Backpack/bag for family w/3 young kids

[JJ&JSMOM]

Our family of five will be going to WDW in 2007 and I'm looking for a backpack that would be good for the parks. Our kids will be 7,4, & 2 when we go and I need a durable backpack that will hold a change of clothes for each and all the other stuff (autograph books, diapers/wipes, snacks, drinks, tylenol, etc.).

Last week we went to Storyland & Santa's Village in New Hampshire - popular amusement parks up north. I brought my LL Bean college back pack and it was awful - too many compartments I was searching for everything. It simply was too big and floopy & heavy. I didn't have that much in it. So anyway that bag is definitely out!

Any advice on a backpack/bag that is big enough to hold the stuff of 3 kids but not so bulky it doesn't fit under stroller. I've done a search and checked out the Skip Hop Expo (just doesn't seem big enough - ok for 1 child), Messanger bags (definitely not big enough but could possibly use one for maps/autograph books/passes etc.) Didn't know if anyone had any advice?
I've also thought of having another bag for change of clothes and leaving it in the lockers? Just have to remember to get it before leaving the park!!!!

TIA
Joanne

 

[all4fun]

I think the locker idea is a good one. Or just a seperate bag that can be left in the stroller basket (honestly the chances of someone messing with are pretty narrow IMO). Then you would be saving the rental fee plus you won't have to trek back to the front of the park for a clean t-shirt. I take a smallish backpack (really more medium sized) that I only have to haul the bare necessities and most valuable items like cash/ID/cc's, cameras, etc. into each attraction. Maybe some snacks too in case lines are long and the kids start to get grumpy (or the adults, lol). The less I have to actually carry around, the better. I've left non-valuable and totally replacable items in the stroller and never had anyone take anything. Of course somewhere out there, someone has had something stolen. Which is why I never leave anything I can't easily replace and it won't ruin my day if it goes missing. To me the small risk is worth the relief of not being a packhorse all day long (lol).

And remember whatever bag or bags you choose, they get checked upon entry into the parks and bags with fewer compartments are easier to deal with during this activity. Just something to keep in mind.

You might also do a search on the Disney Tips board as this particular subject seems to come up frequently.

hth.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

This is a topic that my DH is obsessed about. He had to carry our last backpack last year and the strap ended up breaking in Fantasy Land. Lucky we had a travel sewing kit with us so he ended up sewing the strap back on. This year he is looking at buying at Kelty with a few different compartments so that he won't have to take everything out just to find one thing. I think the Keltys run around $60-$100

 

[Tam1067]

I used an Ameribag healthy sling bag for our trip in July. It could hold ponchos for 5, clothes for DD, and assorted other stuff. It also fit underneath the stroller or could hang from the stroller handles. I love it and will use it on the next trip, too.

 

[bartleby1]

Here is what I did. We have 3 kids also (6,4, and 20 mths). We rented a double stroller and brought a lightweight single with a decent size basket.

I packed a diaper bag backpack that had one big compartment and then a smaller compartment outside. The one I used I got for free from a drugstore.com promo quite a few years ago so I can't recommend a brand but you don't want a ton of compartments. In this bag, I packed an emergency outfit each of my kids in a ziplock bag. This outfit was the lightest weight, easiest to pack stuff I could find. That ziploc went on the bottom of the bag and we didn't need it once but I felt better having it. Then, I packed the diapers (5 or 6 depending on the length of the day) and a ziploc bag of TONS of wipes in another ziploc. That way, one of us could just grab the ziploc and head off to change the baby. Travel size packs of wipes are too small for 3 kids. I also threw in a light receiving blanket to put on the changing station. Snacks and emergency lollipops went in the small outside compartment.

Then, I packed a medium size tote bag with extra stuff that would end up coming out of the diaper bag once we arrived at the park. The mister fans, water, kids cups, ponchos, etc, went in here. This way, once we gave the kids their cups and misters, put the ponchos and stroller rain covers in the bottom of the stroller (these were also in a BIG ziploc), we could just fold up the tote bag. We always had a problem with an overflowing diaper bag by the end of the day and could never find anything because I tried to cram it all into one bag. The tote bag worked perfect. At the end of the day, we just threw all of our extra stuff in it.

We also had our camera case which we hung off the back of the stroller and took with us on rides. DH and I also each had our lovely looking fanny packs for our money, ID, purell and other small items.

Personally, I don't like using lockers because you could be on the other side of the park when you need what is in there.

Be sure to put EVERYTHING in ziploc bags in case something spills or leaks, or you get caught in the rain. We even bring an extra large ziploc to put our camera case in if it rains really hard. The ziplocs also help you to stay organized.

