Travel Day Kit for Kids Heading to Disney & Universal
Headphones, Tablet Mounts & Quiet Activities for the Flight or Drive
The trip starts long before the first ride. A few small, inexpensive things make the flight or drive to Orlando calmer for everyone.
Skip the airport-gift-shop scramble. These are the travel day picks that keep kids comfortable and busy from the driveway to the hotel.
Our #1 Favorite Pick
iClever HS19 Wired Kids Headphones
Volume-limited, kid-sized headphones that plug into tablets and most seatback screens.
Adult earbuds fall out of small ears every five minutes. These stay put.
Why you need it:
- Volume limit helps protect young ears
- Wired, so there’s no battery to die mid-flight
- Built-in share port lets a sibling plug in a second pair
Why this works in the parks:
- Doubles as a quiet-down tool during hotel rest breaks
- Folds small enough for a park bag
- Cheap enough that a lost pair isn’t a crisis
The first thing we’d pack for any flight with kids.
Get it on Amazon →Best Wireless Upgrade
iClever BTH12 Kids Bluetooth Headphones
No cord to tangle in a car seat buckle, with a cable included for screens that need one.
For the kid who wraps every cord around the armrest.
Why you need it:
- Wireless for tablets, wired with the cable for seatback screens
- Volume-limited like our top pick
- Long battery life between charges
Why this works in the parks:
- No cord to snag on long car rides
- Charges with USB-C, the same as most new phones
- Some parents report pairing hiccups — charge and pair at home first
Worth the extra few dollars for long road trips.
View on Amazon →Splurge Pick
JBL Tune 510BT Bluetooth Headphones
Full-size wireless headphones with better sound and a battery that lasts the whole trip.
These are the ones we bought for our boys, and they’ve been worth it.
Why you need it:
- Noticeably better sound than kids’ headphones
- Long battery life with quick charging
- Folds flat and grows with your kids
Why this works in the parks:
- Easily outlasts a long travel day
- Bluetooth only — no cord for seatback screens
- Not volume-limited, so set a volume limit on the tablet
A luxury, but one kids use long after the trip.
Get it on Amazon →Protect the Splurge
LTGEM Hard Case for JBL Tune Headphones
A fabric-covered hard clamshell case that fits the JBL Tune 510BT and several other JBL models.
Toss it in a backpack without worrying about crushed headphones.
Why you need it:
- Hard shell protects headphones from being crushed
- Fabric outside won’t scuff up in a bag
- Inexpensive next to the headphones it protects
Why this works in the parks:
- Safe in a carry-on or under the seat
- Keeps headphones together in a crowded park bag
- Made for JBL headphones — check the fit for other brands
If you buy the JBLs, add this to the cart.
View on Amazon →Don’t Forget This
UGREEN Headphone Splitter
Lets two kids watch one tablet with their own headphones.
Ends the “he’s holding it too close to his side” fight before it starts.
Why you need it:
- One tablet, two kids, two pairs of headphones
- Saves packing and charging a second device
- Tiny and inexpensive
Why this works in the parks:
- Works for a shared movie during a hotel rest break
- Lives in the tablet case so it never gets forgotten
- Needs a headphone jack or adapter on newer tablets
The cheapest peacekeeper on this list.
Get it on Amazon →Best for Road Trips
Lamicall Car Headrest Tablet Mount
Holds the tablet at eye level from the back of the front seat.
No more tablet sliding off a lap at every exit ramp.
Why you need it:
- Clamps to the headrest posts and rotates to any angle
- Fits most tablets and large phones
- Keeps kids looking up instead of down
Why this works in the parks:
- Makes a long drive to Orlando feel shorter
- Fits rental cars too, so it’s worth packing if you fly
- Check that it arrived new and complete when you open it
If you’re driving, this is a must-have.
View on Amazon →Best for Toddlers in Car Seats
PILLANI Kids Travel Tray
A lap desk with side pockets that turns a car seat into a snack and activity station.
Crayons stop disappearing between the seats.
