Minimalist packing for a day in the park?

[6loversofdisney]

I've finally reached the elusive "I don't need much in my bag" stage. My kids are grown but there are six of us.

I am for sure bringing my actual camera because I'm not a fan of cell phone pictures.

Trip is in December so a jacket may be necessary but will monitor the local weather while there.

What else must I have or do I need to take to make life easier? The less, the better!!

 

[loves to dive]

You must have either your MB or a ticket, a little cash and an ID. That is it. All I carry is my cell phone (I don't take pictures any more) and a small ID size wallet with my DL, AP, CC and cash. My MB is on my arm, my reading glasses on a chain or pin on my clothes, hat on my head and sunglasses on my face. If I know it's going to rain, I either carry an umbrella if it's not expected to be hard or fold up a poncho really small and stick it in a pocket. Some will tell you you don't need cash if you have your MB because you can charge to your room with that but I've found that the little gizmo doesn't always work so it's smart to have a little cash or CC (plus I don't charge back to my room). I have an AP so I have to have an ID to get a discount with it and you have to carry the actual discount card. Otherwise that's it. If my poncho doesn't fit my pocket, I have a small runners belt that goes under my shirt it will fit in.

 

[10MoreMinutes]

In December, I wear jeans and bring a jacket or light sweater that I can tie around my waist if I get warm. My MB is on my wrist and I usually put sunglasses on top of my head if I'm not actively wearing them. I put my cell phone in a wallet case with my ID and credit card and maybe a little cash and that goes in my back pocket. If I carry a camera, it goes in a front pocket, and I stow a band-aid, a tube of chap stick, and maybe a tube of sunscreen in the other front pocket.

 

[3Gsandme]

One day? One backpack. Sunscreen. Camera. Jackets. Water.

 

[Mal6586]

I wear my MB and usually carry a medium size crossbody purse with the following:

cell phone
wallet (usually a smaller one than my day to day life with the essentials like ID, cash, and a couple of cards)
chapstick
travel size stick of deodorant
cheapo poncho from walmart (The 97 cent kind!)
travel size umbrella
empty ziploc baggie (in case of torrential downpour to stow my phone)
granola bar or other small quick snack
sunglasses
small tube of sunscreen (I'm very pale and burn easily)
small bottle of hand sanitizer
a couple of bandaids

That sounds like a lot, but it's never felt bulky or heavy to me. Even though I don't have any kiddos to worry with, I just like to be prepared for all things, I guess! The last time I was there for jacketworthy weather, we rented a locker at the front of the park to stow jackets during the day, then got them back out once the sun went down and it started getting chilly. No sense in lugging it around the rest of the time.

 

[BudgieMama]

With my Magic Band on my arm, the only other things I took were my inhaler, my mobile phone and a bottle of water. I had a sling bag for the bottle, and that was allowed through the no bag line. Sometimes security asked to feel it, and I always approached the line asking "do I need to take this through bag check?" and they always said no.

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

Everyone's preferences are different. I would include: small bottle of sunscreen (or sunscreen wipes), hand sanitizer, chap stick, eye drops, water bottle, a couple of bandaids, roll of Tums. (I know, I sound like Felix Ungar from the Odd Couple!)

All that stuff, plus a phone, camera, wallet, poncho will easily fit in cargo pockets.

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

LOL! Mal6586 and I must have been typing at the same time.

Obviously another ex-girl/boy scout!

 

[automaticsoap]

My suggestions would be similar to these but another must for me is an external battery charger for my phone!

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

As a CM and a former emergency services worker... Please don't travel so light that you don't bring your ID!

If I was going as minimalist as possible, I'd wear my MagicBand, put my ID and a credit card in one pocket, hang my car keys from a belt loop with a carabiner, and put my phone in the other pocket. Maybe one of those disposable ponchos in a back pocket, and a sweatshirt tied around my waist if absolutely necessary.

I carry way more stuff than this, though. Last night at Epcot, I was glad to have my emergency rainstorm flip-flops and a spare heavy-duty poncho and a Ziplock bag to put my phone in!

