What do your children carry in parks?

[sherreis]

Usually when we travel I carry my backpack with water bottles, things I would keep in my purse, etc. I really don't want to carry everything for everyone on this trip - my poor back.

We have 2 boys who will be 6 and 11 when we go. Do you let your children carry anything in the parks? If so, what do they prefer?

 

[outlander]

i say give them fanny packs and divide things up! we try to pack light though. it's really no fun to be lugging a ton of stuff around all day. water bottles and rain ponchos are two essentials...other than that, we don't bring much.

 

[dianemb]

I carry a disney back pack with what we need (maps, purse items ect.) I tell my 11 year old DS if he wants anything in the parks He has to carry it and that usually stops him from bringing anything. We don't carry water bottles usually but i have the bottle straps in my bag just in case. My husband sometimes carries a camara. Anything we buy gets sent to the room. It makes it much easier when going on rides!!

 

[helenm29]

Well, lets see...My kids are all big..13, 13, 19 so they pretty much can be trusted to not loose whatever they bring in. We all have Fanny Packs in which we carry some form of I.D., a little cash, a Cell Phone, Tissue, some type of hard candies (life savers etc.) and something for my DD and I like an anti friction cream for legs. I always keep the twins' tickets because if THEY get lost, we are out of a trip!. Helen

 

[matt&jakesmom]

We just got back a couple of weeks ago and my DS's (ages 9 & 7) bought misters. Guess who ended up carry them later on? You guessed correct. Needless to say we did not bring the misters to the parks everyday.
I noticed some boys around their ages wearing the fanny packs and I asked them next year if they wanted one to carry so they could carry their own money, pins, etc. Their reply was that they did not want to look like a "geek".

 

[Cheshire_cat]

My kids each had a fanny pack this time. In it they had, a family picture w/ emergency information on the back, their sunglasses, a small 8 oz. water bottle, granola bar/snack, a battery powered little fan, and a pack of gum. Oh, and their pressed penny money in a little baggie.

The 10 year old loved carrying her own stuff, DS8 didn't carry it every day. He just put the picture into his pocket and let mom carry the rest

 

[momandseandodisney]

last year when at WDW my son bought one of those stich plush back packs, where stiches back zips up. It does not hold much. But it held with autograph book, and his own disposable camera.

 

[noodleknitter]

My kids each had a gameboy fanny pack that they took into the park to hold money, bandanas, and pins. They also carried their water on one of those neck straps.

 

[Silly Girl]

This year both by DD's 10 & 7 had a fanny pack. They loved being able to carry their own stuff. Also that left me not having to carry anything. We had sunscreen, disposible camera, gift card(they each had one). My youngest even purchased a mister fan 3 days into the trip and she carried it (that was the deal). That was one of her favorite purchases. I think the fanny packs are great for the kids. They're not too heavy and are very practicle.

 

[erinch]

My DD8 bought a tinkerbell mini backbag in the disney store when we got there. She carried her own autograph book, pen, an water bottle, and a disney beanie which she took everywhere with her.

 

[momimouse27]

Well, since I still have a toddler who is in need of a diaper bag(xtra clothes, pull ups, snacks, etc) then my girls(13 & 9) have been told they are old enough to carry their own stuff. They each get a fanny pack. Each one likes to carry different things, but basically they are:

Spending money for souvenirs, chapstick, a small personal fan, mints,
a park map and pen for signing autographs, and a cell phone for my
older daughter in case she gets lost.

I don't let them carry their own tickets. They are too valuable to give to my two scatterbrains! Hope that helps

 

[Zoemakes5]

My kids each have fanny packs. What they have in it increases with age. Last time one of the boys had a walkie talkie. They both had money. They had snacks/gum, kleenex, autograph pens, and sunglasses. I think they even managed to stuff maps in there! Zoe had her pen, sunglasses and snack in hers. Next time, she'll also have her disney "credit card" (ie. gift card from grandma!), too.
They all take turns carrying the water bottle on the lanyards, too.
Next time we go will likely be the first time without a stroller, as DD will be 5, but I'm still not convinced we won't have it. Then, we might be looking at backpacks, too.

Oh, edited to add, they also each get a disposable camera of their own for their fanny pack.

 

[Tiffer]

My DD has carried her own fanny pack since age 3. she had a kids size pink one that we finally retired and we just purchaesd a Tink one from Wal-Mart in Anaheim. Only $5. MUCH better than park prices.

She carries her quarters and pennies for pressing. Her own Money/Disney Dollars/Visa Gift Cards. Her Autograph book and pen. Last time in WDW she carried her own room key, with charging priv. Usually at DL, where we are AP's, I carry her AP.

She is very responsible though.

She also has a WDW bottle strap in case she needs to carry a water bottle around.

 

[Plantlady]

We bought our kids some fanny packs, but they ended up being too small to hold the autograph books in (the point of the fanny pack). So, I carried the autograph books, and they were in charge of their trading pins. (on a lanyard for two of them, the other prefered his fanny pack for the pins, because getting the backs on and off was too much work).

 

[sherreis]

Thanks for all your replies. The disposable cameras are a great idea. Hadn't thought of that. Are there any Disney themed ones anywhere?

I guess I'll ask them ahead of time would they consider wearing a fanny pack. Being boys - you never know how they'll answer.

Of course, me and DH will keep all tickets. And, DH said "no way" to a fanny pack. I am considering the baggalini instead of a backpack for this trip. I know it will get it's use.

 

[Cleokitty]

DD10 and DD8 carry their own tissues, chap stick, autograph book & pen, small candies (creme savers, smarties), and occasionally a ziplock snack bag w/pretzels or mini nilla wafers. They also carry their water bottle straps. DD10 has a slightly larger fanny pack 'cause she has to carry her inhaler, epipen, benadryl, and hydrocortisone cream. Oh, and they also carry sun glasses when they are not wearing them.

 

[MrsJackSparrow]

NOTHING! They are kids - they should not be carrying anything! Do they carry things when you go to the mall or to the zoo at home? I carried everything in a fanny pack. DKs are in grammar school and there was no point in all of us waiting in the bag check area. DH took the kids while I got checked and we met when I was done. Most of the time, this included the mandatory potty trip on arrival at a park, so we were all ready for rides by the time I caught up.

 

[sbelyo]

NOTHING!

Ditto to that... They always have to leave for the parks with something already in their hands. And as soon as we get through the gate they start with "Here Daddy, hold this" or my personal favorite "Put that in Mommy's bag"

Every trip starts out with "No, leave that at home" and ends up with 6 to 7 stuffed animals making the trip along with us.