Carrying everything - suggestions?

[AlexJanessa]

So its been 12 years since my dh and I have been to DLR. We've never been with our kids so we'll definitely be lugging around more stuff then last time. I'm trying to decide what I should bring along to carry all that stuff around in DL.

I have a medium sized backpack for snacks and other necessities but in terms of our tickets/cash/ID, etc do you normally just put that in the backback or do you bring a money belt, purse or (gasp!) fanny pack?

And I haven't even gotten started on my camera(s)...

So what do you use to carry around everything at DL? I'm thinking about all the things that I need to make sure I have (sunblock, spare socks, snacks, water, dd's blanky, camera)... where am I going to put it all without looking like a bag lady...?

 

[DizNee Luver]

I guess the question is....how much of the stuff do you need the entire time you're in the parks? We found that taking only the stuff we needed all day, stayed in a backpack with us. The rest of the stuff we would need off & on, we kept in one of the lockers.

I kept my AP, ID & Visa in my fastpass holder on my lanyard (that I always checked to make sure was always there....lol)
In a smaller backpack we kept our cameras, autograph books, sunscreen, one feed for my twins & a couple diapers/wipes.
Everything else, went in a locker that we also used to put souvenirs bought through out the day.

Remember what you carry will start to feel pretty heavy by the end of a long day & you also get to figure out where to set it during rides. So think compact as much as possible!!

 

[Belle Ella]

One thing I highly recommend doing is getting a locker! I find them invaluable when Im at DLR for storing things that aren't essentials of every moment but will need throughout the day. It helps to keep my load light and my spirits high.

But the things I carry around are very minimal as I'm usually a solo Disneylander and if I am with other people, there aren't any kids involved (unless you count me as the big kid, lol). I usually keep my camera with me at all times -- at least one be it my P&S or my DSLR which I prefer not to leave behind. What else I carry depends on if I bring in a small purse or my camera bag. That's where I would keep my cell phone, AP and fast passes, money, and chapstick. Anything and everything else I keep in the locker until I need it.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

This will be our first time without a stroller. I'm going to miss having the waters so close. We'll use the lockers for sweatshirts and things we don't need all day. Otherwise I have a nice small Eddie Bauer backpack with lots of pockets that is very comfortable that I'll be using for my camera, snacks, etc.

There are some people that swear by these bags here on the DIS. It's a baggallini messenger bag. Very nice and they even come in lime green

http://travelmaharishi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Baggallini-Messenger-Bag.gif

 

[DisSarahK]

We use a medium size backpack from the Eddie Bauer Outlet to carry everything and my husband carries the money and tickets buttoned into a pocket. I do not carry a purse in Disneyland. I keep my DSLR camera on my shoulder. The waterbottles go in the bottom of the stroller, but other than that, we don't store anything in the stroller because we don't want anything to get stolen.

 

[DahliaRW]

I have a bagalllini (small backpack) that I put my credit cards/ cash in (in the compartment on the shoulder strap so it was in front of me), and then things like my diapers and wipes and snacks and camera in the backpack part. It is super easy to swing to my front on rides. The water bottles, extra clothes, and coats we put in the bottom of the stroller and leave wherever and go get as we need it.

ETA - the bagallini mentioned above is what I use. I use it for outings around town with the kids too!

 

[jory29]

While I would never ever use a waist pack when here at home, no one knows me there, so I do use one there... I keep it in front of me, and it's useful because I can constantly check the back pocket just by feeling it, to make sure my mini wallet with Disney Parkhopper Pass, credit card,and driver's license are there. It is handy because you can walk around freely, it's small and not too heavy. You can wear it on any ride I find. I pack my small camera, extra battery and memory card. A small amount of cash, cell phone, no comb, maybe one small Avon lipstick. I also end up carrying the kids sunglasses around in the pack. Sometimes packaged juice and small cookie packs for the kids. I know I look out of fashion, but there are times not to care about it, and that is one of the times.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

After more than 20 visits to Disneyland, I can tell you that the one thing we've learned about carrying stuff around in the park is that we always, always have more than we need, so we keep whittling down the list. What you need to carry around with you does depend partly on the ages of your kids, how much you plan to eat in the parks, and whether you go back for a mid-day break.

DH and I carry everything in one backpack and take turns carrying it. I wear pants or shorts with pockets so I have a place for my own cell phone, money, and credit card in case I'm not carrying the backpack.

The pack always has hand sanitizer, sunscreen, pennies and quarters for pressing, plastic zip bags for putting phones and wallets in during water rides, Motrin for me (although you can get it for kids or adults at first aid), band-aids, snacks, and water bottles for our whole family.

