What do you carry your stuff in?

[8lovesmickey]

We're down to six days! It occurs to me that this will be our first WDW adventure without a stroller, and our first in the winter, and I'm wondering about strategies for carrying stuff. In the past I've always just had a fanny pack for myself and DH carried the camera, and we've never needed jackets or even sweatshirts until nighttime. We could stick wipes & sweatshirts we didn't need in the bottom of the stroller. Not this time!

Also, we are frequent visitors to DLR, but there it's a short walk back to the hotel to change clothes for the colder nights. So... I need some strategies!

Do you all carry a backpack? If so is it annoying? Should I just expect the kids to tie their extra shirts around their waists if they don't need them? Should the kids have fanny packs? (They're 7 and 11). I keep reading posts about preparing for all sorts of weather, but I'm still not wrapping my brain around exactly how I do that without looking like a pack mule or a camel or something. Thoughts???

We're at the POFQ for eight nights, and not renting a car.


Thanks!

 

[bytheblood]

A paded backpack. I place my digial camera, memory cards, snacks, and whatever else I need in there. It works out well and I can take it on all the rides.

By the way, if you have never stayed at POFQ before, you will love it. It is one of our favorites.

 

[disneydoula]

DH carries our backpack and I have my own fanny pack for little things.
Works for us!

 

[bab31]

locker

 

[kj2mom]

I used one of the Baggalini messenger bags. If all the sweatshirts didn't fit in the bag then I just tied them on the strap of the bag. Sometimes I used a sweatshirt to tie on a souvenir bag so both my hands were free to hold my children's hands when needed.

 

[KERdad06]

We had just bought my DD a new backpack for school. It was medium sized with nice padded shoulder straps. I thought it would be a pain to carry, but it was just the opposite. It was a great place to throw everything and keep everything in one place.

 

[alyssa810]

I just use a regular backpack; my DH sometimes has his pins with him which he'll throw in a locker for most of the day. We've been all different times of the year, in all kinds of weather, and this has worked fine for us. Where there are 4 of you though (and only 2 of us) you might want the kids to be in charge of their own extra layers....

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We are planning to get a locker at most every park. I carry a sling bag and my husband and boys (11 & 8) carry their own fanny packs. We like to layer our clothes and toss the extra stuff in a locker. Since we'll be staying for the fireworks and nighttime shows, we will go back for jackets before settling into a spot. Remember that it's much easier to make your last visit to your locker and clean it out before the parades and shows. The locker areas get very crowded just as everyone is trying to leave the parks. We like to clean ours out early and make a dash for the exit.

 

[Maulfly]

This'll be my very first time at WDW, when my DH will be bringing me there during the week of my birthday.

I had been wondering about this and am glad to see a topic about it. It's good to hear backpacks generally work well to lug your stuff around the park with.


While someone above did mention that backpacks are allowed to go with you on all rides, are there any rides that experienced park-goers would recommend that you really shouldn't bring a backpack on (for fear of getting soaked, lost, or otherwise damaged)? And if so, are there usually lockers nearby such rides that you can stash your stuff in until you're through with the ride?

 

[mmmcq]

A backpack would be preferred. We didn't use one this week - although I could have comandeered one from my teens. I used a zippered DVC canvas tote that got heavy at times with all the warm weather clothes. But it was necessary with the cooler temps dipping as low as 40's some days.

I took the tote on all rides, but found it a tight squeeze on Space Mtn. We didn't do Splash Mtn or Kali Rapids this trip because of the frigid weather....so there weren't any worries about things getting wet.

 

[Thori]

Combination of a backpack (extra clothes, water, sunscreen, wet wipes) and a small messanger bag (tickets, wallet, paperwork/reservation #s, maps, etc).

 

[curlysue1968]

I have a lime green baggallini. I can not wait to use it in 6 days!!!!

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

We use a small backpack, and both DW and I use a fanny pack, if the weather remains chilly the next couple of weeks, we will also be using a locker to avoid carrying jackets or sweatshirts.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I'm always amazed at this question on how to carry your stuff. What stuff ? How much stuff do you need in a park for half or whole day ? To us, the less the better, do not like a bunch of stuff to carry that never gets used. We're not going on safari, we're not far from our resort and anything you might, might nedd is there. We have our tickets, little cash, room key and small camera, and if rain is going to be a definite, our ponchos. Fanny pack, not much else and away we go. I've seen tons of people at the security stop, pawing through huge backpacks like they are staying over night in the park, would love to see at the end of a day what they actually used or needed. It's good to be prepared but some go to overkill. Sweatshirts and coats in the am, not us, the sun is coming up and so is the heat and we won't freeze in an hours so we go like its afternoon, no extra clothes to haul and no renting a locker that will be at the front of the park when you're in the rear wanting something. The less you take, the less you need and the less you have to worry about.

