fanny packs vs. backpacks

[zachsmomie]

This will be our first ever Disney trip. Myself, my husband and my son,8,are travelling in July. I have already gotten a fanny pack for my son.

My question is should I get fannypacks for my husband and myself or a backpack?

I saw this really cool backpack that had an extendable handle and wheels for rolling. Would that be too much? Would there be room to roll it in the park if we wanted a break?

Please advise.

Thanks,
Sandy

 

[Kermit]

Wheeling around a backpack really isn't feasible. If you're going to carry enough stuff that it would make the pack heavy, I would recommend 2 fanny packs. Honestly, though, I would try to get everything in one fanny pack, as long as you're not carrying a camcorder. You don't really need much stuff for touring the parks.

 

[mummajea]

I would suggest the fanny pack. Since your child is older and he already has a pack he can carry his own things. In yoour pack you would only need a few extra's such as moleskin bandaides, maybe some wipes and pain reliever. I also carry sunscreen sticks (look like glue sticks) for reapplication .

In my opinion in JULY a back pack would just be to HOT!!!! That's when we are going too!!

There are a lot of fanny packs out there that are almost as big a s a small backpack, so if you need something biggish, you shouldn't have any probs.

If you are worried about purchases, don't forget about the onsite delivery, if you are staying onsite. Or the packge pickup by the exit. Much safer to do this anyway, since you won't risk "missplacing" the purchase on a ride or attraction. My suggestion if you use the Mdse Pick up is not to wait till everyone is exiting the park to go and get it. it is very crowded then.

We did two different startagies that worked well.
1. We went and got the packages before the fireowrks (and parade I think) and just kept them with us since we planned on heading out of the park soon after both.

2. On the night we planned on staying later, we still got the packages early, but then locked them in a Locker. by this time there were some open, since people were leaving the park and collecting there stuff from the lockers.

Both of these worked out really well. This year since we will be on site, Anything I purchase is going to be sent to our room.

Now that I have given you more information then you asked for....hope it is helpful.

JM

 

[Jonnygib]

Take the fanny packs or everytime you get on a ride or sit down to eat you will have to take the backpacks off. My daughter lost her backpack (a mini one) the last time we were there along with her autograph book (filled), and her money when we sat down to eat in MK.

Jonny G.

 

[tp_magill]

We each carry a fanny pack with the "always needed" stuff. (Water, snacks, sunscreen, etc, etc).

We also carry a backpack TO the park, then stash it in a locker. This has a small (6-pack sized) cooler with stuff for a mid-day break, refills for our snacks, our jackets or sweatshirts, and an old towel. (The towel is extra padding, can be used for hot, sweaty faces or rainy, wet faces, and helps keep the cooler colder.)

If we drive to a park, the backpack stays in the car.

 

[zachsmomie]

Thank you for all of the wonderful input!!!

I think panic is setting in because I am reading these boards with all the packing lists and what to take to the park lists and thinking about the camera and camcorder and getting overwhelmed by the stuff to take and carry!

I will go for the fanny pack for myself and my husband. now I just need to scale down what to put in it!

Thanks,
Sandy

 

[MinnieMe2]

Before our trip in Feb., I purchased a small backpack at Wal-Mart (I think I paid $8 or $9 for it), and I just love it! It's small enough to be worn like a fanny pack, but big enough to carry my camera, my reading and sunglasses, money, passes, sunscreen, you name it. I could have stuffed a lot more in it than I actually carried, but we tend to travel light. I don't know if you'll find this to be helpful, but I always like getting as many 'pointers' as I can. Enjoy your trip...

 

[Mouser]

Large fanny packs are a lot easier than back packs in the parks..you can just get on and off rides without having to take them on and off and risk losing them or leaving them on a ride when you hop off quickly. Both DH and I wear fanny packs, they fit in fine on the rides and often fit over a lap bar with no problem...or interference with safety belts or lap bars on the rides..Only on the first trip did I care a purse..big mistake, your shoulder gets very tired and sore...there is no way I want to bring more into the parks than I need there. Over the years a lot of us frequent visitors have fine tuned what we need there and actually and what we don't...Pulling anything along in a crowded time of year is almost impossible with the crowd movement..I did see a lady attempt to pull a carry along bag last year and she was having all kinds of trouble with it....

 

[Meagansmom]

We use both. I use the fanny pack to carry little things needed. My DH carries the backpack. We only put things like the camcorder and camera in it so it is not heavy at all. My daughter carries her own fanny pack.

Now if I could get my husband to use a fanny pack. Our camcorder is very little. But this is a guy thing. As long as he doesn't complain about the backpack, I don't mention the fanny pack. And he never does complain about the backpack.

 

[Pooh93]

I have a nice sized fanny pack with several pockets that holds pretty much everything we need. Since I am the one who ends up carrying everything, (what else are moms for? ) I keep control. However, my kids are still little. Once they are older, it'll be everyone for themselves! Yeah right...who am I kidding?

 

[CapeCod53]

When they were younger my kids always used fannypacks for their Disney Dollars, autograph book & pens, single use camera & sunglasses. My kids are now teenagers & don't do autographs anymore, ds wear those baggy shorts with 25 pockets so he has built in stash places. I hate fannypacks(lets just say they emphasize the less desirable aspect of my figure) I use a padded travel bag from Eddie Bauer with various pockets for credit cards, money, camera, theme park guides, pens ,etc with a strap that goes across my chest so that I don't have to carry it & can access contents easily but appears more attractive. I also own one of the healthy back bags which I may use this summer since we also need ponchos, water bottles, etc.

 

[zachsmomie]

I , too, have reservations about accenting that part of my anatomy. What exactly is a healthy backpack?

 

[CapeCod53]

The healthy back bag is actually a trademark item sold in catalogs such as Travelsmith & LL Bean. It is suppose to redistribute the weight over your back & hip not on your shoulder to prevent neck strain, etc. A cross between a shoulder purse & a backpack. Its loaded with both inside & outside pockets & comes in various fabrices & even leather , various sizes & therefore quite a range in price. We had gotten it for my daughter's school trip to France a few years ago when she had to carry a fair amount with her on a daily basis. It doesn't sit on your back like a backpack so I'm hoping it will be cooler to use than a backpack. I figure it will hold rain gear, water bottle, washcloths, etc that my glorified camera back will not hold.