When the kids were littler, we carried a small cheap diaper bag with some diapers and wipes and left that in the bottom of the stroller.

During our break, we always review the contents of the backpack and leave behind in the hotel room things we won't need for the evening and add things that we might need such as some sweatshirts or a blanket. Since we usually make the evening meal our park meal, we sometimes don't even need to use the pack in the evenings (depending on weather).

This way works for us since we usually stay at a hotel we can walk back to and we usually take a break. We prefer to have what we need right at hand rather than have to troop back to a locker to get things.

 

[chrissiecutie]

There are some people that swear by these bags here on the DIS. It's a baggallini messenger bag. Very nice and they even come in lime green

http://travelmaharishi.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Baggallini-Messenger-Bag.gif

I've got one! Love it!

Packs nicely in my suitcase, can fit bottled water, camera, money, id, credit cards, snacks and even a light sweater! Most rides I don't even need to "swing" it around to the front. I can just hop in and go! And when the trip is over and I'm back home, I just throw it in the wash and get it ready for the next adventure.

Lots of cute colors to choose from, mine is light pink. I bought mine off ebay for 1/2 price, awesome deal!

Here's a link, check around for good sales!

http://www.baggallini.com/product2.asp?product='MES160'&Fabric='Ripstop'

 

[chrissiecutie]

While I would never ever use a waist pack when here at home, no one knows me there, so I do use one there... I keep it in front of me, and it's useful because I can constantly check the back pocket just by feeling it, to make sure my mini wallet with Disney Parkhopper Pass, credit card,and driver's license are there. It is handy because you can walk around freely, it's small and not too heavy. You can wear it on any ride I find. I pack my small camera, extra battery and memory card. A small amount of cash, cell phone, no comb, maybe one small Avon lipstick. I also end up carrying the kids sunglasses around in the pack. Sometimes packaged juice and small cookie packs for the kids. I know I look out of fashion, but there are times not to care about it, and that is one of the times.

Jory...I have awful visions of you using bright neon green fanny packs and thought I would lovingly send you a link to some pretty awesome ones. No sense in looking out of style for the sake of comfort!

My SIL loves these...I'm a diehard Baggalini fan (see my post above) so I can't say from personal experience...but the ones my SIL wears are SO much cuter then the ones my mother used, circa 1985. Of course maybe you already have one like this??

http://www.ebags.com/product/mounta...-running-lumbar-pack/132612?productid=1343705

And I just couldn't resist putting a link up for this one. Who knew Guess made fanny packs!

http://www.ebags.com/product/guess/fancy-mini-waistpack/203335?productid=10106686

 

[AlexJanessa]

Thanks everyone! Those baggalini's do look handy... and comfortable! For those who carry everything in a backpack or baggallini, do you always bring them on the rides with you? Also, for anything we want to leave on the stroller (we're only bringing an umbroller but it does have a small basket) like sweaters, etc is it pretty safe?

Unfortunately, our hotel might be too far for to and from visits during the day. We'll see though, it might end up being necessary if we're going to survive with our little one.

One more question, where can I find lanyards? I'm in Canada if that makes a difference. Do they sell them pretty much anywhere they carry travel goods/luggage?

Can you tell that its been a LONG time since I've taken a holiday?

TIA!

Chrissie, I can NOT believe you found a GUESS fanny pack! That is just priceless (literally?).

 

[AlexJanessa]

I have a bagalllini (small backpack) that I put my credit cards/ cash in (in the compartment on the shoulder strap so it was in front of me)

I like this idea! I'm worried about having cash/credit/ID on my back where I can't see it but if there is a pocket up front, I'd feel much better about that...

 

[DahliaRW]

Yes, I took my bagallini with me on every ride! I kept plastic baggies in it that I put my cell phone in (and let my camera with my MIL) when riding Splash. On Screamin and such I put it in the holder thing they have in front of me. But because it had my cash and cards in it I kept it on me.

As for strollers, I've done two trips to DL with strollers and leaving them parked random places. A total of 11 days. Never had a thing stolen, but we don't leave anything valuable in the stroller (just coats, diapers, wipes, extra clothes, food, and water bottles). I have had the stroller moved by the CMs when they organize, but it's always nearby. I would NEVER leave an in-park purchase (i.e. souvenier) in a DL bag or something like that in an unattended stroller (and you can check your purchases at the Newstand and not have to haul them around if you want, which is a nice tip I learned last trip).

