Today we continue with the second in our new series featuring our Parenting in the Parks Panel. Whether we have babies with diaper bags, older kids, or even when we’re going to the parks without the kids, many of us are hauling our bags, backpacks, and purses packed with the tricks we have collected over time. This week, the Parents Panel shares its best bag tips: What’s in your bag? How do you pack your backpack for the day when you go into the parks? Do you have a bag you can’t live without?
MousePlanet columnist Chris Barry and wife Diane, “the marathon-running graphic designer who loves to garden and is a big Tinker Bell fan,” are raising 10-year-old Samantha, who “shares her father’s love of Disney and her mother’s love of art,” and twin 7-year-old boys, Casey and Alex, who “consider Mickey Mouse’s house their favorite place.”
I have been taking my yellow North Face backpack to the parks for seven years. Actually, I take it to amusement parks, skiing, zoos, trips to New York, etc. It’s my favorite bag and I don’t feel right bring on a trip without it, especially one at Walt Disney World. It’s the perfect size. It’s got a spacious main pocket and two outer pockets. It’s got straps that compact it if I’m carrying a lighter load, or expand when I need to fill it up. There are mesh pockets on each side pf the backpack, which is convenient for cold water bottles in the hot Florida sun. The bag is efficiently designed with chest straps and a comfortable waist strap for when my back gets tired.
I’ve learned not to carry too much in the parks, and I’ve pretty much narrowed down what I take to a few essentials. The main pocket usually holds the kids’ hats, our Mickey rain slickers, sunscreen in a Ziploc bag and the camera. The first outer pocket always has a packet of wipes and whatever park maps we need that day. It also has a key holder, which is perfect for the in-room safe keys. The other outer pocket is the perfect size for my daughter’s autograph book and pen, always at the ready. There’s also almost always a box of Tic-Tacs clacking around in there somewhere.
My kids also get to take turns putting a small plush character in the middle outer pocket with just its head showing. It sounds silly, and I’m sure it looks silly, but it entertains them and, from their perspective, they can always find me: I’ve always got the bright yellow backpack with Figment, Goofy, or Brer Rabbit’s head sticking out the back.
Parenting in the Parks columnist Adrienne Krock’s three boys are now 11, 8, and 5. They’ve been visiting Disneyland since they were each just weeks old. Adrienne has been a day camp counselor, teacher. Now she’s a Mom and a Cub Scout leader and has been a Disneyland Annual Passholder for 14 years.
Our family has moved beyond diapers but we usually take a backpack or two with us to the parks for the day.
As our boys have gotten older, we purchased Camelbaks for them. It started when my husband Kevin brought his Camelbak and the boys spent all day asking for sips of his cold water. The Camelbak Skeeter (link) is the perfect size for kids and we no longer need to carry enough water in our bags for everyone. The insulation on these bags is amazing. We can fill the bag with ice in the morning and there will still be some ice left in the afternoon.
One of my favorite items to pack in my backpack is not and obvious choices: I try to take a small selection of zip locking bags, usually at least some sandwich and quart-size bags. My kids can share a box of popcorn or other treats easily when I divide it into baggies. If we can’t finish a meal, I use the bags to save leftovers. You can even use a baggie to save a lollipop that is too big to eat in one sitting.
Lisa Robertson is the author of Babes in Disneyland, an online Disneyland travel guide for families with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Lisa has a page on her site, “Get Packing,” about this very topic, and says she’s discovered that some of the best souvenirs are also the least expensive:
A couple of times or more each month I load myself up like a pack mule and trek to Disneyland from our home in the San Fernando Valley. As an annual passholder and former Disneyland tour guide, I pride myself on always being prepared. Beyond the obvious backpack items like sunscreen, snacks, juice boxes, bottles, wipes, and diapers, here are my top six (because I just couldn’t settle on a nice round number like five and didn’t want to bore you with 10) Disneyland must-haves from home:
Lisa’s son visits with one of his heroes. Can you tell which one is the “real” Buzz? Photo by Lisa Robertson
- Costumes – They’re just not for Halloween! I dress my boys in costumes all the time—Mickey, Buzz, etc. The cast members and characters love it and fuss over the kids every time. They are only young once, so enjoy it. I highly recommend a change of clothes. Costumes can be itchy and hot and they may want it them sooner rather than later.
- Baby carrier – An absolute MUST for anyone taking an infant to Disneyland. Baby carriers make it much easier to get in and out of the attractions with your little one. If you have more than one child, you’ll appreciate the fact that you can maneuver in and out of attractions while keeping your hands baby free and on your other kids. I am a fan of the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Original. I honestly couldn’t do Disneyland with a baby without it. It also makes boarding the parking trams a breeze.
- Blankets – The multipurpose item in your bag. I always carry several receiving blankets and baby blankets. You can use them to keep baby warm, shade baby (or an older child) while in the stroller , sit on them while waiting for the parade, or use them to pad baby during diaper changes.
- Bright ribbon, scarf, or other easy identifier for your stroller. When you exit “it’s a small world,” and see an ocean of strollers, you’ll be so happy to have a bright colored piece of fabric stand out in the crowd. Also, an easily identifiable stroller will be much less attractive to those who are looking to take a stroller for a “permanent joy ride,” as no thief wants to get caught.
