Do a lot of people wear backpacks?

[selina4disney]

We never carry food or water since we just get that at the parks, but I do carry a backpack with purell, suntan lotion, pain pills (bad knees), ponchos, and my camera.

One tip though, you are better off with a backpack without a lot of pockets so you can get through bagcheck fast...the drawstring backpacks are perfect.

 

[Stucas]

I hate cargo shorts. Dfi has tons of pairs (no none with zippers which I have never actually even seen a pair come to think) and they all have velcro. He loses stuff in them constantly. He is not allowed to keep anything in his pockets at Disney. He bought himself a little man purse (a money holder that goes under your clothing....but he likes to wear it out ) that he loves. He holds onto half the $ and one room key. I have a nylon drawstring backpack I use that has the other half the money and room key. I also carry my camera, a hand towel for Dfi's sweat , a (half sheet paper size) binder that has all my info like reservations #'s in it, purell, advil, sunblock and baby wipes for sticky hands. I don't remember bringing a cell phone into the parks last time.....

I could not survive without my backpack. I like to hold onto the straps when I walk so maybe thats part of it. It weighed only like 2lbs (except once the sweat towel was wet at the end of the day) and I had no problems with it on any ride. The only 2 rides I remember specifically taking it off were TOT where I wrapped it around my leg but it rode up to my thigh on the drop hitting me in the stomach with the bag, lol....and splash mountain because I wedged it between DFi and I to keep it dry. It was so small I hardly took it off my back at all and other times I would wear it on my front on a ride.


-Lauren

 

[selina4disney]

He bought himself a little man purse (a money holder that goes under your clothing....but he likes to wear it out ) that he loves.

When I got to your little man purse line I about spit my coke on my keyboard!

The only 2 rides I remember specifically taking it off were TOT where I wrapped it around my leg but it rode up to my thigh on the drop hitting me in the stomach with the bag, lol.

You gave me a good laugh here too...because it reminded me of the time my (grown) son had gotten me a 50 Years of Disney gold lanyard and 50 years of Disney medal for it when he went in July 2005, so when DH and I went on our trip in October 2005 (adults only trip...wow those are fun!) I was wearing it, full of pins and heavy of course. On ToT on a big ole drop it flopped up and smacked me right in the forehead! We still laugh about that every time we ride ToT!

 

[JEmaryland]

We plan on bringing a backpack for our lunches and sunblock and stuff. I'm concerned about pickpockets though.

 

[dawgfan]

I think a backpack is essential WDW gear. Pack it lite as others have said. I do not take food items or water much. I take camera gear, ponchos etc.

 

[MuseumMouse]

We never to to WDW without a good backpack. I wish I could travel light, but I just can't. And I'm ok with that. But we're also the type that goes from rope drop to park close without a break, so we need our essentials with us. DH and I take turns carrying it throughout the day. It's a good partnership.

However, during last year's trip the thing got ungodly heavy for some reason and we were really sick of it. We were seriously threatening to rent a stroller (we have no kids!) just to lug our stuff around!

Anyone ever actually do that? Rent a stoller for the sole purpose of carrying your junk?

 

[MichelleVW]

We bring a small backpack...it's not a big deal and I don't think we could go without it.

 

[Eeyore's Girl]

I've alway taken a backpack - until this year. Two reasons: I get sore spots where the straps sit on my shoulders/arms/you-know-what-I-mean and also, I get tired of taking it off and putting it back on to grab a camera, autograph book, chapstick, etc.

This year I searched out a shoulder bag that I thought might be more comfortable and convenient to use. After searching the mall and other department stores, I finally found the perfect bag (for me) at Wal-Mart. It is made of a really soft vinyl which did not absorb water on wet rides. It has a small zippered pocket inside the bag (perfect for smaller items) and the bag zips (which relaxed me a bit where the pick-pocketing is concerned). There were a few of these bags to choose from, all featuring Disney characters. My bag is silver with a black outline of Mickey on it. There was also a Tink bag and I think there was a Donald Duck one as well, although I don't remember the bag color of those characters. The bag was VERY comfy on my shoulder the entire week, and compared to a backpack, it was just so much easier to get my stuff out out if. I don't think I'll ever do a backpack again.

