Disney World park rules cover everything from the size of your backpack and stroller to costumes, outside food, cameras, smoking and items you can’t bring through security. Most everyday park gear is allowed, but a handful of restrictions can catch you off guard if you don’t check them before packing.
I find the easiest way to approach Disney’s rules is to separate the things that actually affect a normal park day from the much longer list of regulations you probably won’t encounter. Below are the ones I’d check before heading to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom.
Disney can change its property rules, so for anything unusual I also recommend checking the official Walt Disney World Resort Property Rules before your trip.
Disney World Park Rules That Matter Before You Enter
| Rule | What Disney currently allows |
|---|---|
| Bags | Up to 24″ x 15″ x 18″ in theme parks and water parks |
| Outside food | Yes, with restrictions on glass, alcohol, heating and refrigeration |
| Water bottles | Yes, including metal and plastic bottles; glass is generally prohibited |
| Strollers | Maximum 31″ wide x 52″ long |
| Wagons | Not allowed in theme parks or water parks |
| Adult costumes | Generally prohibited for guests age 14+ |
| Selfie sticks | Not allowed |
| Smoking and vaping | Only in designated outdoor smoking areas |
| Pets | Not allowed in the parks except qualifying service animals |
What You Can Bring Into Disney World
Normal backpacks, purses, diaper bags, camera bags and small coolers can come into the Disney World theme parks.
The important number is 24 inches long by 15 inches wide by 18 inches high. Disney prohibits suitcases, bags, coolers and backpacks larger than those dimensions in its theme parks and water parks.
The rule applies whether or not the bag has wheels, so a wheeled bag isn’t automatically banned simply because it rolls.
Disney doesn’t require transparent bags either. If you want the complete dimensions, security information and ride-storage details, see my Disney World bag policy.
Outside Food Is Allowed, but Not Everything Can Come In
You can bring food and nonalcoholic drinks into Disney World for your own consumption.
Disney’s current rule says outside food can’t be in glass containers and shouldn’t require heating, reheating, processing, refrigeration or temperature control. Food with strong odors is also restricted.
If you’re bringing a cooler, loose ice and dry ice aren’t permitted. Disney recommends reusable ice packs instead.
I go into the food-specific restrictions in my Disney World outside food policy.
Water Bottles Are Fine; Glass Is the Problem
Reusable water bottles are allowed at Disney World, including normal plastic and metal bottles. You can also bring a bottle that’s already filled with a permitted nonalcoholic drink.
Glass containers are generally prohibited, apart from limited exceptions such as small baby-food jars.
Disney also has bottle-filling stations throughout the resort. My Disney World water bottle policy covers those locations and bottle rules separately.
Disney’s Stroller and Wagon Rules Are Very Specific
If you’re traveling with young kids, measure an unusually large stroller before bringing it.
Disney currently limits strollers to 31 inches wide by 52 inches long.
Stroller wagons and traditional wagons are prohibited in Disney World theme parks and water parks.
That’s an important distinction because a large stroller can still be allowed if it stays within the dimensions, while something Disney classifies as a wagon or stroller wagon isn’t permitted regardless of whether you’re using it to transport children.
See my Disney World stroller policy and Disney World wagon policy if you’re deciding what to bring.
Selfie Sticks Are Banned, but Small Tripods Can Be Allowed
Disney doesn’t ban personal cameras, but it does restrict some camera equipment.
Selfie sticks and handheld extension poles for cameras or phones aren’t allowed in the theme parks or water parks.
Tripods and monopods are treated differently. They’re permitted as long as they can fit inside a standard backpack and don’t extend over 6 feet.
Drones and remote-control recreational devices are prohibited.
If you’re bringing more substantial photography gear, my Disney World camera policy explains the difference between personal photography, camera accessories and Disney’s prohibition on unapproved commercial filming.
Smoking and Vaping Aren’t Allowed Inside the Theme Parks
Walt Disney World’s theme parks, water parks and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex are smoke-free.
