Best bag to carry @ Disney

[TheRatPack]

I carry the Overland bag that everyone on here used to rave about.....I love how organized it makes everything and that it has 2 water bottle spaces on the sides. Last year I bought a Baggallini sling bag and it's nice...but I wear it backwards to keep the purse part on the front of me because I like being able to get to my stuff easily.

My husband found a backpack last year at Academy Sports, it's a mesh type bag....so it doesn't make your back sweat. He got a lot of compliments on it when we'd go through bag check, makes their job easier being able to see through everything. Plus it comes with an attached rain poncho type thing for the bag...which I thought was cool. So if it starts to rain you just pull out the poncho from the bottom of the bag and it fits over the whole backpack like a shower cap. Here is a picture of it, it's made by Austin Clothing Company. Although other brands make a mesh one too...like Nike and Adidas, not sure if they have the rain cover though?

 

[Sugarlumples]

I loooove purses and so discussing park bags is a favorite past time of mine.

For years I have carried a Travelon cross body similar to this, but in blue nylon instead of leather. I love this bag and still bring it with me to Disney, though I rotate bags now.

http://www.ebags.com/product/travelon/leather-expandable-shoulder-bag/62613?productid=723883

Here it is in action!

Then I got a Sherpani backpack, which is nice and padded. I hated having to take it off to get anything out though. I doubt it'll be coming with me this next trip.

http://www.ebags.com/product/sherpani/xo/221626?productid=10153366

RIP Jaws ride...

And my newest bag, which I have taken to Bermuda and on hikes here in NH so far is the Baggallini Messenger in pink. I love it! Lots of organization, light weight, pretty, and easy to access stuff without taking off the whole bag. It is going to be my primary park bag on our next trip because I am toting along my DSLR so I need a bit more room. It fits ponchos, wallets, cameras, sunglasses, sunscreen, hats, phone, waters, and a change of shoes with a little room to spare.

http://www.ebags.com/product/baggallini/messenger-slingbagg-rip-stop-nylon/18644?productid=66039

Good luck finding the perfect park bag!

 

[Tweedle]

last time I used the Vera Bradley Large Hipster but I am concerned about it getting wet on rides or in rain.
We are headed to Disney next week and I just found Baggalini's at TJ Maxx. They had several models. Some were $19.99 (including the Big Zipper Bagg) and I got the City Bagg for $29.99. It was the exact bag I was looking for and was willing to pay full price for it so I am so excited about the find!

 

[disneybirds]

I usually carry an inexpensive cross body bag from Target. It has enough room for room keys, id, cash, credit card, small camera, phone, etc. We just went to Universal without any type of bag and it was great. Not sure that I can pull that off at Disney!

 

[sashalovesyou]

I brought a bag my mom made me. It's probably about 2 iphones width, and 1 and a half iphone length. All I had was the key to the world card, debit card, license, and cash in the little zippered pouch. Then my phone, usb cord for phone, battery(to charge said phone), ankle support thing, and my contact case.
Unless you have to carry stuff for your kids, I would get a tiny purse. Personally, when I went to disney I didn't need anything else. I didn't eat a snack and bought water as my snack credit. And when we went to AK I brought a small poncho for Kali.

 

[Ashley]

I love the drawstring backpacks & that's what I use as a purse all the time. I only buy them if they have a pocket though as you've got to have someplace for the little stuff.

This trip is going to be different though. I've gotten a larger camera since our last trip 7 years ago & the camera bag I bought for it is really too big for the camera, but it had a long enough strap I could wear it cross-body. So I'm going to try to carry just my camera bag. I'm hoping I can fit my wallet & a paperback inside (i go nowhere without a book, even wdw) and put small stuff in the outside pockets.

 

[dassjs]

With my 2 kids, we've taken an LL Bean backpack with lots of pockets in it. It's worked for us and I've also used a fanny pack. I think this time we will do the backpack and a baggalini for me. I toyed with letting the kids take their own sling bags but think they will lose them.

 

[*sarah*]

Last trip I used a 31 cross body bag and loved it. I packed around our large camera, my wallet, two autograph books and various other things. Had room for everything, but unlike previous trips where I had a regular purse this did not hurt my shoulders.

 

[captinhookedondisney]

Apple drawstring bags. They are FREE, Duel-Ply, plastic and water proof.

