Best bag to carry @ Disney

[SwirlyGirly]

I have 2 kids and lots of stuff that I need to have w/ me, so I carry a huge LV tote called The Neverfull (and I've filled it from time to time!) It's the best bag bc it's super light and can hold a ton. And it's made from a coated canvas, so I just shove it anywhere and I don't worry about it getting damaged. On non-trill rides, I just shove it under my feet. On rides that don't allow big bags, I either put it in a locker or I switch with my dh or whichever adult is watching my younger dd.
Here's a pic of me acting goofy with it at DLP:

 

[crewmatt]

I basically live out of my LL Bean Escape backpack (even when not at disney).

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/57203?feat=816-CL1

I haven't tried the newer model, but the older one is nice, its light enough, compressible, wide padded straps for if it does get heavy (it also has a chest strap and waist straps but I never really use those), water bottle carrier on the outside, waterproof.

 

[kaligal]

No gnews is good gnews and no bag is the best bag.

If I must carry one for female items of personal necessity, I carry the smallest one possible.

 

[BDL]

I basically live out of my LL Bean Escape backpack (even when not at disney).

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/57203?feat=816-CL1

I haven't tried the newer model, but the older one is nice, its light enough, compressible, wide padded straps for if it does get heavy (it also has a chest strap and waist straps but I never really use those), water bottle carrier on the outside, waterproof.

I have to agree with the quality of LL Bean bags. I got a personalized backpack from LL Bean for Christmas 20 years ago. Nothing big. Average size. In the past 20 years, I used it to carry my books in college, took it to work every day when I was laboring to keep my change of boots and clothes in and have taken it with me on every weekend trip and trip to WDW.

It comes in real in Disney World. It's light and padded. And if you're like me and become the pack mule of souenoirs for the group, light and padded come in real handy.

 

[KatieCollette]

We bring a Prince tennis backpack for the boys to carry and I like my coach wristlet. The prince backpack is awesome because first of all its lime green and second, the back and shoulders are padded so it's easier to carry all day.

 

[moonpie85]

I have never taken a bag with me in all of our trips however this will be our first trip with a child. I have spent the past 3 months searching for the perfect bag. I wanted crossbody yet most crossbodys were too small (I have diapers, camera, camcorder and sippy) I especially loved the Vera Hipster but it too was too small.

I finally found a cross body I love at Kohls this week. It's the perfect size and has a nice thick strap. And still cheap enough if it gets ruined I won't be upset

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/zbr...11/Relic+Alex+Organizer+CrossBody+Handbag.jsp

 

[laughinplace199]

OP, it depends on what you want to carry in the parks. If you're not going to bring sunblock, water, snacks, etc, I'd go for something small. I bought a cute zippered patchwork Mickey bag in WDW in April (it was just DD & me on that trip, so we didn't need to lug a lot of stuff around). Here's a pic of DD holding the bag. It was great for my phone, wallet, camera, and a few other small items.

I'm really glad you asked this question because I just realized that our upcoming trip will be our first family trip without a diaper bag. I used to put sunblock, snacks, etc in with the baby supplies in the diaper bag. Now I need to look for a bigger bag.

 

[Michellynn]

Usually I take a small leather backpack that I bought from bags several years ago. Quite compact and easy to carry over the shoulder or over the back.

However, last month I went to London for work and did quite a bit a sight seeing while there. I took my newly purchased Michael kors Joan satchel and couldn't believe both how comfortable it was and how much it held without looking really big ( for the Dr. Who fans out there, think "bigger on the inside" concept.

Sooooo.....I am going to take both this trip and switch back and forth depending what I feel like that day (plus, if I have to pack ponchos for potential rain they will fit easier in the MK bag).

 

[nnjamison]

Love this thread! I need something small and lightweight but that I can pack a lot of the neccesities in...BUMP for more suggestions from others!

 

[SparklyDiva]

I wanted something that has a sling style as I have a bad lower back and didn't want all the weight to be on my shoulders only so I found this one on Ebay

I loved the color because I hope my DH will also take turns carrying it and I know he would have said no if I bought a pink one

 

[THERESA522]

OP, it depends on what you want to carry in the parks. If you're not going to bring sunblock, water, snacks, etc, I'd go for something small. I bought a cute zippered patchwork Mickey bag in WDW in April (it was just DD & me on that trip, so we didn't need to lug a lot of stuff around).

I have 2 kids (8 & 9), no diaper bag for years now! I have to say though, I do miss the days of the stroller, where everything could be stored underneath and no carrying the heavier stuff (water bottles, sunblock, etc).

I need something to carry all the essentials for us - water bottles, sunblock, sweaters, wipes, moleskin, cell phone, wallet, etc. - but also something that's no so huge that I can't get it on a ride with me.

I've found on previous trips that the crossbody bags start bugging me after a few hours and the backpacks aren't accessible friendly. I think I would really prefer a bag that I can wear on my shoulder sometimes and crossbody at other times.

I LOVE buying new bags!

 

[HalloweenNut]

Really want to avoid taking our big black backpack we currently have - too hot and heavy. This is the backpack I'll be getting for our trip this April. It's the Deuter Race X Air. It's available here in Canada at Mountain Equipment Co-op for $56. I like that it has a mesh back support to allow air flow for a cooler (non-sweaty) back. The straps are also mesh. Not too big so it could easily be taken on the rides and stowed at out feet. There are some great features like security pockets for our tickets and such too. I'd use it as my carry-on as well.

