Backpack or Purse?

[evilqueenmindy]

I am a backpack person as well. Especially if it's going to be an all day affair. I have a Coach backpack that has been my go-to theme park bag. It's not full size, but big enough to carry what I need, and I can be hands free. I prefer the even distribution to a cross body bag

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I prefer a crossbody bag because it's so much easier to get things in and out. With a backpack, I always end up having to take it off. Plus I can get on rides without having to take my crossbody bag off.

 

[larryz]

Do any of you have rain flys that you cover your backpacks with when it's pouring in the parks?

 

[jmkjr72]

This is what we use
https://www.rockcreek.com/patagonia...g-xiyx7Afy8QlS_uLBiaX0SlXViZAplCibxoCflvw_wcB
We like it as either of us can carry it. Granted we have no children so not as much to take with. The one we have has a lightly insulated pocket right up against your back it's great for keeping water bottles if you start the day with them half frozen you have cold water all day long and being it's right against your back it cools you also

 

[kirstenb1]

We carry a North Face backpack. One advantage of the backpack is dh will volunteer to carry it, but would never if it were a purse. I love that it has the water bottle holders on either side. We go in summer, so always have several dollar store rain ponchos in the pack. We could definitely go with a smaller backpack, as long as it had the water bottle holders. However, I don't want multiple backpacks. We use the NF for Busch Gardens/the zoo/baseball games, so at other times of the year, it's also holding spare jackets, snacks etc. I'd urge you to consider if you'd use it for other excursions than WDW.

 

[SerenityValley]

I love my Vera Bradley hipster for a cross body bag, but after all day in the park it started digging into my shoulder. I discovered the Harvey's Seatbelt Disney bags. I used the mini-messenger, it held just as much, but the wider strap felt so much better.

 

[ggdvc]

I use a Vera Bradley mini hipster for my purse, and a Vera Bradley miller tote for my park bag. The miller tote is bigger than we really need for the parks (usually just holds the raincoats, extra sunscreen, maybe a snack, and my mom's folding cane, plus any small purchases we make during the day), but it doubles as my carry-on for the flight down (and holds a lot more). We also have either my mom's rollator or a wheelchair for her, so if the bag gets too heavy in the parks, we'll rest it on the rollator seat, or hang it between the handles of the wheelchair. Vera also makes smaller totes, and while they can be pricey, I like them because the bags themselves are very lightweight.

 

[Meriweather]

I carry a lot.
I now use this...... http://www.amazon.com/adidas-Capita...1676382&sr=8-1&keywords=adidas+sling+backpack

love it and it doesn't make my back hurt

 

[aretha30]

I carry the Very Bradley Hipster as a cross body bag. I don't carry anything to heavy so it doesn't dig into my shoulder after using it all day. I can get things in and out quickly and easily, no need to take on and off. My husband and oldest son both carry lightweight cinch sack type backpacks. We only carry essentials into the parks these days; ponchos, snacks, water, cameras, wallets, phones, etc. No one has much and bag check is pretty quick and easy.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I carry a regular size LL Bean backpack. A couple years I carried a Vera Bradley backpack, but since it was "girly", DH wouldn't take a turn carrying it. With the LL Bean, he doesn't mind carrying.

 

[MommaBerd]

I use a Vera Bradley small backpack that I got several years ago. I just did a quick search and it looks as if that style is retired, but the small "Ultimate Backpack" is pretty close...

 

[si-am]

I like to pack both. A backpack is great for long park days but seems like overkill for an "off" day, like to Downtown Disney or resort tours.on those days, I prefer a crossbody purse. Baggalini is always good, and you can find great deals on them at TJ Maxx or Marshalls.

 

[Disneytam]

I will admit to using a fanny pack! It is small and I hook it so that I carry it in the front. I would NEVER wear it outside of Disney but nothing else seems to work, the backpack and crossbody purse are just a pain in the back for me. An added bonus is I can shift it to the side on rides and have no problem with ride bars not fitting. I've looked at some of the items that some are saying they use and they look bulky and uncomfortable and I am sure I would be smacking other guests with them. Where do you put those type of bags when you ride the rollercoasters?

