What should I take inside the parks?

[Jedi]

wallet, cellphone, camera...in pocket...lol

 

[brewhome]

Don't forget lip balm with sunblock, sunglasses, extra batteries for your camera (mine eats AA's like they're going out of style), and some tissues.

I would agree with the other responders that you won't need extra clothes. I wouldn't go too overboard because you'll get sick of carrying it around with you. Or, start with a lot the first day, see what you actually use, and pare it down from there.

Here's what I brought last February, which barely took up any room:

- key to the World cards/other ID/a bit of cash (we didn't use much!!)
- cell phone (my hubby had his in his pocket)
- camera
- a baggie with: a few band-aids, tissues, lip balm with sunblock, a small tube of sunscreen, extra batteries for the camera, mints
autograph books and pens
- sunglasses for all 4 of us (me, DH, DS age 9 and DS age 7)
- a couple of water bottles

This year, instead of regular water bottles, I'm buying and bringing two collapsible ones - you can fill them, freeze them, and roll them up when you're done. They also have a clip if you want to attach them to your belt loops. Here's the site: http://vapur.us/

Last of all, sweatshirts or rain coats as needed. It all fit in one bag!!

HAVE A GREAT TIME!!

 

[selina4disney]

Money and a Credit Card. A BIG credit card!

 

[Alesia]

So this is what I'm thinking about taking. Please give opinions on what I should add or subtract (again, we'll be there next week so it should be hot and possibly wet with thunderstorms):
Camera Yes.
Video camera I wouldn't
Plastic refillable water bottles It's easier to just get free ice water at any CS location
Bandaids I might throw a couple in the bag.
Moleskin I wouldn't bother. I found that it ended up coming off, sticking to the inside of my shoe, and irritating my feet more.
Body Glide Just apply it in your room. You don't need to take it in the parks with you.
Flip flops or crocs for the kids for the wet rides? I would just let them wear their flip flops or crocs to the park. Why carry around extra shoes?
Extra set of clothes for the kids? I wouldn't.
Ponchos (have stocked up from the Dollar Tree) I honestly would rather get wet than mess with ponchos.
Sunscreen (small tube just for reapplying to faces) Absolutely!
Pennies/Quarters for pressing Definitely.
Hats Put them on your heads, not in the bag.
Empty grocery bag/zip lock for wet stuff I'd bring a gallon sized bag to put your camera and autograph books in, just in case.
Hand gel I wouldn't bother, but I tend to be a rebel when it comes to germs.
Wipes A very small, travel-sized package.
Autograph books/pens Yes.

My opinions are in purple.

Honestly, I would be miserable carrying around all of that stuff. I took a small string backpack that weighed less than 5 pounds, fully packed.

 

[fla4fun]

I don't have kids, but I'll tell you what I carry.

Typically, I wear a pair of cargo jeans or capris. In one pocket, I'll put my wallet. In the wallet are my ticket, ID, cash, cc, and a band aid or two. In the other pocket I put one individually packaged Off towelette in case I encounter a lot of mosquitos, and three or four individually packaged Wet Ones wipes, so I can wash before eating anything. If I decide to take my camera, it hangs on a neck strap. Personally, I don't carry my cell phone in the parks - most of my trips are solo so I'm not meeting up with other people, and I'd rather the outside world stay outside. But if I needed to carry it, it would go in a pocket as well.

If the rain chance is less than 30 percent, I won't take a poncho or anything to the parks. It's pretty easy to dodge inside a building for the duration of the average summer rain shower. If the rain is predicted to be all day, or over 50% chance, I will wear a crossbody bag that holds my nylon poncho.

If I'm traveling in the winter when you need a jacket in the morning and evening, but not during the day, I take advantage of the park lockers so I don't have to carry it around.

I really prefer to go bag free as much as possible. Less to keep track of and less to carry. Instead of carrying moleskin to care for blisters afterward, I would protect your feet in the first place. I know where the hot spots on my feet are, and I put a piece of cloth adhesive tape over those spots. The shiny surface of the tape slides easily against the socks, and reduces the friction. I haven't had a single blister since I started doing this. The same with the Body Glide - if you apply it in the room, you won't need to carry it with you. I apply a sport formula, sweat resistant sunscreen, and I've never had a need to reapply in the theme parks (water parks are a different story).

 

[whitneyNC]

Wow. I'm not sure I pack that much for the week. For fall trips we carry rain jackets (even if there's no chance, we use them for cool mornings or water rides), cell phones (reservation # in it), small camera, and key/admission cards and maybe socks for everyone. That's it. One jansport sling type bag, five people. The one stap sling is good because you can turn it on your chest to get in it without taking it off, and you can wear it on most rides. Sunscreen in the room before going. Wear crocs. We're good.

