As I've mentioned before, I am a planner. Which means I do not walk into the parks without a well thought out bag of supplies to help us last through the long days. As Mason is getting older (he's 9 right now), he wants to spend more time in the parks and on rides. I don't blame him, I do too! I want to maximize every moment possible and that means packing the right items to bring with you to the park.
Selecting the Right Bag
I don't like getting lockers at a Disney park. I don't want to rely on needing to walk all the way back to the lockers to get something, so if at all possible, I avoid it. Occasionally, we will get a locker if the evening is going to be particularly cold and we know we will need sweatshirts, or if we've made some impulse purchases (hello holiday décor) that we don't want to carry around all day. This is something we would do more often during the cooler months.
Now, your situation will obviously be determined by the size of your family and the age of your kid(s), but if you are done potty training - the below options are great!
So onto the bag(s). I have two that I tend to rotate through. The first is a classic Mickey Mouse backpack by Loungefly. The front pocket is perfect for those essential items you need quick access to, the large pocket holds a LOT of stuff (more than you would think), and the straps are adjustable and comfortable! I have lost the little hand keychain that is shown below, but then hubby replaced it with another one and I love it even more!
This exact style isn't available anymore, but they have a slightly updated version here that is so cute and even looks like it's a bit larger!
The second, is another Loungefly backpack, slightly larger than the Mickey Mouse one. It's iron man themed with the iron gauntlet and has "I love you 3000" written on it. I also found this exact style is sold out, but there's a newer light up Iron Man version here.
I love these Loungefly bags and will always recommend them. They are such high quality and stay in new condition for years. And because of their size, you won't feel like you're lugging something heavy around all day. Plus when you pack them in your suite case, you can stuff them full, so they don't actually end up taking space even though it seems like they would.
The Essential Items
I always plan my essential park bag items ahead of our trip and figure out which zipper bags, or other little storage containers I can use to keep the bag organized and make it easy to find what I need.
Here's my list of park bag essentials:
Travel hand sanitizer (x2, one hooked on a holder to the handle of the bag, and one inside the front pouch)
Small pack of sanitizing wipes (because no one cleans up tables after themselves and sometimes you snag it before it can be cleaned)
Travel sunscreen
doTERRA essentials
Peppermint roller for head tension
Lavender or Adaptiv roller for calming and anxiety
Peppermint soft gels for digesting all the snacks
Deep Blue soft gels for any inflammation or discomfort
Chapstick/lip gloss + any other small makeup items you need throughout the day
Travel pack of tissues
Sunglasses + sunglasses case
Reusable Straws (I hate the paper ones they give you in the parks)
Portable Battery & cables for group's devices
Mini First Aid Kit
Band Aids
doTERRA Correct X
Blister band aids
Body Glide
Ear Holder (to secure your ears on rides that go fast)
Maximizing the Space
To ensure I have enough space for all the essentials and can also add a few souvenirs, I use small cosmetic bags and small travel containers to organize my supplies. That way, everything is grouped together, easy to find, and nothing is left loose in my bag to float around or accidentally fall out.
If you go to the parks often, what else do you include in your park bag? I'd love to hear about what works for you too! Leave a comment below to share! :)
xoxo,
Rachel
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