What do you with all your "junk" without a stroller?!?!

[cruisingtwins]

My kids stopped using a stroller anywhere else at 2.5 but we still use one in Disney.

 

[Dismama2boys]

My almost 4-year-old doesn't need a stroller anywhere but Disney. It's far easier for us to take it than to have to carry him later in the day, or take a million stops to rest, or listening to him whine or..... My feet are killing me at the end of a day at Disney - I don't expect him to endure that at 4.

 

[Amanda999]

If I may, while we're on the subject of cutting out the junk, how little does everyone think you can get by with? It will be just three adults, 42 year old me and 72 and 73 year old parents who are reasonably healthy and active. We will be taking mid-day breaks, and would prefer to travel light. We'll have Magic Bands (of course) and are on the QSDP, so no need to have a means to pay for meals. I'm assuming we can charge souvenir purchases through the MB to our room too (though we're not likely to buy much, honestly, but one never knows!). So, what else do we really NEED for a 4-5 hour stretch in a park? Poncho? (I'm thinking of getting several $1 ones to use and discard as needed) Are water bottles necessary? Can't you get ice water for free at Quick service places? And aren't there drinking fountains? We can put sunscreen on before heading out.

I originally thought we'd need a "park bag" but the more I read about the waits at bag check and think about hauling around a lot of stuff, the more I like the idea of getting some cargo shorts/pants/capris, putting a few small necessities (phone, ponchos, ??) in my pockets, and strolling around free as a bird!

What do you guys think? Will it work?

This is what I do:

I wear shorts or pants with 3 zippered pockets and put in them:
1. Phone no case (with camera/video; fully charged; photo on it of park tickets/numbers and rental car license plate and FP+ choices b/c I forget and MDE sometimes is down);
2. Credit card; $40 or so (food if MB failure; taxi if bus/car failure); drivers license (if MDE is down, can prove park tix); if applicable AP, TIW and AP discounts cards;
3. Wear MagicBand on wrist;
4. If it seems rain is likely, $1 store type poncho out of wrapper (yeah, they aren't great for hours of walking around with, but just fine for 1/2 day light rain/wind); alternatively tie arms of lightweight real raincoat around my waist if alot of rain predicted. (But I'm asked to go through bag check sometimes if I have a real raincoat; better luck if you wear it or hold it in your hand through no bag line.)

There are water fountains everywhere (the bad taste doesn't bother me enough to carry a bottle of water around) and yes CS give you free cup of ice water. We go late August often and have never needed water other than at fountains or when we're eating.

If you end up using the poncho, and want to save it for another use, get a plastic bag from a store (in a park) to put it in. Yeah, you'll then have a bag, but you still avoided bag check.

I love having no bag. Oh - and if we need small medical-ish items, I use a fanny pack (yeah, so fashionable, but so functional). Of course then you have to do bag check. You can fit a Totes brand rain poncho in a fanny pack (they are much better than the $1 store ponchos).

HTH!

 

[I'mfarfaraway]

if i had it my way, definitely done, but my mother insists on bringing it in...plus she has to "have" her drinks ice cold...hence the small cooler. *rolling my eyes*

If it's your mother who insists on these things then you could suggest kindly that she be the one to haul it about.

 

[Dismama2boys]

Also, I never, ever go anywhere without at least a bottle or two of water. I have small children, and I once got stuck on what was usually a 15 minute drive home that unexpectedly turned into 6 hours due to flooding. Obviously things like that don't happen often, but things like monorails breaking down, etc, do. I can go a couple of hours without water, but my little ones often can't. Certainly not in Florida heat.

Also, when I was a child, the only reason we could afford our two trips to Disney was to do things like carry in water. So comments about taking a several-thousand-dollar vacation and therefore not being cheap about water strike a nerve with me. There are often very good reasons.

 

[jo-jo]

Someone suggested a cheap umbrella stroller. I'd second that. My DH walks better holding on to something. He always pushes shopping cart. taking grandkids for walks, etc. So carry some stuff, and still have spot for child if needed. You may not need to bring as much since the child is older.

We go bagless ourselves but I have camera and water bottle clipped onto belt. DH carries a few cheap ponchos. There may be fountains everywhere and CS gives out water, but if you're standing in line and start coughing or just remember you didn't take your meds at the proper time, you need that water with you.

 

[maxiesmom]

Someone suggested a cheap umbrella stroller. I'd second that. My DH walks better holding on to something. He always pushes shopping cart. taking grandkids for walks, etc. So carry some stuff, and still have spot for child if needed. You may not need to bring as much since the child is older.