As a PP stated, my DH also likes to wear cargo shorts and he likes to stuff the pockets with things he likes to keep track of during the day.

 

[carmie3377]

I just bought DH a really nice camera backpack. We have a Cannon SLR Digital with a few lenses. We have a camera bag for it, but it is heavy carrying on the shoulder. The camera backpack has all the compartments to store the camera with lens attached plus the additional lens and/or flash. The top compartment can be used to hold a few diapers/wipes or an extra set of clothes for DS. He will just take it on the rides with us. I am going to get a small backpack to carry autograph books, sunscreen, and anything he can't fit in the top compartment of his backpack. I'm really excited about him being able to use the new camera backpack this fall because he's always been stuck with this heavy camera bag on his shoulder. In January, I took a small compact digital camera since DH wasn't going and I knew I couldn't keep up with that AND DS & DD - NEVER AGAIN. I just love our SLR too much as there is no waiting to take pics and you can snap, snap, snap - one picture after another. I was so frustrated in January having to wait quite a few seconds between shots, especially at character greetings, as I hated holding up the line. Oops, a little OT for awhile.

Plus, DH took a backpack to Disneyland 5 years ago. Very convenient.

 

[scrappinMickey]

I have thought about getting a backpack, but I usually just use a waistpack. They are a little nerdy, but they hold the small essentials that I want to take, it's in front, easily accessible and hands free. And I can usually ride the rides without having to take it off, except maybe to push it around to my side to get it out of the way.

Last trip I had it on, with a water bottle in the side pocket and the attendant that was checking our seatbelts on the Universal Mummy ride, reminded me I had the water on me and to put it up (or rather give it to him). Forgot to mention to me that I had my sunglasses on my shirt, but he saw the water bottle. Needless to say I lost that favorite pair of glasses as soon as we went upside down!! They did make me take it off a couple of times at Universal, but not at Disney.

 

[Turtle31]

I keep going back and forth on this one as well. When we went to DisneyLand about a month ago, I took a backpack that I bought at Wal-Mart. I thought it would be great. But the one I ended up buying was a little to big and I found out that half of the crap I put in it we didn't even use. Also after about four rides...dumbo,astro orbiter etc. I got tired of taking it off and on and then looking for somewhere it put it during the ride. Also it made my back sweat. I keep thinking, maybe I should try a smaller one. But I may look for a good should strap bag as mentioned by an earlier poster.

 

[Tigerlily952]

I have a small sling pack that carries the necessities, camera, sunscreen, water bottle. Major travel rule is I do not carry anything for the kids, if they want it they carry it, I am not a pack mule and neither is DH, our first trip was awful with carrying all the kids stuff. I try to travel light in the parks because I hate the bag check lines.

tigerlily952

 

[suzimar57]

my first trips to disney, used backpack - a heavy, loaded backpack

have learned to "downsize" over the many years

from backpack, to mini backpack, to large fanny pack, to mini fanny pack

presently, i now use a small shoulder back from lesportsac (it's very very lightweight - and the small interior forces me to only bring minimal items)

the pack mule has sat down and ain't gettin' up again.

 

[SuperTink]

Lucky for us, my husband is the Great Explorer and rarely goes anywhere (leisure related) without the backpack. It holds water, wipes, first aid stuff, an apple or two and granola bars, sunscreen, maps. It holds the hats and the sunglasses when they are not in use. He's a big guy 6'3" 190, so no, he doesn't get tired of the lugging. I help him out when I'm feeling generous.

We know we can get water and snacks at the parks but we don't want to have to waste time standing in line to get it. Works for us.

 

[Stucas]

When I got to your little man purse line I about spit my coke on my keyboard!

Lucky for you I have a picture too. I wanted to post it yesterday but I wasn't at my house.

Heres Dfi in all his man purse glory

-Lauren

 

[selina4disney]

Lucky for you I have a picture too. I wanted to post it yesterday but I wasn't at my house.

Heres Dfi in all his man purse glory

-Lauren

heheh That's a great pic! Looks like he is ready to roll!