First Disney Trip W/O Stroller

[BabyPotatoHead]

This will be our first trip to Disney that we don't have little ones that would need a stroller, but it's stressing me out. For those of you that have been and not used a stroller, where do you put all of your stuff?? In the past the stroller has carried jackets, water bottles, rain ponchos, snacks, hats, souvenirs, ect. Thoughts? I'm considering taking a stroller for all my stuff.

 

[MandiC]

I got a small crossbody bag (Bagalini) and what fits fits
It is a good way to determine what is *really* necessary. I fit some folded up ponchos in it, the kids autograph books and pin lanyards, some change for pressed pennies, my camera with an extra battery, a portable phone charger, a few granola bars and one water bottle for us to share. (you can always ask for ice water at counter service locations, we brought a filtered water bottle so I just refilled when we took bathroom breaks at the water fountains)
Souvenirs got sent back to the room, an advantage to staying on site if you are. We stayed in February, so days we needed jackets/sweaters we just wore them all day.

 

[KayW]

I also have a baggalini crossbody bag. One water bottle on the side, ponchos, wallet, autograph book on the inside. I actually put the autograph book in the front pocket since it was easier to get at. My DD used just a notepad for that. DD was 5 the last time we used a stroller. Last year, when she was 9, was the first year I didn't use my baggalini, but just my new Vera hipster purse. In Feb. I don't need to carry water whereas if I was going in the warmer months I would.

Souvenirs I had sent back to the hotel.

 

[msmama]

I have a very light backpack as my park bag. But really I only use it if I take my dslr to the parks, otherwise it's a Vera Bradley hipster. I don't do ponchos really (I'll buy disney ones if I need them) and don't need water (get the free ice water). I may take a couple of granola bars for emergencies. Jackets get tied around waists if we need them. Phone, small thing of medicine, maybe a few band aids, hand sanitizer and now with magic bands I don't even need a wallet!

 

[maxiesmom]

If the kids are old enough to walk they are old enough to carry a small bag. So if they want an autograph book, they can carry it. If they want a sweater or coat they can wear it, or tie it around their waist.

Otherwise, rent a locker.

 

[ZeroMyHero]

We will be stroller-free for the first time for our upcoming trip, too. I carry an Overland Donner bag. It is the best park bag for me and even has a long pocket on each end for water bottles, but it's not big enough for all the goodies my DDs have brought into the parks on past trips. This year, each girl will carry a small crossbody bag, backpack or waist pack (their choice) with whatever stuff they want to bring, including snacks, autograph book and pen, camera for the older one, toys, etc. That should keep the amount of stuff they want to haul around to a minimum, and if they decide they don't want to carry stuff anymore that day, we'll just get a locker to stow the bags until the end of the day. I won't be the family pack mule - it's my vacation, too.

 

[Feberin]

If the kids are old enough to walk they are old enough to carry a small bag. So if they want an autograph book, they can carry it. If they want a sweater or coat they can wear it, or tie it around their waist.

Otherwise, rent a locker.

This would be my recommendation. We've never done Disney stroller free yet and won't be for many years since our family isn't finished growing. However when we go other places where strollers are inconvenient like cities where we're taking public transportation that we know will be crowded, farms or going on a hike we always have everyone excluding the youngest babies take something. Even at two years old my son could wear a small backpack with some snacks and his cup in it.

 

[daisyduck123]

IMO you should not have to bring a stroller just to carry all that stuff.

Hats: if someone wants to bring a hat, then he/she should WEAR it

Ponchos: those dollar store type come packaged so small that I don't mind holding those

Jackets: wear them or tie them around your waist

Souvenirs: Have them sent back to the room

Water bottles: No way. In over a hundred days/nights at WDW, we have never ever carried a water bottle

Snacks: Never ever brought in snacks either. We are in WDW...no way do we want snacks from home when there are Mickey Bars & Pretzels to be had! Note...we don't buy a ton of snacks. We always have huge sit down, TS dinners & we want to be hungry for them.

 

[Julylady]

You will be delighted by how free you feel without that stroller! We also have the rule that everyone carries their own things. String backpacks are light weight and can be adjusted to fit almost any one.

 

[BabyPotatoHead]

These are all great suggestions! Thanks for helping me think outside of the stroller "box." Will look into crossbody bags, can you wear these on rides? Also love the idea of string backpacks for the kids.

 

[bluezy]

IMO you should not have to bring a stroller just to carry all that stuff.

