Honestly, what do I really need to take to the park?

[CyndiLooWho]

If you read the lists of things to take with you, I'd need a rolling carry-on to take it all into the park with us.

We are a family of 4 - me, dh, ds10 & ds8. I'd like to limit our "luggage" to 4 coin purses on lanyards and either a fanny pack (decent sized) or a hipster-type bag. I might *possibly* have the boys carry small fanny packs, just big enough for a couple of treats and some crystal light packets.

So, what do I really *need* to take?

[kent285]

I really need to take: tickets, room key, credit card, kleenex, aspirin, sun block, small poncho, sun glasses. I take more, but that is what I definitely need to take.

[DisneyPolve]

I think it all depends on what you are willing to carry with.....
We take...room key, credit/debit cards, camera, Tylenol, tissues, band aids, neosporen, small ponchos, stainless steel water bottle (we fill it with free water from CS), car keys (even thou we use the buses :confused3 ), sunblock, lip balm, gum, cell phones, tickets, index cards, autograph books, lanyards, couple empty ziploc bags, bite-b-gon, a tampon ( :scared1: just in case), and dry socks for everyone! We fit all that into my Vera Bradley Hipster and DH Nike backpack sling. Mind you we by travel size items (refill when necessary) to save on room, bulk and weight. But these are our families needs!

[singnring]

I disagree w/ DH on what we "need".
If it were up to him, our bodies and tickets would suffice!!

Realistically, I insist on a bit more.
-Dramamine!!!
-Tylenol/Advil!!! - (forgot these one day last year, got a migraine @ Epcot and BTT we got back to resort, I thought I was dying!! Couldn't even stand I was so sick!! DH almost called 911. Sorry if any of you were on the bus w/ me!! :sick: )
-Ponchos - DH & DD hate getting wet!
-Pins/lanyards
-jacket for me & DD
-camera/video camera
-light snacks unless on DDP
-tickets
-rm key
-visa
-feminine products if needed
-DD's autograph book and pen
-Sunglasses :cool2:
-few bucks cash JIC

All fits nicely into my fanny pack and easy-to-carry backpack.
DH hates waiting in bag check lines, but, you gotta do whatcha gotta do!!

[PrincessNP]

All above are right on track! Professionals! We take 1 or 2 BPH free (:thumbsup2) water bottles that we have equipped with those buckle things so they can attach to any bag, belt, stroller, etc. Water is a must esp if you are tackling Disney in the summer! Crazy stuff! :scared1: (We go in Dec):santa:

[Ddennis37]

The first few days we take bottles of water, chex mix/snacks, park key, wallet, camera, park maps, pain meds, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses. etc.

Midway through, we put our ID, credit & debit cards and cash in our lanyards and leave the wallets at the hotel, car keys in the pocket, camera only if we haven't been to that park yet, hats and sunglasses. Our son and niece are older this year (12) so we don't plan to carry around their stuff for them. I found the perfect, small and comfortable bag to take with me instead of the one we've always used, and it will fit all of the above comfortably.

Still, it's all about minimizing this time around and just taking the necessities.

[flamingglobessigmund]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/cablekatie/Disney%20Vacation/Baggelliniwalletcrop.jpg
This is what I carried into the parks. It's a Baggelini mini-wallet on a strap.
It held:


KTTW card
credit cards
ID
cell phone
clip-on sunglasses
lip balm
cash & coins
day's receipts

DH carried a back pack for his camera, water bottle & ponchos.

We left car keys, meds & other valuables in the room safe. I put the room safe key in my cargo pocket.

[Robindianne]

The first few days we take bottles of water, chex mix/snacks, park key, wallet, camera, park maps, pain meds, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses. etc.

Midway through, we put our ID, credit & debit cards and cash in our lanyards and leave the wallets at the hotel, car keys in the pocket, camera only if we haven't been to that park yet, hats and sunglasses. Our son and niece are older this year (12) so we don't plan to carry around their stuff for them. I found the perfect, small and comfortable bag to take with me instead of the one we've always used, and it will fit all of the above comfortably.

Still, it's all about minimizing this time around and just taking the necessities.

