Is it just me?

[Robin&Marian+2]

We haven't been yet with the kiddoes, but even as mom of twins, I stopped carrying a diaper bag when they were less than 6 mos old. I'm not an "everything and the kitchen sink" type person!

But I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a bunch of stuff. Some people and their kids need more stuff. Some kids are prone to diaper blow outs, and it would suck not to have a change of clothes for them. Some kids have food allergies, and need certain types of snacks. And some parents just like to have things "just in case". To each their own!

I take my cell phone everywhere. But that doesn't mean I have to answer it! My friends are nice enough to not call during a vacation. But if I get separated from DH, I like having a way to contact him. Plus I'm looking forward to using my wait times app!

 

[cheerforchelsea]

We always travel to the parks with as little as possible also - most times with only a lightweight drawstring backpack or nothing but a camera in my pocket. I can't imagine having to lug around a heavy full-sized backpack full of snacks/drinks/jackets/stuff.......ugh.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

We haven't been yet with the kiddoes, but even as mom of twins, I stopped carrying a diaper bag when they were less than 6 mos old. I'm not an "everything and the kitchen sink" type person!

But I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a bunch of stuff. Some people and their kids need more stuff. Some kids are prone to diaper blow outs, and it would suck not to have a change of clothes for them. Some kids have food allergies, and need certain types of snacks. And some parents just like to have things "just in case". To each their own!

I take my cell phone everywhere. But that doesn't mean I have to answer it! My friends are nice enough to not call during a vacation. But if I get separated from DH, I like having a way to contact him. Plus I'm looking forward to using my wait times app!

I agree. Even in our family our needs/wants have changed.

 

[Robin&Marian+2]

We haven't been yet with the kiddoes, but even as mom of twins, I stopped carrying a diaper bag when they were less than 6 mos old. I'm not an "everything and the kitchen sink" type person!

But I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a bunch of stuff. Some people and their kids need more stuff. Some kids are prone to diaper blow outs, and it would suck not to have a change of clothes for them. Some kids have food allergies, and need certain types of snacks. And some parents just like to have things "just in case". To each their own!

I take my cell phone everywhere. But that doesn't mean I have to answer it! My friends are nice enough to not call during a vacation. But if I get separated from DH, I like having a way to contact him. Plus I'm looking forward to using my wait times app!

 

[Karenj2]

For a long time, it was just DH & I, but our camera bag/backpack had: my camera, extra batteries & SD cards, KTTW cards, a CC & driver's license, plastic bag big enough for the whole bag, poncho (sometimes), Pal Mickey, and sunscreen.

We're not planning a trip any time soon , but we now have a daughter to think of! When I go to local parks, though, I usually just bring one or two diapers. She doesn't like binkies, and I don't have problems using paper towels & water instead of wipes. We'd probably bring more than that if we're going to WDW, though.

 

[deegack]

We are going with extended family (12 total) so we use our phones to meet up with each other. I also have downloaded a few Disney apps like the park maps, wait times etc for my Iphone. Unfortunately, DH has to be available for work. But he is good about only checking a couple times a day, usually while on line waiting for something and if he has to do any work it gets done at night after DD goes to sleep. As a SAHM I don't have to be available to anyone I'm not related to, so that's nice. But last trip, I had to check in with work everyday.

 

[Ava]

Next trip will be our first with a child - a 2-year-old - so we'll be carrying more stuff than we've ever carried before! We try to travel as light as possible with her at home though, so will do the same for Disney. We can usually fit everything for a day's outing into a backpack & I can't imagine we'll need anything different for Disney than we do for, say, a trip to the zoo.

Actually our bulkiest item we'll need to carry is our camera! We got a DSLR last year and it takes wonderful pictures, but it's a PITA to carry around. I keep toying with the idea of buying a new point-&-shoot (old one died which is how we ended up w/ the DSLR) for outings, but then I think to myself, "I did not spend several hundred dollars on a camera just to use it at home."

ETA: We don't bring laptops on vacation, and last trip we left the cell phones in the room safe. We'll probably carry phones with us next time though, since we'll be going with other family members & may split up sometimes.

 

[DawnM]

No. I don't worry about it. We drive. I need to unwind with internet after a long day. It relaxes me.

Cell phones.....well, I have elderly parents that I worry about, so I could never just turn them off completely.

Dawn

 

[megan10310]

Dh has to "work" even when he is on vacay. So he brings the laptop and keeps his cell with him. He is really good at redirecting his calls and focusing on us during the actual park time, though.

I think I would be a very light packer for the parks especially, but this next trip we will have 3 kids, 5 and under. So double stroller and gear for us most days. My 2 year old has been a very good walker so far, so we might do the umbrella stroller for the baby some days and just carry a backpack.

I really like to have ponchos and flipflops for everyone after a crazy monsoon day at DHS last March. Those are must haves!

 

[BusyMom2Three]

I am never without my cell. I worry that in a family emergency, I would be unreachable. Plus, DH and I have split up before for short periods of time (I took DD to princess M&G and he took our boys to the play area), and we have had to find each other using our cells. I do try to pack as light as possible, going so far as to not carry my purse and just putting the couple things I need in DH's pockets! I think this is the last trip we will need the stroller. We go every other year, so DS3 will be 5 next time. Even though my kids stop using strollers soon after they learn to walk, they still crash out in them at Disney until about 3.

