Backpacks for kids... or adults?

[SunDevilDaddy]

My DW and I have been going around over this one. She wants to pack each of our kids (DS6, DD5) their own little backpack with snacks and water and their autograph books, etc. to carry around the park. I think that the kids will tire of carrying their own luggage and I'll end up lugging around not one but two backpacks the majority of the day. (To add insult to injury I'd be stuck hauling spiderman and princesses on my back )

My suggestion was that we put all the snacks and waters and so on in one normal sized, normal colored, backpack so that I only have to worry about the one single backpack and not multiples, because I just don't see the kids carrying anything for 10 hours at a time.

Does anyone have any experience or tips either way?

 

[DangerMouse]

At that young age, I would suggest you keeping the pack. A big problem would occur on rides when they have to take them off and then remember to get them back on again after. It's just a hassle, and I could imagine a pack getting left behind on a ride . . .

We have three kids (5,7,10) and my dh still packs all our stuff. We do usually get a stroller for the littlest, and use it to help carry the heaviest things (waters, snacks, etc.).

 

[Chumpson]

Last time I went with kids that age we had two 'fannie packs' filled with stuff. My wife and I carried them, it was much easier that way. Our packs had two spots each for water bottles which we used for drinks. I thought they were much easier to take on and off for rides that required it, some didn't even need to have them removed as compared to backpacks.

 

[DisQueen]

My kids are 8 and 4. I carry my backpack with snacks, autograph books, camera, and stuff. The kids each carry their water bottle on a leash. Because it's just a bottle, they can easily get on and off rides without taking off the water. I think a backpack would be a pain - at least for my kids. I've never had a problem with my pack and rides. It either fits at my feet or in the pouch provided.

 

[thedarksyde]

We bring in one backpack that I carry, it's a camel bak (but not the name brand) we got it as Costco for 20 bucks. It holds 2 liters of water, and can stay cold all day in the hot sun, also in there are snacks and keys and things like that. Anything else is lockered.

 

[Twinprincesses]

We always bring one big one for the family. I think we might look into getting one of those that holds water too. I laughed when I first saw them but they sure do make alot of sense.

 

[thedarksyde]

We always bring one big one for the family. I think we might look into getting one of those that holds water too. I laughed when I first saw them but they sure do make alot of sense.

Twinprincess one of the coolest things about them...is...that as the day goes on, it gets lighter! hahahah!

 

[disneylandfreak]

Definately carry one yourself, you are dead on, kids don't want to carry them after a bit. Of course if you lose and they end up bringing them you could always put them in a locker if it gets to be too much of a pain.

 

[hlbtimes2]

If you are unable to win the battle with your wife (I know how wives can be- I am one! LOL), try it one day. If it goes bad, rent a locker and stash their stuff for the day. Yes, it will cost your $6-8, but it might be worth it just to say you tried.

 

[mickey+minnie91]

I have been having this same internal struggle myself. lol. I thought about having my soon to be 10 year old (going on "16" but thats a different story) carry around her own backpack. My 6 year old son on the other hand, would loose it with in the first hour. My older one will want her Nitendo DS and her MP3 player to pass time but I dont want them lost. After reading someone else's suggestions, I think I will do the water bottle on a "string" idea. Thats what gets heavy in our backpack. If they both have their own water and can drink freely, I wont have to carry it. And most importantly, dig for the bottles in my bag and hope that they closed them all the way so the dont leak all over my camera. Does anyone know where I can purchase the bottle holders?

Thanks!!

 

[SCohen]

If you do relent and have the kids carry around their own bags, I'd make sure they were pretty small packs- that way in a few hours you could put them in YOUR backpack when they get tired of carrying them.
We take a padded Eddie Bauer backpack and put our Brita bottle (to filter tap water), $1 rain ponchos for everyone in our family, our camera (in a ziplock baggie), a few snacks including individual sized water flavoring pouches, autograph books with large markers of different colors (in a ziplock baggie- you can grab it easier this way and it stays dry), a few blister bandaids, sunglasses, and a few pills for headaches/tummy aches etc.
We take turns carrying the backpack throughout the day. All in all it weighs about 3-5lbs. Now that the kids are older we take turns letting them carry it too.
We buy water throughout the day- I know its $2 each, but not carrying around water bottles is worth it, plus we can refill a just empty bottle with our brita if we get thirsty. I got ours at KMart.
Worse case scenario- you may have to rent a locker... it may be a small price to pay for peace within your household

 

[tinkerbelt]

Every time we go, my DD wants to take her backpack, and she usually holds it for no more than an hour, and then I'm stuck dealing with it for the rest of the day

My vote is for one big backpack, carried by an adult.

