Lockers, park bag, and your outfit

[CeCe0906]

Visiting Disneyland in August with my three granddaughters ages 5, 7, and 9.

So I have my go to small backpack that Is my theme park bag; used it on my Granny/granddaughter trip to WDW last year, and on a trip to SeaWorld in San Antonio last fall with the 3 of them. Inside that I'll have their 3 swim suits/flip flops, small camp towel, and some small snacks like fruit snacks, applesauce, nuts, powerbank to recharge phone. Outside zipper pocket has the bandaid, sunscreen, some masks and my wallet. Small water bottles on the ends. I have a spi belt I wear with a small wallet that holds my ID and 1 credit card and a little cash. Usually have my phone in pocket for easy access or can put it in spi belt. Should I throw some rain ponchos in there, or is that more just a WDW thing?

I plan to have another small drawstring backpack to leave in a locker with a change of clothes for each kid. ( I have one sensory kid who gets upset if something is too messy, so to avoid drama...and will only ride water rides in a swim suit. I still hear about the time her shorts got a little splashed on the Frozen ride at Epcot. It rained on an afternoon at AK last summer and she wore a poncho over a rain jacket) Looking at the usual weather, it looks like they might need a light jacket in the morning and evening? So those could be stored in the locker during the warm part of the day. And I could lighten my load by putting the bathing suits/shoes in there after we finish with water rides. I had a rechargeable handheld fan that I brought to WDW with us last year, but I don't know if I really need it at DL,plus it will be a thing as to who gets it, and I'm not dragging three of them around.

So for you guys that frequent the parks often. What's in your park bag? What do you wear to the park to account for the hot days/cool nights? I'm not too worried about the heat, I live in Austin, TX, and our summers often have triple digits, plus high humidity. I usually just wear capris and a moisture wicking tee, not worried about being a fashion plate in a theme park.

How do the lockers work, I know there are some on the Esplanade, and in each park. Should I just get one on the Esplanade, since we will be park hopping, that way easy to access from either park? How much of a pain is it to exit and reenter? I don't know if I want to keep changing lockers, depending on what park we are in.

I know you can get splashed on Matterhorn, Splash Mountain, and Grizzly River Run. Do you really get splashed on Pirates?, we didn't have an issue in WDW, but I know the DL version is different.

 

[Louis63]

I always use the lockers on DCA side of the esplanade since I stay on Harbor

 

[starlite_]

I normally bring a change of shoes and a hoodie that I store in the locker.

I would choose your locker depending on the park you are gonna be the most or alternatively, where it will be most useful. Having to go out to the esplanade and back in just to get a jacket sounds like a hassle, but the esplanade lockers are right by the bathrooms as far as I remember while the Disneyland ones are across Main Street (I can't speak about the DCA ones as I haven't used them).

Yes you can get wet at Pirates. Not super soaked like in splash but still.

 

[duckboyone]

I live in Austin also Technically Cedar Park.

Honestly sounds like you got everything covered. I was going to suggest collapsible water bottles to save space, we have some that roll up nicely and use a carabiner to keep them rolled up, and I don't think you will need to worry about ponchos. We've only ever been to DL/DCA, but we've been there a few different times of the year and I don't think we've ever seen it rain, SoCal is definitely different than Florida.

I actually bought a new backpack just for our trip this summer, it has a place to put patches, so of course I had to get a Texas flag

 

[DLgal]

I'd rent a locker at the esplanade. They are $7 for small and $10 for large. The small is plenty big enough to hold what you have.

Ponchos are overkill if you also have swimsuits. I'd probably try and convince the sensory kid to dress in quick dry clothing (athletic gear) and use a poncho on water rides rather than a full on swimsuit, which is just a massive pain to change in and out of. I have a sensory kid too and he wears quick dry clothing and crocs and dries really quickly in the summer sun, even after getting soaked.

I would buy the cheap disposable ponchos and just carry a couple with you and toss them after each ride.

You won't need ponchos for rain. It would be an anomaly to get a rain storm in the summer, but it DOES (very, very) occasionally happen.

In August, you likely won't need any jackets. That's more of a spring/early summer need. It should be quite warm even in the early mornings in August (70s is typical) and evenings won't get that chilly either.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Matterhorn and Pirates are less wet than Pirates in WDW.

I'd skip the ponchos unless the forecast shows rain. That may happen like a few days a year.

 

[StormyCA]

My park bag is a small Disney Dooney crossbody, but I don't have kids in tow, so it's just supplies for me. I've got my 'needs' down to a science and can get everything I might need during my park day in that one little bag. I use a Vera Bradley zip ID case instead of a wallet, it has plenty of room for cash, cards, and hopper and it's much smaller.

As far as a locker goes, I have a Jansport Disney backpack that I put MAJOR supplies in and stash in a locker. I could probably live out of that backpack if I was ever so 'unfortunate' as to be locked inside Disneyland for a week! lol.

We normally stay onsite and I don't bother with a backpack at DLR since it's such a short walk back to the Grand. But if I'm doing a 'day trip' from my 'old hometown' in So Cal I normally get a locker in DL and stash the backpack in there since it's where I tend to spend the most of my time and do most of my shopping. There has only been one time that I had to return to DL from DCA to retrieve the backpack at the end of the day.

 

[DLgal]

Matterhorn and Pirates are less wet than Pirates in WDW.

I'd skip the ponchos unless the forecast shows rain. That may happen like a few days a year.