Hats: if someone wants to bring a hat, then he/she should WEAR it

Ponchos: those dollar store type come packaged so small that I don't mind holding those

Jackets: wear them or tie them around your waist

Souvenirs: Have them sent back to the room

Water bottles: No way. In over a hundred days/nights at WDW, we have never ever carried a water bottle

Snacks: Never ever brought in snacks either. We are in WDW...no way do we want snacks from home when there are Mickey Bars & Pretzels to be had! Note...we don't buy a ton of snacks. We always have huge sit down, TS dinners & we want to be hungry for them.

Yes, this! We also don't carry water or snacks with us. We buy them when we want/need them. It's vacation and I'm not a pack mule. It's amazing how quickly people realize they don't need so much "stuff" when they each have to carry it. I have always told my kids that if they want to take something to the parks, *they* have to carry it in their own bag. One trip they each started the first day with a bag with an autograph book, a camera, a hat, and a few other odds and ends. That lasted one day. By day 2 of that trip, they were all bag free and didn't miss any of the "stuff". We are now a bag-free family. If it doesn't fit in a pocket, it stays in the hotel room. It's very freeing. The only exception is if the weather forecast is calling for hours and hours of rain (not just the afternoon shower). We'll throw the Disney ponchos in a drawstring backpack and we take turns carrying it. Everyone hates that...but we'd rather carry that around than be drenched for hours.

 

[Meesa]

This will be our first trip to Disney that we don't have little ones that would need a stroller, but it's stressing me out. For those of you that have been and not used a stroller, where do you put all of your stuff?? In the past the stroller has carried jackets, water bottles, rain ponchos, snacks, hats, souvenirs, ect. Thoughts? I'm considering taking a stroller for all my stuff.

this was me for our oct trip... Hubby insisted on no stroller dd is just 5... I refused to be the pack mule and he carried a backpack turns out it worked out great and I occasionally carried the backpack too! Lol now I'm shopping for a park backpack!

 

[jeepnjudy]

this was me for our oct trip... Hubby insisted on no stroller dd is just 5... I refused to be the pack mule and he carried a backpack turns out it worked out great and I occasionally carried the backpack too! Lol now I'm shopping for a park backpack!

We do the same, carry the essentials in a backpack and they are easy to take on the rides.

 

[Pumpkingirl7]

How old are your kids? Mine will be 7 & 4 so I'm hoping no stroller on this next trip! But I'm not holding my breath we won't change our minds after day 1

 

[MandiC]

I would so rather not bring a stroller, it is likely our boys will be 6 and 4 for our next trip. I think I am going to bring a small stroller (First Years Ignite, basically a nice umbrella stroller with storage, a sunshade and ability to recline) just in case but I'm hoping to leave it in our room. I don't see it being a huge issue as we will be taking it slow. I might bring it if we plan to do park open to park close a day or two.

 

[growinupdisney]

Our trip last summer was our first without a stroller. We missed it not having it to store stuff but we did carry a backpack to put meds, drinks, and ponchos. My oldest kids carry a backpack as well to keep their items, not sure if I'm going to let our youngest (8) carry a bag or not when we go in June, she wants to but I dont want to be the one carrying it! She does have a cross body so I may let her take that and if she gets hot carrying it I can put in backpack!

 

[julieanddanny]

even with a stroller, we don't store anything in it! We take one average backpack and it's never full - I'm not sure what you all are carrying around!

 

[BethanyLynnFit]

You're going to feel so FREE without a stroller!!

Usually my husband carries our park bag, which is a crossbody tactical bag he purchased at our local army surplus store In the bag is a gallon ziploc with snacks, ponchos, wallets, first aid/hand sanitizer/sunscreen, and 2 collapsible water bottles with carabiner clips.

Jackets and sweaters are either 1) worn 2) tied around waist or 3) looped through strap of bag.

 

[Disneyaddict1973]

This will be our first trip to Disney that we don't have little ones that would need a stroller, but it's stressing me out. For those of you that have been and not used a stroller, where do you put all of your stuff?? In the past the stroller has carried jackets, water bottles, rain ponchos, snacks, hats, souvenirs, ect. Thoughts? I'm considering taking a stroller for all my stuff.

I feel your pain! It was so foreign to me to be there without that monstrous double carriage. I'll shamefully admit that I forced my kids in them until they were 9. They are petite so, I didnt get too many weird looks. I just knew they needed rest and I WOULD BE LOST without it! These days, I issue everyone a sling backpack of their own to carry their own stuff. I also rent a locker & send my purchases to the hotel. First time without it, I exited COP & instinctively started searching for the stroller, and then remembered the two big kids standing beside me! Oops.