Only real regret I have is that DD is now 10 and too big for a stroller...I LOVED having a convenient place to store everything!
Always bring into park:
moleskin and tiny scissors (if they have sharp points, jam in a wine cork!), and an emery board (if i get a chipped nail I'll chew it to death!)
Chewy granola bars and small packs of fruit snax/gummy snax (at least one of each per person per day...we still buy Dole whip and Mickey bars...no more Simba paws, sob!)
Camera- I hardly use it BUT you never know when Mulan will be right around the corner (hardly ever)- 10 y.o. is still a princess!
Water bottles- fill 1/2 full at night and freeze, then top up in morning. Juice pouches also freeze well. (actually, on trips in Jan these were almost unnecessary!) Yes, they are heavy in the backpack but this spurs the pack wearer into encouraging all to drink!
PONCHOS!!!PONCHOS!!!PONCHOS!!!
Film for the camera! $10/roll of 35mm in MK- OUCH! Yes, that's the voice of experience you are hearing!
Small zip fabric wallet (purchased in China in Epcot), just big enough for disney passes, credit card and a $20.
May-Oct, I pack change of clothes for DD; roll 'em up really tight in a ziplock and squeeze out the air; take up hardly any room, DD doesn't have to be soggy after Kali or those lovely surprise fountains in Epcot.
Folded up hand towel from hotel room (don't tell!) goes flat in bottom of backpack!
Individually wrapped wipes so I only have to carry a few at a time rather than a whole can.
Sunscreen- buy economy bottle at
WalMart and small 50cent toiletry bottles. Transfer over from large to small bottle nightly (or as needed) to cut down on carrying weight. Also bought stick sunscreen with clip to hook on to outside of my pack and DD's beltloops; doubles as chapstick and extra protection for nose and cheeks. Have found I can skip bottled sunscreen Nov-April.
Hats/visors with velcro adjustable back; easy to wear of loop thru backpack strap, beltloop.
Sounds like alot but it all fits into my backpack easily! It's enough to keep us comfortable and cover emergencies but spartan enough to be more than manageable. Now that DD is "big" she likes to carry her own mini-pack which is fine by me...fewer snacks and drinks for me to carry!
