed, but you won't need to pack quite as much in your diaper bag.

2. Stay close by - When vacationing at Disney, staying near the parks where transportation is provided is really convenient.  The three Disney resorts on the Monorail are most ideal with strollers, though we like the Wilderness Lodge.  Staying on "on property" in a Disney Resort also will provide you with a MagicBand which is SO convenient.  The MagicBand will act as your room key, park pass, and form of payment for food and merchandise (among other features).

3. Locate the baby care centers ahead of time - there is a baby care center in every Disney park.  Be sure to find them on your map.  These centers are air conditioned, quiet and provide a great respite.  They are equipped with nursing rooms with rocking chairs, changing tables, an oven, sink, microwave, high chairs, and in case you forget anything - they sell all baby essentials including formula, diapers, baby food etc.

BJ’s and Huggies® are all about family firsts, including one family’s chance to experience the magical firsts of Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida. Every Huggies® purchase gets you another chance to win a 4-Day, 3-Night Walt Disney World® Experience! So cool!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.  All opinions are mine alone. #MomsHelper #CollectiveBias


We just came back from my brother-in-law's wedding on Monhegan, a small island off mid-coast Maine.  Our trip involved an hour car ride, some rushing around, and an hour ferry ride.  Not too bad, but still a good reminder that packing a smart diaper bag when traveling with a little one is essential; here's a look at how I packed:

The right bag will be different for everyone.  I am usually traveling with three kids in tow, so I always choose a bag that is big enough, easy to carry (back pack option is a plus), lightweight, and has lots of pockets. 

Everyone's list will look a little different depending on their baby's age, preferences and needs, but this is a basic checklist that's a good place to start.  While I'm still nursing baby W a bit, it's nice to have bottles as an option, especially with all the wedding activities and having my mom with us to babysit. The Playtex Baby™ Nurser® with Drop-Ins® Liners  are a great bottle option as they are closer to breastfeeding, simulating the same suck with the NaturaLatch® Nipple; these bottles make it easy to go back and forth, which works for us. 

I tend to have a packing spot in my room where I can pile it all up.  It's always a good idea to to start this process a few days in advance to gauge what you still need.

Hopefully you've left yourself enough time to go out and grab whatever else you need. I find Target to be a great spot for one stop shopping for baby, they have everything I need from diapers to medicine, and the Playtex bottles, and so much more.

Be a smart packer; give yourself plenty of time to pack wisely and efficiently.  Some things I always try to do- pack the change of clean clothes inside the wet-bag until you need them keeping them dry and saving space, fill the baby bottles with water ahead of time, if you're using powder formula put it in a smaller and easy to open and close container, and try to bring new toys to keep baby entertained.

There's a lot involved with traveling with babies, but I assure you, we've done it many times and are most always glad we did.  Forget aiming for perfection, best to set expectations low and laugh often- don't forget in all the craziness to to take pictures and have fun!

Thanks as always for stopping by!  Happy Travels! 

After brunch we drove 1.5hrs over to Orlando spending our last 2 days immersed in Disney.  The boys were over the moon!  I wouldn't say my husband is dying to get back to the magic, but we all had fun and watching them was indeed magical.  We stayed at the Wilderness lodge which deserves a post of it's own.  If you're planning to "do Disney" staying on property is really the best; so convenient and really a continuation of the magic.  We really loved the Wilderness Lodge and will surely be back.  The boat service to Magic Kingdom, The Contemporary, and Fort Wilderness is fantastic, it's easy, and relaxing after the craziness of the park.  The hotel itself is super clean, well themed and appointed, great restaurants, and friendly staff.  Some of our favorite things included the Whispering Canyon Cafe, family movies on the beach every night at 8pm, the volcano and outdoor theme, and of course the pool and awesome splash pad.  Feel free to email me or comment below if you want to chat more about our stay. 

We packed a lot in spending time at both Magic Kingdom as well as Animal Kingdom. No matter how many cool rides we go on though the boys always love the Disney Railroad, and of course the Monorail :-)

Relax- seriously, take a deep breathe and remember to laugh and enjoy the adventure.

Don't worry what about what others are thinking- Yes, easier said then done, but don't focus too much on what other people are thinking, you have enough to think about. 

Ask for help if you need it- when I'm flying solo with the kids this is especially important, but never be afraid to ask for help from the flight crew, gate agent, or using a porter etc. 

Novelty will buy you time- I always go to the toy store and load up on NEW games, activities, and little toys (Not expensive just new and fun.. i.e. a new deck of go-fish cards, new stickers, a new wind up toy, a Melissa & Doug activity book etc)..  I'll pull one thing out at a time to buy us as much time as possible.  Now that my boys are getting older they bring little back packs, and I always stash a few things in there as a surprise.

