Backpacks? What to carry in the park

[kitkatsmom]

I have a small backpack that I had intended to use while in the park.

I recently read that now they don't allow any sort of backpacks or bags in the parks.
Is this true? Do they just mean large packs or all bags?

What can I use to carry things like wipes, suntan lotions, water, etc. that my children may need.

We won't have a stroller so there's no option of storing things in that.



thanks

 

[MamaTink]

Backpacks and fannypacks are fine. They will search your bags before you go into the parks, though. Just don't take anything sharp! I put all my stuff in a big ziplock bag, then put that in my backpack. Just pull out the entire plastic bags for them to look through. Makes it easier for them than digging through your stuff.
Also, water bottles and snacks are fine to bring in, too
Have a great time!

 

[Atotty]

I heard that if you have a clear back pack, you don't have to open everything and takes less time. Is this true?

 

[ktglads]

If you just unzip the bag before you get to the security guard, it really does not take very much time at all. They just look in every pocket. It really is rather quick if you are prepared for the inspection, so there is really no need of having to buy a clear bag. A normal backpack and a little readiness will get you through in the same amount of time.

 

[Atotty]

Our kids have to have clear back packs for school (they can have regular lunch boxes, though. A weapon can fit just as easily in a lunch box as a backpack...but that's another topic) so we have several just hanging around from years past and this year so I won't have to purchase one.

I was just wondering if it's quicker. What do you think?

 

[Chica650]

I'm having an issue with what to carry/take into the park as well. Last time we went, we took a backpack. Our daughter was then 1 1/2 and our son was 6. We took a stroller, so we had the basket to put the backpack in, however at times when we split up I hauled the backpack on my shoulder and it turned out to be a REAL PAIN. I had considered doing the fanny pack think this time around, but a 4 year old still requires quite a few things (sunscreen, snacks, a water bottle) and it won't all fit in a fanny pack. There's also the issue of security and things getting stolen. If we take a backpack, is it safe to leave it in our basket with the stroller when we're on rides? I wasn't sure last time and I think I tried to lug it with me on all the rides (which was another PAIN). I'm really trying to plan THOROUGHLY this time to make it as easy and pain-free as possible.

 

[Atotty]

That's another reason I'm leaning towards clear. I worry over everything and was worried last time that someone might take our backpack when it was in the stroller basket thinking it might have a camera or money in it.

With clear, any would be thieves could tell right away all I have in there is wipes, tissues, sunscreen, extra set of clothes for youngest dd...nothing worth stealing....unless they felt like they're getting a bad sunburn or really need a kleneex LOL

 

[kitkatsmom]

I am glad to know I can use the back pack.
I intend to keep it light.

Small sunscreen, wipes in a ziplock bag, tissues, bandaid, etc.
Nothing heavy.

I want to get the kids water bottle on straps so they can wear them around their necks.

Between my husband, me and my older son there should be no problem carrying the small backpack.

 

[Nelleigh]

I had the same questions and did a search on this board and came up with a lot of good info.

I ended up buying a Mountainsmith lumbar pack that has space on it for two water bottles plus plenty of room for a guidebook, sunscreen, camera and ponchos. It's also got the option to use the shoulder strap and carry it over your shoulder. We're going to be there sometime during the first week in May and am hoping that the bag will provide all the essential carrying room we need, but then again, we only have one seven year old!

 

[bobcat]

I have an Ameribag Healthy Bag backpack and I love it. It has all sorts of pockets and I can fit everything I need for the day in it. I have the extra small but they come in larger sizes. My kids also carry their own fannypacks. If it doesn't fit in there they can't take it. DS has been carrying one since he was 4. Usually they have their fat pen, autograph book, tissues, a couple of bandages, wet wipe, and a snack. This keeps my load down since we stopped using a stroller.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I honestly haven't found hte security lines to be really long and slow... if people would just THINK before they got up to the table and unzipped their stuff, it would go by really quickly. its those that get up there, and THEN start to take off their backpack adn such that slow things down. Don't worry too much about that part.

I carried a small backpack thingy that I bought at Old Navy last year... I also wore it when we went to Vegas. I found it to be comfy and lightweight.

Just pack light, but not so light that you leave something behind that you really need. You can ALWAYS rent a locker if you need to... it'll be worth it in the longrun to have the essentials with you =)

 

[KittyKitty]

I'm always looking for the perfect bag to carry my stuff. I love the fanny pack, but can't get everything in it. I then use a dayback, but don't like having the zipper away from me. Can't figure where to put the wallet and passes.

