I have mentioned it before, but we always have a day bag when we go on the Disney Cruise. It has everything that we would need for the day at the pool minus the diaper bag essentials as I do bring that too and consider it a separate bag. Because on the cruise we have easy access to food and drinks we tend not to overpack and I end up bringing THIS small Vera Bradley weekender (similar: I think mine is smaller as I bought it at the Outlet). It is super compact yet holds everything we could need as well as a change of clothes for after the pool (Sean and myself are normally in our swimsuits).
Because you are separated from your luggage for an undisclosed amount of time, having a day bag allows you to immediately start having fun without the FOMO of I should have brought swimmies for the kids (I learned this during our first cruise) especially if the weather is beautiful and the Bloody Mary (extra spicy) is calling your name.
If you are staying on resort property or any hotel where you might want to enjoy the pool, I suggest also having a day bag separate from your diaper or regular bag ready to go. As Marriott Rewards members we do have the option of checking in early, but it is never so early as when we get there. We typically wake the kids up around 730am (the Commodore is normally getting up at this time anyway), we pack the car, give the kids breakfast and head out. It is only a 3.5 hour drive so we are typically there before noon. Traditionally, we will just drop off our luggage and head into the park, but this go around we decided to enjoy the resort a little more. We are staying at the Dolphin again and when we were there in February for EV’s birthday, it was a smidge cool, so the pool was out.
As I write this in typical Florida fashion, it is monsooning outside and the weather channel’s prediction for next week is more rain so if anyone can do a little prayer to their weather gods, I would appreciate it.
This go around, we thought we would check in, grab the day bag, check everything else in with valet and just head to the pool. Because our day is a little bit different (and by ‘different’ I plan to stow away a couple of basic girl Pineapple White Claws for some libations by the pool) I suprisingly needed a bigger tote than what I would take on the cruise (above). Not included for the cruise, but were needed for this trip were a couple of Tervis tumblers (for said libations), snacks, drink thermos’ for the kids, we have two small shovels and buckets that they had gotten with their lunch the last time we were at Dinoland in Animal Kingdom. We had gotten them new swimsuits for this trip and because EV’s top is more on trend with her age then the bottom (she is super small), swimsuits can fit her kind of funny (the Commodore is the same), I have two swimsuits for each kiddo (I actually have more packed in their actual suitcase, since I am kind of extra) so I can get some cute pictures, but if they need something that fits a little better, they have it. Is this necessary?! Of course not! Also Sean and I’s suits are packed in the bag as well which we would normally have on for the cruise, so having a bigger tote much to my packing dismay, was necessary.
First and this will be no big suprise, but I have a swim bag. This will be particularly necessary since they will have wet swimsuits that they will more than likely want to take off after the pool bananza. I put some of our “pool accessories” in this just to keep organized. As mentioned, all of our swim bags come from the Bullseye Playground at Target although I did get a really cute Bikini Bag from Primark, but I know not everyone is privvy to one of these stores. Within the swim bag I have water protectors for our phones, I recently bought THIS one as a lightning deal on Amazon and I love it. Both the regular Samsung Galaxy (not the Note) and the Iphone can fit into THESE. I absolutely loved this one and was totally bummed when I got a bigger phone and it could no longer fit in it. Your phone can be completely submerged and nothing will happen to it and the touchscreen is still easy to use. It is absolute perfection for travel or just using with the kids at the pool. I also keep their swimmies in here as well. The Commodore is not potty-trained and it has been an interesting go-around with EV so having extra on hand is paramount.
I also tend to get new sunnies for the kids as a fun treat that they can open up when we get to the pool (the Bullseye section has kids ones for $1)
I normally would have their sunscreen in here as well, but I just put those in the front bag pocket…as per usual, Sun Bum for the win. Commodore has been prone lately to getting heat rash on his neck so having the After Sun lotion on hand has become a staple.
I traditionally wait until ShopDisney has there Twice Yearly Annual Sale and that is when I scope out and scoop up all the bathing suits and pajamas for the kids. You get amazing deals and since free shipping starts at $75 (for real though…what is with this), I can stock up and get to free shipping as well. During the last sale (it may be still going on), I scored the Anna costume swimsuit (strangely, my girl is NOT a Frozen fan, but she does love herself some Anna) amongst a couple other swimsuits that were positively adorable and fit EV so well.
