Things you've regretted bringing or NOT bringing to the parks!!

[djm99]

Name something you regret bringing to the parks, or something you regret NOT bringing to the parks.

Last year I regretted not bringing my stroller from home. I wasn't too sure that I would use it last year, but ended up renting everyday in the parks. That was a total waste of money considering I had a nice one at home. My DD will be 4 this month and we'll be returning this summer, and I will be bringing my stroller from home.

I read on this board a thousand times ponchos, but forgot them - huge mistake - I spent almost $30 for ponchos at the parks.

What I regret bringing was my cooler. It was the collapsible kind, but it was just in the way - and we ended up pitching it our first day in the parks. I'm going to buy a much smaller one this time. Maybe freeze the drinks overnight so they will keep cool, by midday.

I also regret bringing those useless walkie talkies. I heard too many other conversations, but couldn't hear my own!!!!

 

[superdiz]

My boyfriend and I don't have children so I regretted bringing my videocamera! It was just an extra thing to carry. Since what exactly do you tape if you're not taping each other or a few things here and there? One thing I loved having though was my brita water bottle. We saved mucho bucks on drinks last trip due to that! And the water in the parks was actually GOOD.

 

[MELSMICE]

I hate to walk around with a lot of things in the parks. We have soooooooooooo many yellow rain ponchos, but I really hate to carry them "in case of rain".

I also think the walkie talkies are a waste. It's much easier to use cell phones & hear your own conversation instead of everyone elses. I think that's about the only thing we've ever taken in that was useless.

We really like to travel light in the parks. Instead of a cooler, why not get individual insulated bottler holders with straps so they can each carry them? I found mine at Wal-Mart.

 

[liznboys]

One thing we were SO glad we brought with us was our own water!!!! We bought a case of bottled water from Costco that we kept in our van during the trip. We'd grab a few before heading into the parks, and it was so convenient!! So many times we said to each other, boy wasn't this a great idea?!?! Especially when we'd see people paying an arm and a leg for a bottle of water in the parks!!! Saves a ton of money.

 

[liznboys]

Oh I forgot to say that what we regretted NOT bringing was ponchos!!! So we paid for the yellow mickey ponchos on the one rainy day we had... Next time we go, if there is any chance of rain in the forecast, I'm carrying the ponchos along with us!!

 

[Minnie Mare]

I regretted bringing the spray bottle fans. Rather than use them for their intended purpose, they soon became weapons in the many spray wars. I ended up taking the fans off the bottles and I had to carry the bottles in my bag all day. Spray Bottle Fans = Stess

I was so glad to have a case of water with us. A friend bought the water for us at Costco and dropped it off at our resort. We kept the case in our room and brought the water to the parks with us. It was summer, so we drank lot's and it saved a ton of money.

 

[Mad4Dizne]

We are so!!!!!! happy we bought two cases of water and brought a water bottle or two with us everywhere we went. I'm sorry that I packed way too much stuff in our backpacks...next time we will really streamline what we carry into the parks.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I am sure that Delswife regrets bringing her sister in law.
For those that don't know about this, read the Delswife trip reports.

Love ya, mean it!

 

[DeDixie]

Ok, here was my biggest mistake. My DH and I split with us each taking a DD, unfortunatley I didn't have any cash. I wasn't worried as I charge everything to the room----BUT my DD wanted Ice Cream in MGM and we were too early for any of the counter places to be open, the cart vendors don't take the cards -- then things got worse as I need a, well, um, ladies shall we say I need .50 for the ladies room. I had NO MONEY!!

From now on I plan to carry a $10 bill and a $1 bill, just in case.

Things worked out as we ended up running into my DH and his money - LOL. Couldn't believe we saw them as we had no plans to meet up until back at the hotel later.

I too dont carry anything I don't need with me, but a little cash will not be hard to do!

 

[Mr.BsMom]

I know everyone has said this over and over before... but the things I regret NOT bringing were the ponchos!! Last summer, it rained on us at some point EVERY DAY, and the one day I told DH "no, I don't think we need them today".... It POURED!!! We were soaked and from then on vowed to always always always put them in the backpack - no matter what!

BTW... I love the ideas about bringing cases of bottled water from home! I hadn't even thought of that, but I'll definitely put that on my list of things to buy for our next trip! Thanks!

 

[ktglads]

My first trip with the video camera, I totally regretted not bringing an extra battery. The one in the camera would die before dinner so I got to carry around a useless camera for hours. Now I bought a much lighter one that uses batteries that last much longer and if worst comes to worst I can get gouged at the gift shops to buy AAs.

One thing I never regret carrying is a travel size deodorant. I don't care who you are, but during the summer, everyone needs to reapply!

 

[Blueberry]

I have to say the fans with spray bottles..what a waste of money they were. We carried them into the parks one day on our last summer trip and never took them back..We thought they only made it seem hotter, for then you were hot and sticky wet from the water...

 

[disneyjunkie]

I regretted taking a bunch of snacks into the parks. I was thinking the snacks would be a way to save some money. However, my son nor I wanted to eat them. Who wants granola bars, juice boxes,and fruit cups, from home when you can have Mickey ice cream bars,beaver tails, dole whips,and popcorn???

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

I bought the same lollipops you get in the parks at the Disney Store on sale for $.49 and used them as treats for the kids.

Love those autograph books and fat pens. The characters make my DD5s day. We all split up at one point and DD FREAKED because her dad had her book and we ran into goofy. Wasnt pretty.

