What's in YOUR "day at DL" bag?

[VandVsmama]

Kind of like that annoying commercial that says, "What's in YOUR wallet?" what's in YOUR theme park bag? You're spending the day at DL. What to you bring in with you?

Are you a minimalist or are you a sherpa?

Here's my plan for our upcoming trip just 1 month from today... (I thought of this because I was going through our suitcases last night)

Last time we went to DL, I brought a heavier backpack and since it was VERY warm that day (91 degrees), I was sweating horribly most of the day due to the weather AND the backpack. So this time around, I'm bringing a very lightweight travel purse (here's what it looks like, in case anyone is interested --> https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/civita-shoulder-bag).

Our strategy this time will be to take afternoon breaks, so I'm not packing in a bunch of sweatshirts to put in a locker. If my kids need sweatshirts, we'll bring them w/us when we head back to the parks late afternoon.

So here's what I think I'll have in my DL bag:

• wallet
• cell phone & portable battery charger
• 1 water bottle
• some fruit snacks & goldfish crackers - for my kids to snack on when they're hungry while standing in line for a ride
• 1 ziplock bag w/a change of undies & shorts for my YDD who seems to have a small bladder and doesn't like stopping for potty breaks
• on day 1 - PhotoPass+ voucher to take to Main Street Camera Shop
• tickets - I am the keeper of the tickets in our family
• info on my phone re: our dining reservations (reservation #, restaurant, & time)
• printed RideMax itinerary for that day
• park map
• a pen

In late afternoon/evening, if we're going to see fireworks & Paint the Night, I'll bring a lightweight sarong for us to sit on. Doubles as a shawl/extra thing to keep kids warm if it's colder than expected.

How about the rest of you?

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

It is so nice that my dd isn't little anymore... I can carry a lot less!

Travel size sunscreen
Lip balm
Advil
Hand sanitizer and a travel pack of "wet ones"
A couple band aids
Fingernail clippers (small and compact and useable for more than just nails in a pinch!)
Cell phone (I leave the charger in the room and have never had issues, but I am only taking the occasional pic with it)
Paper with list of ressie confirmation numbers and times
Tickets, room key, gift cards and 1 credit/debit card
Cheapy ponchos in case we do GRR or Splash.

When we did autographs, a small pack of mutlicolored click open sharpies and the book... Characters love choosing their own color and the click kind vs the lid you have to take off are preferred.

 

[Girimama33]

I take a Vera Bradley Disney Hipster with a portable charger, phone, wipes, hand sanitizer and a small wristlet with credit cards, cash and gift cards. I also take a lightweight backpack that will hold a few bottles of water (I grew up in Anaheim and cannot stand the taste of the water), a sarong or small blanket and a sweatshirt. I like being able to haul around a souvenir if I pick one up.
I used to use an At-At Crossover bag, but the zipper broke.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Sherpa in a front carry sling saddle bag

* dry socks for son after splash, been a great kid but those wet socks and socks in general, well they have become his OCD

* trail mix, everyone loves variety while waiting in line as we do not bring smart phones to by pass time in the park but standard turn of the century issued phones

*breakfast bars, cheese sticks and bag of water flavoring as are Salem water comes from snow melt.
*bottle of water in the side pocket, fountain fill-up, add flavor.
*band aids, always have a guest visitor who didn't believe that i travel expedition style and good shoes are required.

*film camera for that once in a life time Disney moment of rare character.

*ponchos in the evening for spontaneous Splash Ride. GRR is always a planned night activity.

* I carry two wallets in my pockets. One just for tickets to access Fastpass and carry the fastpass, and I carry all tickets, I don't want a guest to shoulder blame for a lost ticket. Wallet with cash in other pocket.

*Sunglasses, just never know when the shade disappears.

*chap stick because of the constant thirst and no quick way to quench the thirst. the only time I use chap stick is in Disneyland.

 

[22Tink]

We use a small backpack

Water
Sunscreen
Camera/phone
Small snacks
Hand sanitizer
Wallet
Band aids
Sunglasses
Chapstick

 

[iKristin]

I put my ID, AP and CC in my pocket, my phone in my other pocket. No bag or anything

 

[goldmay]

If I'm doing a full day:
- camera
- sunscreen
- lip balm
- roll-on perfume
- phone
- reusable water bottle
- small notebook and pen
- in hot weather, a mister fan
- hair ties

And not really in my bag, but I like to wear a watch in case my phone dies.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I'll add, we stopped carrying water in the parks, any counter service restaraunt will give you a free cup of water if you ask, so we do that as needed. Less weight to carry!

 

[Oswald23]

Do you mean my bag or my wife's hahahaha

I prefer to only take my wallet with tickets in it, a phone and a camera.

My wife carries around 20 pounds of food, drinks, blankets and a lot of other stuff with her.

 

[RobertaMomof2]

I carry a backpack and a very small purse. Purse has my cell phone, wallet, APs and that is it.

