Carrying Stuff, What do I do?????

[dianemom2]

We are leaving next week for our fourth trip to Disney. However, it has been a while since we have been there. The last time we went for more than a daytrip, our kids were preschoolers. We rented strollers even though they were 4 and 5 because their little legs still got tired. It was great beause we were able to store coats and water bottles and anything else in the strollers. Now that the kids are bigger (8 and 9) they can walk all day but I don't know what to do with all the stuff we usually bring. We are going in January so obviously it will be chilly, or even downright cold in the mornings and evenings. But during the day it can get warm. So what do I do with all the coats and hats? Do I carry them around all day? That would ruin my trip because I would be so burdened with heavy things to carry. What do other people do? My kids were joking around and wanted us to rent a stroller for the coats and water bottles. Anyhow, I am looking for suggestions of how other people handle the STUFF that you have to bring with you to the parks.

 

[mom2meiko]

there are lockers you can rent for the day at each of the parks i believe. i know they have them at mk. that would be my suggestion.

good luck!

 

[all4fun]

We went with our 11-yr old nieces several years ago in early December, pre-ds, so we did not need a stroller. I bought the girls small drawstring backpacks to wear. The layered up with sweatshirts when it was cold and just wore them tied around their waste when it warmed up enough that they didn't need them. I had a small backpack that I stored the disposable ponchos in (iirc, it did rain, but not every day we were there).

Disney has lockers (more info here) at the front of the parks also and if you save the receipt, the rental is transferable to another park on the same day (you would have to have the park hopper option on your tickets of course).

hth

 

[Tomskatt]

Oh thanks for posting this! I had not considered this as it will be the first time we won't need a stroller, unless my daughter doesn't feel well enough. Gotta take those backpacks out of the closets!!!

 

[MiniGirl]

Absolutely get a locker for the heavier/bulkier items, and have each child carry a backpack for their own pins, autograph books, water, snacks, etc. This momma is no longer the pack mule for the Disney trips. If the girls don't feel like carrying it, it doesn't go into the park.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

MINIMIZE!!!

Can't say I've been in January, but in Feb lots of times. If you need heavy winter coats, then probably a locker would be the way to go, (assuming you can get one) but if you can get away with light jackets or fleece, that would be better.

When we've had those items, I've used a lightweight backpack. Those super lightweight nylon jobs can pack quite a bit of stuff! As much as we can, we also strive to wear pants that have extra pockets. READ: cargo shorts/cargo pants. We also have lots of family pictures of us with coats tied around our wastes. The lighter the jacket you can have, the better.

Even windbreakers can help quite a bit, and they can doulble as light rain gear.

If that's the weather, we will tend to make a quick trip back to the room to change for the evening.

 

[mjantz]

Definitely make the kids carry their own stuff. We go to a lot of Ren Faires & the kids know they're responsible for their own bag & water bottle. Both of them have more of a messenger-style small bag as opposed to a backpack. Easier to access & IMO take up less space when flat than a backpack. You can also hang a lightweight jacket over the bag instead of trying to cram it into a backpack or tying it around your waist.

 

[dianemom2]

Last week I was at Walmart and saw some smaller backpacks. They were about half the size of a regular backpack. I think the girls could fit their jackets and water bottles and pin trading stuff in there. They have informed me that they are too old for autographs this year. Anyhow, I think I will go back and pick a couple of the backpacks. They will work perfectly for this.

This afternoon at K-Mart I found these great jackets on clearance today. $10 for a waterproof jacket (pink with little fake diamonds around the top) lined with heavy fleece and they were hooded. They should get plenty of use on this trip and they are not any where near as bulky as the regular winter coats. Plus, I got sizes that are big enough to use right through next fall. If it gets really cold and we need the real winter gear for night time shows, we will either use a locker or go back to our room to pick up heavy gear.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Wear layers. Seriously.

It won't be THAT cold. Chilly yes, but not cold enough for hats, gloves, coats, etc.

My opinion is to start the day out in jeans, pack a back pack with shorts for each person in your party and store it in a locker. And wear sweatshirts/hoodies in the morning. When it gets warm, you can trek back to the locker, change clothes, stow the backpack (now packed with jeans) as well as the sweatshirts and be on your way. Then reverse the process when it starts to get cool in the evenings. If you don't want to rent a locker, bags and coats are allowed on the rides as long as you stow them properly.

We were just there last month, and wore shorts the whole time. Hoodies were stowed in my sons stroller, but had he not been with us, we'd have gotten a locker.

 

[dianemom2]

The last three times we've been to Disney in either December or January the weather can quite variable. Once we were in shorts, no jackets at all, once we needed long pants during the day and winter coats, hats and gloves at night and the other time was in between. I guess we need to be prepared for different types of weather. Luckily since we are driving I have been able to pack a lot of clothes so we will have the right wardrobe no matter what weather we get.

Anyhow, last night I took my girls back to K-mart and let them pick out small backpacks there. Walmart would have been cheaper but K-mart is around the corner and Walmart is a drive. They got nice small backpacks to carry their stuff around. One got a Hannah Montana mini backpack and the other got a High School Musical drawstring bag. The bonus was that at the checkout they were on clearance for less than the small backpacks I had seen at Walmart. Hooray for bargains!!!!

 

[dianemom2]

The last three times we've been to Disney in either December or January the weather can quite variable. Once we were in shorts, no jackets at all, once we needed long pants during the day and winter coats, hats and gloves at night and the other time was in between. I guess we need to be prepared for different types of weather. Luckily since we are driving I have been able to pack a lot of clothes so we will have the right wardrobe no matter what weather we get.

Anyhow, last night I took my girls back to K-mart and let them pick out small backpacks there. Walmart would have been cheaper but K-mart is around the corner and Walmart is a drive. They got nice small backpacks to carry their stuff around. One got a Hannah Montana mini backpack and the other got a High School Musical drawstring bag. The bonus was that at the checkout they were on clearance for less than the small backpacks I had seen at Walmart. Hooray for bargains!!!!