Backpacking at Disney!

Howdy, friends!  It’s officially March, which means that it’s already Spring Break season!  Crazy, right?  I know many of you will be traveling soon, so today I thought I would share with you what I pack in my backpack when we head to the parks.

First off, you’ll notice that I’m an LA Dodgers fan and this also happens to be my very favorite backpack on Earth.  Now, down to the nitty gritty – what I put in our bag.  Since I’ve numbered everything in the picture, a list would be the easiest way to describe everything.

1. Snacks!  We always bring our own snacks into the parks for both adults and kids.  Pictured here are goldfish/raisins in baggies, granola bars, a protein bar for the Mr., and a Lara Bar for moi (I love those things!).  These come in handy when should anyone need a snack while you are in line, plus it saves you a little extra moolah too!
2. Deodorant.  I’ll be straight up with ya’ll – sometimes it’s really warm in Florida, I sweat, and I stink.  I think it’s kind of self explanatory…..
3. Diapers and wipes for my son.  I usually pack about 6 or 7 diapers.  Sometimes I pack one of those fold-out changing pads as well depending on how much space I have in my bag.
4. Water.  Don’t buy it in the parks – bring your own and refill it at the water fountains throughout the day.  If you prefer filtered water, Brita makes a water bottle with a filter in it and it’s like, 10 bucks on Amazon.  Money well spent when you consider how much water costs on property.
5. Things to keep my kids occupied while in line or watching Carousel of Progress, American Adventure, insert-whatever-situation-they-need-to-sit-still-and-be-moderately-quiet-here.  I buy dollar store figurines, stickers, bubbles (great while in line) and put them in a ziploc.
6. My camera.  I don’t use it that often though because my iPhone is far more convenient and the picture quality is good.  My camera is also a battery hog, so there’s that.
7. Notepad and pen (I forgot to put the pen in the picture!).  You never know when you’ll need to write something down, so it’s good to have on hand.
8. Extra shirts for my kids.  Kids are messy people – do I really need to go any further?
9. My wallet. Well, a pared down version of my wallet.  This is a coin purse I use to carry my ID, Disney Gift Cards, and maybe some cash.
10. My “necessities” baggie (and my favorite bag in the backpack) – band-aids, mini first-aid spray, hand sanitizer, hair ties, chapstick, and anti-bacterial wipes.

Not pictured – sunblock.  Very important, especially in Florida.

One other item I forgot is a phone battery pack. With the new My Disney Experience App, I use my cell phone quite often to check wait times, parade times, dining reservations and fast passes. The last thing I want is for my cell phone to die during the day. If you don’t happen to have a battery pack, take along a usb charging cable, there are quite a few places in the parks that offer usb outlets, plus, it will give you an excuse to sit down and relax for a while while your phone charges.

I should also place the disclaimer that this isn’t the end all, be all of what you should pack, because what you take will depend upon the ages of your children, their needs, and your touring style.

I’d love to hear what ya’ll take to the parks each day – feel free to share in the comments below!