 

[crl]

I have a bag made by Makenzie Kids that I love. It's a backpack that has the main compartment. A side pocket with a velcro close (fits my cell phone perfectly). A drawstring close, insulated side pocket (fits one sippy cup). A small pouch that I use for wallet, keys and such that is attached to the front with snaps (this gets snapped off and taken on to attractions). And a small zippered, insulated pouch on the bottom (great for those bottles of water). Plus all this fits under our stroller.

 

[momamy]

i use a jansport backpack

comfy wide straps and only 1 compartment and a small zippered pocket on the front! which i used for my first aid kit hand sanitizer wipes!

Amy

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

This sounds exactly like how I should do it - I've been making a list of stuff I'd need to pack - essentials and just in case. Then thought I'd have seperate bags and put those things I have to have in one bag and just in case in another bag in the bottom of the stroller. Thanks for the great advice! Also to the other replies thank you - I've written down all the types of bags and I plan on looking them up on google.

A note on fanny packs - they be weird looking but boy are they handy. We've used on on every amusement park/state fair trip we've been on - mostly pre-kids. This is our first big trip as a family w/3 young kids.

Thanks again.
Joanne

Here is what I did. We have 3 kids also (6,4, and 20 mths). We rented a double stroller and brought a lightweight single with a decent size basket.

I packed a diaper bag backpack that had one big compartment and then a smaller compartment outside. The one I used I got for free from a drugstore.com promo quite a few years ago so I can't recommend a brand but you don't want a ton of compartments. In this bag, I packed an emergency outfit each of my kids in a ziplock bag. This outfit was the lightest weight, easiest to pack stuff I could find. That ziploc went on the bottom of the bag and we didn't need it once but I felt better having it. Then, I packed the diapers (5 or 6 depending on the length of the day) and a ziploc bag of TONS of wipes in another ziploc. That way, one of us could just grab the ziploc and head off to change the baby. Travel size packs of wipes are too small for 3 kids. I also threw in a light receiving blanket to put on the changing station. Snacks and emergency lollipops went in the small outside compartment.

Then, I packed a medium size tote bag with extra stuff that would end up coming out of the diaper bag once we arrived at the park. The mister fans, water, kids cups, ponchos, etc, went in here. This way, once we gave the kids their cups and misters, put the ponchos and stroller rain covers in the bottom of the stroller (these were also in a BIG ziploc), we could just fold up the tote bag. We always had a problem with an overflowing diaper bag by the end of the day and could never find anything because I tried to cram it all into one bag. The tote bag worked perfect. At the end of the day, we just threw all of our extra stuff in it.

We also had our camera case which we hung off the back of the stroller and took with us on rides. DH and I also each had our lovely looking fanny packs for our money, ID, purell and other small items.

Personally, I don't like using lockers because you could be on the other side of the park when you need what is in there.

Be sure to put EVERYTHING in ziploc bags in case something spills or leaks, or you get caught in the rain. We even bring an extra large ziploc to put our camera case in if it rains really hard. The ziplocs also help you to stay organized.

 

[TheBigQ]

Hey I went to a yard sale yesterday and I found a WDW Mickey Mouse fanny pack (good sized one) and bought it for $1. So one bag down now I'll look for a good backpack. Thanks again!

 

[DisneyMama2H&O]

I found a great back pack at Walmart last weekend. It's smaller than a regular back pack it's call a day pack and it's by Outdoor products. It has 3 nice compartments with a clip on the outside and another one on the inside. Nice comfortable/adjustable straps. A cup holder on each side and should easily fit under our stroller. The best part is that it was only $9.98 and it comes in at least 4 different colors.

 

[KJMAX1]

We have 4 small kids, and use the Eagle Creek Diaper backpack. It has a compartment in fromt that opens up with sections for essentials, a seperate area for a changing pad. It also has two straps that fit into pcokets so that you can carry it as a bag if needed. The straps are wide, and well padded. It has one large compartment in the backpack, as well as a smaller pocket inside. I am able to fit a days worth of diapers, wipes, creams, lotion, formula, snacks, drinks, and cameras.

I bought mine on ebay because they can be expensive, but its literally the best diaper/backpack we have owned, and there have been MANY!! My husband loves it because it doesnt look like a diaper bag, and he can look sporty carrying a backpack instead.

Here is one on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NWT-EAGLE-CREEK...ryZ57917QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Here is another from a store full price.

http://lonelyplanet.altrec.com/shop/detail/24381/

 

[DisneyTarheel]

Rick Steves' Civita Day Pack

You can even get it in hemp.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Do you need to bring a change of clothes for all 3 kids? I would think a change for the 2 year old and a T that either of the older 2 could wear would be enough. I just wouldn't want to lug all that around the parks everyday "just in case".

I bought a Nike mesh backpack at Marshalls. I used it for the first time in May and it worked out great. Nice and easy through security, so light and much cooler to wear. I only had my oldest with me so we'll soon see how it goes with all 3 kids (7,5,3) in a little more than a week.