Kids and Backpacks

[Beehn]

Do you make your kids carry a backpack? I'm thinking about having DD5 carry one this trip. I have always been the pack mule of the family, but I was hoping she could handle the autograph book, her fan and a disposable camera. I could still carry her rain poncho, water etc. We will have an 18mo. old and I think I will have enough to haul around. My question is, do your kids really carry one, or do you just end up carrying both? Also, anyone with a suggestion on where to find a little backpack with a Disney theme would be great!
Thanks

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I was thinking about doing the samething. DH doesn't want to carry around 3 autograph books this time and I was thinking that DS8 and DS5 would be old enough to carry their own. We tried packbacks when they were 3 and 5 and they didn't carry them, instead they ended up on the backs of the strollers. I found those on ebay. One was a plush 101dalmation and the other was a plush pooh.

 

[mismom]

We don't even have our trip booked yet....hopefully soon but it's never too early to start planning! Here was my thought (probably read it from here )
I'm thinking of having my kids carry a drawstring type backpack which is lightweight and would be big enough for a water bottle, autograph book, pen, and rain poncho. They backpacks are light enough for them to carry. As cute as I think it would be to have a disney themed one I will have them bring some from home that they have that are neon green so they'll stand out a bit from the crowd

 

[tanyaandallie]

My dd is 4.5 and I do not plan on having her carry anything in the parks. She will carry her backpack in the airport but I just don't want to have to deal with her carrying a backpack in the parks. We take a stroller for the kids so just put everything in there. When she is a year or two older maybe but not now.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I feel like my nickname had been "pack mule" for years now. I'm looking forward to a time when my kid's can carry their own stuff. Last August my then 8,6, & 4 year old could NOT. (then again either could my adult hubby-but that is a another thread). My 8 year old wore his pins and carried a water bottle (with a shoulder strap) most of the time. So I can see my load getting lighter each year.

 

[laughinplace199]

Do you make your kids carry a backpack? I'm thinking about having DD5 carry one this trip. I have always been the pack mule of the family, but I was hoping she could handle the autograph book, her fan and a disposable camera. I could still carry her rain poncho, water etc. We will have an 18mo. old and I think I will have enough to haul around. My question is, do your kids really carry one, or do you just end up carrying both? Also, anyone with a suggestion on where to find a little backpack with a Disney theme would be great!
Thanks

Will you have a stroller for the baby? I always store everything in our stroller so no one has to carry anything.

 

[dizcrazee]

We each carry a waist-pack (aka fanny-pack) while at WDW. My daughter would die of embarrassment if she had to wear one here, but she doesn't mind a bit at WDW because it is so convenient. Each person can carry everything he or she needs (hands-free) and nobody has to be a pack mule. I haven't seen tiny waist-packs for kids outside of WDW, but I saw some at that giant "Mickey Gear" store at EPCOT in September. They were in the kid's clothing area.

 

[disneyworldmom2]

Our daughter carries her own 'fanny pack' with Minnie Mouse on it. She loves being able to carry her own things, like her book, some tissues, her sunglasses, as well as whatever 'treasures' she adds! We got hers at the parks, although you might be able to get one cheaper either online or at the airport. (She was just as happy the year before to carry a plain pink one that she decorated with Disney stickers.) Good luck!

 

[Tinkermommy]

I would plan on using the stroller as much as possible. My DD is 6 and I don't think with all the excitement she would keep up with it. It would most likely be left on a ride or somewhere. I would plan on using the stroller as much as possible.

We go to Disney all the time and while I don't leave valuables in the stroller, I do leave the diaperbackpack that has all of our stuff in it.

 

[Beehn]

Thanks for the advise. I'm always a little afraid of leaving too many things in the stroller, but I don't like unpacking it every time we leave it somewhere. Not that I take anything anyone would want to steal, but sometimes people walk off with the wrong stroller. Sounds like I should forget the idea of her carrying her own bag, and just keep everything with me.

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

Our eldest 3 do (they will be 4, 5 and 10 at time of travel) they are expected to carry bags at school (we're in England so 5 & 10 year old are fulltime school, 4 year old part time) and we have no car so when we walk out for groceries they've all been taught to help carry stuff from an early age (they start off light with just something so they are playing an active part) and so at disney i'll be expecting them all to keep their spare shorts/autograph books etc in their own bags (evil, evil mommy )

They have coped on their last vacation last year with that and eldest 2 did fine with it the year before too.

As for where to buy- do you have H&M in the USA? The ones here in england are doing bambi and little mermaid at the moment (my nearly 4 year old has a really pre-schooler friendly sized one- it carries quite a bit without being too big for her so ideal for light bulky things.)

I am toying with the idea of everyone carrying their own poncho because if it rains suddenly mommy is not going to be the one stood their soaking wet whilst she gives the other 5 people their ponchos before finding her own! (told you i'm evil )

 

[zoemurr]

and both my kids 5/8 carried a fanny pack every day. I packed snacks for each, a few very small disposable toys, autograph book and pen. They were great with it. I think they were about $3 at Walmart. (If an adult one is too big just tie a knot in it.)

HTH I would be too scared with a bag that they would put it down somewhere.

 

[solfan68]

We're only a family of three, so DW and I take turns with the family backpack. We carry a camera, a pair of hand fans, ponchos, and an autograph book. We usually use the DDP so no need for packed water. Just grab one as needed. So to bring it full circle, no. We don't ask DS5 to carry a backpack, then again we're not a basketball team.