Carrying a backpack in the parks

[Angiea]

We are taking the kids to WDW for the first time next month. We want to carry a backpack with some snacks, water, etc. Where do you put your backpack when you ride the rides? We will not have a stroller and I know that we won't be able to have the backpack on certain rides, esp roller coasters. I'm thinking I would like to have snacks for the kids while we're in line in case the wait is long and they get restless.

Or, is there a suggestion for something other than a backpack that's easier?

 

[tigerbelly]

You can have a bag on just about any ride at WDW. Just put it at your feet and wrap one strap around your leg. Although I will say that it is far more convenient NOT to have a bag. We had a stroller our last trip and kept snacks and necessities in that and just carried a small bag or things in our pocket. Not sure what we will do next time since we probably won't need a stroller. Lots of people like cinch sacks to carry in the park since they are light.

 

[dawnhaze]

You can take a backpack on anything at WDW, including roller coasters.

 

[JillyBean1899]

I would just recommend taking a small bag, not a school book sized backpack, into the parks. I use a CamelBak M.U.L.E. which is actually designed for bicycling. It's big enough to hold my DSLR and a few snacks, with a pocket on the front that holds my phone, cash, ID, keys, chap stick and sunscreen. I just find it more convenient to carry my own water on my back, rather than lugging around bottles.

 

[tina.tina]

This seems like a lot but our entire bag actually fit in a 2 gallon size baggie when we went on water rides. We also carried a couple of small waterproof camping bags that we put our cell phones and cameras in within our backpack on water rides. We wanted to make sure nothing got wet!

Between me and DH, one of us wore a lanyard with all of family's kttw cards, cc, and small amt of cash, and one of us carried the backpack. That way, neither of us was totally without cash when we separated. With magic bands we’ll have to rethink this strategy.

Pen
paper (folded up)
bandaids
antibacterial ointment
ibuprofen
mints/gum
gas-x
maps & extra napkins we picked up
sm container of bug spray
ponchos
sunscreen
carmex
small amt of cash
tube of pennies & quarters for pressed pennies
extra ziploc baggies
a snack or 2 depending on plans
bottle of water or 2 to share
extra outfit for youngest child in a baggie
2 cameras
baggie full of wipes

Half the time we also carried DD's mouse ears & fanny pack with her money & autograph book/sharpie

I also carried & just tossed away a couple of wash cloths each day which we used for many different reasons during our trip- to wash a cut, dry off a bench, wash/dry off a table, etc. I even made a puppet out of a wash cloth to entertain my restless son while we waited for Fantasmic!

Like I said, all of this fit in a 2 gallon baggie. Our bag was a backpack we got out of the camping section that condensed down to the size of a fist. The only complaint was it made DH’s back sweaty.

There was either a pocket to put your bags on every ride or there was plenty of room to wrap it around your leg on hold onto it (as a PP suggested). A theme park close to us never allows bags on rides. WDW is great about it.

 

[katiee37]

I carried a drawstring bag with me every day in the parks, mainly so that if I bought anything during the day it would be out of my hands. I also carried my refillable mug with me once I finished it in the morning so that I would have to fill up before I made the long walk back to the LM section of AOA. I just kept a string around my wrist on every ride and it was fine! I didn't do any water rides so I didn't have the problem of getting it soaked.

 

[Kekepania]

Great ideas! We are planning our first trip with 3 little ones.

 

[monorailsilver]

We had our first trip minus a stroller in August.

I knew that that there was no way I was going to carry 5 water bottles!

My dh said he would carry his back pack. Now knowing it was August and his back pack is thick and heavy, I knew better. I had a thin/light weight/drys quick back pack and he carried that. He ended up carrying extra water bottles for refills and some snacks in it. As well as my 7 yos water.

I used this bag

http://www.baggallini.com/product/Sydney/Baggallini-Best-Sellers

It held my DSL as well as dh and my water bottles-we have the bike bottles-soft and insulated although they don't insulate like my kids thermos do! Plus I had the pockets for stuff-phone, maps, sun glasses,etc... I was able to clip the hats to the bag if needed.

My oldest dd (12) used a bag similar to this

http://www.baggallini.com/product/Promenade-Crossbody/Baggallini-Crossbody-Bags

She happily carried her water bottle and phone!

My 9 yo ds just used his sinch/cinch ask and had his iPod, water bottle and occasionally his hat in there.

My 7 yo used my other baggalni

http://www.baggallini.com/product/Messenger-Bagg/Baggallini-Best-Sellers

And really just had the water in there but my dh felt bad for her after a day or two so he took her water bottle.

My kids had the bigger thermos double insulated bottles and they had ice all day long!

 

[wiigirl]

You can take a backpack on anything at WDW, including roller coasters.

 

[B.B. Sots]

bandaids
antibacterial ointment
ibuprofen
mints/gum
gas-x
maps & extra napkins we picked up
sm container of bug spray
ponchos
sunscreen
carmex
small amt of cash
tube of pennies & quarters for pressed pennies
extra ziploc baggies
a snack or 2 depending on plans
bottle of water or 2 to share
extra outfit for youngest child in a baggie
2 cameras
baggie full of wipes

This is very similar to what we have in ours.
1) Hiking first aid Kit (can be bought at REI or Amazon.com) Hiking first aid kit
2) Moleskin
3) Sunscreen (lotion, not spray)
4) Pepto-bismol
5) 2 water bottles per person (12 total for us, the older kids used hip packs and carried their own water bottles)
6) camera
7) Lib Balm
8) Freezer bags (3) to waterproof the cameras and phones for water rides.

If it was a rainey day, we bought poncho's and when it stopped raining, we would also put those in the freezer bags. A nice tip about the poncho's is that if they tear or the snaps break off, most of the stands will replace them. Only ran into one cast member that was reluctant.

Whenever I went on a ride, I would put the backpack between my legs or under my feet. If this is not an option, then u can ask a cm where u can put it and they normally will have a section specifically for holding guests stuff.

When we used a stroller, we just left the backpack on the stroller (minus camera, phones, electronics, etc.. which we put in our hip packs)

When Picking a BP, just remember that bigger is not better. Keep it small and light or you will have a backache by the end of the day. Also, you will notice you will sweat more with a backpack so wear a loose and airy shirt to keep your body temperature down.

 

[Annadesu]

I carried a backpack with me the entire time, last visit. It's good for holding the stuff you purchased, bottled drinks, and other such things. Just make sure it's a backpack that is durable, easily recognizable, and can be slightly overstuffed. Clean it out/organize it at the end of every day, if you can. For most rides (including upside down ones), I put the bag on the ground, wrapped the shoulder straps around my feet, and made sure the zippers were all closed.

 

[Tres Vegas]

I have two small boys and when I took them to WDW back in 2009 and 2012 this is what I did.

I carry a half pack all day (imagine half the size of a regular pack with only one strap) it's not too big and perfect for enough items to carry some snacks for a few hours at a time. (cheese it's, sliced oranges, trail mix, m&m's) I also carry about 3 frozen water bottles that I freeze the night before so when it's getting warm the bottles start to melt slightly and we have very cool water to drink. it's never been a problem for me on any ride at WDW and we do not skip any rides or shows.

Now I also get a storage locker early in the morning and place a small cooler with more snacks and frozen water bottles for later in the day and into the night, when we work our way across the park to the other side I'll swing by the locker and replenish the small carry bag. this satisfies our apatite then we have a late lunch. Back to the park and more snacks through out the day and my boys and I never really get hungry till late at night.

I've use this strategy at every amusement park we have ever done.