First trip without stroller...tips for bags, etc?

[KyMattDisney]

This is our first DL trip (WDW veterans) and will be our first park trip of any kind without bringing our stroller. My 5 1/2 year old is too big for it and we actually got rid of it a few weeks back.

Anyway since we are staying at the DLH figured it shouldn't be an issue...but just thinking.......how to handle all the stuff I normally carry and store in stroller. My husband will have the camera bag but I normally carry a Lands End bag (medium) with sunscreen, snacks, autographs books/pens, maps, etc.

I don't want to be lugging around a bag like this all day...any tips.....my sons are 10 & 5 1/2 so should I get a backpack? Thanks

 

[zukeeper]

Get a smaller backpack - I bet your DS 10 would help carrying it and you can get into it easier if it is on his back and not yours. Just don't leave your wallet in it. I have done the ever-loved fanny pack and it works great, but yuck! Please don't take my picture with any more padding than neccesary around my middle!

Becky

 

[cjsmom5]

We no longer do the stroller and stay at the DLH. We find that the wonderful "fanny pack" is the route we go. We put the suntan on before leaving and then plan to be back in the room mid afternoon for "refresher" of anything. My husband also does a "fanny pack" version when we need and between the two of us we do well. The other thing hubby does is wear the "cargo shorts" with big pockets. You can fit many things in those leg pockets. That way we can do away with even the backpack. But, we still miss the stroller. It was handy for storing stuff.

 

[TheZue]

The only tip I can think of is downsizing the sunscreen to one of the sticks of sunscreen. I know that the baby stuff is widely available, but today I saw a stick for adults too. That would save tons of room, and weight.

 

[quentina]

We always rent the ones at the park...Do they have these in DL? My son is 7...He is quite tall, however, we rent a double and he is able to get in it with his knees bent. It also holds all of our goodies. Too be honest, it is the best 15 bucks we spend.

Kim

 

[quiltymom]

We have always rented a locker the first thing upon entering the park. That way we can stash our light jackets, extra drinks & snacks, purchases, etc. in there and have access to it all day long. It can be kind of a pain to go back & forth, but we've never found it much of a problem, as long as you plan your activities around when you'll need to get in it.

Otherwise, a small backpack or fanny pack holds the little things you'll need. That's what we usually do - one small pack per person.

 

[got2travel]

Ever since my son was 5, he's had his own fannypack. He carries his own snacks, autograph book, chapstick, etc. If there's something he wants to bring in the park, he must make sure he can fit it in the fannypack. I don't carry much for him. Depending on how I feel, I may carry a backpack or just my camera bag with a few essentials.

 

[LucyKate]

Lockers.

They are in Main street - just down an alley to the right about half way up, behind the fruit cart. Cost (I think) $5 for the day and were superb. We stashed everyting in there in the morning, ad then retrieved coats etc at night when it got cold.

And a very big hint for any of you travelling to Australia. NEVER call it a fanny pack. That word has a VERY different meaning down here! (We call them bum bags!)

 

[lntsmom]

in towelette form. Like babywipes...but SPF 15 suntan lotion instead. (They have bug spray ones and combo wipes, too!)

I bought my boys fanny packs with mesh pockets to carry juice-box sized water containers. I figure my older son can keep his camera, snacks, some money, sunglasses, and his walkie talkie in it. (I'm paranoid...in case I lose him I can beep him!)

The younger one will have snacks, sunglasses, a toy or two, and water in his.

I am taking my stroller (wish I had my old one..it didn't have the bar on it so it was faster in and out!) but don't plan on leaving much of anything in it. Maybe a package of wetwipes and some tissue. But, in the park I want to travel light.

 

[Stinasmom]

We always rent the ones at the park...Do they have these in DL? My son is 7...He is quite tall, however, we rent a double and he is able to get in it with his knees bent. It also holds all of our goodies. Too be honest, it is the best 15 bucks we spend.

I second this question...Do they have double strollers at DL? We have DD8 and DS4 and also plan to travel without our stroller as we are cruising for a week prior to visiting the parks. Last year at WDW our DD (then 7) was so whiny when she got tired, a double stroller was a God-send...yes, the best $15 spent the whole day!
TIA for info!!

 

[zukeeper]

You can't rent a double stroller, but they give you a break when you get 2 strollers. It seems easier to navigate with singles anyway, especially in Frontierland.