There are some things that’ll truly SHOCK you about Disney World.
Sure, you might find some surprising wait times, secret spots, and hidden menu items, but on top of all of that are some important Disney World rules that you may have NEVER realized existed. So today we’re covering some of the things that you might not know are actually BANNED in Disney World!
1 — Loose Ice
Did you know that loose ice is not allowed in suitcases, bags, coolers, or backpacks at Disney World? So, if you were planning to bring a little cooler with you to the parks to carry around some drinks or snacks and wanted to keep them cold by filling it up with loose ice from the hotel’s ice machine, DON’T!
Disney’s rules specifically note that “Suitcases, bags, coolers or backpacks, with or without wheels, larger than 24″ long x 15″ wide x 18″ high (61 cm x 38 cm x 46 cm) are not allowed in any theme park or water park. Loose or dry ice is not permitted in these containers.”
Instead of using loose or dry ice, Disney recommends that you use reusable ice packs. You can find a variety of these in stores near you and online. For example, the ice pack below comes in a pack of 4 and is available on Amazon.
Plan to get something like this, stick it in your hotel fridge or surround it with ice from the ice machine from the hotel, and then place the ice pack in your bag/cooler for the day.
Check out the ice packs here
2 — Wagons
Wagons can be popular items to use for your kiddos when going to the park, the zoo, or many other places. But wagons are NOT allowed in Disney World!
Disney’s rules state, “Wagons are prohibited at any theme park, water park, or Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. Wagons are prohibited at indoor venues at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.” Additionally, they note, “Stroller wagons are…prohibited.”
If you still want to bring a way to wheel your kiddos around, you can bring a regular stroller (not a wagon), just be sure that it fits Disney’s specifications. Strollers that are greater than 31″ (79 cm) in width and 52″ (132 cm) in length are prohibited, so you’ll want to measure yours carefully and make sure that it fits within those regulations.
Click here for the BEST strollers to take to Disney World
3 — Folding Chairs
Picture it — you’ve got a prime viewing spot along Main Street, U.S.A. for the Magic Kingdom parade — Festival of Fantasy. But there’s just one problem — you didn’t manage to get an actual bench or seat. You’d love to just sit back and rest in a way that’s a little comfier. So you just whip out your folding chair and set it up, right? WRONG.
Disney’s rules clearly state, “Folding chairs are not allowed in any theme park, water park, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser or Disney Springs.”
So you’ll need to leave those folding chairs at home! There are some benches or other seating options you can find in Magic Kingdom if a chair is a must-have for you during the parade.
And if you want to pair a meal with your experience, consider booking a reservation for Tony’s Town Square restaurant around the parade time and specifically request a table out on the patio. The food here might not be the best in Magic Kingdom, but the views can be pretty great.
Tony's Town Square Restaurant
Services: Table Service
If all you need is a chance to rest your feet during your long day walking around the parks, know that a folding chair is NOT an option, but you should definitely make time to sit on a park bench, in an air-conditioned attraction, or other location with seats to be able to get that needed rest.
Click here to learn about the BEST place to Relax in Disney World
4 — Whistles
Being at Disney World can be exciting and if you’ve got a large group of family members or friends going with you to celebrate a special occasion, you might have considered bringing horns, whistles, or other noise makers to the parks. Maybe you imagined using them after a surprise proposal takes place or while taking bachelorette party photos. No matter what the occasion though, those items will NOT be allowed in Disney World.
Disney’s rules list “Horns, whistles, large megaphones or artificial noise makers” as prohibited items.
Now, you might find a rare toy that features a whistle component — like this train whistle themed to Mickey & Minnie’s Runway Railway — but that’s a different story.
If you want to show off that you’re celebrating something special, you can do things like clap when the big moment happens (just be mindful of where you are in the park and others around you). You can also opt for things like FREE celebration buttons to really tell the world that it’s a special day!
Stop by Guest Relations locations or ask other Cast Members if they have any of the celebration buttons available so you can mark the occasion.
Click here to see 17 things you can still get for FREE in Disney World!
5 — Selfie Sticks and Some Tripods Too
Finally, we’ve GOT to talk about those selfie sticks. You might be using them all around your town to record your exciting outings, take epic family photos, and more. But, “Selfie sticks, hand-held extension poles for cameras or mobile devices, flags and banners are not allowed in any theme park, water park or Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.”
Certain tripods also aren’t allowed. Disney specifies “Tripods or monopod stands that cannot fit inside a standard backpack or that extend over 6’ (182 cm) are not allowed in theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser or ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.”
So if you were thinking of bringing a tripod instead of a selfie stick, be sure that it falls well within Disney’s standards.
But wait…there’s MORE! Here are a few other things you may have NEVER realized aren’t allowed in Disney World:
- Glass Containers — Disney’s rules state, “Glass containers (excluding small containers such as baby food jars)” are prohibited, “except in the Disney Resort hotels and Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.”
- Disney has some very specific rules regarding costumes for adults and when they can or can’t be worn — read more about that here
- Shoes with built-in wheels — On their list of prohibited items, Disney includes “skateboards, scooters, inline skates or shoes with built-in wheels” — so leave the roller skate shoes at home!
- Balloons in some places — Balloons are not allowed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, water parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Kidani Village and Jambo House)
- Plastic straws in some places — Plastic straws aren’t allowed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, water parks or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Kidani Village and Jambo House) — Bring your own reusable straws instead!
And that’s a look at some of the surprising things you may have never realized are BANNED from Disney World. Of course, this is not a complete list of all banned items. To see more about things that aren’t allowed in the parks, click here or view Disney’s full set of rules here. Before packing for the day, make sure you take out any of those prohibited items and leave them either at home or in your car/hotel.
For more Disney World tips, click here to see the unspoken rules about Disney World bathrooms and check out some things we were surprised were FREE in Disney World.
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So much for bringing my vuvuzela.
I walk the parks regilularly for exercise. I see wagons with children in them from time to time. I see selfie sticks. As well.
As recently as 09.03.2023 at EPCOT.