Question: Do you do backpacks at WDW?

[white rabbit]

hi everybody! We will be going on our first trip to WDW this Nov. It will be my DH, DD6, DD9, DParents, and me. The question is- Do you carry a backpack or not? We are not a fanny pack kind of family, but I would carry a backpack if I thought it would be worth it. We would try to travel light mostly to carry water bottles, wet wipes, ect... Is it cumbersome? Tell me your experiences, any input would be so helpful!

 

[ReneeDisney]

Your going to have a great time on your trip to WDW!!
I carry a very small backpack - Kate Spade nylon- and it is perfect for me and my family. I am able to hold my camera, wallet, tissues, etc.
I couldn't wear a big "going to school" backpack, as I think that would bother your back all day long.
Just find what is comfortable for you.
If you have young children and plan to bring a stroller, I would suggest a bag that can hang on the stroller, that way you don't really have to carry it much, except if you all go onto a ride or to eat together. Also, I have learned the less I carry around the better. WDW is equipped with medical stations and child care centers should their be an emergency or slight disruption in your day at any of the parks!
ENJOY!!!

 

[DisneyTarheel]

Someone else on the DIS recommended this: http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=8&id=40

I ordered it a couple days ago, but won't have it until early next week.

 

[CheapMom]

Yes- I always carry a backpack. Sometimes it is annoying to have it because you have to be careful when turning around that 'all is clear' behind you. It is easy to accidentally bump into to people or things when you have a bulky one. Also rides with small riding areas (like Space Mountan) can be uncomfortable. But this year I will be scaled down considerably as this is my 1st trip in AGES when I don't have to have diapers & wipes... hallejeuia!
Plus with free dining- I won't be toting as many snacks, juice boxes...

 

[gems_smiling]

I carry a small backpack too.

 

[mickeymousemom]

I carry a clear backpack(easy to get thru the security checks and the security guys always comment on it...some have even thanked me for having it). I don't have to unzip everything and I can also see where something is at a glance. I just hang it on the back of the stroller so I don't have to carry it.

 

[NC State]

I too carry a small 'lightweight" backpack, it carries two Dollar Tree rain ponchoes, wipes and 2 small (8 oz) water bottles to refill, and my ID/hotel cards. (I purchase extra ponchoes because I don't like to repackage them, so I throw them away at the end of the day/night, if I used them.)

 

[BlueJeansGirl]

When we visit with the kids, we carry a regular Jansport backpack - without the kids, just a fanny pack. With kids, we carry ponchos, cameras, extra batteries, bottled water, a few snacks, extra socks for water ride days, room keys, etc. The worst part about the backpack to me is that when we sit on a ride, or down for a rest, the backpack invariably is taken off, and I am always afraid that we will walk off & leave it. I put an index card in the front pocket of the bag with my name, cell number, and resort in case that happens.

 

[TLHB70]

Yep; we always carry a backpack (Timberland brand). I carry the wallet, ponchos (4), sunscreen, lip balm/chapstick, Tylenol, bandaids/moleskin, wipes, hand sanitizer, bottled water, and autograph books. I would never be able to fit it all in a fanny pack and I feel that I need all of these at the parks. BTW, I wear my camera around my neck. DH and I take turns carrying the backpack.
We have always taken our trips in November or December. This will be our first September trip (to take advantage of free dining) so this trip we will be carrying misting fans, too. For DH and me, I bought the small ones with a clip (to clip to the backpack) instead of a string for your neck. I bought the big ones with strings for DDs. This trip they will be carrying something too.

 

[bctripp]

I've done it both ways... 3 trips with one and 1 trip without. To me, it depends on how much water, snacks, cameras, sunscreen and other stuff you want to carry. I spent more money on the trip we did not have it, but it felt so good to be free! I'd carry only what was absolutely necessary to have. I have one of those Jansport backpacks with the one strap that's like a messenger bag, it loops over your chest, but I also have a heavy duty regular backpack with the rubber reinforced bottom (black) that I bought in college for those heavy books. We've always used it but hubby carries it, he's in great shape and was used to carrying a lot heavier stuff, he was in the army, got out a few years ago.

 

[BlueJeansGirl]

bctripp - We did the same thing. We always spend more money when we don't have the backpack. If you carry the bandaids & extra batteries with you, you won't need them, but when you don't have them....

