What in The World Are you Taking Into the Parks???

[JanaDee]

There was someone ahead of me in the bag check line at MK last month. They were absolutely loaded down. The bottom of the stroller was full, they had a giant full diaper bag, a large camera bag and a stuffed full medium size backpack.

I only noticed because they were of course right in front of me so I had to wait. They had ONE baby. I don't know, maybe they were meeting up with 15 other babies inside the park or something

I always scope out the people in front of me when I arrive at bag check and steer away from people who look like they are going to live in the park for a week.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Well, we'll only have one small umbrella stroller, so no big bags for us. That being said we'll take our normal 1 backpack of essentials and I'll be gifting each of the families traveling with us their own backpack of essentials. I may also get a fanny pack for DD. Not sure yet. Anyways, our backpack of essentials includes:

Water bottle
Phones
Ponchos
Sunscreen
Small medical kit (with aspirin...definitely aspirin)
Ginger gum
List of ADRs and other reservations
Sorcerers cards and/or pennies and quarters for pressing
Ceramic garden gnome (Actually, I'm not certain we'll be dragging Bo along with us this next time. DD will be enough to haul around the World.)

Notably, I carry my DSLR camera separate from the main bag. It's bag has small pockets for extra batteries, a credit card and an ID.

 

[tlovesdis]

I'm heading to the world for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks! I have been obsessively been reading as much as I can on all things WDW.

I was planning on taking my Baggallini Messenger bag with a britta water bottle, but after lugging that around in Disneyland last month, I just knew it was going to be a pain in WDW since it's about 5 times as much walking!

So I have decided to go with as little as possible and order a cup of water every time we get a snack or meal!

I am taking my Disney Vera Bradley Hipster cross body with my phone, id wallet (id, cc, and a little cash), little pill case, band aids and moleskin, lip balm, a small sunscreen, my portable phone charger and a poncho from the $ store that I can just toss after using. I will have a hat with me (either on or I can attach it to my bag) and my jacket that I can wear around my waist if need be.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm heading to the world for the first time in 2 1/2 weeks! I have been obsessively been reading as much as I can on all things WDW.

I was planning on taking my Baggallini Messenger bag with a britta water bottle, but after lugging that around in Disneyland last month, I just knew it was going to be a pain in WDW since it's about 5 times as much walking!

So I have decided to go with as little as possible and order a cup of water every time we get a snack or meal!

I am taking my Disney Vera Bradley Hipster cross body with my phone, id wallet (id, cc, and a little cash), little pill case, band aids and moleskin, lip balm, a small sunscreen, my portable phone charger and a poncho from the $ store that I can just toss after using. I will have a hat with me (either on or I can attach it to my bag) and my jacket that I can wear around my waist if need be.

Just a word of warning: The Florida water is pretty smelly, and doesn't taste the best. You may want to bring a water purifier of some kind, or some flavor packets.

 

[cammieanne]

cash
one credit card
ID
cell phone
park passes/tickets
sunglasses
chapstick
bandaids
ballpoint pen
water bottle(s)
snacks
sweatshirt or jacket
ponchos
sandwiches (if it's a day that we're eating in the park)
camera
spare batteries
sunscreen
phone charger
Tylenol (travel packet)
Tums
antibacterial wipes (enough for hands and tables)
tissues (travel packet)
gum/mints
a couple of 20oz. sodas (for days we eat in the park)
itinerary
park maps
a couple of hand towels for drying off (after rides like Splash Mountain)


Yeah, we take a lot of crap with us but we try to spread it out over 2 backpacks.

 

[kittyab]

back pack for DH and I will wear a fanny pack. Fanny pack is good for small items you are constantly digging out.

Back pack will have: bottle water, camera, sun screen, snacks, spare t shirt/hoodies, autograph books.

 

[KimP5]

On our recent trip, we brought in way too much. I was trying to keep it down but DH decided he needed a ginormous backpack as well. Mostly his was for jackets/hoodies, as we were in December. I had a small backpack with 3 autograph books, pen, ziplock full of first aid items (band aids, moleskin, medications). hand sanitizer, gift card wallets for myself and two of the three kids, light up toys, my larger vera bradley tech wallet, granola bars and some days DH brought other snacks also, rain ponchos for 5 people. Lanyards and pins, water bottles, bubbles to blow in line. DD14 bought a small cross body bag at the store in Japan at Epcot, so then she wanted to carry her own gift card wallet, phone and a book to read in the lines.