Unfortunately, our super rare pop up summer thunderstorms are NEVER forecast even the same day. They often result from storm formation over the high desert areas and then suddenly move over our area.

But again, that's like a 1% type situation.

 

[AustinTink]

Visiting Disneyland in August with my three granddaughters ages 5, 7, and 9.

So I have my go to small backpack that Is my theme park bag; used it on my Granny/granddaughter trip to WDW last year, and on a trip to SeaWorld in San Antonio last fall with the 3 of them. Inside that I'll have their 3 swim suits/flip flops, small camp towel, and some small snacks like fruit snacks, applesauce, nuts, powerbank to recharge phone. Outside zipper pocket has the bandaid, sunscreen, some masks and my wallet. Small water bottles on the ends. I have a spi belt I wear with a small wallet that holds my ID and 1 credit card and a little cash. Usually have my phone in pocket for easy access or can put it in spi belt. Should I throw some rain ponchos in there, or is that more just a WDW thing?

I plan to have another small drawstring backpack to leave in a locker with a change of clothes for each kid. ( I have one sensory kid who gets upset if something is too messy, so to avoid drama...and will only ride water rides in a swim suit. I still hear about the time her shorts got a little splashed on the Frozen ride at Epcot. It rained on an afternoon at AK last summer and she wore a poncho over a rain jacket) Looking at the usual weather, it looks like they might need a light jacket in the morning and evening? So those could be stored in the locker during the warm part of the day. And I could lighten my load by putting the bathing suits/shoes in there after we finish with water rides. I had a rechargeable handheld fan that I brought to WDW with us last year, but I don't know if I really need it at DL,plus it will be a thing as to who gets it, and I'm not dragging three of them around.

So for you guys that frequent the parks often. What's in your park bag? What do you wear to the park to account for the hot days/cool nights? I'm not too worried about the heat, I live in Austin, TX, and our summers often have triple digits, plus high humidity. I usually just wear capris and a moisture wicking tee, not worried about being a fashion plate in a theme park.

How do the lockers work, I know there are some on the Esplanade, and in each park. Should I just get one on the Esplanade, since we will be park hopping, that way easy to access from either park? How much of a pain is it to exit and reenter? I don't know if I want to keep changing lockers, depending on what park we are in.

I know you can get splashed on Matterhorn, Splash Mountain, and Grizzly River Run. Do you really get splashed on Pirates?, we didn't have an issue in WDW, but I know the DL version is different.

I live in Austin also Technically Cedar Park.

Honestly sounds like you got everything covered. I was going to suggest collapsible water bottles to save space, we have some that roll up nicely and use a carabiner to keep them rolled up, and I don't think you will need to worry about ponchos. We've only ever been to DL/DCA, but we've been there a few different times of the year and I don't think we've ever seen it rain, SoCal is definitely different than Florida.

I actually bought a new backpack just for our trip this summer, it has a place to put patches, so of course I had to get a Texas flag

View attachment 666515

Howdy, fellow Austinites! Just popping in to say hi.

To the OP, I wouldn't worry too much about the cooler weather warranting a jacket. Coming from the sweltering Austin heat it will feel like a dream! We've been a dozen or so times to Disneyland and I rarely need a jacket. I'm actually worried more so about it being too warm this trip in August.

For wet rides, I typically wear crocs sandals in the parks so no need to change shoes. It's a nice option and reduces the backpack load. This year I'll be wearing tennis shoes and compression socks... doctors' orders. I think I'm going to burn up from the heat in those. OP, your capris and tee shirt will be fine.

 

[CeCe0906]

Howdy, fellow Austinites! Just popping in to say hi.

To the OP, I wouldn't worry too much about the cooler weather warranting a jacket. Coming from the sweltering Austin heat it will feel like a dream! We've been a dozen or so times to Disneyland and I rarely need a jacket. I'm actually worried more so about it being too warm this trip in August.

For wet rides, I typically wear crocs sandals in the parks so no need to change shoes. It's a nice option and reduces the backpack load. This year I'll be wearing tennis shoes and compression socks... doctors' orders. I think I'm going to burn up from the heat in those. OP, your capris and tee shirt will be fine.

Thanks, I know I'm going to love the weather. I'm not going to miss 99°, 85% humidity. I'll be in my keen hiking sandals. The kids will be in tennis shoes, so I'll have the flip flops for the water rides for them. I was mainly thinking about maybe needing a sweater in the evening when just sitting watching parades or fantasmic etc. It looked like the lows were in the mid 60s which could be chilly if you're not moving around.

 

[AustinTink]

It looked like the lows were in the mid 60s which could be chilly if you're not moving around.

The parades are so crowded, it doesn't get cold. At least not to me. It feels grand.

 

[DLgal]

The parades are so crowded, it doesn't get cold. At least not to me. It feels grand.

Yeah, it stays warm in the parks in the evenings in summer because of all the radiant heat still in the ground/buildings.

 

[DLgal]

Thanks, I know I'm going to love the weather. I'm not going to miss 99°, 85% humidity. I'll be in my keen hiking sandals. The kids will be in tennis shoes, so I'll have the flip flops for the water rides for them. I was mainly thinking about maybe needing a sweater in the evening when just sitting watching parades or fantasmic etc. It looked like the lows were in the mid 60s which could be chilly if you're not moving around.

That's a temperature that you'd see at like 3 or 4am, maybe, in an area out in the open. It won't feel cold in the parks at 9pm.