(BTW it's meant primarily as a cycling pack but the hydration system is optional and not needed by us)

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/HikingCamping/Packs/DayPacks/PRD~5019-507/deuter-race-x.jsp

http://www.deuter.com/en_DE/backpack-details.php?category=76&id=1984&title=Race%20X%20Air

http://youtu.be/0Sl-8O3EVDE

 

[Annadesu]

In the past, I've had a backpack... I guess the only downfall with it is that I carry way too much crap in it. Things I've purchased, wallets, maps, cameras, etc. So I spend more time digging into it than I should.

 

[korie99]

I also carry a small backpack. It has tons of little compartments and zippered pockets and has 2 mesh pockets on either side that hold water bottles. It's great, but I will say though that I wish it was a full size backpack - between all the cameras and snacks and miscellaneous items you accumulate throughout the day, it was definitely packed last time we were there! This time I am making DH bring his too to help with the "crap carrying".

 

[BadgerGirl84]

On the past few trips I have carried a very small cross-body purse with just enough room to store my camera, cell phone, two ponchos and money/ID. Worked out just fine. Although I hated how in all my pictures I had this big strap going diagonally across my chest.

On my last trip, I purchased a $5 fanny pack on eBay to take to Universal because they don't let you have any type of purse or bag on the rides (must check the bag into a free locker, but there are sometimes lines to put the things in or out of the lockers...pain in the rear...) but I read on the boards that fanny packs seem to be allowed.

I vowed ONLY to wear the fanny pack on the US days....but I liked it so much that I wore it the whole trip! I liked how it didn't show up for pictures (literally wore the bag part behind me and shirt covered the strap around the waist) and that I didn't need to take it off and on.

I think fanny packs are a fashion atrocity, but in Disney, I just don't care.

 

[Ginny Favers]

I agree that LL Bean bags are very, very good. This is the one that I took with me:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/53797?feat=847-SR1

It is small, yet still had room for a bottle of water, diapers, wipes, hand sanitizer, phone, camera, sunglasses, money, sunblock, a small umbrella... etc. etc. I never felt bogged down by it, and it wasn't so "pretty" that my husband felt weird carrying it. I liked being able to keep things that I needed to have handy on the outside, where they were accessible yet still secure. I'll be bringing it with me again.

And one side-note about LL Bean merchandise... their return policy is amazing. I used to live right next to the store in Maine so I was often there, and you should have seen the things people wanted to return. Shirts that were 30 years old and had just ripped, etc. etc... LL Bean took it all back. That is because much of it is good quality and can take a lot of abuse.

 

[BarbieGal457]

We carry swimming bag back packs, not sure if they're available in the US but anyone in the UK will now what I mean! They look like this...

The problem we have found with back packs is many of them are weighty without actually having anything in them and many are not waterproof.

The benefits of these bags is that you don't have to worry about your stuff getting wet on the water rides, they are really light and if you empty your bag, you can screw them up and put them in your pocket instead of carrying them around on your back.

This is also what I carry! Mine was about $10USD and is so easy and care-free! I also like that if someone tries to open it from behind I can feel the straps move and thus, catch 'em! (No one has ever tried this, I tested it out at home with family before my trip).

I also like to carry a Gucci belt bag (which is basically a stylized bum bag), and my large Longchamp tote. I carry the Longchamp when I know I'll be buying things, because they can easily fit into the bag and I don't have to worry about lugging them in my hands!

 

[DianeW]

This one: http://www.amazon.com/Baggallini-Me...YMXS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325871670&sr=8-2

Accept no substitues. Mine is light green and has stood the test of time. It is worn sling style (messenger bag) across one shoulder, so no backaches or painful pinch between your shoulder after a long day at the park. I love it!!!

 

[scion5220]

Lately I've been carrying this...

It's big enough to carry all my stuff including a light jacket and my camera and small tripod, but not too heavy. And I can wear it cross body or just on one shoulder.

I used to always use a string backpack, but it would get annoying that I couldn't get stuff out of it without taking it off. I prefer a bag I can take stuff in and out of while still wearing it.

I also have this one..

and while the outside pockets are nice to get to things, they make the flap sort of awkward and heavy.

 

[preschoolmom]

On our first trip, I took a Baggallini Urban Backpack: http://www.ebags.com/product/baggallini/urban-backpack-bagg-crinkle-nylon/47336?productid=510009

Which I LOVED!!!

But it wasn't the perfect Disney Bag. It was small, lightweight, very organized, and I used it as a purse for years - but I hated how I had to take it off every time I wanted to get into it.

On our second trip, I took a Vera Bradley Hipster - it was perfect because I could wear it across my body, so just swing it around when I wanted access. It wasn't as organized as the urban backpack, but it worked really well for our needs. My kids were out of diapers at that point, so I just had the bare minimums in the parks - fast passes, room key, small camera, chapstick, Purell, etc.

I'm just researching now for a new bag - and I want something convenient like the Vera Bradley hipster, but small and urbanish for style (and organization).