 

[SunDevilDaddy]

Thanks for the replies.

I didn't even think about what the water could potentially do to our cameras. I like the water bottle on a string idea too! Does anyone know where you can buy those bottle slings?

Also... as DW's go.. you're right hlbtimes2... I might lose the battle anyway. But at least I'll have the inevitable "I TOLD YOU SO"

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We did one regular backpack on this trip. We kept the camera and the water bottles in different pockets, and my DH and I took turns wearing the backpack. I know my son, it wouldn't have been very long at all before he'd be sick of wearing anything like that. Not to mention those water bottles can get heavy!

This was the first year we brought our own water bottles in to the park. Saved us a TON of money. We just got them cold in the hotel fridge and would switch out for cold ones when we went back to the hotel on breaks.

 

[pleakley]

We bought our water bottle "lanyards" at Disneyland as well as the San Diego WAP and Universal, they're only a couple of bucks. They usually have them at the carts that sell the bottles of water and pop.

 

[pixiewings71]

What is water bottle on a string? I'm not familiar with that.

We let our girls take in a small backpack with their stuff in it. They carry a autograph book, pens and that's about it really. Occasionally they will have a small snack as well. I usually take in a woven bag that has everything else in it, sunscreen (a must for our Irish skin), water, snacks, tickets, camera.....and DBF and I take turns carrying it...although I think I'll be carrying it most of the time this year, since it's got butterflies on it! LOL

 

[mattmommy]

I carry the backpack in the family. We freeze a few bottles of water and drink them as they melt. They we start buying in the park. DH is a camera buff and has the camera belly bag. It's a nice big clear backpack that makes going through security a breeze. Is there security at DL like at WDW?

I say you carry one big backpack and rent a stroller. We always rent a stroller for ds6. Although he's WAY too old for one, I'd rather have him not cranky by 6 from walking in the heat and standing in the crowds. He also knows the pack goes on his lap or at his feet.

 

[wvnative]

Does anyone know where I can purchase the bottle holders?

Thanks!!

I have two I bought a the grand canyon. I made the third one. The kid (16) is way too cool to carry her bottle on a strap though and is completely embarrassed by me doing it. She'd rather carry a small Care Bears backpack.

Here's a link to instructions to make your own if you'd like a sumner craft project.

Here's a link I found for a place that sells them.

I think I'd carry the back pack myself with kids that age. Although, I'll readily admit that I likethe kid carrying a backpack. I don't have to and there are no discussions about my choice in "baggage".

 

[squirrel]

When I went to WDW with my cousins (9+11) they each took a fanny pack with water bottle holder and they filled a mini M&M container with snacks each day. Also had room for granola bar. My sister and I also had a fanny pack and my Dsis carried a backpack with cameras and our water bottles. I carried the videocamera.

I don't remember any of us taking off our fanny packs for the rides. It is nice for children to feel like they have some control. Let them have an inexpensive fanny and let them choose some snacks to put in it. They can also store their sunglasses when they aren't needed.

 

[mom2dzb]

On our last trip my two oldest started carrying their own fanny packs. We purchased the pin trading ones while we were there. This is when they were 8 and 10. This has worked out well. Before this, an adult carried their provisions, or they were stored in the stroller we bring for the youngest child.

We've used our water bottle holders MANY times. I made them a couple of years ago with the instructions on the link just provided by wvnative. I bring along some of the smaller water bottles, which they prefer. They also pack some of the single serving lemonade packets in their fanny packs. They refill at will and stay comfortably hydrated throughout the day.