Ladies: Purse, backpack, fannypack or ??

[jjsmom]

Fanny Pack for me. I tried a backpack once, and I thought my back and shoulders would fall off my body AND it was very hot. A have a not too large fanny pack that holds everything I need: small wallet, chap stick, poncho, extra contacts, keys, passes, sunglasses, cell phone.

This is strange, My MIL, who has been plagued with back problems for years prefers a small back pack.

I also tried the small purse w/ long strap and I didn't like it because the strap cut into my neck.

 

[O2BNWDW]

The majority of the time that is what I do. I have a couple of purses in different colors and they are small enough not to be cumbersome.

However I did buy a small ish backpack (no room for water or sweatshirts) last trip that was nice. But have not tested it for a whole trip. I had to take it off evertime I needed something out of it. So I will test the long term effects this time.

 

[Took]

Large, strong husband (who carries everything)!

 

[loveBond]

I'm going to try one of those water bottle straps (lightweight). I saw one in the Oriental Trading catalog and it screws on below the bottle cap...that way when I don't want to hold ours it will go around my neck...
as for me, I'm taking a small backpack (cuz I don't think my ponchos for whole family will fit in fanny) and fanny ('case I get tired of sm bkpk)
V-

 

[LoveMickey]

I'm going to try one of those water bottle straps (lightweight). I saw one in the Oriental Trading catalog and it screws on below the bottle cap...that way when I don't want to hold ours it will go around my neck...
as for me, I'm taking a small backpack (cuz I don't think my ponchos for whole family will fit in fanny) and fanny ('case I get tired of sm bkpk)
V-

I always use a fanny pack. Mine has different pouches (I always dkeep my ticket in the same section). I also have a small yellow Mickey bag which I thread through the fanny pack; I carry our Mickey ponchos in here. I have a water bottle strap too. Since the water bottle can get heavy on the neck, I stick the bottle into the strap on the fanny pack. I also use the strap for my pin trading. Yes I do look like the typical tourist at Disney

 

[keishashadow]

#1 Rule: no pictures of me with my fanny pack. It doesn't bother me in the parks, but I don't want to look at it once I get home. Ever notice they seem to add pounds in pictures?

#2 Rule: all male members must wear cargo shorts and carry own supplies (lanyard, pass, trading pins, camera, hats, ponchos, umbrellas, whatever).

#3 Rule: if you carry it in, you carry it out. No, I will not hold your jacket.

At times I miss not needing a stroller. You never realize how much stuff you tote around in them, until your kids outgrow using one.

Quite of few of the newer fanny packs are more of a "sports-themed" item and can be slung over your shoulder - they don't look as bad.

When we're out of the parks, for dinner/DT Dis, I just put the fanny pack into a nice tote bag - Disney of course, and feel more fashionable.

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

I have a large shoulder purse that converts into a backpack by unzipping the strap to make two straps. It has a bunch of pockets, so I can carry a lot of stuff, even small purchases.

 

[dejavu]

Unless you had small children in tow why would you carry anything?? IMHO. I carry only my pass and once thru the turnstyle I hand it off to my DH who carries it in his wallet. I cannot imagine carrying something around the park all day.

 

[disneyaggie]

Fanny pack for me! I got mine at WDW a couple of years ago and it has some really cool hidden pockets to keep my park hopper ticket and money separated from the other items.

 

[areno79]

Last time we went, I carried a small bag/purse thing that went across my body and DH carried the camera, that seemed to work out pretty well. This time we're bringing 2 kids, 9 and 11, so I'm trying to convince everyone to wear their own fanny pack. Unsuccessfully, I might add It's Disney, I don't care if I look uncool or not!

 

[Cookie Princess]

DH and I use fanny packs because you don't worry about leaving it behind somewhere and your hands are always free. You also don't need to stow these anywhere when you go on the water rides and rollercoasters. We put them on for the plane ride down and use them the entire time. I leave the purse at home!

