Question: Do you do backpacks at WDW?

[Meliechick]

We carry Camelbaks. They are backpaks that have a bladder for carrying water with a tube to drink out of and pockets for other things. We fill them with ice and water (mostly ice) before we leave the hotel. My DH and I each take our own. The cold pack feels good on your back and we each have enough water for the day. They come in all sizes so each kid depending on age could be in charge our their own water and have a drink when ever they wanted. You can get Camelpaks at sporting good stores. We have been taking them for years now.

 

[chamonix]

I'm with notursula on this one. TRAVEL LIGHT! You won't regret it. Never ever ever would I carry a backpack. I love walking right past the bag checks, and I will never be able to leave it behind, drop it on someone, or bump into someone with it, etc.

Everything I bring fits in my pockets. $$, tix, ID, tiny cell phone and camera. Buy water when I want it. Get bandaids from First Aid. (aspirin too) For those who are trying to cut costs, backpacks make sense to bring in water, snacks, whatever, but we manage fine without.

 

[Step]

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).

$3 a bottle in the park vs $8 for 24 bottles (online grocery store) seems to be a bit of a price difference IMO. lol.

 

[kvogel11202]

it makes all the difference when travelling with 3 kids and a DH. Each child has a wallet, basic first aid, and the pins, they certainly start to get heavy for the little ones necks. If course now Disney sells small cases they can carry like a messenger bag, we'll be using those next trip!

 

[vsimeone]

I just bought this bag about a month ago and am anxious to use it on our trip in a couple weeks. The strap on this one goes across your body and has a nice shoulder pad.

I used it at a Champ Car race to see what I could fit in it and how heavy it would be. I think it will be perfect! At least I am sure hoping so!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[poohbear25]

Backpacks for us do work. My Dad would carry one and then we'd put stuff in it like autograph books, pen, camera, snack , drinks, etc. My Mom would also wear a fannt pack.

 

[DemonLlama]

Another backpack family here. Keep the video camera, autograph book, and often the resort mugs in a baggie at the bottom so we can fill them up on the way back in without having to return to the room.

Wouldn't be WDW without ours!

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

Not since they started searching every carry in item...to much of a waste of time standing in line...we just carry a water on a lanyard and off we go

 

[akalittleeva]

I say fanny pack...I would not wear one anywhere but Disney! We are not a fanny pack family either, but at WDW nobody cares and if anyone does, too bad. I have taken a backpack on other trips (elsewhere) we have taken and always find them cumbersome and end up taking more that I need. I just bought 4 fanny packs for each of us (dh, ds10, dd8 and me) - they are big enough for the kids to carry their autograph books,pens and ponchos, but not too big. Between the 4 of us, we will be able to carry all we need for the day, have our hands free and not have to worry about leaving the backpack behind somewhere.

 

[littleelvis]

When we went in Feb we carried a back pack too, and it worked out really great for us. We too had to bring sweatshirts for the morning/night plus it's nice to have a couple things handy (like water, or wetnaps). Ours wasn't full, and we traded off wearing it. I would do it the same every time worked out great for us!

 

[nuzmom]

I carry a clear plastic backpack. I keep autograph books, camera, pins, sunglasses/hats, disposable ponchos if the weather is calling for rain, etc. in it for our whole group of 5. We try to wear our hats/sunglasses, but sometimes the kids get tired of them or we don't want them on during a ride or a show. Overall, I don't overload the backpack because I take it on rides with me and I want to be able to quickly "stow it". Also, having a waterproof backpack is a must for us - I don't want the contents to get wet.

I don't carry water in it. Too heavy and the bottles sweat and/or leak and get my items wet. Yuck.

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

Over Christmas at wdw I carried a large backpack actually. A full size (school bag type) North Face backpack. It was very handy and I'll definitely take it again. If it gets too heavy you can always rent a locker.

 

[kabbie]

I just bought a backpack on wheels at Target for $18. I originally planned on just using it for the plane, but I am thinking of wheeling it around Disney. I usually have always carried a Jansport Backpack left over from my school days, but it's a pain to carry on my back.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

$3 a bottle in the park vs $8 for 24 bottles (online grocery store) seems to be a bit of a price difference IMO. lol.

I guess I was comparing it to the overall cost of a WDW vacation. I am willing to pay a certain amount for the convenience, such as taking a taxi from resort to resort in order to save time, and the like. Obviously, if one is tightly budgeting every aspect of their vacation, every $3 counts. But I'd rather spend the money for water (or use a snack credit or 2 from the DP), and be a LOT more comfortable. Everything's relative, I guess.

 

[babynurse1]

I bought a Mickey Mouse backpack several months ago before we knew for sure we were going to be able to afford WDW this year. I dubbed it my "leap of faith backpack". Well, it worked and you better believe Im bringing it! Ive always brought backpacks, even when we had little ones in diapers. I would throw all the diaper bag stuff in there.
Now I like a backpack because all the little souveniers that collect over the course of a day, maps and show schedules, and everything else tend to get handed to mom. I just stick them in my backpack and everybody takes a turn carrying it.

 

[LoveWDW]

We used a teardrop bag that my husband carried. I brought a fanny pack but didn't need it.

 

[jmskinner]

My husband carried a large backpack while I carried my purse backpack. He started commenting that it was getting too heavy. My backpack purse even started to get heavy, but I had also attached a 1qt water bottle to it. Finally, I bought a Mickey head clip that would attach to my purse and took the bottle holder off of my lanyard and used it to carry a smaller water bottle.

On the last night the DH's backpack found its way to a locker.

 

[TruBlu]

We carry a backpack everywhere! DH and I take turns with it because it gets very hot!

 

[emma'smom]

We didn't take a backpack last time and ended up spending 30 dollars to buy a Disney one. However, it was a nice size (relatively small, but held everything). We'll probably take that one next time as it fit easily in the stroller basket, but we could also carry it on rides and such without having to worry about leaaving valuables behind.

 

[ItGirl753]

At parks and hikes I use a small backpack that I bought in the "purse department" at Target, although it's not feminine. I keep my wallet etc, plus a few water bottles which DBF goes through very quickly so it lightens my load. I am always hot/cold so I wear a tank top during the day and put a t-shirt in the bag for evenings. I can also fit small souvenirs or the camera inside, although DBF usually carries his camera! I think a small backpack comes in handy.