Fannypack, backpack ... what kind of pack?!

[jenjersnap]

What have you found best for walking the parks?

We are a family of 4 - myself, DH, DSs 4 and 16 months. We will be carrying a diaper bag filled with just the baby's diapers, wipes and some snacks for the boys, i.e., a bag that we will leave in the stroller and, if someone walks off with it, it won't be a tragedy.

What about a bag to carry on rides with us? Anyone used a daypack sized backpack? Is something that size allowed on the family-oriented rides (hings we'll all go on)? I am wondering if my back would hurt with a fanny pack. I've never tried one before. We need something to carry our keys, cell phones, misc. stuff and at least a digital camera and poss. a video camera (we're trying to decide whether to spring for one of those tiny all in one digital camera/mini dv cameras). What do you WDW veterans typically carry into the parks? Maybe one of us could have a small fanny pack and the other carry a slightly larger pack? I am way over-thinking this! We're planning on putting our little guy into a front carrier for rides (it's the only way to contain him. If we hold him, he fights to be put down to walk). I am afraid of looking like pack mules setting off across the Grand Canyon with all the stuff we might be carrying ... LOL!

Any words of wisdom? Thanx!

 

[SPAM]

i would go with the fanny pack if you can fit everything inside.

 

[Carrieberry]

I am going with a sling pack this trip. I have always carried a fanny pack in the past but need something a little bigger this trip since both kids will be going with us ths trip. Here is one like i will be carrying:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15629&item=6718211541&rd=1

 

[HollyJoy]

I'm still trying to figure out what kind for us to bring too! LOL

 

[blondeqtip]

If you have a backpack/daypack do they let you take it with you on rides or do you have to leave it behind with them?

I'd hate to think of lugging a backpack around with my wallet and camera and be asked to leave it behind while on a ride.

Anyone know?

 

[Carrieberry]

You can take it with you. That is why the sling bags and fanny packs are nice, even on the roller coasters you don't have to take them off to put down the lap belt. Just lift up the fanny pack or slide the sling bag to the front of you and then put the lap bar down. Backpacks need to be placed on the floor and then put your foot through the strap so on the fast rise it does not fly out.

 

[Pammy_from_WI]

I got this smaller size backpack. I've had it for years and use it every trip. It's just big enough for video camera, digital camera, tickets, money and other things we need for the day. I think it's about 5"d X 8"H X 5"W. It holds all our junk, so it works perfect.

I've done the fanny pack thing, but with the cameras, then I had two bags to keep track of. I also keep a few gallon size ziplocs in the bag for the cameras when we go on wet rides and they stay dry and I don't have to worry about leaving them in the stroller or having someone not ride to hold them.

Pam

 

[leebee]

I have a fabric wallet that zips across the top. It's the perfect size for our passes, my credit card, license, and some cash. I put this in my pocket and use an old-fashioned diaper pin to pin the pocket shut- or pin right thru the wallet. No falling out, no pickpocketing! I got the wallet in Epcot, in China. The rest of our stuff goes in a backpack- ponchos, sunscreen, camera, emergency foot repair/first aid stuff, drinks, snacks, autograph book, etc. When we are travelling with a stroller (DD is now 11, no stroller for her but sometimes we are with my nieces who are young), I always leave the backpack in the bottom of the stroller while going on rides. We have never had anything taken from us BUT I know it can happen and therefore never put anything in the backpack that would be a major problem if it "disappeared" forever- camera's an old 35mm, not worth much, but it takes great pictures. If for some reason I do take the backpack on a ride, I always put my foot thru a strap so it can't fall out unless I do!

 

[Sandyincanada]

I was wear a fanny pack with the camera (I like it in easy reach), money and maybe the passes. DH brings a back pack for stuff like extra clothes, moleskins, sunglasses, stuff like that. This always works great for us.

 

[WDWprincessloyola]

Depends on how much you will be carrying in your diaper bag. My family each carries their own fanny pack or if my father doesn't have one, he has his wallet and carries the camcorder bag. My mother always has one of those camera bags that you can wear around your neck or that attaches on a belt or fanny pack as the case might be. I find I can fit everything I need in a fanny pack, and also if you keep the space "smaller" you won't be carrying a lot of extra stuff or extra weight as you are walking or standing. Also it is easier for me to keep track of where my stuff is because it is always on me and I never take it off. If there is a lap bar or something, I move the pack to the side, and I don't have to worry about taking it with me out of the ride because it is still ATTACHED to me!

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I have been trying to scale down what I carry around the park and I decided to get a waist pack in order to do this. I went to Eastern Mountain Sports and picked up a Mountainsmith waist pack that I think is going to be perfect! I found it very comfortable aorund my waist, easy to spin around and get into (without having to stop, take it off, put it back on), and it has nice extras like places to hang things off of.

I highly recommend a waist pack or lumbar pack.

D4D

 

[bobcat]

I use both a fanny pack and an Ameribag health backpack. If we know we are going to be coming back to the room midday I will usually carry my fannypack. If it is cooler, or we need to carry extra stuff with us, or are going to be gone a long time I will carry my backpack. It's not very large and I can fit a ton of stuff in it. What I like best is that it has many pockets to keep me organized.

Load up whatever pack you are going to use and carry it around for a while before your trip. It really helps weed out all the unecessary stuff.

My kids also wear a fanny pack with their ponchos, autograph books, pins, and a couple of snacks. They started when they were small and it was a great help so I wasn't the pack mule.

 

[canda]

I just bought a cool little backpack from costco for $9. it is half the size of regular backpack. I can fit the diapers/stuff, and both camera and video cam in it. It also looks cool.

 

[jenjersnap]

Thaks, everyone! Sounds like there's not right or wrong answer. I think I will do as one poster suggested and gather everything we want to take and go from there. I also remembered that I too have a Healthy Back bag from my pre-kids European vacation days. Got to dig that up and give it a try.

Oh, and wdwprincessloyola - I have two degrees from Loyola Chicago. I miss my city and the university!

 

[WDWprincessloyola]

WOW, it is great to know that there is another Loyolan out there! I hope you have a great trip! I will still be studying like mad and working at the Disney Store downtown which is about as close as I can get to WDW right now, have fun!

 

[mm6mm6]

My DW bought a waterproof backpack at Target that simply closes at the top with a drawstring. We put almost everything in there. The nice thing is you can strap it on the handle area of the strollers so she didn't really "carry" it all day.

I use a fanny pack to hold the important items like our Park Hoppers and cash. I would not want to leave either of those items in the backpack on the stroller while we went on a ride.

This has worked out well for us the last three trips!

 

[brivers222]

I used my Jansport Backpack to carry everything from a Digital Video Camera to our Brita Water bottles. I was able to bring it on EVERY ride with no hastle at all.

This worked the best because it allowed enough room for everything.

 

[Mandalou]

I used to use a fanny pack and now I've switched to a very small backpack. My reason? I noticed that on rides where you had to push the safety bar down across your lap the fanny pack stuck out too far and got in the way. One time I eagerly pushed down my safety bar and crushed my sunglasses. I like the little backpack because I can sling it over an arm or loop it through a leg. . . out of the way of the safety bar.

I, too, keep ziploc bags in my backpack for those waterides -- it's a great way to keep cellphones, cameras and leather wallets dry! Another great use for ziploc bags. . . to "catch" the remains of an over-excited stomach after a rollercoaster ride, simulator ride, or the tea cups. (I know, gross!!! but man those tea cups can spin!)