To stroll, or not to stroll... with a 6 year old

[707MickeyGirl]

I am nervous...mostly for me because I love to pack extra snacks, wipes, water, sweaters, caps, etc. I will feel naked leaving the hotel room with just a purse and the clothes on my back!

You'll still needs snacks, wipes, water, sweaters, etc. which requires more than a purse - so who's carrying the backpack? In my case, that will be me, since it's just the two of us. I don't think I can expect my DGD6 to carry much. I don't really enjoy wearing a backpack all day but I know that I'll eventually have to. I can't go anywhere without my S'well water bottle (and hers) and I have to have wipes, snacks, etc. too. If I do decide to go sans stroller, I'll wear a small Harveys Disney Couture crossbody for my wallet, camera, phone, hand sanitizer, lip balm, and wear a backpack for the rest of the "stuff" that I can't seem to live without. I'll try to get her to wear a small backpack as well but it might not be worth it since I'll be helping her put it on/off for all of the rides.

 

[SFMommy]

You'll still needs snacks, wipes, water, sweaters, etc. which requires more than a purse - so who's carrying the backpack? In my case, that will be me, since it's just the two of us. I don't think I can expect my DGD6 to carry much. I don't really enjoy wearing a backpack all day but I know that I'll eventually have to. I can't go anywhere without my S'well water bottle (and hers) and I have to have wipes, snacks, etc. too. If I do decide to go sans stroller, I'll wear a small Harveys Disney Couture crossbody for my wallet, camera, phone, hand sanitizer, lip balm, and wear a backpack for the rest of the "stuff" that I can't seem to live without. I'll try to get her to wear a small backpack as well but it might not be worth it since I'll be helping her put it on/off for all of the rides.

I really hate carrying a heavy backpack and I'm usually the one who ends up wearing it. I just ordered this cross-body bag/purse from Baggallini...

http://baggallini.com/product/Everywhere-Bagg-Closeout/Baggallini-Sale-Handbags

I am hoping that I can fit wipes, sunscreen, hand sanitzier, bandaids/mole skin and snacks. We will get water in the parks as needed. And if it gets warm, we'll just carry our sweaters or put them in a locker. I'm just going to downsize what I bring in, which should be easier now that DD8 is older too.

 

[707MickeyGirl]

I just ordered this cross-body bag/purse from Baggallini...

http://baggallini.com/product/Everywhere-Bagg-Closeout/Baggallini-Sale-Handbags

I am hoping that I can fit wipes, sunscreen, hand sanitzier, bandaids/mole skin and snacks. We will get water in the parks as needed. And if it gets warm, we'll just carry our sweaters or put them in a locker. I'm just going to downsize what I bring in, which should be easier now that DD8 is older too.

Oh that will definitely fit everything on your list. I've been using a smaller Baggallini and it held all of those things, but I've just replaced it because the fabric that it was made of is kind of rough, and after wearing it all day/night I found that it was causing "pilling" on my cotton shirts - you can definitely see a diagonal "pilled" stripe down the front and back of a few of them where the strap rubbed. I literally wore that bag all day and night because it was small enough that I didn't need to remove it for rides.

They make great bags - I have that one small crossbody, and a mid-size crossbody backpack that was also recommended. I was unadventurous and chose black for both bags, which I kind of regretted later since they have some great colors.

I like to spoil my DGD6 when we go to DLR so we always end up with some new swag - a Duffy bear, an Animators doll, stuff like that - and she likes to have these things with her in the parks so I let her. I could do a better job of downsizing, but I just love to see her happy, beaming face and if I made her leave everything in the hotel, it would take away some of that precious, short-lived magic. She'll outgrow those things soon enough - I learned that with my own kids, so I try to savor every moment with her.

 

[corinne76]

I'm pro stroller as well. We're planning to go next year and my kids will be 4 and 7. I may buy a cheap double off Craigslist or something and leave it up to my older one if she wants to walk or not. Most times, she walks. but for those crowded times (like trying to leave after the fireworks-yikes) I'd like to be able to have her sit so I dont have to worry about her accidently letting go my hand and getting separated in the crowd