How do you lug all your stuff around the parks?

[w8ting4pooh]

We weren't planning to bring our stroller (youngest is almost 4). He never sits in it. I'm compiling my list of stuff I'll need to bring every day. I think I'll need the stroller just to carry everything.

I'll need a change of clothes for the 3 y.o., cold washclothes to cool off, mist-fans, room keys and money, nice camera and zoom, our camcorder, ponchos (maybe an umbrella too?), suncreen and hats, sunglasses. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

I just can't see how we'll be able to physically carry it all in the July heat! How do you do it if you don't use a stroller?

 

[wdwguide]

Bringing the stroller along isn't such a bad idea, since it really does provide some wonderful storage space while in the parks.

Otherwise, you probably won't need to take the cameras with you every day. I usually schedule a separate day for just walking around the parks, taking in the atmosphere and taking pictures. You could also get a locker and leave your stuff in there while you don't need it.

Also, chances are that it won't rain until the afternoon, so if you are planning to park hop or take a mid-day break at the hotel, you can just pick up the ponchos and umbrella for the afternoon-part of your tour.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If it doesn't fit in the fanny pack, it doesn't go. Everyone carries their own stuff. Course we don't have any toddlers or babies any more. When my son wants to drag his small back pack along, he undoubtedly fills it with stuff he really doesn't need. When he complains that it is heavy a little later, he is stuck with it. Then the next trip out, he leaves most of the unnecessary stuff in the room.

 

[kayeandjim00]

We always use a backpack (Jansport is my favorite and very comfy) and carry the camcorder in it's carrying bag so we have two bags but the backpack is a huge help at Disney for all the little things you buy if you don't send them back to the room as well as all the things you have mentioned. You also might want to consider putting some of the things in a locker until you need them just to make it easier to carry around. Here's a link to another discussion about this very thing..
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=361004

 

[Pa@okw95]

Just don't leave that stuff in a stroller outside an attraction while you go in. It sounds to me that you plan on staying at the parks all day with all that stuff, if you are staying at a WDW resort you might want to consider taking less stuff and going back for a rest in the afternoon when it is hot and usually raining anyway. With those aged kids it is almost a must to do that.

 

[Harambe]

We also do the backpack. We can fit everything we need and it isn't really a problem. DH carries it, but since I don't do any thrill rides, I watch the backpack. We use DD's big LLBean backpack which she uses as her carry-on. She can fit all her clothes in there!!!!

I do carry the camera in a separate camera case that I can wear, so photo-ops aren't missed digging thru the pack!

 

[w8ting4pooh]

Do they make a fanny pack big enough for a bigger 35 mm camera? I think the clear backpack is a good idea for the other stuff but I'd like to keep the camera with me when we go on the rides. I don't want to wear it around my neck all day though.

 

[Daxx]

You might want to rethink the whole stroller thing. Your ds is almost 4 ... and won't sit in it ... so don't make him. Watch and see how quickly his feet get tired after a couple of hours walking and standing around ... and you'll be glad that you brought it! Esp. if you're not taking a hotel/pool break! When ds was almost 4 at WDW, we were sooo happy to have the stroller ... he rarely used it ... but when he was tired, he'd fall asleep in it!

When ds was almost 4, we figured we wouldn't need the stroller in EPCOT and left it behind. However, ds played for an hour in the shooting fountain and, halfway into our visit, the poor child was so exhausted that he fell asleep in my arms as we listened to the singers at the America Pavillion. I had to carry him into the theatre for the movie and ended up sitting on a park bench holding him, fast asleep, until he woke up from his nap. Thankfully, I was fine w/sitting there while DH & Grandma strolled around EPCOT. But, I sure wish I had the stroller that day so I could wheel him around instead of sitting on a bench!

I swear, it never hurts to have that stroller!

 

[jnl]

My son was 5 in Jan. and we are still planning on using a stroller for our trip in May. If you plan on being in the park for a few hours then they will almost always want to take a rest, plus it's great for storing all your stuff. Just bring a light weight one that folds down and has a small basket.

 

[CarolynFH]

and then go to another park the same day, just show them your receipt for the first locker, and you won't have to pay again. (Same thing with parking.)

