What are some great things I should take into the parks?

[teresapg07]

Hello all! We are on our way to Disney at the end of March with two kids, a 12 yo girl and a 19 yo boy which will be in a wheelchair. I am planning on carrying a backpack and have one on the back of my son's wheelchair, but would like some ideas of what are some tried and true items that others have had that came in helpful. One will be for snacks for sure, but would like to have others ideas. Also I know there will be ALOT of walking so do they offer bigger (strollers) or carts for bigger kids???
Thanks for any and all advice and ideas!

 

[matheke]

The greatest thing you can take into the parks is a good attitude. That will get you through most anything.

Now for tangible items.
1. Foot powder. Stop every couple hours and take off your shoes and use.
2. Ponchos. Get the cheapest ones you can and throw them away when the trip is over.
3. Plastic ziplock bags. Put a couple of different sizes inside a gallon bag. The big ones come in handy if you have a reusable mug.

 

[PSUGuy]

When we plan on doing Splash Mtn. or Kali we take a hand towel to dry the seat before sitting and I pack a spare video cam battery always.

Bill From PA

 

[Hopefully]

I take a small pouch with some first aid things like band aids etc. I add Tyelonol as well. Small container of sunscreen. Ponchos depending on time of year. Face cloth for wiping face in high humidity days sunglasses and case. Always a small RFID safe wallet for AP, TIW card, DVC MEMBER card insurance card, ID & a $20.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Really you don't need anything but a camera/phone and your magic band. Maybe a cord to recharge. Sometimes ponchos. We only use them for Kali as you rarely get wet on Splash.
You can get tylenol and band-aids at the first aid centre.
If you're on the dining plan you don't need snacks as there is a ton of food already.

 

[Gracie09]

less is more. trust me.

 

[maxiesmom]

I am so not a member of the less is more brigade. Neither do I want to have to hike to first aid if I need a band-aid or advil. I carry that stuff with me in very small packages. I also have some pre-cut moleskin for my feet, in case my shoes decide to be not so comfortable after all. And sunscreen.

I also have to disagree with carrying cheap ponchos. I tried that one trip, and in anything but a very light rain they are useless. I'd rather bring along or buy a good poncho and re-use it if necessary.

 

[minnie mum]

I agree with Maxiesmom. You don't have to pack a huge duffel with everything included but the kitchen sink. But it's better to be prepared for common occurrences and needs.

Above all else, enough sunscreen for the whole party for the day. Even in cooler weather the sun can leave a nasty burn, and in hot weather you need to apply more frequently because you sweat it off. Ponchos for everyone - even the Disney ones fold up well, and they'll last. Add a grocery bag to store the ponchos in if/when they get wet. Hand sanitizer in case you can't get to a sink before eating anything. ID , credit card and cash. Sunglasses and hats for everybody, unless it's cloudy. Prepackaged individual snacks like granola bars or fruit strips, if you don't want to purchase snacks. The already mentioned first aid items like blister bandaid and advil.

As for strollers or carts- no. Disneys strollers are intended for children of the usual stroller ages. The average 8 year old would be cramped. If your 12 year old has a disability that would prevent her from walking distances, then renting an appropriately sized wheelchair from an outside vendor would work. Disney only rents adult size wheelchairs.

 

[GrumpyInEPCOT]

We went in Sept/Oct last year and I carried the backpack for our family. Everyday it was packed as light as possible. It may seem light when you leave the room but after hours walking in the sun it starts to feel heavier.

We took

• Ponchos
• 2 Bottles of water
• Cell phones
• Point and shoot camera/GoPro
• My wife and son's medications

Thats it and we didn't feel like we needed more. Keep it simple so you can keep it comfortable.

 

[gap2368]

what one person need and another need is something totally different what would you need if you where going to be out side and walking all day and that should give you a good idea of what to bring when I was little we would have one back pack that had some food first aid ( a few band aids and some medicine and yes you can get thing for free at first aid but you are always the at the opisit end of the park) sun screen and then each person had a pouch that they put there things in sunglasses had a fan what ever that person thought they needed for the day

they do rent lockers so you could put a bag in there if you had to have some lunch or dinner and did not want to carry it

 

[soniam]

