Last week I wrote about packing for the ever-changing Disney weather – and I hope that advice was helpful to you as you plan for your next trip to Walt Disney World! When it comes to packing for Disney, I have a LOT of experience – and I have some seemingly random items that you will want to pack to help make your trip go more smoothly.

Read on for my Top 5 Random But Necessary Must-Pack Items for Disney World:

Bags – LOTS Of Them: I’m talking plastic bags here – shopping bags, and Ziploc baggies in assorted sizes too. They come in handy for a LOT of things – keeping your valuables safe during rain or wet rides is a big one, and they can also store half eaten snacks, or hang on to those pressed pennies, or keep your Disney pins and backings in one place. There are so many uses for bags while at Disney that you just need to trust me on this and make sure you bring some along to the Parks

Conditioner: Yes, the WDW Resorts provide toiletries – some of them have combined shampoo/conditioners and others have separate bottles of each, but I personally like to bring my own. Why? Well – mostly because the water in Florida tends to make my hair really dry and brittle – between the showers and the pool, Disney is not kind to my hair. So I like to bring my own conditioner from home so I can make sure I am not dealing with a tangled hot mess of hair on vacation. Good idea to have the kiddos use some too – since de-tangling a little one’s hair can be painful for both parent AND child!

Empty Water Bottles: I toss a few of these into my checked luggage (I keep them empty so they don’t weigh down the bag, plus no liquid = no chance that they can explode in the suitcase!) and I fill them with water/ice each morning before I head off to the Parks. Of course there are water fountains at WDW, or you can purchase (expensive) bottled water – but I prefer bringing my own, makes things a lot easier, and helps us all stay hydrated when that Florida sun comes out to shine!

Gum: Little known fact – they do not sell gum at ALL on WDW property – which may seem strange, but it makes sense when you see how clean they keep the Parks. They don’t want messy sticky gum everywhere, and who can blame them? If you’re big on gum, stock up and bring it along with you (it’s especially helpful to keep your ears from popping when on an airplane!)

A Portable Medicine Cabinet: Most people think to bring their daily prescriptions and vitamins/supplements, but what about other medications you might need while away? You can purchase some over the counter items at the Park stores, but they are expensive, and generally come in very small quantities, so should you find yourself with a migraine at the Magic Kingdom, it might cost a pretty penny for enough Excedrin to get you through the day and evening. Tylenol, ibuprofen, band aids/Neosporin, Tums/Pepto Bismol, Nyquil, DayQuil, and Sudafed – those are all things that I like to bring along with me “just in case”

I deem these items “necessary” not because you can’t get them while at WDW, but because bringing them from home has made mine and my family’s life much easier on several occasions. Toting along these little random “comforts of home” helps ensure I have the happiest vacation ever!