 

[CuteKatCar]

On our last trip, we brought two umbrella strollers. Our girls were 5 and 8 - and our 8 yr. old never used a stroller at home. But we brought it at night in the parks and she used it when she was tired. You can't carry an 8 yr. old .

I, the mom, carry a fanny pack. It has our 35 mm camera, sunglasses, gum, bandaids and money.

For our last trip, I got DH a video camera fanny pack because I got tired of reaching into his backpack to take out the video camera. He still carries the backpack, too, with a change of clothes for kids, some snacks, ponchos, water bottle, mister fans. The souveniers we buy end up in there too. It's good to have a backpack.

Anna

 

[IloveDMB]

Before high school, I always went with my mom and she lugged everything around for me. But while in high school, I marched in the parades at WDW twice (and what an awesome experience it was). So I started bringing my stuff in a backpack and 7 years later I haven't stopped. We normally don't take breaks and I don't want to chance not having something I might need. Most of the time, I never use the stuff, but it's worth having.

 

[BethR]

4 years ago when we went our youngest was 6 and we still took a stroller for her. Were not sorry at all. If she wasn't in it, all of the "stuff" was.

When we went 2 years ago, I wondered if we could get along without the stroller. But we did. DH and I used fanny packs, and our 4 DDs used little drawstring type backpacks for all of the stuff. We all had ponchos or unbrellas, water bottles, snacks, etc, etc, etc. And miraculously we did just fine.

But I think that you could very easily take one this year.

 

[w8ting4pooh]

We will take the stroller. If we find it inconvenient, we can just leave it in the room. We will use the kids' backpacks from school this year and will buy a 'camcorder' fannypack for the camera. Oh, and I have to get those little 2 way radios. Great! More stuff to carry!

Thanks again!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Thanks to these boards I was overprepared while in the parks We bought a lightweight backpack beforehand which was great. DH and I took turns carrying it so no one got tired. But we had EVERYTHING. I could have camped overnight in one of the parks!

My advice, don't take so much stuff, Next time, we won't!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Our kids (6 and 3) never use strollers at home, In fact, we no longer own one. We will rent on days we are at MK and Epcot. In the past, DW and I each carried a backpack -one for diapers, wipes, change of clothes, camera, film etc.; the other mostly for snacks. Now that kids are 6 & 3 we won't have to carry any diapers, so we hope to consolidate our things into one backpack.
Incidentally, we think WDW strollers are a nice luxury on the trips. Even at our kidas ages we will plan to rent two each day so that it will be easier to rest and the kids' endurance will be increased.

 

[ChairborneRangr]

We have 4 kids, and EVERYONE is limited to 1 fannypack each. Period. We are planning on taking a stroller since our 6 year old will run out of gas before the end of the day.

It drives me crazy being in the security line behind people that have packed for an arctic expedition just to go to the park. Why do people think they need sooooo much stuff?

Anyway, my 2 cents.

 

[nacnac22]

taking a backpack, to much to carry. how much does it cost to rent stroller?

 

[keithomas]

You know your child better than anyone...but my opinion is to leave the stroller at home. I know a lot of people like to have them, but last June was my kids first trip to WDW. DS was 6 and DD was 3-1/2. They both walked everywhere and didn't complain a bit. Maybe I'm lucky....we'll see when we go next month I guess. We carried ONE camera bag/fanny pack for the whole family. In my bag was the camera (a good size 5MP digital), two autograph books w/pens, room keys/park tickets, money, and that's it. Granted, we stay on site so afternoon breaks happened every day in some form. My then 3yo DD hadn't used a stroller since she turned two, so that helped as well. Anyway, that's my opinion. There are some that need the stroller, and I have no problem with it, but I'm all for going without and minimizing that packing list!

 

[sm4987]

I thought that my daughter wouldn't sit in that stroller, but she did and now she is asking if I am taking it again!! We don't take much to the parks. I brought a digital camera that is also a camcorder, so I only have to worry about carrying one around. I didn't take changes of clothes, only ponchos in case of rain. Go light, and your day at the park will be much better.