If you have reviewed our Disney World Park Bag Packing List, you know there are a lot of items to pack for your vacation. One of the most useful items you will need on your trip is a backpack for Disney World.
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What is Disney World’s Bag Policy
Can I bring a backpack into Disney World?
According to Disney themselves, bags and coolers, with or without wheels, cannot be larger than 24″ long x 15″ wide x 18″ high. The Park Rules are updated regularly, so just be sure you review them before your trip.
Can I bring food and drinks into Disney World?
The Disney World website states that you may bring food and drinks into the park, including all snacks and foods that do not require heating.
Be aware that balloons and plastic straws are not permitted in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park for the safety of the animals.
What about a cooler? I have prescription medicine I need to bring. Is that problem?
Coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations. For your convenience, lockers for storing personal items are available to rent on a daily basis throughout the Disney parks.
With that said, let’s look at a few of the best backpacks for Disney World. We will highlight some of the best backpacks for Disney World for kids, as well some of the adult-size best backpacks for Disney World vacations.
What do I need to know about the Disney Security check?
Disney security reserve the right to check any and all bags, parcels
We have also come up with an unofficial list of things not to bring to Disney, you can find those here.
Why are self sticks banned at Disney?
Guests who are found with a selfie stick at bag check will be escorted directly to Guest Services where they can “check-in” their selfie stick and then pick it up as they are exiting the park.
The reason they are banned is a number of things; Guest Experience – having a stick in your face every few feet isn’t the greatest scene when trying to enjoy the Magic of Disney. Safety – once upon a time guests were allowed to take selfie sticks into the parks but not operate them on rides. Due to mass public ignorance, these rules were rarely followed and a strict park ban ensued. Protect the Magic – Disney parks often opens up backstage routes during peak times to allow for better crowd movements within the parks. Some of these routes have a simple barrier between public access and backstage holding areas. With selfie-sticks, guests were able to peer into these backstage areas and Disney intends to preserve the magic for all guests.
What do we do with our bags on the rides? Can we bring them on?
Just about every Disney attraction will have space for self-storage while on the attraction. Be it a dedicated basket or just ample leg room, if bags conform to the above measurements and guests do not over-stuff them with souvenirs, guests will have no problem taking bags on the rides.
Soarin’ is one attraction where you may find your bag won’t fit in the provided space. On that ride, you are asked to store your bags under your seat, however, the storage space is kind of small. But don’t worry! If your bag wont fit the Cast Members will just ask you to leave it on the floor in front of you. After you are safely buckled in they will move your bag a few feet to the side where you can pick it up after it is over.
What do I need in my Disney Park Bag?
Keeping in mind that a single family only needs one bottle of sunscreen, yet a separate refillable water bottle for each member, organization is the key to a successful park bag.
Every member that is capable of carrying their own bag, should be required to carry their personal items. Mutual items can be distributed according to whom ever is in-charge of rationing out the supplies, like snacks and sunscreen.
Contents for the perfect Disney Park Bag.
What is the Best Bag to Carry at Disney World?
Key Features for the Best Disney World Backpack
Comfort – Test out your new purchase and see how it feels. Fill it up, walk around with it for a few hours, in the heat, and decide if this bag will hold up for the next week or give in after a day and you are forced to buy a new one in the Parks. True story.
Size & Capacity – Not that we want to over-fill our bags to the point that they are too heavy to carry, but it is also important that a bag is able to carry everything that we need. Start with your packing list, collect everything on said list, then test out which bags have the capacity to contain all of it.
Internal Pockets & Organization – Organization is key to sanity. Knowing where everything is, and that it is in its rightful place for when you need it (or giving instructions on where to find it), relieves a lot of unnecessary stress.
External Pockets & Organization – Not only are inside pockets important, but outside pockets too. This is usually where we carry our water bottles. I also like to have my lip gloss, sunglasses case and hand cream in a small outside pocket so it is easier to get a hold of when needed. These are things I am not too concerned about if someone were to sneak their little hands into.
Durability –Disney is rough on everything, including your bag. All that walking, sweating, taking on and off, can be rough on your bag, not to mention the load-stress of all that you are carrying.
Water Resistance –There are more than enough water rides to warrant a water proof park bag. But rain also happens once in a while. You will want to have something that will keep your electronics safe from moisture while you seek shelter.
Price –It’s all fine and good until you see the price tag. If it’s out of reach, it’s no good to anyone. Stay within your budget and find something that the wearer will be happy with.
Best Draw String Bag for Disney World
It doesn’t look like much, but a draw string bag is a great minimalist way to pack. We have been on countless vacations, including 7 Disney vacations (5 with kids) using only a draw string bag.
Using the Merchandise delivery service, we have no need for extra bags just to carry our purchases. This is a great way to reduce the size of ours bags that we are carrying around.
Best Backpack Cooler for Disney World
Without a stroller to lug snacks and such around in the bottom basket, someone is going to need to carry it on their backs. These backpack coolers are a great way to save a little money on snacks and drinks within the parks, stay cool and stick to the Disney Bag Policy.
Best Backpacks for Disney World
You’re not a minimalist, your kids can’t/won’t take their own bags and you can’t help but over prepare for a day in the parks lest you need to buy something you already have at the hotel room, a decent back pack day bag is a great way to go.
These are useful for any vacation, nit just Disney, and has ample room for that someone that can’t leave it behind. I tend to use a backpack when I travel with the kids sans hubby, since I now have to carry my own necessities and the camera/video equipment.
Best Kids’ Backpacks for Disney
Once the kids are old enough, they should be carrying their own items in the parks. We do this for a few reasons; mostly because I don’t want to carry more than I have to, but secondly, if I am carrying everything in my bag, then I am the only one that can care for them easily. Having each child carry their own snacks, change of clothes and water bottles, each parent can attend to a different child because the child will have possession of their own needs.
We can finally take turns bringing the kids to the bathroom!
Plus the kids love being responsible for their own kit. It makes them feel like big kids. Starting early means its not a fight when they are bigger. Win Win!
Best Disney Themed bag
This is where function may or may not meet fashion. But who cares, it’s Disney print! While these Disney themed backpacks don’t have as much storage, water proofing or weight limit as a traditional traveling back pack, they are Disney themed, while touring Disney, so that has to count for something.
Best Backpack diaper bag for Disney
The dreaded diaperbag. Not a day goes by that I am not thankful that my children are old enough to no longer require a diaper bag. Finding the perfect bag to match my vacation needs, hold everything I need for that day, move freely from stroller to basket to park attraction, is like finding a needle in a hay stack. This is also on top of my own park-bag needs so everything needs to fit together into ONE bag.
These 4 have great diaper-bag space while also allowing room for the primary care giver to hold their personal items within the same bag. They are unisex so parents can trade who is responsible for diaper bag when not on the stroller and can probably turn into a regular bag after baby has outgrown the need for diapers and changes of clothes.
The best cross body bags for Disney world
This is perfect for the solo traveler and amateur camera man. You will want something small, since you aren’t carrying as much as families, but also large enough to hold your camera equipment.
The cross body design allows for easy access into the body of the bag without constantly removing it. Chest pockets are great for holding cell phones and cash/cards where you can easily access them and keep an eye on them at the same time.
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