It is nice to be free of the bag, though. It was really nice after my youngest was potty trained & no more diapers & wipees to carry around...the older they get, the less you really need.

 

[DisneyArk]

Yep; we always carry a backpack (Timberland brand). I carry the wallet, ponchos (4), sunscreen, lip balm/chapstick, Tylenol, bandaids/moleskin, wipes, hand sanitizer, bottled water, and autograph books. I would never be able to fit it all in a fanny pack and I feel that I need all of these at the parks.

We also carry one and put those things in it. Plus our necks get hot and we take off the camera and the lanyards (with pins) and put them in the backpack from time to time. Plus the backpack is great to put souvenirs in. My kids always get tired of carrying things, plus we don't want them to leave them behind at restaurants and on rides.

Ours has an outside pocket where we put the autograph books so we can quickly get them out without digging through everything else.

Also, a few days we bring the video camera into the parks and carry that in the backpack.

BTW - when we went in Nov 2003 the weather was cool in the mornings and evenings (hot during the day). So we started out with windbreakers and then put them into the backpack during the day.

 

[nascarcheshirecat]

we just got a fantastic waist pack with a little support from LL Bean....DH picked it out and we can both use it..
it also converts to a shoulder strap pack...
they had an excellent selection...
and it holds soooooo much

 

[pepe of ohio]

In all our visits to WDW, even when the kids were small, we try to minamize our park carry stuff to nothing. The less we haul, the happier we are. To this day, kids are grown and married, wife carrys a small hip bag, sometimes and I also carry a small hil tpye bag, occasionally. Me, I usually just have a very small digital camera bag that holds the camera, 2 batteries and my resort ID. Thats it, no bottled water, we make do with what the fountains provide, no snacks, we eat before, there, or after. We're just a resort away from the parks, can survive for awhile with just the shirts on our backs and if its really necessary, we'll buy what we're missing. In the Florida sun, doing alot of walking, a backpack digging into your shoulders in not our idea of fun and most of the stuff people carry around in them, never gets used, its just habit or being prepared but we're not out in the wild, we're in Disneyworld.

 

[ainmama2001]

Yep. We have our Disney backpack and we use it EVERY trip.

 

[mking624]

No backpack for us...too annoying to have that with us...especially when it's hot and something big is pressing up against your back not allowing your skin to breathe...no thanks.

We carry a hip bag (not quite a fanny pack). On the side of it, it was a spot of a water bottle and insidee is plenty of room for our wallet, park maps, camera, extra batteries, sunblock, and few other little essentials. It's about 5 1/2" by 8 1/2" and it's depth is about 2 inches. Since we do room delivery for items we buy, we don't have to worry about carrying those in our bag.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I used to have a fanny pack but a few years ago we bought a Disney bag, large style, and DH and I take turns carrying it. We can fit so much stuff in there.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I wear cargo shorts. I refuse to carry anything that doesn't fit in the pockets. I have a very small cellphone, a very small camera, and a small vinyl envelope to carry tickets and money. On days it may rain, I carry a tiny disposable poncho. On chilly mornings, I may wear a light sweater, and tie it around my waist when I don't need it anymore. I buy water when I need it (not worth the small savings to carry it around with me, IMO). I put my sunglasses on a strap thingy. I move very quickly through the park, and avoid security checks. It is SO liberating to not have anything in my hands or hanging from my shoulders!

 

[shoppingbou]

Last August, I carried a purse that had a strap that goes across my body. The strap was kinda annoying...

For this September's trip, I bought a fanny pack... Yes, call me dorky! Disney is they ONLY place I'm going to wear it, tough!

 

[poohbear919]

We too take a backpack - though sometimes it feels cumbersome, it has really been quite handy! (Mainly though this upcoming trip it will spend much of its time on the stoller we'll get for my 5 year old cousin!) We always pack sweatshirts and ponchos, plus the digital cameras, MYW cards, sunglasses, $$, etc... It's easy to have all of that in one place. We use the LL Bean Trail Pack, it's large enough to hold sweatshirts for the 4 adult members of our group with plenty of room to spare, and it has two side compartments to carry refillable water bottles for my aunt and me! (This bag is also my airline carry-on!)

One recommendation that I'd make would be to have souvenirs that you might by sent to your resort, especially if they're larger and you don't want to have to haul them around all day! (It's a totally convenient option offered to WDW Resort guests! )