What to carry my stuff in?

[chirurgeon]

I have the dilemma of what to carry my park stuff in. I will have my DSLR with 2 lenses, memory disks and extra battery pack. Then there is the wallet type stuff, money, park ticket, room key etc. Park maps, schedules. A small notebook and maybe a paperback (I'm travelling solo). This will not fit in my camera case. The camera case can be a fanny pack. I do have a small Travelon sling bag. Would you take 2 bags into the park? I don't think I will be able to do a backpack due to a medical port in my upper chest. I don't want to do a really heavy sling pack either. The camera is a must. I love photography.

Suggestions?

TIA,
Kim

 

[WillCAD]

Having gone solo to WDW many times, I suggest you pare it down a little.

Pick a good walkaround lens for your camera and leave the other one home.

Memory cards can go in your pockets, and probably the battery pack, too.

Forget the paperback - you'll never crack it open in the parks.

Notebook - use a small one like this:

which fits in your pocket.

Park passes, room keys, fastpass slips, etc. can go into a neck lanyard like this one from WalMart:

Park maps and schedules fit nicely in your pocket when folded in half.

I carry all of my stuff in my pockets or on my utility belt, which makes it easy to access but lets me bypass the bag check lines.
http://willcad.org/disney_gear.html

 

[karen l]

I've been trying to decide what bag to bring too. I just ordered a bag from zappos - it's a messenger type made by overland equipment. Has a spot for a water bottle & also has a front part that's an organizer with pockets for cell phone, tix etc. Previous years I've taken a small backpack (it can be hot on your back) & a shoulder bag (not enough pockets to stay organized). It's hard to know what will work until you walk around the parks. Check out some pics online & maybe you'll see something that'll work for you. Good luck!

 

[bellelinus]

I use a Healthy Back bag by Ameribags . . . it goes on your shoulder instead on your back, and it is curved to fit along your side comfortably. I find I can put everything in there, including a camcorder/digital camera, water bottle, sunglasses, hats, extra sunscreen, etc. Then there is a front zippered compartment I keep room keys, park passes, money, etc., in so that I can get those items quickly. I can take it on every ride -- even Rock n Roller coaster, where I just loop the strap around my leg and have it (zipped, of course!) on the floor of the car. I have the non-leather (nylon) version so that it doesn't matter if it gets wet on Splash.

Might not work for everyone, but it does for me.

 

[missminniemouse]

I usually travel with the same sort of stuff you described. I have a wedge bag that holds my camera with one lens on the camera. This I sling over my shoulder and across my body. I then take a fanny pack for the second camera lens and other assorted paraphenalia. My fanny pack has a front section to keep the park passes, etc. in...makes it nice to keep that stuff separated from everything else. I've even been known to take a second fanny pack (yes, I have worn two at the same time!), if I'm taking extra camera junk such as filters or even a third lens. I like having as much as possible attached securely to my body...less chance of leaving something behind.

 

[jann1033]

i have a Samsonite rectangular bag originally made i think for the older bigger camcorders but was still on sale at walmart but it fits my slr, an extra lens and all that stuff, plus our passes, comb etc. go for one with a flap over the top with outside zipper compartments and you can put passes and stuff outside and not have to dig through the bag every time you need a fp or chap stick. plus the flap is a little more protection on wet rides . this one can be worn on the waist or the shoulder and was $14 and is probably 6x6x9"( guesstimation, it easily fits a canon rebel slr)

now the truth is , this worked great , fit between us and the seat side, under bars or lap belts but by the middle of the week if it didn't fit in hubby's or my pocket it stayed in the room..maybe pick a couple days for photos and then go light for the others...or maybe i am way to lazy!

imo the bigger the bag the more junk you will never use the more weight you have to carry for nothin,

if you need a small pass, comb, chapstick type bag, they had great envelope type bags, 5x7" or so, in China for $5 a few years ago with a shoulder strap and closed with a loop that weighted nothing and were fantasic for personals and really pretty cloth. i get compliments everytime i use it!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I took a shoulder bad with me, a little bigger then my purse, but not so big that it got in my way. I always carried with me, my camera, extra set of batteries, (I left the charger in my room, and just charged them at night, as well as the extra memory cards,) a small notebook, an autograph book, a couple pens, my wallet, and a small jacket that doesn't take up a lot of space. A couple days, I even managed to fit my sandals in there.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

we're trying to figure out what bag to carry also. Last time we carried a jansport backpack that had my cameras, video camera, ponchos, maps, passes, my passporter, a small first aid kit and a lunch box with snacks. This time I really don't want to lug all that around, we're thinking about leaving the video camera at home (gasp) I might take it but not bring it everywhere with us everyday, it was such a pain in the butt to carry around, it's not as small as the new tiny models. sorry I'm no help here, I'm just trying to get ideas too!

 

[ReninDetroit]

I like the shoulder messenger bags, like the triangle shaped ones (not the square courier bags that are so big and bulky).

I carry a jacket, an extra shirt (if it gets hot and sweaty I like to change), sunscreen, sunglasses, etc. I usually don't carry a camera but I may on my next trip.

 

[tabrizia]

We use the Tamrac Adventure 8 Backpack for our digital SLR plus all it's extra gear. It is a backpack which has spots for two water bottles, a book, various guides and such and random other extra pieces. It is fairly small, though it is a backpack and fits everything needed to spend the day on the go (well as long as you don't need extra clothes etc.). We got ours at Ritz camera. It has room for the camera and 3 lens or some combination there of.

 

[liv4pixiedust]

We have several Camelback bags that we use for various sports (hiking, skiing, mtn biking) and they are fantastic for Disney! They come in all different sizes to suit your individual needs and it gets lighter and has more room as you drink the water from the reservoir bag over the course of the day. I seriously can't imagine Disney without one!

I never really carry a "purse" but use a small bag from Eagle Creek Travel Gear that hold cash, checks, cards and chapstick. Look at places like EMS and REI for these little bags that weigh hardly anything and have an adjustable strap that can go across your body, over your shoulder, or around your waist. Some have a kind of vertical design with a back pocket that holds park maps perfectly.

I also have a very small (smaller than my ipod) first aid kit that holds just a few tablets and bandaids and has a clip to attach to any other bag or a beltloop.

 

[BlindTyldak]

We stick with the "if it doesn't fit in a fanny pack you don't need it" rule. granted we have some pretty packed fanny packs, but still! it's great to be able to walk around the park without an aching shoulder or trying to figure out where you're going to stow things on the rides.

 

[richard_andmel]

We have two Clive bags we love that we always use as our carry ons and also bring one to the parks. We do not fill it full by any means. They wear incredibly well. clivebags.com