What's in your bag? Disney Theme Park Edition!

Seriously??

I was never big on purses. I resisted carrying a purse until half way through my 20's, and always kept it very very minimal. As I grew older (and older), I found my tolerance for purses has increased, and so has my expectations of what to carry on my person daily. My wallet and phone of course always need to go with me, but now things like glasses (for dark theaters or driving at night), sunglasses, lip gloss and/or lip stick (did I also mention I eschewed most makeup until my 30's?), the requisite pack of tissues (did we learn nothing from our grandparents? so versatile!), collapsible market bag, business cards, spare pen, headphones/bluetooth headset, my iPod touch, sometimes my tablet. Oh and my battery backup for my phone (hey, you never know when Ingress opportunities will arise). And though I still REFUSE to carry some of those giant bags that look like you're going for an overnight trip when you're at the grocery store, my daily purse is definitely larger as the years go on.

But when I hit the parks. It's time to simplify, pare down, scale back. Coming from Seattle, Orlando's summer heat (heck, spring and fall heat!) is challenging to my physical comfort. My skin gets very hot and sensitive and I would prefer to carry nothing on me at all save for what fits in pockets. On my first trip to the parks, I tried this. I packed only clothes with pockets (save for evenings out-outfits) and tried to tuck things here and there. I brought a shoulder bag just in case...and ended up using it most of the trip after all. Because I learned early on that going into a sweltering theme park for 8-10 hours, even if you split that into 4-5 hour increments with a hotel visit in between, requires some preparation and a few essentials.


As DINKs, my husband and I have never had to do the dreaded backpacks, or big diaper bag/stroller bag, or anything where I had to carry items for a large or small army of kiddos. That is a labor of love, my friends, and one we are grateful we don't have to deal with.  Most articles I have found for park touring tends to focus on the largest demographic at Disney--families with small children--and thus they can seem a bit overkill to a pair of adults hitting the parks sans little ones. So I thought I would share a list of items I put in my Disney bag for a typical day in the theme parks.

Overland Equipment Placer

First, The Bag. My bag I have used on every trip is my Overland Equipment Placer. It is a small bag with a lot of pockets and a surprising amount of room. Every time we bring it, we remark how much like a Mary Poppins carpet bag it is...you can fit SO MUCH into this little guy. This year I will buy my fourth in 10 years, because I wear the heck out of these. The main complaint I have is that the velcro gives out long before the bag itself is ready to be retired, and there is no simple way to replace it without taking the bag apart and sewing it back together.

A few great features of this bag:

• Unisex design (at least on the exterior, interior fabrics are a bit traditionally feminine) - when I get sick of carrying it, hubby takes a turn.
• Small, but not too small - can fit a lot in it without feeling like you are stuffing it to the gills
• Wide strap - narrow straps can feel like they cut in to your shoulder, especially if there is any weighty items in your bag. Wide distributes the weight better, hence is more comfortable.
• Adjustable strap - The strap is fully adjustable--not a buckle with limited holes to choose from, but a slider which can adjust any way you like. And it can expand quite far so aforementioned hubby can carry it sometimes, too. I require cross-body so I can be fully hands-free, and this fits the bill.
• Quick Access Pockets - the front flap is velcro, which means you can whip it open in a flash with one hand to grab items without having to drop your Mickey bar. A sleeve pocket on the back side is perfect for tucking away oft-used park schedules and maps.
• Soft-lined pocket - under that front flap is a wide, flat pocket which is lined with soft material, ideal for a phone or camera you don't want to get scratched, and allows it to slide in or out with ease.

Overland Equipment Placer 2014

It looks like this bag may be being discontinued. I only see it on clearance on the Overland Equipment website as of this writing. So snag one if you think this looks like a good bag for you (also on discount prices at Zappos, Amazon, and others...for now). But even if you can't find this specific bag, some of these features may be good to keep in mind when hunting for your park bag. Being an afficianado of bags with organization, I like hunting around eBags, Zappos, and Amazon for just the right bag.

Alrighty, so on to THE LIST. For some this may feel like too much, many may feel it is too little. But after multiple trips, this is what feels essential to me for a day in the parks.

• credit card/ID/money - yes, would fit in a pocket, but with dresses I have no pockets. Hubby would carry it for me sometimes in the past, but now I have the bag. With Magic Bands, you don't need to carry park tickets or your KTTW cards any more, but you still need ID for alcohol, and we like to keep some cash and an emergency credit card on our person should the need arise. We also have hubby's employee ID and our Silver Passes, which can't be tied to our Magic Bands so these must be carried as well.
  

  

  Check it out, sucka's!

• smartphone - This is my communication device, my camera, my video camera, and thanks to the My Disney Experience app it is also my Fast Pass+ planner, ADR/reservation tracker, confirmation numbers holder, and portable digital park maps. Also great for looking up random trivia, settling bets, and texting ridiculous photos back home to brag about the amazing time you're having and they're not. If that's not a reason to have a smartphone, I don't know what is! 
• sunblock - We apply liberally in the mornings, but note that you absolutely need to reapply during the day in Florida, you sweat it off too fast! Pay special attention to your shoulders, face, and tips of your ears.
• glasses - I have decent eyesight, but if we get seated int the back row of a dark show or attraction, it can be pretty blurry for me, so I like to have them on me when I know we are in a park where there is such a contingency. If you have 20/20 vision, you can take a flying leap skip this item of course.
  
