Bag or Backpack at Disney World?

[wheezy19]

I bring this slouchy bag that goes across my chest. It zips all the way across the top so I feel like my stuff is safe in there. I like that it's very easy to squish if necessary, and it's at the front of my body rather than the back so I can get to it easily and quickly. I've never had a problem getting it on any of the rides.

I got it at Target a couple of years ago, and I've seen some nice similar styles there this year.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I plan on taking a bookbag.

 

[dtum]

We use an insulated backpack. Keeps our water and snacks pretty cool all day in the heat. If it's not very hot (early May) we just put it in a locker. I also carry a buxton bag with things we might need quickly (tickets, sun glasses, bandaids, etc.), but found out this trip that if i put my tickets in the front flap part the magnet on the purse demagnatizes my tickets! Live and learn.

 

[myjourney]

And I always go back to my Baggallini Downtown. It is like a mini backpack, expensive but well worth it. Very well made. I started with the messenger bag but the strap rubs me. The strap on the downtown zips apart so you can use it as a backpack.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I just bring a canvas tote bag. Actually, I bring two with me to WDW - one kind of small and one kind of large. I decide which one to take to each park each day based on what I'm toting.

I don't think I'd want something on my back or shoulder all day. With my tote bag I can switch hands easily when I get tired holding it with one hand. But I usually travel light anyway so it's not a big deal.

 

[Technosavant]

It depends on what you plan to carry with you. Ideally, the wife and I prefer no bag- nothing to haul around, nothing to stow on rides, nothing to bother having looked at before you enter the park.

However, the main reason we take a bag is for the camera, so we go with a good camera backpack (Tamrac Adventure 7)- it holds my DSLR and has plenty of room for anything else we might want, including water bottles, sunscreen, and even a light jacket.

Personally, I tend to prefer backpacks to slings or messenger bags- they will distribute the weight more evenly and will tend to stay put (won't slide around on you). Over the course of the day, those few pounds of stuff in the bag that meant nothing inside Innoventions at 10am will be a real burden eventually; you'll feel every single extra ounce when it's in the mid-90s, humid, sunny, and about 3:30pm as you walk around the World Showcase.

Cut it down to essentials and stick with a bag that will hold them (with possibly some room left for items you may collect as you go, be they souvenirs or water bottles) securely and comfortably.

 

[MusicMouse]

If you still can't decide, there is an extensive thread on the Disney Tips Board about what bags people bring into the parks, and it has a lot of pictures. FWIW, I'm bringing my Ameribag Healthy Back Bag. You can fit a ton of stuff in it, and it never makes your back feel tired. I have the small size, but if you don't have to carry extra things for small children, I would suggest the extra small size.

 

[Debbie-TN]

I've done both, big and small. I can't seem to find one just right. I just got a Travelon bag from QVC that looks promising. I can't wait to use it next month. Here's a link if you want to see it.

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/...ty-Messenger-Style-Shoulder-Bag-with-Wristlet

 

[ppony]

Fannypack AND backpack for me. Nothing like being prepared! I like the FP for my CCs and money to keep it really close and we have one of those one strap across the front backpacks that work nicely. But I'm sure a regular one would be just as good. Just do yourself a favor and don't use a rolling backpack if you can avoid it. A: it will get tripped on and B: it's quite a bit heavier than a standard backpack.

 

[pocahontasgal87]

my mom always takes the rolling backpack and she never had a problem bringing it with us on rides and also they have places in the ride where u can place it in there where i put my little bag

 

[maxiesmom]

I bought a baggalini for my last trip to Disney World, and I love it! I thought I would be a life-long member of the fanny pack party, but no more! I never felt the weight of the baggalini. Even my fanny pack felt heavy and uncomfortable after wearing it for a few days. Plus I can get a lot more stuff in my baggalini. I have quite a few things I HAVE to carry (meds, and inhalor) so I need somthing with lots of room. The baggalini is wonderful for toting around what I need, and lets me be comfortable at the same time.

 

[HelenParr]

I use a sling-sack from L.L. Bean, which I love. (Like a backpack but just one strap that goes in front. It is easy to spin around to have the bag in front to avoid hitting people in close spaced lines, etc., when needed). I like to have my stuff, even if I have to go through bag check, and I hate having my short pockets weighed down. This holds all I need and more, and is easy to carry. Lots of pockets. It either fits on the ride bag pouch or is easy to put at my feet.

 

[miss_deville]

I have tried all three (backpack, fanny pack, messenger) and concluded: A backpack can feel very hot if your trip is in the summer and a fanny pack looks terrible on the wearer in photos. Two trips ago, I bought a cotton messenger-style bag at the Dinosaur ride gift shop at Animal Kingdom. I like that it's light and comfy and have used it ever since. I think the big issue with any bag is what to do with a wet poncho. Invariably, I'm stuck with a big sloppy plastic mess while the sun comes out to mock me.

 

[ppony]

Dang it! You guys sold me on a Baggillini! It's my BD in a few weeks and I ordered my own BD pressie. I got the giraffe print Downtown bag.
I do remember the strap on our 1 strap backpack bugging my DH now that I think of it. I had wanted a bacpack instead of a diaper bag anyway. THANKS!