Pack plenty of favorite snacks- I always pack plenty of everyone's favorite snacks, individual ziploc bags are great.  Food is always a big help (I'm not above bribery) and frankly when you're traveling you don't always know when you're next meal will be. 

Car seat for the win for the little guys- We've tried all possible methods, and bringing the car seat on the plane when they're little guys has worked best for us.  The car seat comes with us and doesn't need to take a beating below, and a squirmy little guy is secure and usually sleeping. 

If there is ever a time to embrace technology, this is it-  Everyone has their own opinions/approach, but I'm OK with technology helping us through plane rides and layovers.  Loading the device ahead of time with appropriate new games/movies is a lifesaver.

Take advantage of family lines- They have lines for families and pre-boarding for a reason, so take advantage of it!  I know some people feel the opposite and like to wait as long as possible to get on the plane, but for me, it's always worked best to get on before the masses if possible and get situated. 

Plane your travel times wisely- If you can help it, take your time mapping out your trip and planning your travel times.  If you're traveling in the car, it's usually helpful to travel when you're little ones are tired and likely to fall asleep.  Air travel totally depends are your child.. i.e. my kids do really well with morning flights and don't do well traveling in the evening when they are tired and cranky. 

Baby/toddler wearing is a lifesaver- Really, I can't tell you how helpful our carriers have been through the years!  Especially helpful coming on and off the plane!

Have drinks available for take off and landing- If you traveling on an airplane, remember to offer something to suck on during take off and landing.  For wee ones, nursing or taking a bottle or pacifier will be SO helpful to combat the pressure and clear their ears, and even the older ones find sucking on a water bottle or straw helpful. 

No matter how old your toddlers are, pack a change of clothes- Regardless if they are 100% potty trained or not, bring a change of clothes for all your kiddos, accidents and spills happening when you are traveling.  I try to pack outfits that are lightweight and easy to fold... i.e. wind pants etc.. 

Go-Go Babyz Travelmate 
With a young toddler, the safe and easiest (imo) to ride on an airplane is in their car seat.  A travel cart is definitely the easiest way to get schlep the seat around airport. 

Diono Radian RXT
While it's a heavy seat, the slim profile and straight back makes it a great seat to use on the plane.  We'll strap it onto the cart, but note this seat also folds and can be carried with backpack straps. 

Honest Company Hand Sanitizer
No denying that traveling means facing lots of germs! In general, I'm not a germ freak, but I feel a lot better carrying these in my bag. 

NeatCheeks
I love these! Messy faces are inevitable, and these wipes are the best. A natural and easy was to keep your favorite faces clean. 

Honest Company Diapers & Travel Wipes
I'm a big fan of honest company diapers and wipes, but I especially love the convenience of the individual packs of travel wipes; they're perfect for traveling!

Skip Hop Zoo Backpack
Now that my boys are older they love to have their own bag for traveling.  These backpacks are a perfect size for traveling. 

Pipsqueak Kids Travel Kit
These are great, and even better they're Maine made.  Such a fun and convenient way for each of my boys to bring a pad of paper and crayons. 

Melissa & Doug Water Wow & Other Fun Travel Activities 
I always stock up on fun new activities, hiding them until the day of the trip to keep the novelty etc.  Melissa & Doug has some great activities. 

Shrunks Tuckaire Toddler Bed
I love this bed, and I tuck it in my suitcase for my almost 3 year old.  He's a climber and out of a crib, but does too much rolling for a hotel bed.  He also loves this little bed; we bring our own crib sheet (which fits this bed great) and he loves the comfort of the familiarity etc. 

Swim Zip Rash Guard & Swim Trunks
If you're going somewhere warm, check out Swim Zip.  I'm a huge fan of their swimwear.

Honest Company Sunscreen
If you're going vacationing in the sun, sunscreen is essential.  We've tried many many brands, and and honest is definitely a favorite, especially love that its not insanely sticky. 


What are your favorite travel tips?? Would love to hear them and any of your go-to items to pack!  Thanks as always for stopping by!!

If you've been reading along you know that we recently returned from a family vacation in the Florida Keys.  We had so much fun in the sun (literally it was sunny and beautiful every day)!  We felt so lucky to be able to just hang out together and be warm!  Based on recommendations from family, we stayed at the Hawks Cay Resort which is a great spot in the middle of the keys at mile marker 61.  Check out my full review of the resort below.