I bring most of the contents of my purse, excluding my wallet. I take my ID, a CC, ATM card, and a few bills. We usually charge on our MBs but have had times where the MBs and one CC didn't work. DH brings a different CC than mine, so we have two different cards. If I need it in my purse for going to/from work and shopping, then I need it at Disney, ie lip gloss, hand lotion, phone, hand sanitizer, kleenex, meds, other personal items. We also bring refillable water bottles, ponchos, sunscreen, hats (in summer), sunglasses, camera, new pennies and quarters for penny presses, and 1 snack/person (mainly for emergencies/long food lines). We usually only bring one of those mini back packs and my purse. We have water bottle holders for the water. Next trip we will be taking our new camera setup as well, which includes the body, a zoom lens, and fixed lens for night, in its own messenger bag. It's unfortunately pretty heavy, but I really want to get some good pictures with our new toy.

 

[sunshine1]

Patience.

 

[ajasmom]

I would recommend a poncho (good quality) that would cover your son and his wheel chair in the event of rain to protect the chair and keep him dry and happy.

 

[Clare Voince]

The greatest thing you can take into the parks is a good attitude. That will get you through most anything.

Now for tangible items.
1. Foot powder. Stop every couple hours and take off your shoes and use.

Seriously? Where do you do this? Ew.

 

[VillainFavs]

Hello all! We are on our way to Disney at the end of March with two kids, a 12 yo girl and a 19 yo boy which will be in a wheelchair. I am planning on carrying a backpack and have one on the back of my son's wheelchair, but would like some ideas of what are some tried and true items that others have had that came in helpful. One will be for snacks for sure, but would like to have others ideas. Also I know there will be ALOT of walking so do they offer bigger (strollers) or carts for bigger kids???
Thanks for any and all advice and ideas!

Do you mean a stroller for you 12-year-old? Is she also disabled?

 

[neile45]

power bank for cell phone(s)
Peanut butter crackers

 

[DSLRuser]

we have always had a single backpack style camera bag. I remove 80% of my camera stuff. In it goes..

DSLR and lens
1 or 2 spare lenses
spare memory and battery
3 iphones
wallet
couple bottles of frozen water
4 granola bars
candy to snack on
napkins
hand sanitizer
lipstick for the wife
ponchos if it looks like rain
maybe an autograph book

 

[matheke]

Seriously? Where do you do this? Ew.

At one of the hundreds of benches throughout the parks. Take off your shoes, sprinkle a little powder in them and put them back on. It keeps your feet dry and much less chance of getting blisters. Why do you think this is so disgusting?

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Everyone is going to have different ideas. We like to keep it really simple, and only take in what fits in the boys' cargo pockets and my small cross-body bag. We get an amazing amount in with creative re-packaging, without a lot of bulk or weight.

Our must-haves:
~ ID, CC, small amount of cash
~ car keys
~ park tickets
~ small sunscreen (refilled each night from the big bottle)
~ spf 15 chapstick
~ snack size ziplock with assorted sizes of bandaids and moleskin
~ small pill bottle with ibuprofen and excedrin
~ tiny band-aid brand chub rub
~ neo to go
~ 1 disposable poncho per person
~ eyeglass repair kit
~ microfiber glasses cleaning cloth and small spray bottle of cleaner
~ small packages of water flavoring
~ small package of wipes
~ earplugs (one teen has sensory issues)
~ croakies for glasses
~ hair accessories
~ ziplocks sized for the smartphones
~ sanitary products
~ small hairbrush on a carabiner
~ hand sanitizer

That ALL fits in my small cross body (except that I only keep my own poncho - the guys have theirs in their pockets). If necessary, I hand off the car keys to the hubby. Two of the guys each carry a water bottle to refill, and the four of us share those between meals. Everyone has a lanyard and a tiny misting fan, but they rarely take them into the parks. Everyone carries their own phone.

We wear clothes and shoes suited for getting wet and drying quickly, and everyone wears their own hat that has a neck strap to keep track of it if it's not being worn.

This works for us. We don't snack much, and we'd rather have something special instead of granola bars and raisins. We stay offsite, so we have more to spend on food and such. Our special needs are very, very few.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

And you should pick and choose the things that work best for you. If you don't wear glasses, you can dump several things off our list.

You will also be able to put the backpack on the wheelchair. We certainly took a lot more with us when we had to have the stroller anyway! If you 12 yo won't be able to walk all day, don't stay all day. Leave at 2 and come back at 7. Do shows from lunch until late afternoon. You're not going to want to push both a 19 yo and a 12 yo, or at least, I wouldn't.