What should I take to the parks each day!!

[christi]

I am a fist timer and am confused about everything!
I have 3 kids and wonder if anyone can tell me what to take to the parks in my backpack each day? What did everyone find useful? Obvious things like change of clothes etc I can do but is there anything else I might forget? Thanks loads!

 

[vernon]

You don't say the ages of your kids, but if any of them are at the age they need a stroller it will allow you a little more room to pack some extras also you don'[t say what time of year. Getting sufficient drinks into them ( and the right type of drinks) can be hard and expensive. If you're going in the warm part of the year ( which is most of the time LOL. It's important to try and get some fluid replacement drinks as well as allowing them coke and 7up etc. The gatoraid/poweraid that you can buy is good for getting the fluid in them and a cheaper option to buying them in the parks ( at $3 a go) is to buy the powdered variety inthe supermarket, make it up the night before and if you have access to a freezer place it in the freezer overnight and it will stay cold for hours. topping it up with water from a fountain makes it go further as well. There are lockers at the gates to most of the parks, so if you do not need a stroller, you could take out one of these to leave clean,dry clothes in should you need them. That would at least save you having to carry them around with you all day and you could drop off any purchases you make, again saving your shoulders.

 

[Sue & Co.]

In addition to the above we took bottles of water (it was much cheaper in Walmart than the parks), non-chocolate sweets ie fruit polos or similar (to suck whilst in line) wet wipes for when (not if) they got sticky and blister plasters as they did far more walking than they ever do in England.

 

[Disney owl]

My kids are older & that does make a difference, they will be 16, 12, & 11 when we go in August plus we are taking DS girlfriend.

We don't carry a backpack We each have a bum bag & mange with those. Wouldn't be seen out in one at home but so easy on holiday. Less chance of losing them as you don't have to take them off on the rides.

The only thing we carry separate is my camera & a water carrier. this is insulated & holds a litre bottle of water. We take it to the parks with the bottom quarter frozen & the rest is water we've bought at a super market. Much cheaper. We refill it from the water fountains, saying that my kids don't really like the taste of Disney water. But we make them drink it! This doesn't cut out buying drinks in the parks but lessens the cost a little.

our bottle of suntan cream will fit into the water carrier too as you have to re-apply throughout the day

In my bumbag I have wetwipes, a small 1st aid kit,also 1 of those carrier bags some sport shops give you with the draw strings. We use this to put hats & bumbags in on a wet ride. I also have a pen & small note book & always write down exactly wheere the car is in the car park.

oh & another vote for sweets to suck whilst waiting.
this year we are borrowing a friends walkie talkies so that will be something else to carry.

not sure this is of any help!

 

[Goofyish]

ME

 

[Aceman88888]

If you are going to use a stroller, take frozen bottles of mineral water if you have the facilities to freeze them.

With regard to onsite water, the disney water fountains generally taste disgusting but at the Universal ones, the water is nicely chilled and is very refreshing. We had no problem topping up our water bottles from these!!!

 

[peter r]

We always take a flannel in a plastic bag. Its great to wet it in the drinking fountains which are everywhere in the parks and then wipe your face - nice and cool!

Peter

 

[christi]

Thanks for all your replies! Kids are 12, 9 and 5 so don't know if I'll have a stroller, youngest has been out of one for sometime, but I gather this does not always exclude them from one at the parks! The tips about the drinks are great, I'll definately take the water bottles and the plasters for the blisters! We are staying at the Dolphin and I think that we can send packages back there from WDW parks when we have purchased them so that'll save us carrying them.
I like the idea of everyone carrying their own , the alternative seems to be me humfing at all around! What about food, my husband seems to think that carrying a picnic every day will be good for saving money ! I'm not so sure!
Cheers
Christi

 

[Kimkie]

MY DD9 had her own bumbag and we had a buggy for DS4, who wouldn't go near one normally as he is a strong walker, but we found it really useful. You will walk miles and even older kids get tired! DH and I also had a bumbag. It is so much easier to have hands free and not be loaded down with anything. I wouldn't take a picnic, but thats just me.

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

We usually take a picnic - not a huge one, just enough to get by between what is usually a large breakfast and dinner.
Some sandwiches or subs, crisps, biscuits, fruit. It does help on the budget front, theme park snacks are more expensive than elsewhere.
We have always had a stroller so that came in handy for carrying the extra around. You could always use a locker though if you don't need a stroller.

Cath

 

[Sue88UK]

This year I got my children to carry one of those light plastic type back packs. They put their own water and autograph books, pens, sweets, sunglasses etc in them. Saved a lot of space in our own. If they forecast rain, we always take a pancho for everyone as it can really pour down, and you will get very wet if you want to keep moving while it rains.

We always take a walkie talkie, if one of you need to take the kids to the loo, the other can wait in line for something. You can agree on a place to meet, but sometimes the amount of people there are around, you cannot always see your family!

 

[Leech esq]

When we went in 2000,(two adults ,one child at eight,and two at seven)we managed on cereal bars and gatorade,from walmart,as snacks.

 

[vernon]

While I understand the idea of taking a picnic, I think coming for the Dolphin ( or any other hotel) this is likely to prove impractical and unlikely to save much money as you would have to buy most things "ready made" . You would have to go to the supermarket to get the food, back to your room, pack it and scurry off. It's going to cost you an hour a day that way. If your hubby thinks it's such a good idea, send him off to the supermarket and let him do the running around while the rest of you get ready, I think he'll soon lose interest LOL.

 

[christi]

Brilliant idea Vernon! I love it, off to the supermarket he goes!!

 

[SidB]

Water
Camera
Water
Sun cream
Water
Spare film
Water
Poncho's
Water
Snacks
Water
Sweets, normally skittles.
Water
Autograph books and pens
Water
Hats

I think you get the message about the water. We don't just take water as I'm a coke addict (I am going to give it up, honest). You don't need a picnic, just pringles, cereal bars, apples etc. If you fuel to the maximum at breakfast you'll not need lunch.

If you're taking clothes you'll need a small rucksack, so make sure it's waterproof.

We ask the kids to take bumbags.

Make sure you've all got hats. Sunstroke is a serious possibility.