- Antibacterial wipes. I like the wipes like Wet Ones because you can wipe hands as well as food surfaces, changing tables, etc.
- Toys for children who get bored waiting for entertainment, food, rides, etc. Bring small toys in your stroller you can use to entertain your children. Make sure they are toys that you can replace (unlike the luvie your child sleeps with at night) and make sure to write your child’s first and last name and phone number on the item so that if it is lost, Lost and Found can get it back to you. If the toy is large enough, return address labels on anything you bring helps to ensure you get your lost possessions back.
You can read more about this topic at Lisa’s Blog (link)
MousePlanet reader Bill (who posts as Disneyland Dad on our MousePad discussion boards) and his wife live in Reno with their son, 12, and two daughters, 6 and 1.
Since we almost always go to Disneyland with the whole family, this is usually my wife’s domain as she is the ultimate packer (at least according to her she is). When she packs our bag it becomes bags, but we have anything and everything we could possibly need. This is in case the Disneyland decides to close all of its shops and stands during our trip.
Our youngest is 15-months-old now and is rapidly becoming a world-class sprinter ,so we are not sure what we will do when we can go to Disneyland without a stroller—I guess a pack mule might do. Our bags contain enough pharmaceuticals that if we were stopped outside of Disneyland with them, it could lead to some serious jail time. Sunscreens of varying strengths, clothes for all seasons just in case it snows in July, and hats, oh we have hats for every head and for every reason, I think I have even seen helmets in there but I can’t be sure.
The one thing I have put my foot down and do not permit in our bags are ponchos, I apologize to all the poncho people and I know there are many, but come on, it’s a water ride, you are supposed to get wet. I do allow and suggest flip flops on the water rides, I hate squishing as we walk around the park, not only is it uncomfortable but the sounds can be misconstrued by other guests close enough to hear your squishes.
We usually don’t bring much food in our bags, maybe a few granola bars and some Ritz crackers is about it. We do bring water, but as we all like cold water and don’t care much for the taste of Disney water fountains we usually don’t refill them.
Now there have been a few times that I have taken my 6-year-old daughter and/or my 12-year-old son to Disneyland by myself and I will now list the contents of the bag that I packed. When it was just my son and myself, we started with two water bottles, some kind of sunscreen, a small digital camera, and flip flops. When it was just my daughter, the bag was basically the same plus a grip of princess stuff and a autograph book with two sharpies in case one ran out.
We made it OK but it was close, my daughter fell down once on the ramp at the exit of Space Mountain and scraped her knee a little, while she at first thought it was a possible life-threatening injury, after my explaining we would just leave the park and go back to the hotel to get a bandage if she really needed one, she decided she didn’t need one quite so badly after all.
Elizabeth Peterson lives in Southern California with her husband and two kids.
As a mom with two toddlers, a 3-year-old boy and a 19-month-old girl, the stuff I bring to Disneyland is all about contingencies: Accidents, exhaustion, hunger, and the elements. I actually don’t bring a backpack. Since I always have a stroller, I bring my own purse (link) which is actually a large nylon tote bag with lots of pockets inside and out. Although I have many backpacks and love them, I find that all the straps can inhibit getting in and out of the rides. I also bring a reusable cloth shopping bag. My theory is that I can leave that sturdy, generic 99-cent bag hanging on my stroller while we go on rides and it won’t be a target for theft. Here’s what I put in that bag:
- A mini-diaper bag with diapers and wipes so I can just grab that and carry it to the changing station with the baby.
- A change of clothes for both kids. If we are going to California Adventure and it’s warm, bathing suits and flip flops for the water play areas.
- A lightweight, super absorbent towel.
- Small canister of anti-bacterial wipes for periodic hand cleaning, especially if we are eating messy finger foods such as the fabulous barbecue meal at Celebration Round Up.
- Sunblock, especially clear zinc oxide as my kids are really fair.
- Sippy cups with juice/milk and extra milk and juice boxes in a small nylon lunchbox with an ice pack.
- Snack containers with Goldfish crackers or something similar.
- Sun hats.
- Blankets: Lightweight in summer and heavier in winter to cover up the kids in the stroller.
- Stroller hooks so I can hang stuff off the handles.
- Paper wrist bracelets (you can get at office supply stores) where I write my name and cell number in sharpie and put on the kids in case they get lost.
- If we will be there after sundown, a jacket or sweatshirt.
- A plastic bag for wet clothes.
With all that, I have a day at Disneyland in the bag!
You can follow Elizabeth’s adventures on her blog (link)
It’s your turn—keep the discussion flowing!
Visit the Parenting on the Parks section of our MousePad discussion board, and share your best tips for what you bring when you’re at the Disney theme parks (link), or send your suggestions via e-mail (link). Reader-submitted tips might be used in a future article, and you might be selected to participate in an upcoming panel discussion!
Next time: How do you handle your child’s fears over meeting characters in the parks? What has worked well, and what has backfired?
