What do you use to carry supplies/snacks in the parks?

[msudawgs30]

I'm gearing up for our trip in the spring and I'm looking for that ULTIMATE BACKPACK. I like to carry juice and fresh fruit snacks so I really wanted a little cooler section inside. I wanted it to be waterproof as well.

Last trip I carried a backpack that looked like a beach bag with a false bottom in it that was a little hidden cooler. This was nice but it was HUGE and was a complete pain to carry all over the place.

I've seen some that have straps that almost fit like a shirt but none with cooler sections. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

MSU_MOM

 

[tjmw2727]

I prefered a backpack with a soft side cooler bag inside. I had a favorite backpack that had a great strap for shoulder or backpack and a nice inside compartment. It also had two great outside compartments and mesh for water bottles on each side.

I prefered to use the lunch cooler inside as I found it easier to manuver and this way you can use any great backpack. When the kids were stroller age I would pack everything in the backpack for bus boat etc and then take the cooler out and keep it handy in the stroller.

Try ll bean or landsend they may have something with the cooler compartment, You could always wait a bit as pretty soon the beach bags start to hit the shelves!

TJ

 

[The Disney Bunch]

I carry a denim backpack. I got it at Disney about 8 years ago. I love it because I can throw it in the wash & it just gets softer! It carries alot & if it is too heavy, it will fit in a locker.

 

[henrylovespooh]

Will you have a stroller with you? Instead of a backpack, I carried a diaper bag with longer straps and the straps hung around the handles of the stroller. Or I put it in the bottom of the stroller. I didn't want to have to carry anything.

I have since been given a softpack cooler that is the size of large purse that I will take on our next trip. It has a long strap as well, but I will likely store it in the bottom of the stroller.

 

[JoyMouse]

We carry supplies in a backpack on the back of my youngest DD's wheelchair. A stroller would work too. I haven't tried keeping things cool, that is a good idea.

 

[daisylove]

I, too, am in the never ending serach for the perfect backpack. I keep finding ones that seem perfect but only after I buy them and rip the tags off do I realize it could be better and then have to search, and buy more. It is a never ending cycle. Could never find one with a cooler that was perfect. Did have a fisher price diaper bag with cooler that was good but tended to be too heavy. Now we go with collapsable coooler in stroller basket and backpack on stroller for other stuff. Then when cooler is empty we just fold it and it goes in backpack. Just got a clear backpack that looked promissing but was tempted (yes I got it too) by one from Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville which is even Dis green. I think it is really close to being the perfect WDW bag for now.

 

[pixie Mom]

we are a family of 5 and use a soft sided water proof back pack with a zip off cooler on the bottom.... works great..not to bulky... we are in the parks form sun up to sun down,, and bring lunch and many snacks in with us... The Back pack it's self has several compartments..

dont forget to pack baby wipes for a crowd of any age.... and hand sanitizer..

We fit many things in our pack.... sun care, ponchos, pens, books, at least 20 things of film and much much more..

I think our back pack/cooler came from WAL-MART about 4 years ago....

each member of our family of every age also carries a fanny pack with there personal belongings such as little fans and sun glasses ect,,,,,,

 

[2disneygirlies]

Have you ever checked out the bags from Land's End? They carry a "diaper bag" that is a back pack, it has room for everything, pockets for small and large items, a wet clothes bag and a bottle bag that can be used for keeping anything cool, it is bigger than the average bottle!! And as a bonus it has super comfy straps!! My girls are 5 and 7 and we still use it. Well worth the $30-40.

 

[daisylove]

Just got this
http://www.swimways.com/kelsyus/product-detail.asp?productid=11&categoryid=3
at Target on clearance for $14.95
It is a smallish backpack with a zip off cooler on the bottom. When the cooler is off the backpack bottom can expand and there is an expansion pocket on the front as well. I figure that to get in the park everything is all connected and then once in I would unzipp the coler (12 pack) for the stroller basket and just carry the backpack on the stroller handles. Looks promising.

 

[msudawgs30]

Just got this
http://www.swimways.com/kelsyus/product-detail.asp?productid=11&categoryid=3
at Target on clearance for $14.95
It is a smallish backpack with a zip off cooler on the bottom. When the cooler is off the backpack bottom can expand and there is an expansion pocket on the front as well. I figure that to get in the park everything is all connected and then once in I would unzipp the coler (12 pack) for the stroller basket and just carry the backpack on the stroller handles. Looks promising.

