Fanny pack vs. backpack vs. ???

[disny_luvr]

I can’t decide what to take into the parks to put our stuff in. We usually carry our phones (mostly in our pockets), sunscreen, glasses or sunglasses (wear one and have other ones in our bag), a few umbrellas. We plan on buying the refillable cup (probably two) for inside the parks. Obviously, this won’t all fit in a fanny pack. Is a backpack going to be problematic? Any other suggestions?

 

[weather_lady]

I'm a huge fan of a waist pack, or a small crossbody purse, rather than a backpack. They're easy to fit around ride restraints (I can wear the waist pack around my waist, or across my chest), and since you don't ever really have to take them off, there's no danger of leaving them anywhere on accident! My waist pack can fit my glasses case, phone, portable charger, money and credit card, a couple of Band-Aids and Kleenex, and sunscreen (travel-sized tube), and chapstick. The only exception is if cold/rainy weather is expected, in which case a backpack is necessary to fit ponchos (umbrellas in your case) and/or hoodies -- we bring an ultra-lightweight, squishy backpack (e.g., Eddie Bauer Stowaway) that doesn't get too hot to wear.

I've never heard of an in-park refillable cup (only the ones for the hotels), so I'm not sure where those would go. Perhaps attached to your bag with a carabiner? Or inside a backpack when empty, in a gallon plastic bag, to prevent any stray drips from staining the bag's other contents?) To reduce the hassle of carrying beverages around, we tend to rely on free iced water from counter service locations, in the rare event we need another beverage in between meals and snack breaks.

 

[KeroKero]

If you decide to go with fanny packs, would you hold umbrellas in your hand? And what about these cups? As far as I know there aren't refillable cups for parks - unless its your own personal water bottle or cup that can be filled with water from fountains.
We've always used a lightweight backpack so we could carry all essentials (sanitizer, wipes, meds, band-aids, ponchos etc) and never had a problem. Our family will usually use one bag, and take turns carrying it.

 

[disny_luvr]

OP, here.

When in Disney, we typically carry one backpack that we all take turns carrying. We just stow it at our feet when we are riding rides, but that doesn’t seem to be possible on many rides at Universal, which had me starting to wonder if we can use something else that would avoid having us to use the lockers all the time. Maybe we’ll just stick with the backpack. I don’t think we’ll have enough room for our stuff otherwise. None of us want to carry an umbrella around all day.

As far as the refillable cups (maybe it’s actually called a mug?), I thought Universal had a refillable cup for the parks and a different one for the resorts. I could be wrong; we’ve never been to Universal before. Can someone clarify for me? We were planning on purchasing two refillable park cups that we’d be carrying with us all day.

 

[Skywalker3]

I always bring a backpack, but I also bring a lot of stuff, and want my stuff. I've tried the fanny pack, and it doesn't hold everything I want/need. DH always uses a fanny pack, or cargo shorts.
It can be somewhat of a pain to squish the backpack down to fit in the lockers, but I'm used to it, and it's not a big deal. Just takes a few more mins. But, I do have to not overpack, make it too full in the middle, as it won't squash enough to fit. I usually have to take out my water bottles, or the refillable mugs for that. I use the same large backpack that I use at Disney. DD uses a mini backpack.
A few rides, you have to put everything in lockers, including backpack or fanny pack, or stuff in pockets, all go in lockers at VC, Hulk, and RRR. Then at MiB, Gringotts, Forbidden Journey, and Mummy, I just use the lockers for my backpack.
Yes, Universal has refillable mugs for in the parks. I plan on bringing 1 or 2 this coming trip, although my son and I just drink water, either bring our own bottles, refill them while in park, but DH prefers soda, etc. Can get water refills at the freestyle machines, or I actually just drink/refill from the water fountains.

 

[KeroKero]

OP, here.

When in Disney, we typically carry one backpack that we all take turns carrying. We just stow it at our feet when we are riding rides, but that doesn’t seem to be possible on many rides at Universal, which had me starting to wonder if we can use something else that would avoid having us to use the lockers all the time. Maybe we’ll just stick with the backpack. I don’t think we’ll have enough room for our stuff otherwise. None of us want to carry an umbrella around all day.

As far as the refillable cups (maybe it’s actually called a mug?), I thought Universal had a refillable cup for the parks and a different one for the resorts. I could be wrong; we’ve never been to Universal before. Can someone clarify for me? We were planning on purchasing two refillable park cups that we’d be carrying with us all day.

Didn't realize you would be at Universal. The locker system they have at Universal can seem like a pain, but its really not that bad. Some rides won't even let you bring a fanny pack on with you and you'd still have to use the lockers. Like I said before, we prefer the backpack so we can make sure we have all of our essentials with us.

You're correct Universal has the refillable Coca-Cola Cups that you can purchase. I don't think they have handles though, so you'd have to carry them if you didn't have a backpack.

 

[disny_luvr]

Does anyway have a backpack on the smaller side that you’d recommend? One that’s easy to squish? We have a cooler backpack that we use in Disney, but it’s not very “squishable”, lol.

 

[Smugpugmug]

There is a reusable cup that you can buy for the parks. It's $17.99 and I think it costs around $10-11 to reactivate each day. These cups also work at Volcano Bay. Like a previous poster said, they don't have handles so you would have to put it in a backpack or carry it. I've seen people walking around with cup totes for their cups, so that's something you can look into as well. There's a Jurassic Park one for sale right now. Oh and if you're staying at a Universal hotel, these cups do not work there but you can still get water for free. Water is available for free at all of the Freestyle machines.

This is the bag I bring to the parks and it's super easy to fit into the lockers, even when I put the refillable cup into it. You don't have to buy this specific bag (it is pricey) but any bag this size will be guaranteed to fit. You won't be able to completely avoid the lockers at Universal since at Velocicoaster, Hulk and Rip Ride Rocket, all items must be put into lockers including fanny packs. On those rides you go through metal detectors.

 

[DisneyMom93]

Personally, I find the backpacks annoying at Universal. I use a waist pack. So do my daughters. They love their Loungefly backpacks for Disney World, but not for Universal.

The only ride I have to take it off for is Velocicoaster. I don't ride Hulk or RRR anymore so I will just hold my daughter's and husband's stuff while they ride them.

We don't bring reusable cups or umbrellas. We each carry a cheap disposable poncho in our waist packs. We also just get free ice water between meals, etc.

 

[weather_lady]

As far as the refillable cups (maybe it’s actually called a mug?), I thought Universal had a refillable cup for the parks and a different one for the resorts. I could be wrong; we’ve never been to Universal before. Can someone clarify for me? We were planning on purchasing two refillable park cups that we’d be carrying with us all day.

My apologies. I completely missed the fact that you were talking about Universal. Sorry!

 

[weather_lady]

Does anyway have a backpack on the smaller side that you’d recommend? One that’s easy to squish? We have a cooler backpack that we use in Disney, but it’s not very “squishable”, lol.

Eddie Bauer Stowaway, 20L.

https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/82300168/stowaway-packable-20l-backpack

 

[disny_luvr]

Eddie Bauer Stowaway, 20L.

https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/82300168/stowaway-packable-20l-backpack

Thank you! I just ordered one!