Bag recommendations?

[CyndiLooWho]

This is our first trip to US/IOA, and I'm trying to get my ducks in a row.

It looks like there are a number of rides that you can't ride with a cross-body bag, which is my preferred theme park bag. I have a number of the "classic" 80s style fanny packs, but they are not my style and only accentuate my aging figure. I'm slowly shrinking my weight, but will still be an XL when we leave in 6 wks.

Is there any such thing as an attractive waist bag? If you go with one of the Baggallinis that change, do you keep the bag as a cross body all day, and just clip it on a belt for rides?

And is there anything that is both attractive and budget-friendly?

 

[damo]

I have a convertible Kipling Bag. It is a cross body that you can turn into a fanny pack with an extra strap that tucks into the back pocket.

http://www.ebags.com/product/kipling/multiple-convertible-waist-bag/60241

 

[NY Disney fan]

This is my favorite waist bag which also converts to a cross-body bag. Has so much room and you don't have to carry a wallet because it has a built-in wallet:

http://www.ebags.com/product/overland-equipment/bayliss/140196?productid=1362815

 

[damo]

This is my favorite waist bag which also converts to a cross-body bag. Has so much room and you don't have to carry a wallet because it has a built-in wallet:

http://www.ebags.com/product/overland-equipment/bayliss/140196?productid=1362815

Have you been allowed to use that one at Universal?

 

[NY Disney fan]

Have you been allowed to use that one at Universal?

I have not tried using it but I'm going to use this one at Universal because you can hide it under your shirt (it lays flat),
I can fit a small package of wipes for my dd, my money and my cell. I will wear my express pass on a lanyard. Plus this waist wallet comes with a plastic pouch in case you don't want to get something wet.

http://www.ebags.com/product/pacsafe/coversafe-100-travel-waist-wallet/217122?productid=10141474

Also, I can personally testify that this waistpack (if you don't over fill it) lays flat and can go under your shirt in a pinch when going on rides:
http://www.ebags.com/product/kipling/presto-deluxe-waistpack/97457?productid=1286535

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Thanks for the recces folks. I'm looking online right now, trying to find what works best for me. I wish I could just do my cross body and be done with it, but I don't think that's going to work.

 

[ccgirl]

Sorry to hijack...

So, you can wear a fanny pack on the rides? Although they are not the best fashion statement, I have an old one that there is nothing wrong with. Although, I would love a new bag I love the extra money for vacation too.

 

[JessicaR]

I really like baggallini. They make some that are 3 way - straps. Can be adjusted to sit at the waist right on hip and it lays very flat. Was there a couple weeks ago and wore it on every ride. Also very comfortable.

 

[damo]

I have not tried using it but I'm going to use this one at Universal because you can hide it under your shirt (it lays flat),
I can fit a small package of wipes for my dd, my money and my cell. I will wear my express pass on a lanyard. Plus this waist wallet comes with a plastic pouch in case you don't want to get something wet.

http://www.ebags.com/product/pacsafe/coversafe-100-travel-waist-wallet/217122?productid=10141474

Also, I can personally testify that this waistpack (if you don't over fill it) lays flat and can go under your shirt in a pinch when going on rides:
http://www.ebags.com/product/kipling/presto-deluxe-waistpack/97457?productid=1286535

The first one should work no problem. The size of the second and the one you posted earlier seem a little big.

 

[Anal Annie]

We are going to Universal this summer for the first time & I am also trying to figure out what we can or can't carry since Disney allows backpacks etc. We usually have a string backpack that we take turns passing around to carry when we go to the parks. I had heard that U doesn't allow ANY bags on rides but I thought they provided a place to leave them while you're riding? No? And as far as waist packs...I have an old one that's pretty big - it also has 2 pockets to hold water bottles (I realize we'd have to dump the bottles while on a ride) but if it's full it would be too large to keep ON while riding. I haven't carried it in a few years but I used to have to take it OFF to ride at Disney 'cuz it wouldn't fit under the safety restaints - I am assuming it would be the same problem as having a string backpack, right? I'd still have to take it off & deal with it somehow or other. I really can't stand the idea of not having some sort of a bag with us to carry my eyeglass case, water & ponchos etc. So question is do they allow waist packs if they're small enough to be able to keep ON while riding? My camera has a hard case that I wear on my beltloop so that's covered...it's just the other "stuff" we like to have with us...If we had a small waist bag that's not over the top big can we wear it? We have a couple of money belts from our trip to Europe last summer but they're TOO SMALL to hold an eyeglass case & ponchos...