We probably only used a very very small fraction of all that crap. Next time, I'm paring it down. Only a couple glow toys and bubbles, instead of the entire supply for the week, probably won't bother so much with first aid, other than some excedrin and band aids. I like the idea of making the kids carry water bottles on their belt loops. And I'll remember the locker for jackets next time too. We didn't bother since we had a stroller. Not sure how much longer we will use one, since DD is 4... almost didn't this time, but we'd have ended up carrying her everywhere! She LOVED having a stroller.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

We carry one backpack. I have a change of clothes for the two kids, sunscreen, sunglasses, autograph books and pen, very small first aid kit, chapstick, my wallet, camera, small roll of plastic bags, wipes, antibacterial gel.

 

[ginah21]

Is it difficult to get items from your car at Magic kingdom that you probably won't need, but just might. Like a change of clothes?

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Is it difficult to get items from your car at Magic kingdom that you probably won't need, but just might. Like a change of clothes?

It's pretty far. I would probably rent a locker. They have them up front under the train station.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Last trip I saw a family pulling a rolling suitcase! I was curious, and they happened to sit next to us during the parade. So I watched as they opened it and started pulling out a full picnic meal. It was stuffed with food! I wonder how they go on rides. Maybe one person doesn't go???

We usually bring a small backpack that DH carries with a few snacks, sunscreen and jackets or umbrellas depending on the weather. I just carry a wristlet type purse that my cell phone fits in and a water bottle on a strap. My oldest DS just carries a water bottle and cell phone. Youngest carries a shoulder bag. I never know what he puts in there! I call it his man purse. He calls it a satchel. Lol.

 

[JanaDee]

Is it difficult to get items from your car at Magic kingdom that you probably won't need, but just might. Like a change of clothes?

Yes.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

Just a word of warning: The Florida water is pretty smelly, and doesn't taste the best. You may want to bring a water purifier of some kind, or some flavor packets.

If you ask for a cup of water at a food place that has fountain beverages the water is filtered and odorless.

 

[DisneyFive]

If people want to haul around a lot of stuff, that's up them. Who am I to judge? Doesn't impact me at all, except maybe a slightly longer wait at the bag check. With a stroller, you can carry a LOT with very little effort.

For us, a stroller was a God send at Disney. Now that our kids don't need one, it's going to be missed for a few reasons.

1) We normally bring a soft sided cooler into the parks with ice cold bottled water, a couple of snacks, and an energy drink or two. That cooler is pretty heavy, but got hooked to the back of the stroller.
2) Instead of carrying ponchos and extra clothes/sandles for after a water ride, they just got stuffed underneath the stroller.
3) When the youngest legs got tired, they just hopped on the stroller for a bit.

Last trip, we experimented with just carrying in a backpack. It was nice not to have to push a stoller around, or take it on the bus, but it meant that I was the one carrying the backpack all the time. In Sept, it's pretty dang hot on your back and pretty heavy with the things we like to carry in.

Dan

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

If people want to haul around a lot of stuff, that's up them. Who am I to judge? Doesn't impact me at all, except maybe a slightly longer wait at the bag check. With a stroller, you can carry a LOT with very little effort.

For us, a stroller was a God send at Disney. Now that our kids don't need one, it's going to be missed for a few reasons.

1) We normally bring a soft sided cooler into the parks with ice cold bottled water, a couple of snacks, and an energy drink or two. That cooler is pretty heavy, but got hooked to the back of the stroller.
2) Instead of carrying ponchos and extra clothes/sandles for after a water ride, they just got stuffed underneath the stroller.
3) When the youngest legs got tired, they just hopped on the stroller for a bit.

Last trip, we experimented with just carrying in a backpack. It was nice not to have to push a stoller around, or take it on the bus, but it meant that I was the one carrying the backpack all the time. In Sept, it's pretty dang hot on your back and pretty heavy with the things we like to carry in.

Dan

This is my philosophy. Anyone should do what is right for them. For me I just can't understand doing all that walking and dealing with getting on/off rides with basically a suitcase strapped around me. I am a single traveler most of the time so I don't have to worry about items for a child/baby so that eliminates a lot of things. I have shorts with front pockets and everything I carry fits neatly in there.

