Cinch bags / draw string backpacks

[jrsharp21]

Does anyone use these in the parks? Convenience or a nuisance? I am thinking about picking up a couple for our trip in March. My wife looked at me like I was crazy but I figured I could put a bottle of water in there, a poncho if needed, some snacks, extra cell phone battery, etc.

I have a site that I buy moisture wicking shirts from for the summer and they seem to have some pretty nicely priced draw string backpacks.

http://www.jiffyshirts.com/bags/

Also, if you do use them, what size do you recommend?

 

[wiigirl]

I usually have my kids haul their essentials in a draw string backpack, it works out pretty well.

 

[lnuss1988]

Backpacks work wonders in WDW!!

We always had a backpack and a cooler! Snacks, clothes, cameras, Autograph books, phones, wallets in the backpack and water/Gatorade in the cooler.

I HIGHLY recommend them! Size wise is more of a personal preference. How much stuff you plan on bringing into the park and what you prefer to carry. If you have a stroller, you and just toss it in the stroller basket!

 

[njpyro]

I always use a drawstring bag in the parks. It's great for me, because it's usually used for holding a sweatshirt when I'm not wearing it. I wear the sweatshirt in the morning with the bag folder up in the pocket, then i hold a water bottle, and have my phone in my pocket. That means no bag check line! Once it warms up, out comes the bag, in goes the sweatshirt.

 

[bswift]

I used one on my first trip to WDW last year Previously I had never really used them much, I find them a bit ugly for day-to-day use. But in the parks it was perfect! I prefer having my arms free rather than using a handbag, and even with quite a bit of stuff in it, it never felt heavy on my back. I also like that they're not too obvious in photos!

 

[dmoore718]

I always use these type of bags in the parks and love them for WDW!

 

[Dani C]

I love them. I generally make my own, so I can get whatever size, style, etc. I want but I have a few others as well. I picked one up in world showcase, Germany, a couple of trips ago as well. They are great on rides as they are more flexible that many other backpacks.

 

[charleygop]

I use one for water bottle, poncho, jacket or sweatshirt and a few other need items. They are better than a standard backpack because they are easier to secure on the mountain rides. Also, they get you through bag check quicker because there are not a bunch of zippered compartments to go through. Just open up the bag for the checker to peek in and a quick feel and off you go.

 

[jenniy122]

I'm going against popular opinion here and saying I wouldn't carry one of these in WDW. If I had a water bottle in it the bag would be heavy enough that those skinny little straps would dig into my shoulders and make me extremely uncomfortable and grumpy.

 

[tina.tina]

We purchased a backpack in the camping section. It condenses down to the size of a fist but it holds a lot. In it, we carried an extra outfit for DS5 in a ziploc bag, travel size container of sunblock, ziploc bag of wipes, 2 bottles of water some days, extra cash in a ziploc bag, hand sanitizer, bandaids, antibacterial ointment (lots of skinned knees), a flashlight, 2 cameras, waterproof camping bags, a tiny bottle of bug spray, extra ziploc bags, and glow in the dark bracelets for the kids. It was a also good place to store the maps we picked up along with extra napkins & small purchases. Get a bag with few zippered compartments because they check them all. This bag had narrow straps and it never dug into us. The only issue we had was that it made DH's back sweaty. He said it never bothered him and he didn't notice it because our water bottles were cold and kept him cool. Our bag was so small that when we went on water rides, we put our cameras in ziploc baggies & then stuck the whole backpack down in a waterproof camping bag. We only took one backpack so we could take turns carrying it.

 

[GoofyWithGlasses]

I swear by mine, it's big enough to carry everything I need, plus anything I buy!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I say go for it. I can a small WDW drawstring backpack at WDW and to festival and events I attend here at home. Well worth the price.

 

[bookgirl]

I would never buy one, mostly because I have a dozen or so that have been given to me at every conference, store opening, state fair booth, and work PR event I've attended in the last 5 years. I"ve given away dozens of them.

I have used them before basically as an empty thing to have and fillup as I get stuff. I've not had problems with them biting into my shoulders but they can get hot as they are nylon and if it's tight against your back its' sweaty.

I second going in with your stuff in your pockets and then pulling it out once you pass bag check.

 

[KaLyn]

I'm going against popular opinion here and saying I wouldn't carry one of these in WDW. If I had a water bottle in it the bag would be heavy enough that those skinny little straps would dig into my shoulders and make me extremely uncomfortable and grumpy.

I was thinking this same thing! Definitely not for me!

Sent from my iPad using the DISBoards app.

 

[dawnhaze]

I'm going against popular opinion here and saying I wouldn't carry one of these in WDW. If I had a water bottle in it the bag would be heavy enough that those skinny little straps would dig into my shoulders and make me extremely uncomfortable and grumpy.

Agreed, I hate drawstring bags with anything heavier than a light jacket in them. I'll either carry a small backpack with real straps, or stick to a crossbody bag.

 

[msp2mco]

My DS-15 has taken them to the park the last couple of years and really likes them. The rest of us try to go bag-less, at least most of the days. Unfortunately, we end up asking him to store stuff for us, and he has had the rivets that the strings go through rip out. So, if you are carrying anything heavy (more than a water bottle), make sure you have a strong or reinforced bag.

 

[Prose]

I usually don't like carry string bags because the strings dig into my shoulders, but we bought one at the store at POR on our last trip and loved it. It has some kind of fatter, softer string that was very comfortable. We tried going without a bag the first day and discovered we missed having a place to put maps, sunglasses, etc.

 

[mikehn]

I use the cinch backpacks all the time. Perfect solution for carrying around small items, wallet, car keys, water bottles, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc

 

[br7305]

Last time we went to Disney my kids were 6, 4 & 3. My 6 & 4 yr old were obsessed with the "Disney Cinch Bags" that we had just for the trip. We carried a couple bottles of water, sunscreen and granola bar type snacks & of course, the autograph books in them. Even with my kids carrying them, they were not heavy and they enjoyed having them very much. Probably just a personal preference though.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I use a Nike drawstring backpack. I like it. The straps are thicker and softer than most bags and it is waterproof.