Do I really need to carry all this in the bag?

[marriedmarylander]

-sunglasses
-sunscreen
-brita water bottle
-folder with itinerary, confirmation #'s, other info
-camera (a must of course)
-plastic bag

We now are on the dining plan so we'll get a snack each day which we can use for water so do we need to bring a water bottle? Can't we put on sunscreen before we leave the hotel? I guess I'm worrying now. All this crap doesn't fit in the little bag I planned to carry.

 

[FirstTimertoDiz]

Not sure what size sunscreen bottle you have, but we bought a travel size bottle at Wal-mart before we left, and filled it with sunscreen each day, so it was a much smaller bottle to take along with us to the parks.

hth,
Lisa

 

[babar41]

Wear your sunglasses, put the sunscreen on before you leave the hotel (you can reapply if you go back midafternoon for a break), take out the page from your folder that reflects that days itenary and put it in your pocket, forget the water bottle (by the time you want a drink you'll want something cold and your water bottle won't be!), put your camera in the plastic bag and go.

It's no fun feeling like a pack mule going through Disney. You'll enjoy yourself so much more if you're not carring around extra things.

 

[Miller1412]

You'll probably want to keep your sunscreen around to reapply...I don't usually worry about it too much, but some cloudless days that Florida sun was INTENSE!! It seemed that some parts of the MK, we were in the sun a lot!

 

[marriedmarylander]

What should I do the first day when the room might not be ready and we have to go to MGM? I'll have to carry the folder with me - it's the same folder with the flight info. I am not putting sunscreen on at 5AM or at the airport. Do I even need sunglasses?

 

[Miller1412]

How about renting a locker??

 

[Daxx]

Just back from WDW and I have to agree w/babar41.

We saw a lot of people wearing these travel size "clip on" sun screen bottles -- they have a "hole" in the bottom w/a keyring type clip or one of those "mountain climbing" type clips (I don't know what they're called but you associate them w/rock or mountain climbing). Just clip them onto a belt loop and you're ready to go. They also make sun screen towelettes (like those pre-moistened hand towelettes you get at fast food joints). You could always get those and throw a few in your pocket for later use.

Babar41 is right about the itinerary and water bottle as well. Just grab the camera and go have fun!

I just carried our camera around my neck, put some motrin, annual passes, a couple of bucks and room key in my pocket. Going like that, I could skip the security checkpoint area (where they look through your bags) and walk right into the parks. No waiting at all!

Just reading again and noticed you're worried about arrival time and check in. I'm guessing you'll be using DME? Otherwise, you can leave everything in your rental car. Won't the front desk hold your things? If not, I know that when you're leaving, you can leave your bags at the luggage desk ... they tag everything and hold it until you're ready to depart. I don't know why they couldn't do the same thing for you until you're room is ready?

We used DME w/o luggage tags and were told that the CM's would tag our luggage at the DME check in desk and send the bags to our room. Unfortunately, we arrived late at night and they weren't offering this (also b/c it was the first day and they had tons of problems to deal w/besides checking and shipping over my luggage). But, perhaps you can have your carry on bag and folder sent to the room for you? That way, you can get pull out what you need for check in purposes and pack up the folder for shipment to your resort. Just a suggestion.

If those aren't convenient options, then use the locker. I think they're $7 to rent for the day. But, for every day, just go light. You can buy eyeglass leashes for your sunglasses if you're afraid of losing them by taking them on and off all the time. I just hooked my sunglasses on the front of my shirt when I'd go on rides or indoors. I was always careful to make sure I had them at all times. And, yes ... you will need those sunglasses!!

 

[marriedmarylander]

Not sure what size sunscreen bottle you have, but we bought a travel size bottle at Wal-mart before we left, and filled it with sunscreen each day, so it was a much smaller bottle to take along with us to the parks.

hth,
Lisa

Good idea. We had the big bottle of sunscreen. I have some hotel shampoos and will just empty the bottle and put sunscreen there. Cool

 

[marriedmarylander]

So just camera bag, sunscreen key chain thing... well I'm not going to be wearing my sunglasses at 9PM so I'd need to put those somewhere.

How to talk DH out of carrying a full size backpack? I have no clue why he wants to he doesn't need anything!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I saw at Target yetserday that some of the big bottles of sunscreen come with one of those little "keychain" bottles. Very handy!

 

[babar41]

So just camera bag, sunscreen key chain thing... well I'm not going to be wearing my sunglasses at 9PM so I'd need to put those somewhere.

How to talk DH out of carrying a full size backpack? I have no clue why he wants to he doesn't need anything!

I prefer a backpack to a camera bag, my reason is it is easier for me to carry anything on my back than down on my arms. After dark my sunglasses go on top of my head like a head band or hooked on the front of my shirt like Daxx. Where ever you are leaving your luggage you can leave your folder, just slide it in. Trust me, the less you carry the happier you'll be.