Daisylove You are AWESOME!!!

This is exactly what I've been looking for! I searched for several hours for a backpack that fit a mental image that I had in my head and this is it! I'm so excited that I'm going to order one right now.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Msudawgs30

 

[daisylove]

Cool. Glad that I could help. If you use it before me let me know how it does!! I am glad that my obsessive, endless pursuit for the perfect WDW bag has helped.

 

[Kristine JM]

just wanted to let everyone know the lands end diaperbag/backpack is on clearance for about $27 on the landsend website I found it on overstocks. they had red, navy blue and black we have one and love it I just ordered one for my sister who is expecting

 

[turnerx5]

Try Campmor @ www.campmor.com for great values on camping equipment and back packs. They usually have last year's models at great savings. Click on their web bargains tab to see sale items.

Good luck! Tx5

 

[ms.ojo]

I have used the LandsEnd Diaper Bag/Back pack at WDW and love it!!!! Easy access, many diff't pockets, ability to keep items cool. But I have to say the target bag looks interesting too.

Was wondering if anyone has used these cooler bags in the parks w/ the security checkpoints??? The stated *rule* for Disney is no outside food allowed. In my previous trips it has never been a problem bringing sippy cups for the kids (or bottles when DD was younger) and some fruit snacks, cookies, etc. But these bags w/ coolers make me think that folks are bringing in lunches. Is this the case? Does WDW security let it through??? That would be great.

 

[daisylove]

I have not used my new cooler backpack but I have used otherbags with a cool included and have brought a collapsable 6 pack cooler. Never a problem. We usually do not take full lunches in but usually cokes, juices snacks and it is fine. The only comment I have ever gotten was last trip when I brought pepsi in and the guard was teasing me about it being a Coke sponsered Park. But he was only kidding around. I amlooking forward to trying out my new bag.

 

[cricket429]

Just subscribing to the thread for the great ideas I am reading!

 

[mommyrom]

Three cheers for Target again! Sometime ago, I picked up an all purpose tote bag at Target for $3.97. It is great because it is foldable to pack away, but opens up in a wide "v" shape at first...About 14" x 18-20", but then includes a zipper across the middle which allows the bag to expand. It unzips to a mesh section which makes the bag even taller. We have had great luck with it mostly becuase it has a long strap that allows us to put the entire bag over the stroller handle and it won't tip the stroller because the bag handle is so long that the weight is distributed low on the stroller! Not sure if still available, as I got it at the end of the summer, but I did see some packable backpacks in Target the other day that were the same brand and colors! Maybe this will help someone else...Just offering to the thread!

 

[Befferk]

Just got this
http://www.swimways.com/kelsyus/product-detail.asp?productid=11&categoryid=3
at Target on clearance for $14.95
It is a smallish backpack with a zip off cooler on the bottom. When the cooler is off the backpack bottom can expand and there is an expansion pocket on the front as well. I figure that to get in the park everything is all connected and then once in I would unzipp the coler (12 pack) for the stroller basket and just carry the backpack on the stroller handles. Looks promising.

Thank you!! I went to Target and they did have this on clearance (although not quite as cheap as you got it) and it is AWESOME! I think it work perfectly for our Disney trip, as well as a few other trips in between!!

Beth

 

[msudawgs30]

Last time we went to DW I took a huge duffle/backpack/hidden cooler in the bottom type bag (it was miserable because it was so big and heavy) . Going through the gate they never even looked in the cooler part. I only had a few packs of nabs, some fruit and a few bottles of water in the cooler part. I had cameras and clothes and all kinds of stuff in the bag part.

I too thought that you couldn't bring "meals" in the park, but at lunch my family and I saw tons of people sitting on benches eating sandwiches and little bags of chips and canned cokes from home. I was shocked because I thought that surely Disney would not permit this . It was nice to see that because they are so forgiving in this area that families of all kinds were able to come to Disney and enjoy making memories .

I always allow for meals in the parks before we go, I figure Disney is able to keep operating by us spending money to go. I also feel deprived if I don't get to sample a little of everything while I'm there even if it's a little.

msudawgs30