My Advice On The Bags You Bring Into The Parks

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My Advice On The Bags You Bring Into The Parks

OK, so we are all familiar with the bag check that we have to go through at the various Disney theme park. As someone who has gone through this many, many, many times, I had also been observing this process rather closely on many occasions. After all, as one is standing in a long line that is barely moving, what else is there to do?

So, here is my suggestion on how everyone who has a bag to bring into a Disney theme park (or any theme park that does a similar bag check) can help make the line move faster.

1. Use a bag that has the minimum number of pockets and compartments. The security person, if he/she is doing his job properly, will want to look inside each compartment and pocket. The more your bag has these things, the longer it will take for the bag check process to finish. A bag that has one big main compartment, and a smaller pocket, is often ideal.

2. Don't put another bag inside the your bag. I often seen smaller bags (purse?) being stuffed inside the bigger, carry-on bag. Again, the security person will want to see what's inside and will just take longer for the bag inspection to be done. If you have to carry a separate purse/bag inside your carry-on bag, take it out of the bag by the time you get to the inspection point. This will prevent you haven't to fish it out and open it.

3. Make sure your bag is open/unzipped by the time you get to the inspection point. This includes all pockets and compartments. This will prevent the security personnel from having to keep asking you to open/unzip various parts of your bag, especially if it has a lot of pockets and compartments.

4. This may be tough, but really, try to being as little as possible into the park. The more you pack your bags with stuff, the longer it will be to go through it.

Of course, I've assumed that you are going in without kids or strollers jam-packed with stuff, etc. If you are, then you're on your own and I hope to not be behind you at the bag check line! Smile

Zz.

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ZapperZ wrote:

3. Make sure your bag is open/unzipped by the time you get to the inspection point. This includes all pockets and compartments.

This one is HUGE! I keep several smaller bags inside of my purse, however taking the time to unzip them all while I'm waiting my turn seems to save me a huge amount of time going through. When everything is already unzipped and security can see right into the smaller bags, it's usually just one look and i'm through.

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Great tips!
http://www.polyvore.com/coach_cross_body_leather_purse/thing?id=9970952
I have a purse like this one that I have found to be the easiest purse to take into the Parks. The only zipper is at the top [despite a hidden inside zipper I use for feminine products] and it gets through the line quickly. Plus, because it is cross body I don't need to take it off-it stays on my body as I lift it up to show the guard. Being a cross body, I also don't have to worry about someone taking my purse or it falling off-not that that's an issue in Disney World, but you can never be too safe! I'd definitely suggest getting a crossbody bag. Disney may make some designed like this too biggrin

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I use my Vera Bradley Hipster. It's a crossbody and very lightweight, not bulky, very organized inside. Love it!

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My advice is make your hubby carry the bag and waltz through the no bag line and take it easy Wink

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My advice is don't carry a bag. What do you need in the park? Camera, Shades and Money.

Of course my kids are grown now.

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A great tip for those with strollers are put everything in extra large zip loc bags. Diapers, wipes, creams etc. We saw someone do this last time we were there. They breezed right through since everything in the bags could be seen.

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Poppet wrote:
I use my Vera Bradley Hipster. It's a crossbody and very lightweight, not bulky, very organized inside. Love it!

This is the bag I use as well. Easy for the security process.

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nikamel wrote:
A great tip for those with strollers are put everything in extra large zip loc bags. Diapers, wipes, creams etc. We saw someone do this last time we were there. They breezed right through since everything in the bags could be seen.

We actually saw someone with a clear plastic backpack. Security told them they made it to easy.

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mrhub wrote:
nikamel wrote:
A great tip for those with strollers are put everything in extra large zip loc bags. Diapers, wipes, creams etc. We saw someone do this last time we were there. They breezed right through since everything in the bags could be seen.

We actually saw someone with a clear plastic backpack. Security told them they made it to easy.

The problems with that are:

1. Others can see what you have in the bag. I don't think you want to entice people with your camera, camcorder, or any other items of value.

2. If you have a bottle of water with a clear glass or plastic, that water gets warm very quickly. In fact, on a warm, sunny day, the content of your bag will also become warm rather quickly.

Zz.

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The Colonel wrote:
My advice is don't carry a bag. What do you need in the park? Camera, Shades and Money.

Of course my kids are grown now.

This is my philosophy as well. If it won't fit in my pockets I don't need it. But I have no kids.

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crazycatperson wrote:
The Colonel wrote:
My advice is don't carry a bag. What do you need in the park? Camera, Shades and Money.

Of course my kids are grown now.

This is my philosophy as well. If it won't fit in my pockets I don't need it. But I have no kids.

I guess the logical progression of this discussion is the question on what one typically brings into the park.

For me, if I know that it is just a quick in-and-out in the morning, I tend to not bring a bag. But if it is going to be a long day, or going into the evening and saying for the evening show, then I will bring a bag. Why, because I typically bring

1. My collapsible tripod
2. My camcorder
3. A beach towel to sit on and mark our territory for the parade/fireworks
4. A bottle of water (I don't want to pay that much in a Disney park for a bottle of water)
5. A poncho if there is a possibility of rain
6. Trading pins to trade with cast members
7. Cases for my glasses so that they don't get smashed when I no longer want to wear them
8. If I know it will involve a bit of waiting, such as waiting for the fireworks to start, then I'll bring my iPad so that I can blog or do my trip report live from the park.

Because of this, I often do carry a bag pack.

Zz.

