What bag to bring to the parks?

lindanj

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Feb 28, 2009
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126
Thinking about what kind of bag to bring to the parks. We are going in the summer so I will need to bring water. Was thinking about a cross body bag so that I can hold it on the rides. Also wondering if my 10 year old boys should bring their own bags to carry water and other things. Would a string backpack work for them or would it get in the way of the rides. I also have 2 other younger children but no stroller so I would have to carry water for them too. Don't want to load myself down so that it is too heavy to be comfortable. What does everyone else do?
 
We went last April with our two sons, 6 and 10. DH and I carried Adidas drawstring backpacks that have mess front pockets. The pockets fit our water bottles perfectly. Bags were light enough to not bog us down but big enough to carry essentials like phones, small camera, snacks, ponchos and more. Going again this august and debating having the boys carry their own bags this year. Didn't have any issues with our bags on rides. I was a little nervous at rock n roll coaster but just tightened the bag and looped it through my leg! Ha! Good luck choosing!
 
We bring a small back pack and a Camelbak, or just 2 Camelbaks. Some Camelbaks (or knockoffs) come in a full size backpack so you can put ponchos, cameras, and such in it.
 
I was going to ask this myself. I have a 7 year old boy and a two year old boy, so I need to bring diapers and wipes still. Potty training is coming after the trip since he is not 2 yet but will be when we leave. ;)
 

I carried my old Land's End diaper bag (even though my youngest is 9). I could fit everything for me, dh and all 4 kids. It was easy to put at my feet and slide my foot through the strap for rides.
 
I bring an Addidas pull string back pack. It is made very well not the cheap o kinds you get for free. It has pockets and pouches. I keep our ID's and poncho's/jacket inside etc, you could really store anything. Than on the outside I pack 3-4 water bottles that we drink throughout the day. I got the bag for $25 from Amazon. It works great easily fits in all the "bag areas" on ride vehicles.
 
Baggallini Messenger Bagg: This bag worked great for me! Just used it on my trip three weeks ago. When I bought it I was worried that it would be too small. But it held a surprising amount of stuff, and had outside pockets for my water bottle and my cell phone. The bag had lots of pockets and dividers to help keep my stuff organized. I used it almost every day of my trip; the only time I didn't use it was one day when we were expecting a big drop in temperature, and i used a backpack that day so I would have a place to carry a jacket. Love this bag! http://www.baggallini.com/product/Messenger-Bagg/Baggallini-Crossbody-Bags
 
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I always use a small cross body for myself, containing water, sunscreen, wallet, phone, camera.

I would definitely say drawstring bags would totally be fine, they don't get in the way at all, the biggest annoyance about using them was the having to take them off to get the camera out and back in quickly!
 
I always use a small cross body for myself, containing water, sunscreen, wallet, phone, camera.

I would definitely say drawstring bags would totally be fine, they don't get in the way at all, the biggest annoyance about using them was the having to take them off to get the camera out and back in quickly!

They is my issue with a drawstring or backpack, but are crossbones hot? I get so warm so easily.
 
I had an adidas drawstring backpack that was all mesh. It was great because see through (helps with security) and breathes easily.
 
Vera Bradley mini hipster and a backpack that we took turns carrying; it had water bottles, snacks, etc.
 
I've been debating what bag to bring to the parks myself. I was thinking about bringing my camera bag for some days and a small wristlet or cross body bag for the others.

If I wanted to bring my larger camera bag for a while, but stash it before going on rides, are there lockers available? If so, do they fill up fast/are they super expensive? The only lockers I've seen mentioned before are the free ones near the Kali River Rapids. :confused3

Thanks!
 
I use the Piazza Day Bag from ebags. Plenty of room (and pockets) for my wallet, sunscreen, sun & reading glasses, poncho, lip balm, phone, and a water bottle.
 
For years I carried the Baggalini cross body that everyone on the boards raved about. Things I liked about it: light weight, water resistant, large capacity despite small look, many inner pockets and organization features, ability to move it to the front of me on most rides instead of taking it off, can reach into it without taking it off. Things I don't like about it: a bit floppy and hard to keep sitting properly on my back, didn't like the cross body strap in photos.

Because I'm bag obsessed in my day-to-day life, I thought I take up another suggestion from the boards and get myself a Vera Bradley mini backpack. I tried it out last trip and liked the feel of it on my body a lot better. Overall it's heavier than the Baggalini, not water resistant, and may have less capacity, however I'm going to use it again for our next trip because I prefer the feel of a backpack to a cross body. Although a cross body is great on rides, it flops to the front of my body every time a bend down the slightest, which is a lot when you have small kids. I just feel more hands free with a backpack. You either love Vera Bradley or you don't. Where I come from Vera Bradley is seen as dowdy and old-fashioned, so I save it for Disney trips.
 
Oh, and I forgot to add in my previous post......my kids each carry a very small backpack with their autograph books, pressed pennies, pins, and ponchos. They've been doing this since they were 3 and are used to it. It's just a really small toddler size pack that I picked up from a dollar store and personalized with a iron-on transfer. They love their Disney park bags.
 
We bought hydration packs at Walmart and they were excellent. Filled them up with ice and water in the AM at food court and again during the late afternoon at a QS location. My bag was bigger than the boys'. They fit perfectly by our feet while on rides, including RnR.
 
Here are the bags we like from Adidas.
Adidas Alliance Sport Sack
The strings don't get me as hot as a regular this strapped backpack. Thinking about getting these for the kiddos too...or maybe smaller ones. Any suggestions?
 
I am getting a new bag from Thirty-One. It's the special item for the month of April and I'm holding out hosting a party until then so I can get it! :) It's got a space underneath for wet clothes or a pair of shoes and since I tend to change shoes halfway through the day, I love that! But we will have a stroller so I won't have to lug this big bag around...

I usually just wear a Vera Bradley Mini Hipster crossbody bag for things I want within reach at all times but honestly do I need to now? We don't need to carry park tickets or Fastpasses or anything like that anymore. And all the other little things can go in the diaper bag...
 
One thing I am going to do tonite is to go to Target and look for a filtering waterbottle so that I can carry it and use it to filter water instead of carrying bottles of water around with me. i was told Brita makes one. Seems a lot easier to carry around. I have a mesh bag that I made that I plan to bring that is very lightweight, yet sturdy.
 
Any counter service will give you free ice water any time if you don't want to drink warmish water or have to carry it around.

That said, we are "those people" that don't carry bags into the parks. I've gotten REALLY good at sewing pockets into sundresses that don't have them though:)
 














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