Why you need it:
- Flat surface for snacks, coloring, and small toys
- Side pockets keep supplies within reach
- Folds flat when you’re done
Why this works in the parks:
- Best for younger kids on long drives
- Doesn’t fit every car seat — check the fit before you buy
- Skip it for flights — the tray table already does this job
Small kids, long drive: this is the one.
Get it on Amazon →Best Screen-Free Activity
Melissa & Doug On the Go Water WOW!
Fill the pen with water, color the page, and watch it fade so they can do it again.
Zero mess on the airplane seat or the hotel sheets.
Why you need it:
- No markers, no ink, no stains
- Pages dry and can be colored again
- Gives eyes a break from screens
Why this works in the parks:
- Great for waiting at the gate or in a restaurant
- Best for preschool ages
- Refill the pen from a water bottle
The easiest quiet activity for little kids.
View on Amazon →Best Budget Pick
Genialba LCD Writing Tablet (2-Pack)
A doodle board for each kid that erases with one button.
Tic-tac-toe, drawing games, and no paper to pick up.
Why you need it:
- Two in a pack, so nobody has to share
- Lock button stops accidental erasing
- Thin and light for a backpack
Why this works in the parks:
- Useful in ride queues and at dinner, not just the flight
- Keeps a toddler and an older sibling both busy
- The pens are small — clip them to the tablet
Two kids busy for the price of a snack.
Get it on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, KidsParkGuide may earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Most families plan the park days down to the hour and leave the travel day to chance. Then it hits: a two-hour flight that turns into four with the delay, or a long drive to Orlando where the tablet keeps sliding off a lap and somebody asks “are we there yet?” before the first rest stop. Tired, bored kids arrive at the hotel already melted down, and the trip starts on the wrong foot. A small travel day kit fixes most of that. Nothing here is expensive, and almost all of it keeps earning its spot once you’re in the parks.
How to Decide What to Pack
Start with how you’re getting there and how old your kids are.
If you’re flying: headphones come first. Pack a pair of iClever HS19 wired kids headphones for each child, since wired headphones work with tablets and most seatback screens and never need charging. Add a headphone splitter if two kids will share one tablet, and a compact power bank so the tablet survives a delay.
If you’re driving: a headrest tablet mount is the biggest upgrade. Wireless Bluetooth kids headphones keep cords out of car seat buckles, and a car charger with built-in cables keeps every device topped off.
If you have toddlers or preschoolers: plan on screen-free time too. A car seat travel tray and a Water WOW! pad cover a lot of miles without a single marker stain.
The Travel Day Gear Actually Worth Packing
Here’s what each pick does, and when it earns its spot.
Headphones That Fit Small Ears
This is the most important item on the list. The iClever HS19 kids headphones are over-ear, volume-limited, and wired, so there’s no battery to die halfway through the flight. They also have a share port, so a sibling can plug a second pair into the first. The honest downside is durability: some parents say the ear pads wear out after a year of heavy use. At this price, that’s a fair trade.
If you’re mostly driving, the iClever BTH12 Bluetooth headphones remove the cord entirely and still include a cable for screens that need one. Some reviews mention pairing and battery issues, so charge and pair them at home before the trip.
If you want to splurge, go with a full-size pair like the JBL Tune 510BT Bluetooth headphones. They cost about double our upgrade pick, but we bought them for our 4-year-old, he uses them just fine, and they’ve been really great. Two honest trade-offs: they’re Bluetooth only, so they won’t plug into a seatback screen, and they aren’t volume-limited like kids’ headphones, so set a volume limit on the tablet. If you go this route, a fabric-covered hard case is worth the small extra cost to keep them from getting crushed or scratched in a backpack.
Download movies and shows to the tablet before you leave home, and test them with the Wi-Fi off. Airplane Wi-Fi is often slow or costs extra, and streaming apps won’t help you on a delayed plane sitting on the runway.
Sharing One Tablet Without a Fight
A UGREEN headphone splitter lets two kids watch one screen with their own headphones. It saves packing, charging, and paying for a second device. Many newer tablets don’t have a headphone jack, so check yours and grab an adapter if you need one.
