What are you carrying? Elementary aged kids

[dspads]

This will be our first time at WDW w/o preschool aged kids/babies. We are used to lugging a ton of stuff around, thanks in part to plenty of stroller storage space. This time I want to lighten up as much as possible. We are staying on-site at SSR for 5 nights. We’ll be taking 2 Mac Volo’s which have limited basket space and are tippy.

Besides tickets, money, camera what else are you lugging along? I’ll probably have a small cooler bag with water bottle and some empty take-n-toss cups (for sharing drinks). And a few snacks like granola bars and cheerios to power-up the kids who may not eat as much of their meals as they should. I can’t decide on all the extra’s I’m used to bringing like change of clothes, sweatshirts, etc.

I’d love to hear what others do.
(And my boys are 5 and 6.5)

 

[TinkInPink]

This is the third thread like this today........... on this page........ look down the page, there were quite a few suggestions.

Carry as little as possible, it isn't the wilderness. The less you carry the happier you'll be as the day goes on and don't forget to have the kids carry their own stuff. only bring jackets if it is going to get cool at night or calls for rain.

 

[Manda]

My son just turned 6 - our last trip, he was 5. I didn't carry anything other than my cell phone and tickets/cards. Sometimes, I brought the camera and hung it on his belt loop. He also carries his ear plugs in his pocket (he's sensitive to loud sounds). I bring a cinch bag in my luggage to carry on my back if it looks like it's going to rain all day and I'm going to need to carry ponchos. Otherwise, I don't bother with it. Our last trip was our first stroller-free trip, too. When we had the stroller, I kept the ponchos and a can of sunscreen in a plastic bag tucked under the stroller seat. We always go back to the resort after lunch, so we don't usually need to carry sunscreen with us. We apply before we leave in the morning and at our mid-day break.

 

[hillview]

Since you have the stroller, I'd take an extra set of clothes in the bottom of the stroller if you plan to do anything wet!
/hillary

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Last trip my kids were 4 and 10. No stroller. I carried a small backpack, and I do mean small. With money, tickets, camera, a compact, lipstick and a brush. Thats it!

We buy snacks and water at the parks. I can't be bothered lugging all that stuff with me.

 

[DisneyDebbie]

We've been going bagless since we stopped the stroller.

If we are stopping back at the hotel midday, I bring tickets, credit card, small camera looped to my belt, chapstick, and travel-size hand sanitizer.

If we'll be gone the whole day, we wrap a long-sleeved shirt (or sweatshirt) around our waist and add travel-size sunscreen to my DH's pocket.

 

[dspads]

Thanks for the tips. It's hard for me to let go of having everything with me, but I certainly don't want to carry it.

 

[DisneyDebbie]

Just remember, if you need a band-aid, or you have a headache, there are care centers in each park. you don't have to lug all the what-ifs around w/you!