I did splurge and buy THIS Desert Warrior (Rey inspired) swimsuit from Only Little Once Designs, because there is nothing else like it and it was worth the price considering we live in Florida and are in the water A LOT!
I also purchased the Mulan one and just to give you an idea of the fit (see below). Her swimsuits are bar none and so unique to anything else that is out there. I absolutely adore that she did something more vintage inspired with the one-piece romper.
For Commodore I bought a Baby Yoda (still not Grogu) rashguard. I didn’t love the swim trunks and I was able to snag an equally cute pair at Target for $9. I really do not care that they do not match. Cat & Jack run insanely big, so I tend to purchase his swimsuits at either Carters or Primark (ugh I know I know, but it is insanely inexpensive for trademarked character outfits and swimwear) and they fit a lot better and for the price if I love it I can also buy the next size up as well. I am not sure he will wear it as he hates anything on his head, but I did get him a swim hat since is the fairer of the kiddos and gets red a lot easier than either myself or EV. I like that it fits him well and isn’t big so it shouldn’t be too much of a nuisance since it doesn’t move around and plus, it can get wet, so if he throws it off his head into the water, I am not worried about it being destroyed. I did pack a small Ahsoka baseball hat for EV, but she is not a big hat wearer either and she really doesn’t burn, so I am not that concerned with it.
Have you seen a cuter rashguard?! He is going to HATE the hood!
The other swimmies and rashguard are Carter’s
I am a lover of all things vintage especially when it comes to swimwear so it should be no surprise that mine looks like it came from the 40’s and looks like an actual dress. I love this for the cruise since I do not feel silly going from the pool into one of the dining rooms wearing this or a pair of sun pants over it. It is perfect for the Disney pools for the exact same reason. I packed both a pair of swim cover pants as well as EV and I’s matching coverup because…duh…matching Disney coverups…need I have more of an explanation…
Notice the Baby Yoda Tervis Tumblers…are they not the cutest!? Perfect size for libations by the pool
Commodore is that kid that if EV is wearing something he wants it too, so since I got her mermaid water shoes, I scooped up the Buzz Lightyear flip flops. I say scooped up, but I am almost positive that those are EV’s and that she never wore them.
The Mickey and Minnie coverups I think are supposed to be tank dresses, but they are extremely cute and light enough to be worn at the pool. However, I also packed my Lilly pants which are gauzy and even lighter if needed.
Also, The roll-up sun visor hat you see above are THE best. I bought THIS one off of Amazon and I rarely go outside without it (I spray my hair with Sun Bum’s heat protectant for hair first since the top is open). I absolutely love it and it is perfect being able to roll it up, throw it in the bag and not have to worry about it being destroyed. I cannot even tell you (no matter how cute they were in pictures with there monogrammed sayings) how annoying it was carrying both EV and I’s sunhat onto the cruise ship because the stroller was already full of stuff that we didn’t want to check in (and I wouldn’t have put it underneath anyway to get smooshed). I am so excited to have these visors for the ship when the time comes. The one pictured above I purchased at Primark the same day I got the bikini bag (have I said I am sorry yet….wait until you get the apology tour for the Mickey bags I am going to show you).
Notice perfect amount of sun coverage and chic-ness
I love THIS tote (again similar as I buy mine from the Outlet and I think it is a retired style like the one above, but I do love the pocket at the bottom for shoes, etc., and you know how I hate my shoes touching my clothes) as it has pockets all around the interior and I put all the small things into them so they are not floating around the bag (swim shoes, shovels, goggle, etc) as well as the Tervis Tumblers so that they do not hit into something and crack. Not pictured but added later were the two small green sand buckets.
My fingers are crossed for good weather as the Weather Channel right now is ruining all my I just packed a day bag vibes.
Again, is a Day Bag something you need? No. But is it useful to just hand off your luggage and keys to the valet and take said bag to the pool without wondering if you forgot something or running back to get said thing? Or trying to get two kids to not run around said valet area and stay close to the parentals as you make sure everything that you need is taken out of the car? Heck yeah!