• sunglasses - when we are on rides, or indoors I need a place to put them where they won't get crushed, dropped, or scratched. Hubby often asks me to carry his for him as well so having room for two pair is essential for us.
• chapstick/lip balm - It's hot, and air conditioning is drying. It's good to have at least a light SPF formula.
• band-aids/moleskin - As alluded to in previous posts, I get hot spots on my feet easily so I need some of these with me. I usually carry a small travel container of band aids, plus a couple of the special blister soothing ones for on the spot treatment. (Note that band-aids, including big blister band-aids, can be procured for free at any park first aid station. I still carry my own, as I am not always near any first aid station or even a park when I really need them)
• point and shoot camera - While my phone can take photos, it doesn't take the best photos in all conditions, so we have a little Lumix we carry. It can fit in a pocket if needs be, but can feel heavy, so I usually put it in my little bag. Don't forget extra memory cards!
• trading pins - I am a pin trader, so I carry keepers in the bag, and wear traders on the purse strap (a wide, fabric strap on a bag is a must for me for this) or a lanyard. I also carry spare pin backs.
• hand wipes - Sometimes we carry hand wipes for quick cleanups if we get sticky fingers, or to clean a dirty table (which is rare in Disney, they clean up fast, but sometimes it happens) 
• kleenex - Used for the obvious, but also as all purpose napkins, wiping a sweaty brow or a stray tear of joy, and saving your literal butt if you get stuck in a TP'less stall (rare, as Disney is pretty meticulous about this, but it happens) 
• Advil/pain reliever - sore feet, legs, back, knees or headaches all deserve a little medication.
• park maps & schedules - There are more digital options these days, but we do love paper maps and schedules. We collect them at any park we go to, and sometimes plan our next day's plan of attack curled up in bed in the evenings.
• printed personal schedule - I would not rely on the My Disney Experience app solely for your ADR's/confirmation numbers - The park WiFi is overloaded these days, and the app I hear can run painfully slow to not at all. I always keep a printed copy of a little one-page spreadsheet with each of our reservation days, times, and confirmation numbers for quick reference. 
• gum - another staple for us to whet your whistle, stave off between meal hunger, and/or freshen your breath after ...*ahem* more flavorful meals.

• 

  "Lipstick" style portable USB charger

  (optional) portable USB charger - If you use your phone a lot in the parks like we do (texting, photos, video, Ingress), a portable charger is indispensable. While Magic Kingdom has added some awesome recharging lockers, they are still quite limited and during busy times it's tough to get a slot. Carrying your own may be worth it to you for convenience, as it is to us. (also, check out this comprehensive rundown of places in the parks where you can charge up!)
• (optional) small water bottle - It's a little bulky, so we don't always do it, but sometimes we bring one to keep handy at all times. You can refill at water fountains and any self-serve soda fountain with a water tap as needed. Tap water in Florida is not tasty, so a filtered version is our preference, like Bobble, or do like we did on some previous trips: bring individual serving packets of Crystal Light or similar, and make flavored waters for your enjoyment! Better than sugary sodas. Don't have a filter bottle? Just about any counter service restaurant will give you a free (small) cup full of filtered ice water if you ask, but we don't always want to navigate lines to get a sip of water, so on really hot days having our own everywhere we go is nice.
• (optional) snacks - We have been known to throw some Goldfish crackers, nuts, or other small snack into the bag to stave off hunger between meals. It's not an every day thing, but since we have some snacks/groceries in our room, it's an easy enough thing to grab and go.
• (optional) anti-chafing gel - Body Glide, Arm & Hammer, and Monistat all make a silicone-based anti-chafing formula which is great for helping reduce the chance of blisters on your feet as well as...*coughchubrubcough*
• (optional) touch-up makeup - Maybe a powder compact, macara, tinted lip balm, a little shadow quad...whatever makes you feel freshened up when you want to do so.
• (optional) portable fan mister - They sell some large ones in the parks, and boy do they sell on hot days. but there are small portable versions you can get on Amazon and in drug stores before your trip which are cheaper and fit into a bag.
• (optional) ponchos - Have never brought, bought, or worn one. Partly because we're from Seattle and getting wet is no big deal, plus in the heat you dry out pretty darn fast once the sun comes back out. If you have an aversion to getting wet, either in afternoon squalls or on splash rides, then you will want to bring some ($) or buy some in the parks ($$).
• any small souvenirs we buy

So that's our full rundown! What about you? What's in YOUR Disney park bag?

If you like this post, you may also enjoy reading:
A rundown of different types of park bags, pros and cons
http://micechat.com/55404-disney-parks-bag/
10 Best Lifehacks for Your Disney Vacation
http://www.homeiswherethemouseis.com/2013/09/10-best-lifehacks-for-your-disney.html