Bag or Backpack at Disney World?

[Beetuna]

What's a good bag to take to Disney World?

I'm looking for something that can tote around things like an umbrella and camera and stuff, but also something that I'll be able to take on rides and such without any issues.

I just went to another smaller theme park not long ago and took a backpack. Leaving it in the little cubby thing when going on the rides made me extremely nervous!

What do you all recommend?

Thanks!

 

[BrettS]

Disney is great about taking bags on rides. We usually take a reasonably large backpack with us to the parks and I don't think I've found a ride that I couldn't take it on. Many of the rides have little mesh bags in the car with you for your bags and other loose items, but if the bag is too big to fit there you can just set it on the floor under your legs. I've taken our backpack on everything from slow moving kid rides to the big rollercoasters. Disney doesn't even have little cubbies by the rides to put bags in.

 

[heartofdisney]

I always take a small back pack into the parks with me. I can bring everything I need with me,camera,sun lotion,ect,and still have my hands free.
I don't care what it may look like to anyone else,as only my comfort counts to me.Then when I do go on rides,I can easily store it in the cuddy department most rides at Disney provide.At Soarin,you just leave it on the floor under your chaor,and it remains safe,as no one else would be in there,except other riders and CM. I have never had a problem using my small back pack,have all the stuff I need while not really noticing it at all while roaming around the park.Walmart has small ones on sale now for $7.00.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

DH and I are big fans of the backpack. Either one of us wraps it around our ankles, and the other gets the kiddo. Haven't had a problem yet, and we have a pretty big (hiking) daypack.

 

[Disney Anna]

I know it's not fashionable, and many would rather die than do it, but I like my fanny pack. I'm hands free, it holds everything I need, and it's secure. Yes, you look like a total geek, but hey, you're at Disney, not a freakin' fashion show.

 

[Tamdude]

I too vote for the fanny pack! Everyone who saw my pictures laughed at it cause it was so big, but it held everything we needed, easy to take on any ride and hands free all day!

 

[Beetuna]

Thanks for the replies.

I've heard backpacks work it seems.

I've also stumbled upon some other sites that recommend the backpacks that just have one strap that goes across the front of you.

Also, 'messenger bags' seem to be recommended a lot. (The kind the sort of look like a laptop back with a piece that folds over)

Lastly, I've heard maybe a medium-large camera bag (without the large camera) might work.

Thoughts?

 

[prophotogal]

I have a small Disney backpack and a fanny pack that I am going to be taking with me. I'll switch between the 2 depending on the day I have planned. One day I may use the back pack the next day use the fanny pack. and Arn't fanny packs fashionable? at least I won't get a tan line from the strap. LOL

 

[hookedonears]

I always complain, but my wife always takes a backpack. My wife is the most organized person on the face of the earth and I'm not when it comes to stuff like this. I have to say though, the back pack really comes in handy and it's and it makes it extremely easy to carry all the junk that we take and tend to accumulate as we walk around the parks.

 

[BrettS]

Lastly, I've heard maybe a medium-large camera bag (without the large camera) might work.

I'd probably avoid the camera bag. There's really not a big problem with theft at Disney, but from what I've heard, camera bags tend to disappear the most, presumably because the thief assums that there may be an expensive camera in them.

 

[MissMet]

I'd probably avoid the camera bag. There's really not a big problem with theft at Disney, but from what I've heard, camera bags tend to disappear the most, presumably because the thief assums that there may be an expensive camera in them.

Not to mention most are extremely bulky.

 

[CLR4321]

I take my son's back pack (a kids sized Cars one). It works great!

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I am a backpack person. When I was pregnant DH got the Land's End diaper back pack as a gift. DD is out of diapers and we still use it for Disney and other vacations! It has perfect organization and where the changing pad normally goes, I store Disney maps in it instead!

 

[amzking]

Another vote for the fanny pack here. I keep a small camera, hairbrush, park tix, photopass, credit card/KTTW card, ziplock bag with meds and bandaids, ziplock bag with wipes, cell phone, chapstick, extra hair band, and so on in there. My kids carry mini backpacks with all the family raincoats and their pressed penny albums, autograph books, lanyards, etc. They have gotten used to them and don't complain about carrying them (much).

BTW, my relatives in Britain call a fanny pack a "bum bag". Apparrantly the word "fanny" has a VERY different meaning there. If traveling to Britain don't call it a fanny pack!

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I'm a backpack person too. You can carry it on one shoulder, or if you get tired use it like a real backpack.

I store small umbrellas and an extra bottle of water (or more) for each person in our family. It's heavy in the morning, but by lunch it's a lot lighter as most of the water is gone.

I never had a problem on any rides with the backpack including Soarin, Mission Space, the various roller coasters including RNRC, and it even stayed dry in the storage container on Kali River Rapids. It fit under the seat or as a PP mentioned, I just put in on the floor with my leg through a strap.

 

[disneyorvegas]

I found a backpack too hot and bulky. If it's going to be hot when you go, just think of it hanging on your back all day in Florida heat. Also, I found it annoying to have to take it off before I got on the rides. I got a small-ish bag from a street fair that is kind of like a Buxton organizer bag that was advertised on TV.. I liked this bag a lot more than the backpack since I could change it from side to side, no one spot got too hot, and it was small enough to not be bulky but big enough to hold what I need.

 

[aubriee]

The best bag I've found for WDW is the smaller Overland Donner Placer bag. It's small, but well organized and holds everything I need. It's light so I never even know I'm wearing it.

 

[Clupaczyk]

After reading tons of advice here about what bag to bring I bought myself the Baggalini messenger bad. I hate it. I hate that awful strap. WAY too wide, it bugs my neck/shoulder after a while and there's no switching sides and having a 2" strap go in between my...shall we say "puppies" in not flattering in the least. I know we're at Disney and I'm not trying to make a fashion statement..but I don't want to feel retarded either. I'm stuck as to what to do. I don't really want to carry extra clothing for my young daughters but I think I have to and that extra bulkiness needs to fit in something. I did get an awesome fanny pack from Baggalini lately, which fits a ton...but was made for bigger people. I'm 5'3" and about 130lbs and the bag falls off me at it's tightest setting. Disappointing to spend almost $50 on it and have to stitch it to stay on.

Sorry...this thread was no help to you, all I did was tell you what bag to NOT bring w/ you!! After spending $100 on 2 bags for Disney I'm afraid I'll end up resorting to the backpk I've head for years and years. ugh.

 

[dissybroad]

howdy! two favs:

shoulder bags about 9" x 10". one baggallini and one travelon each with multiple pockets. i like nylon for water resistance, quick dry, ease of cleaning, and an adjustable strap that can go over the shoulder or cross body to stay put.

nylon waist/fannypack 9" x 5" x 2" with multiple pockets. hands free at all times.

either of the above fit easily under your rain poncho.

i don't like backpack 'cause, though i don't like to think about it, i can't see it=risk of pickpocket. have to take off and on for attractions to sit back and relax. swings around behind you in shops and crowds.

 

[Dawn68PA]

I use a mini-backpack. It's perfect. Small enough that I'm not hot, yet large enough on the inside to carry everything we need.