I am wondering what people recommend for back packs and diaper bags in the parks. We are 2 adults, an 8 year old and a 1 year old. I was thinking of carrying a backpack with snacks. We will also need a backpack or diaper bag with all the "stuff" required for the baby and also we will need a backpack for layers of clothing (we will be there in Feb) My question is around getting on rides with backpacks and diaper bags etc...can you take them on rides or where do you store them while you are on the ride? I don't think I am keen to put things in a locker because my guess is that things like snacks and diapers will need to be accessible readily and don't fancy walking miles to the locker where we left it. Thanks for any advice from seasoned WDW travellers (this is our first visit).

If you're having to carry diapers, I'm assuming it's you'll probably have a stroller. Most people leave the diaper bag under the stroller when they're on rides. I've never heard of anyone's diaper bag being bothered or stolen. For your backpack, get any backpack that's comfortable for you. You don't need a jumbo one as if you're on a 4-day hike in the wilderness - this is just a day in a theme park! Something big enough for your camera, wallet, and a few other things is all I ever use. The backpacks can be taken on the rides with you. On the wild/thrill rides you won't all be riding at the same time anyway, since you have the baby - so you could leave the backpack with whoever is sitting out with the baby. On the rides you can all ride, the backpack is no problem on those rides.

Funny, I was just talking to my mother last night about a very similar subject. I was commenting how she always carries a huge purse everywhere but she hates carrying much in the parks. She was telling me about how, even when my sister and I were little and she had us in the parks, she would bring very few diapers and bottles and things like that. Generally only a little bit more than she thought she would need for a limited time period. She also made a point of going back to the hotel for nap times so that the kids would never get over-extended and she could reload on supplies while we were there.

Honestly, in the parks I often see people with children who are obviously too tired to cope with life anymore and parents who are miserable as a result of carrying more than the entire Sherpa team of your average Everest expedition... I understand that you'll have to carry more than I do (as I go with only adults at this point in my life) but I think you'll be happiest if you bring as little as possible and plan to return to 'base camp' (your hotel) at least once or twice per day. Hope that helps, and I hope you have a great time!:D

We always have had our stroller with us in the parks and I set it up with a small back pack (little kid size) that contains diapers, juice, change of clothes for our son and some snacks. I just hang it off the back of the stroller - it hangs low enough that the center of gravity won't pull the stroller over backwards. Once we start hanging shopping bags off of it, however . . . that's another story. Just be careful! ;)

My huband usually carries a bigger backpack with the video camera, our sweatshirts, water bottles, etc. I have a sling-style travel purse that I carry my camera, money, tickets, etc. That ALWAYS stays on me and I carry it onto rides. Depending on the ride, my husband either carries his backpack with him (just puts it at his feet) or takes out the video camera and leaves the backpack with the stroller in stroller parking. We've never had anything stollen while we were on rides. As a deterant, we make sure to put a dirty diaper in a plastic bag on top of everythign in the little back pack. (although, he's potty trained now - we won't be able to do that anymore)

Don't bring TOO much with you. You're not going on safari, as my husband always reminds me. Although, at Animal Kingdom, that's another story! ;)