Assume you have the perfect WDW backpack/cooler/waistpack combo...

[daisylove]

So what do you put in your chosen bag that you take to the parks? For yourself? for kids? in cooler weather? in summer heat?

I do not know why I am always curious about this. Maybe because I am always afraid of forgetting something or that there is a better way of doing the parks out there somewhere.

 

[eeyore0062]

If we are spending the day in the parks, we do take a backpack. In it we have sunscreen, cases for sunglasses, umbrellas, (if going to AK & riding Kali--flipflops), my husband's eyedrops and a brush for hair and hair ties. DD carries her water spray bottle fan.

In pockets we have our IDs, money or CC and tickets.

If we are just going for a few hours, we just have what fits in the pockets or on the person.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

When we go, we're there for the day, so we each have a backpack!! My philosophy, if you want it . . . you carry it!!! The girls carry small backpacks (NOT ROLLING ONES!!!) which have their spending $, camera, sunscreen lip balm, sunglasses, water bottle. The older ones will also carry their cell phones because god forbid they miss that all important call!! They also have a water spray bottle. In May we won't need jackets or sweatshirts!!

I carry sunscreen, lip balm, powder, camera(s) (DH carries the video camera), $, cleansing cloths which I found to be GREAT last May, they really freshened my face up after a few hours in that heat. Used two or three a day actually!! Someone here had a GREAT idea to bring along a small spray deo so everyone could share it when needed!!! Maybe I should bring a couple extra to pass around!!??!!

 

[daisylove]

I never thought of bring flip flops just for kali. Good idea. The powder also something I never brought but definetely see the uses for. Cool. 2 new ideas.

 

[Leota]

I have what I call our "Park Pack". It's a small cosmetics case that holds a shout wipe, a couple bandaids & alcohol swabs,a tampon, a vial with assorted meds(advil, tums etc),a nail/clipper & file, lip balm,purell, hair tie & 2 ziploc bags(for wrapping camera on water rides)

In my backpack goes the ParkPack, water bottle,camera,park wallet sunglasses,sunscreen & sarong (many uses - wrap for chill, blanket,towel). That's for a full Park day.
If I'm just going in for a couple hours, I skip all that & just carry my Park Wallet (passes, money, ID & CC) sunglasses, meds case, water bottle & camera (fits in small waist-pack)

 

[goofy4tink]

Leota....love the idea of a sarong. That may have to go in my pack also!!! We all wear fanny packs. My camara, lip balm, tissues, stick sunscreen, passes, id, money(small amount!),poncho, purell go in mine. Dd carries her lip balm, poncho,and autograph stuff. Dh carries lip balm, sunscreen, poncho, and sometimes my videocamera in his.

I'm going to try to get away with less this June. Maybe just one of those neck wallets.

 

[SimbaNoodle]

I always bring my backpack. Usually put my camera, medicine, water, radios, snacks & bandaids.

 

[bobcat]

Instead of liquid sunscreen I carry the bull frog stick.No worry about it spilling. I also carry a small deck of the disney trivia card from our game. We can use these to pass the time while waiting for parades and it kept the kids busy a few years ago when our flight was delayed. I also carry wet wipes, helpful when we eat turkey legs.

I too love the sarong idea. I have one that I wear to the pool at wdw and it is very useful but I never thought to take it to the parks.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We try to bring just one backpack for the whole crew (no children, just adults). If it's in the summer, we take at least 2-3 water bottles, some frozen and some just cold. We also bring some slightly damp washcloths in ziplocks for sweat control, LOL, inhalers, camera w/extra batteries, compact, kleenex, sunscreen, wallet, cell phone, ponchos.

During the winter months, we skip the sunscreen, ziplocks with washcloths, water bottles.

We almost ALWAYS take a break mid-day, either to the hotel, car, off property, etc so we often change clothes, grab a jacket, etc then.

My mom carries a pair of flipflops with her, she goes often all day by herself. Her feet really swell in the heat and with the constriction of her sneakers, so when she gets into a long show or restaurant, she'll discreetly slip them off and put on her flipflops to let her feet cool off and let the swelling go down. She can't walk all day in them, but she needs that relief sometimes. They don't take up much space at all.

There have been times in which we didn't plan to head to the room midday, so we'll rent a locker for jackets and such. ESP in winter months, when jackets are big!

