I'll be there with my family (wife, 2 boys, 7,3 ) and 2 grandparents. I'd like to keep the pack mule hauling to a minimum while in the parks, so I'm thinking one backpack that we all can share. What else should go in there, besides a spare set of clothes for the 3 year old (potty trained but may slip if too excited or tired). I'm thinking a set of rain panchos, some water, first aid kit. What else?
Thanks

I have three kids: 11, 8, and 2. We too struggle with what will we really need to haul around. We recently spent a week with Mickey and we really used wipes...wipes...and more wipes! I brought travel packs of regular baby wipes for messy sticky faces and also anti-bacterial wipes for hands when there wasn't time for heading to the restroom before we grabbed a snack to eat.

Have fun...I already wish we were going back!

Hats
Sunscreen
Water
Ponchos
Camera
MONEY
Park Admission
Earplugs for the youngest???
Ziploc bags (they come in handy for so many things)
If the weather is cool in the morning/night you might want sweatshirts too

I just leave the "big" back in the stroller and carry only the valuables (money/camera/tickets/room key) on me, so I just use a small cross-over-the-body type bag that is just big enough for those things. Also, if you have a rain cover for the stroller you should bring it. Although I'm not sure how rainy it is at this time of year... we've always gone during hurricane season.

Leave the first aid kit in the room. If you have an accident that requires anything in it, you can go to the First Aid Stations in any of the parks. They will patch it up for free. If something happens where you need something more involved than what is in a first aid kit, the Station will also be able to help you there.

My advice to everyone trying to figure out what they need in the parks is to lay everything out on a bed that you think you will need. Then look at each item and think why you would need it. If it's an every day occurrence or could be an every day occurrence, put it on a pile and leave it on the bed. Then look at what is left and think if you will need it at least once on the trip. Put that on another pile and leave it on the bed. Then don't take the rest of the stuff. Put what you are taking into your backpack and go for a two mile walk.

I'm a LIGHT packer for the parks. I don't do water or sunscreen. I apply the sunscreen in the room, and then re-apply it before I leave the room again after my afternoon rest time at the resort (good idea if you have kids!). If you're doing ALL day in the park, then I'd take the stick or the spray--something that wouldn't be as heavy as the cream.

I buy water as I need it. Too heavy and it gets hot too quickly. Ick for me. However, I understand that it is expensive to buy water for a big group.

I take my hat every time, wear it the first day, and then leave it behind. I don't take my poncho unless I'm planning on riding water rides or it is supposed to rain. Yes, it has caused a few slip ups here and there, but I HATE extra weight (not including my own, LOL!).

I take a small shoulder bag with camera, id, park ticket/KTTW, a little cash for an emergency, a ziplock for camera and phone for water rides, and phone. That's it. If I could cut myself off of my camera-habit, I could go without a bag. Perhaps I should just put the camera around my neck and go without a bag! Hmmmm....this thread will cause me to think......

I know with the ages of your kids, you'll need extra stuff. If you really don't want to carry it, you can get a locker. We did that when we took Mikey at age 3. Extra clothes for oopsies (he was potty training then), ponchos, etc.

I have a four-year-old and my in-laws will be with us as well. We don't want to carry everything with us all of the time, but my mother-in-law wants a little seat cushion for parades, etc. :rolleyes: So, we are planning on getting a locker first thing in the morning to store the cushion :rolleyes: , jackets and anything else that might be cumbersome. We'll have a stroller too. I have a nice stroller caddy that I put wipes, sunblock and other "if it's stollen no big deal" type things in. My shoulder bag stays with me, as does my camera. My hubby usually carries a backpack with other essentials. My poor little pack-mule. He's such a good sport! :D

I survive with just a baseball cap!

I'll be going for the first time with a child this year, but in the past I always took a back pack and it never bothered me. I loved the ease of slinging it around, I could smoosh it at my feet on rides, and I didn't have to worry about anything. I packed:
Camera
wallet
jacket of some sort
snacks
wipes

It's great if you buy anything so you can stick it in there, it also makes a good seat cushion (once you take the camera out) or pillow when waiting in the holding pens of the 3D movies. Added benefit - it gives you more space for the people in line who crowd up behind you. Swinging it over your shoulder gets them to back up.

Since blisters early in the trip can be a real pain (literally!) I always carry Moleskin (padded adhesive that you apply to your skin when you feel that 'burn' BEFORE the blister, kind of like thick felt with adhesive on the back) and Blister bandaids (just tried these recently, and loved them!)

We bring one backpack for the family. It usually has:
Wipes (antibacterial/baby)
sunblock (I need to reapply all day, I have done Disney burnt..it stinks!)
ponchos
swimtrunks/towel (for my son (4 yrs) because it's very handy to change if they want to play in the fountains and you want them to be dry later for a restaurant or rides)
Camera
and one bottle of water.
Just because I hate to use my snack options on just a bottle of water and I hate paying 2 bucks for a bottle of water. If you bring one you can refill it at the drinking fountains and share with everyone. I would say just dont over pack the bag. Remember you'll have to lug it around all day long and if it's heavy that wont be very fun. We have actually lightened up because neither of us wanted to carry it when it was too heavy! :p

I take a small backpack - its very comfy and I find the convenience of having things at hand outweighs the literal weight of it. in it i have two small (500 ml) water bottles, sunscreen, lipsalve, anti-bacterial wipes, a tiny thing of antiseptic just in case, camera, poncho, sunhat, and usually something small to snack on - maybe some mandarins, or a box of raisins or some nuts. i also carry a pen, park maps and entertainment guide, and usually a touring plan for the day. and then tickets, room key, cash, and a creditcard. i find i need to carry the water with me or i forget to drink until i am thirsty and that way lies cranky and tired. all up this lot weighs about 2.5 - 3 kgs which I don't find in any way problematic.