Bagless!

[Tiffany_m15]

I don't know if this "breaks the rules" but I avoid carrying a bag out because the line for bag check is so long. If I have two frozen plastic water bottles, my wallet, phone, lip balm, and keys or other pocket type items I will bring a reusable Disney bag from Publix and fold that up into a tiny square empty in my pocket along with all the other pocket items and just carry the water bottles. I walk through the "Guests without Bags" line and then pull out the bag after we get through the ticket line and put everything in it. One time (out of 15) I had the guard ask me what was in my pockets and I showed him and he waved me through. This has worked for a small cloth fanny pack and a small cross body bag. I always make sure that they are empty before putting them in my pocket. Then you have it for a bit when the water bottles are full and can fold it back into your pocket after you throw the bottles away. Don't know if this is technically "bagless" but it may help you be hands free for a while.

 

[maxiesmom]

I don't know if this "breaks the rules" but I avoid carrying a bag out because the line for bag check is so long. If I have two frozen plastic water bottles, my wallet, phone, lip balm, and keys or other pocket type items I will bring a reusable Disney bag from Publix and fold that up into a tiny square empty in my pocket along with all the other pocket items and just carry the water bottles. I walk through the "Guests without Bags" line and then pull out the bag after we get through the ticket line and put everything in it. One time (out of 15) I had the guard ask me what was in my pockets and I showed him and he waved me through. This has worked for a small cloth fanny pack and a small cross body bag. I always make sure that they are empty before putting them in my pocket. Then you have it for a bit when the water bottles are full and can fold it back into your pocket after you throw the bottles away. Don't know if this is technically "bagless" but it may help you be hands free for a while.

I've seen them tell guests like that to go thru the bag check line.

 

[DaisyJ]

I'd more equate it with being a kangaroo. Some of you are fine putting what you need into your pockets. I'm not. To me it is horribly uncomfortable.

Yep!

 

[DaisyJ]

I don't know if this "breaks the rules" but I avoid carrying a bag out because the line for bag check is so long. If I have two frozen plastic water bottles, my wallet, phone, lip balm, and keys or other pocket type items I will bring a reusable Disney bag from Publix and fold that up into a tiny square empty in my pocket along with all the other pocket items and just carry the water bottles. I walk through the "Guests without Bags" line and then pull out the bag after we get through the ticket line and put everything in it. One time (out of 15) I had the guard ask me what was in my pockets and I showed him and he waved me through. This has worked for a small cloth fanny pack and a small cross body bag. I always make sure that they are empty before putting them in my pocket. Then you have it for a bit when the water bottles are full and can fold it back into your pocket after you throw the bottles away. Don't know if this is technically "bagless" but it may help you be hands free for a while.

Until you need to empty your pockets to go through the metal detector...

 

[Farro]

I'd more equate it with being a kangaroo. Some of you are fine putting what you need into your pockets. I'm not. To me it is horribly uncomfortable.

haha so true for me also! My shorts have pockets, but I can slide a credit card in them, not much else w/out looking like I have an extra set of hips. Which is not the look I'm going for.

 

[AngiTN]

I don't know if this "breaks the rules" but I avoid carrying a bag out because the line for bag check is so long. If I have two frozen plastic water bottles, my wallet, phone, lip balm, and keys or other pocket type items I will bring a reusable Disney bag from Publix and fold that up into a tiny square empty in my pocket along with all the other pocket items and just carry the water bottles. I walk through the "Guests without Bags" line and then pull out the bag after we get through the ticket line and put everything in it. One time (out of 15) I had the guard ask me what was in my pockets and I showed him and he waved me through. This has worked for a small cloth fanny pack and a small cross body bag. I always make sure that they are empty before putting them in my pocket. Then you have it for a bit when the water bottles are full and can fold it back into your pocket after you throw the bottles away. Don't know if this is technically "bagless" but it may help you be hands free for a while.