I know there are threads on this, but can you describe or post a photo of your new comfortable bag? Tks! :goodvibes

[Chedstro]

Small wallet, pda, cellphone, pain meds, keys, bandaids, extra scrunchy, breath spray, lip balm, portable Kleenex pack. Sometimes my Kindle (if I think we will be standing in line waiting for a show)

I am fortunate (packing wise) that all of my kids are now adults. I also carry a poncho if it looks like rain (like the last few weeks!)

[MissAndrea]

Our bags had a spot for a water bottle. I'm SOOO glad we brought one in. Not a special one, just one from the 24 pack we had in our room. We refilled it at the water fountains and never paid a dime for anything to drink. As long as one of us has a bag for it, it's going with us!

[Kevenswife2]

I bought a Baggallini Messanger bag for my last trip. I had it about 2/3 full and after the third day (and sunburnt shoulders) I pitched it and just carried a small coin purse on a neck lanyard. It was such a 'free feeling'!

I found all I really needed was my cell phone (was traveling with others, otherwise I would have left it in the room safe), small bottle of saline drops for eyes, Key to the World, chapstick, 2 Tylenol, and a panty liner. I didn't even have to go through the bag check!

While it's nice to have everything with me, it was much nicer NOT to.

[CyndiLooWho]

Good answers!

We do have the lanyard coin purses for all family members, and we each have a water bottle holder on a carabiner. I'll be bringing a case of water and we can refill all day.

Dh can carry the car keys, and all his shorts are cargo style, so I can put some things in his pockets.

I really think we can do this w/o carrying the whole World with us...

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[RainbowWit]

We are minimilistic. I wear cargo shorts, gotta love pockets, and we bring a small overland sling backpack. I bring chapstick, a travel sized sunblock, travel advil, water bottles on carabiners, travke kleenex, a little cash and kttw cards. DD and DM bring thier misty fans. DM rents a EVC so the bag usually gets stowed in the basket. I love the lanyards and coin purses.

[Lori1960]

I bring my fanny pack and put in my wallet room key .money and also sandwhich bag pennys and quarter for the penny press machines

[BridgetBordeaux]

Last year we went twice, June and September

June I had my baggellini bag and had all sorts of stuff. Including sunblock, snacks, napkins, ziploc bags, maps etc.

September, I had my VB purse with a long strap and used that instead.
cell phone, chapstick, sunscreen stick, water, advil, credit card, room key
maybe a granola bar, thats it

[KKB]

I really need to take: tickets, room key, credit card, kleenex, aspirin, sun block, small poncho, sun glasses. I take more, but that is what I definitely need to take.

I did not carry ANY bag on our first trip, and plan to do the same on this one.
(kids were 7, 9 & 12)
DH & DS wear cargos, so I can stashs stuff there...
key, bit of cash/cc, tylenol, pepcid, sunglasses
DH carries phone/camera, su,n block wipes in his shorts.
We took ponchos only to AK and tossed them after Kali River Rapids. (got them 2/$1 at dollartree)

[The Hendies]

I also bring a few individual wet wipes along with many items mentioned... keys, money/debit card, tylenol (again, individually wrapped), chap stick, tissues and phone. The bag I carry is 4X6 and almost flat.

[TagsMissy]

Here's what we bring in:

We carry a SL (Super Light -- yes that is a technical fabric term that we use in the industry) hydration pack so we can continuously drink in the heat and not get dehydrated so we have a little bit of storage available in the pack. In the pack itself we keep:

Sunscreen, a few snacks (nothing heavy as we don't want a heavy bag: pretzels, gummy bears or a powerbar etc), flash for our SLR camera, few bandaids and that's about it! The rest of the space in the bag we toss in the SLR camera when we go on coasters etc.

[Ddennis37]

I know there are threads on this, but can you describe or post a photo of your new comfortable bag? Tks! :goodvibes


Hopefully I'm posting this picture correctly. I have issues trying to post pictures on these discussion boards.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fdJxPIdfTHOzsflSfwFKJQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCID-lL7_tt-YIg&feat=directlink

I don't normally carry a purse, just my wallet. Since I bought this, I've been carrying it around. I keep my wallet, check book and cell phone in it, but I've found I can fit waterbottles in it, too. I put the strap over my right shoulder and the bag rests comfortably on my left side/hip. I REALLY like it.

