Family of 5 Park Bags

[lolobug]

Hi!
Our family will be coming and going from one another while traveling in the parks. DH and I have three kids, 16, 13 and 4 year old. We will be traveling with a BOB single stroller and a soft sided cooler. How many bags would you suggest we bring into the park and what should we bring in them? Thank you!
-water bottles (planning on taking our yeti's unless told otherwise)
-sunscreen
-frog toggs
-granola bars, juice boxes, fruit snacks, etc.
-ponchos
-hats
- wipes for hands

 

[scrappinginontario]

I’m not sure there is a right or wrong answer to this. It depends on who wishes to carry a bag? What you combine together? What you leave in the stroller (unattended so a known risk) while you ride attractions?

It’s really what works best for your family.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I agree with @scrappinginontario. I use a small Vera Bradley crossbody; it holds my wallet, phone, chapstick, hand sanitizer, small sunscreen, sunglasses, pins for pixie dusting, and poncho(s). I would lay out at home what you need for a park day then see what bag(s) make the most sense.

 

[We’reAllMadHere]

For the three of us, we usually only take one small backpack. It’s a backpack used for hiking with a water bladder and straw built in. Keeps DH’s back cold and keeps us hydrated without have to worry about cups. We fill it with ice at the hotel every morning and use free ice water from QS restaurants if it needs to be refilled mid-day.

The only other things we take are IDs and credit card in case there are issues with magic bands, phones, small portable phone charger/power bank (on long days with no mid-day break), disposable ponchos (on potentially rainy days), small sunscreen, and chapstick. If it’s hot we also throw in a couple cooling towels for our necks.

Kiddo likes to pin trade now so we limit how many can be taken to the park.

On a day with big weather fluctuations, I might also take a small loungefly so we can each have a sweatshirt.

 

[Rory607]

I need at least a little stuff and can’t go without a bag. When the kids were little I took a regular size backpack for snacks, change of clothes, etc. I also carried a small crossbody or fanny pack crossways for my wallet and i.d. that stayed on me at all times. The backpack mostly just stayed in the basket of the stroller and I made sure nothing of value was in it in case of theft. It never happened, but I wasn’t going to worry too much if someone stole wipes and goldfish crackers.

Now that our kids are older I do a fanny pack and make my H carry a small string backpack for sunscreen, snacks and random stuff. My 14 year old sometimes carries her Loungefly or fanny pack and she knows she is responsible for it. We don’t carry water bottles, but I guess keep them in the stroller?

 

[sponica]

I'm mean and would make the 14 and 13 year old carry their own cargo.

For our now 4 and 8 year old, we use one of those collapsible eddie bauer backpacks, it holds most of what we need but we're not super big into carrying a lot of snacks or water with us.

 

[Skywalker3]

I always have my full sized backpack, and it's pretty much like Hermione's beaded bag. Whatever you want, just reach in, and it's probably there.
Except for the hats, and full rain coats, I bring everything on your list, plus a few other things. I always start the day with at least one water bottle, that I usually refill, and often bring 1 each either water or gatorade, for kids, depending if we're planning on hanging out together.
I also have an assortment of ziploc bags. Usually am bringing some sort of food back in them, especially if from Epcot festival booths.
Also, bring 1 fuel rod, or battery,and assorted other things, like contact lens case, glasses, a few bandaids, maybe one compact, etc.
I carry my wallet and phone in my pockets at all times.
DD and DS are well old enough to carry their own , if they want, and DD often brings a small backpack. DS usually just uses his pockets for stuff, but has brought a sling bag before. DH has all of his stuff in his own bag, so at the very least. DH and I each have a bag.
We do split up a lot in the parks, so if the older kids are going to be doing their own thing, might need their own small bags.
ETA also I have have an assortment of meds: headache meds, stomach, pepto, immodium, etc. etc.
Happy planning!!!

 

[Boopuff]

My kids carried their own "stuff" starting around age 5. If you want it, you carry it. Most of the "stuff" is a water bottle, poncho and lanyard. Not much. Never leave anything in the stroller.

 

[tinkerjo]

I had the kids carry their own string backpacks when they were 8+ they were responsible for their own snacks, juice pouches, water, ponchos, autograph books, lanyards, sunglasses and diabetic supplies (Middle DS). I carried extra snacks and emergency ponchos, a small med kit (I know there is first aid stations but a quick bandaid can be a lifesaver m, even if it’s for another family), fuel rod etc. as the kids got older though I carry less and less. I would love to go bagless lol

 

[Karalee402]

We're a family of five, too, and I usually carry a cross body, waterproof bag, but I'm seriously reconsidering because after my last trip, my back ached too much from carrying something across my body all day. At the end of that trip, I started carrying a backpack, and that's what I'll do from here on out. We always bring a few snacks, sunscreen, water bottles, ponchos, pins, etc. into the parks, and having that on my back felt so much better.