Fanny pack vs back pack?

[datadoc_5]

Call me a total dork but I have worn a fishing vest the last 3 trips my family has gone on. It is waterproof, it is light and it has plenty of pockets for everything. I can wear it on any ride but it is not for the fashion concerned person. My wife grimaces everytime I put it on, lol.

 

[BYC]

What's wrong with fanny packs?? I would hate to carry a backpack around all day.

 

[donaldsgal]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but we use fanny packs (aka belly packs) and don't really worry about how we look. We are, after all, on vacation with total strangers! We also load up our belly packs with our cameras, sunscreen, room keys, cell phones, money/traveler's cheques, and extra film. I'd rather wear a belly pack than a backpack because a backpack would, I always imagine, be sweaty and make my shoulders sore. I don't have big enough pants pockets or else I'd definitely go with Disneyrsh's idea - I'd love to experience Disney from the no bag lines.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I am a proud wearer of cargo shorts! You should see us walking around WDW... kid's autograph books in one pocket; one pocket for camera; one pocket for wallet; one pocket for snacks and gum. Of course, when someone overhears DW tell one of our kids, "Get a snack out of Dad's pants," I can only hope they appreciate the context of it all.


We truly LOVE not carrying a backpack or fanny pack into the parks. We used to have two backpacks; now we have none.

 

[heart4dis]

I wear both...talk about fashion faux pas and nominate me for "What Not to Wear." It's just that going in December (and recently in February) and NOT leaving the park for naps etc. meant I had to carry or bring a sweatshirt/coat for the evening. I also wanted to carry a book (solo trip) to read at lunch as well as a video camera, digital camera and regular (film) camera. I wanted to get at some things quickly, hence the belly bag.

When I travelled w/kids, they each carried a belly bag but I needed the backpack again for sweatshirts, etc. Lockers are OK but it's hard to maneuver with 6 people from one side of the park to the other just to go back to lockers to retrieve items....

 

[Wendy31]

Another vote for a messenger bag!

After seeing it being recommended on this site last year, I ordered a Baggellini Messenger Bag from ebags.com for our trip last May.

It's a bigger (& cuter) than a fanny pack & smaller (& more comfortable) than a backpack - at least to me, anyway.

Everything we needed fit, and it had all kinds of separate little compartments so all my "stuff" didn't jumble together in the bottom of the bag. Plus, I never had to take it off - unless I wanted to. When I went through the bag-check line, I just unzipped the pockets. And it wasn't too girly for DH to carry it either.

W/ 2 young kids, I couldn't get away w/ going into the parks w/ just our tickets & a water bottle, but everything I needed fit nicely in my messenger bag. Plus, I'm not a "light" packer - if I could, I'd pack the kitchen sink - but, again, everything I wanted fit in the bag - Passporter, change of clothes for the kids, autograph books, sunscreen, emergeny meds, bandaids, antibacterial gel, wipes, first aid spray, lip balm, camera film, sunglasses, lipstick, compact, water bottle, etc...

I loved my Baggellini Messenger Bag & plan to use it again this year!

 

[tb3kids]

You did not mention who you were packing for. Myself with three kids, I used a fanny pack to store the camera, cash, id cards and cell phone. My husband used a small lightweight backpack we found at Old Navy for 5 bucks. He would not use a fanny pack. By the end of the day I was happy to take the fanny pack off, but was thrilled that I used it so much during the day. It did not get in my way at all! Good Luck and have a great trip!

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I prefer a fanny pack because I know that I am forever digging in it for .... something! It would be a real drag if I had to take off a back pack every time I needed a tissue or chap stick.

Most people don't seem to realize that most fanny packs have an adjustable strap. That means to me when the strap is a bit shorter, it goes around my waist, the pack in front of me. When I get tired of that position, I QUICKLY lengthen the strap,
and it goes sideways, the strap on my left shoulder, and the pack itself is on my right side.
If it is too heavy at times, my right arm naturally supports it.

YOU CAN WEAR A FANNY PACK MANY DIFFERENT WAYS !

If you need to carry extra clothes into the parks, then a back pack would come in handy. It would be soft enough to lean back without taking it off.

And I DO agree that a fanny pack is not flattering to any woman who, like me, has WIDE hips.
BUT ... I'm on vacation - not at a fashion show.

 

[Twinprincesses]

We take a backpack cause we have stuff for the kids we put in there.

 

[Golliwobbler]

I was given a heavy duty fanny pack which has almost as much room as a small backpack, has a holder on each side that is the exact size for the Resort cups (even with the handles). Fastens with a large clip buckle like thise found on luggage. Handle on top for carrying when not around waist, and the bands extend so it can convert to a over-the-shoulder easily.