Backpack:

Busy Book (for the kids while in line) and pen
water bottle
a few snacks
bandaids & neosporin

 

[VandVsmama]

I forgot about the ponchos! I plan to bring those on our DCA day.

And since we'll be staying in a motel, of course I'll have our room key with me.

And duh...forgot about autograph books! 1 per kid, so 2 go in the bag.

I used to bring a small first aid kit into the parks every day, but I'm going to leave it in the motel room this time and just rely on DL First Aid if we have first aid needs.

 

[DisneyloverinWA]

I am a minimalist. Small wallet with a wrist strap to hold cash, CC, Tickets, and Fast passes; Trading pins on a lanyard around my neck, Chapstick in my pocket. Ice water from quick service locations. I used to carry a cross-body bag and/or a back pack, but it hurts my back and becomes a nuisance, so we don't do that anymore. Our kids are older and aren't as needy anymore. If we do have a large bag (off-season when it's cool) we will rent a locker and leave the bag in there.

 

[Aladora]

I keep downsizing my bag and now it is basically a small wallet I can carry crossbody. It has room for: our tickets, my credit card, room key, driver's license, some cash, my phone and lip balm. I also carry a bottle of water in my hand. DS carries a very small backpack with his Nintendo DS, a bottle of water, small ziplock bag with bandaids and ibuprofen and sunscreen. DH carries his wallet and a bottle of water.

We always go back to the hotel for an afternoon break so a huge backpack is just not needed.

 

[3Gsandme]

For my first trip it was just me and dh.

My bag contained my dSLR, sun screen and a bottle of water. That was it.

When we take the kids, I'll probably carry two bottles of water.

We stayed at PPH and it was so easy to return to the room that I just don't seem the point behind carrying so much into the park. I don't carry a lot at WDW, but DLR is so walkable, that it makes me carry less.

 

[Winnowill]

My bag contained:

• Autograph book and pen
• Camera
• Phone (yes, I use both a regular camera and my phone - and both were frequently in my pockets rather than in the bag)
• Portable charger and cable for the phone
• Disposable ponchos for wet rides
• Sunscreen
• Wallet pouch (which also has a strap that could go crossbody if needed)
• A shirt for my daughter in case her princess dress started to annoy her (she was wearing pants underneath already) - my bag was roomy enough that the dress could fit into it
• Park maps/times guide, even though I'm familiar enough with the parks that I didn't really need the maps
• Often, two sets of Mickey ears

 

[chickapin parterre]

......so just for folks who are reading this for their future trips, the value of a water bottle is that Disneyland is a physical event and water is your friend, the more you drink, the better your muscles, skin and internal systems will respond thru the day, sleeping and the long haul of the trip. When we return to lodging in the afternoon, I put out a required fluid intake of purchased water bottles when in the room for the guests I have brought to Disneyland. It is my belief that the number one reason all those folks look tired on the ART, Tram or sidewalk shuffling is not enough water was consumed over a long visit of days.

 

[Nonsuch]

...Last time we went to DL, I brought a heavier backpack and since it was VERY warm that day (91 degrees), I was sweating horribly most of the day due to the weather AND the backpack. So this time around, I'm bringing a very lightweight travel purse (here's what it looks like, in case anyone is interested --> https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/civita-shoulder-bag).

This past weekend could be described as a Never-ending Inferno!

I have used small backpacks and fanny packs, but a few years ago sought out a better solution.
SCOTTeVEST makes a large assortment of travel clothing, each with dozens of pockets.

My current favorite is the Tropiformer, a lightweight vest with removable sleeves.
All your items can be carried in this vest:

The sleeves are attached with magnets:

With the sleeves removed, the back is a mesh:


I've posted this information to several threads, but have no affiliation to the company (other than being a happy customer). Use promo code EXTRA20 for 20% off.

 

[Purrkins]

My bag is a camelbak, so... 3 liters of H2O, hand sanitizer, almonds and energy bar for son, change of clothes for son, jackets for both of us, small flask of whiskey. Because you never know...

 

[nicolispicoli]

Pretty much the same as everyone else. I use a small backpack containing:

AP's/Credit Cards/Gift Cards in a card holder (wallet is too bulky), water, change of pants/undies for my little, snacks, phone, autograph book, hand sanitizer, chapstick, small sunscreen, ponchos when needed and usually ears.

Oh and extra Salonpas patches, because I like to slap those puppies allll over my body.

 

[LizzyS]

I use a LeSportsac Kasey bag, which I wear cross body (don't even have to take it off of me for most rides unless I just want to) and I LOVE.

I normally have:

my wallet
tickets
hand sanitizer
tiny point and shoot camera
cell phone (sometimes I leave this in our locker)
my pill box, including pain relievers and a couple of TUMS

I leave any cold weather accessories in our locker until we need them. I like to be as minimalist as possible.