 

[KBelle5]

I put my ticket in my front pocket for easy FP accessibility (although it's not a good idea to keep it there if you're going on water rides), and as for a bag, it depends on what I want to carry. I have some huge purses that my friends call my Mary Poppins bags because I pull the randomest stuff out of them. I have a little, easily accessible coin purse-like thing for my money and credit cards, so I can just pull it out rather than searching with my head in my bag for my wallet. I keep that in an inside, zipped pocket.

On attractions, I simply hold it between my legs (on Space Mountain, for example) or loop it over my arm so it's hanging in between my arms as I'm holding on (like on Matterhorn). I can get away with carrying a bunch of stuff in it, and it never seems to get heavy. That said, lockers are your friend! I'd just try to go to it once during the day, to drop off packages or get jackets, because we ended up spending a good amount of time running back and forth to it once.

 

[ironpig70]

I pack everything into a back pack. If I don't need it then I do not pack it. When we go back to the hotel at lunch we repack snacks for the evening or put in the blanket for the shows or add jackets if the weather is going to be cold. Tickets go into my lanyard. Money goes in my wallet which lives in my left rear pocket. Cell phone goes in the pocket on my leg(carpenter pants).

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i use disney fannie pack an disney cooler backpack. it will be first time with out stroler but we wont take enar the stuff we did before

 

[Hound 109]

If it doesn't fit in my cargo pant's pockets, i don't bring it.

Dudes travel light.


We each carry one water bottle & fill it up throughout the day.

Other than that......hands free.


(sunglasses, camera, phone, key etc. go in cargo pockets. FPs & tickets go in wallet.)

If the men in your life don't wear khaki or khaki shorts with cargo pockets...get them to.....they'll never go back.

 

[ksdisneyfan]

I second the convenience of a Baggalini. I have used mine at DL the last two years and have loved it. I carry everything I need in it minus coats and blankets. I usually put in: first aid kit, autograph books and markers, snacks, hand sanitizer, cell phone, camera, money, wipes, extra baggies, water bottle, extra change of clothes for YDD and chapstick. I wear it on all the rides and it doesn't bother me at all.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

If it doesn't fit in my cargo pant's pockets, i don't bring it.

Dudes travel light.


We each carry one water bottle & fill it up throughout the day.

Other than that......hands free.


(sunglasses, camera, phone, key etc. go in cargo pockets. FPs & tickets go in wallet.)

If the men in your life don't wear khaki or khaki shorts with cargo pockets...get them to.....they'll never go back.

Hi Hound! Not that you remember me or anything....when I first came to the DIS years ago I just loved your advice. Nice to still see you around. I was just wondering last week if you were still around.

 

[chrissiecutie]

Thanks everyone! Those baggalini's do look handy... and comfortable! For those who carry everything in a backpack or baggallini, do you always bring them on the rides with you? Also, for anything we want to leave on the stroller (we're only bringing an umbroller but it does have a small basket) like sweaters, etc is it pretty safe?

Can you tell that its been a LONG time since I've taken a holiday?

TIA!

Chrissie, I can NOT believe you found a GUESS fanny pack! That is just priceless (literally?).

I KNOW!


So...to answer your question, I take my Baggallini on every single ride. The ones in Fantasyland (and other's like this) I don't even need to "swing" the bag from my back to my front. I literally, just get on the ride and then get off the ride- NO hassle and super easy!

For the rides like Indiana Jones, the bag just goes in the front compartment provided. For those like Splash or Big Thunder, I just swing it to my front or off to the side if need be. Although the last few times, I rode with DS right next to me so I had my Baggallini on one side and DS on the other side. Worked great!

I put my camera and cell in here and don't bother with plastic bags. The fabric of the bag seems to "wick" away any moisture so that the inside contents (at least in the VERY big pocket) stay dry. So even on GRR, my camera stayed totally dry inside my Baggallini. I also like that on the strap, there's a zippered pouch for a cell phone. When wearing the Baggallini, this pouch is literally RIGHT in front of you (on your chest) and within easy reach. Excellent!

One tip with the Baggallini is that is has lots of awesome pockets and spaces to put things ie. credit cards, cash, tickets, etc. However, I've found that it's much easier (and gives me more peace of mind) to just keep all those valuable items in my wallet and put the wallet in the large zippered pocket. Just like I would with my purse at home. My FP tickets and park tickets go in my wallet as well...don't want to chance them falling out or something happening to them...

So all our valuable items are in my Baggallini, even DH's cell phone and wallet go in there! I then leave our sweatshirts and our food cooler with our stroller. Totally safe, never had any problems! The only thing I would caution against is leaving Disney merchandise visible in your stroller while you are away. But other then that, you should be fine!