What kind of bag do you bring?

[Boopuff]

The minute my kids were out of a stroller, they carried their own stuff. Each girl had her own backpack with water bottle and poncho. They never complained. I always carry my favorite Vera Bradley backpack.

 

[LizzyS]

I used my ewoks Loungefly backpack for the first time this trip and it worked out great. It held enough stuff (plus some of my husband's, AS ALWAYS), but was small enough to not weigh me down and was easy to get on and off rides with.

 

[VandVsmama]

I use a Baggalini shoulder bag. It's pretty big. Very lightweight. It hardly weighs a thing. When we went to WDW in June 2018, I used it to hold:

2 water bottles
3 reusable ponchos
wallet
couple of cell phones
a few other odds & ends
big scarf - super lightweight, I use it for us to sit on during parades + doubles as a real scarf if your neck gets cold in the evening

It was great. I'm using it on our DL trip in a little over a week. My kids are 11 & 13. 2 yr ago, we tried having them be responsible for a backpack that they both shared. That didn't work out so well...they left it on rides once or twice. Your mileage may vary, of course! This time around, they're sharing a small backpack (not school backpack size) to keep their own items in. Simple stuff like:
- their spending money
- water bottle
- 1 poncho each
- cell phone
- charger cord + battery for cell phone
- ziplock bag for cell phone for Splash Mtn
- YDD's going to bring a change of bottoms in case she gets soaked on Splash Mtn

 

[RockchalkDex]

I have a 3 yo and an 8 yo. I bring a small cross body and small backpack. Works well for us!

 

[tink89]

DH has a Disney backpack we got in 2011 when we booked a trip with Costco. I will put one or two water bottles and snacks. I will sometimes have my Loungefly Minnie backpack or sometimes just my phone. DD sometimes has her backpack or just puts her Hydro in dads bag.

 

[Pickles2000]

I do a backpack that can fold down into a small pocket. We fill it with snacks and then when all the snacks are done I can fold it down and it takes up less space.

 

[mocame]

Locker locations: Main Street, Buena Vista Street, the esplanade between the two parks. Grizzly has a small bank of lockers that are free for 2 hours while on the ride. So, never really more than 15 minutes away from the esplanade ones anywhere in the parks. Hubs prefers the esplanade ones, but I usually do the Main Street ones since I spend more time in DL proper.

They come in a few different sizes, and at $7-15 per day if I remember correctly. In small $7 ones, we can get everything we need for 2 adults and a kid, including coats.

My general thought is that there's nothing I need so suddenly that a 15-minute walk/wait is unreasonable. And if it is time sensitive (like my asthma inhaler), then I carry it with me. Coats? Locker, because I will know in getting chilly well before I actually need it. Extra shoes? Locker, because I can just change shoes when I'm near the locker. Flip flops? In my bag with me so that I don't have to go to the locker veggie riding Splash or Grizzly

Great information! It's just my DD and me so we probably would only need a small locker. If we decide to park hop one day, we could use the lockers in the esplanade and not have to pay twice. Thank you!

 

[Kittyblue]

DH and I both bring backpacks, although mine is more of a purse style. The kids sometimes bring mini backpacks for their autograph books and pin lanyards if they want to trade.

 

[Marcus A. Jordan]

People bring too much stuff in the parks. It’s highly entertaining to watch y’all go through bag check and have to open every compartment in all those bags.

Is there ever a good reason for every adult in a group to carry a sizable backpack? You’ll have to carry that bulky weight all day, and it is difficult to take large bags on some rides.

You’re only going to be in the park for like 12 hours max. Ask yourself if you really need extra shoes, changes of clothes, buffet of snacks, ...

 

[theluckyrabbit]

A similar thread on the Community Board: Cross body bag.

 

[ZCarroll]

We just have one backpack that we all take turns with to hold our water and snacks, everything else we carry in fanny/waist packs/utility belts. I also have carabiners on my waist pack that I can attach other things to.

 

[Val56]

Cargo pants with usable pockets.

 

[LizzyS]

People bring too much stuff in the parks. It’s highly entertaining to watch y’all go through bag check and have to open every compartment in all those bags.

Is there ever a good reason for every adult in a group to carry a sizable backpack? You’ll have to carry that bulky weight all day, and it is difficult to take large bags on some rides.

You’re only going to be in the park for like 12 hours max. Ask yourself if you really need extra shoes, changes of clothes, buffet of snacks, ...

I totally get it if you have small children and need supplies, but otherwise I totally agree. A small backpack is one thing, but I've seen people in security with huge rucksacks and I'm always like "they really want to carry that around all day?". Sure, you could save some money bringing in all your food for the day, but convenience is more important to me.

 

[Daniella Pannone]

We've taken a Mountain Warehouse Dash 10L backpack to the parks the last few times we went, and its showing no wear and tear and has always held a few bottles of water, sun cream, purse, wallet, camera with batteries, 2 ponchos and the bungee cord attachement on the front was great for holding ears when they got itchy at all

 

[Peachy0118]

I totally get it if you have small children and need supplies, but otherwise I totally agree. A small backpack is one thing, but I've seen people in security with huge rucksacks and I'm always like "they really want to carry that around all day?". Sure, you could save some money bringing in all your food for the day, but convenience is more important to me.

Yup. And there are so many ways to lessen the load... DH and I will share drinks or water, for example... I don't understand why everyone would typically need their own.
Again totally different situation with little kids, of course.

When we used to go as kids, once there wasn't a diaper bag (there were 4 of us kids with an 11 year gap between me, the oldest, and my youngest sibling), my parents would bring a camera backpack only. If something wasn't small enough to fit in an outside pocket, you could carry it yourself or it didn't come. I usually brought an average-size purse for sunglasses inside, wallet, ears, and my younger siblings' stuff (like an autograph book).

So 6 people, including little kids, with one camera bag and one purse.

 

[jcatron243]

Everyone in our group has their own small bag. Each of us takes in a water bottle, small bottle of sunscreen, chapstick, hand sanitizer, petroleum jelly (in case of chaffing) and our wallets. Our phones are usually in our pockets. It’s been like this since our kids were old enough to go without a stroller. The first couple of trips my husband and I reminded the kids after every ride to grab their bags so it became a habit for them.

 

[wench]

I normally use a drawstring pirate themed backpack I got from DLR years ago. It’s a canvas type fabric with a waterproof inner liner. I’ve always loved how easy it was & I could fit a ton in it if needed. And my son carries one as well for his stuff. But on our last trip I got a waterproof Dooney & Bourke Haunted Mansion backpack. It doesn’t fit quite as much, but it may be the most amazing thing I’ve ever owned.

 

[Lkem]

Everyone in our group has their own small bag. Each of us takes in a water bottle, small bottle of sunscreen, chapstick, hand sanitizer, petroleum jelly (in case of chaffing) and our wallets. Our phones are usually in our pockets. It’s been like this since our kids were old enough to go without a stroller. The first couple of trips my husband and I reminded the kids after every ride to grab their bags so it became a habit for them.

We can take the bags on most rides, right?

 

[Pickles2000]

We can take the bags on most rides, right?

Yes. Even ones that would surprise you like Incredicoaster.

 

[Going2DisneyAZ]

my pack this year