 

[rt2dz]

I Hate fanny packs generally, but love them at Disney. I need free hands and want to make sure money & other valuables (camera, tickets, etc) are with me at all times & can't get lost on rides. Additionally, I have small children that require a diaper bag, I'm not adding to that a backpack. A purse is too easily lost or stolen or pick pocketed--way too much trouble, imo.

 

[ericafny]

I think the fanny pack tried to make a come-back last year with the celebs. I saw a few wearing prada or gucci ones in the celebrity magazines...

Just thought I would share

 

[liznboys]

We have 3 little ones, so I carry a small tote bag on my shoulder with our necessities. And dh carries our small camera bag. If we didn't have kids in tow, I wouldn't carry anything, just put the few small things I'd need in my pockets...that's what I did on our honeymoon.

 

[DiznEeyore]

I found a travel "bag" at the Eddie Bauer outlet before our trip last year. It has a shoulder strap and the pouch part opens into several sections. It was perfect to hold my digital camera, wallet, sunglass case, meds, sunblock -- everything we needed! And it was still very compact.

My dh has a large waist pack that he often uses, and I have a DVC one that I use sometimes, too. Just depends if I want to be hands-free or have something over my shoulder.

 

[aubriee]

When we went in Janaury I bought fanny packs for myself, my adult son, and my 8 y/o GD. They refused to wear theirs. I had bought Disney t-shirts for the characters to autograph for my GD and they wouldn't both fit in my fanny pack, so I wound up buying one of those small Disney backpacks while I was down there. It was cute, small, light, and worked well (held camera, cell phone, water bottles, both t-shirts, sun screen, lip balm, and mini first aid kit).

I'm going back solo in May and plan to take that Disney backpack, my Lewis N. Clark fanny pack (which has a strap, so it can be worn across the body as a messenger bag, as well as a fanny pack), and a really cute very small (8"x9") multipocketed messenger bag I just won on E-bay, that is made to be worn across the body. Both the Lorenz messenger bag and the fanny pack have lots of pockets. I'll only be taking one of them into the park each day of course, but will be able to decide down there which works better (fanny pack, messenger bag, or small back pack). I also just bought one of those insulated bottle carriers from Nutztogo that will either go around my neck or else in the backpack. It has a small (4"x5") zippered compartment on it that looks like it will hold tickets, ID, room key, and a little cash, so I may just use it some days. The neck strap is detachable and it has little double straps on the back that can thread onto a fanny pack strap.

 

[heffalump9]

I prefer a fanny pack (my favorite one came from the shop next to Hall of Presidents @ MK) and any larger items (PDA, ponchos) go in DH's camera bag.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

Unless you had small children in tow why would you carry anything?? IMHO. I carry only my pass and once thru the turnstyle I hand it off to my DH who carries it in his wallet. I cannot imagine carrying something around the park all day.

Exactly! It took me a few trips to figure it out, but I never use anything I bring so why bring it. Pass and money in a pocket and if I bring a bottle of water I just carry it. So much better than lugging a bunch of crap around all day. We put camera straps on so we can carry wear them around our necks. It is so much easier this way and you don't have to stand in the security check lines if you don't have bags.

 

[maxaroni]

The last 2 times, it was fanny pack and as others have said, WDW is the only place I'd be seen using one. However, I hated it because where the 'pack' was, it was so hot and sweaty,(we go in august). dh didn't like the fanny pack either but we both dealt with it. dh wants to use a family backpack this year and I said, fine...I'm not carrying it, though! If that's what he wants, he can carry it.

 

[ktink]

I haven't read the entire thread so someone could've already listed this, but last weekend I ordered a Buxton shoulder strap organizer. I got off of HSN, which I never watch but couldn't sleep and turned it one and there it was. It's a cross between a fanny pack and a purse, but the strap goes over one shoulder and rests like a fanny pack does but it has a place for everything. I can't wait to use it!