 

[RMulieri]

We are going to Universal this summer for the first time & I am also trying to figure out what we can or can't carry since Disney allows backpacks etc. We usually have a string backpack that we take turns passing around to carry when we go to the parks. I had heard that U doesn't allow ANY bags on rides but I thought they provided a place to leave them while you're riding? No? And as far as waist packs...I have an old one that's pretty big - it also has 2 pockets to hold water bottles (I realize we'd have to dump the bottles while on a ride) but if it's full it would be too large to keep ON while riding. I haven't carried it in a few years but I used to have to take it OFF to ride at Disney 'cuz it wouldn't fit under the safety restaints - I am assuming it would be the same problem as having a string backpack, right? I'd still have to take it off & deal with it somehow or other. I really can't stand the idea of not having some sort of a bag with us to carry my eyeglass case, water & ponchos etc. So question is do they allow waist packs if they're small enough to be able to keep ON while riding? My camera has a hard case that I wear on my beltloop so that's covered...it's just the other "stuff" we like to have with us...If we had a small waist bag that's not over the top big can we wear it? We have a couple of money belts from our trip to Europe last summer but they're TOO SMALL to hold an eyeglass case & ponchos...

SOME of the rides allow NO bags, not all of them.Those that have restrictions provide lockers outside the attraction that are generally free for the length of time it takes to wait /ride and get back to the locker.IF you go over the free alloted time, then you have to pay for it.No back packs, Cross body bags,Slings or wristlets are allowed on certain attractions.Fanny packs are allowed if they are small, unobtrusive and can fit under the restraints.If it is a larger one, they may make you lock it up, mine was a small Vera Bradley one and I was told to lock it up once during the trip..Universal takes getting used to if you are used to traveling with bags.I am used to bags of some sort at Disney and went completely minimalist for universal to avoid locking stuff.I had to lock my waist pack up once and the wait just to get a locker drove me NUTS ( we went in Jan when lots and lots of South American tour groups were there and they ALL HAD BAGS)

 

[NY Disney fan]

The first one should work no problem. The size of the second and the one you posted earlier seem a little big.

I have this pack and yes it is big but it is designed to lay flat against the body, it is not a typical waist pack. It has a very slim profile so if you hide it under your shirt and swing it around to the back no one would know. Edited to add: I am talking about the Kipling Presto Waistpack NOT the Overland one.

 

[damo]

I have this pack and yes it is big but it is designed to lay flat against the body, it is not a typical waist pack. It has a very slim profile so if you hide it under your shirt and swing it around to the back no one would know. Edited to add: I am talking about the Kipling Presto Waistpack NOT the Overland one.

I've got a lululemon one that I think is very similar if yours is skinny. It is meant to be used when you walk the dog...called a doggie pooch. I haven't had any issues with it either when getting on the rides.

 

[Anal Annie]

SOME of the rides allow NO bags, not all of them.Those that have restrictions provide lockers outside the attraction that are generally free for the length of time it takes to wait /ride and get back to the locker.IF you go over the free alloted time, then you have to pay for it.No back packs, Cross body bags,Slings or wristlets are allowed on certain attractions.Fanny packs are allowed if they are small, unobtrusive and can fit under the restraints.If it is a larger one, they may make you lock it up, mine was a small Vera Bradley one and I was told to lock it up once during the trip..Universal takes getting used to if you are used to traveling with bags.I am used to bags of some sort at Disney and went completely minimalist for universal to avoid locking stuff.I had to lock my waist pack up once and the wait just to get a locker drove me NUTS ( we went in Jan when lots and lots of South American tour groups were there and they ALL HAD BAGS)

Wow. I can't imagine that your Vera Bradley pack was very big. Can you tell me which rides didn't even allow your VB bag and was it a waist pack style? That seems extreme to not allow even a small one. I wear RX sunglasses & contantly switch them out with my reg. glasses as we move in & out of buildings. I really need to have my eyeglass case with me...

 

[aubriee]

Wow. I can't imagine that your Vera Bradley pack was very big. Can you tell me which rides didn't even allow your VB bag and was it a waist pack style? That seems extreme to not allow even a small one. I wear RX sunglasses & contantly switch them out with my reg. glasses as we move in & out of buildings. I really need to have my eyeglass case with me...

Not the poster you were asking, but I used this Vera Bradley belt bag without a problem:
http://www.verabradley.com/product/...lor/English+Meadow/p/1001229.uts?fromSearch=1

On the other hand, a CM saw the bottom edge of my Vera Bradley mini hipster hanging out from under my coat and made me go back to put it in a locker:
http://www.verabradley.com/product/...olor/Summer+Cottage/p/154799.uts?fromSearch=1

Both bags are the same size (6"x8"x1.5") and to me the mini hipster would have been even more secure than a fanny pack. It was cross body, under a coat, and would have been further confined by the restraints. No way was that bag going anywhere. However, unless it's a fanny pack type bag they are going to make you place it in a locker. Heck I saw a lady in front of me that had a tiny wristlet attached to her belt loop and stuck in her pocket. The CM saw the edge of it and told her that if she couldn't get it all the way into her pocket completely out of sight, then she'd have to go put it in a locker. It was tiny and had a loop with a clip like this:
http://www.verabradley.com/product/...olor/Priscilla+Pink/p/154832.uts?fromSearch=1

The thing was looped through her belt loop, then clipped to itself, then stuffed in her front pocket. No way was that tiny wristlet going anywhere, but the CM told her it had to be completely stuffed in her pocket with none of it showing.

