Luggage recommendations for a 7yo girl?

[Ronneeaght]

Hello! I am looking to get DD7 a new suitcase for our upcoming cruise. I'd like a small roller bag that she can manage herself. Bonus points for a Disney theme. Does anyone have experience with something for this age group that they would recommend or would NOT recommend? TIA!!

 

[Sarco11]

My DD11 has been using her same roller bag for years. We upsized from a Disney princess one (which we still have as well). It is the 20-inch Rockland hardside spinner wheel carryon. Not Disney-themed, but fun patterns and colors--easy to pick out at the airport if it gets checked. You can always get some tough Disney stickers to theme it up.

 

[Ronneeaght]

My DD11 has been using her same roller bag for years. We upsized from a Disney princess one (which we still have as well). It is the 20-inch Rockland hardside spinner wheel carryon. Not Disney-themed, but fun patterns and colors--easy to pick out at the airport if it gets checked. You can always get some tough Disney stickers to theme it up.

Thanks! Tried and true performance is definitely more important to us than the theme, and agree those are bright, fun colors.

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

We got our daughters suitcases with fun (not Disney) prints and got them large Disney-themed luggage tags. This way if they go through phases of interest they will still not mind.

 

[Carohs]

I often see Disney themed hard spinners at Ross or Marshalls. You may luck out!

 

[Cruising Girl]

I just got my granddaughter a very cute Minnie Mouse 3 piece luggage set on sale from Kohls. She can use the smaller pieces now and still have the bigger one for later. It is red, white black checkerboard with Minnie heads all over it. Kohls typically has the luggage sets on sale for half price every other week.

 

[Carohs]

The school year has ended and I'm happy to report the High Sierra laptop bag purchased at the start of the year, besides being veery dirty is actually holding up well despites the best efforts of my kindergartner. She's destroyed two previous bags at preschool so it's nice to know this one will most likely last through the end of next year too. It's roomy enough to use as small luggage with the added bonus of the protection for a tablet which we travel with for airport entertainment.

 

[Ronneeaght]

Huh, that's an interesting thought. I had figured a roller suitcase, but she would normally be traveling with a tablet. And look at all those fun colors! I'll definitely add it to consideration!

 

[Breezer4]

We love our LL Bean duffles. They’re not Disney themed but they last forever! I have had one since middle school and another almost as long - camp, mission trips, study abroad, honeymoon, and on and on. We take them on vacations and I also use them for work travel regularly.

 

[auntlynne]

My sister and I have Mickey and Minnie luggage. Set of one 28-inch roller and one 21-inch carry-on size American Tourister with modern spinner wheels.
Okay - that was $108 in 2020. Now travel has returned and just the small one is $125 from Amazon.

But I think the four spinner wheels are nice. Handle height is also adjustable. I’d look for those features.

And carry a small pack back for plane needs - tablet, snacks…

 

[eva2015]

Our kids have luggage from PBK. Got them when they were 2yr & 4yr, now they're 7yr & 9yr. We have the large size and work well. They are a bit dirty but not much wear yet in 1-2 trips/year x 5yrs.

Ours are not Disney but I know Pottery Barn usually has Disney themed products.

 

[Ronneeaght]

We love our LL Bean duffles. They’re not Disney themed but they last forever! I have had one since middle school and another almost as long - camp, mission trips, study abroad, honeymoon, and on and on. We take them on vacations and I also use them for work travel regularly.

Growing up we used LLBean duffle bags and they are still going strong! I love them for packing a car because you can kind of stuff them in the nooks and crannies. Or put them under kids feet.

 

[meliscan]

We did the Pottery Barn luggage for our son. It held up so well and had a lot of fun patterns. He is 15 and he just outgrew the Pottery Barn one last year. They have some cute Disney patterns.

 

[mmouse37]

We love our LL Bean duffles. They’re not Disney themed but they last forever! I have had one since middle school and another almost as long - camp, mission trips, study abroad, honeymoon, and on and on. We take them on vacations and I also use them for work travel regularly.

I have purchased at least 12 of these over the years. We always get the LLBean Large Rolling Adventure Duffle. But....our biggest complaint was that it did not stand up. Well, LLBean finally listened to its customers and now has the rolling adventure duffle that stands up!!! It does not completely lay flat anymore but that is OK....it will still fit under the bed. I just purchased one and it arrived in the mail yesterday. Apparently they can't keep them in stock. I even went into a physical store to buy one and he said as soon as they come in they sell out. I ordered mine online at LLBean but the only color choice was a yellow. Not my first choice but it will do. Can't wait to try it on our next cruise which is next week. I would say a child could get away with a size medium. My husband and I both use them (large size) often for trips.

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/126...&csp=a&searchTerm=Large Rolling Duffles&pos=3

OP, I have bought each of my grandkids the Pottery Barn luggage (larger one). They hold up well... not too huge and are easy to manage. They had many Disney prints over the years....princesses, Mickey, Little Mermaid. Not sure what they have currently.

MJ

 

[NotUrsula]

While I agree that the LLB duffles are great for car trips and as carryons, I find that they don't hold up as well as airline checked baggage. The sorting machinery is very hard on bags that don't have some kind of frame; the rollers pinch the fabric and it tends to tear.

Also, be sure to ScotchGard any light-colored fabric luggage before using it as checked baggage. The machinery often leaves grease marks.

BTW, I agree about High Sierra backpacks. DS got one (black) for freshman year of high school and still uses it constantly; he's now 25, and it's still in good shape.

 

[Snowwhyt]

If I was to give advice it would be to tell her, in advance, that luggage is usually replaced because it’s broken. I have gone through three pieces of brand-new luggage over the past 11 months. One suitcase didn’t even make it round-trip.