Backpack advice needed

[jme5343]

I know this will seem like a lot of hand-wringing over a seemingly small purchase, so go ahead and give me any Disney World tips you have (esp. if they're $$ tips) too


I want a light (key word is light) backpack to take into the park each day. My wife and I will alternate carrying it. We want to pack in some snacks, some of our personal belongings, so on and so forth. We may go so far as to carry a small collapsible cooler in it as well for some beef sticks, juice boxes and stuff.

I really like the Eddie Bauer Rip Pac backback, but I don't want to spend $35 on it just to use it for a couple weeks. I can't imagine a scenario where I'll need a backpack in the next couple years outside of this. So, I'm looking for something similar to this, but durable enough to be lugged around 8-10 hours a day, get wet, be in the sun.

We leave 5/17 and are taking our chillins, Boy 4 and Girl 7. Coming home 5/26. We plan to spend at least one day "off" at a beach or just milling around Orlando.

 

[MoPHo]

If you can avoid eating inside the park, do it. Theme parks usually have ridiculous pricing on food, but it's like prison pricing in there.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I would think a backpack would be useful for whenever you take your kids out or go places yourself. What do you normally use to carry stuff?

If you don't want to spend $35, you might be able to find something cheaper at Walmart or Target. If that's too much, you could always use a paper bag.

 

[xSauronx]

just go into a walmart or target or wherever and find something cheap. if the idea is to save money on eating in the park and you just need something for a shot trip, i wouldnt bother being picky.

 

[Nik]

As far as advice, don't put anything in the backpack front pockets or compartments. It's very easy (and very fast) to walk up to someone wearing a backpack and get into the smaller pockets on the front of the pack even while they're wearing it. Put anything valuable in your pants pockets or inside coat pockets or something.

 

[IronWing]

Go to a thrift store and buy a pack, use it, donate it back to the store when done.

 

[UpgradeFailure]

Get something cheap, but soft, a cloth. It'll get beat the hell up, but you want a soft cloth one so you can shove it into places easier on rides and whatnot. Bring a bag (either just a trash type bag, or ask for a bag in a store) with you in the backpack so when it rains, you can put your backpack into the trash bag to keep it dry (also for rides)

The park prices to eat are not that bad. You are on vacation, who the hell wants to go to dennys or something? Enjoy the food, who cares if it costs a little more.

 

[paulney]

Nine days? NINE DAYS IN THE SAME ENTERTAINMENT PARK?

God damn.

 

[UpgradeFailure]

Originally posted by: paulney
Nine days? NINE DAYS IN THE SAME ENTERTAINMENT PARK?

God damn.

9 days really isnt that much. There's 4 main parks, golf courses (mini and normal), 2 water parks, resorts, downtown disney, the marketplace, live shows, parasailing, tours, and so much more.

 

[herm0016]

rei flash. www.rei.com best light weight daypack.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

North Face.

 

[LtPage1]

Originally posted by: herm0016
rei flash. www.rei.com best light weight daypack.

Yes. $35 on a backpack for that much use sounds worth it to me.

 

[paulney]

Originally posted by: UpgradeFailure

Originally posted by: paulney
Nine days? NINE DAYS IN THE SAME ENTERTAINMENT PARK?

God damn.

9 days really isnt that much. There's 4 main parks, golf courses (mini and normal), 2 water parks, resorts, downtown disney, the marketplace, live shows, parasailing, tours, and so much more.

*facepalm*

 

[TecHNooB]

On the flight back, if you stow a turkey leg in your bag, the person inspecting baggage via x-ray machine will be amused.

 

[ProfJohn]

The dont eat in the park idea sounds great, but the Disney parks are so far from any place else to eat that you will have no choice but to eat there.

Best idea would be to have a big breakfast, bring some snacks and if possible try eating dinner back at the hotel.

This will work at Animal Kingdom and Studios because you can see the whole park within a 6-8 hour time frame. But for Magic Kingdom and Epcot plan on eating at the parks for both lunch and dinner.

Places I suggest you eat:
For Magic Kingdom book a LATE lunch at the Crystal Palace. Its a character buffet so it is expensive, but the kids will love seeing Winnie the Pooh, Tigger etc and it is all you can eat so you can load up and be ready for the rest of the day.

Epcot: Any where and everywhere. So much good food at that place.

Other suggestions:
Animal Kingdom head to the Safari first thing in the morning, and be there right when they open so you can beat the line. And then ride it again late in the day. This will allow you to see different animals because different ones are active at different times. And the safari ride is by far the best part of the park (I was a Safari driver for a bit, pretty amazing job)

For all the parks make a plan and stick to it. Go through the parks in order one ride after another. Don't waste time walking across the park because the kids want to go on Pirates of the Caribbean and you are in fantasy land and have yet to finish all those rides.

Bring sun screen. May in Florida is most likely like August in Kansas. It will be HOT as hell to you and the kids. (Was 90 today) So dress light and wear sunscreen. Nothing will ruin your expensive Disney trip quicker than getting a sun burn on day one.

More advice... don't bother going to more than one waterpark unless you are staying at a Disney hotel and are buying a length of stay ticket. Use the days you don't spend at the Disney park to hit Seaworld. That is a perfect park for your kids ages.

Think about taking the kids to the beach for half a day. How often will they get to see the ocean?

Last piece of advice and by far the MOST important. RELAX!!! Take you time. Don't feel like you have to see everything in the world. Much better to take your time and really enjoy yourself than run around trying to see every show and ride every ride. Don't get stressed out because you missed the 2:30 show at some theater, just deal with it and move on to the next time on the list.

