Honestly, what do I really need to take to the park?

CyndiLooWho

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Messages
1,400
If you read the lists of things to take with you, I'd need a rolling carry-on to take it all into the park with us.

We are a family of 4 - me, dh, ds10 & ds8. I'd like to limit our "luggage" to 4 coin purses on lanyards and either a fanny pack (decent sized) or a hipster-type bag. I might *possibly* have the boys carry small fanny packs, just big enough for a couple of treats and some crystal light packets.

So, what do I really *need* to take?
 
I really need to take: tickets, room key, credit card, kleenex, aspirin, sun block, small poncho, sun glasses. I take more, but that is what I definitely need to take.
 
I think it all depends on what you are willing to carry with.....
We take...room key, credit/debit cards, camera, Tylenol, tissues, band aids, neosporen, small ponchos, stainless steel water bottle (we fill it with free water from CS), car keys (even thou we use the buses :confused3 ), sunblock, lip balm, gum, cell phones, tickets, index cards, autograph books, lanyards, couple empty ziploc bags, bite-b-gon, a tampon ( :scared1: just in case), and dry socks for everyone! We fit all that into my Vera Bradley Hipster and DH Nike backpack sling. Mind you we by travel size items (refill when necessary) to save on room, bulk and weight. But these are our families needs!
 
I disagree w/ DH on what we "need".
If it were up to him, our bodies and tickets would suffice!!

Realistically, I insist on a bit more.
-Dramamine!!!
-Tylenol/Advil!!! - (forgot these one day last year, got a migraine @ Epcot and BTT we got back to resort, I thought I was dying!! Couldn't even stand I was so sick!! DH almost called 911. Sorry if any of you were on the bus w/ me!! :sick: )
-Ponchos - DH & DD hate getting wet!
-Pins/lanyards
-jacket for me & DD
-camera/video camera
-light snacks unless on DDP
-tickets
-rm key
-visa
-feminine products if needed
-DD's autograph book and pen
-Sunglasses :cool2:
-few bucks cash JIC

All fits nicely into my fanny pack and easy-to-carry backpack.
DH hates waiting in bag check lines, but, you gotta do whatcha gotta do!!
 

All above are right on track! Professionals! We take 1 or 2 BPH free (:thumbsup2) water bottles that we have equipped with those buckle things so they can attach to any bag, belt, stroller, etc. Water is a must esp if you are tackling Disney in the summer! Crazy stuff! :scared1: (We go in Dec):santa:
 
The first few days we take bottles of water, chex mix/snacks, park key, wallet, camera, park maps, pain meds, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses. etc.

Midway through, we put our ID, credit & debit cards and cash in our lanyards and leave the wallets at the hotel, car keys in the pocket, camera only if we haven't been to that park yet, hats and sunglasses. Our son and niece are older this year (12) so we don't plan to carry around their stuff for them. I found the perfect, small and comfortable bag to take with me instead of the one we've always used, and it will fit all of the above comfortably.

Still, it's all about minimizing this time around and just taking the necessities.
 
Baggelliniwalletcrop.jpg

This is what I carried into the parks. It's a Baggelini mini-wallet on a strap.
It held:

  • KTTW card
  • credit cards
  • ID
  • cell phone
  • clip-on sunglasses
  • lip balm
  • cash & coins
  • day's receipts
DH carried a back pack for his camera, water bottle & ponchos.

We left car keys, meds & other valuables in the room safe. I put the room safe key in my cargo pocket.
 
/
The first few days we take bottles of water, chex mix/snacks, park key, wallet, camera, park maps, pain meds, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses. etc.

Midway through, we put our ID, credit & debit cards and cash in our lanyards and leave the wallets at the hotel, car keys in the pocket, camera only if we haven't been to that park yet, hats and sunglasses. Our son and niece are older this year (12) so we don't plan to carry around their stuff for them. I found the perfect, small and comfortable bag to take with me instead of the one we've always used, and it will fit all of the above comfortably.

Still, it's all about minimizing this time around and just taking the necessities.

I know there are threads on this, but can you describe or post a photo of your new comfortable bag? Tks! :goodvibes
 
Small wallet, pda, cellphone, pain meds, keys, bandaids, extra scrunchy, breath spray, lip balm, portable Kleenex pack. Sometimes my Kindle (if I think we will be standing in line waiting for a show)

I am fortunate (packing wise) that all of my kids are now adults. I also carry a poncho if it looks like rain (like the last few weeks!)
 
