What if you have a fanny pack phobia?!?

[Jill72]

Thanks for the advice...I'm still torn about what to do. My first instinct is to see if someone else in our party will do the wearing of any bag we choose - ha!! No, just kidding. I think I will look into the messenger and baggalini type bags.

Has anyone ever used one of Vera Bradley's small backpacks and how did that go? They aren't waterproof, I know, but it's something I prob would get more use out of after we got home. Any thoughts?

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I hate fanny packs, but when i am on vacation, i love the freedom i have and it carries everythingn I need. I can hold my money, room keys, car keys, chapstick, wet wipes, band aides, tickets, my camera and camcorder. I have portable sunblock that hangs from my fannypack. I also bring a backpack that we keep on the stroller with a change of clothes for kids in case of an accident, our ponchos and a small towel. My oldest daughter doesn't like to be wet. I love not having to carry bags or a pocketbook.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I hate fanny packs, but when i am on vacation, i love the freedom i have and it carries everything I need. I can hold my money, room keys, car keys, chapstick, wet wipes, band aides, tickets, my camera and camcorder. I have portable sunblock that hangs from my fannypack. I also bring a backpack that we keep on the stroller with a change of clothes for kids in case of an accident, our ponchos and a small towel. I keep my supply of glow sticks and light up toys and snacks for the kids in the back pack too. I love not having to carry bags or a pocketbook in my hand.

 

[mom2my3kids]

I love my fanny pack, but the girls at work made fun of me when I told them last year I was going to use it..

 

[ZoZo]

I am torn, too. Love the freedom of a fanny pack, but unfortunately, they're not the most flattering things in the world!

Last time at WDW, I switched to a small crochet purse that went across my body (long strap). Held the same amount as a fanny pack and I didn't even notice I had it on (plus, it was way cuter than a fanny pack). Between that and a small backpack (that I used only part of the time), it worked very well. Everyone's different - you have to see what works best for you!

 

[Jill72]

Ok - went to the mall today and LOVE the Vera Bradley Hipster bag. It's very flat and not too big. Has anyone seen it? If so - do you think this would work?

 

[momofbgtwins]

I love the idea and convenience of a fanny pack, but I hate the way they look. I use a small black backpack that I found in the travel section at Walmart (hanging up with the luggage tags, fanny packs, electrical converters, etc). It is the perfect size for money, camera, lipstick, tickets, etc, and it's very light weight. We still use a stroller with a basket, so most of the kid's stuff goes there.

BTW - Baggalini also makes a light weight nylon backpack that is expandable - it starts out as a zippered pouch - unzip and VOILA - a backpack! We used it in December in Aruba and DH actually preferred it to a standard backpack.

 

[Sandi12404]

I found a great bag at Target. I was actually going to get a fanny pack for our trip but got this instead. It isn't much bigger then a fanny pack but it's a backpack. The strap goes across your chest and then the bag is on your back but it's very lightweight. Plus there is a little zipper section on the strap where I kept our park tickets, credit cards, fast passes.

 

[Disney Ron]

Ok - went to the mall today and LOVE the Vera Bradley Hipster bag. It's very flat and not too big. Has anyone seen it? If so - do you think this would work?

Very cute, but small in my opinion. I considered it but it just wouldn't hold all of our required items. Love the new patterns.

Mrs. Disney Ron

 

[cindar91]

I used a back pack that went over like a sling...it held everything but I was worried about everything being behind me..the DH was at walmart and found the ugly looking bag....but...it had a pocket on each side to hold the water bottle...a plastic lined pocket in front so the passes don't get wet...and it's a fanny pack...big enough for maps and wallet and the littlest bottle of sunscreen...so far I've used it on 3 disney trips...so fanny packs get my vote

 

[NY Disney fan]

Maybe if they were refered to as "waist or hip packs" vs. the dreaded "fanny packs" people will view them differently. I wear a waist pack every week when I grocery shop. I cannot imagine wearing a purse (cross-wise or over the shoulder) while I am trying to put bags in the car. I need to be hands-free and there is value in that!

As for Disney World, I think women/girls can get away with looking less touristy than men. Don't know why, that's just my observation.

 

[powellrj]

I love fanny packs, but because I have teenagers, they would rather die than be seen with a mother wearing a fanny pack.

