October trip

[scrappingpickle]

We are heading to DLR Oct 12-16 with 5 day park hoppers. Wahoo! This will be our first time with no stroller since my baby is now 6 (sniff, sniff). I have been reading all the threads trying to figure out the best way to do this. Are string backpacks a good idea or something else. The DH says no fannypacks.

 

[agamble]

It depends on how much stuff you bring into the park. When we bring a backpack we just bring a regular backpack. Generally it has snacks, the camera, and water. We don't typically bring sweaters, etc. to carry in the backpack. For us a small backpack is fine. If you like the idea of a smaller bag (like a fannypack) many people wear cross shoulder bags. They come in different sizes. You can also rent a locker at the beginning of the day if you like to bring a ton of stuff.

We like using our stroller to carry stuff too as a lot of times we can just ditch a bag altogether. But I'd give up the freedom of no bag for the freedom of no stroller any day. Good luck!

 

[MommyLove]

I think if there was anything of any weight, the string backpack would be pretty uncomfortable (I know it would be for me). For the times we've gone no-stroller, we do a locker and then my DH usually wears cargo shorts so he can put stuff in the pockets and I do a fanny pack. Don't care! I'm the keeper of the APs and the FPs and I keep my phone, cash, lip gloss lol, and other necessities in there and I love having it right there at my fingertips. They're not so bad, especially if you get a Disney one!

(yep, I'm wearing a fanny pack!)

 

[Imdboss]

In the past I've always used a backpack but I get so tired of taking it off and putting it on. It never fails the second I put it back on one of the kids wants a drink of water or I need to get my phone to check wait times or get our tickets for FP. This year I decided to get a cross body bag at DL, it's super cute and was SO convenient. It has several zipper pockets so my phone would go in one, then my money and id in another, plenty of room in the main pocket for a water bottle or two and other pockets for misc items.

 

[Tasscrapper]

I just don't get what everyone has against fanny packs. I think that in the right circumstance they are an awesome tool. I bought a bag at Disneyland I think in January that is a cross body bag but also has the capability of being a fanny pack. It's actually a little plain for me but my 11 son has used for the past two trips as a cross body bag and has absolutely loved having his own little bag to carry his camera, pass, and snacks in as well as his pin lanyard when he gets tired of wearing it. It's nice that it can pass as a man bag. We tried finding him one like Indiana Jones but didn't have any luck with that.

 

[Geemo]

In the past I've always used a backpack but I get so tired of taking it off and putting it on. It never fails the second I put it back on one of the kids wants a drink of water or I need to get my phone to check wait times or get our tickets for FP. This year I decided to get a cross body bag at DL, it's super cute and was SO convenient. It has several zipper pockets so my phone would go in one, then my money and id in another, plenty of room in the main pocket for a water bottle or two and other pockets for misc items.

I was the one carrying the backpack with everyone's needs. A few year ago I decided the four grandkids were able to carry their own stuff.

I went to the fabric store and bought materials for cinch bags for each of them to carry. This way they are in-charge of their own stuff.
I made the bags with a zipper compartment separate from the main bag. It's the full width of the bag and about 6-7 inches high.

I was concerned about the comfort of the drawstring after awhile wearing the bag, so I went with a wider drawstring. I think it's 3/8" thick and 100% cotton. The grandkids have used them for three trips and haven't complained at all.

Plenty of room for their water bottle, plastic peanut butter jar of gold fish crackers or candies and anything else they want to toss in.

 

[scrappingpickle]

I just don't get what everyone has against fanny packs. I think that in the right circumstance they are an awesome tool. I bought a bag at Disneyland I think in January that is a cross body bag but also has the capability of being a fanny pack. It's actually a little plain for me but my 11 son has used for the past two trips as a cross body bag and has absolutely loved having his own little bag to carry his camera, pass, and snacks in as well as his pin lanyard when he gets tired of wearing it. It's nice that it can pass as a man bag. We tried finding him one like Indiana Jones but didn't have any luck with that.

I think the fanny pack thing is a product of being a 90s child. He is still traumatized from the first go round with them. I personally like them. I will look into some cross the body bags. I really want each kiddo to be able to carry their own water and some small snacks. I hate being the pack mule for those things.

 

[grnflash]

I'm a backpacker too. A small pack for the necessities and that's it. I clip a small zipper pouch that hangs on the side for quick access to tix, money, phone. We don't bring much so I'm fine carrying everything. If my son did need much or I had multiple kids though I'd have him carry his own. But not in a fanny pack lol.

 

[pindecisive]

I use these Jansport Half Pint backpacks I love: http://www.jansport.com/shop/en/jansport-us/half-pint-tdh6

I'm bringing two of them with me to DL. They usually fit a thin sweatshirt/extra shirt, a couple bottles of water and other little necessities - they're smaller so you can take them on rides and they comfortably fit in your lap or by your feet.

 

[ashleysev]

I have an Overland Equipment Bayliss Bag. It's a nice cross-body bag that can also convert into a hip pouch. It's smaller and won't hold a bottle of water, but it's fine for a small point & shoot camera, keys, cards/cash.

 

[fantasmicfantastic]

I have used a couple of Swissgear bags:


Both have comfortable straps, and both are masculine enough where I don't feel awkward carrying them. They are available at Target.

 

[V.I.N.C.E.N.T.]

I love using a shoulder backpack. Easy to swing around to get to the stuff without having to take it off. Some have clips so you can switch which shoulder it rests on, good to mix it up throughout the trip. Link for reference: http://www.amazon.com/WATERFLY-Pack...=1442880521&sr=8-1&keywords=shoulder+backpack

 

[taniahappy]

Regular backpack... well if you can call a Minnie sparkly one "regular"

 

[row]

I use a mini backpack: http://www.amazon.com/DAKINE-Grom-P...F8&qid=1442945193&sr=8-2&keywords=dakine+grom. It has enough space for a sweater or light jacket in the main compartment, a smaller pocket for wallet, phone, snacks, etc, a small zipped felt-lined pocket for sunglasses and two side mesh pockets for a water bottle or two.

 

[wdwfan22]

I personally used to do the fanny pack thing, but decided to move into the 21st century and now use a small cross body bag. I don't take much in with me. The only thing I don't care for about back packs, are those people I'm in line with that seem to forget how big their backpack is and smack me with it. I really don't stand that close, I like my personal space. But man, some people have these giant bags that just go everywhere. Especially in those tight lines like Peter Pan and Storybook Land Canal Boats.

 

[carrierael77]

I use either a decent string backpack (I have an Adidas one), or a cross body bad. Then my husband carries a regular backpack for anything bigger. I hold the small stuff that we need to access easily, he carries the rest.

 

[carrierael77]

I think the fanny pack thing is a product of being a 90s child. He is still traumatized from the first go round with them. I personally like them. I will look into some cross the body bags. I really want each kiddo to be able to carry their own water and some small snacks. I hate being the pack mule for those things.

As Seinfeld said to George "it looks like your belt is digesting a small animal".

 

[CassieScraps]

This is our last trip with the stroller (sniff) and I am dreading this. Currently, I carry a cross body bag with anything of value in it and we keep a small bag in the stroller for other items. If I carry the big camera, we rent a locker to keep it in if we are going to do rides and I try to buy stuff that day and keep it in there too.

I think once we've gone non-stroller that I'll carry a backpack and a crossbody bag. I wouldn't want to carry a string bag because those little strings dig in after a while.

 

[scrappingpickle]

As Seinfeld said to George "it looks like your belt is digesting a small animal".