Rolling backpacks

[LisaR]

Are rolling backpacks allowed in the parks. I thought I read awhile back that someone was told they couldn't use one. I wonder why? They are certainly smaller then a stroller.

Lisa

 

[MinnieGi]

I saw several people rolling along their backpacs when we were there in Oct.

 

[markºoº]

I saw a few people with rolling backpacks in October. I also saw a older woman go through security right in front of me with one of those little metal shopping carts full of stuff! Not a word was said to her.

I would have a few concerns with rolling backpacks.
1. They are big-can you get it on most rides?
2. Easy to leave behind-let go of it to pull out and look at a map with both hands and you could easily just start walking away and forget it.
3. You always have to have one hand tied up pulling the thing. With a regular backpack you always have both hands free.

I would go with a regular backpack unless you have back problems (I can't imagine pulling a backpack would be very good in that case either).

 

[CarolMN]

Anything that rolls behind you is a safety hazard. Much better to push it in front of you so you can see it (like a stroller), That is why wagons are not permitted.

I'm quite certain that rolling backpacks are not permitted. The fact that some have escaped notice is more a reflection on the inconsistency of the CMs than proof that they are allowed.

My advice is twofold: First, if taking a rolling backpack is important to you, email Disney and ask them. If they say yes, you can print a copy of the response and take it with you. In the end, Disney is the only one who can say yes or no.

Second - Do you really need to bring enough stuff with you that you can't carry it and you need to wheel it around? I know kids can need a lot of stuff (assuming you aren't asking for a party of adults), but do you absolutely need to have it all with you all the time? How about storing some of what you just can't imagine doing without in a locker?

Best wishes - Enjoy your trip!

 

[shoes99]

When I was at last year's Disneyana Convention at WDW we were told that rolling backpacks or rolling suitcases or rolling wagons were not allowed if they were pulled behind you. This causes a dangerous situation for other guests. Some of the guests with large pin bags just rented strollers for the day or left their rolling bags in the car or hotel room.

 

[LisaR]

Between sweatshirts, umbrellas, camera, frozen water bottles, food for my son with severe food allergies and a few small misc things like bandaids, epipens, etc. the backpack gets cumbersome. Granted, if it is cool out, we are wearing the sweatshirts. I don't like storing things in a locker because someone always needs something when we are the furthest away from them. The one rolling backpack I have is a normal size backpack. I would carry it most of the time but it would be great if I could push it when I wanted to. I emailed Disney like someone suggested. I hope I will hear back from them before we leave Tuesday.

I really don't see how a rolling backpack that is pushed would be more of a hazard then some of those gigantic strollers some people bring.

Lisa

 

[Kaycee]

Just my two cents worth...

I have a rolling backpack for school, and when you mentioned taking one to WDW, I cringed. Mine is also the size of a regular backpack, but the frame that allows it to roll makes it very awkward in a crowd. Plus, I don't know if you've ever actually tried carrying one of these around, but the frame makes it much more uncomfortable than a backpack.

Disney has rules against things that you have to pull behind you for a reason. Having lugged one around for months, I can attest to the fact that they are a safety hazard in the wrong situation, namely a crowded area. As far as pushing it in front of you, believe me I've tried, and it just doesn't work. It would take you forever to get anywhere, the thing is just not made to push.

If you do decide to try to take your rolling backpack to WDW, please let me know when you'll be there. Avoiding strollers is enough of a challenge for me!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Kaycee
Just my two cents worth...

I have a rolling backpack for school, and when you mentioned taking one to WDW, I cringed. Mine is also the size of a regular backpack, but the frame that allows it to roll makes it very awkward in a crowd. Plus, I don't know if you've ever actually tried carrying one of these around, but the frame makes it much more uncomfortable than a backpack.

Disney has rules against things that you have to pull behind you for a reason. Having lugged one around for months, I can attest to the fact that they are a safety hazard in the wrong situation, namely a crowded area. As far as pushing it in front of you, believe me I've tried, and it just doesn't work. It would take you forever to get anywhere, the thing is just not made to push.

If you do decide to try to take your rolling backpack to WDW, please let me know when you'll be there. Avoiding strollers is enough of a challenge for me!

Thank you!!!! You said it beautifully. How ever did people manage before these things came out?

 

[slp87]

I'm not sure the exact reasoning, or if it's even official, but I've always heard you can have something that pulls behind you and that's why they don't rent or allow wagons.

 

[Poohbear123]

A few weeks ago, and I think for me, it will not work, as it would throw my Back OUT! When my GD is one next year, I am taking her to WDW and renting or bringing a Stroller!

 

[WhispyPixie]

As for my thoughts on the matter as a person that just returned from WDW. Please, please try to avoid using them! I do not know the 'official' WDW ruling but after 8 days of touring and having children fall over them, adults tripping over them and mostly people just STOPPING in front of you with them, I find them a great hazard. (yes, I KNOW that people wth strollers stop in front of you as well), after a busy week at WDW, I feel confident that all people should have to attend a "How To Walk In WDW Training" Video BEFORE they are set lose in the park.

I saw many of these types of packs on the parks this past week and did over hear security tell a man that he needed to make sure he was carrying his pack. We had atleast 1 encounter (negative) each day with these things! I would so rather the peopl would have pushed an empty umbrella stroller with stuff in it, strollers are pushed and you can see the adult when they stop in front of you and you dont have to stop 3 feet behind them!

Pixie

 

[SueM in MN]

My daughter is disabled and uses a computer for communication. We thought we had found the perfect thing to carry it thru the airport with - a rolling backpack. Well, the are not a stable as most wheeled luggage is, so it kept getting off balance on the wheels and falling over (which meant a quick stop). It sometimes rolled too fast and hit the puller in the back of the legs. It sometimes got held up and would roll slowly or not at all. The handle on the one we had was too short and after pulling it for a while, it hurt your back from leaning. We tried pushing it, it pushed very poorly. We tried putting it on our backs, as someone else mentioned, the frame made it very uncomfortable.
We thought maybe it was just the design of that rolling backpack and we bought a differnt one for sending her computer back and forth to school. After 2 days, they asked us not to send that backpack any more because they had the same probelms we did.
So, i would not suggest taking one to WDW.

 

[diane1102]

My 2 cents.... I think a rolling backpack is more dangerous than a stroller because the backpack is closer to the ground. If I'm walking in a crowd, I'm looking up ahead of me, not down on the ground. It's easier to see a thigh-high stroller than a ankle-high backpack.

As long as I'm on a roll, I have an opinion on backpacks. I was in Hershey Park last summer and there was a woman with a large backpack, it looked like she was taking a 3-day back-woods hike!!! She was walking in a crowd and then turned around suddenly and knocked over 3 kids! She didn't even realize she'd done it.

So please, when you are packing up for the day, please be considerate!
Thanks!