Camelback self-hydration system and backpack

[Clotho]

So I know everyone is always trying to figure out what to bring to the parks, how to carry water and keep it cool, etc.

Well, when I went to Burningman in the Nevada desert, we used camelbacks:
http://www.camelback.com/rec/recreation.cfm

We each had our own small Camelback backpacks similar to this:
http://www.camelback.com/rec/cb_prod.cfm?catid=6&product_id=193

Ours has a little more cargo space, but I can't seem to find it on their page right now.

Anyway, for those who carry backpacks anyway, this might be a great option. We could carry a LOT in it, and it had a 70oz bladder that held water and KEPT IT COOL all day. We would buy bottled water and cool it, then pour it into the bladder in the morning. It would last us all day. If you have ever spent a week in the desert, you know that staying hydrated is difficult and vital. The Camelbacks were a dream come true, and we are thinking of doing something similar for WDW.

I don't want to carry a backpack, personally. We have no kids, we don't buy a lot of souvenir stuff. I don't want a sweaty back and the hassle of finding out where to put it when we go on rides. We just need enough room for sunscreen, lip blam, tissues, and other small personal items. So I am considering getting the fanny pack version:
http://www.camelback.com/rec/cb_prod.cfm?catid=6&product_id=176

It holds 45oz, which will get me and hubby halfway through the day with water if we share one, all the way through if we each have one. And that's assuming we don't buy anything else to drink in the park, which we probably will, soooo. We can refill it at our hotel in the morning or afternoon, or fill it with bottled water from the parks if we really need to during the day. It will keep it cool and convenient.

Just wanted to put that out there as a tip!

 

[RickNWendy]

it is also good to put a scoop or 2 of powerade/ gatorade mix in there and shake it up. I am not saying to mix it as advertised for the full flavor, but just enough to give a taste to the water (because days upon days of water seems to get old- and this is a good way to avoid drinking a soda to 'mix it up' )

 

[Nanu57v]

Hey, this is a great idea. Why didn't I bring mine with me on our last trip???

For new users, make sure you don't put the bladder in upside-down. I was on a long bike-ride and couldn't figure out why it was so incredibly difficult to get any water until I was 5 miles from home. The thing was upside-down in there.

 

[memymomonica]

I would just check to make sure they are allowed in the parks first. We recently took our camelback into a local park. Security was pretty tight. They made my husband dump the water out before he could enter. We had to refill it inside the park. Would hate for you to waste a lot of time and energy and then have to pour it out. Not sure of Disney's policy on this, maybe someone can help??

 

[mudd]

We have a fanny pack version and have never had any problems with ours. We start with ice and water at the begining of the day and add more about mid day. We usually have some water left at the end of the day, there is two of us sharing one. We also go during Oct so it is not as hot and get regular drinks with our meals for a change up. We love ours.

 

[lilsonicfan]

can't imagine why Disney would make you dump out the water.... we brought in about 8 bottles of water and they didn't question it. is there something we should know?

 

[memymomonica]

I think it has something to do with sealed containers. If the water was in unopened bottles it would be fine. Like I said, I'm not sure of Disney's policy. It was just an experience we had at another park.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

I would like to know if anyone else has brought one of these into the park and didn't have a problem getting thru security. I would hate to bring it and have to dump the water out and than carry an empty pack around the rest of the day.

 

[jlc1012]

We just returned on Sat. My dh took his pack with him everyday. He never had any problems. He just had to open the zipper like on any other bag.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

That is Great. Thank you very much for the information.

We will give it a try on our trip.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Thanks for the tip, I hadn't even thought of it. DH is already taking the Kelty kid-carrier for ds1, so it won't be a problem to add the camelbak in it's spot!

 

[disneymom33]

Does anyone know how heavy the fanny pack version of these are?