 

[DoomBuggyBabe]

Well, I've never been part of the backpack camp. DH and I are the proud owners of what we call our "Geek Vests." They are Woolrich brand outdoorsmen's vests, and have more pockets than I can count. In them, I can stow wallet, keys, pens, notebook, Canon EOS and two lenses (including the big ol' 300 mm), extra film (yes, I still use film), shades, etc.
I stumbled onto this method of stuff-hauling several years ago while on a trip to Yosemite Park out in California. I didn't want to haul a backpack while hiking, afraid it would pull me off-balance, and discovered the vest was a better way to take everything I wanted/needed with a more even distribution of weight.
The Geek Vest adapted very easily to Disney. As an added bonus, we can waltz right through the "guests without bags" line, and adorn ourselves with myriad Disney patches and pins!
Cheers,
Q

 

[mjmcca]

I have to carry a pack i have toddlers and one isnt toilet trained yet. I carry all the stuff for them ( extra clothes diapers ect) and ponchos for all. Some water botles and snacks.

 

[LisaR]

Well, I've never been part of the backpack camp. DH and I are the proud owners of what we call our "Geek Vests." They are Woolrich brand outdoorsmen's vests, and have more pockets than I can count. In them, I can stow wallet, keys, pens, notebook, Canon EOS and two lenses (including the big ol' 300 mm), extra film (yes, I still use film), shades, etc.
I stumbled onto this method of stuff-hauling several years ago while on a trip to Yosemite Park out in California. I didn't want to haul a backpack while hiking, afraid it would pull me off-balance, and discovered the vest was a better way to take everything I wanted/needed with a more even distribution of weight.
The Geek Vest adapted very easily to Disney. As an added bonus, we can waltz right through the "guests without bags" line, and adorn ourselves with myriad Disney patches and pins!
Cheers,

I like the geeky vest idea! Where does one buy a geeky vest with a lot of pockets?

Lisa

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

birkenstocks, a wallet and shorts. Is that so wrong?!?

 

[Leota]

birkenstocks, a wallet and shorts. Is that so wrong?!?

Not wrong, but you must not be a Mother.

 

[DoomBuggyBabe]

Lisa,
Well, DH and I got ours at the Woolrich factory outlet here in Reading, PA. You could always search "Woolrich" on the Web. I've also seen multi-pocket vests in the sports department at Wal-Mart.
I certainly do recommend them.
Good luck!
Q

 

[Mickeyhugger]

DH, DD and I share a backpack.

Each time we pack..

3 sodas or water bottles
wallet with KTTW cards and traveler's checks
snacks (cheeze-its, chips and/or cookies, not the healthiest stuff, but we're on vacation)
Purell, hand lotion, lipstick, and hairbrush (DD and I don't carry purses w/us in the parks
eyeglass cases

 

[mjmcca]

Lisa,
Well, DH and I got ours at the Woolrich factory outlet here in Reading, PA. You could always search "Woolrich" on the Web. I've also seen multi-pocket vests in the sports department at Wal-Mart.
I certainly do recommend them.
Good luck!
Q

I found a mens multi pocketed vest on the Woolrich website.

 

[EpcotQueen]

We got ours at AK. Finally tired of the bag lines. Assortment of stuff stashed ALL over the vest. Has pockets for fairly large items. Look forward to using again in February.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

Every year I buy a new purse for our Disney trip. I can usually find it at Wal-Mart, but this year they didn't have any. I bought this year's at Meijer.

It is a black purse with 4 or 5 compartments. The purse is made of a silky kind of material that is somewhat water-resistant. I make sure it has a super long strap and I wear it over one shoulder under the other arm.

I also make sure it has at least 2 outer compartments. I place extra film (I prefer film because of the quantity of photos I take.) and extra batteries in one outer compartment for easy access. I also put purell and bandaids in that compartment.

This year's purse has a compartment on the back, which will be against my hip, so I will put some $ in there, so it is easy to get to.

Other purse items:
trial size deodorant
2 autograph books
kids' disney dollars
2 fat pens
a couple of handi-wipes
A pack of peanut butter crackers for dd
We only bring our little ponchos if rain is in the forecast (we go late Feb./early March)
Dh keeps the passes, room key and some $ on him.

 

[Philadisney]

DH, DD and I share a backpack.

lol we tried that last time....guess who ended up carrying it the whole trip?