What type of bag to use this time?

[laui]

We are taking our three girls this july to DL and I'd like to find a new bag to carry our things in. Our youngest is age 2 so I'll be toting around the usual toddler items for her beside all of our regular stuff.
I do have a basic black nylon backpack that I've used before at the park but it was too hot to wear so we hung it on the back of the stroller. My husband will be going on a lot of rides with our two older girls so I'll most likely be the one wearing it. Something stylish, fun and functional would be nice. Any suggestions would be super!!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Do you think a messenger style bag would fall into 'too hot' catagory too??

 

[Mililani Mouser]

i got one of those baggellinis that was recommended on a previous thread. worked great, but by the end of the trip it was super heavy from carrying all my kids goodies.

 

[laui]

Do you think a messenger style bag would fall into 'too hot' catagory too??

I think a messenger type bag sounds really good actually...

 

[bumbershoot]

I like my baggalini, but my guy is older than your little one. Although I've never done it, I think if we have another kiddo and kiddo's stuff in the future, I'll rent a locker to keep sweatshirts and whatnot in, and just carry the minimum in my bag.

Then again, I go at cooler times, and when DS was in dipes I had the diaper bag (we used cloth so I had to tote in and tote out) with me and never found it to be hotter than anything else I might be carrying.

We've had something stolen from our stroller, so we leave NOTHING in the stroller now, so our things *have to* be carryable. (silly word)

For anyone carrying a normal amount of stuff in the baggalini, I found on this last trip that if you adjust the straps so it is above your waist (note that I'm 5'3" , so above my waist might be up at your shoulder blades if you're taller) and really snug, it gets MUCH lighter on the spine. (but then the side pocket attacked me with its velcro and it took over a month for my inner arm to heal, but that's a whole other story)

 

[2ndStar]

In my daily life, I use an Overland Equipment bag (Donner style) which is GREAT for durability, washability, and storage. Lots of pockets, room on the side for two water bottles (one for each of my kids!), etc. I have two of these bags and LOVE them. They have other styles I really like and want to buy. People ask me where I get my bags all the time. They're also made in the US (hard to find these days).

Having said that, my tried and true DL bag is a navy 1990's light-weight old-school Jansport backpack. I love messenger style bags but firmly believe the backpack is much easier on the shoulders and back. We usually keep all valuables in it and keep sweaters, etc. in the basket of our stroller. I never feel burdened by it and love that it's roomy and handsfree. My vote = stick with the backpack but maybe invest in a lighter color which might not get so hot.

 

[avalon451]

You might consider carrying a smaller messenger bag, and having your DH and your kids carry small waist packs to put their own snacks and water in. Distribute the load! (when you can't leave it all in the stroller, anyway)

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Yeah maybe a smaller messenger type bag that has a lot of cool pockets and get the kids some kind of tiny backpack with their own snacks/water or whatever you were taking?

The good thing about the messenger bag is it's right on your side to grab what you want out of it and if one side starts to feel burdened, you can switch shoulders.

Lemme look around..I've seen some cute ones lately.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

ok so this one is nice (and has 4 colors)
http://www.ebags.com/high_sierra/twist/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=110045

This one has good reviews
http://www.ebags.com/clive/proxy/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=89522

This one is sorta big, but has a LOT of 'features'
http://www.ebags.com/ebags/outlook_laptop_messenger_closeout/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=88817


Those are just some of the under 29 dollar ones. That site has a ton of other options for other sizes (as well as other types of bags). I ordered a makeup travel case from them and they got it to me FAST.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

What kinda bag should you bring if you don't have anyone to hold things for you... IE: everyone in your party will be going on the rides, so what you carry with you, needs to stay on your person.

 

[avalon451]

Unofficial Guide recommended waist packs (aka "fanny packs"). They look dumb. But if everybody wears one, and carries their own snacks, water, cellphone, etc then nobody has the big backpack or bag to haul around. (unless you have little ones in diapers and the whole baby/toddler support system!) Even DD5 had her little waist pack with an itty bitty nalgene water bottle clipped onto it with a carabiner clip. The nice thing about them is that when you get on rides, you just pull it around to the front. No taking a pack on and off and trying to wedge it between your feet.