 

[Anal Annie]

Not the poster you were asking, but I used this Vera Bradley belt bag without a problem:
http://www.verabradley.com/product/...lor/English+Meadow/p/1001229.uts?fromSearch=1

On the other hand, a CM saw the bottom edge of my Vera Bradley mini hipster hanging out from under my coat and made me go back to put it in a locker:
http://www.verabradley.com/product/...olor/Summer+Cottage/p/154799.uts?fromSearch=1

Both bags are the same size (6"x8"x1.5") and to me the mini hipster would have been even more secure than a fanny pack. It was cross body, under a coat, and would have been further confined by the restraints. No way was that bag going anywhere. However, unless it's a fanny pack type bag they are going to make you place it in a locker. Heck I saw a lady in front of me that had a tiny wristlet attached to her belt loop and stuck in her pocket. The CM saw the edge of it and told her that if she couldn't get it all the way into her pocket completely out of sight, then she'd have to go put it in a locker. It was tiny and had a loop with a clip like this:
http://www.verabradley.com/product/...olor/Priscilla+Pink/p/154832.uts?fromSearch=1

The thing was looped through her belt loop, then clipped to itself, then stuffed in her front pocket. No wa was that tiny wristlet going anywhere, but the CM told her it had to be completely stuffed in her pocket with none of it showing.

Sounds a like a bit of overkill to me. Someone must've been bucking for a promotion to head ride honcho. Do you remember which rides this happened on? Do you think some rides in particular are stricter? Wonder what they would say about my hard shell camera case that I wear ON my belt? I was looking at some fanny pack / waist bags online that slip onto your belt rather than with their own strap. You couldn't get any more secure than wearing something ON your belt. I would think wearing a secure bag would be safer than trying to cram as much crap as possible into cargo short pockets that may or may not stay completely closed.

 

[RMulieri]

It was the Vera Bradley travel belt and it was on FJ..

 

[aubriee]

Wow. I can't imagine that your Vera Bradley pack was very big. Can you tell me which rides didn't even allow your VB bag and was it a waist pack style? That seems extreme to not allow even a small one. I wear RX sunglasses & contantly switch them out with my reg. glasses as we move in & out of buildings. I really need to have my eyeglass case with me...

It was the Vera Bradley travel belt and it was on FJ..

Wow, that's the same Vera Bradley travel belt I just said I didn't have a problem with. I wore it on FJ, MiB, and Mummy (don't do the Hulk or Dragon Challenge). I guess it just depends on the CMs working that day. They never said a word to me about the VB travel belt. That particular trip was in August, so I know they had to see it. All I wore all week was shorts and tank tops and I was there Saturday to Saturday.

Sounds a like a bit of overkill to me. Someone must've been bucking for a promotion to head ride honcho. Do you remember which rides this happened on? Do you think some rides in particular are stricter? Wonder what they would say about my hard shell camera case that I wear ON my belt? I was looking at some fanny pack / waist bags online that slip onto your belt rather than with their own strap. You couldn't get any more secure than wearing something ON your belt. I would think wearing a secure bag would be safer than trying to cram as much crap as possible into cargo short pockets that may or may not stay completely closed.

Forbidden Journey is where the CM saw the edge of my Vera Bradley mini hipster hanging about an inch below my jacket and made me go back to the lockers. It was also FJ (same trip) that the lady in front of me got called out on the little wristlet she had hooked to her belt loop and stuffed in her pocket.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

I was out looking yesterday and tried the baggallini big zipper bagg on as a waist pack.

http://www.baggallini.com/the-collections/classic/big-zipper-bagg/

I'm thinking it's probably too big, but maybe the smaller zipper bagg would work?

http://www.baggallini.com/the-collections/classic/zipper-bagg/

I really like this option, as I can wear it cross-body except for FJ and Spiderman (it would take a miracle to get my tweens on a big rolly-ghoster). Does anyone have experience with either of these bags?

 

[CyndiLooWho]

I really like baggallini. They make some that are 3 way - straps. Can be adjusted to sit at the waist right on hip and it lays very flat. Was there a couple weeks ago and wore it on every ride. Also very comfortable.

Which baggallini did you take?