On the inside, it has separate small pockets which fit room key/tickets nicely, separate pocket for spare change, and another for pins or whatever else needs to be kept separate and secure. Has three pen holders for the sharpees for signatures, and larger mesh pocket for sunglasses, batteries for the camera, receipts, trip plan, etc. Then the main compartment fits a rain poncho or two, DDs signature books or pillow cases (depending on what we are doing that year), camera, fruit rollups/granola bars, small suntan lotion and the like...all easily viewable and accessible because it is a fanny pack with it's wide top opening and not a whole lot of depth.

But best of all, it is a light gray with orange, and I've gotten the fab 5 as well as Chip 'n' Dale and a few others to sign it!

Small enough that it is never int he way, a problem for rides (where larger bags can be, especially for the likes of Space Mountain). Used it the past four years, and wouldn't be able to do WDW successfully without it.

...and have tried backpacks in the past, and they were an incredible hassle...

 

[anny_c_99]

What's your preference and why?
Sorry if this has been done to death, but I looked and didn't see it anywhere.

The Travelon Expandable Leather Shoulder Bag with ID wallet from QVC. Retail value $47.00...Introductory Price $29.24... This is the one that I ordered..in black

But I don't see anything wrong with the fanny packs either, DH wears one, I carry the Travelon with the ponchos, and the suntan lotion, along with anything else I think we might need, and its comfortable.

Which ever you decide, go and enjoy..

 

[anneofgreengables]

What's wrong with fanny packs? With two little kids, I go to the park to enjoy with the least amount of trouble, and having my arms free to hold my kids' hands so they don't get lost is more important than what people think of what I'm wearing.

 

[Hopefully]

Fanny Pack for me. I actually have 2 different size ones, and the large one can really hold a lot. I carry a small, soft 1st aid pack (bandaids etc). small plastic bottle I have filled with sunscreen, small bug spray, lip balm, kleenex, sunglasses, tickets, money, pen etc.
I have been known to also carry a small lightweight backpack, depending on the weather, If it looks like rain, I carry ponchos. If it is cool I carry sweatshirts etc.
That said, I definitely prefer just having the fanny pack. They are very easy to retrieve items from and never in the way on the rides.
Enjoy

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

The past 2 trips we have carried a Samsonite backpack. In January it was fine, but DH found it too hot in October. I am pretty sure if he was hot in October we have no chance in August.

I bought a mesh Nike backpack (it just has one strap though, that goes across your chest), 2 fanny packs, and an insulated water bottle holder. Over the course of an 8 day trip I am sure we will figure out some combination of those items that works. We tend to drag LOTS of crap to the parks and I can't seem to eliminate any of it. It doesn't help that DH insists on bringing an old, bulky, HEAVY 35mm camera. We bought a digital at Christmas but I am willing to bet DH still brings his dinosaur along for good measure.

DS9 likes to do autographs and pressed pennies so we have to carry rolls of coins and the autograph book, antibacterial wipes, ponchos, lip balm, mini fans, sunscreen, first aid kit, my cell phone, Brita bottles, etc. I think we'll end up with the backpack no matter how we arrange things.

 

[MrsTink04]

I hate fanny packs, they just get on my nerves...I'm not worried about fashion Faux pas. (I was running across the park one time and it kept flopping up and down, hitting my rather substantial chest ) I now have a small Vera Bradley purse with a long strap that fits across me like a messenger bag, which is great for days that I don't want to take my video camera or an extra T-shirt. I also used a small Vera Bradley backpack for days that I did want my camcorder or an extra shirt and it was wonderful!!! Small enough to not get hot (they are small and quilted - cotton - not nylon or polyester) and big enough to carry the extras. The only downfall to Vera Bradley bags - no man will EVER wear one!!!

 

[Forevryoung]

I also LOVE the baggallini messenger bag- after two 8 day vacations, one in June (hot) and one in January (cold) I realize it is the perfect bag for me. It holds everything I possibly need and has room for a ton more. When I need something, I just slip it around to the front. For rides I turn it to the side or I take it off for wild rides.

At my age I can't wear a fanny pack

 

[frankenpooh]

I just ordered a small messenger bag from Sierra Trading Post. We'll see how it does in March. I'm just tired of the fanny packs, and the rest of the family refuses to wear them!

 

[Hopefully]

Can you fit sweatshirts and/or rain ponchos in the messenger bags?

 

[Forevryoung]

Can you fit sweatshirts and/or rain ponchos in the messenger bags?

Rain poncho folded up was fine and so was the sweatshirt although it was a smaller size (not an extra-large hooded one). It also fit gloves and a hat in January and my baseball cap in June...

 

[BYC]

I use a waist pouch (fanny pack??). I have so many very important items to carry (Passes, credit cards, money, etc.), that I want them attached to me at all times. With a backpack, which you would take on and off every time you sat down, there is the risk of loss. My pouch goes on in the morning, and does not come off until I am in for the night!