I go to my apple store the day before they trip and ask for 2 and they last the week.

 

[Pembo]

I have a small backpack I found the kids dept at Walmart. It's just tall enough to hold a water bottle standing up. It has a front pocket that is perfect for the autograph book and pen. Taking a smaller bag forces me to really think about what I'm going to take. For us that's water, sunscreen, auto book and pen, granola bars, suckers, and kleenex.

I also wear a small fanny bag that is big enough to hold park passes, money and my sunglasses.

NOW all that said, we usually go in the summer when it's 90 at 7 am and 90 at 10 pm. It's alot more tricky if you go when you need to carry extra layers. I went in January and took a normal size backpack so I had a place to put warm clothes.

 

[happypaws]

I have tried a bunch of different bags over the years and it really depends what's most important to you in the end, such as style, function, pockets, size, weight, etc.
I have used my backpack before, that I hike a lot with, because it is super lightweight, has comfortable straps and a water bottle pocket and is the perfect size to stow a coat, camera and some snacks in.
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/69232?feat=816-CL1
Gregory makes a very similar pack, but is likely much more expensive.
I have got a number of those swimming bags/bags with strings over the years for free at conferences and they are great when they do not have much in them, but added weight quickly causes the strings to cut into my shoulders.
I have tried a couple different over the shoulder bags, which are great for organizing different items with there numerous pockets, but I have always found they cut into my shoulder/neck when fully filled more than just a purse for some reason.
Last time I tried a small Eagle creek bag and brought a vapor water bottle
http://www.reuseit.com/store/vapur-foldable-water-bottle-p-2688.html
which could clip to the bag and then fold up when it was empty, it worked out great for my last, when the weather was warm.
This time I'm bringing my backpack again though since I'm going when its colder and will probably be taking layers off and on all day.

 

[hops&dreams]

I've been following this post for the past few days. I've been keeping an eye out for a new park bag. The one I used last time was bigger than I wanted, and was all one compartment, and a huge velcro flap, which was loud at times when in an attraction or something, getting my camera out (and then searching frantically for it in the endless abyss of the main/only compartment).

Based on things I've read on this thread, I went out looking at bags yesterday when I was out running errands. I made a stop at my Hallmark store to look at Bagallinis, and then to TJ Maxx to price them there.

I looked at the Messenger, which was bigger than expected, but found that as a Lefty, it would not work for me. It wasn't comfortable when I put it on asn swung it around. I felt like everything would fall out of it when I opened it.

At TJ Maxx, they had a couple different Bagallini styles for MUCH lower prices, and a variety of colors. They ranged from $19.99 to $29.99, and I really liked the City Bagg. I would have bought it, but the only thing I didn't like was that there's no place to put a drink. I like that it's small, inobtrusive, compatible with being a lefty, roomy and has lots of pockets. But the drink thing... where/how would I keep my Bobble? I'm thinking I can throw it in the main compartment? I'm going to go back with my bobble and see how it would fit. The bobble is rather bulky, so I'm not sure how lumpy it would make the main compartment.

I have found a few other bags I like online, but haven't decided between them:
LL Bean Carry All Guide Bag - http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/53797?feat=507304-GN2
I like the compact size, many pockets, and exterior drink holder. I also like that it's not girly looking, so DH could hypothetically wear it (yeah, like that's gonna happen!). Rear exterior slip pocket would be nice for park map or touring guide.

LL Bean Expedition Guide Bag - http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/70674?feat=63245-app
Little bigger, but looks more my style. Looks more manly, so maybe DH would be more likely to wear it? (ha ha, yeah right!)

Overland Donner - http://www.ebags.com/product/overland-equipment/donner-shoulder-bag/140202?productid=10160397
Might be too big (thickness)? Also uses velcro for front pocket. (I prefer zippers or plastic buckles) Do LOVE the water bottle situation with this bag though, but it's still pretty expensive ($42, on super sale)

eBags Piazza Day Bag - http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/piazza-day-bag/94553?productid=10118543
It looks like it has everything I'm looking for, but looks much more feminine to me (which I'm not a huge fan of), but it would be ok. I'm also not a fan of any of the colors. Would like it more if it came in a grey color? It's a pretty good price though. I like the rear pockets.

So... there's my take. I have about 2 more weeks to pick one and order it so it'll get here in time for our trip.