 

[mandy200587]

I use a backpack from Vera Bradley in the parks, it fits my camera case and wallet, plus odds and ends. If I'm going to downtown disney, I just use my wallet which is a crossbody style.

This is the backpack I have: http://www.verabradley.com/product/double-zip-backpack/va-va-bloom/1001731_176504.uts?N=80012t and this style wallet: http://www.verabradley.com/product/...stlet/ziggy-zinnia/1002046_198371.uts?N=80005

 

[CyndiLooWho]

I'm a crossbody gal, and this one is my hands-down favorite: http://www.ebags.com/product/overland-equipment/bayliss-crossbody/280027?productid=10321632 . The ballistic nylon body and seatbelt type straps are easy to clean, and this particular bag converts to a waist-pack with 3 prongs so it can be worn on nearly every ride at Universal. It's also discontinued, though it's available several places in less popular colors. It holds an amazing amount of stuff: travel size wipes, small baggie of band-aids, travel size advil and tylenol tubes, small triple anti-biotic ointment, 2 travel size sunscreens (refilled each night), lip balm, gum/mints, smartphone, 1-2 disposable ponchos, cards & cash, glasses cleaner & cloth, folding scissors, hair ties, even a very small hairbrush, plus a few other odds and ends. My husband and boys carry their own emergency ponchos in cargo pockets, and we have water bottle holders that clip to purse or belt (or into the other cargo pocket). That takes care of everything we need for a day in the park, and has since our boys were about 7 & 9 (they're teens now).

My other fave is another ballistic nylon bag with seatbelt straps, but it was discontinued even longer ago. It's a little smaller, so the boys have to carry more, but so much easier to deal with than a backpack. We've tried that, too, and they just get too hot unless we are using one of the good hiking daypacks. But hubby does not like to take those into the parks, and they are harder to fit into lockers if we decide not to carry one all day.

 

[Frozen2014]

We're two adults and 2 kids. I have a bad back and so travel light. When we were sticking together for the bulk of the day, I just carried a fanny pack to hold onto sunglasses (when not wearing them), small sunscreen, etc and DH carried a back pack. It wasn't an issue as there were very few rides he had to leave it behind (Soarin comes to mind). When we were separating for most of the day, I carried DD's smaller backback (i.e. kid version). That way, I could carry her autograph book around as well.

 

[abeautybutafunnygirl]

Mountain Equipment Coop (a Canadian brand, assuming you don't have it in the states) makes a great sling backpack that many people in my family carry. http://www.mec.ca/product/5032-791/...ack-unisex/?h=10+50007+50042&f=10+50007+50587
It comes in different sizes and colours, and both right-handed and left-handed versions. My mom use to carry the big one when my brother and I were younger, but I carry a small one and I find that it has more than enough room.
The majority of our Disney trips are during the summer, and we have never had any problems with it. Super comfortable.

 

[Bellamouse]

I agree with Disneytam. Either I will carry nothing, and just have my DH carry whatever in his cargo shorts, or I will use a fanny pack. They are indeed ugly, but I would rather be ugly and have FUN than cute and be miserable from my back and/or shoulders hurting. Which they 100% would with either a back pack or cross body bag for a whole day at Disney.

 

[Ursula's Apprentice]

I have always carried a cross body and found that I carry too much stuff and my back starts hurting after a few days. Our last trip I carried an Eddie Bauer backpack. It was big, bulky, but perfect. Bag check was not bad... just open zippers as you are walking up. Having the weight evenly distributed on my back was worth the hassle of carrying the bigger bag.

I concur with this. Cross body just made my back and shoulder hurt. I switched to a backpack and haven't had that problem.

 

[DznyPrnces]

I'm a backpack person, but I don't carry a full size, I carry a smaller one. My daughter has food allergies, so in addition to the standard wallet, camera, sunscreen, I also carry a few safe snacks for her and her epi-pen.