Moms with 3--Best bag for the parks?

[tndisney5]

I usually carry a tote type bag, but I'm looking for something easier--crossbody or backpack---that will hold up to 5 ponchos, cameras, etc.

I like Vera Bradley hipsters but they seem like they're too small. I'm leaning towards a backpack but I'm looking for suggestions on what might work best. I hate to pack everything but the kitchen sink but with 3 kids under 7 I feel like I might need to!

 

[4under4]

Baggalinni makes a number of great bag choices. This is the one I use:

http://amzn.com/B000PDJHF6

Plenty of room and very comfortable to wear.

 

[Habbott]

I'm a mom to one, but I chose a backpack when my guy was younger. Another good reason for the backpack, my husband happily helped carry the backpack.

 

[quandrea]

I use a le sportsac it's a small world backpack. I have twins and another child. Love the hands free, it's light , washable and super roomy. Actually use it as my purse at home too. Love it.

http://www.polyvore.com/lesportsac_handbag_small_world_voyager/thing?id=58457844#cs

 

[kam1011]

I have 3, but I won't carry a bag around. I have put ponchos and stuff under the stroller in the past. If it doesn't fit in our pockets, we don't need it!

 

[liloca]

I use a le sportsac it's a small world backpack. I have twins and another child. Love the hands free, it's light , washable and super roomy. Actually use it as my purse at home too. Love it. http://www.polyvore.com/lesportsac_handbag_small_world_voyager/thing?id=58457844#cs[/QUOTEl]

That is adorable!

 

[PartOfYourWDWorld]

I have 3, but I won't carry a bag around. I have put ponchos and stuff under the stroller in the past. If it doesn't fit in our pockets, we don't need it!

The pocket theory would only work with older kids, though. I don't know the exact ages of the OP's children, but that makes a big difference. My three are ages five and under, with the youngest still drinking bottles. We also need hats, diapers and spare outfits with us at all times. I use a backpack for the clothing and bottles and keep that with me always. I also have a small hipster for money, phone, cards, etc that I wear at all times. I throw a Skip Hop diaper changing roll in the bottom of the stroller, along with sunscreen and ponchos.

 

[stormer]

I love my Overland Donner bag. It is the perfect size and has two side pockets for water bottles, sippie cups, etc.

 

[Aliceacc]

I use this one: http://www.ebags.com/product/baggallini/triple-zip-bagg/127324?productid=10291058

I actually just replaced my old one... I put it somewhere safe before we began construction last year and still can't find it.

I got the Dolphin blue; it's actually a bit more subdued than it looks on screen and I like the color a lot.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

OP, I have three boys and found a backpack worked best when the kids were as young as yours. It was just easier to have my hips free if someone needed to be held or carried for a while.

Now that they are teens, if they want, they carry it, and I can travel as lightly as I want! Someday you won't be carrying the world on your shoulders! Well, at least literally in WDW

 

[tndisney5]

My children are all under the age of 7. I will most definitely need a bag. We just have too much "stuff". Usually we do WDW in the winter months and don't really need ponchos or too much sunscreen (we've been luck with weather during our trips). Now with us trying a summer trip I know I will have too much stuff to haul around .

I don't mind a backpack but like some of the Baggalinni options I've seen. Thanks so much for the suggestions so far.

Also, any tips on must pack park bag items for summer?

 

[sb682]

I only have one kid, but we carry a backpack. Need it for ponchos, snacks, Chilly Pads, spare clothes for DS, sunscreen, first aid kit, glow sticks etc. One of us pushes the stroller and one wears the backpack.

 

[Amirah95]

I scored a Disney canvas bag perfect at TDS outlet last week with a Mickey silhouette on it so that's what I'm using in the parks. My DD is 6 years old now and will be 7 so this will be the first year we will not be taking our own stroller and a baby bag, but I'll still need to carry wet ones, ziploc bags, a change of clothes, odds and ends plus have a place to put our souveniers. The bag is narrow and deep with two handles and long strap. I can wash it if it gets dirty too.

I also carry a small baggalini type bag like the one up above, but it's so much smaller to hold my cards, money and cell phone.

Once I start taking my grandboy (he's only 2 months old now) when he gets bigger I'll be back to carrying a beach bag along in the stroller.

 

[Mrs Lapo]

I just went through the same thing. I have 3 kids as well. I usually carry a cross body bag but was thinking of getting a backpack. I just found this awesome bag from Thirty-One that's inter changeable. You can wear it as a cross body, on the shoulder or backpack. It has a few pockets but not too many. It's absolutely perfect for Disney!! I just ordered it from a friend whose a consultant. Now I can change it up as needed without moving to a different bag each day..so excited!! It's the little things...lol

 

[Princess Leia]

We don't travel light - we have 2 children (on our last trip they were 12 and 8). We have suncream, water bottles, autograph books, pin lanyards, cameras, video camera, rain jackets and water sprayers. We don't take anything we don't use. We always have 2 back packs. We've never had a stroller - on our first trip my son was 3 so it was handy being able to keep hands free. We laugh at photos of the back pack on the people mover, space mountain etc.

 

[Y0H0H03]

I use the thirty-one explorista crossbody for the zoo and the aquarium and I plan to use it when we go to WDW in September. I absolutely LOVE it! It is actually bigger than it looks and holds so much! AND if you are going to be using a stroller it snaps around the handle!

 

[baseballnut]

I have the Swiss Gear city pack from Target. $36. http://m.target.com/p/swissgear-city-pack-backpack-blue/-/A-14556691

I searched long and hard for a backpack that would swiftly and easily fit into the bottom of our Inglesina "deluxe" umbrella stroller. So this one is not as wide as the others, but it's pretty tall so you can shove lots of stuff down. While it's smaller than my old backpack, it fits in the stroller much more easily - and I can't cram it full of everything possible, which means it's lighter. I also have a $20 cup holder thing for the stroller that also has a pretty big mesh bag hanging from it.

Hoping this back works well for Disney, it's great for the zoo, lol. And it's water resistant. And DH can carry it, too. Very comfortable to wear.

 

[NinaBella]

I usually carry a tote type bag, but I'm looking for something easier--crossbody or backpack---that will hold up to 5 ponchos, cameras, etc.

I like Vera Bradley hipsters but they seem like they're too small. I'm leaning towards a backpack but I'm looking for suggestions on what might work best. I hate to pack everything but the kitchen sink but with 3 kids under 7 I feel like I might need to!

I love my Kipling cross body. I have traveled cities around the world (literally... I am military) with it. It's amazing how much stuff can fit into it.
http://www.kipling-usa.com/

 

[KristenFNJ]

I use an Adidas backpack, basic black, 3 full-depth compartments (the back is the widest). I carry ponchos, change of clothes for 5 of us (we always-ALWAYS-get wet ), sm towel, camera & batteries (because they're $$$$ in the parks), sunscreen, band aids, sm handwipes, sm misting fans, Hidden Mickey book, pressed coin change, wallet and phone. This will be our first trip without diapers, but we'll probably still get a stroller for our 5yo (it also helps my mom to lean on it as she walks-she makes us 6, she carries her own purse but I pack her poncho). So I pack the ponchos and clothes in a plastic bag that I can take out of the backpack and store in the stroller... then the backpack is really pretty light.

I would probably decide as best you can what you want to carry, and work backwards from there to make sure you can comfortably carry what you need. Not everyone needs the same stuff, so consider that before narrowing down the recommendations: a great bag with lots of praise might be too big or small for you.

 

[JoeyEmmaMomma]

We have 3 kids (8, 4 and 8 months) and bring 2 backpacks. DH and I each wear one.