We are headed to Disney next week, and my children are 9 and 5 which means I won't be carrying a diaper bag or stroller. Last time we were there my daughter was 3, so we were using the diaper bag to stash our id's, water bottles and snacks, etc... and then putting the diaper bag into the stroller storage compartment when we were on a ride.
What do you carry with you when your kids are older to old all these items? A small backpack? If so, what do you do with that when you go on a ride? Please don't tell me a fanny pack, cause that is not happening. haha. Thanks and sorry if it's been asked before. I looked around but couldn't find this exact question. Thanks!
Thanks! Backpack it is, and probably one for the adults and a small one for the kids. I'm on the fence about the stroller as my 5 year old son thinks they're for "babies", and I got rid of ours several months ago as he would never let me put him in it. If we find he needs one, we'll just rent one once we're at the park.
As for the fanny packs, I live in a very historical city, and fanny packs are the epitome of "stupid tourist" here and all the locals hate them. Anyone wearing a fanny pack is a tourist here, and yes we will be tourists in Disney, but I don't want to be THAT tourist. haha. No offense, but I think they are kinda dorky looking and would rather have the backpack. Sorry if I offended any fanny pack lovers!
I wear a regular Jansport backpack when I go if I don't have a stroller with me. I take snacks and water, jackets if I think we'll need them, wipes or hand sanitizer, etc. They do allow backpacks and it's never been an issue for me.
I take a backpack. You can put drinks and snacks in it as well
Added my son is 6 and we go to Disney all the time and NEVER use a stroller for him.
There are lockers on site that you can rent for the day and can go in and out of them as needed. That's a good option.
Other than that, a backpack is really the only way to do it. Or several backpacks scattered around your family. To get on a ride you take it off and put it at your feet, on your lap or on the seat next to you depending on the ride. Some rides have a place to put your bag under the seat or back of the seat in front of you.
On a side note. You may want to reconsider not having a stroller for the 5 year old. The parks can really be too much for even a 5 year old and you could find yourself with a whiny, cranky kid that begs to be carried. It's also a safe zone if the crowd gets bad. For a place that is meant for families and young as well as old, there are far too many people that forget to look for little kids and they get crushed and pushed around in someone's hurry. When my second child was 5 he would end up in his baby sister's stroller while I wore the youngest in the sling. Thankfully she was really little at the time and didn't weight a ton yet.
We bought lanyards and put our ticket/room key and gift card on it. All valuables cash, wallets were left secured in our room.
A small backpack works well for water bottles, ponchos (you never know when it's going to rain), and a few other misc items. Most rides you can bring the backpack with you. For the rides that don't allow this, there's usually an area where you can leave them.
We took the stroller when my daughter was 7. Are you sure your 5 yo doesn't want it or need it? Otherwise just a backpack.
a regular size backpack; it will fit at your feet for each ride.
Backpack. I think I usually put it at my feet when I was on a ride. I honestly don't remember a ride where I was nervous it would fall out, but if that was a concern I probably just asked if there was a place I could leave it. I remember at Six Flags the workers had a place they would put things. They didn't promise it would be secure, but there were never any problems.
Have fun!
I have used fanny paks before, but I didn't put it around my waist but carried it on my shoulder like a purse. Like someone else said...noone will know you so who cares? Just be comfortable. :)
I second the regular backpack idea. We took it on the ride with us. Very handy for snacks, water bottles to refill, wet wipes, tylenol, etc. Also was good for extra sweatshirts for the kids!
LOL I love your comment about the fanny pack, I couldn't agree more!
We liked using those lightweight, string type backpacks. We each had one, I'm not a mule, my family carries their own gear :-) They aren't cumbersome but they hold the essentials. When you go on a ride you either put them on your front, or at your feet, with the straps looped around one foot (like you would with a purse.)
But keep your cash, credit cards and phone deep down inside, under the other stuff. There are pickpockets at Disney, I learned the hard way.
I'm so glad you asked this! We're going to Disney soon with a 9 year old and 6 year old and I was trying to figure this out also. My kids would totally sit in one of the strollers, but we're going to try without.
This is what I'm leaning towards:
I decided on water bottle sling holders for the kids to each be responsible for their own drink. I didn't want them to carry anything important - that includes food. ;) Hubby thinks he's going to carry a messenger type bag. I'm going with a backpack and my wristlet. So if I do have to leave the bag for a ride, I can hold onto my phone, money, etc. in my wristlet.
We still have one stroller my 6 year old can ride in. We're driving, so that's going in the van in case we need it towards the end of the trip.
I noticed the time we stayed late in Magic Kingdom, that there would be abandoned Disney strollers here and there. I'm counting on grabbing one if we're there late with exhausted kiddos.
Definitely a backpack.
We packed a full sized backpack (the kind with a couple large compartments) and took turns carrying it. We packed our lunch, disposable ponchos (88 cents at Walmart, much better than buying one in the park when it starts raining) and foldable umbrella, bandaids, hand sanitizer etc.
Since they aren't upside down rides, and you're always in a closed seat, not like a dangling leg coaster, you can just take the backpack with you. You just put it down at your feet, it's totally doable.
I find having a backpack works best (and one that holds drinks on the sides). Don’t use one with too many compartments because you will have to open each one to enter any park. If you don’t want to carry it the entire day (you may need jackets at night) then get a locker. They are near the entrances to all the parks. You can have them on most of the rides they will either sit at your feet or have somewhere to safely put the pack.