I found these a couple of years ago and they are wonderful! They are called a passporter pouch!
http://www.passporterstore.com/store/0966899437.aspx

they don't hold quite as much as a fanny pack, but they hold everything I need!

I think the new vera bradley hipsters are really cute and would hold enough if you don't plan on taking a lot.

 

[englishteacha]

I hate fanny packs, too, but I wear one. Our first WDW trip we used a sling backpack the first day but I think it got too heavy after a while. I honestly don't remember why we stopped using it. We bought waist packs at a bargain store the next day and used those instead. The past few vacations we've taken we've consolidated to one fanny pack and DH and I trade off. At Target a while ago I found a "fanny pack" designed for working out. It has 2 small pockets and a place for a water bottle between them. I tried it out and it will hold 2 disposable ponchos, a mini container of sunscreen, and my sunglasses, and my camera fits in the other pocket. It's half the size of any other packs I've seen. If we can get by without a pack, we do it. My camera pouch slides onto a belt, my sunglass case has a clip I can attach to my belt or pocket, and my chapstick and sunscreen can live in a pocket of my shorts. The trouble is with the ponchos. They fit perfectly in my pocket but they're a bit uncomfortable.

 

[GusT]

I have been following this thread since the beginning and even with all of the raves from people who wear them....i still can't do it......we usually carry a backpack, sometimes a standard sized one, but me and future DH take turns. I'm going to try to go with a smaller one this trip, but i'm sure we will still have a backpack. I do love the messenger bagallini, I'm trying to talk him into buying one for the trip, but I don't think i would be able to get him to carry it to!

 

[hofftkmn]

Wow! I cannot believe the hangups people have about wearing a fanny pack. And you think a baggallini makes you look cool? Get real. Just put your stuff in your pack, keep your hands free, and enjoy yourself. Because if you're worried about how you look wearing one, you probably weren't too cool start with. Look for me at WDW in two weeks; I'll be one of many wearing a pack. See you there!

 

[CampbellScot]

Wow! I cannot believe the hangups people have about wearing a fanny pack. And you think a baggallini makes you look cool? Get real. Just put your stuff in your pack, keep your hands free, and enjoy yourself. Because if you're worried about how you look wearing one, you probably weren't too cool start with. Look for me at WDW in two weeks; I'll be one of many wearing a pack. See you there!

Well it's a good thing that this is America and the "To Each His Own" rule tends to apply...

It wasn't very nice to imply that people who have concerns about wearing a fanny pack "aren't very cool to begin with"...

are people not allowed to be fashionable at Disneyworld or is everybody supposed to look schlumpy b/c they are on vacation?

just wondering...

 

[Jill72]

Amen!!

 

[hofftkmn]

It wasn't very nice to imply that people who have concerns about wearing a fanny pack "aren't very cool to begin with"...

are people not allowed to be fashionable at Disneyworld or is everybody supposed to look schlumpy b/c they are on vacation?

just wondering...

You're right, that was a bit harsh. I apologize. I simply meant that you go to Disney to experience it with your family, not to be concerned with what you're wearing in front of 100,000 people who you will never see again. My point is you don't need to be concerned about it; there is no reason for having a phobia about it.

Please take no offense Jill72, my comments were not directed at you, just my general interpretation on the subject. People look no more or less "schlumpy" wearing a fanny pack, messenger bag, or baggallini, or wearing matching outfits or Mickey Mouse crocs. But if you still have concerns, just remember this; If you can't dress like a tourist at WDW, where can you??

 

[Parla]

I hate fanny packs also but I haven't been to an amusement park without one since my mom carried everything for me. The worst is when you forget to take it off before a picture and get home to see just how you looked walking around all week. But I hate the things that go across your body more. Every since puberty I really don't like having a strap pushing down the shirt in the middle of my chest. It just feels weird. We did take one of those string backpacks last time and took turns carrying it (DD still needed pull-ups and baby wipes at that point) in addition to me wearing the fanny pack. There's just nothing like being able to reach right in front of you for your tickets to get the fast passes.

 

[BWVNUT]

Ok - went to the mall today and LOVE the Vera Bradley Hipster bag. It's very flat and not too big. Has anyone seen it? If so - do you think this would work?

The VB hipster works perfectly for me. It is just the right size to hold, my minizip matching wallet, digital camera, one waterbottle, autograph book and pen, lip/chapstick and park passes...I've finally gotten it down to those few things that are "necessary"...