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I basically carry a bag because I have everything from Cameras, wallets, sunglasses, hats, etc. This year I bought a small side satchel Dooney to take into the park. It will only hold wallet, phone, and chapstick. I am forcing myself to pack light!

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Sometimes I take my Coach leather wristlet. It's just big enough for my lipstick, credit card/passes, a few wet naps and my cellphone. The kind that I have has the loop that detaches, making it into one long strap that I pass through my shorts belt loops. It gets us through security quickly.
Of course there are other days when I want be be a total pack-zilla and stuff our backpack full. wink

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I have a one shoulder small backpack that we got especially for travel. Its small enough to fit in the pouches on rides. With the one strap it can easily be moved to the front to get stuff out without taking it off. And its a backpack not a purse so DH will carry it too.

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I definitely need a bag in the parks. I take sunglasses (I'm usually wearing them), camera, phone, tickets/money/cards, reading glasses, little bottle of hand sanitizer, lip gloss, and a couple other small things. I love the small Baggallini and Le Sportsac cross-body bags. They have three outside zippers, but the bags are small enough that it just takes a 2-second look with the flashlight and I'm through.

When I get to the table, not only do I have my bag unzipped, but I also take it off because they won't look at it if I'm still wearing it. It drives me crazy when I'm behind someone with a huge, disorganized, complicated backpack.

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awesome having a bag that is organized is important. I try to have my teen DD do this too. Sometimes I have to bring in more with small kids, so I use zip bags to sort and organize my items: camera, ponchos, snacks, wipes...
Then at the check line I can pull out the different bags, which they can see through, dump them back in my bag and go!
It also makes it easier when finding something later in the day and not making a mess. Helps with airport security too.

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ZapperZ, you aren't one of those people that use your iPad as a camera are you? I thought we've talked about how goofy (pun intended) people look when they do that.

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The last time I went to WDW (last May) I had a bag that worked out perfectly for me. This probably wouldn't work as well for parents traveling with kids or if you have to carry many items, but, I went to The Disney Store at my local mall a few weeks before we left for our trip and found a pink, water-proof, see-through, flower-shaped, Minnie Mouse backpack. It looked like it was meant to be a pool bag or a beach bag. It was super light and super cute! I was able to fit everything I needed in here- wallet, phone, sunscreen, camera, sunglasses, waterbottle, even a poncho on the day it rained (I rolled it up tightly) and still had room to spare! It was perfect because I didn't have to actually hold anything in my hands because I wore it as a backpack and being water-proof I didn't have to worry about it on rides like splash mountain.

I found a picture of it:

http://as7.disneystore.com/is/image/DisneyShopping/9268047152376?$full$

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coreyp wrote:
ZapperZ, you aren't one of those people that use your iPad as a camera are you? I thought we've talked about how goofy (pun intended) people look when they do that.

Oh heavens, no. I'm goofy enough already without doing that.

Zz.

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Ok, thought I'd ask this question to revive this thread..One of the questions I was asked at my Disney house party last night by someone who is going for the first time in October, was what type of bag do we take into the parks.?..Now in the past my DW used to carry a shoulder bag, but this year we bought a new backpack..It only has one small outer pocket but it will hold our ponchos,water bottle,and sun cream...Just curious to what other people still use when touring the parks..Also, are you allowed to take sandwiches from say your food court into the parks.?

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Yes you are allowed to take sandwiches into the parks from other places.

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MrHub wrote:
Yes you are allowed to take sandwiches into the parks from other places.

Thank you sir.. awesome

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The Watchmaker wrote:
Also, are you allowed to take sandwiches from say your food court into the parks.?

The short answer is yes, but Traci just wrote a great article about that last week!
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/articles/bringing-food-walt-disney-world-theme-parks

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Last December we took a clear plastic backpack. When brought a hand towel from home to put inside after the bag was checked so nobody could see what was inside. But it wasn't really a problem as the backpack never left my DH or myself.

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Kristen K. wrote:
The Watchmaker wrote:
Also, are you allowed to take sandwiches from say your food court into the parks.?

The short answer is yes, but Traci just wrote a great article about that last week!
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/articles/bringing-food-walt-disney-world-theme-parks

Thanks Kristen.. awesome

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A drawstring bag is my bag of choice because there is only one compartment that stores everything. Seems to be the perfect middle ground because it's larger than a fanny bag but not as large compared to a backpack or a large purse.

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No bag! I know we're pretty reckless but I just take a wristlet with my cards and cash, boyfriend uses pockets and off we go! Then again, its just the two of us, we're pretty low maintenance, and usually take an afternoon break at the resort... Its not for everyone but I hate lugging around a bag and have to worry about it when I'd rather just go go go.

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EmFord wrote:
No bag! I know we're pretty reckless but I just take a wristlet with my cards and cash, boyfriend uses pockets and off we go! Then again, its just the two of us, we're pretty low maintenance, and usually take an afternoon break at the resort... Its not for everyone but I hate lugging around a bag and have to worry about it when I'd rather just go go go.

If it won't fit in my pockets, I don't need it. I hate carrying stuff around. So my advice on the bags you carry into the parks is the same as it was last year, don't carry bags into the parks.

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crazycatperson wrote:

If it won't fit in my pockets, I don't need it. I hate carrying stuff around. So my advice on the bags you carry into the parks is the same as it was last year, don't carry bags into the parks.

laugh exactly how I feel. No bag = no stress

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Here's my bags...upside down of course...Sorry..Just click on the photo before all the candy falls out..

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