What kind of tote do you take into parks/what do you pack?

[disgram]

I would also like to know where I can get one of the nylon Disney bag

 

[Candleshoe]

We're going to WDW for the first time in just 22 Days

Congrats!

We bought annual passes for our first trip Oct 2003! And went again Feb 2004 and Oct 2004. And haven't been since. *sigh* I have been "given permission" to plan a trip again in 2006! yay!

Anyway, about the backpacks. Here's some random information...

1) I swore we weren't going to "do" the autograph books.. thought it was silly.. and then our first day at WDW, in MK we rounded a corner and there was buzz so DH and DD stood in line while I raced to the nearest store cart and bought a pen and book and raced back. LOL.

This became important because it was necessary to have the "book and pen" easy to get to and yet protected from water/rain.

2) We started with backpacks on each of us, and I'd leave mine in the stroller (dd was 3-1/2 on the first trip) except when we'd leave the stroller. The backpacks were problematic for these reasons:
* HAVE to go through the bag search lines when you are SO ready to go straight in
* They just LOOSE things in them lol. And they invite you to take more than really needed
* DH would never take his off before rides until we were ready to board. I just couldn't train him. ::grin:: So we'd get to the ride, I'd get in, he'd hand DD to me, and then have to take off his backpack to get in, and it was just frustratingly slow.
* Also you have to "store" them in the ride. Usually pretty easy because many rides have a netting you put your gear in, but if your backpack is overstuffed it's hard to do!
* We DID have backpacks though, and first trip DH had our video cam which was a tape-camera and it was in his fancier canvas bag. I had a cheap ($3 on sale at walmart) Nylon pack. On Kali River Rapids, DH's got soaked through, and mine kept everything dry. So, even though you can inner-wrap everything in ziplocks I suggest nylon. AND I suggest putting some tissues or notepaper in it, closing it tightly and setting it in the shower for a few minutes. ::mgrin:: Just to test before you leave!

3) 2nd trip we bought fanny packs. I searched high and low for one for dd that would fit both her and her autograph book -- because she wanted to be in charge of it. I couldn't find one! So I bought 3 adult ones (Nylon because of our last experiences!) and cut and resewed DDs to fit her. It worked perfectly. I'm overweight so the fanny pack was not my idea of great fashion (ha!) but it SURE beat the back-aches I had, and the time DH would take getting on.

4) Also bought some bags/purses (2 cause I thought SIL would be coming along.) Can't find a picture of them but they're basically in the shape of a half-moon with a single zippered compartement which has an inner zippered "pocket". These can be worn cross body and so don't need to be taken off for most rides! Also water-resistant.

5) Also bought the passporter neck pouches. They were okay and we used them but not perfect and I would personally buy a commercial traveler's wallet instead. The idea though was great because on some trips into the parks we'd just take those and not have to go through bag-check. Trips such as just going back into the park for fantasmic or illuminations.

Well that trip went better, and DH still took the backpack (my old one this time) for some trips. But I was still searching for a better way to take in what we needed without taking in too much and without having to go through bag check!

6) for the last trip we got DH a fishing vest. It worked like a charm. it took most of our stuff and I'd just use the neck strap. We used a combination of nylon backpack, fishing vest, fanny pack, neck strap and big bag/purse. Depending on the park, the weather, the mood, the need to bring stuff etc. (For instance on our Cinderella breakfast I packed extra clothes for DD so she wouldn't wear the princess dress all day. And for DH's birthday supper at liberty tree I took it to carry presents etc). It was wonderful having a variety of options.

Only pics I can find of DH's vest

and (can you tell DD is tired here! LOL. You can also see our 'safari' bandanas I bought before the trip to help keep us cool)

And... here you can see DD's waist pack. In the Pooh picture she's got her ballcap clipped to it.
More pics

We'll probably bring a backpack again but the drawbacks to them far outway any convenience -- for us.



Have a WONDERFUL wonderful trip!!

Sherry


PS: I was trying to find a picture of the purse-bag I bought and can't, but I found this intriguing one!! Too bad it only appears to come in sports green!

2 bags in one Hydration

 

[wildzootv]

fishing vest - what an awesome idea!!!! Thank you!

 

[laurabelle]

I don't carry much, especially now that my girls are older and carry their own bags. I bought a small, light denim bag with a long shoulder strap at Mitsokoshi a couple of years ago and I use it in the parks. I bring my celly, credit card, a little cash, room key card, Times Guide, lipstick, any meds are placed in a little ziploc bag, small tube sunscreen, pen, a couple of bandaids, hand sanitizer, and after the last trip I will never go without fem. hygiene products ... sunglasses are on my head and hubby carries the camera bag. My youngest dd carries the hairbrush! It's a Minnie one she bought a few years ago, and amazingly still has, and I tell her she always has to pack it. It's compact and has a little mirror and it's a must have after rides like Test Track! We all have bottle straps from Epcot and I bought these water bottles from Target that have a plastic bottle inside an insulated holder. I took out the bottle and hook the insulated holder to the bottle strap and we put our water bottles in it to help keep it cold and keep it from dripping on us.

 

[Hugpug]

I have a Travel Pack. You can use it as a Fanny Pack in the parks and as a should bag otherwise. It has 3 large compartments and 1 side pocket across the front. Works great for me. I got it at a travel store in the shopping mall.

 

[Candleshoe]

fishing vest - what an awesome idea!!!! Thank you!

You're quite welcome! You know, after DH started wearing (and loving) the vest, we were at the Agrabar market -- well, *I* was at the Agrabar market and DH and DD were in line for the Aladin ride -- Anyway, there I was browsing and saw a Disney vest in almost the same cut but a darker khaki color. Plus DHs was $15.00 at Acadamy (closeout sale) and Agrabar's was about $35 iirc. Must have been trying to recoup money from all the street rats!

 

[Disney Doll]

I have a pocketbook from Eddie Bauer that is about 9x6. I carry sunglasses, money/ID, tickets, cell phone.

I travel light.