We go bagless ourselves but I have camera and water bottle clipped onto belt. DH carries a few cheap ponchos. There may be fountains everywhere and CS gives out water, but if you're standing in line and start coughing or just remember you didn't take your meds at the proper time, you need that water with you.

You want to be sure that cheap umbrella stroller is still comfortable to push. Many of them are a bit on the short side, and you end up walking hunched over. Not comfortable for the adult.

 

[LilyWDW]

Also, I never, ever go anywhere without at least a bottle or two of water. I have small children, and I once got stuck on what was usually a 15 minute drive home that unexpectedly turned into 6 hours due to flooding. Obviously things like that don't happen often, but things like monorails breaking down, etc, do. I can go a couple of hours without water, but my little ones often can't. Certainly not in Florida heat.

Also, when I was a child, the only reason we could afford our two trips to Disney was to do things like carry in water. So comments about taking a several-thousand-dollar vacation and therefore not being cheap about water strike a nerve with me. There are often very good reasons.

Refillable, filtered water bottle. Fill as you need. No reason to lug around heavy bottles of water. Clips easily to any type of bag. I use mine with a small cross body bag.

 

[jo-jo]

You want to be sure that cheap umbrella stroller is still comfortable to push. Many of them are a bit on the short side, and you end up walking hunched over. Not comfortable for the adult.

I agree. I just meant cheap as less bells and whistles equals smaller. Some of the strollers I saw two weeks ago I think had cable hook up and AC onboard.

 

[Dismama2boys]

Refillable, filtered water bottle. Fill as you need. No reason to lug around heavy bottles of water. Clips easily to any type of bag. I use mine with a small cross body bag.

Well, yes, if you're near a water source. In the scenario I mentioned of being stuck in the car for 6 hours, this wouldn't be super helpful. I carry one water bottle per kid - I never said to lug in more than that.

 

[T00dles]

We went last February. We have a 6 yo and 2 yo. We brought the stroller for the 2 yo, but at the end of evening EMH at MK guess what? The 6 yo was sleeping in the stroller and we were carrying the 2 yo, so strollers are useful.

If your Mom wants to push it I say do it, and then you'll have the stroller just in case someone with short legs wants a break! Before my MIL had her hip replaced she liked pushing the stroller around, it made it easier on her to walk.

 

[happymommy]

Our trip when our kids were almost 3 and almost 5, they took a nap in our double stroller that we brought along every day! I mean like 2 hour naps almost!

No way would I not bring a stroller anyway.

Also, no way would I bring a cooler with drinks. You can get drinks anywhere. If you want free, ice water is there too.

We did bring pull-ups (DD was potty trained and out of them, but we insisted she wear them at Disney), change of clothes for kids and socks, and DS's meds. Not a ton.

You don't need to bring a lot, but I'd say bring a stroller even if you don't think you need it. You will eventually. Or if not, you have a place to store your small bag!

 

[Dis703]

I take a backpack when I go without a stroller. But I will warn you don't anticipate she will still be opposed to using a stroller if she doesn't like it now. At 2 1/2 ODS never wanted to be in it and even at Disney he walked or wanted to be carried most of the time. At 5 he was begging to use the stroller but we had a double and also had twins with us so he had to take turns. Same at age 6.

 

[goofyernmost]

if i had it my way, definitely done, but my mother insists on bringing it in...plus she has to "have" her drinks ice cold...hence the small cooler. *rolling my eyes*

The drinks they sell in the parks are ice cold and it doesn't take up much room to carry a few bucks with you or a credit card. I'm always amazed by the amount of stuff that people drag around the park. If one does the math, even if the stuff is cheaper when you bring it in, the difference, in my mind, hardly makes it worthwhile. Myself, I carry in my wallet, my keys and my ticket and nothing else. I hate carrying things around. That said, however, I did use a small backpack when I went to Disneyland Paris to carry whatever souvenirs I purchased and my small folding umbrella (it looked like it was going to rain that day. It didn't) It's just a thing with me, I must have my hands free. I can't even carry a bottle of water around. I drink it in the area that I purchased it and then move on.

 

[pens4821]

When we went in January of 2014 with my 5 year old nephew we went into the parks with virtually nothing. The guys had their wallets, we all had our phones/magic bands, and we had a camera (when we go this February we are just using phones so that's one less thing). If we were going in the heat of summer we'd probably carry in a few water bottles in our pockets, and probably some sun screen, but don't think we'd need much else (my dad and I would probably wear some cargo shorts so we could all carry a little something if needed).

