Backpack or not to Backpack

[CassieF]

I'm a frequent visitor and when I go by myself or to meet up with friends I bring just a regular purse (holds my dslr, ipad, wallet, water bottle) but I go for the big backpack when I take my 2 year old niece, as I opt to not take a stroller. I don't mind lugging stuff around (it's usually fun costumes and plushes) but if I were going for full park days back to back it would probably get old quickly. Still, it's nice to have everything you could possibly need with you at all times!

 

[thewelts]

No phone? I'm guessing you are older than 50 years old.

No... 47!

 

[farmfresh]

I always take what Americans call ( and the rest of the English speaking world never would ) a fanny pack. The benefit is on most rides you never need to take it off. I keep money, tickets, sunglasses, even water in it. My husband takes a small pack-away day pack for water (collapsible water bottles are a great option) and a camera. Our kids take their own stuff, which generally means they opt for very little. Just tie your extra layers around your waist, or if you are planning to take a park break, pick them up for later int he evening.

I totally agree with OPs that the less you bring in the easier it is.

 

[B-Ride]

If you are used to carrying a backpack it won't be an issue at all.

 

[Pucka1378]

We always bring a backpack. We are huge water drinkers so we always have bottles of water with us. DH and I share a backpack and my boys 12 and 13yo share a backpack.

We also always have sun screen with us and we reapply often.

We always have some snacks with us at the least and at the most we pack inour own lunch.

It works well for us and I can't imagine going and not having one. I just did a trip with my mom and I and I carried a backpack. Great for our bottles of water and our sweatshirts. Bonus when we sat down I could put it on the ground and my mom could elevate her sore feet!

 

[Nonsuch]

I always take what Americans call ( and the rest of the English speaking world never would ) a fanny pack. The benefit is on most rides you never need to take it off. I keep money, tickets, sunglasses, even water in it...

I have used a fanny pack and various small backpacks/bags in the parks, and a couple years ago searched for a better way to carry my "essentials"

Any search for "travel vest" will bring up Scott E Vest, an extensive line of mufti-pocketed clothing.
My favorite is the Tropiformer jacket/vest, very lightweight.
The SHIELD Vest is better looking, but only for cooler weather.

This link provides 20% off most items

I've made several positive posts about ScottEVest, but have no relation to the company -- other than being a satisfied customer.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

Hello everyone! I'm a newbie and we're headed to our first trip to DL on the 9th-15! I need some advice from all of your knowledgeable peeps!

My husband and I typically carry backpacks when we go somewhere with the kids (10 & 8). Will this be cumbersome to walk around the park with? I'm a photographer so I am bringing the "big girl" camera along with water bottles, snacks, and the other bag to carry our hoodies, etc.

I'm reading the unofficial guide and they suggest the hip packs...HELP! (I know this is small in the scheme of things but...)

Thanks a ton!

My kids are the same age as yours and we do not bring a backpack. If we do not plan to return to the hotel during the day we bring jackets and put them in a locker.

I have a very small and light crossbody bag that holds mini essentials - sunscreen (which I actually only carry during our summer DL trips), tube of Advil, 2 bandaids, sanitizer. Those are the only things my kids could possibly need at this age! [I also carry my ID, APs, credit card, and lipgloss. ] The purse weighs just over 1lb when packed with all listed above, including the sunscreen, which at 2oz is the heaviest item.

It is a wonderful, freeing feeling to tour without luggage after years of using the stroller like a pack mule!

 

[ClaraOswald]

I have a toddler now...so we'll have to bring a small backback (as a diaper bag.) But without a child (or with older children) I wouldn't carry a backpack around the parks. I mean, I have in the past. But then I discovered the ease of the (let's face it, hideous) fanny pack. I can fit everything I need in it (phone, camera, kleenex, sunglasses, etc.) and I can leave it around my waist for every single ride. It doesn't hurt my back or make me sweaty like a backpack would during the day.

If we need to bring bigger items like jackets and whatnot, we've always just rented a locker. Even though we'll have a stroller, we will still do that this time. The less crap we lug throughout the park, the better.

For a water bottle, I use a little strap with an insulated pouch (found it on Etsy.)

 

[kgbrav]

OOH I was just thinking yikes, lockers, I need to carry cash? Thanks for the card response Crystal 1313!

 

[kgbrav]

Thank you Geemo, hmm that does seem like a nice idea...I could get creative?

 

[kgbrav]

Well I still haven't decided, aliceinwonderland and everyone who says carrying less is more is making me change my mind! We aren't staying close by, we'll be at the Ayers Inn, but I do plan on taking a break midday and maybe going back to the room, (I think my DH and DD will need a nap! lol)

Thanks for the info everyone!