On the other hand, seems like a well-made messenger bag, slung to the side, wouldn't get in the way much and would certainly rank higher on the "rockin' the Disney look" scale.

 

[Grim_Grinning_Girl]

I usually bring just a regular school style backpack. I personally would not use a messenger style bag. I tried it last year, and it was torture on my back, something about it not being equally balanced on both sides.

Forget about style, the most important thing is comfort and size.

 

[julw]

A really good place to look for bags is at Target in the baby diaper bag section. The diaper bags these days are so cool, not dorky like when my kids were babies ! They have cool messenger style ones there and also backpack style. You can try them on and look at all the different handy compartments. I bought a backpack one there last year and I love it because I love all the little compartments it offers unlike regular backpacks. And believe me no one can tell it is a diaper bag, it's black and brown Also, a lot of the bags have clips on them that will clip on to stroller bars. I love this feature of my backpack because sometimes we still get a stroller for my daughter when her legs tire out and I can know it is clipped on there secure not just flung on over the back with the chance of falling. Good luck!

 

[tlovesdis]

My recommendation is to get the smallest, lightest backpack you can get! The Jansport half pint backpack is perfect. I have used so many different bags over the years and this one is the best. I just carry the essentials and put jackets, etc in a locker. It is a pain to carry something heavy around all day long.

Last week I took a big sling backpack that looked cool and had a ton of pockets, but after just a few hours, I hated it!!!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

What kinda bag should you bring if you don't have anyone to hold things for you... IE: everyone in your party will be going on the rides, so what you carry with you, needs to stay on your person.

I'd probably do the backpack route. I think I may be doing that this year. But take the OP's lesson and don't get a black one

 

[tlovesdis]

I think this is the one I am going to get for my next trip! I already have the same bag in black, but I love this one! EDITED: shoot it doesn't bring up the one I want! I want the last one, white with silver stars!

http://www.ebags.com/jansport/half_pint/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=4485

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

okay that's adorable.

Hmmmmmm *eyeballs it some more*

Ya know..I need a backpack for disneyland....LOL

 

[tlovesdis]

okay that's adorable.

Hmmmmmm *eyeballs it some more*

Ya know..I need a backpack for disneyland....LOL

I need another bag like I need a hole in my head, but it is so cute plus it's on sale right now!!! I love the one I have and use it all the time!

 

[ballarinamom]

My recommendation is to get the smallest, lightest backpack you can get! The Jansport half pint backpack is perfect. I have used so many different bags over the years and this one is the best. I just carry the essentials and put jackets, etc in a locker. It is a pain to carry something heavy around all day long.

Last week I took a big sling backpack that looked cool and had a ton of pockets, but after just a few hours, I hated it!!!

We live in San Antonio and go to Sea World or Six Flags Fiesta Texas weekly. We had recently ordered a new large sling as well. It was no different than a regular backpack by the end of the day. We just bought a smaller sling and it works great!! The one we bought was from ebags and is made by ful. (Not a typo) DH wears it snuglly and not droopy. It has so many compartments and is very light weight. We recently bought two more so DD and I will each have our own. I agree with a pp who said buy one for DH and the older kids and have them carry their own. We first found these on amazon for $12.99 and it came with a hat and free shipping. We had to go to ebags because DD wanted a different color than was offered on amazon. Good luck!!

 

[amyamya]

I went the Target route and got a small Skip*Hop messenger (on clearance!) that is more the size of a large purse. It came with a changing pad. I still have a little one in paper pants so it holds a couple dipes, wipes, the Tiny Diner (which I learned about here) a sippy cup, and then my stuff like wallet, glasses, phone, camera, etc. It also has a front pocket for tickets and fastpasses.

The thing about backpacks is I hate to take them off or swing them around my shoulder to get anything out. We'll also have a bag in the stroller with a change of clothes for each kidlet but after reading the boards and hearing about thefts from strollers I'll prob make DH carry that on rides if no one is staying with the stroller...