Packing for the parks: What do you NEED to bring & what's a waste of space?

[SkylarKD]

My fiance and I are going to Disney World at the end of August for our honeymoon. It'll be just us - no children. We're trying to decide the best strategy for bringing things with us into the parks. We want to have everything we'll need, but at the same time, we don't want a heavy bag.

What do you suggest? What do we need to bring, and what is just a waste of space and extra weight?

Also, can you REALLY fit everything you need into a fanny pack?? (I have trouble packing light, so I'm skeptical )

Thanks!

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

There's another thread on here that has links to a couple of suggested sites that have great lists of items to bring.

 

[SkylarKD]

Thanks. I downloaded a packing list, but there's about 40 things on the list to take into the parks. We don't want to have to bring 2 backpacks, so I was wondering what the essentials are for a couple with no kids, and what we shouldn't bother with.

 

[vmkids]

We have teens and would probably take the same things we do with them even solo. We take a purse type backpack with just gatorade (two frozen sip style ones) a few austin type cracker packs, licorice, wash cloth to wipe sweat with. Throw away ponchos, and then DH takes a fanny pack to stash our park passes and cash and such. Works good for us. Now we also take two water fans but would only take one with two people.

 

[Memaw2Wm]

I have a healthy back bag and I pack it with ponchos, mini-umbrella (rains a lot in August), autograph books, fat pens, my camera and a water bottle in the outer pocket. In my fanny pack I have my checkbook/wallet and a mini-fan ... I could carry these in my shoulder bag, but they're easier to get to in my fanny pack.

HTH

 

[Aimeedyan]

Essentials for me:

- bottle of water or two. We usually carry a couple frozen and a couple not. You can refill them later.

- washcloth in a snacksize baggie to wipe yourself down with =) You can always wet it a bit with your bottled water if you want

- camera

- inhaler (obviously not essential for everyone, but dont forget those kind of medical things!)

- sunglasses

- ponchos (buy them in a two pack for $1 at Dollar Tree. pick up several sets and just chunk them if you get drenched instead of carrying them around wet)

- small umbrella

- small wallet with ID, money, etc.

Thats really not that much stuff... you can easily put it in a small backpack and share between the two of you. Thats what we do!

Remember you can ALWAYS leave the park and head back to the resort if you need a change of clothes, or what have you. These are just essential items =)

 

[Rodrigo]

Don't forget sun block cream and hat or caps.

 

[CharlesandCamilla]

Don't forget about sunscreen, moleskin for blisters, ibuprofen, and maybe some Rolaids. Get these in travel sizes. They won't take up much space but will be much cheaper than getting it in the parks. And if you have long hair bring something to put it up. My wife always forgets that it gets hot in the afternoon and we always wind up buying ponytail holders in the parks.

And don't forget the extra film.

 

[pjlla]

When DH and I honeymooned at the World, we each wore a fanny pack. We carried along money/credit cards, park passes, keys (hotel and rental car), comb, a few wet wipes, camera with extra film (back in the dark ages before digital), camera batteries, sunglasses, chapstick, sunscreen. That was probably it. We didn't bring in our own water.... didn't want to be weighted down at 9am with water we might not drink until 5pm! But that was also in our pre-real-life budget days!! We definitely carry more now that we have two kids, but on our last trip in January we were able to leave a bag in the locker and go with just two fanny packs again!! So much easier than lugging along a back pack!....P

 

[buckeye]

It's EASY to fit what you need in a fanny pack:

Money, passes, sunscreen, water bottle, moleskin, camera, disposable rainponcho (depending on the season.)

DONE!

 

[figgy4me]

Two of us.... We both have fanny packs.

We carry money/credit cards/Driver's Licence, park passes & room keys (if staying onsite) in zipper compartment next to the body for protection.

In other two compartments we carry keys (car if driving to park), comb, camera, extra film, sunglasses, pain & headache meds( in small bottle) a few band-aids and/or moleskin, eyeglass straps.

Don't forget about sunscreen. That is something new we started taking. After twelve+ trips to the World, got sun poisoning on the backs of my legs one trip. And you are going in August. We even carry a couple snack bags of nuts/chips/cheez-its...

You can get cups of ice and sometimes ice water at the parks.

We loved having annual passes one year, so we may not spend all day or split the parks so leave the packs in the car in the afternoon and go right on past the security!!!!!!!!!!!!

When it is hot........ that is nice.

 

[W21981Brick]

On our trips we would fill up our resort mugs w/ coffee in AM and when we finished the coffee slip the empty mug on our fanny pack strap. During the day at the parks we would fill our mugs w/ water from fountains(we didn't mind the water)-cheap & easy!