 

[mystic_path]

If you feel that you have brought too much with you the first day then rent a locker and figure out what you use the most and what you didnt and go from there the next day. Breaks are good mid day to go back to your room to relax for awhile before heading back so you can drop off items then or grab things you missed. Or you can always get a small backpack and get someone else to carry those little extras.

I personally have always had a small cross body purse. Just enough to carry a small camera, my phone, money, park pass and individual juice flavoring I add to free ice water when I get thirsty that anyone can get at food counter service kiosks. I downright refuse to carry more then I need to. My family enjoys going back to the room mid day for a small break from the park to relax and regain some energy and we grab our jackets then.

But if you plan on staying in the parks and you want to bring it all with you and you don't want to carry it, then lockers are fantastic.

 

[SplashMo]

We always have one small back pack. Somewhere in the 18-22 liter range... I like a backpack over any other form... Have fun!

 

[krispin41]

For those of you who have gone the small purse route....what size camera are you carrying? I have a cross body bag I LOVE, but there is no way my DSLR (with smaller lens) is going to fit in it.

 

[Disney_Alli]

We went last December 2-12 and it was COLD! I carry a large-ish cross body purse and put a water bottle and my autograph book inside. It was rarely warm enough to remove our jackets (and we're Canadians!) so we didn't have to worry about carrying our jackets but the few times we did they just went in our hands or on our chairs if we were sitting in the sun. My fiancé carried a very small cinch sack and my brother-in-law carried his awesome sling camera bag while my sister and I stuck with the purses we've used on multiple trips to both DL and WDW. Now we don't travel with children (yet) but we definitely like to keep our accoutrement to the minimum.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[mrsbicewdw]

Even before kids we always took a backpack to the parks. We brought extra clothes for water rides (well, dry underwear and shorts/pants) because TRUST ME - walking in soaked pants is the fastest way to a horrible rash/chaffing...and that can ruin a whole trip. We brought a wind breaker/hoodie in colder months. Then snacks, one water bottle for the two of us, and our camera. Always had sunscreen - my husband is a ginger...if her thinks about the sun he burns. With kids we obviously added a lot more to that...but also had the stroller.

Things that make a backpack easier - package things either in separate pockets or in gallon zip-locks. I hate trying to find one thing in the bag and it has migrated to the bottom of the main compartment...and then I end up taking out a million things all over the table or bench to find that item. We had a bag with a lot of compartments so that clothes were in one, snacks in another, camera in another, etc. And now with the kids extra clothes I package them each in zip-locks so I can pull it out fast and know all the items are there (shorts, undies (or diaper), shirt, socks). That makes it easy if dad has to go change one kid in the men's and I have to go change the other in the women's. If you do a backpack, get a good one. We have taken cheap ones and hated it. Our go-to backpack for travel is one made by Columbia. We have taken that thing everywhere and it has held up really well and is comfortable and cool to wear.

I could never wear a fanny pack. 1) not enough room. 2) it's a fannypack.

 

[princessmocha]

I carry a drawstring bag from 31 with all our stuff. I put my small camera, some water bottles, money/cards in it. And if I need to I can stuff a sweatshirt in there. We used to go the bigger backpack, but as the kids got older, the less stuff we needed and it is so much nicer to not have to lug it around. This year when we go, we may rent a locker for sweatshirts/jackets just in case it gets cold on us.

 

[kgbrav]

Awesome idea about the baggies in the backpack, thank you mrsbicewdw, I do hate how everything ends up at the bottom. (add MORE ziplocs to the shopping list!) I'm hoping its not to cold Disney_Alli, I'm originally from NJ but living in AZ now and I am definitely "un-used" to the cold anymore.

 

[ClaraOswald]

As far as a fanny pack/bum bag....

Don't knock it until you've tried it. Disneyland isn't a fashion show and I couldn't care less how nerdy I look. Having everything right there in front of me is fantastic. Especially when I want to grab my camera real quick. And not having to take it off on any rides is also pretty great. Lap bars and even the shoulder harness on Screamin' aren't a problem at all.

I used to wear a cross body purse but by the end of the day, my shoulder would ache. And then I used a backpack for a while but that just made my back sweaty. And it was annoying on rides. It stressed me out having to keep it at my feet.

We're bringing a stroller this trip but since I don't want to leave anything other than diapers in it while we're on rides, I will still be using my fanny pack for my camera and everything else.

(But no, I'm guessing a gigantic camera wouldn't fit in a fanny pack. I haven't tried it since I'm a point and shoot kind of gal.)

 

[Butterfly123]

For those of you who have gone the small purse route....what size camera are you carrying? I have a cross body bag I LOVE, but there is no way my DSLR (with smaller lens) is going to fit in it.

I just wear my DSLR on a longer strap cross body. I have a neoprene cover for it when I want to protect it...also a plastic bag for wetter rides. I just leave the camera on my body during the rides, shows, etc. It really doesn't get in the way. I usually don't bring extra lenses with me.