Once I got a huge fannypack to carry water bottles, camera...etc.. wore in the front. I almost fell backwards from the weight!

So...if you see a 55 yr old woman with a daypack, fanny pack,Pal Mickey dangling from the front,water bottle on the back,video camera somewhere inbetween....just be kind....... don't laugh too loud. (wonder if they have hats that can carry stuff...hmmm??)


See ya there!
Susan

 

[bobcat]

Another thing I really like about the healthy bag backpack is the zipper is towards your body, so I always feel my stuff (ie money LOL) is secure.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

I always take backpacks to Disney as well Im a packrat and I also missplace things rather easily and I like to shop during the day plus like this year Ill have my 3 cameras (SLR for nights/shows, point and shoot with black and white film, and point and shoot for everything else) plus whatever junk I feel I need to take

This year I thought ahead and bought a one zipper bag unlike my 5 zipper monstro I used when I worked there (after having to do security checks daily through the thing WHY didnt I buy an easier bag then....)

I also put my screename on it (well more tech -em) and Ill add my DIS and LP buttons soon

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I go to Walmart and buy the 99 cent fishing pass holder for my tickets. I hold all the tickets and FP's in there. It slides under my shirt so you can't see it but I feel much better knowing where the tickets are.

 

[KIS]

I also learned about the Mountainsmith Lumbar pack on these boards. Coincidentally, our local camping store staff suggested it as well. So, we purchased it. I've used it prior to WDW to try it out. I put in it what I usually stick into my Eddie Bauer knapsack and it all fit in, somehow. The E.B. knapsack can stuff/squeeze/squash more in. It is slightly bigger. But, my usual stuff -- purse, cell phone, datebook, addressbook, two glasses, water, medications, contact kits/solution, kleenex, 4 sets of keys, extra papers, can all fit in there fairly easily.

It is MUCH more comfortable than my old Eddie Bauer knapsack. That knapsack is an older model, '96. I don't know if the style has evolved. I definitely still love it, but in terms of strain on the old back, the Mountainsmith lumbar pack has it hands down.

I've tried experimenting -- two adult, one child watershoes, one bag goldfish 3 waters, binoculars, bandaids, moleskin, sunscreen, two pairs of glasses managed to (squeeze) in there. I have a separate place for the money and camera. If we put the ponchos in the bottom of our stroller, I'm thinking we certainly will have room for those things inside.

I was wondering about the risk factor with leaving things in the stroller basket, too. There was a discussion about this. I can't even remember the thread's name, but it was something like "Have you ever had anything stolen..." The discussion might be interesting to some of you.

KIS

 

[mugglemom]

I used a fanny pack worn to the front with a camera case that fit on the belt part of the waist band. It also had a loop on the waist band so I put an "O" ring over the neck of a small water bottle and used a beaner clip to fasten that to the loop. I used a passport holder to keep our money and fast passes safe. It has a cord on it that you wear around your neck and I could put it inside my shirt on the coasters or when I didn't need it.

DD uses a small back pack and carries small rain ponchos and a few granola bars.

Security moved fairly fast and was no problem. Having your bag zippers open sure helps things go faster!

 

[Kapp]

ponchos, water bottles, snacks, cell phone, pain medication, band-aids, maps to the parks, towel (if we are going to the AK for Kali River Rapids!) and hand-washing soap. Not to much compared to some but it all sure has come in handy!

 

[alliecats]

All you backpack users, does it get very hot for your back to be toting a back pack all around? Don't want a big sweat stain on my shirt! Do you prefer it to a belly bag? I started to pick up a backpack but my DH pointed out it would be hot and that someone could easily get into the top of the backpack (just had a drawstring). Advice?

 

[mjatgoofy]

Just returned from Disney last week and found a backpack to be very helpful. I actually used the one I bought at Disney last year. It's blue with Disney World written across it with colorful letters. I'm sure you will see it in the gift shops. I carried diapers, wipes, travel size sunscreen, snacks, contact soulution, autograph books (2) and fat pen. We also had a water bottle with a strap we hung on the rented stroller. The backpack was comfortable but if it had been any warmer (it was mid 70's to low 80's) I would not have wanted to carry it on my back all day. Security check was a breaze as long as we had everything open and ready to check. You could tell the security personel appreciated that. We left the bag with the stroller when going on rides or to shows. We've done this for three trips and not had a problem with anything being taken to date. My husband carries the money and cell phone along with passes. Hope this helps answer some of the questions posted here.