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I've been taking less and less as the years go on. Since 2005 (youngest was 5 then) this is what I put in my cargo pants pockets:

ponchos for 3 (DH carried his own), chapstick, a mini m&m roll with quarter and pennies for the penny machines, cell phone, extra battery and SD card for my camera, a travel size package of advil enough for 4, travel size sunscreen and digital camera. I've got a mini tripod I sometimes put in a pocket too.

I also have a passporter pouch around my neck with my DL, AP's, TIW card, insurance card, cash and KTWW. I also put moleskin in it and a couple of band aids.

My issue is DD9 needs her autograph book so I've had to carry a small purse now since it won't fit in my pockets and I also put my roll of pennies and quarters in there now.

[blum74]

credit card
ticket/room key
cell phone
camera
sunscreen
couple packs of fruit snacks, cranberries or granola bar

it all fits in my small bagallini purse

[mum24grlz]

I'm a local and don't stay at the resorts or do the dining plan so our bags are pretty full ;) I pack sandwiches for the girls, lots and lots of water as one of my girls will only drink ICE cold water (sigh), a couple of snacks, CC, passes, camera, tylenol, sunscreen and keys to the car

We always get a Mickey bar to eat in the afternoon and head home for dinner. So we're definitely not a typical disney visitor;)

[holeceks]

We just went the end of May and have kids similar in ages. Here is what I took in an across the body type bag:

Sunblock
Two bottles of water (we got cups of ice water at CS and just refilled them and shared)
Ponchos
Junior ibuprofen (both kids tend to get headaches in heat)
adult ibuprofen
chapstick
bandaids
2 medicated wipes
camera
wetwipes

Then we each had lanyard zipper coin bags for KTTW cards, debit card, small amount of cash, etc. We all had our sunglasses on cords and wore them. We not once had a problem with the kids complaining about stuff around their necks or anything. I carried the bag the whole time we were in the parks. We used our camera, ponchos, water, chapstick, and sunblock (to reapply-that's why people get sunburned and then complain they can't carry a bag) daily. We used everything else at least a few times throughout the rest of the trip.

[pamjb]

I disagree w/ DH on what we "need".
If it were up to him, our bodies and tickets would suffice!!

-Tylenol/Advil!!! - (forgot these one day last year, got a migraine @ Epcot and BTT we got back to resort, I thought I was dying!! Couldn't even stand I was so sick!! DH almost called 911. Sorry if any of you were on the bus w/ me!! :sick: )


Just a heads up, in case you forget them again, you can get OTC meds at the First Aid centers in each park. My oldest had a headache, but I was in a different park (the joys of traveling with a 19 year old). Told him to go to the first aid center, they gave him 2 Tylenol, and sent him on his merry way....

[PEANUT1]

my husband will carry a backpack. Inside will be:

water
sunblock
extra batteries for camera/camera
snacks,gum, lolly pops
baby wipes
possible jackets if its chilly.


I carry a very small coach purse that holds money, tickets, cell phone, hand sanitizer, lip gloss, sunglasses.

We dont like to go crazy with packing stuff for the parks, but I do like to have what I want when I want it.

[wdwluver]

I used to carry a fannie pack jam packed with KTTW cards, cash, car keys, credit card, ID, lip balm, cell phone, camera and a water bottle on each hip. I felt like a pack mule as my family walked about care free.

Then I switched to a purse with all of the above, except the water bottles. Then a tiny bagallini, which I absolutely loved and just carried cash, ID, KTTW card, lip balm, car keys ... I couldn't believe it all fit.

Then I got tired of going through the bag check so I stashed the purse and opted for pants with pockets! Now I just carry ID, KTTW card and lip balm.

[singnring]

Just a heads up, in case you forget them again, you can get OTC meds at the First Aid centers in each park. My oldest had a headache, but I was in a different park (the joys of traveling with a 19 year old). Told him to go to the first aid center, they gave him 2 Tylenol, and sent him on his merry way....

Thanks for the tip!!

I grew up in the Orlando area and practically lived at WDW, but only once in all my years ever went to the first aid station for anything (when I was very young).

I tend to forget they are there.

Thanks again!! :flower3:

[Iceman10]

My wallet and maybe a bottle of water. When my kids were smaller I would put a handfull of wipes in a zip lock and maybe 3 diapers in my pockets. Then either rent a stroller or use a nice small umbrella stroller.

