Am I the only one?

[rajay320]

I am always reading about all the must-haves that so many of you take for your trips into the parks....hats, ponchos, bug spray, first aid kits, Crocs, special bags, fanny packs, spray bottle misters, snacks and drinks, and lots of other things I know I'm forgetting.

So my question is...Is anyone else like me, who takes only BARE necessities in with them? You guys have me feeling like I should be bringing in more stuff

We wear simple flip flops with shorts, and I bring a tiny canvas bag that I leave with the stroller that contains sunscreen, dd's swimsuit, my camera and batteries. I carry our park passes and money in my pocket. And that's it for the whole day.
Now don't get me wrong...I definitely overpack for the trip in general. I bring WAY more clothes and shoes than we need and lots of toys to keep dd busy, when it comes to the parks, the less I have to deal with the better.

Anyone else?

 

[DisneyDadof3]

I agree - less is generally better. We have DD 8, DS 3, DS 1. Take diaper bag with diapers, a couple of ziplocs with some cereal or fruit snacks, camera stuff, autograph books, (ponchos if weather looks bleak - but generally not), and carry the tickets with me. I empty out most of my wallet with the exception of disney dining card, drivers license, disney visa, etc. - only the necessities. I put the tickets in a protective thing in my front pocket for easier access for fastpasses. Simple enough and off we go. We take the stroller and throw our two bags in the bottom and carry nothing!

 

[Diznotyzed]

I have a small zip open wallet that is just one compartment. I can securely fasten it to a belt loop, so I don't have to carry it. I put a charge card, room key, ticket (if separate), cash, small coin purse, chap stick, small pill case w/ibruprofen, a mini bottle of Purell, and a couple bandaids in it, cell phone in pocket and I'm good to go.

Oh yeah, and it has a fierce looking Mickey on it!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

DH is just like this and he just at me all the time since i am a serious overpacker and over planner!

 

[marconat]

I'm one that overpacks way to much... but I'm learning... I know that on my next trip, it's in Jan. it not bad during the day but cooler in the evening, so I'll bring a light jacket (one for each of us) and maybe pants for the kids and rent a locker and leave everything in there until night time... so I'll just have my money, the camara and that's it... no more overpacked bags in the parks

 

[Angela&Kayla]

Since it will just be my DD8 and I, I will only bring the following with me daily:

Camera
Cell phone
Sunscreen
ID, Credit Card, Tickets
Autograph book

That is it! Although I haven't yet traveled to Disney, I have traveled quite a bit around the world, and have found that the day is much less stressful when you start with less, especially since most people seem to accumulate more as the day goes on!!

As far as the mister fans go - we can get ourselves wet by just going to a water fountain. And as far as water - we can drink from the fountain as well.

 

[aristocat]

You're not the only one... We bring only what we can fit into my fiance's cargo-shorts pockets. I LOVE not lugging around a bag or a purse... I always am the one carrying stuff in my purse and dragging it around, so it's so freeing to enjoy running around Disney without any baggage.

I also love how our room key is also our park pass and a 'charge card'!!! Sometimes that's all we need to bring to the park

 

[Mariposa]

When I'm on one of my 'Mom only' trips I only care the 'bare necessities': ID, a little cash, room card, AP and cellphone.

When it's the family (me, DFiance, DD8) I tend to carry a lot more. But we do a lot more, too.

 

[aubriee]

I'm just curious: Does anyone not carry their cell phones to the parks. I can understand if you're with a group and splitting up, but what I usually do is carry my phone to Florida, then leave it in the room safe, checking it every night for messages. My family know I'm on vacation and if they need me I'll get back to them at night, but otherwise am unavailable.

Every time I'm in line for a ride or even just walking through the parks I can't believe the number of people who have their ears glued to their cell phones. Not flaming anyone, but just think it's funny!

By the way usually all I carry is a very small digital camera bag. It has a center pocket just big enough for my camera, a small pocket on the back that holds one of those little clear wallet divider thingies that holds a credit card, my ID, room key, AP, and a few dollars. It then has a tiny front pocket that holds an extra set of camera batteries and an extra memory card. It's about 6"x4"x3". It has a long shoulder strap or it can be hooked to a belt loop.

 

[Dis-Wiz]

I, too, agree that less is much, much better. We (DH, DD17, DD16) bring only what we can each fit into our fanny packs (well, DH doesn't wear a fanny pack, but he only needs to carry the money!!!!!)

Our countdown to GF is 21 days!!!

 

[Mousecrazy22]

I, too, agree that less is much, much better. We (DH, DD17, DD16) bring only what we can each fit into our fanny packs (well, DH doesn't wear a fanny pack, but he only needs to carry the money!!!!!)

Our countdown to GF is 21 days!!!

Sorry, I accidently posted under my daughter's id She is Dis-Wiz and a complete Dis fanatic (as is my other daughter, LovesDisney!!!)