 

[ConnieB]

Is it difficult to get items from your car at Magic kingdom that you probably won't need, but just might. Like a change of clothes?

Not difficult, but it is time consuming. You have to take a monorail back to the Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC) and then you have to either walk out to your car if you're parked close, or wait and take a tram out.....then once you have your stuff from your car, the tram has already taken off, so you'll have to wait for the tram to come around and pick you up and then tram drops you at the TTC where you have to take the Monorail back to the park.

I would say you're looking at an absolute minimum or 30 minutes, probably more like 45 round trip.

The other parks don't require the Monorail to get near the parking lot, but unless you're parked close you'll need to wait for the tram to take you out to your car and then another tram to come by and take you back to the park entrance.

If you have items that you're going to want, but don't want to lug them around all day.....each park has lockers for rent (the smallest locker is like $7 a day I think, plus a refundable $5 key deposit). Not cheap if you don't end up using any of the stuff of course, but it's worth $7 to me to not have to lug our jackets with us just so we have them 8 hours later then it starts getting dark and cooler. The lockers are mostly in the front of the parks so there is the requirement to walk to the them to get your stuff, but it's a lot easier than all the way out to the car and back in any of the parks, and most especially easier than getting to your car from MK.

 

[mummabear]

I have 3 kids 5 and under.
We have:
diapers
wipes
sunscreen
a change of clothes for each of the kids and a change of top for me.
Camera
Snacks
baby food
Autograph books

All in 1 bag-no purse etc.
We would also have water bottles in the bottom of the stroller

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I am not affected by what others take into the park

Well you are slightly affected when the security line is 10 or more deep by people carrying 5 bags each. But that is beside the point.

 

[ttintagel]

Sometimes I do envy the folks who can travel lighter than I do. Having medical conditions and not a lot of money makes it harder to carry less. Here's what I generally put in my messenger bag:

Because, obviously:

• Cell phone w/charger
• Wallet with cash/credit card/gift cards/ID

Because my body is a medical disaster zone:

• Prescriptions, medical supplies, glucose gel for low blood sugar, blood glucose monitor
• First aid kit with Band-Aids, antibiotic salve, painkillers, alcohol swabs, and moleskin
• Hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and wet wipes for my compromised immune system
• Sunscreen, SPF lip balm, and heavy lotion for my papery skin
• Water bottle for constant hydration and healthy snacks to prevent aforementioned low blood sugar
• Mini flashlight for when my old-lady eyes don't adjust to the dark quickly enough

Because I'm a big kid who likes getting cute pictures with characters and other kid stuff:

• Hairbrush
• Lipstick
• Mirror
• Ponytail holder
• Camera w/extra batteries and memory card
• Pennies for pressing

Because Florida is Florida:

• Sunglasses w/case and polishing cloth
• Dollar store poncho

Because I'm a stereotypical Virgo who hates being unprepared for mishaps:

• Extra pair of clean socks
• Ziploc bags
• Safety pins
• Printout of ADR's
• Notepad/Pencil
• Tissues

I keep everything in the gallon-sized Ziploc bags, just like in my carryon at the airport, so it usually only takes a minute at bag check. Sometimes they ask my what my blood glucose monitor is, but they've never asked me to open it up and show them. I always make sure all the compartments of my bag are open and ready to check before I get up to the station.



(I admit, I do get a chuckle when I see parents who've brought multiple outfits for each child, and then change the kid's clothes every time they get a spot of food or dirt on themselves, or get mussed up in any way (yelling at the kid the whole time).

Sure, I totally understand you want your Disney pictures to look nice for years to come, but getting grubby and disheveled is half the fun of being a little kid on vacation! Twenty years from now, I wonder if Junior is going to look at a picture of himself with Mickey and think, "Gee, I wish I didn't have that ice cream spot on my shirt," or "Gee, I wish Mom hadn't embarrasssed me in front of that whole crowd of people makig a big deal about me having to change my shirt because I was such a careless little slob?")

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I also have a serious medical condition. Fortunately the number of pills (I have kidney failure and am on dialysis and am also diabetic) fit in a ziploc bag and I can place that in my pocket along with my phone, wallet, comb, keys.