What are the "essentials" you carry into the parks?

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

I try to pack light but take what is "essential" into the parks with me. Maybe this isn't so light but I take:

Cell phone (I take it everywhere now in case of an emergency)
park pass
camera
2 way radio
money
sunscreen
lip balm w/sunscreen
really small fan
water
a hat

What do you consider essential for a trip to the parks?

 

[sarahandhannahsmom]

Don't forget the tylenol/advil/motrin for the occasional headache or general ache or pain.

I also plan on taking a small umbrella (we'll toss it in the bottom of our stroller

 

[coli]

Park pass
Photo ID
ventolin inhaler
some cash
lip balm
Pin lanyard
Sunglasses/Glasses
Poncho
Watch
Sense of humour

 

[soccer mom]

Nothing that won't fit in the pockets of my husband's cargo shorts! After four kids and diaper bags (kids are teens now) for so many years, we are finally "hands free!" Park passes and room key/credit card. It is WONDERFUL!

 

[Alice28]

Last time we had full toddler paraphernalia- stroller/diaper bag/snacks/drinks/toys....plus my fanny pack with $, passes, camera, ID, cell phone, 2 way radios, etc. It was exhausting. This time I bought a Passporter Passpocket and it is all I am bringing!It will hold my ID, $, room key, pass, lip balm, pony tail elastic, and a pen. And of course my lime green Mickey head from home Depot! That's it. I may bring my camera, but I think my Mom is bringing her digital camera- I can just get a CD from her of all our photos.

 

[RAV]

we too are hands free- passes
cash
the smallest sunscreen I can find
water bottle strap

 

[lentesta]

The usual:
--------------
Cell Phone with ear piece
Hat
Sunglasses
Bottle of water
Watch



The not-for-everyone
----------------------------
A bottle of Alleve (good stuff)
The latest Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World
A Camelback backpack
Spare duct tape
Two pens
Notepad

 

[Alice28]

Oh yes, I forgot about a water bottle. I got a water bottle strap with my purchase at Passporter.com so I will bring that as well.

 

[Dan Murphy]

A small pack of hand wipes is great to have also.

 

[packy]

We always bring a snack, like some Planter's peanuts or cashews, in small personal bags (buy them at BJ's - a warehouse store). We have a drink and some nuts (gives you a little salt in the summer) between meals. Seems to work.

 

[anne930]

We usually go in fall or winter, so I wear a fanny pack with passes, money, lip balm, aspirin, tums, comb, paper & pen, itinerary with PS #s, etc. and a camera and cell phone. My husband wears a backpack with trading pins, ponchos and extra clothes for the evening hours - if it's the rainy season, we sometimes take flip flops and a towel and he carries a separate cell phone. We use our cell phones like some people use 2 way radios. What we pack varies according to the weather, which park we'll be in and how quickly we can get back to the hotel. We like to be prepared.

 

[propchick]

I had a lucky inspiration once, and now I never walk into WDW with either of my nephews without at least two tiny "party pack" pots of Play-Dough. You would not believe how long of a line they'll entertain a kid through! (The nice part with the party pack is that you can change which two colors you carry each day. Older nephew started really looking forward to seeing which ones I had.)

Everytime things got quiet, I'd whip the Play-Dough back out. It's low mess, doesn't stain, and doesn't even slightly stick to WDW-rented strollers (the big plastic ones), so they always have a play surface!

The really important part is to put it back away when things get moving again, so the kids don't get tired of it.

 

[prader]

When we were there in July, for the first time ever, I had read on here what others take, so that gave me some good ideas. However, after the first day at the park, I realized I wasn't as prepared as I thought. One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is a dry wash cloth put inside a baggie. I don't even have small children. I would just get it wet from the fountains, and was able to run it over the face and neck, for a nice refreshing cool off. I also take in fanny pack and back pack:
camera (and extra film)
cigarettes
money
passes
room key card
ink pen (to sign the one travelers check I take)
umbrella
hat
water bottle
wash cloth and baggie
mister fan
park map
son's gameboy to keep him busy during long waits
baggie filled with snacks
sharpie pen for son's autographs (he had them signed on a white baseball cap rather than a autograph book)
and of course, sunscreen

I know this sounds like alot, but I felt all was needed. I don't travel light

Going back in less than 24 hours, can't wait!!

 

[luvndisney358]

Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Cel Phone
Two Way Radio
Park Passes
Pin Lanyard
Advil/Tylenol for headaches
Lip Balm
Tissues
$$$$
Camera of course
Ponchos
and the most important thing

A BIG SMILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Camping Griswalds]

this is what we have in the fannypack:
passes
tylenol
goldfish (the crackers not the live animal tee hee)
tootsie roll pops
granola bars
cash
camera
sunscreen stick for faces
sunglasses
nextel phone
inhaler
credit card
some small bottle of that no water needed soap
laminated copies of touring guides from Unofficial book

this is what we have in the backpack:
four ponchos
water bottles
socks (use clean socks on tired feet, it really helps)
pillowcases and sharpies and clipboard for autographs
one towel for all to share after water rides

Mom usually carries the fannypack and takes it on all of the rides, DH and DS's rotate the backpack.All of us wear hats into and out of the parks. We put the sunscreen on before we leave the camper. /Because we are usually back by 1pm I don't carry any with me except the facial stick. We re-apply before we go to the pool.

 

[Gary M]

AP, photo ID and a little cash.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Thanks for the replies. Some good ideas there! I forgot sunglasses - always have them too.

 

[mickeysaver]

Back Pack......
Walkie Talkies
Advantix Camera
Advantix Film (4 rolls/day )
Batteries for Walkie Talkies and Camera
Clean Shirt & Socks in Ziploc Bag for each of us
2 Waterbottles
2 for $1 Rain Ponchos
2 Gallon Sized Ziploc Bags for Ponchos, if it stops raining
Advil/Bandaids/Neosporin/Immodium Samples
Wet Wipe Packets
Tampons/Pads.....just in case
Laminated PS & Itinerary Info Pages
Pennies and Quarters for the Presses
Sunscreen
Ziploc Bag for collecting stuff for the scrapbook

Fanny Pack.....
Wallets
Room Key/Charge Card/Admission Ticket
Roughly $100 in cash for cart vendor purchases
Albuterol Inhaler
Sunglasses

Well, that will be about it for our December trip. Last September, we carried more than this, but it was much hotter and we needed more goodies to help keep us cool, like fans and stuff.
Mickey

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by LadyTrampScamp&Angel
I try to pack light but take what is "essential" into the parks with me. Maybe this isn't so light but I take:

Cell phone (I take it everywhere now in case of an emergency)
park pass
camera
2 way radio
money
sunscreen
lip balm w/sunscreen
really small fan
water
a hat

What do you consider essential for a trip to the parks?

Pain relievers, AP, ID,room key, camera, extra batteries, extra compact flash, water, lip balm, cigarettes, lighter and cell phone, a pen and paper and a small amount of money (cause I charge right back to the room for most things).

 

[Msslaydbug]

We always have our

Room key since it doubles as our ticket, charge card, and room key
Camera
Cell Phones
Cheapo ponchos (Can't tell you how many times these cheapos came in handy and then we could just throw them away)
Stroller for DS- 5
Advil
Sunglasses

All of these are thrown into a very tiny backpack/ purse I carry