[BuzzLightyear]

Anyone have a link or site with a good backpack for traveling the parks.
We hope to find a smallish one with a cooler to keep some water bottles, and room for all other things needed when traveling with a toddler.

Thanks in advance!

[MissDisney]

We used to take the backpack/cooler into the parks, but it was kind of a chore, so we followed a friend's advice. We would have a "fanny pack drawer" in the hotel, and each morning, the kids would choose a drink and some snacks, which they loaded into their own fanny packs! They were allowed to eat or drink whenever they wanted... it made them feel like big kids, and it also kept us from having to buy expensive snacks at the parks all day. I know you asked about a cooler/backpack, but once we started doing this, we no longer needed a backpack anymore!

[YzmaPapa]

any sort of backpack is good....I wouldn't suggest taking any drink larger than 12 ounces, though...things like that can get heavy real fast if your walking! I'd suggest just getting a fannie pack or backpack with a spot for a drink, and taking little water bottles (you can get them on the plane, most of the time) and just fill those with cool water everytime you see a water fountain.

[MissLisa5730]

Do you have Costco where you are? The one here has a smallish backpack with this little zippered bottom that is waterproofed and can be used as a cooler (just stick a couple juice boxes or whatever in there with one of those "blue ice" things and you'd be set)

My worry is this .. what do you do with the backpack when you go on a ride?

[YzmaPapa]

you put it down by your feet and loop it around your legs! of course (JK)

very few rides offer places (mission space and Dinosaur are all I can think of) but looping around your legs works fine, even on RNRC

[Amneris]

if you've got access to a refrigerator, just take a couple of frozen drink boxes rather than blue ice -- that way your drinks stay cool and you're not carrying around anything extra! :)

[downsouthtigger]

After reading the post I was about to suggest not even worrying about a backpack, then I heard about the toddler.
How old is the child?? If they're young get a stroller, actually rent a stroller regardless. They will help when the child gets tired and they also have mesh pockets on em that can hold most anything.

Backpacks are a chore and will tire you after a while. Plus if you care about getting in the parks quicker, by not having a backpack you can bypass the security checkpoint. Oh and backpacks just go between your legs on the rides, no worries bout that. As noted some rides do have places for them!

The water bottle trick is always nice, just freeze a couple of em and wait for them to melt, trust me in the hot Florida sun thats not too long. Also you can always ask most places at WDW for a cup of ice water and the Cm's will be happy to help!

I hope this helps in anyways, oh one last think, don't worry about leaving things in the strollers. I always get asked that, no one will steal anything and more often than not there's a CM at the greeter spot who is watching the strollers as well. To be honest when it comes to strollers hardly anyone touches them.

[pixie_1999]

we always take a one strap type backpack,its more comfy than the traditional pack....

[eeeee]

We have a 4 year old and had always rented a stroller. The last time we brought our own, we will never rent again. Anyway, back to the original ? We bring a small lunch box (soft sided) with frozen water bottles in them. It will fit 5. Then we throw it in the bottom of the stroller (the rented ones do not have storage) and we are off. We also put food, cameras, souvenirs, in the stroller. So we didn't even use the backpack!!

[BuzzLightBeer]

I remember answering a similar post about a half-year ago. There is a Canadian retailer than has an on-line presence and ships to the U.S. They can be found at www.mec.ca

I can't even begin to think about how much I've spent at Mountain Equipment Co-Op. They specialize in outdoor adventure, and only offer quality product. Prices aren't too bad - it is a co-op where you buy a share for $5 (CDN), and the quality of goods is superlative. Also note that prices are in $CDN which may make for more of a bargain.

I have something on the order of 20+ backpacks, daypacks, fanny packs (please no laughing from the UK), drysacks, etc. and they have all been great.

Hope this helps.

[cahogbin]

I can't give specifics on it but when I was in WalMart today I saw a nice fanny pack with a mesh holder for a water bottle. And it was only around $5. It had other compartments too. I might get one for me and let the kids have my older littler one on our trip.

These were in the pocketbook section.

Back in the luggage section there was also a nicer backpack for this situation. Not a big full size pack. I think it was about $9.

[DisneyHog6]

If your hotel room has a fridge, then it is a great idea to freeze some water bottles overnight and drink them as they melt through the day. Then, when it's all gone, just refill from a water fountain. Even if you aren't able to freeze them, the fountains at WDW are usually pretty cool. Having a stroller is a big advantage. That's where my backpack always goes. It doesn't matter how heavy it is.

[MissLisa5730]

Originally posted by DisneyHog6
If your hotel room has a fridge, then it is a great idea to freeze some water bottles overnight and drink them as they melt through the day.

That really is a great idea :)
and we usually take a stroller too - our stroller doubles as a luggage carrier at the airport and it has MUCH better storage than the rentals at the park ... AND you don't have to check it in at the end of the day.
We've decided that the only downside to your own stroller is having to fold it up to get onto the busses at the end of the day. DH's plan to solve this is as follows: Tie the strollers onto giant helium filled mickey mouse balloons and attach them to the roof of the busses. When you get to your hotel .. your stroller is overhead attached to a final WDW souvenier. LOL