[JoliBug]

I carry a small purse similar to the VB mini. I don't like lugging around a whole bunch of stuff on vaca, I do that enough for the military. Anyway, in it we will carry:

Small sunscreen
Chapstick
KTTW cards
Park tickets
money
a ziplock baggie for water rides
maybe 2 disposable ponchose
travel size meds
platypus waterbottles - so compact when they are empty

DH will cary the camera in his pocket

[jedihunny]

deleted

[Alesia]

To save space, I put all of the medications I thought we might need (Tums, Ibuprofen, Allergy Medicine, etc.) in a divided pill box. In addition to that, I took:

A small wallet with only KKTW cards, gift cards, photo ID, and $10
A travel sized bottle of sunscreen
Camera
Granola Bars (which no one ate)


That was it. Next time I'll leave out the granola bars. Who wants a granola bar when you can have an Itzakadoozie? :confused3

[Iluvjiminy]

Hmmm....where can I find these coin purses on a lanyard?? This sounds like exactly what we need for our next trip.

TIA
Becky

[Robindianne]

What's an Itzakadoozie please?

To save space, I put all of the medications I thought we might need (Tums, Ibuprofen, Allergy Medicine, etc.) in a divided pill box. In addition to that, I took:
A small wallet with only KKTW cards, gift cards, photo ID, and $10
A travel sized bottle of sunscreen
Camera
Granola Bars (which no one ate)

That was it. Next time I'll leave out the granola bars. Who wants a granola bar when you can have an Itzakadoozie? :confused3

[KGH]

an itzakadoodie is a popsicle. :)

[Alesia]

an itzakadoodie is a popsicle. :)

But not just any popsicle:

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Silvercublogger/13863723514154l.jpg

[ilovecupcakes]

Last month I took...

Room Key
Debit and Credit Cards
Camera
extra batteries
tinted lip balm
anti bacterial wipes
some cash
ID (i am very anal and always carry it with me!)

I think that was it. We were there in May during the downpours and saw the sun once during our trip, so there was no need for the 50 plus sunscreen we brought with us! :lmao:

[Robindianne]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

But not just any popsicle:

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Silvercublogger/13863723514154l.jpg

[Manda]

I bought this intending to use it for the water parks and ended up using it every day, all week:

http://www.rei.com/product/752258

I carried our passes and my driver's license (I need liquor on vacation, LOL) in it. iPhone in my pocket. Depending on my mood, I clipped my camera either on to a beltloop or hunt it onto the string that was already around my neck holding my pass pouch or just left it in the room. My goal was to always get to use the "guests without bags" entrance at the parks. :thumbsup2

[kidsicet]

I've done the pack mule bit before, but it gets old and tiresome.

This year, I'm planning a sling type backpack. I'll pack 4 ponchos, travel size sunblock, autograph books, pain meds and extra socks. I'm not planning on bringing water for everyone. That gets so heavy! We'll get free ice water at CS, and not worry about hefting around water bottles. I usually keep our KTTW cards all together. I have one of those lanyard things that I keep around my neck, so I'll have them all together in there.

[bzzybee13]

Kids ID badges - including photo, their info and your contact info. Keep copy on yourself and on your child. If you get separated they can give to CM, or you can so they quickly have all the info. I also got velcro ID strap to attach to DS2's sandal, since he would not keep it on any other way.

[tinkgurl]

Hand-held fans!

[gailpetrillo]

They seem to get in the way. I love the gym bags with the strings that you wear like a backpack. They're nylon so the're light & can hold everything, including a rolled up jacket, if needed. Don't forget the water bottle!

[chrellis]

Hmmm....where can I find these coin purses on a lanyard?? This sounds like exactly what we need for our next trip.

TIA
Becky

I would be careful with the clear plastic coin purses that you can purchase at Disney. My son bought one from the Pop gift shop the day we left, and before we were even home, the plastic had torn and it fell off his lanyard. Fortunately, he only lost it in our own van and was able to find it again when we unloaded all our bags at home.

My kids all got new lanyards with canvas coin purses (can be purchased inexpensively on ebay) in their stockings this year for our upcoming trip. These seem a lot more durable.

Christa