Tell me about your backpacks please!

[monkey0816]

What do you bring into the parks in your backpack/bag? Do you put it in a locker or carry it with you at all times? Do you bring it on rides with you or leave it w/ your stroller (if you use one) or will people take it if you do that? Or, do you lock up your backpack/bag, but carry something smaller w/ the essentials in it (e.g. fanny pack) with you? What kind/size of backpack/bag do you bring? Our daughter will be 5 when we go next Oct and just trying to see what everyone has found works best to get some ideas. Thanks!

 

[hsembrick]

I always take my backpack with me and carry everything I might need in it!! Here is a list of some of the things I carry : (my kids are 9, 7, and 4)

-baby wipes-travel pack from wal-mart
-autograph books/pens
-camera
-sunscreen
-hand lotion
-hand sanitizer
-small bottles of bubbles
-first aid kit
-SNACKS-teddy grahams, fruit snacks, goldfish etc

I'm sure there is more in there but this is the list off the top of my head. I usually make sure it is light!!! I also take the backpack on all the rides with me! HAPPY PACKING!!!!

 

[CrazyaboutGoofy]

We bought a clear backpack (Walmart for about $10) and it makes going through security easy and the security guards love it. When we are on a ride, we bring our backpack with us. When we went to WDW last August, my mom had a small bag that she attached with a small bike lock to the bottom of her seat on her scooter. This bag had our mugs and rain ponchos and we did not carry it with us on the rides.

I always carry in my bag: hand wipes, Tide to Go pen, band aids, Motrin/Tylenol, gum, hard candy, camera/camcorder, camping towel (to dry off after a water ride. It is small and dries quickly), pens & autograph books, a few gallon Ziploc bags and I'm sure there are some other things I am forgetting.

About 2 years ago when we were at Cape May Cafe, another couple told us that someone took their diaper bag that was on their stroller while they were on a ride. Unfortunately, their camcorder was in the bag at the time.

 

[babyrich]

We have no kids, so no stroller. We carry the backpack with us all day, my DH and I take turns carrying the backpack. We fill it with:

camera
wet wipes
hand sanitizer
small travel lysol
pen
ponchos
sunscreen
small first aid kit or just bandaids

Thats all I can think of so far. Since we are carrying it we try not to load it up too much.

 

[lathamary]

We usually connect our water bottle to the backpack with a carabiner. We use a Katadyn filtered water bottle (to filter out the nasty taste of Orlando water) and it has a handy place to clip a carabiner.

 

[mickeylove2]

We bought a clear backpack (Walmart for about $10) and it makes going through security easy and the security guards love it. When we are on a ride, we bring our backpack with us. When we went to WDW last August, my mom had a small bag that she attached with a small bike lock to the bottom of her seat on her scooter. This bag had our mugs and rain ponchos and we did not carry it with us on the rides.

I always carry in my bag: hand wipes, Tide to Go pen, band aids, Motrin/Tylenol, gum, hard candy, camera/camcorder, camping towel (to dry off after a water ride. It is small and dries quickly), pens & autograph books, a few gallon Ziploc bags and I'm sure there are some other things I am forgetting.

About 2 years ago when we were at Cape May Cafe, another couple told us that someone took their diaper bag that was on their stroller while they were on a ride. Unfortunately, their camcorder was in the bag at the time.

When we went a few years ago, we had the clear backpack. It was great and the security personnel LOVED it! They just picked it up looked at it and we went right along, many of them thanked us for making their job easier.

Ours held our planning guide, baggies, snacks, wallets, camera, small towel, glow sticks, candy, small first aid kit, wipes, all kinds of stuff.

 

[poohfriend77]

Since no one has commented specifically on lockers yet, I thought I'd chime in. We only used lockers one day, when we were going to MK in early afternoon and staying late for MVMCP. We were expecting cooler weather for the evening, so we stashed long pants and sweatshirts, and changed after dinner (then stored our shorts). I guess it would also be handy to store a soft cooler with lunch/dinner, if you're going that route. I would NOT recommend using lockers to hold stuff you'll need frequently throughout the day. It's kind of a pain to get to them if you're at the back of the park and realize you need more sunscreen, extra camera battery, poncho, etc.

We were mostly stroller-free this trip, and I carried my backpack-style camera bag the whole time. Not a problem on any ride. For our first trip, we usually left diaper bag, jackets, etc. with the stroller and carried a smaller bag with camera, tickets, money with us when we parked it.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Backpacks? Backpacks?! We don't need no stinkin' backpacks!

One person carries:
Camera
extra batteries
sunscreen

Everyone carries their own (where applicable):
wallet
cellphone
KTTW card

My kids were 9 and 12 last trip.

 

[traveljunkie2]

On our trip we had a stroller, which made carrying more stuff easier. We ended up bringing in a backpack and a tote bag. The tote bag handles were slipped over the stroller handles, and the tote stayed with the stroller when we went on rides. We kept anything in it that we would not care if it was stolen. Including: gallon ziplock bag with different snacks, individual koolaid packets, bottles of water, park maps, blanket, extra clothes. It was freezing cold when we went, so by the afternoon we also had jackets crammed into the basket under the stroller.

We also carried a backpack. This held our necessities/valuables: camera, camcorders, sunscreen, chapstick, hand sanitizer (both liquid and wipes), wallet, keys. We slipped the backpack onto the stroller while we were walking, then brought it on all the rides we went on.

If you are bringing a stroller, don't forget to attach something to it that will allow you to identify it from a distance. We tied a hot pink bandana to the handle and it really came in handy trying to find our stroller in a sea of hundreds of strollers that get moved around from where you originally parked!

 

[tzolkin]

We like to use hydration backpacks. We always have cold water to drink (very handy in lines when the kids just want a sip or two) and we don't have to carry around a bunch of cups/bottles or worry about them spilling in the bag.

We use the backpack for sunblock, wipes (nice to have regardless of the kids' ages), hand sanitizer, batteries, glowsticks, medication, hats/sunglasses (if not being worn) and SNACKS. Before our youngest was potty trained we also brought diapers and and extra pair of shorts.

Last trip we lived in our ponchos (two straight weeks of rain), but I usually toss them and the stroller raincovers in a small bag in the stroller basket instead of the backpack.

After day two of our first trip, I always carry a fanny pack with everyone's park tickets, our rewards card/money, and the cameras.


Since we don't have anything of value in the backpack, it could be left in the stroller. However, DH usually just wears it all day anyway. The nice thing about most hydration backpacks is that they sit higher on your back, so they're more comfortable and can be worn while sitting (depending on how much stuff you have in there). Since it's filled with ice it's also cooler than a regular backpack.

 

[monkey0816]

Thanks, everyone, for all of the ideas and information!

 

[DisneyDoc5]

small vera bradley backpack with camara, sunscreen, ponchos, lipstick, santizing hand wipes, hand sanitizer, pocket for key to the world cards, credit card, etc. = washable after the trip is done!