Keeping the Tablet at Eye Level
On a long drive, the Lamicall headrest tablet mount clamps to the front seat’s headrest posts and holds the tablet where kids can see it without holding it. It fits most tablets and rotates to any angle. It also works in rental cars, so it’s worth packing if you fly and rent a car in Orlando. A few buyers received units that looked used, so check it when it arrives.
Screen-Free Activities for Little Kids
For toddlers in car seats, the PILLANI kids travel tray gives them a flat surface for snacks and coloring, with side pockets for supplies. It doesn’t fit every car seat and can cover cup holders, so check the tray’s dimensions against your child’s car seat before you buy. It’s best for road trips rather than flights. Pair it with spill-proof snack cups and you’ll spend a lot less time reaching into the back seat.
The Melissa & Doug Water WOW! uses a pen filled with water, so there’s nothing to stain. Pages dry and can be colored again. For older kids, the Genialba LCD writing tablet 2-pack covers drawing, tic-tac-toe, and hangman, and the lock button stops accidental erasing. Mini sticker activity sets are another easy, quiet option.
When we drove down to Orlando, I bought both boys their own pair of wireless headphones. I also made sure we had backup battery packs for their iPad. The car has plugs, but a battery pack is just easier, and it comes with us into the parks and restaurants so the iPad keeps charging there too. And I packed a few fidgets for when they got tired of the iPad.
What’s Overhyped or Skippable
Seatback phone clips sound handy, but the ones we looked at have mixed reviews, and at least one popular model is flagged by Amazon as frequently returned. A tablet in a case with a kickstand on the tray table does the same job. Kids’ travel neck pillows are another common buy that gets mixed results; many kids won’t keep them on. A rolled-up hoodie works almost as well and doubles as a layer on a cold plane.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✕Trying new headphones for the first time on the plane. Test fit and volume at home.
- ✕Relying on airplane Wi-Fi for shows. Download everything before you leave.
- ✕Packing the tablet charger in checked luggage. Keep chargers and a power bank in your carry-on.
- ✕Bringing out every activity in the first hour. Save one new thing for the hardest stretch of the trip.
- ✕Forgetting snacks. Airport food is expensive, and delays happen. Our guide to the best snacks to bring to Disney and Universal works for travel days too.
What Most People Forget
Wipes, and a lot of them. Travel wipes handle sticky hands, tray tables, and spills before you even reach the hotel.
A way to keep small things together. Mini zip pouches keep headphones, splitters, and chargers from vanishing into the bottom of a bag. The same pouches move straight into your park bag; our guide on how to pack a theme park bag that works shows how.
A plan if someone gets separated. Airports and theme parks are both crowded. A hidden AirTag wristband is a small comfort on a busy travel day, and our kid safety and ID gear guide covers more options.
Enough battery. Phones carry boarding passes, ride-share apps, and park tickets. Our guide to the best power banks for Disney and Universal helps you pick one that lasts all day. And if the first night in a new room is the hard part, our hotel sleep kit for kids picks up where this list leaves off.
Headphones first, then something to hold the screen, then something screen-free.
Kid-sized, volume-limited headphones are the one item every family should pack for the trip to Orlando. Add a splitter if kids share a tablet, a headrest mount if you’re driving, and a mess-free activity for little ones. Download shows before you leave, keep chargers in your carry-on, and the travel day becomes part of the vacation instead of something to survive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pack kid-sized headphones, a downloaded tablet, a power bank, snacks, wipes, and one or two quiet, mess-free activities. Keep it all in the carry-on so nothing important ends up in checked luggage.
Kid-sized headphones fit better than adult earbuds, and volume-limited models help protect young ears. Wired headphones are the safest choice for seatback screens, which on many planes still use a standard headphone jack.
Yes. A headphone splitter lets two pairs of headphones plug into one device. Some kids’ headphones also have a share port that lets a second pair plug into the first.
Mount the tablet on the headrest, download shows in advance, and mix in screen-free activities like water-reveal pads or LCD doodle boards. Plan stops every couple of hours so kids can stretch and burn off energy.
For toddlers and preschoolers on long road trips, often yes. A tray gives them a place for snacks and activities. Check that it fits your car seat, since some don’t fit every model and can block cup holders.
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