 

[Jerseyguy's Wife]

We take 1 backpack. I carry 3 pull ups, mostly empty bag of wipes, 1 pr bigboy underpants, 1 outfit per boy, camera, batteries, wallet, thin ponchos, and water. I always check the weather now as we now own 4 $60 sweatshirts because it was FREEZING in February when we went. We also owned 4 really cheap disney ponchos because the time before that, it monsooned every day! We have dumped the stroller as our 3 y/o and 5 y/o refuse to sit in one. We leave in the afternoon for a rest and come back, though. I guess you could say I have it pared down as much as possible. I can't wait until I no longer need the wipes and pull ups!
I do carry my cell phone because I put our cell numbers on the kids in case they get lost.

 

[emt_pinky]

We are natural overpackers. Now that we have DS, who will be 15 mths for his first trip I'm very aware and trying NOT to over pack. cell phones are a must with this family, and plan on having a diaper bag at all times. We will also have our one backpack and camera bag. ofcourse we will have our stroller but i am only packing 4 days of clothes and plan on doing launry at the resort. I did not know that texting in the park was such a big Parkpeeve. though I would rather them walk and text than drive and text.

 

[MSSANDRA]

With elderly parents back home, we are NEVER without at least 1 cell phone on. We park VERY light. Often one small fanny pack now that DGS is potty trained. We carry his epi pen, a small camera, money and passes but little else. Sometimes we carry a very small back pack but we all always carry our phone. Most of the time ( ok most all of the time) we have a lap top back at the hotel as well.

 

[natnelliesmom]

Why is it better to go light?
I like having everything I need with me! With 3 little ones there is always something I wish I had brought with me.
I hate having to buy things in the park that I have already back in my room.

I don't mind carrying it around- so why is it bad to pack it all???

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Why is it better to go light?
I like having everything I need with me! With 3 little ones there is always something I wish I had brought with me.
I hate having to buy things in the park that I have already back in my room.

I don't mind carrying it around- so why is it bad to pack it all???

It isn't. It is just a style. If what you do works for you enjoy. There are no trophies for packing light.

When I had several little ones, I always had everything convenient. Now, I just have 1 baby, tons of help, and if I need something like another dipe I just buy one.

And, I have no need to get unconnected. I am only connected to what I enjoy in life. My style.

 

[RMulieri]

Why is it better to go light?
I like having everything I need with me! With 3 little ones there is always something I wish I had brought with me.
I hate having to buy things in the park that I have already back in my room.

I don't mind carrying it around- so why is it bad to pack it all???

It isn't ,if you need the stuff..But my daughter is 6 and at this point I LOVE the no stroller and lack of gear.We don't need diapers,changes of clothes etc.If we did that would make a difference.As for food, Part of vacation for us is the treats and snacks.We budget ourselves to death all year so when we go on a trip I don't tote snacks/drinks into the parks .We noticed a HUGE difference in how easy it was to get around without all the extras.But different strokes for different folks.

 

[judypriv]

I can't wait until I no longer need the wipes and pull ups!

Mine are FINALLY both trained so this will be my first trip in a while with no diapers! I'm so happy. Of course, I would like to be pregnant again so we may do it all again. Glutten for punishment, I guess.

We take cell phones in case someone get's lost or ill. Most people don't call us since I let them know we're away.

 

[bookgirl]

But when we go to WDW, we go to have a great time. And one of the things we do is we unplug our selves from the real world. They have all known for at least 6 months we were going, whatever emergency has happened it can wait till we return.
We lock our cel phones up, turn them off, we only carry some cash and our key to the world car and our diaper bag that fits in the bottom of our stroller and that's it.
The diaper bag has the essentials but I dont bring spare outfits and 1 zillion snacks. I have a first aid kit, sunblock. Sippy's diapers & Wipes. Extra soother for meltdowns.
Camera fits in the pocket of the diaper bag. Diaperbag has a spot for key to the world cards.

One bag. 2 kids ( 4 and 1.5) and DH and myself. Stroller. If I could carry less I would.

Anyone else with kids try to travel as light as possible.

I like the idea of disconnecting but I would never take my nephews or for that matter anybody kid or adult anywhere without my cell phone. Too many times there is a need to seperate or even if the boys got lost from us they can call our cell phone. And what if god forbid something happen I want to be able to call 911 or a loved one imediatly.

Other than that the boys are 11 all they or us need is a cell and pocket money and ID for the adults and we're good to go, we've done it, it's just not my prefered mode. I may take a few small items for my piece of mind but I don't have to. Money, ID and cell phone are my three musts

 

[mommy2_3]

we are bringing 2 diaper bags with us. one huge one and one little one. the little one we are taking to the parks with us. throw in a few snacks, the kids water bottle and my youngest sippy cup. few diapers and wipes. the huge one we are just leaving in the resort. we will be taking 2 strollers. we are also driving to Fl. so no need to worry about getting on and off the busses.

 

[mommy2_3]

oh and the cell phone, we are keeping ours on cause we have other family that will be there to, this way when we all decide to meet up with each other then we have an easy way of getting ahold of them. plus if i dont call my mom once a day to let her know everything is great then she will kill me lol! we went to Texas this past July and i forgot my cell in the van (didnt get to our hotel till 1am and i was to tired to go back down to get it lol) so when i finally did get ahold of her she was pretty worried. her and my sisters left many messages on facebook and my cell lol!