What do you do with your "stuff" if you don't bring a stroller?

[marciemi]

This is our first trip to WDW in 4 years and our first with kids old enough to not need a stroller. Do you feel like a pack horse carrying everything? Do you have to leave things behind on bigger rides (ie Rocknrollecoaster, Space Mountain)? Can you just set a backpack down somewhere? I'm really just planning on water bottles, a few snacks, and since we're going in January, layers of clothes. If it gets hot and we take off jackets, sweatshirts, where do you put them? I know there are lockers, but that seems like such a hassle to go back and forth to. If I'll be in one park all day should I just rent a stroller to stick our junk on? My youngest son is 9, but small (probably looks 7), but still seems awfully big to ride in one. Just seems like when we go somewhere like this I'm the one stuck carrying everything and since DH will be in meetings for business, it'll be just me! Any advice? Thanks!

 

[lovethattink]

They do have lockers in each of the parks. Now we have an infant, but before him it was just us and DS who's 10. If we were spending the whole day in the park, we would bring a backpack with sunscreen and water bottles. The only time we'd get a locker is if the evening was cool, and we'd put the jackets in a locker. Now that we have a baby, we find that we take a whole lot more into the parks. Usually we don't every touch all the stuff we bring. (But it's there for just in case.)

 

[marciemi]

What did you do with the backpack when you got on the bigger rides? I'm trying hard to remember, but can't, if you can pass it through (like at some amusement parks here) or set it down somewhere outside. I'm not talking valuables, I'll keep those in my pocket or buttpack, but just water, granola bars, jackets, etc. If someone stole them my life wouldn't be ruined, but I don't want people picking up my backpack each time and turning it into security or throwing it out or something!

 

[roserae]

You can bring the backpack on the ride with you. It was no problem at all bringing it on all the rides. Plenty of room. No big deal. I wouldn't leave it sitting somewhere, more likely than not someone would turn it into security. Just bring it on with you. I love having a backpack. I forget I'm wearing it and it easily stores at your feet...even rock'n rollercoaster, space mountain, etc.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

By the time DS was 8, we were down to taking one fanny pack into the park. We are winter WDWers and so we did not need great amounts of water, so we just buy and share. We are not real big snackers either. A nice size fanny pack will hold quite a bit. Morning jackets can be tied around the waist later in the day, but we have also rented a locker a few times when the weather really changed in the day. I have in the past however had a back pack and it was fine at my feet on any ride we went on.

Jordans' mom

 

[MrsPete]

If your youngest child is 9, YOU shouldn't be carrying anybody's else's stuff! I'd suggest that you provide everyone with a fanny pack or small backpack and explain the new rule: You may take anything you want into the park -- but you must carry it. That gives them enough space to carry a water bottle and a snack. A jacket can be tied around the waist. Refuse to become the kids' pack mule.

 

[marciemi]

Thanks for the help! We're still debating bringing the stroller, but since we rented the cheapest economy car you can, it may not fit. May stick with the idea of renting one on the MK day at least if necessary. I'm glad to know that I can bring stuff on the rides. DH has a large buttpack with water bottle slots on the sides, and my son has a small one with a small waterbottle. Hopefully that will be enough! Thanks again!

 

[laceemouse]

We have 4 kids and quit using a stroller when our youngest turned 6. She did fine and we LOVE not having to fool with a stroller all day!!! We carry one backpack and take turns carrying it. We bring it on all the rides. We do not carry water, when it is cool outside you should not need it. If we need sweetshirts, everyone ties it around their waist if they are not wearing it. Works GREAT!!! Try not to use a stroller, you will love it Lacee

 

[Buttercup26]

We do one small backpack with snacks, camera etc, and take turns carrying it (even the kids) it goes on all the rides no problem. We have water bottle holders on straps to go over shoulder/across chest, each person carries their own. Sweatshirts and jackets get tied around waist or shoulder

 

[tjmw2727]

We do one small backpack with snacks, camera etc, and take turns carrying it (even the kids) it goes on all the rides no problem. We have water bottle holders on straps to go over shoulder/across chest, each person carries their own. Sweatshirts and jackets get tied around waist or shoulder

We do something similar, the girls wear a kidszie fanny pack if they want to carry something, autograph book camera etc. They love the water bottle straps for water as they are lightweight and easy to wear. I wear a medium size fanny pack with my camera and all the park passes etc. We also tie our sweatshirts around the waist or grab a locker if we have poncho's umbrella's etc. I find the older the kids get the less we need to carry around.

