Tips for bag search

[dawnhaze]

what time of year do you actually need sweatshirts at Disney?

Most of my trips are in October or January and a sweatshirt comes in handy for some evenings and early mornings. But I bring one any time of the year because I freeze on the buses and in certain cold restaurants, theaters, and shops. The outdoor-hot to indoor-cold transition is uncomfortable for me.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

They always asked us to remove things from the stroller. It was years ago, but I still see people unpacking the stroller. We miss our pack-mule - I mean, stroller You will have to remove things from the stroller to get on transportation as well, so packing as light as possible is a good plan. If you will return to the resort for a break during the day, then you can save some of your stuff for later and not carry it all now
These are the things I have done to down-size my family's stuff since we don't have a stroller to haul it all: small camera only for personal shots (I don't need a photo of everything and if I did then I would spend too much time snapping and not enough enjoying - YMMV), filtering water bottles so we can refill in the park and carry less, all-natural sunscreen so we can all share one, no misting fan - it doesn't help much in the humidity anyway but buying a frozen lemonade and sitting in the shade to cool-off does, no extra clothes - no wet rides unless we are happy being wet or going back to the room soon, jackets or layers worn around people's waist rather than all carried together, calorie dense snacks so that we carry less weight and volume of snacks, even when kids were small they had a small waist pack with their own snacks.
The first few times we went with small children, we had everything we might need - unloading and reloading the stroller was misery! We decided that we didn't need everything possible since we were in WDW and could buy almost everything we might need - so only carried what we knew we would need.
Obviously what worked for us may not work for you, but we found that we didn't have to carry as much because: we were returning to the resort anyway, we were going to buy the fun Disney snack anyway, and Mom didn't have to carry everything or organize it all. Because I did not keep track of it all, we (child) did lose (left in restroom and disappeared) one clothing item total during our more than once a year trip since our two children were 3mo.s and 2 yr.s I did not like losing the layer, but if that's all we ever lost during more than a dozen trips where I didn't have to carry and organize it all - the trade-off was worth it. That's my mom-to-mom advice FWIW.

 

[stellao]

Just got back last week and bag check went smoothly every time we went through. I was worried about it before hand but it really ended up being such a non issue. We never waited more than a few minutes for our turn and we had a back pack, my cross body purse, a tote bag with random things that we were intending to always leave in the stroller and the cooler bag that was attached to the stroller. We had everything unzipped before we got up there, and anything random that would've just been thrown in the stroller basket was thrown in the tote bag. Never took long to get through with it. The key is to just be prepared before you get up to the security guards.

 

[LilyWDW]

what time of year do you actually need sweatshirts at Disney?

I need one in October during the early mornings!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

what time of year do you actually need sweatshirts at Disney?

We needed them during 2 of our 3 October trips. We've also worn sweatshirts and jeans during December and January non-Disney trips to Florida. It's not always warm there!

...You will have to remove things from the stroller to get on transportation as well, so packing as light as possible is a good plan. ...

We've never had to remove stuff from our stroller to fold it. We've always rented Citi Minis, though, so maybe they're specially designed or something. We through the changes of clothes in the bottom of the stroller, and since all the clothing is packed in Ziplock bags with the air squeezed out, it all goes in fairly flat. Snacks go in the little soft-sided cooler that the rental places attach to the stroller. We carry frozen water bottles and then throw them in the seat-back pockets once we're off transportation. Everything else (phone, camera, small "necessities" kit (wipes, Shout wipes, a few bandaids, and liquid bandages) that I throw together in a quart baggie, and pressed penny supplies) goes into my small backpack. I'd say we get through bag check in an average of about 30 seconds, and we've never had to unload the stroller, either to get onto transportation or because we've been asked to by a guard.

 

[nkereina]

what time of year do you actually need sweatshirts at Disney?

We needed them in November. I'd say October-May, when the sun goes down, there could be a chance you'll need a sweatshirt.

 

[fla4fun]

Security doesn't ask you to remove items from your bag. They just check inside all compartments so all openings (zippers, snaps, etc.) must be open. Not sure about strollers; we always avoid standing behind stroller people at bag check.

I have been asked to remove my nylon poncho in a large Ziploc baggie from my crossbody bag because they couldn't see under it. No problem, since that was the only thing in the bag - but it has happened. Probably depends on how busy bag check is.

 

[bocaj1431]

I had one of those see through book bags with only a zipper for the main compartment and they still checked inside. So I would think there might be a chance they check your ziplock bag.

 

[Belle'sFan]

There's nothing as good as going bag less! Walk right through while everyone else is waiting in line- such freedom! We were able to do this a few days of our trip. With the magic band to use for purchases, didn't need anything else. Forget the cell phone - I'm on vacation. Forget the camera- have enough pictures by the end of the trip. Most days we took an afternoon break at the resort- how much stuff do you need to get to the afternoon? Nothing. It's not like you're going to the Outback. LOL

 

[North of Mouse]

what time of year do you actually need sweatshirts at Disney?

Well, where shall I start??

Dec. 2010 - nearly froze - ice on boat docks - 28* - 45* with wind - high!

Jan & Feb. two different trips - not freezing, but very cold.

Early April - two trips - windy, cold - needed sweat shirts parts of days.

It might be deep south, but it still gets cold!!! I'm from south Louisiana and it's only a little colder there. Every year is different, as with anywhere else.

As for bag check - totally depends on who you get - some have basically waved me through after just glancing at my 4 unzipped compartments - one had me take my very 'tiny' camera out of the camera bag and he looked it over like it might conceal an explosive. You never know!

 

[disnut8]

There's nothing as good as going bag less! Walk right through while everyone else is waiting in line- such freedom! We were able to do this a few days of our trip. With the magic band to use for purchases, didn't need anything else. Forget the cell phone - I'm on vacation. Forget the camera- have enough pictures by the end of the trip. Most days we took an afternoon break at the resort- how much stuff do you need to get to the afternoon? Nothing. It's not like you're going to the Outback. LOL

But the OP is going with her family and while I don't know the ages of the kids, you do have to be prepared for contingencies so bagless is not going to happen for this family.

And you might reconsider leaving your cell phone in your room unless you don't care to change your FastPass + times during the day.

 

[LilyWDW]

But the OP is going with her family and while I don't know the ages of the kids, you do have to be prepared for contingencies so bagless is not going to happen for this family.

And you might reconsider leaving your cell phone in your room unless you don't care to change your FastPass + times during the day.

And even with Magic Band you should always carry ID and another form of payment just to be on the safe side.

Heck you should always carry ID no matter WHERE you are going!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Security may ask you to take them out of the backpack so they can see into it more. that's what they did when I had a hoodie in my backpack.

Another tip is see if you can find a backpack that is a lighter color inside instead of the normal black. It's easier for security to see into it.

I also put my small stuff into ziplock bags just to make it easier for me. And I always put my spray sunscreen in a ziplock bag so if it leaks (it happened to me once) it doesn't mess up any jackets or sweaters inside the backpack.

And grab a few plastic grocery bags to toss in. Much easier to keep wet ponchos in then fighting to fold them and stuff them into a ziploc bag when you are done with them.

Have a great time!