 

[TruBlu]

Here's my advice:

Camera
Video camera
Plastic refillable water bottles I wouldn't worry with these. You can get free cups of ice water at all CS restaurants.
Bandaids
Moleskin
Body Glide I'd apply it in the morning and leave it at the room. I've never needed to re-apply.
Flip flops or crocs for the kids for the wet rides? We always wear our crocs all day.
Extra set of clothes for the kids? It's hot. They will dry.
Ponchos (have stocked up from the Dollar Tree) I pack 4 (one each) in a small baggie for each day. You will probably need them.
Sunscreen (small tube just for reapplying to faces)
Pennies/Quarters for pressing
Hats Only if you think the kids will wear them. Mine wont.
Empty grocery bag/zip lock for wet stuff
Hand gel
Wipes Just a few in a baggie.
Autograph books/pens

One thing I would suggest (that is very light) is getting a fleece baby blanket or two from the Dollar Tree. We keep 2 in our backpack and our boys always need them during TS meals. They get very cold in the AC.

 

[Jonell]

Don't forget the lip balm and lots of hand sanitizer. I use the gel kind and also Germ X Wipes. I heard the alcohol based hand sanitizer will not kill the bug that causes the stomach virus, but the germ-x wipes will. I'm germaphobic at Disney now since 2 years ago my son ended up at the ER from the stomach virus while at Disney.

 

[fla4fun]

Don't forget the lip balm and lots of hand sanitizer. I use the gel kind and also Germ X Wipes. I heard the alcohol based hand sanitizer will not kill the bug that causes the stomach virus, but the germ-x wipes will. I'm germaphobic at Disney now since 2 years ago my son ended up at the ER from the stomach virus while at Disney.

The main ingredient in the Wet Ones wipes will kill the norovirus - that's the main reason I carry them. The individually packaged ones are so convenient to carry too. I get a bag of 144 individually packaged wipes at our local BJ's, and that lasts me through several Disney trips.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Also, do your kids carry their own small packs with their autograph books and other things?

I don't see why not? Even if it's one they can share and take turns carrying. I'm getting a small drawstring backpack for my oldest DD(9) on our trip. Not sure about the one that will be 6?

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

We're going in December this year. Does it get cold enough before Christmas to kill off the demon bugs, or do I need to plan on bringing repellant as well?

Bring the repellent. It's been a long, hot, miserably humid and wet summer. A bumper crop of mosquitos (and they carry disease) is the result.

In Florida, always have the sunscreen and always have mosquito repellent.

 

[Ela1972]

I only take a very small handbag with me. 7inch high, 4inch wide and about 3-4inch deep.

In it I fit wipes (small pack), tissues, lollypops, purse (tickets KTTW etc), mobile, Plan for day index card with park hours for all parks on back and any ADR's, headache tablets, childrens sachet pain relief, plasters/blister plasters just in case. (we are always as far from the first aid station as possible when we need something and they are not heavy).
I am determined to decrease it to what I can fit in my pockets when girls are a little older and stop getting dirty!!

Apply once a day sunscreen in morning, (can buy factor 50 one for me as I have an allergy to the sun) it works all day do not have to carry it round.

Apply citronella oil couple of drops mixed with cheap moisturiser this will frighten off any bugs. (DD5 gets bitten everywhere if I forget to put this on, and she gets quarter sized lumps that itch for weeks!!) again lasts all day, but I reapply if we have been back early afternoon and had a swim.

DH takes camera/video camera and swaps depending on what we are doing.

Also take 2 bottles of water, and take turns at carrying them, the last person to drink from them carries it!!!!
THE MOST IMPORTANT thing is a smile and some patience .

Have a wonderful trip

 

[NJDisney]

Thats a good list and a good idea. Next year, I am gonna insist my kids carry some stuff as they are now getting to a point where they can.

We also rent a strollar just in case a kid gets tired and throw the stuff in there

 

[bartleby1]

We just got back and now that my kids are a little older, we were able to travel fairly light. Here's what I brought into the parks. My kids are 10, 8, and 5.

Camera bag: Digital camera (which also shoots video, but in years past we fit a small digital camera plus our video camera in this bag), Autograph books and pen, extra batteries. We also bring one of the extra large ziploc bags to put the whole camera bag in if it rains or for wet rides.

Fanny packs (DH and I both wore them): Bandaids, Moleskin, A few advil, money, tickets, ziploc baggie full of wipes, purell, gum.

Small cooler bag (stayed in stroller, but I probably wouldn't have brought it if we didn't have the stroller): 6 bottles of water packed in ice

5 of the small emergency ponchos from walmart which fit in the pocket on my stroller. These are very thin and only 88 cents each. Sometimes we reuse them, sometimes throw them out. If you can find fanny packs for your kids, they can each carry their own poncho and autograph book.

HTH!

 

[KathyK]

I went alone with my kids for 5 days this past summer, and on those days that it was just me and the kids, they carried their own bags. Each girl had a poncho, sunglasses, autograph book, and water bottle. I carried my wallet, cellphone, camera, and a small bottle of sunscreen in a very small purse.

Here they are with their bags:

 

[luvthemouse71]

I don't normally bring a video camera but seeing how this is your first trip, you may want it. Most cameras shoot video, as do some cell phones.

I'm a believer in moleskin. Bandaids are small,I might throw some in the bag. Body Glide can be applied in the room. Sunscreen should come with you.

Agree that the extra change of clothes isn't necessary.

I have the little clip on dispenser for Purell. I'm not sure I'd bother to carry a water bottle. I carry extra batteries for my camera, money/debit card, my iPhone, my camera and the items above. Sometimes we do ponchos, sometimes not.