Park bag

[TexasBelle7]

Lets talk about your park bag...
We have been to Disney many times over the years and have always had mixed opinions. What do you use as a park bag and what do you carry in yours?
We're planning an August trip and it was my plan to carry a backpack as a park bag but the closer we get the more I worry it will be too much in the parks. Interested to hear what everyone else does!

 

[dismsn]

I use a small backpack (it's not much bigger than my purse). I take a very small umbrella in a Ziploc (so it won't get anything wet when I put it away); a rain jacket (also in a Ziploc); a hard phone case that can hold my ID, phone, cash and credit cards; moleskin pre cut; small sunscreen and chapstick; Advil; day's touring plan and reservation/FP info.; a plastic shopping bag with a chip bag clip to put my backpack in on water rides; and extra socks.

 

[BudgieMama]

I have a small bag that I wear across my body, with way too much stuff in. Next time, I am aiming for:
purse, painkillers, sun cream, inhaler, autograph book and pen, phone.

I have a pac-a-mac (pack away raincoat) which has a loop on the bag, so I attach it to my bag with a carabine clip and I have a separate bottle bag that just carries a 750ml bottle of water.

 

[coloredimage]

I've done small VB crossbodies in the past but last year when I went in August I found it didn't fit everything I needed it to so I wore a backpack. This year I'm hoping that a LaSportsac bag will do the trick (I have a small one but I'm trying to buy a slightly larger one). I carry:
wallet (small Vera Bradley variety that also holds phone), camera, Camelbak water bottle, small extra sunblock, advil, sunglasses, camping poncho in a bag, and I like to have enough space so that I can put my ears or hat away when I'm eating/on a ride

 

[Parker Clan]

We carry a backpack as well. Going in August every year we pack a few ponchos, sunscreen, chapstick with SPF, snacks, a couple waters, a gatorade, and waterproof pouches we bought from Dicks a few years ago. We put our camera, phone, anything that we don't want soaked if it starts downpouring or we go on a water ride. I usually put a small wristlet in there too with some $ & ours ID's. We only do a backpack for our morning park times. We always leave mid day for a break by the pool. At night I carry a satchel I got from Disney, with only the essentials.

 

[PeasandCarrots]

I carry a small osprey backpack. It's the perfect size and has both a chest and waist strap so not all of the weight is on my shoulders and it doesn't bounce around when I walk.

 

[Kenny1113]

Small cross body. As my kids have gotten older I caryy less and less. When they were younger I carried a backpack, but I could put it in the stroller.

 

[crostorfer]

We have a small, pretty cheap backpack that we bring with us every trip. It's lasted a long time. Its small enough that it just fits into the stow netting on the big rides. We pack two empty 16oz bottles of water, water flavor packets, a face sunblock stick, spray sunscreen, ziplock bags, our phones, and those cheap, small super absorbent towels.

We carry empty bottles because: A. They aren't as heavy on my shoulders and B. We just stop and fill them at a fountain and guzzle whenever we need a water break. The coldest water fountain at WDW is the one in front of the Liberty Bell in the MK, btw. Its the only one that is consistently cold. We just wipe off the condensation, and re-stuff the bottles in the bags.

The ziplocs, obviously, are for our phones on water rides, or in case of rain. Rarely do we bother with ponchos, we've only ever been on one trip when it was an all-day deluge of rain.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I have carried the same Totes brand, small triangle backpack for the past 5 trips (which says a LOT because I love getting a new bag for each trip!) This bag is lightweight, small, nicely shaped to lay on your back, and water resistant (which is a huge factor in picking a bag for our summer trips!) Not only does it resist the rain, but the sweat too Unfortunately, our Totes outlet store went out of business and I can't find these bags anywhere now! I wanted to get a new version of the same bag, just because of normal wear and tear. I was looking at the Baggallini Urban Backpack which is the exact same shape and style and has the same straps and pockets inside and everything, but the color options aren't "cute" and the Totes bag was $10 and these are $60!!! http://www.amazon.com/Baggallini-Ur...434973368&sr=8-1&keywords=Baggallini+backpack

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Add me to the list of people who carry small backpacks. I bring an empty water bottle to refill at fountains or with the free ice water from QS locations, a small umbrella, extra sunscreen, Chapstick, Advil, and a waterproof bag for my phone. In the summer, I toss in a Frogg Toggs cooling towel.

