backpacks?

[fightinfire21]

TO CARRY ONE OR NOT TO CARRY ONE??? What to do with them while you are on a ride that they won't stay on? What kind to get? Anyone with experence or comments please give some suggestions? Not really planning on carying much.... small digital camera, small digital video camera??? (not sure if I should take it?), passporter, cell phone, (+water and ponchos if we have a pack)

 

[kellyf2626]

DH and I don't have any kids...so we usually try to pack everything we need in our video camera bag. It's amazing what we can squeeze in there!

 

[babar41]

I always carry one. When riding a ride I either take it off and hold it in my lab, or put it on the floor (if no place is provided) and put my foot though the straps to keep it from moving.

2 biggest suggestions I have on choosing a backpack is make sure it is in a light color cloth and try it on to make sure it is comfortable. The reason for the light color cloth is 1) light color does not not absorb the heat, 2) cloth is movable not rigid and easier to wear for extended times.

I have had my backpack for years, it has traveled on my back through WDW many times as well as trips overseas. It is always easier for me to carry weight on my back then on my arms.

Have a great trip!

 

[Ilovestitch]

You can take a backpack on EVERY, yes every ride at WDW. I like taking one, but try not to b/c I tend to fill it up w/things and it gets heavy.

 

[DVC-Don]

If I can not fit in in my fanny pack, it does not go to the parks. This past June I tried out packing everything into my cargo shorts to avoid the security checks. That works too. Years ago we did the backpack thing.

 

[homer424]

I use a messenger bag. I like it better because it is always in front of me and I can easily get into it without having to take it off. Plus I don't have to juggle with it when I get on and off a ride since it is slung cross-ways over my body. I found the one I am using this year in Target and it was clearanced for $3.

I have used backacks in the past but I found at the end of the trip, I had sore shoulders. And I was always nervous-especially in large crowds-because I didn't have my eye on it all the time. It sealed the deal for me when 2 years ago, before our last trip, a friend's SIL had her wallet stolen out of her backpack when she was in WDW. Apparently she didn't zip it all the way and they just reached in and grabbed it. After that I bought a messanger bag and it worked beautifully.

I have a 5.5 y/o DD and all the little pockets and places hold all her stuff perfectly. On our last trip, she was not potty trained and they held pull-ups, wipes and an extra set of clothes and it wasn't too bulk or cumbersome.

 

[twoeeyy]

our 12 year old daughter carries one Boy did we train her right .She uses the ones that are flat and have drawstrings. Luckily she lets us put our stuff in there also. All we carry is a small camera, sunscreen, asprin, and our sunglasses if we are not wearing them. She keeps it on, on all the rides and just leans against it since it is so flat( under 1" thick ), if it has to be stored due to the ride then I will put in under my seat or hold onto it for her.

 

[disneydiz]

On my past two trips at Easter and in June, I noticed that more and more people have the backpacks with drawstrings. I even bought one at the store in DTD. They are probably not good to carry a lot of heavy items, but they are nice and lightweight! They are probably easier than having a heavy pack on your back.

 

[twoeeyy]

exactly it would not be good for a lot of weight because the straps would dig in. Our daughter only wears tank tops so her shoulders are exposed and she has never complained about it digging in since there is a very minimal amount of stuff in it.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I carry about the same stuff as you (camera, water, passporter) and always take a backpack. The reason I really like it is that you can stick things you buy in there instead of having to carry them around all day (I know you can just have them sent back to the resort, but I switch resorts a lot, so it's easier to just keep things with me!) There's also room for a sweatshirt or extra shoes.

 

[robinb]

We used to take a backpack and would hang it on our stroller. Then we started to take an Ameribag Healthy Back Bag. It distributed the weight better. However, we also started bringing 1 litre Nalgene bottles in with us for water and didn't have anywhere to put it, so we hung it from a drink lanyard. I think that's going to be too much of a PITA on our next trip, so I think we're back to a regular backpack with a water bottle holder big enough for the Nalgene on the side. Of course, that may change by the time I do my final packing on Thursday!

 

[jann1033]

my husband got a couple of pairs of cargo type shorts and wore then so everything you mentioned would fit in the pockets...we don't have young kids so not tons of things needed....we have a camera bag that fits over the shoulder and worked on the rides but we got too lazy by about the 3 rd day and first put it in a locker than figured we'd do with out anything that wouldn't fit in our pockets! that was more fun! i did buy a cute little cloth "envelope" purse on a string ( $5, China, about 5x7) that fit over my shoulder crosswise so it didn't sllip off and kept my pass and stuff in it that worked great and left me hands free

 

[YEKCIM]

We wear photojournalist vests...they have a multitude of pockets of all shapes and sizes, and distribute the weight extremely well.

~YEKCIM

 

[Forevryoung]

I use my baggallini messenger bag (got it from ebags.com with mousesavers discount)- I love it! It's just the right size (smaller than a regular backpack) and has a ton of compartments. There was a place for everything and when I needed something, I just turned it around to my front. For rides, I just put it on the floor and put my foot through the strap. Definitely worth it for me- I cant wait to go back so I can use it again!

 

[Wishes]

I use a backpack. We like it because we can put the cameras in it on the water rides. We take it on every ride and just put it down near our feet and have never had a problem. I purchase it in a neutral color so no one in my family will be embarrassed to take a turn wearing it every now and then (although I'd get a big kick out of seeing a Tink or Pooh backpack on my husband's or son's backs! ). I like the idea of picking a lighter color to deflect the heat of the sun. I will do that the next time we go. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[jdonat]

That's what I do. Unfortunately, by the time we leave my photo vest weighs a TON!.
I've usually got water bottles, snacks, mints, pens, extra batteries for cameras, etc
in this thing,,, oh yeah, and about 10 pins on it too! We usually carry some sort of
a bag into the park every day -currently it's our DVC bag... it's got more batteries,
snacks, maybe WDW ponchos if it looks like it's gonna rain, and light jackets for my
DW and 2x DD's cause they get cold in the rides and restaraunts!