I've done that a few times and never been an issue. I have a string bag that folds up and fits in a pocket. If I think there could be a reason for me to have it I'll grab it and fold it up and bring it along. Never been a problem, even if we have to do the metal detectors. They don't give it or anything else that I put in the bins, a second glance. Usually the time I bring it is in the cooler months when I start out with a jacket but know I'll want to take it off. I can bring the bag to put it in later in the day. I'd rather do that than tie it around my waist.

 

[greg9x]

Did bagless on trip last year with my son who is now 8 so don't have to bring all the kid stuff... cargo shorts with wallet a small tube of sunscreen, couple disposable ponchos, and cell phone. We usually don't do full days though, 5-6 hours and don't need a whole lot for that amount of time. It was great, much easier getting in to parks except for few times being pulled to go through metal detector.... and much 'cooler' not wearing a backpack in the heat, plus getting on/off rides without having to cram a backpack in. Defiantly how going to whenever possible.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I think your kids are old enough to go bagless if you want to. I tend to bring a small bag that converts between a cross-body and a fanny pack, but it's definitely freeing compared to the backpack we used to take!! And we have gone completely bagless before at Universal.

Think about the things you used to bring, and sort them into three categories:
1) Those you absolutely still need - magic band, credit card, cell phone?
2) Those you definitely don't need anymore - diapers, change of clothes. etc.
3) Flexible things that are nice to have, but that you can buy in the parks if you end up needing them - bottled water, rain ponchos, whatever.

Answers will vary group to group, of course. (For instance, for me, a small tube on sunscreen is a 1, but for some, it's a 3.)

Then see if you can fit all your 1s (and maybe some of your 3s) in your pockets - and if you can, go for it!

 

[AngiTN]

Something I suggest for that first time test to see if you can go bagless
Put what you consider essentials in your pockets and put the rest, things you think you need, in the bag.
Put it in a locker as soon as you arrive. If you never return for anything in the bag, you really didn't need them and try without that bag the next day. Before you know it, you are not even giving going without those items a 2nd thought.
My DH is really fair skinned, strawberry blond, and he does fine without reapplying sunscreen because we are not out in the sun hour after hour. We are in/out over and over again, especially when it's so hot. Time in direct sun is very minimal. He's never gotten a sunburn and that boy is so white he's see through.

 

[frostymom]

the locker idea is great but considering we are at the contemporary...I think we will try a monorail park fist and see how we do. love the cross body idea too.

 

[srwarden1928]

Always bagless. No question. Although based on reading the boards I'm a little surprised I have so much company. Wallet, keys, money pouch, phone I carry in my pockets every day IRL. The only things I add in Disney are a folded copy of that day's itinerary (you could have that on the phone, but if it dies...) and a ziplock bag for the phone on Kali and Splash.

 

[karly05]

For those who use lanyards - where did you get them?

 

[AngiTN]

For those who use lanyards - where did you get them?

The place that sells everything, including the kitchen sink, Amazon

I use mine at Universal only since I have to have the tickets handy there

 

[thumper*]

Food plan is because we don't have to have money or drinks. If we bought something we could have it delivered right back to the Contemporary right?
thanks for all the input!

Bring a small amount of cash. There have been times when MB use for charging food has been down.

 

[KiniShakenBake]

DH and I go bagless all the time, every day. We bring a lightweight backpack with us in our luggage - and since our first visit, don't use it. We both live in cargo shorts the entire time. I wear Kuhl Splash 11" women's shorts, which have the most generous pockets I've been able to find on shorts that fit me. My phone, pocket pouch for cash/cards, and even a well-folded disney poncho will fit in those pockets. So awesome. I have a pretty major beef with most clothing designers who think that cargo short pockets, like every other pocket on women's clothing, are purely for fashion instead of function. Kuhl seems to have gotten the message. They're pricey, but silly durable and dry fast!

Hubby has NO issue with his pockets being ample enough, so he carries the portable battery for moments of need and a small bottle of sunscreen in addition to his phone and wallet.

We do always tuck each phone into a zipper bag so that if we end up on a water ride it's safe.