What do you carry all your “Stuff” in when you’re at the parks?

[cgattis]

Can you link your favorite skorts?

Bolderathleticwear.com, formerly Sparkle Skirts. I liked the fabric better when they were Sparkle, but the design is what really won and kept me! Huge pockets on each leg (holds even the largest phone easily), a zip pocket on the waist (front or back, depending on how you wear it), and shorts that just do NOT ride up, period. They’re mostly pretty loud prints but I’ve run many miles in them and pretty much refuse to run in anything else. They are the only thing that kept me alive on our one and only August trip LOL

 

[aml1676]

My daughter and I have Kavu sling bags - mine is water-resistant, and it's very comfortable. Hers is the mini size; we didn't use it much on our last trip, but I think on our trip at the end of this month we may have to, depending on the weather and layers.

 

[gharter]

I have a small backpack. Has room for our rain jackets, an umbrella, phone charger battery, water bottles, and camera.

 

[CBMom01]

I have an ancient LeSportsac backpack that I use. It’s light, water resistant and comfortable. I like having a bag that I’m not worried about getting dirty or damp and that can be cleaned.

 

[Lsyves]

I use the Adjustable Sling Backpack from Thirty-One. It is smaller than a normal backpack and has just one crossbody strap. I have used it for every trip for years. It's just big enough for what we need (similar to your list) because we have older kids who carry nothing with them in the parks! I usually have ID and credit cards, my phone, hand sanitizer, wipes, small sunscreen, sometimes an umbrella, and reading glasses in mine.

 

[motherof5]

Ideally I’l like to carry NOTHING, but as I’m putting my list together, it’s not looking possible. Looks like I’ll need:
- park pass (although I have a magic band from 2019, but I’m the only one in my group who does, I’m not sure that matters)
- room key (staying at SoG, so if I do use my band the room key won’t link)
- credit card (all 3 in a small wallet)
- cell phone
- battery charger & cable
- sunglasses & reading glasses
- rain ponchos (going first week of Dec, rain always a possibility)
- small bottle of OTC meds

Trying to decide if it would be better to have a small backpack, a drawstring backpack or a medium size crossbody bag.

Traveling with 3 kidults (over age 18) so they will be carrying their own stuff.

What do you use?

We always carry a backpack. Missed the days when kids were in strollers and I used that to hold my stuff.

 

[gorkt]

This is very dependant on your party type, but now that my kids are older, I carry as little as humanly possible, like a small size sling or purse. I just need my phone and a spare charger, a watch charger, a credit card, lip balm, sunglasses and that is about it. I don't carry water bottles, just drink from fountains or at meals, but I tend to not go when it is extremely hot, fall or winter only.

 

[jimmymc]

For a shorter trip to the park, I will leave the medicine, water bottle, and charging bank in the room and just carry my wallet and phone in my pockets.

When I bring a bag, I use a small backpack (like a loungefly but off-brand). The biggest reason is I need something to fit a water bottle in, everything else is smaller.

 

[cobright]

Ideally I’l like to carry NOTHING, but as I’m putting my list together, it’s not looking possible.
...
Trying to decide if it would be better to have a small backpack, a drawstring backpack or a medium size crossbody bag.

Traveling with 3 kidults (over age 18) so they will be carrying their own stuff.

What do you use?

I picked up a Fox Fire photographer's vest. It hauls about as much as a medium carry-on bag (only slight exaggeration). It's cool, light, and you get to have fun with people assuming you're a WDW photo-gunner all day. They even sell them in some of the gift shops, especially Animal Kingdom. It's actually great for dealing with TSA security lines (and WDW bag check prior to the walk-through system) because you can load it with all the stuff you would have to take out of your pocket then pull the vest off and run it down the conveyor.

The other thing we often do is spend the money on a locker. Right at the start, we shove whatever we won't need until later in a locker. Even a small bit of weight adds up across the time spent at each park. This is a hassle saver as well if we are planning a day in one park but have a meal reservation outside the park. We can stuff everything it would take to put us in the bag-check lane into the locker for the meal break.

 

[Jennasis]

I carry pretty much all of that in a cross body bag I got from Ron Jon's. It's light, comfy, and lays flat against me.

 

[01Sweetpea]

Thanks everyone! I went ahead and ordered a mini backpack so hopefully that will do the trick. As for the 3 kidults (20 something yos) that I’m traveling with…they are on their own!

 

[dez1978]

Fanny pack or vera bradley mini sling

 

[Claire82013]

I'm taking a loungefly this year. In the past, I've done no bag (dad had the money and carried what I needed his cargo shorts pockets), a purse, and a full backpack. The full backpack is just too much on some rides. The purse is often not big enough for things like rain ponchos, body glide, food powder, sunscreen, etc. It also can leave your posture unbalanced, which can cause pain later in the trip. The loungefly size bag is a good compromise for me because I can fit what I normally need the most, but you can wear it as a backpack for even distribution of weight. You can get cheaper but similarly sized bags.