Smoking tobacco, e-cigarettes or other products that create smoke or vapor is permitted only in designated outdoor smoking areas.
That means you shouldn’t expect to find a smoking section halfway through Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. Check Disney’s current map for the nearest designated area.
My Disney World smoking policy and Disney World vape policy cover those rules in more detail.
Weapons, Toy Weapons and Self-Defense Devices Are Prohibited
Disney prohibits firearms, ammunition, knives and weapons of any kind.
The list goes further than actual firearms. Objects or toys that appear to be firearms or weapons are prohibited, as are self-defense devices such as pepper spray and mace.
Fireworks and similar explosive or flammable objects are also on Disney’s prohibited-items list.
The Costume Rule Changes at Age 14
Guests age 14 and older generally can’t wear costumes inside Disney World’s theme parks or water parks during a normal visit.
Younger children can wear costumes, subject to Disney’s other safety and mask restrictions. Special events can have their own costume policies.
Disney also requires proper attire, including shoes and shirts, and prohibits clothing that drags on the ground. Clothing Disney considers inappropriate or disruptive can result in refusal of admission or removal.
I keep the two subjects separate in my Disney World costume policy and broader Disney World dress policy.
Kids Have Two Important Age Rules
Disney’s general supervision rule uses two ages that are easy to confuse.
Guests under age 14 must be accompanied by someone age 14 or older to enter a theme park or water park.
There’s then a separate ride rule: children under age 7 must be accompanied by someone age 14 or older to board an attraction.
This doesn’t mean an accompanying person always needs to be an adult age 18+. My Disney World chaperone policy explains the age rule with examples.
Pets Can’t Come Into the Parks
Ordinary pets and companion animals aren’t allowed inside the Disney World theme parks.
Disney has separate rules for qualifying service animals, and certain designated Disney Resort hotels allow pets under their own hotel policies.
If you’re traveling with an animal, use my Disney World dog policy for pet-friendly hotel information or my Disney World service dog policy if you’re visiting with a trained service animal.
Animal Kingdom Has Two Extra Restrictions
Two items that are perfectly ordinary elsewhere deserve special attention at Animal Kingdom.
Balloons aren’t permitted at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and plastic straws aren’t permitted there either. Disney applies similar restrictions at its water parks and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
These restrictions exist separately from the resort-wide prohibited-items list, so don’t assume something allowed at Magic Kingdom will automatically be allowed everywhere else.
Disney Also Has Rules About Guest Behavior
The property rules aren’t only about what you pack.
Disney tells guests not to use profanity or engage in unsafe, illegal, disruptive or offensive behavior. Its rules also specifically prohibit jumping lines or saving places in lines for other people.
Unauthorized access to backstage or Cast Member-only areas is prohibited, as are unauthorized commercial activity and photography, filming or recording for unapproved commercial purposes.
Ride Rules Depend on the Attraction
I would not rely on a single list of supposedly universal Disney World ride rules. Attraction requirements vary.
Some attractions have minimum height requirements, health advisories, transfer requirements or restrictions on photography and recording. Others don’t.
Follow the posted restrictions and Cast Member instructions for the specific attraction you’re entering. Disney’s broader property rules state that access to attractions depends on each attraction’s safety rules.
Security Can Screen Bags and Personal Items
Disney states that people, bags, parcels, clothing and other belongings may be subject to screening or security checks.
The resort uses security-screening technology, bag checks and other measures, but Disney intentionally doesn’t publish every detail of its security procedures.
For me, the best approach is simply to check unusual items before leaving the hotel rather than hoping security will make an exception at the entrance.
The rules most likely to affect an ordinary Disney World visit are the bag-size limit, food and glass restrictions, stroller dimensions, wagon ban, selfie-stick ban, costume age rule and restrictions on smoking and vaping. If something you’re bringing falls outside normal park-day gear, check Disney’s current official property rules before you leave.