 

[Meriflower]

If you still can't decide, there is an extensive thread on the Disney Tips Board about what bags people bring into the parks, and it has a lot of pictures. FWIW, I'm bringing my Ameribag Healthy Back Bag. You can fit a ton of stuff in it, and it never makes your back feel tired. I have the small size, but if you don't have to carry extra things for small children, I would suggest the extra small size.

I used my AmeriBag Healthy Back Bag for my recent Disney trip size medium and it worked wonderfully. Neither my back or shoulders hurt even when carrying 3 20 oz bottles of water/pop. It does carry alot of stull and I was able to bring it with me on all the rides without a problem.

 

[Hallowishes]

it really depends. ive used both and was happy with each.
this trip, im going to be using a small messenger style handbag.
the trip before i used a sling style backpack and it worked very well ... i just dont like the idea of not being able to see the zippered compartment .. i fear someone might try to steal my stuff!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

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!

Always the minimum. I like to make sure that either DH or I wear cargo shorts (or khaki pants with knee pockets). Then everything is in your pockets: no bag search, no leaving your bag on rides, no sore shoulders.

Instead of an umbrella, consider a plastic poncho. Umbrellas often don't do much good anyways - rain and wind typically go together at WDW.Sometimes I do wear a raincoat at WDW. In cooler months, a sweathsirt will work in light rain (and keep you warm).

I do carry a bag SOMETIMES, but usually only when I have to carry a sweater or jacket and I'm not wearing cargo shorts. My preference is for atiny black backpack. I just replaced mine witha Dickies mini-back pack that I found in Spencer Gifts. It was lke ten bucks and the straps are padded. It is black - so DH will carry it (he won't take turns if it looks too feminine)

Prior to that I had a Jansport halfpint bag - but that one had a periodic tendancy to open up, and things would fall out. the Dickes bag is very compact, lightweight, and doesn't open up. Plenty big for an umbrella.
This isn't the color I bought, but this is the bag:
http://www.spencersonline.com/product/dickies-green-mega-mod-dot-backpack/

If you prefer the kind of bag that has string drawstrings - I just saw some nice ones at LL BEan. the drawstrings were wider than they typically have - and the bags looked super lightweight. If you were only holding a jacket say, you could fold this one up and put it ina pocket. This bag is big enough to carry a notebook, say. you can't quite tell fromthe image.
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/st...oreId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&from=SR&feat=sr


I disagree that bringing a bag all day is easy. I find it a pain. Travel is MUCH easier without one. It is very easy to forget a bag ona ride. One thing about the back packs I list though is you can stow them under your leg and wrap the straps on your leg on most rides, insteadof puttig it in the Disney pouch. If you ever have to go back for a forgotten bag, it can really take a while and mess up your plans.

 

[merekc]

Several years ago when going to WDW, I realized I didn't have a good bag to take in the park. I stopped at an Orlando Walmart and in their souvenir section they had a small bag that has worked out perfect. I actually now use it on all family travel trips. It was about $10. Red nylon (I think) with Florida embroirdered on the front pocket, total bag about 6 x 8 inches in size. It has one large full size pocket and 3 smaller different sized ones (all zippered) and a side pouch for a small phone (or I keep hand sanitzer in it). The bag is big enough to carry my phone, camara, sunblock, wallet, gum, bandaids you name it, but small enough to not get heavy. I carry it with the strap across my chest.

It really has turned into a great bag for travel. I don't take it off on rides (or at anytime) and it is slightly more fashionable than a fanny pack (if you turn the Florida logo towards yourself).

If you wait until the last minute or are in Florida in desperation, this might be an option if they still have them.

 

[leeshiebean]

I have this Coach sling bag (it was given to me as a gift) which I typically use for theme parks, concerts, grocery shopping etc. It fits my small camera, my wallet, cell phone and some other items and isn't so big it weighs me down.

However, I think when I go to WDW in March though I might bring my Northface backpack because I want to bring my dSLR camera with me. The backpack is the Northface Amira and I find it to be the perfect size for a day bag. I use it for hiking as well. It's pretty good about keeping your back aired out, and there are plenty of pockets. It's a 20L bag, so it's got enough room for bottled water, extra hoodies, snacks, camera, etc, but it's also not so huge that you'll end up packing it full and making it heavy. It looks like this bag is on sale at EMS!

 

[wahoostampingirl]

We bring a few bags to the parks. My dh generally carries a medium sized backpack that holds the some of our bulkier stuff. We go in Jan. so we generally are wearing sweaters in the morning and we stuff them in the pack later in the day. He usually also has the camera, some snacks and water.

I carry a small backpack or a Donner Bag (loved the organization, hated that the strap rubbed my neck) that holds a first aid kit, wipes for hands and faces, our touring plans, one or two bottles of water, park tickets, all the stuff that we might need to get to fairly easily.

My kids are old enough to carry mini backpacks that I got a Wal-Mart. They each carry their own autograph books, quarters and pennies for pressed pennies, sunglasses and snacks.

Obviously we are not light travelers! But, for comfort, I've found that the small backpacks work out the best for everyone in our family.