A Halloween Adventure in Autism (11/12) New Thread Begun on TR Board!

[Tnkrbelle565]

I want bag pictures!!!! Don't you know I have a major bag "problem"...which is becoming more evident now that I'm trying to pack them all!!!

 

[KathyRN137]

Well, as promised (Kristine!!), I'm posting some pix of "the new park bag." (Overland Equipment "Carmel" bag.)

(I was rushing, so please excuse the poor quality... I forgot to turn off the flash!)


First, a picture of the empty bag:

The dimensions are 13" x 11" x 6"

Some features that I liked right away are:

*The pockets under the flap are zippered, plus there are two separate pockets so your stuff doesn't get all jumbled together.

*The main section is very roomy.

* There is an external flat pocket on the back.

* The two side pockets can hold water bottles, and they collapse flat against the bag when not in use.



So, I decided to do an experiment and gather as much "stuff" as I could and see if it would fit into the bag. I mean, I put together just about as many park supplies as I could think of (probably more that I will actually carry.)

But, this is what I would like to be able to carry comfortably if I could:

A closer look at my "load"...

So, what is all that stuff, you may ask!!

Here goes:

"Vacation" wallet (lime green, of course!)
cell phone
camera
extra memory card/batteries for camera
tissues
travel journal
pen
index cards with itineraries/ADR confirmation #s, etc.
park maps/Times Guides
DVC Portable Perks
ponchos (mine and Billy's)
small towel
full change of clothes for Billy
Long-sleeved shirts for layering (mine and Billy's)
eyeglasses
sunglasses
sunscreen
wet wipes
feminine supplies
lip balm
first aid kit/OTC meds such as Advil, Tums, etc.
gum and little snacks for kids
little toys for Billy (for waiting in lines)
case containing ear plugs for Billy
extra backs for pins
water bottles (usually just one, but this bag has 2 pockets, so I tried it.)


Whew!!


Well, believe it or not, everything FIT!!

Just one... little... problem, though....

When I tried to close the flap... it wouldn't reach!!


So, I took everything out and did some repositioning and re-packing. Once I made the two front pockets less bulky and transferred some items into the main section of the bag, everything fit and I could get the bag closed!

It actually felt pretty comfortable, although once I removed the two water bottles, it became noticably lighter. I may carry only one or, better yet, let Ed carry the water as he's been doing all along.


Hopefully it will not be too long until I can give it a test run on a day trip or two this summer. That's when we'll really find out how this baby performs!!


Kathy

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

That bag looks great! I can't believe you fit all that stuff in there!

My bag also holds two water bottles, which make it really heavy in the morning. By about noon, however, the load is considerably lighter because we have consumed the water in the bottles!

 

[mrsksomeday]

Great looking bag!! I am lucky because Bill's wheelchair hauls around our bag. We hope to have the new wheelchair by the next trip .

 

[KathyRN137]

That bag looks great! I can't believe you fit all that stuff in there!

My bag also holds two water bottles, which make it really heavy in the morning. By about noon, however, the load is considerably lighter because we have consumed the water in the bottles!

That's true! (As you may have guessed, I have a hard time forking over so much $ for Dasani in the parks!)

Great looking bag!! I am lucky because Bill's wheelchair hauls around our bag. We hope to have the new wheelchair by the next trip .

Oh, I hope so too!!

Kathy

 

[nu2wdisneyw]

WOW! Your bag holds alot of stuff!!!

 

[eandesmom]

Oooh! I might have to go check out those DVD's! thanks for the tip

The bag looks great! And the great thing about water is...once you drink it, it's lighter. Forces you to drink it! LOL.

 

[jordanyosh]

Men just do not understand the importance of "the bag."


Kathy

Or the shoe for that matter!

We don't.

We do understand armchair, beer can hat and remote.....

 

[jordanyosh]

Did you really do a test run with your bag?

That's a total OTP thing to do...I applaud you...

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great new bag!!! I am stunned that everything fits -- when I saw it all laid out, I thought, "there is no way!"

 

[KathyRN137]

WOW! Your bag holds alot of stuff!!!

I told you.... I really should still carry a diaper bag!
Actually, this will make a great carry-on for the plane, too.

The bag looks great! And the great thing about water is...once you drink it, it's lighter. Forces you to drink it! LOL.

Yes... and forces you to sweet-talk your hubby into carrying it!

Did you really do a test run with your bag?
That's a total OTP thing to do...I applaud you...

LOL! It does seem rather OTP, doesn't it? Well, better to find out now... I still had the tags on... if it didn't work, I would just return it!

Great new bag!!! I am stunned that everything fits -- when I saw it all laid out, I thought, "there is no way!"