 

[Gehrig1B]

I am another who never carries a bag into the parks. I have a nice cellphone cover that allows for a credit card and my ID. I can also pay using my Apple Watch. No ponchos, just a very small travel umbrella when needed in my back pocket. The other back pocket has a charging block with a cable. I carry my sunglasses in a shirt pocket.

 

[Disney.Dreamin.Dee]

I'm taking a loungefly this year. In the past, I've done no bag (dad had the money and carried what I needed his cargo shorts pockets), a purse, and a full backpack. The full backpack is just too much on some rides. The purse is often not big enough for things like rain ponchos, body glide, food powder, sunscreen, etc. It also can leave your posture unbalanced, which can cause pain later in the trip. The loungefly size bag is a good compromise for me because I can fit what I normally need the most, but you can wear it as a backpack for even distribution of weight. You can get cheaper but similarly sized bags.

See I THOUGHT I'd be a Loungefly girl until I actually tried it.
I've found that at home I can use it in the colder months when I have a couple layers on but as soon as I'm in a t-shirt/tank top it absolutely kills my shoulders. It doesn't matter how tight or loose the straps or how much or little I put in it just weighs on me the wrong way.
I also thought oh after some use the straps will break in but they didn't.

 

[loves to dive]

I picked up a Fox Fire photographer's vest. It hauls about as much as a medium carry-on bag (only slight exaggeration). It's cool, light, and you get to have fun with people assuming you're a WDW photo-gunner all day. They even sell them in some of the gift shops, especially Animal Kingdom. It's actually great for dealing with TSA security lines (and WDW bag check prior to the walk-through system) because you can load it with all the stuff you would have to take out of your pocket then pull the vest off and run it down the conveyor.

I can't tell you how many times I've thought about doing this. Not the TSA part as I rarely fly any more but the vest part. I've looked at them every single time I'm at AK and have looked them up on line a few times. I'll be there in Dec. so probably not skort weather and my leggings don't have as many pockets so I might just get me one for that trip.

 

[MrsPete]

Ideally I’l like to carry NOTHING, but as I’m putting my list together, it’s not looking possible. Looks like I’ll need:
- park pass (although I have a magic band from 2019, but I’m the only one in my group who does, I’m not sure that matters)
- room key (staying at SoG, so if I do use my band the room key won’t link)
- credit card (all 3 in a small wallet)
- cell phone
- battery charger & cable
- sunglasses & reading glasses
- rain ponchos (going first week of Dec, rain always a possibility)
- small bottle of OTC meds

Trying to decide if it would be better to have a small backpack, a drawstring backpack or a medium size crossbody bag.

Traveling with 3 kidults (over age 18) so they will be carrying their own stuff.

What do you use?

That's not a lot ... I think you have a chance of going bag-less, or at least mini-bag. How:
- Skip the wallet; put your park pass, room key and credit card in a snack-sized ziplock. This'll be waterproof and fit in your back pocket. Add a couple bandaids to the bag.
- Choose shorts that'll hold your cell phone in your pocket. Use it sparingly so you don't need to recharge.
- Pick up some disposable ponchos; they fold up incredibly small.
- Do you really need the reading glasses? If you say menus, could you pull up menus the night before in the hotel room /set up your meal and just hit "send" when you're ready.
- Get one of those little plastic pill containers -- mine's like the size of three fifty-cent pieces stacked up and could easily fit in a pocket.

Do a practice run at home and see whether bag-free is a possibility.
If you can't quite do it, look for a mini-cross bag that'll hold the phone and the poncho.

 

[whitney37354]

I have tried different backpacks & drawstring backpacks and I now carry a Vans backpack. There is plenty of room, an extra front pocket, and wide, padded straps.

 

[tofubeast]

My hubby carries a cross-body backpack. When he's not with to hold our "anything I can't fit into my purse" stuff, my daughter and I use our Loungefly backpacks. They seemed to work well last trip and were a good size to get the important stuff packed away.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Thanks everyone… looks like backpack is the winner!!
I never thought of sweatshirt, definitely going to need to add that AND hand sanitizer to the list.

We've tried all of the above. I previously had a Jansport 1/2pint and it kept unzipping on me, then I was at risk of losing much of the contents of the bag - a small carabiner clip would have helped, but then we swapped to cargo pockets/small crossbody bag.

We also have a small backpack we sometimes use on days we must carry a jacket + water bottles.

Oh, I'm not a fan of fanny packs, but at Universal, one most rides- bags much go in a locker, but fanny packs are permitted (on most rides, Hulk and Velocicoaster are exceptions.) Most fanny packs though can now - also be worn crossbody as a sling.

I also suggest finding a clip-on bottle of unscented hand sanitizer. Whole Foods has them with a sturdy metal carabiner clip, the bottle and clip are super, but the sanitizer fragrance was terrible/very strong. I dumped it, and refill it from a big pump bottle as needed. Clipping it to outside of bag, or a belt loop is handy.