Backpack vs waist packs

[6Smiles]

Which do you think is better for a family of six in the parks? Everyone having their own waist packs or just using a backpack?

 

[eeyore3847]

For me personally I like having one backpack - depending on ages. teenagers and twens can be responsible for there own. but the little ones loose stuff and I always end up carrying everyones anyway. we now use one backpack - jansport - that my husband and I rotate that we each share the weight. if you have a stroller it is the best to carry stuff!!!

Lori

 

[6Smiles]

Thank you, I was also thinking backpack and yes we will have a stroller my youngest is three. I just am worried about leaving things in the stroller. I read on another forum that their stroller and all their stuff was taken when they were on the rides earlier in the year.

I notice you are from AZ too. It is a hot one today!

 

[djblu883]

with young ones we found a diaper bag to also double as a soft sided cooler for snacks and drinks was good and could be easily left with the stroller...we also learned to carry a cheap stroller and not the nice one for thefts seem more common now in the parks...anything of real value you need to carry on your person at all times...don't take your best jackets, hats, anything...that way if you loose them or they are taken you aren't out a lot...we used fanny packs for the larger kids to carry their own snacks and water to keep the heavy backpack for becoming a burden for anyone!!! (another time)...so that being said....just remember to carry LIGHTweight everything...it all gets heavy after a long day in the parks!!!

 

[Sally_fan]

We used 1 backpack for our family of 4 & it worked well. Everything we needed fit in it easliy & it wasn't a problem on any of the rides. DH & I traded off carrying it.

 

[Sienna]

I think it depends on everyone's age and what type of stuff you need to bring in. If everyone's old enough to be responsible for their own stuff (small incidentals), I would suggest a small waist pack. They're much easier to take onto the rides - a lot of rides have a pouch to put that stuff in. A bigger backpack wouldn't fit, and you'd probably have to take turns holding it (one person rides while you hold it and vice versa). You can always get a locker for sweatshirts and jackets and things like that.

For our family of 3 (2-adults, 1-7yo child), I just used a single fanny pack. We shared a bottle of water and kept refilling it. We'd go back to the hotel in the afternoon and get a jacket for the evening. Didn't need to cart around a lot of stuff.

 

[davidsprincess]

We just used a backpack and the stroller and never left anything valuable on the stroller when we went for a ride. It worked out great and nothing was ever taken. All they would have gotten anyways was diapers and wipes. Hmmm, maybe I should have left a used diaper as a "gift" for anyone that wanted to take our stuff. Won't need to worry about that on our next trip. (Sorry guys, I have a very warped sense of humour)

 

[eeyore3847]

Thank you, I was also thinking backpack and yes we will have a stroller my youngest is three. I just am worried about leaving things in the stroller. I read on another forum that their stroller and all their stuff was taken when they were on the rides earlier in the year.

I notice you are from AZ too. It is a hot one today!

I make sure the backback can fit in the back fo the stroller and it has everything we value in it, wallets etc... or use a diaper bag style bag, and as you go on rides just take it with you and leave the little stuff that has no great value - i.e. snacks, waters etc in the back of the stroller!
That is what we do with the stroller. it is much easier to push than carry!

oh and it was a hot one today. we are in N. Phx, where are you? and when is your trip?

 

[eeyore3847]

Hmmm, maybe I should have left a used diaper as a "gift" for anyone that wanted to take our stuff. Won't need to worry about that on our next trip. (Sorry guys, I have a very warped sense of humour)

 

[avalon451]

Our family of 5- DDs 12, 10 and 5, DH and I-- all carried waist packs. Small light ones. The kids just carried snacks, water bottle and gum in theirs, kept them from getting too hungry between meals. DH and I also used ours for cell phone, camera and a thin wallet. This way we didn't have to leave a backpack in the stroller and risk getting anything stolen while we were on rides, and rides were easy, because we just flipped the waist pack around to the front. The kids tended to throw theirs in the stroller basket between rides, but that was fine-- we would just clip them back on, and everything of value went with us on the ride without being in one bulky backpack that we passed back and forth.

They do look dorky, though.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We use a backpack for our family of 3. We never found a way to carry bottled water, cameras, and everything else in a waist pack! DH and I trade off wearing it.

 

[abby]

I have a large waist pack that holds two bottles of water and lots of other stuff. It works so much better then a backpack. I just swing it around when I get on rides and don't have to take it off. Easy to reach in and get what I need without taking it off. (not so fashionable, but who cares.....)

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

We use a backpack for our family of 3. We never found a way to carry bottled water, cameras, and everything else in a waist pack! DH and I trade off wearing it.

You need to get the largest size that they sell. That's the size we carry. Each person carries their own and it's so much easier. My DS has carried his own when traveling since about age 5. He only kept his snacks and a little bit of money in there, and cell phone once he got one. He hates the fanny packs, says they are ugly -- and they are -- but they are comfortable and I sure am not going to haul around everyone else's junk as I have enough of my own to carry when in the parks!
I used to do the whole bring in your own water thing, but imo, it's a trade off. I'm on vacation, I want to be comfortable. I don't think hauling around a water bottle (or worse several water bottles ) all day long is comfortable. I bought my DS his own lanyard thing that holds the water bottle (like a shoulder strap). They sell it at DL. That way he can carry his own drink. It really is a trade off. Yes it's expensive paying for drinks in the park, but what is the price we're paying to be miserable hauling around everyone else's junk all day long?

ETA: Plus I have a bad back, so I have a good excuse to not carry around everyone else's junk all day long...

 

[djblu883]

i have a large fanny pack that holds 2 water bottles, a large camera and a poncho and billfold....that way all I need to carry extra is a light jacket if its cool...and only take the large camera at night when I'm planning night photos...i take a small camera for day shots!!!

 

[avalon451]

We have small fanny packs, but we attach our water bottles (Nalgenes with a strap on the lid) to the strap with a cheap little carabiner clip. The whole thing swings along in the small of your back or on your hip. We usually have a stroller and then we'll throw the Nalgenes into the stroller basket so they're not banging on our legs.

 

[6Smiles]

davids not a bad idea to leave a "present" for the stroller pickers!

 

[6Smiles]

eeyore: Our trip is 9/23 to 10/1! Sooooooo excited. We live about 20 minutes SE of Tucson in Vail. AZ.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think I'll do a backpack for my younger ones and let my older kids carry their own stuff! I bought a stoller that can hold four water bottles so I and DH can use those along with my three year old!