Do you have to have a backpack?

[mommymanda]

Heading on our trip in 32days

Travelling with my hubby, 11,5,and3 year old. We have rented a City mini GT stroller for when the little one needs to nap or even middle child wants to sit. We are staying on site so will be bussing everywhere but don't plan to return to our resort until after supper in the evenings. Rest of the time will be at the parks.

I know we will need a bag of stuff for the park. Extra outfit for the younger kids in case of spills or accidents, sunscreen, our mugs for water etc.

However with the stroller do we have to have a backpack? I was thinking of grabbing the soccer bag my oldest has. It can stay in the stroller and has only one large zip so easy for check in. Better yet, if I can get it all in my old small diaper bag that we'll just use that.

I also have a custom purse to put my camera, phone, cash (if we decide not to use the MB) etc. This will stay on me throughout the day.

I just keep reading about what backpack to bring, but I just don't expect to have that much stuff packed into the bag to need a full size backpack. We are on the dining plan so won't pack any heavy snacks either.

So am I just underestimating what we will need, or why are all the recommendations for a large backpack to carry around? Can we survive without?

 

[DisneyLvr55]

I'm the only adult going with my two daugthers 7 & 9 and I'm only bringing a purse, no backpack. I think putting your stuff in the stroller will be just peachy

On another note.... You are talking about being in the parks from morning till after dinner.... In August heat.... With little ones, I think you may want to concider the toll the heat and humidity could take on your little ones. We are leavingi n 12 days, and plan on getting to the parks every morning at rope drop (coolest time of the day), touring till about 1-2pm and then back to the hotel to rest / swim. Just a thought - Have a great trip!!!!

 

[JoeyEmmaMomma]

If you can carry your valuables on you, then I think you'll be fine with stroller storage.

 

[Crl1817]

I did what you are planning to and used the stroller to store most things, with a small bag that held valuables. I took the small bag with me everywhere but left the rest of our stuf in the stroller. Worked out just fine and I plan to do the same again.

 

[MSSANDRA]

No backpacks here either. We are past the stroller stage and we carry just a very small cross body bag, or sometimes if the guys have cargo pockets...nothing at all. I would just choose a bag that fits easy in the stroller. but easy to carry on the bus when you have to fold the stroller.

I too think you might end up wanting some mid-day breaks in the heat. DS was 7 before we could do all day in the park, and that was in cooler weather and it's still not our favorite way to tour. Consider that when making you FP+. Our first trip with these, we made all our FP for mid-afternoon and then we realized we wanted a break, but were locked into the FP times , as many times were gone.

 

[mommymanda]

Thanks for the info, I'm sure we'll be good without the backpack than. My 11 year old is also bringing her purse, although I don't expect to hold her responsible for anything more than her camera at that age.


I've heard a lot about the afternoon breaks, but I am not planning for them. If it comes to it I'll pack up and go if need be we are not really following any plan. Right now we know we'll enjoy whatever we can when we can. I do have fastpass+ booked for the rides that we really want to see. I figure the younger two can nap in the stroller when needed. We are also not rope drop people, my guess is we will not be arriving at any park until after 10am. None of our dinner reservations are later than 5:30pm and the plan is to head back to the resort after dinner each day. With the exception of two nights we'll stay for night shows.

 

[worm761]

Everyone tours differently. If you feel you won't need a backpack then use the bag you want. If you feel the need, bring a backpack in your luggage or as someone's carry one just in case.

I am a backpack person. While I don't carry a ton, I do carry a hoodie. Even in August. I am going next week and my hoodie is a part of my park bag. The AC is entirely too cold for me and I freeze. I also need a change of clothes for DD and the other random stuff that little kids need.

I did try to go bagless once. I don't think I made it the whole day. My husband could happily walk the parks with no bag at all. I just can't do it.

 

[tanyaandallie]

When my kids were young we had a bag in the stroller and a bag that we took with us on rides. Anything valuable went with us, the rest of the misc stuff that we would not have been devastated to lose would be in the bag under the stroller. What you carry your valuable in is entirely up to you!! I always prefer a backpack because it's just easier for me.

