Ideas to carry backpack, no stroller

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delfin

Earning My Ears

Joined

Sep 21, 2000

• Mar 28, 2015

• #1

This is the first time my family and I will be going to the parks without a stroller, so don't have a place where to carry the backpack (with clothes in case of wet ride, sunblock, etc) and none of us (DH, DS8, DS12) want to carry it.
Any ideas on how to pack very light with change of clothes for each one and other necessities, without it being very big and heavy?

 

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Heidi K

DIS Veteran

Joined

Feb 9, 2014

• Mar 28, 2015

• #2

I think I would skip the change of clothes. There aren't many water rides at Disney, so if you're going on one (Kali, for ex), plan it as the last thing before you leave the park.

When we went on Kali last August, I had changes of clothes for the kids (because we did have a stroller) but not for DH or me. We each rode twice with the older two kids, so the older two got four rides. After that, kids changed into dry clothes and DH and I just air-dried. Since it was August, we both were completely dry in about an hour. I did make sure I wore waterproof sandals that day so I wasn't walking around with soggy feet.

 

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mom2AidanAndEli

DIS Veteran

Joined

Apr 19, 2013

• Mar 28, 2015

• #3

I guess I've never understood just what people are packing for a day at the park!!! I understand diaper bags when you've got real little ones, but beyond that I wonder. I hear so many people want to keep pushing a stroller around to carry all their "stuff". What "stuff" do you need???

We started going when kids were 5 and 7, so no diaper bag. But we never carried more than one small backpack which DH and I would take turns with--and I mean a small backpack. Like now I just carry my small Vera backpack--that's it.

In it we've had autograph books/pens (back when they used these), trading pins, sunscreen, a few snacks. a water bottle or two, medicines, small dollar store ponchos, then wallet items (license, money, credit card, etc.). That's it.

And if it's because the kids want toys and stuffed animals and this and that, then they'd have to carry it themselves! Luckily, this has never been an issue for us!

 

Ali0812

Earning My Ears

Joined

Dec 9, 2014

• Mar 28, 2015

• #4

On the days when you know you will be on water rides wear quick drying materials like nylon shorts and the thin moisture wicking shirts (like Under Armor). Also, wear tevas or some other water/sport sandals. You will dry pretty quickly in the Florida sun. I am just assuming you will be going when it's warm. If not, do as the past poster said and ride those last. Another idea would be to throw ponchos on just before the ride. Those will pack a lot lighter than clothing. Have fun on your trip!

 

Alesia

DIS Veteran

Joined

Feb 8, 2007

• Mar 28, 2015

• #5

I guess you could hire someone to carry it for you. Or just don't pack more than you're willing to carry.

This is what we bring:
Credit card
ID
$20
Cell phone
Camera
Small tube of sunscreen
Autograph book
Gum

You do not need a change of clothes. If you don't want to get wet, don't ride Kali River Rapids.

 

msmama

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jan 21, 2009

• Mar 28, 2015

• #6

I bought the lightest backpack I could find (got mine at Target last year). I also carry as little as possible - phone and $$ in my pocket usually, camera, sunscreen, autograph book, bandaids/medicines, tissues, maybe snacks, maybe a bottle of water on super hot days (which I refill from free ice water). That's it.

My son is almost 7 and I stopped taking extra clothes for him a few years ago. At this point he's old enough to know the consequences of playing in fountains or riding wet rides - sometimes he decides he still wants too, sometimes not.

For your boys Target has shorts that are kind of like swim shorts, but look like regular shorts (but they dry fast). Might want to check into those. They're cherokee brand.

If you still feel the need to take changes of clothes, you could always rent a locker and just get them if/when you need them.

 

squirrel

DIS Veteran<font color=deeppink>

Joined

Aug 19, 1999

• Mar 29, 2015

• #7

Or ride the wet rides before you head back to the resort!

 

maxiesmom

The Mean Squinty Eye Works

Joined

Jul 6, 2004

• Mar 29, 2015

• #8

Rent a locker for your bulky stuff. Your kids can each carry a small bag with their own snacks or autograph books or whatever. Each adult then can carry their own small bag.

 

Lmans77

Mouseketeer

Joined

Oct 28, 2011

• Mar 29, 2015

• #9

I have small kids and I have ponchos (if chance of rain), empty Brita water bottle, frogg togg, pain reliever, travel sunscreen, small portable phone charger, money, ID and maybe autograph books. all very light stuff. I use one of those cinch backpacks. Very light too and doesn't sit up against your back and make you hot.

You could even split it up into 2 bags, and everyone has a responsibility of carrying it at some point.

 

lillyshula

Mouseketeer

Joined

Oct 12, 2008

• Mar 29, 2015

• #10

We are taking a super light day hike backpack for sunscreen, autograph books, small snack for long lines, and two water bottles. We never bring a change of clothes as our girls don't mind walking around in wet clothing (they say it feels good in the hot sun). If you absolutely need to bring a change of clothes, I would recommend renting a locker. That way you also have a place to put your wet clothes without having them make everything in your bag wet.

 

dprincessmom

dprincessmom

Joined

Sep 4, 2011

• Mar 30, 2015

• #11

If you are going to do a change of clothes, pack them in a large ziplock bag. You then have something for the wet clothes without getting everything in the bag wet.

Our bag (a small back pack) has rain jackets, sunscreen, trading pins, camera, phone, id, money, and water bottle.
We typically go in the summer so the rain jackets are a must for the afternoons. If we are only doing mornings and are willing to chance it on the rain, both DD and I have cross body "hipsters" that we are planning on this year (although she is already trying to figure out how not to carry it)

 

ZeroMyHero

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jan 20, 2008

• Mar 30, 2015

• #12

We will be stroller-free for the first time for our upcoming trip, too. Instead of a purse, I have always carried a cross body traveler's bag (mine is a Donner bag from Overland) with stuff like meds, a cell phone, and sunscreen in it, but this year I got each of my DDs a cross body bag, too, so they can carry their own stuff like an autograph book, a few small snacks, and a small refillable water bottle, plus anything else they feel like carrying around the parks. I usually don't bring a change of clothing for water rides, but I have brought flip flops for us to change into (DH usually only wears leather sneakers - not fun to squish around the park in wet sneakers) or I make sure we are wearing water-friendly shoes that day. With no stroller to stash them in, we'll just get a locker so we don't have to lug them around.