 

[Poohbear123]

I'm always amazed at this question on how to carry your stuff. What stuff ? How much stuff do you need in a park for half or whole day ? To us, the less the better, do not like a bunch of stuff to carry that never gets used. We're not going on safari, we're not far from our resort and anything you might, might nedd is there. We have our tickets, little cash, room key and small camera, and if rain is going to be a definite, our ponchos. Fanny pack, not much else and away we go. I've seen tons of people at the security stop, pawing through huge backpacks like they are staying over night in the park, would love to see at the end of a day what they actually used or needed. It's good to be prepared but some go to overkill. Sweatshirts and coats in the am, not us, the sun is coming up and so is the heat and we won't freeze in an hours so we go like its afternoon, no extra clothes to haul and no renting a locker that will be at the front of the park when you're in the rear wanting something. The less you take, the less you need and the less you have to worry about.

I swear some of these people pack like they are going to LIVE in the Park itself! You are there for what, 8-10 hours? If you don't need it, don't carry it! I wear a 3 zippered fanny pack, and its lite, with a camera in it, and cell phone and sometimes I leave THAT in the room! I have cash/credit cards/room key/ticket to get in, thats it, oh, and some LIPSTICK of course!

 

[hsmamato2]

I too like the less is more approach...I have the bagalini-but I will probably just use it on the plane trip...for the parks,a small waistpack with money,camera etc..dh carries our Brita bottle on a strap- kids wear waistpacks with their cameras,trading pins and money-(7 and 13) and we usualy just tie our layer jackets around the waist when it's warm,and wear them when it's cold!

 

[twinz]

I like to carry a one shoulder mini backpack. I carry my wallet, and maybe some munchies, and maybe a bottle of water, lip balm, sunglasses and that is it. I hate fanny packs and find this works best for me.

 

[kj2mom]

I have two 5 year olds who were happy walking, no stroller needed. My bag consisted of money, tickets, tissues, wet wipes, a small first aid kit, dollar store ponchos, a tiny sunscreen bottle, two autograph books, two pens, two small etch a sketches, some paper doll books, a small game of memory (the kind you get in a package of 4 for party bags, a CM actually stopped and played with my son while waiting for a parade) and a change of undies for each child. While same may think it was over kill the only things I didn't use was were the first aid kit and the change of bottoms. Do I regret bringing them with me? Absolutely not in fact I am sure the people who were waiting near my children were quite happy I brought along some of the distraction items for the longer lines. While some may think the parks are close to their resorts the idea of having my child in wet underwear because we had to wait in a line longer than they are used to at home (no, it didn't happen because I kept telling them to let me know in enough time in case there was a line but they are children after all) isn't too settling for me. Picture yourself walking to the park exit, waiting in a bus line and ride back to the resort in wet pants. I can't imagine it would be too much fun.

Anyway, I loved using the baggalini (it was a suggestion I got from these boards by the way) and maybe others with small children will find it useful as well.

 

[TomD]

We use a clear back pack. Easy to go through security and keeps our stuff dry when we go on water rides

 

[Momof4girls]

Last trip I had four kids with me - ages 7, 5, 3, and 18 months. We didn't even bring a diaper bag to the parks. I had a compartment on the back of the stroller that I'd stick a few diapers and wipes in - my camera went around my neck, passes and debit card in the keychain zipper pouch I have.

We applied sunscreen at the resorts, wore seasonally-moderate clothing that would work for different temps, and had jackets in the car (but never went back for them). Longsleeved tees and jeans for December (where you can push up the arms) work great. It only got really cold at night, when the sun went down, and we always had dinner somewhere else (resorts, mostly) so we'd go and get changed for dinner then watch the nighttime fireworks/shows after that - so we'd dress a little warmer for dinner.

There is very little you'll *need* in the park, and if you do - it's sold there. We bought two ponchos during a massive downpour during food and wine festival. But, that was all we needed.

Our first trip we overpacked like we were camping in the park! It was crazy to carry all that every day. Never again