How do you haul all your crap around the park?

[NYEmomma]

Trying to figure out a better arrangement/organization of all our needed park things. Last trip we went when DD was 2.5 and an only child.

We had an umbrella stroller with a basket underneath that held a ziploc bag with spare clothes, a pull-up (she had only been PT'd 3 months at the time so I figured just in case), ponchos for all of us & sunscreen. Then we had a parent console attachment on the handlebar of the stroller that held all our drinks, snacks for DD, touring plans.... whatever random crap we acquired throughout the day. And last but not least, DH carried a crossbody style backpack that held my camera, our park tickets, credit cards, etc. that he had on him all the time.

But it really ended up being a pain in the butt to lug all that around, especially when it was time to get on the bus. We'd have to hold the ziploc bag from the bottom of the stroller AND the parent console full of crap so that DH could fold up and carry the stroller (had a strap to carry on your back).

Now we have 3 kids and taking a more minimalist approach is just a MUST.

What are the bare bones items that you take with you? How do you organize and carry it all? We'll have 2 umbrella strollers this time so that we can split up if needed (twin DD's have very different personalities, interests and paces so we'll probably be split up a good part of the trip). I'm thinking the bag under the strollers with a spare outfit, pull-ups (and ponchos if needed) is still a necessity. Something for DH to wear (or me) is probably still a necessity because I won't want to leave my camera with the stroller and won't want to have it out & around my neck 24/7 (I have a DSR camera).

With 3 kids now we just need to make things more streamlined, efficient & as easy as humanly possible. This trip, while I'm looking forward to it immensely, is guaranteed to be a lot more stressful than our last (our twins are a handful) so I'd like to take as much stress out of it as I can.

 

[poosiegirl]

We have two kids and take a double umbrella stroller with us. We take the same type of stuff you do. What I found to work the best was to take a drawstring backpack. It held the extra clothes and had plenty of extra room so at the end of the day when we need the buses we could shove all the loose stuff that accumulated on/in the stroller and then whoever didn't have the backpack could easily wear it. It worked really well and it only took two minutes to get everything together for the bus.

Hope that helps!

 

[ericstac]

we use a similiar single seat stroller with basket underneath.. heck our youngest is 6 and we still roll it around because it is easy to just toss everything onto it.. especially during the cooler trips where you need a jacket from AM and PM but noon is warm..

We hardly ever take the bus though. its usually our own car or a taxi.

I usually just use brute force to close it down with everything in it.. lol.

 

[NYEmomma]

We have two kids and take a double umbrella stroller with us. We take the same type of stuff you do. What I found to work the best was to take a drawstring backpack. It held the extra clothes and had plenty of extra room so at the end of the day when we need the buses we could shove all the loose stuff that accumulated on/in the stroller and then whoever didn't have the backpack could easily wear it. It worked really well and it only took two minutes to get everything together for the bus.

Hope that helps!

It doesn't get too uncomfortable/heavy with all the stuff in it? I have a drawstring bag that I use to take to the gym and I imagine the string straps would probably dig pretty uncomfortably if it got too heavy. What do you do about sippy cups for the kids?

I usually just use brute force to close it down with everything in it.. lol.

I'll have to give it a test run. If it's just a ziploc bag with clothes in the bottom, it's entirely possible that I could muscle it closed with the bag inside. Good idea!

 

[GWhitten98]

We have 3 kids...age 2, 4 and 6. On our last trip we got each of our older two kids (3 and 5 and the time) drawstring back packs to hold a coat, a change of clothes, poncho, misc toy, etc. (Nothing heavy) During the day it hung from the stroller, but when it was time to load the bus/tram each child wore their backpack. DH and I both also had a backpack/bag. Once we were in line everything was in someone's bag and the stroller could be folded easily. It seem to work well for us.

 

[NYEmomma]

We have 3 kids...age 2, 4 and 6. On our last trip we got each of our older two kids (3 and 5 and the time) drawstring back packs to hold a coat, a change of clothes, poncho, misc toy, etc. (Nothing heavy) During the day it hung from the stroller, but when it was time to load the bus/tram each child wore their backpack. DH and I both also had a backpack/bag. Once we were in line everything was in someone's bag and the stroller could be folded easily. It seem to work well for us.

Hadn't thought about a bag for our oldest. That's a great idea... leaving it on the stroller during the day but having her carry it herself on the buses.

 

[buzznina]

We have been taking at least 1 stroller for 10 years now and currently taking a sit-n-stand next month. We normally have 2 Disney bags with handles and one will have clothing etc. and the other will have snacks and water. When leaving our room to the bus stop we just hang them on the stroller, so then we just grab them and fold it. When leaving the park, both bags will be under the stroller and once in the bus line we take the 2 bags out and fold the stroller. If we have a sleeping DD then I hand her to DW and the oldest DD helps with the bags and stroller. If she does a good job helping throughout the stay, we will give her an extra souvenir for being a great helper. I don't want to offend anyone, but I have to laugh because I see so many folks having issues with strollers on buses, it is really pretty easy. Here is a tip, do not wait until you are at the door of the bus to start emptying and folding the stroller

 

[ericstac]

I'll have to give it a test run. If it's just a ziploc bag with clothes in the bottom, it's entirely possible that I could muscle it closed with the bag inside. Good idea!