I understand that with young kids it's much different. I know you'd need a stroller, diapers, etc. but if they are out of that, go with very little. I get it may be a pain to get water, but it'd be more of a pain to carry around a cooler. I also get snacks, but you could put a couple in your pocket and be good. Even if not, there are plenty of places to grab some something. I know it's expensive but what's an extra $10/day with the price of a Disney vacation?

I get people being prepared, but some people go in the parks with enough crap to last them a few days. its not like you're in the middle of no where. I would say you could get about anything you'd possibly need while in the parks. Of course I understand for a markup but I'd rather take that chance than lug around a cooler and/or a backpack all day.

 

[Mmw37]

We're taking our second trip in January with a 9 m/o and a 4 y/o. 4 y/o hasn't ridden in a stroller since our last trip in Jan 2014. We'll be bringing one stroller that either child can use - I babywear regularly and am comfortable with baby wrapped for a couple of hours or DS4 on my back for short periods, so one will be more than enough.

DH is self-sufficient and will carry wallet/phone/keys in pockets of his cargo shorts. I have a small cross-body bag for everything else: my phone/wallet, a diaper case with wipes in a ziplock and a onesie, and sunscreen. We have photo pass and DxDP so that's all we need. I might toss a few granola bars in too for distraction during long lines, and DS4 has his own backpack if he feels the need to carry anything in. I've never understood why people carry so much junk with them everywhere!

 

[cleopenn]

If I may, while we're on the subject of cutting out the junk, how little does everyone think you can get by with? It will be just three adults, 42 year old me and 72 and 73 year old parents who are reasonably healthy and active. We will be taking mid-day breaks, and would prefer to travel light. We'll have Magic Bands (of course) and are on the QSDP, so no need to have a means to pay for meals. I'm assuming we can charge souvenir purchases through the MB to our room too (though we're not likely to buy much, honestly, but one never knows!). So, what else do we really NEED for a 4-5 hour stretch in a park? Poncho? (I'm thinking of getting several $1 ones to use and discard as needed) Are water bottles necessary? Can't you get ice water for free at Quick service places? And aren't there drinking fountains? We can put sunscreen on before heading out.

I originally thought we'd need a "park bag" but the more I read about the waits at bag check and think about hauling around a lot of stuff, the more I like the idea of getting some cargo shorts/pants/capris, putting a few small necessities (phone, ponchos, ??) in my pockets, and strolling around free as a bird!

What do you guys think? Will it work?

We just returned from our first trip. Two parents (late amd mid 40s) and one 10 yo. I bought a light weight nylon backpack for the trip.

The first three days I took three bottles of water, maps, credit cards/cash, printouts, wipes, phones and hats in the back pack. It got annoying to carry the pack. By day for, I switched to a very small cross body bag (like a large wallet) the held one phone, a credit card, a bit of cash and a pack of wipes. We made a point of loading up on water at breakfast and lunch and didn't have the need to buy water in the parks. This was November so it may have been different in the summer as it related to needing more water.

Actually I was surprised by how light we were able to travel around the parks. Typically I am like a pack mule at home for excursions. For reference, we spent 8 to 10 hours a day in the parks.

 

[senadler]

I would definitely still use a stroller at that age. My son has not used a stroller at home since he was just over 2, but he always uses one at Disney. We have had three trips, the last one when he was just under 5, and we use the stroller anytime we go to the parks. He will still nap in the stroller, and making our way through the crowds with him in one place is much easier.

 

[Paigesmom2013]

I echo the other posts about a stroller. My 5 year old could dance a jig at 3 in the morning but suddenly her legs stop working if she has to walk across a parking lot. I'm just saying, kids are unreliable. And I always bring a change of clothes for my kids because you just never know. I'm doing the stroller and bag for safety.

 

[maxiesmom]

DH is self-sufficient and will carry wallet/phone/keys in pockets of his cargo shorts. I have a small cross-body bag for everything else: my phone/wallet, a diaper case with wipes in a ziplock and a onesie, and sunscreen. We have photo pass and DxDP so that's all we need. I might toss a few granola bars in too for distraction during long lines, and DS4 has his own backpack if he feels the need to carry anything in. I've never understood why people carry so much junk with them everywhere!

Why? Well for starters I have asthma and need an inhaler along. Plus the allergies that go along with it mean allergy pills, kleenex, and eye drops. Add to that my phone with a portable charger, cash and a credit card, sunblock and a lip balm with spf (my lips would burn otherwise), advil and tums (it seems someone always needs one or the other) and a poncho if it looks like rain. Yeah, I'm not cramming all of that in my pockets.