how do you pack / what do you carry?

[scejas]

Hey everyone -- was just curious -- what do you guys carry to the park... how do you pack things up... any use of lockers?

Let me hear it!

 

[jann1033]

our last wdw trip was pre digital for me but i left my tripod in the locker (and would do it again for illuminations and wishes, epcot i left it in the international gateway lockers..)and my slr and lenses fit in a smaller camcorder sized bag..not possible now ...so this time i'd probably take my big camera case with everything stuffed in it as well on the trip and just take a small bag with 2 or 3 lenses to the parks and maybe use lens cases i could lock in the safe for lenses i leave in the room. i might take my monopod to ak since it's easier to carry and i might want to use it more there

 

[Ratpack]

I have an Off Trail 1 bag from Lowepro that I carry to the parks. It has the main case for the camera and attached lens and then two extra cases for two more lenses or a lens and other stuff. It fits like a fanny pack so it is easy to carry around and the camera is very accessible to pull out and shoot, then put away. The lens cases are also removable in case you just want the camera case. They also attach to my Lowepro backpack, which is where I keep all my gear, so I can store them there until I need them at the parks. A very flexible and useful case in my opinion.

 

[YEKCIM]

I use a photographer's vest that has more pockets than Carter has pills. My typical "kit" for a day in the parks includes dSLR with lens attached, and either one or two extra lenses, depending on which park; camcorder; small, lightweight monopod (more useful for video than still, at least for me); water bottle; a few granola bars; extra batt's, memory card, and tape for various cameras; small, el cheapo disposable rain poncho; park maps; a ZipLoc bag with a small supply of OTC med's (Tylenol, Tums, band aids, moleskin); a couple large ZipLoc bags for camera gear, in the event of really serious rain. Guess that's about it.

~YEKCIM

 

[jann1033]

I have an Off Trail 1 bag from Lowepro that I carry to the parks. It has the main case for the camera and attached lens and then two extra cases for two more lenses or a lens and other stuff. It fits like a fanny pack so it is easy to carry around and the camera is very accessible to pull out and shoot, then put away. The lens cases are also removable in case you just want the camera case. They also attach to my Lowepro backpack, which is where I keep all my gear, so I can store them there until I need them at the parks. A very flexible and useful case in my opinion.

a little ot but is the main difference between the off trail and lowepro toploader the chest/shoulder/belt for the toploader vs just the belt attachment for the off trail, it doesn't have the chest shoulder strap? i was looking into the toploader and they seem similar other than that.l

 

[Groucho]

This is what I took in January... everything but the tripod, monopod, and 400mm lens fit (at the same time!) in the bag.

I ended up using the 400mm lens exactly zero times. In the future, I might also leave the monopod behind and just carry the tripod.

We had a stroller for my son, who was 21 months old at the time, so the tripod or monopod (only carried one at a time) was left in the bottom. This is an advantage of bringing your own stroller vs renting one of Disney's... (they have no storage.)

I'm guessing that I may have to use the lockers in the future when we don't need a stroller any longer... but I'm not sure. We often switch parks during the day for one reason or another, so where I am during the day may not be where I need the tripod for when it gets dark. But then, I may use it during the day a few times too, and do some HDR photos.

 

[jann1033]

This is what I took in January... everything but the tripod, monopod, and 400mm lens fit (at the same time!) in the bag.

I ended up using the 400mm lens exactly zero times. In the future, I might also leave the monopod behind and just carry the tripod.

We had a stroller for my son, who was 21 months old at the time, so the tripod or monopod (only carried one at a time) was left in the bottom. This is an advantage of bringing your own stroller vs renting one of Disney's... (they have no storage.)

I'm guessing that I may have to use the lockers in the future when we don't need a stroller any longer... but I'm not sure. We often switch parks during the day for one reason or another, so where I am during the day may not be where I need the tripod for when it gets dark. But then, I may use it during the day a few times too, and do some HDR photos.

i am pretty sure that last time we went if you switched parks after getting a locker in the first park, you could get a locker in the second park for free since we usually switch parks.

 

[Steve's Girl]

i am pretty sure that last time we went if you switched parks after getting a locker in the first park, you could get a locker in the second park for free since we usually switch parks.

This is correct. We did this just last month. Save your receipt. However, as I recently stated in another thread, my tripod would not fit in the MK lockers. They do not have the large lockers like they do at MGM and EP. Not sure about AK.