Just remember to take the goodies out first, its not bueno getting to the resort to find your cronut smushed

 

[mrsp1030]

We have 3 kiddos and one stroller now. I carry either a backpack or cross body bag with main essentials, we take a cinch sac that I throw in bottom stroller with ponchos and extra outfit. I also take a small cooler as well.

 

[poosiegirl]

Normally it doesn't get too heavy and even tf it does we only wear it for the bus. For valuable stuff (my wallet, camera,etc) we have a Columbia diaper bag backpack that I bought when we took our oldest to Disney on his first trip (at 3 months). It has a outside pocket for bottles that I can get two kids cups in. When we were walking from one land to another it hung on the stroller and then we could easily grab that for rides/restaurants and leave the string one in the bottom.

On our last trip on of the kids sports bottles broke so I had to buy someehing in the Magic Kingdom. I found straw/sippy cups that had lanyards attached. They were fantastic! We hung one from each handle and that way the kids could reach them when they were in the stroller but they were always attached. For the bu they could put them around their necks or arms. In the future I plan to attach lanyards to the sports bottles we use.

We go in January so we always have sweatshirts/coats and the string backpack helped with that too. Those things can hold a ton and fold up really flat. We get there at rope drop and don't leave for afternoon breaks so it wasn't too bad because I only had to pack/unpack the stroller in the morning and when we left.

 

[geergirl]

DH carried a small backpack we used as a diaper bag and I had a small-medium cross body purse with the bare necessities and my big camera. The backpack had a couple diapers, change pad, wipes, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, a spare lens, and DH's video camera. That was pretty much it. We kept water bottles in the stroller and away we went. It helped that we were staying within walking distance of DLR and were back at the room every afternoon for a nap.

 

[NYEmomma]

On our last trip on of the kids sports bottles broke so I had to buy someehing in the Magic Kingdom. I found straw/sippy cups that had lanyards attached. They were fantastic! We hung one from each handle and that way the kids could reach them when they were in the stroller but they were always attached. For the bu they could put them around their necks or arms. In the future I plan to attach lanyards to the sports bottles we use.

We go in January so we always have sweatshirts/coats and the string backpack helped with that too. Those things can hold a ton and fold up really flat. We get there at rope drop and don't leave for afternoon breaks so it wasn't too bad because I only had to pack/unpack the stroller in the morning and when we left.

Oh, water bottle lanyards is a great idea! This is the first time in a long time that we're going in the winter & I forgot all about probably having sweatshirts with us for the mornings & evenings.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Since you have to take strollers anyway, take one larger one that holds more stuff. Trying to pile stuff all over the umbrella stroller is just a pain.

My kids are older, so we just get a locker.

 

[lmcarr49]

When you guys park the strollers at rides, do you leave the bags or take them with you in line? I'm just curious how this works. I Remember reading about an employee stealing stuff from strollers at one of the parks earlier this year.

 

[TinkPirateMom]

You can put one of these on each side of the stroller and they don't have to be emptied when you close up the stroller.

http://www.amazon.com/J-L-Childress...=1415630533&sr=8-1&keywords=stroller+side+bag

 

[maxiesmom]

When you guys park the strollers at rides, do you leave the bags or take them with you in line? I'm just curious how this works. I Remember reading about an employee stealing stuff from strollers at one of the parks earlier this year.

Never leave anything in the stroller that you would be upset about if it came up missing. I've never heard of employees stealing, but other guests sometimes do. And if it is a nice stroller you may want to lock the back wheels together, as the strollers sometimes are stolen.

 

[poosiegirl]

We take the backpack with wallets/cameras/valuable stuff with us. The drawstring bag with extra clothes, sweatshirts, misc stuff that isn't highly valuable stays in the bottom of the stroller. Be careful about leaving food in the stroller. I've seen plenty of squirrels hunting for food in stroller baskets! I think squirrel theft happens more often than people stealing!

 

[StirlingSilver83]

We usually take a cooler with water, and a mini book back that is small enough for my ds8 to carry around if need be lol

 

[lmcarr49]

Never leave anything in the stroller that you would be upset about if it came up missing. I've never heard of employees stealing, but other guests sometimes do. And if it is a nice stroller you may want to lock the back wheels together, as the strollers sometimes are stolen.

Never thought about a lock for the stroller. Just found some on Amazon. Thanks!

 

[pooh4evr]

Just don't lock it to anything. Get a wheel lock, Cms will cut locks to move strollers if they are locked to a tree, fence or something else and are in the wrong area.