 

[karly05]

For 4 solo trips I have carried my Baggallini Zip N Go crossbody and I really like it. It is lightweight, about 9" high x 7" wide x 3" thick (but it can stuff thicker). I take wallet, phone, point and shoot camera in a soft case, some other small things, and it works great (admittedly I could maybe go a bit smaller). I like the zippered compartments to keep things separated and easy to get to, and I like the flat pocket with magnet closure on the back for park brochures. I could use carabiners to fasten some things to it, which I plan to do next year. This year, I threaded the strap through the opening in the back of my EE cap to carry it when not wearing it, and it would be a lot easier to have a carabiner so I could just clip and unclip it. I'm also going back in April, where I got caught in a downpour this year, and I'm still contemplating how to put my Mickey poncho in a bag attached to the Baggallini so I can carry it if I need to. (I don't want a backpack or a bag any bigger than what I have, and don't talk to me about dollar ponchos, I am too stupid and clumsy to get myself into one).

 

[DisneyCAL]

We have two small kids and we don't do strollers because they won't use them so a backpack is essential. Right now I have a North Face Backpack which has 3 parts to it and side mesh pockets. The first small pocket I will keep cell phone, cash, sunglasses, camera all in a ziploc bag for water ride protection. The middle pocket carries sunscreen, bandaids, medicines baggie with advil and tums. And the third big pocket carries ponchos and a change of underpants for the kids just in case. We of course use the mesh pocket for water bottles. We also have the kids use one of those small backpacks that have the leash attachment (we don't use the leash). But the pack is nice and light and can fit their own bottle, snack, and sunglasses or hat.

 

[texasroni75]

I carry my mid-sized Baggalini Accomplice crossbody. It's smaller than a backpack, but bigger than a hipster-style bag. When I travel with the kids, it's pretty full because I add in the travel baby wipe container and some diapers and extra snacks, but can still come with me on every ride. DD(20) uses an Eddie Bauer sling backpack and raves about it. Hers was also easy to take on all rides.

 

[margot31]

We use a camelback so that way we also have water bladder already vs having water bottles. we just fill the water at the room each night put in the fridge and have it ready for the morning the next day.

 

[worm761]

I use a bag we bought in Epcot at Mousegears. It is a full size backpack. I carry a hoodie for me even in summer. I freeze in the AC. Frog Toggs Chilly Pads that I cut in thirds (dry them in the container). Sunscreen, brush/comb, my wallet, and a small lovey for DD. Usually some snacks for DD but we will be adding in peanut butter and bread in a container for DD in case we can't find something she will eat.

 

[Meeko5]

Watching this one - DH insists on carrying his Swiss Gear bag with about about 30 pockrts/zippers. I'm determined to get a more lightweight bag that will take less time to get through bag check!

 

[worm761]

Baby wipes. I totally forgot. I always carry baby wipes.

 

[tomatecerise]

A backpack-handbag (Sakroots)

I have in there:
A 20oz Thermos bottle
Tissues
Sometimes mini iPad
Wallet
a thing to take notes (fastpass Hours - return Time with disabilities pass)
A nail clipper
Mini scissors
Moleskin
Band-aid
Arthritic Tylenol
Ziploc bags
Sometimes a rain poncho
A place for My folding cane

 

[dsnyfn1022]

I carry a Disney drawstring backpack. I keep my wallet, phone, sunglasses (on rides), pins and a poncho in there. I'll also carry water bottles which I HATE carrying because they condensation on them will soak through the bag and make my back wet.

 

[loves to dive]

If you could find women cargo pants that have the bigger pockets like mens I wouldn't carry anything but since you can't then what I carry depends on what I'm wearing. If I'm wearing shorts, I'll just carry a small crossbody that I can stick a small poncho in, my ID and CC and cash in a waterproof container, my cell phone. Unfortunately, I have a Droid Maxx cell phone and most women's shorts pockets just aren't big enough to put the darn thing in and they also aren't big enough for a poncho. If I do have shorts with big enough pockets for the cell phone, the waterproof thing I put my ID in has a clip I can clip onto a belt loop and then I'll just clip an umbrella on the other side (I never go to the parks without either a poncho or umbrella) If I'm wearing a sundress, I either use the above crossbody(usually a Disney Dooney of some sort), or a clear child's backback I bought at WalMart (the bag check people love this since they don't have to open it, it is small enough not to ever get heavy) but if it's too hot outside that sucker will make you sweat. Or an old messenger type bag I bought at animal kingdom years ago [GALLERY=][/GALLERY].