Packing for the parks

[jilly7896]

What do you pack for a day at the parks and what do you carry it in? As everyone probably knows from all of my whining, I am taking my first trip without a stroller this Sept. The stroller is usually my mothership for anything and everything. I need to scale back and only bring the necesseties. It will be me and DS(12), twin DS's(9). I'm thinking about packing their cinch bags since they are light and they can carry them into the parks, but I'm not even sure what they would need to hold on them besides water bottles, maybe poncho.

[bnoble]

In my crew, each person carries their own water bottle, with either a bottle strap or a carabiner clip. Otherwise, just camera, credit cards/keys/tickets, ID, a little cash; that's in either a fanny pack or a *very* small bag. If we want to go light, I ditch the camera, and then can skip bag check.

If it's going to rain, and/or we're riding Kali, ponchos. That bumps me up to a small daypack, as we use heavier ponchos.

[DoctorK]

I'm the sherpa for our family (me, DW and DD8). I used to bring too much, but I have it down to pretty much this:

- bandaids
- ponchos
- mini "six pack" cooler with ice and 3 bottles of water
- XXL Ziploc (big enough for backpack + DW purse) for water rides
- a handful of quart and gallon size ziplocs (for bakery treats, wet ponchos, putting cell phone in, etc.)
- microfiber towels (good for quick drying off, also for dipping in ice water and wiping down face and neck)

DD has a fanny pack and carries her autograph book and pen, lanyard and pins.

[rich2603]

What’s the best rain poncho? Cheap emergency ponchos from Wal-Mart $3-4 each or the Disney ponchos? Does anyone know the price of a Disney poncho? The Disney ponchos are nice that any Disney World store will replace them if they rip for free, but everyone will have the same clear poncho.

[mdsd8700]

What’s the best rain poncho? Cheap emergency ponchos from Wal-Mart $3-4 each or the Disney ponchos? Does anyone know the price of a Disney poncho? The Disney ponchos are nice that any Disney World store will replace them if they rip for free, but everyone will have the same clear poncho.

I always get the ponchos from Walmart and by my house they are around $1. They are disposable and when we are done we just pitch them. In the end I probably have spent more this way, but we find it more convienient.

As far as what we bring to the park, I personally always have too much. I honestly cannot go without a purse. I am a complete weirdo about it. It was very difficult for me in Universal this summer since many of their thrill rides don't allow a purse to be taken on. I always have a medium size purse that has all "just in case" items. Advil, chewable pepto, band aids, small packet of wipes, kleenex ect. I also always carry my own personal items, camera, brush, compact, etc. My husband carries our tickets and FP in a lanyard around his neck as well as the video camera which is pretty small. We have a mini backpack that will hold 3 or 4 bottles of water and a couple of snacks and nothing more. My son carries that. So except for me we travel pretty light. However I have to say I do miss the days of stoller when you didn't have to worry about carrying a think, you would just put it in with the kids!

[DoctorK]

We tried the disposable ponchos but when it's coming down hard and the wind is blowing, they're so thin that they kind of stick to your arms and legs or blow up around you. Mostly I hated the feeling them sticking to me... So we ended up getting some camping-style ponchos (heavier duty, from Coleman I think?) at Walmart for $4-$5 each. We've used them for five trips now and they've held up really well.

[bigdaddybyrd]

The best disposable ponchos I've found are at a Coleman outlet store. They're pretty good quality for disposable. The last time I bought them they were $.79. I bought at the one in Branson, and they WILL ship to you if they ask. Their phone number is 417-334-1718.

[bigdaddybyrd]

The best disposable ponchos I've found are at a Coleman outlet store. They're pretty good quality for disposable. The last time I bought them they were $.79. I bought at the one in Branson, and they WILL ship to you if they ask. Their phone number is 417-334-1718.

Well I just called to make sure I listed the phone number right, and disposable ponchos are now $1.99!! :RpS_scared: Glad I bought a bunch when I did! Still good quality though!

Things we packed in our backpack last trip included wet wipes, hand sanitizer, a hand towel, camera, band-aids, ponchos, and Advil. We had a few other things, but that's the stuff I remember using.

[mousehelper]

Now that the phone is the camera, I've gone to carrying nothing. I put some Tylenol and maybe a bandaid in my pocket, and we're done. When we want water, we use a water fountain, or get a maragarita.....

[jilly7896]

I forgot to list sunscreen. That is a MUST for my fair skin!

[Janine]

My fanny pack carries park tickets, room key, my Disney credit card and phone (with camera). DD5 has a fanny pack to carry her autpgraph book, but I usually end up carrying it for her (or DH puts it in a cargo shorts pocket), so she carries nothing. DH carries a bottle of water for each of us, which is usually gone by lunch. That's it. I like to be hands free, stroller free and bag free.

[mdsd8700]

Now that the phone is the camera, I've gone to carrying nothing. I put some Tylenol and maybe a bandaid in my pocket, and we're done. When we want water, we use a water fountain, or get a maragarita.....

You are my hero! I so wish I could go with nothing but what fits in my pockets. I just can't break free of my purse!

[bnoble]

What’s the best rain poncho? Cheap emergency ponchos from Wal-Mart $3-4 each or the Disney ponchos?
I like the slightly heavier ones. We bought ours at our home park, but the Disney ones are good too. The disposables don't seem to do much for me.


Now that the phone is the camera
Depends on what I plan to do. The camera takes better shots than the phone, but the phone is passable.

[blyday]

We used to have one large bag that carried all of our water bottles for the day, bandaids, moleskin, small bottle of sunscreen, etc. Now....we each have our own small back pack that we carry our own water, etc. I also have a lanyard that I carry my credit cards, I.D., Photopass card, FPs and park ticket in. I can't see us ever going completely pack free because I have to have lots of water!!! (And I'm a water snob so won't drink the water from the fountains!!) I go through about 10 bottles of water a day.....so....I really need that pack!! Of course, I only bring what I need until break and then refill when we go back into the parks.

[jilly7896]

I also have a lanyard that I carry my credit cards, I.D., Photopass card, FPs and park ticket in.

What do you hold it in? I always have a lanyard too for park tickets, photopass, FP's, etc. But I put them in one of the little plastic holders they sell at Disney. I'm wondering if there is a better/safer option. Those are so flimsy and I usually have to replace the plastic holder each visit.

[blyday]

Actually.....I'm glad that you asked because I forgot that mine got damaged while at WDW last time!! (The zipper got snagged on the material and ripped it!!) Anyway, I use something like this: http://www.amazon.com/3-Pocket-Credential-Wallet-Adjustable-1860-2602/dp/B004XWD49A/ref=sr_1_4?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1311622725&sr=1-4 I used to use the ones that you are referring to until one time, it broke off of the lanyard while I was on SM!!!! I realized while on the ride and I'm telling you....I did NOT enjoy any second of the remainder of the ride. I luckily found it on the floor of our car so didn't lose my ID, etc but I was really in panics there.......so......now I use something much more secure!!!!!

[blyday]

Ooooo.......and I just found these ones on Ebay: http://stores.ebay.com/Specialist-ID/Neck-Wallets-/_i.html?_fsub=776972017&_sid=59594277&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322 . I bought 2 of each of the 3 different styles (not the pink one). Know I should be good to go!!! And if others in our group want to borrow one....I'll have one they can use!!!!