Help! Need advise on carrying all our stuff in the parks!

[erinz]

Hi everyone, my DH is very concerned about carrying around all the stuff we will have in the parks. He has a bad back and foot problems so he wont be able to carry anything comfortably. He just told me that he wants to get a cart. Like those small carts you see some people take to the grocery store when they are walking there.

He said if we don't get that, he is going to use a stroller. A stoller? Just to carry our stuff? Isn't that a bit inappropriate?

I guess I'm just worried about what other people with think. I know there are lockers, but when you are walking around the Lands and realize your getting cold, it's so hard having to walk all the way back to the lockers for a coat.

So, when we go to the parks we take our coats which are pretty heavy (and which we don't use until later in the day/evening ) and a heavy camcorder bag. We also will have a backpack with things like snacks, first aid, brushes, money, tickets etc.

We will be lugging all this stuff on the rides......yuck. We will each take a coat, I will have the backpack, and my DH will have the camcorder. We did this last time and it was OK.

So what do you guys think? Would it be just too wierd if we brought some kind of cart with us to the parks? And what about using a stroller?

Help!

OMG!!!! THREE WEEKS!

 

[jcriket]

I go with three women and they empty their purses just taking only the things that fit in our pockets, just so we don't have to get our bags checked at the gate. I'd get a locker a lot easier than lugging all that stuff. Have fun at the bag check in (it could take a while)

 

[MainStreetFan]

I go with just a lanyard with small wallet attached some times, or a small backpack at most. I have found that I don't use 90 % of the things I used to take. But I think if you are going to take the heavier things a backpack with wheels would be a great idea.

 

[tjmouse]

I would definately put the coats in a locker. You could always take the train back to the front at MK, that doesn't help much at the other parks, but maybe you could run and get them while your dh rested. As for the other stuff, I use a small diaper bag for my camera's (digitial, film and video) and it works great. It's amazing how well those work and how much you can get in them! Then I use a fanny pack for my cell, money, passes, etc. You can switch carrying the bag. If you need a stroller, you're packing too much. I know how that is though, believe me. It's tough to choose what to bring and what to leave behind.

 

[jann1033]

i know if you have little kids you need more but really, in the begining of Dec, you should be able to watch the weather and see if you will need your coat or not( a sweatshirt was usually enough for us at night then and easily fits in a locker and isn't that far to get at night) if you put valuables in a stroller they might get taken. imo, forget the cart and condense. we started out the trip with a camera bag of junk we never used and ended with all we needed stuffed into our pockets and one tiny 5"x7" enevlope purse for passes, room keys and clap stick

 

[Candleshoe]

Hi everyone, my DH is very concerned about carrying around all the stuff we will have in the parks. He has a bad back and foot problems so he wont be able to carry anything comfortably. He just told me that he wants to get a cart. Like those small carts you see some people take to the grocery store when they are walking there.

He said if we don't get that, he is going to use a stroller. A stoller? Just to carry our stuff? Isn't that a bit inappropriate?

Well, I don't think it's inappropriate but I don't think it will be as much help as he thinks.

I would suggest first just to do what others suggested and take *very* little.

If he still wants to do the stroller, perhaps instead rent a push wheelchair. I too have a bad back and tried pushing those strollers are they are designed for rather short people (ok, shorter than 6' LOL) and really gave me backaches. Plus with the chair he'd have a handy seat for parades etc.

Just remember with anything you have to push it makes it much more difficult to navigate in crowds and you will still have to leave it parked outside of stores and rides. Plus you have to re-locate it outside of rides. It's a really big hassle.

I'd still say pare down and use the pockets of your coats! You don't have to take the camcorder bag do you?

Anyway, that's my .02.

Good Luck!

 

[mrzrich]

You will not need heavy winter coats in three weeks. Its 1:04 AM and its 62 degrees outside. A windbreaker, a sweatshirt or a sweater maybe.

 

[Ilovestitch]

You really don't need that much stuff in the parks. Take a small bag for any essentials. Wear a sweatshirt and if you get hot, tie it around your waist.

 

[Leota]

Well, I don't think it's inappropriate but I don't think it will be as much help as he thinks.

I would suggest first just to do what others suggested and take *very* little.

If he still wants to do the stroller, perhaps instead rent a push wheelchair. I too have a bad back and tried pushing those strollers are they are designed for rather short people (ok, shorter than 6' LOL) and really gave me backaches. Plus with the chair he'd have a handy seat for parades etc.

Just remember with anything you have to push it makes it much more difficult to navigate in crowds and you will still have to leave it parked outside of stores and rides. Plus you have to re-locate it outside of rides. It's a really big hassle.

I'd still say pare down and use the pockets of your coats! You don't have to take the camcorder bag do you?

Anyway, that's my .02.

Good Luck!

I agree absolutely. To me, if you have to rent a stroller or a chair JUST to lug your stuff, you are taking way more than you need. The chair may come in very handy for his back tho, so if that would help him feel more comfortable when sitting for Parades & such, I would do that. But seriously look at what you are haulin around & pare it down.

 

[VSL]

But seriously look at what you are haulin around & pare it down.

 

[erinz]

Great Advice!!! Thanks!

And I'm going to take it! As they say, "Less is more!".

 

[Twende]

You could always rent an electric scooter and let DH ride that and rest his feet and back. Most of them have baskets or places to hang/carry extra stuff.

 

[mrzrich]

Now that you've decided to scale down, maybe we can help. What were you planning on taking into the parks?

 

[tjmouse]

I just read on another board that if you roll a rolling back pack up to security, they will inform you that they are not allowed in the parks. If you carry it up and then roll it in the park, chances are no one will stop you, but security is supposed to stop you. Just an FYI because I did not know this either.

 

[mmeb144]

To help you pare down, try letting your DKs carry their own stuff. My DKs love doing this. They have their own little backpacks. My DH is even getting into the act with his own. He is the ultimate travel light kinda guy, but this trip he wants to try the digital video camera.

I pack camera, wallet, autograph book, pen, and water bottle strap in my little backpack. I still have room to shove in a rain poncho as needed. I can keep small purchases with me, if I want to. The small sling pack also gives me a place to put my nametag, and any fun pins, like my Animal Kingdom Conservation pin, or my MVMCP pin.

Marie

 

[jann1033]

To help you pare down, try letting your DKs carry their own stuff.

Marie

this is a great idea imo. while i wouldn't let little kids carry important stuff, i would get each little waist pack type thing for a few granola bars, if they want a brush or chap stick, maybe a dry pair of socks when you go to ak for the rapids ect. the room keys are small so a business card carrier that can go in your pocket is good for that and keeps them all together so it is harder to lose them. if you don't have babies, you really don't need tons of extras. if you want to take first aid stuff get a couple of indivdiual dose packets that will go in a pocket , when i take my big camera, I leave it in the locker and just plan on certain times to take pics, like late afternoon. you can plan on going to see characters around then if you want pics of that and the afternoon light is better anyway.

 

[Skroops]

I have to agree with the idea of renting a scooter. It sounds like your DH would also like some sort of "walker" and he's not ready to admit that he would like assistance. I'd insist on treating him to a scooter, and then you can use the basket for your stuff.

 

[ILuvTinkerbelle]

We take as little as possible but I ALWAYS bring the stroller. The boys are 5 & 7 but the under carriage is great to take water, snacks and towels. We never leave the cameras there but everything else we do. Plus if either of the kids does get tired they can hop in!