Going bagless in the parks?

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

In the past we've taken a bag that is small enough to fit into my husband's cargo shorts (for the times when I don't feel like being the one to carry it). It's a bag that is meant to be either cross-body or snapped around your waist and is used for scubba divers so it's water resistent.

It has enough room for 2 smart phones (placed in plastic bags for extra water protection), cards/ids, and travel sized sunscreen, our small digital camera and maybe something else fairly small.

It's pretty easy to go through bag checks and as it can be put into cargo shorts without adding too much weight it was perfect for us.

The next time we go I'm considering bringing in a collapsable waterbottle that can easily fit into cargo shorts as well.

I do agree with others that it does depend on ages of children however as you stated the child is 12 thus needing little in the park. Just remember travel-sized sunscreen is a life-saver-don't forget that because it's soooooo expensive in the parks.

 

[Farps]

Bagless always

 

[FancyNancy]

I've always fantasized about not taking a bag into the parks but know that for me it would not be a good reality. I have certain things I need to bring in like sunscreen, gift cards, Dramamine, phone for pictures and the MDE app, and hand sanitizer so I use a waterproof LeSportsac cross-body.

 

[MouseMamaToMany]

If you carry in a water bottle on a strap, do you have to go through the bag check? It's obviously not a bag, but wondering...

 

[bluezy]

We go bagless. I have a small wallet-on-a-string that holds my phone, a little cash, ID, credit card, lip balm, a few bandaids, and a few tissues. I take my phone out of it and the wallet fits in my pocket (or my husband or one of my sons' cargo pocket) to allow us to go through the "no bags" line. Once in the park, I take the wallet out of my pocket, put my phone back in it, and wear it as a cross-body bag. Anyone who wants to carry a cheapy rain poncho puts it in their own pocket. I have a small bottle of sunscreen with a carabiner clip that DH puts on his belt loop. We almost always take a break back at the resort in the afternoon so we re-apply sunscreen there before returning to the parks.

We're on vacation and I refuse to be a pack mule for the family. We buy water when we want it and if there's anything else we need, we buy that, too. I used to carry a larger cross-body bag with all kinds of "just-in-case" items in it and after a few trips I realized we never used 99% of what I was lugging around all day. I think I've done over 27 days in the parks with no bags and we've never needed anything that didn't fit in my wallet or a pocket. My shoulders and back are much happier with just that tiny little wallet-on-a-string. The *only* exception we make is if there is rain predicted for a long period of time during the day or evening. Then we have a drawstring backpack that we use for our Disney ponchos. And even then, everyone carries their folded up poncho into the park and we put the bag in a pocket until we're in the park.

 

[MeridaAndAngus]

My oldest son (12) and I will be at WDW for a surprise birthday trip.

I'm wondering if it might be good to try to go without a bag?

On my solo trips, I carry a very small Kavu cross body bag, but always end up tired of carrying it by the end of the day.

Can you give me advice? Pros? Cons? What are the little wallet-type things that clip to your belt? I think they are a new-ish thing?

I've done this, but on a solo one-day visit to MK. I made sure to wear jeans so I had four pockets to use. I kept my ID and cash in a front pocket, cell phone in a back pocket, and a few individual hand wipes and some chapstick in the other front pocket. It was awesome running around the park without a bag weighing me down.

 

[GeraldineW]

I’m the family member who always winds up carrying the park bag and it does get tiring. Just returned from a December/Christmas trip and I brought my Baggelini cross body bag, a Le Sportsac backpack, a draw string bag and a magnetic clip on waist bag sized for an iPhone 6 plus even though I have a smaller phone so I would have room for a few other items. I loved loved loved the days I only took the magnetic clip on waist bag. It has two “pockets’ my phone went into one and in the other I put a credit card, id, gift card, a few feminine products, a piece of mole skin, a blister bandaid and I could carry a lipstick battery as well. On our full day park days when I was concerned ponchos or other items would be needed I did take one of the bigger bags instead but I loved it when I could just take the magnetic waist bag. For water we were able to get free ice water at various kiosks and counter service places so I would not carry a bag just for water in the cooler months although I did take bottled water with us when I did have the bigger bag. I would highly recommend giving the magnetic waist bag a try.

 

[MataHari22]

Count me in for someone that has to have a bag. I don't carry a huge one (Vera Bradley hipster cross body) and I do not carry a ton of stuff, but I cannot stand stuff in my pockets. A lot of my clothing doesn't even have pockets. I have an iPhone 6+, and I don't want it in my pockets, not only is it large, but it may fall out. Small wallet, medication, sanitizer, Jackery bar, a pack of BelVitas for breakfast or a snack, map and plans.... I keep it light.

