What type of bag to carry in the parks???

[MommyPoppins]

Alright, I've been many times...carried a fanny pack, small cloth back pack, and nothing. DH and I are going in May, and I am looking for a new type of bag to carry. I don't really prefer backpacks because the straps sit in your arm pits and it's uncomfortable and kinda gross at the end of the day. I don't want to do a fanny pack because, well I'll look dorky enough with my CROCS. But I would do a fanny pack if it was small/big enough.

What do you carry? and Where did you get it?

Thanks.

 

[laceemouse]

We have usually gone the backpack route, however, my dcs are old enough that we all take turns carrying it. I never had the strap under the arm issue though. Looks like you will have a stroller for many years (the rest of your life if you are QF!) so I would pick something that can hang over the stroller handle while you are pushing it. I am so glad we are done with the strollers!!! It is just so much easier to get around in the crowds without them!! Can't say I have ever used a fanny pack, but I wouldn't be worried about how they look it I wanted to use one. We travel light now, wallet, camera, not much else.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've done the backpack, done the fanny pack. Last time I bought a WDW messenger type bag. It's pretty small, but has little compartments for different things. You just cross it over your body, or over one shoulder..whichever is better for you. I found it to be much more comfortable than the backpack and fanny packs.
You can find them in various shops around WDW...parks and resorts.

 

[disneydiva06]

I'll be carrying a Tinkerbell backpack/purse type thing I got at the Caribbean on my last trip. It was so light, I hardly knew it was there!

 

[mytwotinks]

We always take a backpack and put it on the back of the stroller and only take it off if we leave the stroller to stand in lines or go in a store that it won't fit. A backpack fits perfectly on the stroller handle.

 

[Toulouse]

Great question - I'm thinking about this myself. I've been looking on E-Bay under "Disney Messenger Bag" to get an idea of what's out there - there are some really cute Lady And The Tramp and Bambi bags on there but I'll wait and get mine in the park (by the time I order it and pay for shipping/duty up to Canada it's no savings anyway).

The disneystore.com shop doesn't have a lot there right now unfortunately so you can't get a good idea from there.

Which leads me to this question:

Is there a certain place that's better to get bags like this than others? We're probably going to hit Downtown Disney on our first night and I'm suspecting World Of Disney is the place to go - anyone have any other suggestions?

As always, thanks for your help and answers everyone

 

[disneydiva06]

I found my backpack right in the giftshop when we were exploring our first night there....best thing I could have bought!

 

[TAKitty]

Right now I am taking three different bags with me because I am not sure which one I will like best! I have a backback, but I hate when my back gets hot from wearing it. I have a fanny pack, but it isn't that big. I also have a small messenger bag, but I am not sure if it will begin to hurt my shoulders like the backback does at times. Good Luck!

 

[Dislifer]

I love using a fanny pack. I get all my essentials in there and it's not too heavy and my hands are free. With backpacks I worry that someone could put their hands in it when I'm waiting in a line (yeah, I know I'm paranoid) and it's not that comfortable. Oh well, the fanny pack works for me!

 

[NikP]

Walt Disney World is the only place I wear a fanny pack. It works and is not too heavy. I have to say I like to take it off for pictures. I can't decide what I will be using on our next trip.

 

[jann1033]

usually if it doesn't fit in hubby's cargo shorts pockets it stays home but if i am taking my slr camera, it goes in a 6x6x10 rectangular bag i got at walmart( Samsonite, $14) with a hip &/or shoulder strap, it fits great in the seats of any ride and is pretty light. i also often carry a 5x7 flat cloth envelope bag on a shoulder strap i got at the China epcot store for about $5. it's light weight but fits my pass, lip gloss, confirmation number for adr,a comb since my hair is always a mess and that drives husband nuts(hehe, he has to look at it) the bare necessities i normally take

 

[HockeyGoddess]

i'm a fanny pack girl when we travel - hate how they look but it's the least annoying for me (handsfree, no sore hot back & doesn't keep slipping off my shoulder). i just wish they were more attractive, i would love to find a slimmed down version

 

[MommyPoppins]

usually if it doesn't fit in hubby's cargo shorts pockets it stays home but if i am taking my slr camera, it goes in a 6x6x10 rectangular bag i got at walmart( Samsonite, $14) with a hip &/or shoulder strap, it fits great in the seats of any ride and is pretty light. i also often carry a 5x7 flat cloth envelope bag on a shoulder strap i got at the China epcot store for about $5. it's light weight but fits my pass, lip gloss, confirmation number for adr,a comb since my hair is always a mess and that drives husband nuts(hehe, he has to look at it) the bare necessities i normally take

This used to be us when we traveled without the kids, as this trip is. When we have the kids we take one bag, the diaper bag and it stays in the stroller. But boy we miss that stroller and not having to carry things when it's just us. I only take the things you mentioned as well, and sometimes our small camera bag. DH holds my license and our passes in his wallet and we USED to put everything else in his cargo shorts pockets so we didn't have to wait in the security line. However, he now doesn't like cargo shorts anymore and his new jeans shorts are plan with just regular pockets. Boy those cargos are nice, he can carry everything in those babies.

 

[jann1033]

and this trip we are taking a 2.5 yr old so i am guessing the cargo pockets will not work as well( unless they are weighed down like a pack mule )

 

[seobaina]

i have a query about this too. I don't have kids, so no strollers. However, I want to carry my video recorder with me. It's a couple of years old so it's not a tiny palm of the hand one. I was just going to wear a backpack, because it's what I'm used too, but I hadn't really thought about hot backs and underarm from the straps, etc - I'm from the UK, it doesn't get that hot. Any suggestions?

 

[Luv2Diz]

I took a Rick Steves (the travel guru) day bag that I bought on his website. It is similar to a backpak but smaller and much lighter. Just large enough to hold my wallet, camera, rain ponchos, umbrella and small purchases. It also has 2 holders on the exterior for water bottles. It is comfortable to sling over the shoulder for carrying but small enough to easily stow on those rides that require you to secure your personal belongings!

 

[knebel22@frontiernet]

Walt Disney World is the only place I wear a fanny pack. It works and is not too heavy. I have to say I like to take it off for pictures. I can't decide what I will be using on our next trip.

Same here. My fanny pack has bottle holders. We freeze the water bottles and drink from them all day. Only thing is they get heavy. We took turns wearing it last time. I've looked at the Baggallini messenger bag but can't justify spending the money when I already have the fanny pack.
So I will look dorky in my CROC knock-offs and my fanny pack!

 

[crazy4disney01]

I use a backpack and have never really had any problems. It is usually out of my way and easy to tote around. I just try to pack as light as I can.

 

[Kaybee]

I always in the past have used the dorky fanny pack with no problems. This year I bought for our May trip a travelon bag from QVC. If you do a search on QVC for travelon bags they have several styles to choose from. They are messenger style bags with a strap that goes across your chest with the bag resting on your hip. They come in several different colors. The one I got the strap is detachable and the "purse" part can snap onto your belt. It is pretty roomy with a zipper on the bottom to make the bag expand if you need more room. The cost was I think about $19 or $20.

 

[Skroops]

I am hooked on the Kipling bags. They are very light weight, durable and versatile. My favorite is a bag that that can convert between an over the shoulder across the body to a back pack. Kipling also makes a great fanny pack and back pack (which I also have and use). I found them originally in the airport, but I have seen them occationally at T.J. Maxx for almost half the price. They are krinkly in appearance so shoving them into my cramped suitcase doesn't affect the look of the bag. You have probably seen them, they come with an ape on a key chain, which I remove immediately and replace with a Mickey keychain!