What to carry around - Advise Please!

[wakim]

Hey Everyone: I am trying to decide what "pieces" we need to carry around our stuff. I had thought of a fanny pack for each of the kids so that they could carry around their own autograph book and camera. The only problem is that I can't seem to find one that would fit both these items that is small enough for their little waists.

Also, I had thought I would carry a light backpack for other stuff and get my husband a Lowepro fanny pack that will fit the digital camera and camcorder. Does anyone have any experience with a camera waist pack - are they heavy/hard on the back?

Any advise would be appreciated - how did you and your family cart you "stuff". I think we are going to need to rent a stroller just to carry around the waterbottles!

Thanks as always for your help.

[JuniorMickey]

I carry a "half pint" backpack. It's about 1/2 the size of a regular backpack. In it I have my camera, wallet and the other odds and ends I need for the day

[OKWTink]

I've used several different methods, but the one most efficient still seems to be a backpack of a size that will hold what I want to carry. Camera, drink bottle, rainsuit, small towel, sometimes an umbrella, and depending upon who is with me, sunscreen and mosquito repellent wipes. Sometimes I carry my lunch.

Waist packs are so cumbersome, I really don't like it clumping up around me, and shoulder bags are lopsided affairs.

Just be sure your backpack is of some sort of material that will breath, because you are going to perspire, guaranteed. And no matter what, don't overload it. It get's heavier as you get more tired.

Anymore, unless it is a rare occasion, I just put the pass in my pocket, waterbottle over my shoulder and maybe the umbrella and off I go. But that's only when I'm not staying all day, just doing a walk around the WS or something.

[Johnie]

I carry a backpack as well. It's the easiest thing for me to carry.

[Cindernaenae]

I'm not much help as we don't carry a camcorder. However, my husband usually wears cargo shorts and we can put the camera in it's case either on his belt loop, or in his pocket. Can put those cheap ponchos in there too as they're really small. Altho, the last two times we were there in October, and it didn't rain. I usually have my ID, room key, a credit card, and some cash in my pocket.

[Nikdimps]

I used to use a fanny pack but now I have a small one and we use a diaper bag and leave that in a locker and carry around a back pack.

Nik :hehe:

[foreverducky]

My advice is to carry the least as possible, especially if it will be an all day event. This year I'm going with a water bottle and small camera bag, that will carry my camera (of course), extra battery and money/id. I had a bigger bag two years ago and it weighed a ton by the end of the day.

[Kate2005]

When we went, I had a light backpack, and in it I took some water, my camera, and the passes. My other half also takes a backpack and carries the camcorder.

[Uk-Kid]

When we went we had a backpack that had snacks, first aid kit, other odds an ends (Mum really does take everythin xcept the kitchen sink!) Then we had a small camera bag that hed the camcorder (Usually fitted in the back pack), Mum had a fannypack with money/cards/id's in, all the important stuff plus the dig camera and I had a fanny pack with autograph books, pens, and a few other little bits, came in really handy! I bought mine in AK and it's got Pooh on the front! For drinks we bought the bottle straps and used them, you can get them in each park, I think it's about $5 for bottle and strap (We found that the bottles fitted under the drinks machines in the Hotels so we filled them up of a morning insted of buying more bottles, saved alot of money, bottles of water were about $2.50 each in the parks.)

[Whitequeen]

I'm not a lover of backpacks. I have several shoulder bags that I wear across my body. I think the largest is 8x12. I keep Credit Cards, money, spectacle wipes, cell/mobile and headache tablets in there. I attach my small camera bag to the strap with my sunglases cases(soft). Everything is at hand.

I keep my Park tickets in an Aqusafe neck purse around my neck.

[Bambi]

Once upon a time when it was just dh and myself, I used a fanny pack only. Now with 2 kids I use a backpack to carry everything they need. I try not to pack it too full - just snacks, sunscreen, antibacterial and a change of clothes for them and a sweater for the girls. Oh and finally we are out of the diaper and pull up stage so our bags won't be so full this trip:clap:

[Meezers]

I have a microfiber bag that can be carried as a backpack or shoulder bag. This way I can change it around it I get tired of one way or the other.

I always carry water, PDA/cell phone (which has tons of Disney stuff downloaded...even menu's), extra medications and wipes for the hands (amazing how much these can cool the face in extra hot weather).

I don't carry a video camera and found a little pouch for my teeny digital camera that fit on my belt. I only carried it this way when I would be using it often (not a picture taking kinda person).

I carry room key, ID and credit card in zipper envelope on lanyard...must have the pins you know :)

Best of luck.

[tajainaz]

I've managed to compact everything to a microfibre or leather shoulder bag (about 8" x 11" x 2") with a small camera case (digital camera, extra batteries & memory card) attached to the strap and a bottle strap.

I remove everything I don't need for the day from my shoulder bag, which makes it much lighter and provides space for small purchases. I start out with a bottle of water on the bottle strap and a few snacks in the purse (baby carrots and crackers, usually), and supplement throughout the day with purchased items.

How old are your young ones? The parks are very large, so a stroller can be quite useful when little legs get tired. Frankly, something with wheels is useful when older legs get tired! Said older legs just have to find a place to sit and people watch for a bit! :)