 

[To_Infinity_And_Beyond]

If you carry in a water bottle on a strap, do you have to go through the bag check? It's obviously not a bag, but wondering...

Nope they won't make you go through the bag check, especially since it's not a bag

Also if your planning on carrying things in your pockets, mens clothing always has bigger pockets.

 

[Keels]

I mostly go bagless unless I'm planning to be in the parks long enough to need an external battery to charge my phone.

These days, I wear a "running skirt", which is basically skorts. The style I wear has a zipper pouch in the waistband and then a 5x5 pocket on the outside of each leg of the undershorts that fits my sunglasses, phone, lipgloss, etc., etc.

 

[RustManFan]

I always have a camera bag as I must have my dslr with me. I isn't that big and holds the things I need....small wallet. reading glasses, sunglasses

 

[bear_mom]

Count me in for someone that has to have a bag. I don't carry a huge one (Vera Bradley hipster cross body) and I do not carry a ton of stuff, but I cannot stand stuff in my pockets. A lot of my clothing doesn't even have pockets. I have an iPhone 6+, and I don't want it in my pockets, not only is it large, but it may fall out. Small wallet, medication, sanitizer, Jackery bar, a pack of BelVitas for breakfast or a snack, map and plans.... I keep it light.

This is what I carried on our last trip. It was big enough to carry our two ponchos, which were used 3 out of 4 park days, camera, water bottle (August), cap stick, baseball cap, and phone.

 

[MataHari22]

This is what I carried on our last trip. It was big enough to carry our two ponchos, which were used 3 out of 4 park days, camera, water bottle (August), cap stick, baseball cap, and phone.

Oh, yes, forgot about the poncho!

 

[GreatLakes]

I have been in the parks over 100 times and had a bag with me exactly once. I just make sure I have enough pockets for what I bring in and don't bring in a bunch of crap. I have my phone, maybe a camera that fits in my pocket, a credit card, and an ID. Nothing else.

 

[Stefecatzz]

I never carry a bag. All I need is my ID, any other cards (AAA, Park Pass, etc.) & phone which fits good in one of my cargo pockets. I like to keep things simple when I'm on vacation.

 

[MouseMamaToMany]

Nope they won't make you go through the bag check, especially since it's not a bag

Also if your planning on carrying things in your pockets, mens clothing always has bigger pockets.

That's what I figured. But thought I'd ask just in case. Who knows what crazy stuff they are going to want to check with all of the new security measures in place!

 

[littlbugmom]

I'm actually on the lookout for the perfect bag! We use a cross body thing that's pretty roomy but a pain to carry.

DH and I tag team carrying the bag. DS11 is diabetic and needs his supplies and fast carbs but even before he was diagnosed, I'd worry about every outfit needing big enough pockets and things falling out and then when you add in a phones, our meds, wallets, lip stuff, tiny sunscreen....etc... I just don't think it would work. Plus, I'd be uncomfortable with stuffed pockets.

 

[MouseMamaToMany]

I'm actually on the lookout for the perfect bag! We use a cross body thing that's pretty roomy but a pain to carry.

DH and I tag team carrying the bag. DS11 is diabetic and needs his supplies and fast carbs but even before he was diagnosed, I'd worry about every outfit needing big enough pockets and things falling out and then when you add in a phones, our meds, wallets, lip stuff, tiny sunscreen....etc... I just don't think it would work. Plus, I'd be uncomfortable with stuffed pockets.

Check out the Kavu brand bags on Amazon. Mine is big enough to hold wallet, phone, two 16oz water bottles, and other miscellaneous stuff, all without being big or bulky!

 

[boufa]

We are going bag-less... sort of... I always have my camera, and its associated bag, but that's it this year. We will bring a bag in, and get a locker... due to the season (winter) we want to bring in layers, and be able to add and remove as needed. The camera bag is only for the protection of the camera, and a couple of extremely limited photo accessories. Taking photos for me is part of the trip, and not carrying my camera would take away from the experience. However, ponco's and a small drug store of stuff, so I am prepared for every possible disaster isn't part of the experience (it takes way) and for us... first trip with no kids, we are going to skip the bag.

 

[MrsDuck]

I *always* go bagless. I take my phone and put my ID in DH's wallet - off we go. DH carries his wallet.