Great call Daxx on the sun screen toweletts! That way you have it if you need it but it doesn't take up a lot of room. Never saw the keychain ones.

 

[disgal1]

We always rent a locker! We put ponchos, sunscreen , video camera ( we film for the first couple of hours, then get tired of hauling it around) etc if we plan on staying from am to closing. we can leave our hats and sunglasses after dark,

I have a light weight lanyard I got at Walmart that is waterproof for the ap and fast pass.

 

[WillCAD]

You don't need a bag for all that stuff! Carrying it in a bag will just slow you down at the security checkpoint. Here's what I do for each of those items:

Sunglasses - on a cord around your neck. During the day, you WILL need them, badly.

Sunscreen - get one of the mini-bottles that everyone suggests (buy the highest SPF you can find - I always use SPF 45 or higher). You will need to reapply during the day, especially if you get wet from water rides, misters, or rain.

Brita water bottle - get a carrier from a sporting goods store, WalMart, or even Dollar Tree, to carry it on a shoulder strap or belt. You will need the bottle or else you will spend a fortune on bottled water. One bottle per day will not be enough - the Brita can be refilled with water and ice free from any restaurant of food counter. You can also fill it from drinking fountains and get free ice from any drink cart.

Itinerary and info #s - Get a tiny, pocket-size notebook from Dollar Tree and write all that stuff in the notebook, then put it into your pocket. You can also use the book for making trip notes, and noting where you parked in the huge WDW parking lots, as long as you bring a pencil or pen. Look for a small pen or pencil at Dollar Tree.

Camera - if you have a small camera, get a small belt-loop camera bag from WalMart or Ritz that's just big enough to carry the camera. If it's digital, carry a spare memory card, in the protective plastic sleeve, in your pocket. If film, carry 2 or 3 spare rolls, in the plastic containers, in you pocket.

Plastic bag - Only needed if you have a big camera that doesn't fit into a camera case. If you should need a bag, you can pick up a plastic shopping bag at any gift shop, or if you prefer to carry a Ziploc with you, just put it in your pocket.

 

[ely3857]

Wear your sunglasses, put the sunscreen on before you leave the hotel (you can reapply if you go back midafternoon for a break), take out the page from your folder that reflects that days itenary and put it in your pocket, forget the water bottle (by the time you want a drink you'll want something cold and your water bottle won't be!), put your camera in the plastic bag and go.

It's no fun feeling like a pack mule going through Disney. You'll enjoy yourself so much more if you're not carring around extra things.

Couldnt agree more, I hate carrying a load of 'must haves' around with me all day only to discover that I didnt use any of it!

My only abbreviation to the above would be sunscreen, Better safe than sorry. Although I would use the other suggestion of using a tavel size bottle throughout the day.



Jodie

 

[HollyJoy]

That doesn't sound like too much to pack in your backpack. I didn't carry around water, for it wasn't too hot when we were there, so we just ended up buying a couple of drinks around the parks. Water bottles can be VERY heavy!! As for all your notes and schedules, I put all of mine into a small notebook.. took up less room, and had less weight to it. Now a camera is a must have, and there's really no way to get around that one! May I suggest buying one of those sunscreens on a keychain? You could always bring a bigger bottle and keep it at your resort, filling it up at night. Would save some space and lighten up your pack!

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I suggest sunglasses (which most of the time arent in the bag but on my face, around my neck , etc), forget the water bottle, bring a small size sunscreen, dont bring a whole folder, just a page you can fold, camera and you are good to go.

 

[jpeltier]

I typed my itinerary info(PS & hotel confirmation numbers,park touring plans, driving directions from MCO,etc.) in a 3x5 size on the computer printed it cut it out and laminated it then punched holes and put it on a ring clip thingy. Its now very compact and fits in my purse very easily!
Some have printed out info on index cards but I'm not that savvy.

WILLCAD_Thanks for the idea of the small bottle to refill with sunblock!

 

[DizzKneeLand]

Let him bring the backpack - it will stay in the room the next day - for some folks it is a live and learn experience.

I also bring the toweletts of insect repellant - they fly for miles to bite me!!!

DizzKnee

 

[kpm76]

So just camera bag, sunscreen key chain thing... well I'm not going to be wearing my sunglasses at 9PM so I'd need to put those somewhere.

How to talk DH out of carrying a full size backpack? I have no clue why he wants to he doesn't need anything!

If your DH plans to carry a full sized backpack to the parks, your problem is solved....put all of your stuff in there, then you don't have to carry anything DH does this for me all the time

 

[NotUrsula]

You really should reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hrs, and you should use at least one ounce each time you apply. Therefore, an avg. 6 oz bottle is good for just about one full summer day of park touring.