 

[lillyshula]

The though of not carrying a bag into the parks is something I strive for, but never actually accomplish. I always tend to think I might need something and grab it just in case. Our girls are younger but this last trip our bag usually had three autograph books, tube of sunblock, small hand sanitizer, small first aid kit, extra ponytail holders, a Ziploc bag for electronics when on water rides, chap stick, small snacks for long lines, and a bottle or two of water. There was also a morning when my youngest was cold, so her light jacket fit perfectly as well. We carry this bag: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/86674?feat=1098-GN2&page=stowaway-day-pack and it works fantastically. Super light and comfortable. We also had a camera bag for the camera.

If you are truly wanting to be as minimalist as possible, I would say your magic band, ID, some cash, chap stick, and your camera.

 

[AngiTN]

My park day gear includes the following, all held in my pockets

cell phone
back up charger
lip stick
powder compact
eye glass cleaning cloth
AP/ID/Disney Visa

DH brings
ponchos/umbrellas (we have very small ones)
cell phone
back up charger
AP/ID
Skoal (yuck!)


That's it. I've never needed a single other thing.

Even when DGD comes with us (she's 8) we don't need anything else.

 

[Ametista]

I never enter a park without band-aids, sunscreen, and chap stick, phone, cash or cc. Also a small lotion for my hands after I wash them.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I go bagless. I have a lanyard that carries my ID, credit card and some cash. My phone goes in my pocket. Maybe some chapstick in my pocket too. I went bagless when we went strollerless when DD was 5.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Only you can judge what you will need.
Personally this is what i bring in a small crossbody every time I go no matter the time of year.
-small wallet
-cell phone
-travel size hair brush
-chap stick
-small container with various over the counter medications just in case
-poncho
-at HS I bring my glasses case for RNRC.

I apply sunscreen before I leave the hotel and have found no need to reapply.

In the cooler months only I bring a light weight jacket to the parks which I start out by wearing and then tie it around my waist for part of the day and then end the day with wearing it.

I find that after kids are at the age that they no longer need a diaper bag they don't really need anything other than a jacket in the cooler months and rain poncho.

 

[BudgieMama]

As a CM and a former emergency services worker... Please don't travel so light that you don't bring your ID!

Then please can you ask them to accept a more varied form of ID? We can't risk losing passports (they stay in the safe because needing an emergency passport is seriously bad times) and they won't take our driving licence as ID. There's no point carrying it if we can't use it.

 

[china mom]

Jealous. Finally reached the pint where I don't need all that park stuff....and then, here comes my 84 year old mother and I am back to diaper bags and everything that goes with it.

But, when I have snuck down without family... Lanyard with a small pouch for ID, AP card, cash and CC. Chapstick and phone in my pocket and a refillable water bottle on a strap on my shoulder.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Then please can you ask them to accept a more varied form of ID? We can't risk losing passports (they stay in the safe because needing an emergency passport is seriously bad times) and they won't take our driving licence as ID. There's no point carrying it if we can't use it.

Accept them for what? Drinking alcohol? You can present a photocopy of your passport along with your foreign driver's license, at least according to the Responsible Vendor Program training I had to take when I was getting qualified to work food service.

For what it's worth, I accept foreign driver's licenses as proof of identity for ticket will calls and using unsigned credit cards as long as they're in a language I can read. (I had a young man a couple weeks ago who only had his Japanese driver's license - he was lucky he had a common name and it consisted of a couple of kanji I actually know because one of my friends has the same given name!)

 

[Dashzap]

• Tiny wallet holding drivers license, health insurance card, cc, ticket
• comb and chapstick
• cell phone
• tiny umbrella in my back pocket for shade plus rain

It all goes in my pockets...cargo capris in hot weather. If you are bringing a windbreaker or jacket that you will tie around your waist as it gets warm, why not get one with pockets that zip? An anorak style one with a big kangaroo pocket would hold a good sized camera or charger.

 

[figment74]

I'm traveling for the first time solo next week, and I have a camel pack bag that is about the width of an IPAD. So I intend to carry my wallet, some sunscreen Chapstick, ext battery for Cell Phone, AP, CC, and DL. About 10% of what I used to bring to the parks when I was traveling with my Ex, and DD.

Oh and I'll aso bring a poncho.