 

[plummer925]

When DH and I went 2 years ago, we PACKED the 2 fanny packs FULL (packed all recommended stuff) for the first day - then had 1 Fanny Pack the second day - and about 1/2 the stuff on the 3rd day. then we got smart - we carried passes in our pockets, carried a small roll of Rolaids, a travel size of sunscreen and a small camera in pockets - sunglasses on - and that was IT for day 4-7.

It was SO nice not carrying around stuff! We was able to walk right through security (no bag to check!) - in fact, the security guard had a special place for people with no bags to walk through (saved at least 10 minutes at each park!).

It only rained one day (late September, so it was rainy season) - we just laughed and ran through the rain holding hands - got soaked, and loved it (something we wouldn't have done at home!).

I recommend SERIOUSLY thinking about what you think you'll need - it may be worth buying that $5.00 item the one time you need it to save on having to tote stuff around.

All this said...we didn't bring in any food even on the first few days - we bought all meals and beverages there...We're good about packing picnics, but we never seem to eat them....lol

 

[ktglads]

Really, it is all on a person to person basis. What some people deem a necessity, others know that they can go without. All I carry is my wallet (which holds my license, credit card, room key, pass and a little cash), a little travel size bottle of sunscreen, camera, sunglasses, and a poncho. What works for me may not work for you. I will say that you will get tired of carrying a heavy bag around with you every day and will lighten it by taking out what you feel is not needed. It is all about experience and what you are willing to part with. They provide aspirin and bandaids at first aid, so if you are willing to walk there, that is even less that you have to carry.

 

[SkylarKD]

Hmmmm... lots to think about! Thanks for the responses! I'm taking lots of notes.

Just out of curiosity, are there a lot of first aid stations around WDW? And is there usually a line? (good to know, just in case!)

 

[pjlla]

Well........ I have not had the unfortunate experience to need a first aid station while at WDW, but there was a teen that needed a bandage while we were in Mickey's Toontown in January. His mom/chaperone asked me if I had one and I didn't, but I knew about the first aid stations so I asked the food vendor there where we could get a bandage. He indicated that the nearest first aid station was...... "Waaaay up front" (in his words). I didn't check the map at that moment, but the first aid stations are indicated on the map. Just hope you don't have to drip blood too far in getting to one!.....................P

 

[chamonix]

The first aid station at MK is next to Crystal Palace. It's inbetween CP and that Casey's Coke Corner place. At Epcot it's inbetween Future World and World Showcase. I've been to them both. No line, and very quick in and out. Sign your name for free aspirin or tylenol or ibuprofen, bandaids, etc. She also gave us an ice pack and extra bandaids and neosporin ointment for later so we could change dd's bandages before bed, and rebandage them for the next day too. I'm sure really hot busy times in the parks mean more people in First Aid, but early March they were empty.
Thankfully dd fell right in front of Crystal Palace, if we had to carry her screaming the whole way from say, Toontown, that would have been a drag; but having a bandaid on me wouldn't have made that experience any better--I don't think I could have washed it off very well in a bathroom, and really hate thinking about even trying to clean and bandage a wound in a bathroom. Ick. I'm pretty sure you can find the First Aid stations by looking at the maps online or when you get there. It's a good idea to know where they are, so you aren't fumbling around for one when you need one. (although a CM led us right to it when we needed it)
To answer the OP, I say--don't carry anything except your ID, room key/pass, and some cash. Travel as light as you can, you will be much happier. (Ok, I usually have a camera, but that is about it!)

 

[sconnell]

The two times DH and I did the world alone, before kids, we didn't carry much. It was December so we wore pants and a short sleeve shirt and a light jacket. We didn't carry sunscreen, or ponchos. It did rain, but we just went inside or got wet. August will be a little different, but we didn't need much. I did buy some Advil once, but I wouldn't have wanted to carry it around. We just had DH's wallet. No bags. It was nice, but I don't think we'll get away with it this trip with DD2!
Have fun!

 

[myfairygodmother]

If I'm taking my camera into the parks, I ALWAYS take a ziploc bag with me. Fold it up and put it in your fanny pack or pocket and it's not heavy. I put the camera in it when going on rides where I am likely to get wet and for sudden downpours as the disposable poncho doesn't always do 100% if the wind is blowing in a major rain.

 

[threeboysmom]

Wow! Some of you carry a lot! I just take the absolute "essentials" - nobody in my family wants to carry a bag or wear a fannypack. So my DH carries our park passes &money/credit card in his pocket & the camera around his neck; I carry my lipstick in my pocket (essential for me ); & everybody carries their own bottle of water. Works for us