BTW I worked at Disney for 7 years and have been to the parks more times than I can remember. So if you have any questions just PM me.

 

[UpgradeFailure]

Good advice Prof John. I'll add a few of my tips there too.

About having a late lunch at Crystal Palace, I suggest a late breakfast )like 10:45). That way, you get the cheaper, breakfast price, and you can have your breakfast foods, but then at 11 AM they switch over the lunch. So you get a little of both, at a cheaper price.

Buy a small umbrella. Forget the stupid ponchos.

Since you have young kids, the 4 year old might not want to/be able to ride the bigger rides. Use Rider-Switch. You get a ticket, and you and your 7 year old go in line, then ride the ride, then your wife and your 7 year old can go through the fast-pass line right away a 2nd time and have just about zero wait. That way you both get to ride the ride with your child but not wait twice in a row

Every counter service place offers free ice water. Don't bother buying $2.50 bottles of water, bring a plastic bottle, get free ice water, and fill up your bottle and be on your way

When you get a fast pass, it'll say return between 12:45-1:45 (example). As long as it's the same day, any time after 1:45 is fine (So if you come back at 7 PM with your fastpass that says between 12:45-1:45, you'll be fine)

Go back and rest during the day

If you haven't booked your dining yet, good luck. I suggest trying asap and pick off times (2 pm for lunch)

Ask to ride up front on the cockpit of the monorail. Kids love that

 

[JulesMaximus]

9 days at Disneyland? That sounds like about 8 days too many...

 

[herm0016]

Originally posted by: LtPage1

Originally posted by: herm0016
rei flash. www.rei.com best light weight daypack.

Yes. $35 on a backpack for that much use sounds worth it to me.

??
pretty cheap for a small day pack. most i have seen are btw 40 and 90 dollars. don't get a school type backpack unless you need all the little holes for pencils and all that crap, its just added weight that you don't need to carry.

it is worth it. its the most useful piece of kit i have. i bring it while urban packing, use it as a day pack. its seen a few cities. its also great as a day pack on short hikes. just big enough for some water and some energy bars, a fleece and gloves. its very light weight. less than half a pound i believe.

edit: looks like they changed it a little from my flash UL and its now called the flash 18. rei has other cheap daypacks too, check out the outlet section.

 

[ProfJohn]

umbrella... poncho??? It's dry season. I can only remember one or two times that it has rained in the past couple of MONTHS.

Average monthly rain fall for May is less than 4 inches.

 

[jme5343]

Some awesome info, thanks for the input.

The plan is to do as some have suggested. Eat a good breakfast at the motel and then hit the park for rope drop. We'll have some snacky things to 1) save money, but 2) because nobody wants to walk around in the heat after gorging themselves for lunch. If we need to grab a light lunch, we will. Then, in the evenings, we'll grab something from an Orlando restaurant. We're staying off site. I know that's a DW sin, but it was just so much more feasible.

My kids have never been to the beach, so that's a must-do. ProfJohn, the relaxing part is exactly why we planned for 7-8 days at the park. I've been to other parks where I see miserable parents herding miserable kids under the guise of "seeing it all". I'd be willing to bet that when they get home, much of the experience and ambiance is lost on everyone that attended.

So maybe I'll spring for the Rip Pac or the rei flash, there are some valid points here

 

[darrontrask]

Hey guys thanx for the advice. I will be in Disney the same week and was having some of the same questions. we are going to be there for three days. 2 at the Magic Kingdom and 1 at animal kingdom.

Is this enough time? we are going to be in FL for 6 days but want to go to SeaWorld also.

 

[dud]

Just a warning ...

You are visiting right in the middle of tourist hunting season. Recommend NOT staying in the 192/I-4 corridor as many TH tournaments are ocurring in this area.

In all seriousness ... have you ever gone to a theme park ... for 9 days? Are you prepared for 9 days of extreme heat and humidity? It hasn't rained here in like forever so we also have forest fires as well. Have you considered how much stress you are putting on yourself/your spouse by going on this "vacation"? Have you bought your tickets yet? Do you know how expensive the Disney parks are? I have 3 relatives coming in about the same time and are getting them into the park for free ... but remember, this is Disney World ... nothing is free. Just feeding yourself is a major expense.

Whatever backpack you buy make sure that it can hold a LOT of bottled water. You'll need it to get through the sweltering heat.

Good luck ... you will need it.

 

[ViviTheMage]

When we went 4-5 years ago, it was for 3 days...and it felt like more then enough.

We also got stuck on a road going into Florida that had a forest fire...sat on the highway for 4-5 hours, NOT moving. Never had that happen up here in Minnesota...I guess a fire was crawling across the highway so they stopped all traffic.

 

[Joemonkey]

We're going for 3 days the first week of June and all the advice in this thread is much appreciated.

As far as a backpack, it ain't cheap but an ogio Metro is pretty nice to have

 

[alkemyst]

I don't think disney has anything to do with what you are looking for.

Almost any backpack is weather resistant and pretty light.

When I go on vacation last thing I want to do is lug a bunch of crap around though. Large bags are a pain on many rides and you will have to surrender it on some. Please don't get into a pissing match at the front of the line over this. If you don't want to give up your bag, then don't ride the ride.

I carry a small camera bag that doubles as my wifes purse when we travel. Fits a Canon A series, Elph and small tripod/memory cards/batteries. It's got a raincoat as well so if it rains it's protected.

If you want to bring food into the park, pick a centralized locker and go with that. I don't think it will be big enough for a cooler though...an insulated soft pack should work though.

I just don't think it's really worth it overall. Disney fast food is not terribly expensive.