Ladies: Purse, backpack, fannypack or ??

[lexpoo]

I'm making my first trip to WDW in June. For you experienced visitors, what is your preferred way to carry your necessities, and why?

 

[DebbieB]

I have a small purse which I usually put inside my DVC tote bag with water and my camera.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

OK I know many don't like these but I love my fanny pack. I have one that is a good size. Not too big but big enough to carry what I need in it.
My hands and arms are free, shoulders don't hurt,easy access to what I need and it doesn't get in the way on rides etc. (Also easy when using the rest room.)

Now , my husband wore one last time and did not like it. He is taking a back pack this time. I don't think I would like lugging that around.

 

[sters]

Fannypack. I don't even take my pocketbook with me if I'm just going to Disney. I need hands-free. I have children. I like rollercoasters. And I'm always misplacing my pocketbook anyway.

 

[goofy4tink]

Fanny pack usually. I did just buy a camera case for my digital camera that will hold my chapstick, poncho, park passes and a tissue or two. I hate carrying too much.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I like using my backpack- I keep my camera, water, notebook, and Passporter in there, and then there's tons of room to put anything I buy in as well, and a sweatshirt if it's chilly.

 

[lexpoo]

I really like the idea of having my hands free, but am wondering if I'm going to want to have water with me all the time. I was thinking of a small purse with a long strap that I can carry across my body so my shoulders don't get tired. I like fannypacks, but I think in hot, humid June I'll be sorry if I have something hooked around my waist all day.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

I've done fanny packs, but last trip had a small light-weight backpack. In fact, I made each of my kids one of their own, so they could carry a bottle of water and snacks, and a few other odds and ends. (they each had a poncho, and any souvenir money.)

The only thing I didn't like was the backpack felt heavy on my shoulders by the end of the day. And these were very light weight cloth.

This coming trip I'm taking a purse/bag that I think is designed to be worn over one shoulder and across the chest, but I can fix the strap so it fits snugly around my waist. It is essentially a fanny pack, but looks a bit nicer. LOL Don't ask me where to find it, because I got it at a second-hand thrift store of all places! The middle compartment will accomodate a not large bottle of water, and there are zippered compartments where I can keep my room key, tickets, etc.

Hope this helps. Have a great time!

 

[EEyorelover22]

I carry a very small backpack about the size of a normal purse. It allows me to have my hands free too if I need too. I carry the camera and need it

 

[kareneast]

It depends on the time of year/weather. When we need to take sweatshirts I'll carry a small backpack to put them in. Otherwise I usually carry a small camera case that has alittle extra room in it. I carry the camera case over my shoulder and when I am going on rides I just put it over my head and don't have to worry about it.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I really like the idea of having my hands free, but am wondering if I'm going to want to have water with me all the time. I was thinking of a small purse with a long strap that I can carry across my body so my shoulders don't get tired. I like fannypacks, but I think in hot, humid June I'll be sorry if I have something hooked around my waist all day.

My fanny pack is large enough for a small water bottle. Also, if you tuck in your shirt and don't have the strap touching your skin i find it is much more comfortable.

 

[Donnask8pro]

My DH's pockets... Fill'm up..

 

[floridagirrl2]

Fannypack. Wouldn't be caught dead anyplace but WDW in one, though. In it I carry my wallet, meds, sunscreen, camera, keys, AP, lip gloss, small brush, tiny bottle of hand sanitizer.

I did see a very cool olive canvas purse-type thingie with something WDW-related embroidered on it that I would consider wearing as an across-the-chest purse. It's a lot more stylish than my navy nylon fanny pack. But the fanny packs are so comfortable!

 

[MJTinNH]

Fanny pack here. Purses and shoulder bags wear me out after carring them all day. Fanny packs seem the least tiring.

 

[ladydancer]

I am taking 2. I will alternate my purses. I started out using a fanny pack many years ago. Then for years I've been using a small purse w/a long strap across my body.

My trip next week I'm going to alternate to see which I like the best. I do know a few things about both.

Con:

Fannypack:

1. Down around my waist, so hard to see down in it.
2. When it's time to go to the restroom.

Small purse w/long strap:

1. Hanging on my shoulder all day.

Pro:

Fannypack:

1. Attached to my waist, hands are free.

Small purse w/long strap:

1. Attached across body, hands are free.
2. Can sit it on a counter w/out taking it off my body and being able to look inside up close.

 

[EthansMom]

Fannypack -- I hate the thing and it's god-awful ugly to see how they look on people but it leaves my hands free to push the stroller or deal with the kids and I can use it to take all of my valuables on the rides without worrying about anything getting stolen or broken.

 

[bengalbelle]

Up to this point we've always taken our stroller so we used DS's small backpack for snacks, water, etc.

Our next trip we probably won't use the stroller so I bought a really cute backpack purse when Dillard's had them on clearance. It's small (not much larger than a regular sized fanny pack), so it will only hold necessities like tickets, cell phone, meds, bandaids, small camera, etc.

Those of you who wear larger backpacks, are you uncomfortable sitting on rides or do you not wear it?

 

[Mom2AAA's]

Fanny pack, It keeps your hands free and you can't set it down and forget it like a pocketbook, I also hang a mesh sunglass case from it so I can put them in there when inside and they won't fall out of my shirt or off my head!

When my DH comes along he also uses one but ONLY in Disney! He wouldn't be caught dead wearing one at home!

 

[monarchsfan16]

Fanny pack, and I'm 18. Only in Disney though. My sister is totally humiliated by the fact that I wear a fanny pack, but I'd rather wear that than use a purse and have to worry about setting it down and forgetting it somewhere. It's so much easier to use a fanny pack. My hands are free for taking pictures (my camera is always hanging from my neck). For water bottles I have water bottle straps from all the parks, and I use those, so that's hanging from my shoulder. I look totally like a tourist, especially since my fanny pack is a White Glove treatment one from when we stayed at the Poly back in '95, but it's Disney, that's ok.
I considered getting one of those drawstring back pack type things but I realized any time I wanted something I'd have to pull it off my back. No thanks. Especially with the fact that I'm on meds right now, and do a lot of shopping. It's so much easier to just reach down.

 

[LSUDis]

I use a large fanny pack (Eddie Bauer) that has a mesh water bottle holder on each side (it comes with its own 2 water bottles, too). Got it at Target--about $15-16. It's big enough to hold my SLR camera, too, on bumpy rides.

Now, how does it look? Well, let's just focus again on its functionality.

Seriously, I can stick so much stuff in this thing--aspirin, bandaids, tickets, autograph books (really!), money, checkbook, Crystal Light, maps, etc.

It comes with a handle, too, so that you CAN carry it like a handheld clutch plus you can hang it on the hook in the bathroom stall. (I wondered if anyone else had trouble figuring out how to potty with a fanny pack on or was I just clutzy?)