TJ

 

[disneysteve]

We do one regular backpack which I usually carry, sometimes DW takes it. DW and I each have a fanny pack for sunglasses, camera, etc. And DD 9 has a minibackpack that has a few snacks for her. We've gone that way a few times with no trouble.

 

[daystar]

Hi,
We carried a backpack all day.....Even if we had a stroller i don't think that i would of wanted to leave my stuff in it while we rode the rides...So even though the backpack was a pain in the neck, really a pain in the back, i would definetly use the backpack again...Maybe you could take turns with others in your family carrying it, so it's not so hard on one person....

 

[bdcp]

We went to WDW when our boys were 3 1/2 and 6 for the first time and we didnt' use a stroller and I carried a fanny pack with tickets, tissues, money, camera and id's. My DH carried his wallet. That was it. Both of my boys were out of a stroller before 3 as well as toilet trained and only occasionally napped. They walked everywhere we did and it was never an issue. We went in Nov and stayed in the parks from opening til closing every day. That time of the year, Epcot was our longest day, til 9 pm. I agree if your youngest is 9, you dont' need to carry anything for them. Get each a fanny pack if there's something they need that badly to carry and let them be responsible. They're definitely old enough.

 

[disneychrista]

We take the bare minimum now. Keys, passes, small wallet with credit card/cash. Everything goes in either a belly purse or pockets. With security checks it is such a hassle to have to deal with a backpack and fanny pack checks.

 

[blestmom]

I just got back from a 2-week trip with 5 kids. I agree with minimizing. I carried a fanny bag with stuff I needed...tickets, camera, etc. Each kid had their own fanny bag IF they wanted it. One teenage boy refused to use it, the other one didn't mind (must be a guy thing?) Those that did not, chose to not bring anything. One bummer....my oldest daughter (11) had a small Mickey Mouse backpack that she set down on the bus seat for a minute...and forgot it. Lost her brand-new digital camera. It was never turned it. So I prefer the fanny bags that can't get put down. My big thing has always been bringing a few snacks. We save lots of $$ by eating pb&j and trail mix. In the past, I've always carried those in a bag. But I"m thinking for our next trip, everyone carries their own. We also carry the Brita water bottles. They can kind of be a pain, but the bottle straps help. Anyway, just some random thoughts. Good question...I'm dealing with this, too, and always trying to lessen my load!

 

[chimera]

LOL...back in the day...we only took what we could fit in our pockets. I don't like carrying anything around at the parks,'specially since they started searching all bags.

However...

now there's DD1.5...we can't travel light anymore.

 

[marciemi]

Thanks again - since I originally wrote this question, the situation has changed and instead of just bringing DS9, we're also bringing his 11 and 12 year old brothers. When it was just the youngest, I was really considering the stroller, since he's small and actually uses one a lot still when we go to amusement parks near us. But I was thinking if we had one, then we'd be limited only by what I could do, so if I wanted to run from Space Mountain to Splash Mountain I could, since he'd just be sitting. He's obviously not a baby, who'll get tired and cranky by a long day, but does get tired (like everyone!) doing a lot of walking. Well, the point is, since his brothers will be there, I'll already be limited by their walking and DS9 is capable of walking too! Plus it gives me more bodies to help carry stuff.

Although we'd like to get away with just pockets (& if it's cold enough that we have jackets, might!), most likely they'll each wear the buttpacks they have (Fisher Price) that hold a small refillable water bottle (about 6 oz) and about a 4x4 inch area for snacks - so they can just snack on their own (we put in jerky, gum, granola bars, raisins, fruit rollups, etc).

My main question was answered, which was that if I bring a backpack it can go on rides with me. Near us this isn't the case - you MUST store it in a locker before most rides. I don't mind the expense as much as the inconvenience - taking the time to find a locker and lock them before half the rides we do! I hope to get by with a large buttpack with waterbottle (I did purchase the Brita ones as suggested by other posters on ebay!), but if necessary I'll put it all in a backpack. Yes, we'll get held up by security at entry, but I guess that's going to have to happen!

Thanks again for the help!