 

[Aliceacc]

I use a baggalini cross body bag. It carries a lot less than it did when my kids were younger. I'm still not at the point where I want to go bagless.

But be very cautious about leaving anything of value in a stroller.

 

[kohlby]

Any type of bag will work. (I wouldn't do no bag due to having to fold up the stroller on the busses). We have a backpack since it's the bag I used as a diaper bag 11 years ago so we might as well use it. As the kids get older, there's less needs for hands-free than before, but we have one, so we use it.

 

[ZeroMyHero]

The stroller should really be enough for you. I have an Overland Donner cross-body bag that I've used and loved but for our next trip, since we will be stroller-free, I thought I'd need to upgrade to a backpack. I decided to give it a test run at the zoo last weekend. I found out it was too hot, even in 81-degree Chicago weather, and it made my back hurt after a while. It won't work at Disney, so it's back to my trusty Overland. I'll carry what I always have in the bag and the rest of the family can pick up the slack if they want to or leave stuff in the room. I will not be a Disney sherpa.

 

[epsmith921]

I did basically what you're planning with a 2.5 year old that needed pull-ups and all. Small crossbody bag for my wallet and phone. I also carried as my "stroller bag" my Columbia diaper bag. I kept a milk sippy in the insulated bottle compartment and the bag itself was lightweight so we could park the stroller and take even the big bag with us if necessary.

It is a messenger bag with a nice padded strap. It was great as a backpack replacement. We were there in September and I did not want a backpack touching my overheated back when we walked around.

I did try to bring smaller quantities of things and I made sure to clean that big bag out every time we were in our room. I think you will be good with your plan.

 

[PRomano]

I had planned on no breaks at the end of June. My youngest who is 9, couldn't do it. We had to go back to the room or the pool

 

[mommyofsamson]

I always have a backpack (even when it was just me or my boyfriend with me). I am just that person. Even now, I hate a regular diaper bag. It just doesn't fit my need. I say find whatever bag you want to carry.
I also carry extra clothes and milk for the baby boy. (Although we haven't been to Disney yet.) I work at a theme park so we frequent that, so I am learning what to take for him and what not to take for him. If you know what you need to take, just take a bag that you can easily take out of the bottom. (I have a GT and the storage can be a little tricky to get in and out of.) So, basically nothing with a hard side (like a rolling bag).
I hope this helped! Enjoy your trip!

 

[DisneyLvr55]

http://www.zappos.com/baggallini-audrey-satchel-emerald

I just got this in black, and I love it! I got it at TJ Maxx and was 1/3 of the price they are asking on the website. Not as big as a backpack, but way nicer looking, and big enough to carry everything my family needs this trip.

 

[maxiesmom]

Keep in mind that whatever is in the stroller will have to come out of the stroller when you go to get on the buses. So a bag of some sort is great to have for throwing into it all the stuff you accumulate during the day.

Also, whatever you leave in the stroller when you go on rides may not be there when you come back out. Sad, but there are crooks at WDW, and no one is going to watch your stuff for you. Only leave in the stroller things you can easily replace.

 

[slzer0]

Silly question but what do you do with a backpack while riding? I usually just have a small purse but will have a backpack this time.

 

[mpetersen]

On our honeymoon trip I carried the small vera Bradley backpack for our money, small first aid kit and other essentials. It was easy to tuck in between us or my legs on rides.
On our feb trip we have ds 2.5 so I'm planning on a bigger backpack but we're also not planning on many rides with him- it's more about the experience of mk

 

[StitchBuddy]

I think your plan is good. We are having the backack debate in our house right now. We have a DD17 and my husband is just sure we need a backpack. But, he is the one who will carry it, so if he wants one he can have one. My DD17 and I plan on using fanny bags. Of course we will take advantage of his backpack and take things we wouldn't othewise take.