Our bags had a spot for a water bottle. I'm SOOO glad we brought one in. Not a special one, just one from the 24 pack we had in our room. We refilled it at the water fountains and never paid a dime for anything to drink. As long as one of us has a bag for it, it's going with us!
 
I bought a Baggallini Messanger bag for my last trip. I had it about 2/3 full and after the third day (and sunburnt shoulders) I pitched it and just carried a small coin purse on a neck lanyard. It was such a 'free feeling'!

I found all I really needed was my cell phone (was traveling with others, otherwise I would have left it in the room safe), small bottle of saline drops for eyes, Key to the World, chapstick, 2 Tylenol, and a panty liner. I didn't even have to go through the bag check!

While it's nice to have everything with me, it was much nicer NOT to.
 
Good answers!

We do have the lanyard coin purses for all family members, and we each have a water bottle holder on a carabiner. I'll be bringing a case of water and we can refill all day.

Dh can carry the car keys, and all his shorts are cargo style, so I can put some things in his pockets.

I really think we can do this w/o carrying the whole World with us...

Thanks for all the suggestions!
 
We are minimilistic. I wear cargo shorts, gotta love pockets, and we bring a small overland sling backpack. I bring chapstick, a travel sized sunblock, travel advil, water bottles on carabiners, travke kleenex, a little cash and kttw cards. DD and DM bring thier misty fans. DM rents a EVC so the bag usually gets stowed in the basket. I love the lanyards and coin purses.
 
I bring my fanny pack and put in my wallet room key .money and also sandwhich bag pennys and quarter for the penny press machines
 
Last year we went twice, June and September

June I had my baggellini bag and had all sorts of stuff. Including sunblock, snacks, napkins, ziploc bags, maps etc.

September, I had my VB purse with a long strap and used that instead.
cell phone, chapstick, sunscreen stick, water, advil, credit card, room key
maybe a granola bar, thats it
 
I really need to take: tickets, room key, credit card, kleenex, aspirin, sun block, small poncho, sun glasses. I take more, but that is what I definitely need to take.

I did not carry ANY bag on our first trip, and plan to do the same on this one.
(kids were 7, 9 & 12)
DH & DS wear cargos, so I can stashs stuff there...
key, bit of cash/cc, tylenol, pepcid, sunglasses
DH carries phone/camera, su,n block wipes in his shorts.
We took ponchos only to AK and tossed them after Kali River Rapids. (got them 2/$1 at dollartree)
 
I also bring a few individual wet wipes along with many items mentioned... keys, money/debit card, tylenol (again, individually wrapped), chap stick, tissues and phone. The bag I carry is 4X6 and almost flat.
 
Here's what we bring in:

We carry a SL (Super Light -- yes that is a technical fabric term that we use in the industry) hydration pack so we can continuously drink in the heat and not get dehydrated so we have a little bit of storage available in the pack. In the pack itself we keep:

Sunscreen, a few snacks (nothing heavy as we don't want a heavy bag: pretzels, gummy bears or a powerbar etc), flash for our SLR camera, few bandaids and that's about it! The rest of the space in the bag we toss in the SLR camera when we go on coasters etc.
 
I know there are threads on this, but can you describe or post a photo of your new comfortable bag? Tks! :goodvibes


Hopefully I'm posting this picture correctly. I have issues trying to post pictures on these discussion boards.

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I don't normally carry a purse, just my wallet. Since I bought this, I've been carrying it around. I keep my wallet, check book and cell phone in it, but I've found I can fit waterbottles in it, too. I put the strap over my right shoulder and the bag rests comfortably on my left side/hip. I REALLY like it.
 
I've been taking less and less as the years go on. Since 2005 (youngest was 5 then) this is what I put in my cargo pants pockets:

ponchos for 3 (DH carried his own), chapstick, a mini m&m roll with quarter and pennies for the penny machines, cell phone, extra battery and SD card for my camera, a travel size package of advil enough for 4, travel size sunscreen and digital camera. I've got a mini tripod I sometimes put in a pocket too.

I also have a passporter pouch around my neck with my DL, AP's, TIW card, insurance card, cash and KTWW. I also put moleskin in it and a couple of band aids.

My issue is DD9 needs her autograph book so I've had to carry a small purse now since it won't fit in my pockets and I also put my roll of pennies and quarters in there now.
 














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