 

[Sammy]

Since our first trip in 2000, we've gradually been "downsizing" what we carry into the park. On the first trip, we had a full backpack, diaper bag, and each kid had their own fanny pack. Whew! After seeing all the things we didn't use, we've gradually narrowed it down to just the essentials for the day: Tickets and room keys, small first-aid kit (ziploc sandwich bag), camera, $$, and my reference index card (with PS info and such). The kids each have their own fanny packs and can carry whatever they want, but even they have downsized to just $$, autograph books, coins for the pressed penny machines, and maybe a bag of gummy snacks.

Sammy

 

[BostonTink85]

In response to the cell phone comment, I know the last time we went if someone was staying back at the hotel we would bring a cell phone to get in contact with them. Also if we split up within the parks we could call each other to meet up again. I know I wasn't calling home or anything when we were there, just to make it easier to meet up with other members of our party.

 

[powellrj]

I'm just curious: Does anyone not carry their cell phones to the parks. I can understand if you're with a group and splitting up, but what I usually do is carry my phone to Florida, then leave it in the room safe, checking it every night for messages. My family know I'm on vacation and if they need me I'll get back to them at night, but otherwise am unavailable.

.

My DS is Military and my DF is ill, so I always have my cell phone with me. DS isn't in Iraq this trip, by DF is having a bad summer (we have already rescheduled our first trip) that I couldn't leave town if I didn't have a cell phone.

We are another family that travels light. The first couple of years we took a lot, but after a few years, we pretty much take what fits in our pockets. I wear a travel wallet that holds park tickets, credit cards and IDs, cell phone and a couple band-aids, DH always has pockets that hold a camera, cell phone and his wallet, and the kids just take a fanny pack or travel wallet. I have a small bottle of sunscreen that fits in my wallet.

We found that when we took snacks, they got hot and smashed. We would just duck into shops when it rained so we never really needed ponchos. The water bottles and fans just got heavy and were bulky.

Our kids were never stroller kids (we didn't even own one with the youngest), so we never had one to take care of.

Last year we did a carry on only trip and it worked out so well we are trying to do the same again this year.

 

[oldcrow]

I will only carry what I can fit in my shorts pockets. I do plan on carrying my cell phone, but for only 2 out of my 10 days. They happen to be Saturdays. It being college football season, I will need to check the score of the Ohio State game. What can I say, I'm a guy. Go Bucks!

 

[Buzz & Woody]

to the parks also depends on the ages of the kids! When dh and I went alone we each just had a fanny pack. Our kids were 10 months and almost 3 when we went so we had to bring more in the parks-thankfully it wa all stored in the stroller. Now when we go we bring wipes, sunscreen, snacks, drinks, the camera, ponchos (which are small) and a sweater if it's cool. Along with the obvious-money, room card, etc

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

We're usually light packers, but our last two trips have been with DD who wasn't potty-trained yet. I took a small flexible backpack with her necessities (diapers, wipes, bottom rash cream, a change of clothing and sunscreen) that fit below our umbrella stroller. I bought it at WoD and it is really thin, light and unisex, so DH doesn't mind being seen with it.

This go around, DD is potty-trained, but I think I'll bring an extra pair of shorts and underwear should she have an accident. I am also an asthmatic, so I carry a small Coach pack that crosses over my chest that holds my inhaler, money, tickets, keys, chapstick and my cellphone. DH just takes his wallet and the camera, which he keeps in his cargo shorts pocket.

I keep my cell on me. DH and I were at MGM and decided on a whim to eat at the Brown Derby. I called CRO and got a 6:15 priority seating at 5:30, and the waiting room was full but we got right in.

 

[AllyCatTapia]

the funny part is the people in this thread who "agree" with the original poster (and the original poster themself) all take STUFF. I don't see your "STUFF" list as being any shorter than the ones you are referring to!!!!!!!!!!!



"I agree we travel light" but then a big list follows!!!!!!!! lol

 

[PamNC]

I definitely over pack as far as clothes and shoes. BUT, in the parks, I take almost nothing. I have a fanny pack that holds my camera, glasses, blistex for my lips with sunscreen, license and pass. My DH brings $$, pass, license. And the $$ is a card. He doesn't even wear a fanny pack. I couldn't STAND having to lug around a bunch of stuff. I've seen families with double strollers packed to the hilt with juices, food, and God knows what else. I know they need extra stuff for kids, but that would make me insane. Or, how about heavy back-packs...no way.

I'm a definite minimalist, but keep in mind we don't have kids. I'm sure I'd have to get creative to find a way to be such a minimalist if I had kids in tow.

PamNC

 

[elastigirl]

I hate carrying a lot of stuff into the parks. I usually just carry a small bag (usually my small camera bag) with id, tickets, camera, chapstick & cellphone. If I can con my DH into carrying the camera, I'll just carry my id, tickets, chapstick and cell in my pockets.

I hate the shuffle of what to do with my stuff when going on rides. Hate it. If I need something (sunscreen, bandaids, tylenol, water), I can buy it or I can get it when we go back to the resort.