What’s In Your Park Bag?

How many park bags do you have? What’s in them?  

Heather at Epcot

Certainly, what you take to the Disney parks varies by individual needs and self-care. What and how you carry items is a personal preference.  Some people use a waist pouch, some a backpack, others nothing at all. I carry two different bags, depending on what I am doing that day.

Let’s start with the obvious of things not to place in your bags.  No one wants an extra wait and search at security.  Weapons of any kind, drugs, anything glass -- and use caution with anything metal.  It is highly recommended that any medication being brought into the parks, is accompanied with the original packaging or prescription bottle, as it is Florida state law. 

There are some things also to keep in your hands at security, to avoid the dreaded search line.  Umbrellas, metal cases including some eyeglass cases and metal water bottles are a few of these items.  Metal water bottles maybe hit or miss, depending on who is checking the screens too. 

I used to carry a big travel styled backpack; loved its tons of pockets and zippers.  I would carry my basics and then stuff I didn’t need really.  When I say didn’t need, I mean never used!  I recently ditched the fabulous big bag for two others.  I have a small backpack, similar to a Loungefly, and a slightly bigger bag with a water bladder.  If you are unfamiliar with a water bladder, it’s a bag that holds water, and a hose runs through the bag to drink from. I carry the small bag for short park visits and the bigger water bladder one for longer adventures. 

Heather's Smaller Winnie The Pooh Inspired Back Pack

Let’s start with the small bag and what I carry.  Like I said this is more for short visits, when I know I am heading for a resort meal or making a visit to Disney Springs.  Refillable water bottle and maybe a disposable or two, always have water. Don’t forget you can get free water cups at quick serves, refill water at accessible soda fountains, and find refill stations in the My Disney Experience app. I have hand sanitizer, because it is rare you will catch me without it. Hydration / electrolyte packets because it is Florida. And an external charger just in case. I place my phone in low power mode each morning on park visits, so never really need the chargers. 

Heather's Larger Purple Park Bag with Water Bladder

My larger bag with the water bladder has become a life saver. It may have been 27F on my last visit, but I still needed water!  The style I have holds 3 liters of water.  I no longer carry bottles of water and may or may not carry my refillable water bottle. I still carry the basics of my little bag including hydration / electrolyte packets to add to bottles. Pain relief medication in a travel sized bottle, bandaids, feminine products, hand lotion travel sized, stain remover pen or wipes, reusable straw, reusable rain poncho and shoe covers, and of course external chargers. 

Heather with her Smaller Park Bag

Now those of you not from areas where the sun sets you on fire and keeps you kind of tanned, I highly recommend sunscreen and apply it regularly. Yes, you can purchase sunscreen on property at resorts and parks, but you will pay a convenience price.  It is this way for hand sanitizer and medications as well.  

Summarizing a bit for the basics to have with you.  Rain poncho, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, external chargers, and go have fun.  If you don’t have it you either won’t need it, or it can be found there.  

What do you take in your park bags, that is different to me? Any good recommendations?