Here is a strategy: Dont bring all of your belongings into the parks

[GillianP1301]

I try to carry as little as possible in my bag, but if somebody else wants to pack like they are going camping for a week, then so be it. They're the ones lugging it around, not me.

I get that it takes longer to go through security, but in the grand scheme of things it's a minor inconvenience. I do tend to scan the security lines real quick and try to pick a line that doesn't have the most thorough of security people and that doesn't have a group with large and/or many bags.

 

[lovethattink]

Yep--DW says I failed queueing and she has to pick what line we get in. It's like I'm "reverse talented" at picking the right line to get in at park opening. I always seem to pick the line where the family has brought their life's collection of belongings with them in their 4 strollers, or I somehow pick the line with the tapstile that's malfunctioning.

That's me, at Disney and the grocery store check out.

 

[rwdavis2]

it's been insane how many people bring what looks like half their house into the park each day. They also end up being the ones really bickering and someone has to skip riding things because they have too much stuff.. It's just a theme park, not a 10 day safari.

EDIT: I agree with at least trying bagless. Some people you do need some other things and it's important. Others are just planning for way to many problems that never come up.

Went bagless for the first time lass November. Loved it. I think we only took in the backpack 2 of the 8 days we were there. Did not miss a thing.

 

[IrishNYC]

I wish we could go bagless, I really do. But, with a child that's paler than paper, and myself not far behind, reapplying sunscreen is a must. We also carry water bottles, hand wipes, my wallet (because I have a knack of buying pants/shorts without pockets), ponchos, and a phone charger.

 

[BuzzyBelle]

I'm totally guilty of being over-prepared when heading into the parks. My packing list does get smaller as the week goes on and I become more lazy. I have a big problem with always wondering "what if". DH tries to keep me realistic though
ETA: we travel in August so I think it would be irresponsible to not bring sunscreen and ponchos.

 

[North of Mouse]

Yep--DW says I failed queueing and lost my line-picking privileges. It's like I'm "reverse talented" at picking the right line to get in at park opening. I always seem to pick the line where the family has brought their life's collection of belongings with them in their 4 strollers, or I somehow pick the line with the tapstile that's malfunctioning.

Boy, do I understand!! Even when we had two small children, we had one small bag. Can understand a little more with infants.

 

[Branflakes]

Yep--DW says I failed queueing and lost my line-picking privileges. It's like I'm "reverse talented" at picking the right line to get in at park opening. I always seem to pick the line where the family has brought their life's collection of belongings with them in their 4 strollers, or I somehow pick the line with the tapstile that's malfunctioning.

It's like we are twins separated at birth

 

[Jennasis]

It's none of my or anyone else's business what other people bring to the parks (within the parks allowable guidelines).

We travel with a small cross body bag that DH carries. I'm bagless. DH has bag check down to a science. Every zipper is open before he sets it on the table for inspection. In it is...well, none of your business LOL.

 

[Klayfish]

I will add that when we can, we will go bagless, as we enjoy that too. Typically for us that would be when we're just making a really quick trip into the parks...normally at night. We've already had dinner, don't need sunscreen, etc... But if we're making a daytime trip, yeah, we need to pack big. Just the way it goes. We try hard to have our bags open, ready to go. It almost never takes more than a minute or two at the security gate.

As for the comment about jogging strollers...we don't ride the buses, so I can't comment on that. But one thing about the jogging strollers is that they're easier to maneuver and they're much easier to push than a stroller with tiny wheels. So while we used umbrella strollers where we could (we still have one for our gear), when pushing a heavier child AND a big bag, the jogging stroller is just far easier.

 

[mbrown2097]

"So, if one must hit the parks with two jogging strollers"

LOL. The size of the strollers is getting out of hand. I saw several rentals that were 3 wheel / 2 seat jogging strollers. I actually felt sorry for one man that had to fold it and hold it on the bus.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

No sure why everyone is jumping all over the OP. Yes, it is nobody's business what anyone brings in, but they are still allowed to vent.

It is frustrating when you have a small bag and have to stand behind families with bags of stuff that takes for ever to search. Everyone says two minutes, but if there are 15 families in front of you that is 30 minutes. That is why we tend to go bagless.

I do wish there was a small bag line. My bag, if I carry it, is 4x6 and I carry a phone, chapstick, cash, id, and credit card. It only has one pocket. Takes 2 seconds for someone to look in as I open the zipper and hold my phone in my hand.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Maybe Disney needs to have more bag checkers available at peak times.

 

[rg35]

5 years in a row to WDW and have never noticed anyone with the kinds of stuffed bags described in the original post. From what I have seen, the large majority of people in bag check are women with handbags.

As for me, I carry a compartmentalized backpack with ponchos for 5, sunscreen, and insulated water bottles.

 

[ShellieMimi]

"So, if one must hit the parks with two jogging strollers"

LOL. The size of the strollers is getting out of hand. I saw several rentals that were 3 wheel jogging strollers. I actually felt sorry for one man that had to fold it and hold it on the bus.

Some of them are so big that even when folded, they still take up an inordinate amount of space. Soon we will have self-driving strollers the size of buses & it will be a moot point.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Next time you're behind this guy, switch lines!

 

[maryj11]

I do not think the poster is talking people bringing a normal amount of things in a bag to the park

There are people who bring in tons of stuff to the park, and it is not fun to be stuck behind them on the bag-check line

Maybe Disney needs to make 'express small bag lines'

Great idea. Line for stroller and bigger bags or multiple bags, a line for those have just one medium or small bag and a line for bagless.

 

[maryj11]

View attachment 230672 Next time you're behind this guy, switch lines!

 

[disneyvoice]

In the past my hubby has always carried anything I have wanted in the parks in a really ugly fanny pack that he wears. I have become more sun sensitive as I am getting older though so I did finally get a backpack to bring because I will need to bring a lot more sunscreen than will fit into my DH's pack. I have to admit, although I'm sure it will be annoying at times I am happy that I will be able to bring a few more things into the park (and if it gets horribly annoying I can just stick it in a locker). I will finally be able to bring a light sweater or sweatshirt - it might be 95 degrees outside but as soon as I get indoors in the air conditioning I start to freeze to death - it is literally uncomfortable how cold I get. I can pack my enormous arsenal of "foot supplies" and various OTC medications. Plus, my DH can't stand walking around in wet socks and shoes so he can stick an extra pair of sandals/socks/shoes in my backpack in case he gets soaked feet on a ride. If my DH had his way he would change his entire outfit immediately after Kali River Rapids so he might want to pack a change of clothes.

 

[Lothlórien]

About older kids in strollers, I have no issue with this simply because I understand that some kids are not used to walking long distances and maybe having a stroller will eliminate the complaining and whining that will surely come later.

Not to mention, there are illnesses and disabilities that are invisible. While it may look silly for a 10-year-old to be in a stroller, you never know if there is a medical cause behind it.

 

[Lothlórien]

Maybe Disney needs to have more bag checkers available at peak times.

That would be nice, but I think the bottom line is the people who wait until they get to security to pull their backpack off and unzip everything. Or, they have a stroller with 2 kids walking and 5 bags completely stuffed sitting in the strollers that need to be opened 1 by 1. I do not see that more bag check lines would help. It is the guests, not Disney, that slows the process.