Was greatful I brought light jackets for the kids as it got chilly at night in Nov.

I read another great idea for what to bring for young kids to the parks--Bring your portable DVD player and keep it in a locker till dinner time. It will keep them occupied during dinner (obviously goes off when the food comes) so you can relax and have adult conversation without having to chase little Johnny all over Morrocco. I havent tried it but it sounds good to me. Now all I need is a portable DVD player...

Dont regret anything I HAVE brought since we pack light--dont like those "whose gonna carry the backpack" fights.

 

[jellydisney]

I regret not bringing:

Bandaids!! Whenever I DON'T have them is when I need them. Also, there's usually at least 1 person per trip who needs a bandaid for a splinter/sliver/scraped knee/blister.

A bottle of water: it's like $2-3 to buy a bottle of water in the park and it seems like drinking fountains are few and far between.

An umbrella: the obvious... I've been to WDW 50 times, and it has rained at least once every time I've gone. I really need to buy an itty bitty umbrella for my bag bc I hate wearing ponchos.

Napkins: along the same lines as bandaids, you will always need them when you don't have them.

Sunblock: Mid-day, you can just feel yourself burning


I regret bringing:

Jean shorts: that is, I regret WEARING them. Denim does not dry, ever. Not good for going on Kali River Rapids or Splash Mt.

My entire wallet: why do need every credit card, bank card, checkbook, and disney dollar that I own with me? Who knows...

 

[djm99]

Originally posted by Blueberry
I have to say the fans with spray bottles..what a waste of money they were. We carried them into the parks one day on our last summer trip and never took them back..We thought they only made it seem hotter, for then you were hot and sticky wet from the water...

I forgot about that one. I spent about $8 a piece (I got 4). 2 of the bottles were broken (from being stuffed in one of back packs.) They were a total waste of money and space. Last August when we went to Orlando - it was only 70-something degrees in August. It was the week of the Hurricane and the New York City Black out. Orlando was considered almost "cold" to the locals. I did not use those spray bottles one time. I wish I had that $32 right now for disney dollars or meal vouchers for my trip this summer. What puts the icing on the cake - In October or November of last year I was at my Walmart and guess what was on clearance for $1. You guess it - those dog on spray bottles. I had to buy 3. Another $3 I could use right now.

Have a wonderful Disney Day!!!!!

 

[luvdisney81]

After visiting Disney over 40 times I've learned to essentials. A video camera is great to a point. If you have kids, yes it's good. I go with my friends, we are around 20-25, and its fun to watch when we get home but keeping up with batteries, storing during rides and the extra weight is rarely worth it to me.

Ponchos a must! 80 cents for them at Walmart hunting section. They are indivdually wrapped and about 4"x4" and 1/2" thick. When it stops raining, you can toss them and not feel guilty. Wet ponchos are not fun to carry.

I take sandwichs consisting of bread, meat and cheese. The fast food places that serve burgers have open condiment tables full of veggies, mustards and mayo, just take the bread off and build the best sandwich! FREE! And freeze water the night before, it will stay cool till midday and the water in all fountains at disney is cold, filtered and good. Just refill FREE!

And finally, for your day at AK, take an extra pair of socks, blisters after the Rapids can happen especially in the warm seasons. Or wait to go on that ride last. Oooh and a waterproof backpack is worth it.

 

[luvdisney81]

One more thing, in May I bought one of there mini portable fans, on a laynard. 6$ and worth it. They come with batteries and much cheaper than the spray ones. People who have the spray ones, including Cast Members will spray you for fun! The blades are flexible to for small kids safety. They are about 4" big.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

When we went in August, I was SO thankful for those spray fans! They had lanyards so the kids could carry them. Not only did they help cool us off, but the kids also loved using them as a fun drinking bottle (spraying into their mouths). They probably drank more than they would have otherwise, and it was a fantastic diversion while standing in line. They were very good about keeping the spray away from others in line - although we had several people asking us to spray them! Of course, the sunblock was a godsend, as was chapstick.

I do regret purchasing - and wearing - the massive, expensive fanny pack from Eastern Mountain Sports. It had a huge center carrying compartment divided into one large and 2 small sections, flanked by a water-bottle holder on each side. The thing stretched from hip to hip! I'd stuffed that thing with everyone's ponchos, first aid kit, 2 cameras, and enough snacks to feed Napoleon's army (another regret - we hardly touched any of the suitcase full of snacks that I'd lugged from NY). The worst of it was that I'd put ice in the water bottles in the morning, and as it melted, the condensation soaked through the fanny pack and onto my shorts - creating 2 spreading circles of visible dampness on the legs of my shorts. The crowning glory? The kids decided that the water from the fountains tasted fine, and didn't even use the water bottles. Ack!

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Originally posted by MickeyMonstersMom
I do regret purchasing - and wearing - the massive, expensive fanny pack from Eastern Mountain Sports. It had a huge center carrying compartment divided into one large and 2 small sections, flanked by a water-bottle holder on each side. The worst of it was that I'd put ice in the water bottles in the morning, and as it melted, the condensation soaked through the fanny pack and onto my shorts - creating 2 spreading circles of visible dampness on the legs of my shorts. The crowning glory? The kids decided that the water from the fountains tasted fine, and didn't even use the water bottles. Ack!

The interesting thing is that your kids found the little best kept secret that most of us in Florida already know. That is, the water at WDW is fine for all to drink. The drinking water at WDW is good for all of us to drink. It is good that your kids don't listen to those who don't like the water and say that it is undrinkable.