Never underestimate the awesome power of individual zip-loc bags!!

"Nerd Alert!!"


Kathy

 

[cjackearl]

Wow, you did fit a lot in your bag oh Goddess of Packing and Sorting. Giving it a test run is a great idea. I should probably at least figure out what's going IN my park bag, huh?

 

[winnapooh]

Men just do not understand the importance of "the bag."


Kathy

This is soo true! My husband is always commenting on my collection of bags. And I don't really even have That many! (At least compared to the amount other women I know have!) The perfect Disney bag is always a quest!

And as for shoes, well, he has more than I do!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Thanks, Brook. I tried to explain to her that Ichabod's rival, Brom Bones, made up the ghost story at the party and later pretended to be the Horseman so he could scare him away and marry the girl. "It's a Walt Disney cartoon, Tricia, I don't think there would be anyone actually killed by a scary ghost, do you?"

But, I'm not sure she bought it entirely!

Thirteen is such a funny age. One minute, she's acting like such a teenager with the hairstyling and the makeup, and the next she's playing with her AG dolls, making clothes for them and having a doll tea party!

When I was thirteen, I still played Barbies with my younger sisters!

She still has one foot in each world (for now!)


Kathy

I remember those years-they are difficult for everyone, aren't they? I played with Barbies as a teenager I'm sure as well! I was a babysitter to some neighbor kids and I recall playing with them all day long-and it wasn't like I had to. They liked me as their babysitter because I would!

I don't know what is more distrubing...the parrot in his hat or the fact that his beard was the same color as my father's back then!

A closer look at my "load"...

Wow!!! What a great bag! All that stuff and it's still comfortable? That's pretty amazing. I'm glad you have found "the" bag!

 

[preschoolmom]

That's a cool bag, but you forgot the most important picture! I want to see a picture of you holding it with everything packed!

I liked the packing list and the "before" pictures... It is very similar to the list I used on our last trip...

 

[mom2mek]

Kathy - I'm glad your bag looks like it's going to work. I was a big fan of the side water bottle pockets on my (similar, but smaller) Overland Donner bag - I really missed having those when I carried the Vera Bradley hipster this past trip. I didn't like having to carry around a cold water bottle and have it "sweat" all over my hands as it got warmer. Plus, it kind of forced me to drink the water really quickly in the morning, so I wouldn't have to carry the aforementioned "sweaty" cold water bottle! Then I would really want water later in the day, and it was all gone. (yes, I usually just refilled it at the water fountain, but the flavor....blech....)

Anyways, glad it looks like it's going to work!!

(I am also a big fan of individual sized zip-loc bags! Oh my - how they work magic in so many ways!!!)

Sara

 

[moparop]

That bag is amazing!! I think I love it!

 

[KathyRN137]

Wow, you did fit a lot in your bag oh Goddess of Packing and Sorting. Giving it a test run is a great idea.

Thank you, but I'm not sure if I really deserve the title of "Goddess!"

Sometimes I wonder if we should just get a locker every day, but then I think how inconvenient it would be to have to walk all the way back to the front of the park when you need something!

We did get lockers the year we went in December because we didn't want to carry our jackets once it warmed up. So, the lockers do have their uses...

...And as for shoes, well, he has more than I do!!!

Oh, Ed has about fifteen different pairs of sneakers, so he never says anything to me about my shoes!!

Wow!!! What a great bag! All that stuff and it's still comfortable? That's pretty amazing. I'm glad you have found "the" bag!

I hope it turns out to be "the bag"... I'm reserving final judgement until I get to see how it performs "in action!"

It did hang comfortably, but then again, it wasn't on my shoulder but for more than a minute or two...


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

That's a cool bag, but you forgot the most important picture! I want to see a picture of you holding it with everything packed!

You're right!! DOH!! I forgot about that!!

I'll try to do that tonight....

Kathy - I'm glad your bag looks like it's going to work. I was a big fan of the side water bottle pockets on my (similar, but smaller) Overland Donner bag - I really missed having those when I carried the Vera Bradley hipster this past trip.


(I am also a big fan of individual sized zip-loc bags! Oh my - how they work magic in so many ways!!!)

Those hipsters are so cute, I really like them. But park bags do have to be more functional (especially when you've got the kids!)

That bag is amazing!! I think I love it!

Mo, I knew you would! It would actually make a great diaper bag; the inner side pocket would easily fit a changing pad...

And it looks like you're going to be needing that in the not-too-distant-future!!


Kathy

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

I love that bag. I really like using my creative side to make my bags, I was planning on making a denim messenger bag with a Minnie applique and also a Epcot bag. If I get ambitious I may make an Animal Kingdom bag.

But, I really like the shape of that bag....