Leaving on Tuesday - 2 quick questions

[MickeyMomV]

Instead of a water bottle bring a "water bag". Most sporting goods stores sell them. They are a small rubber/plastic bag with a water bottle end on it. Not as bulky as a full size water bottle and it can be folded/rolled up and put in a pocket.

The only other thing we bring in is a camera bag. but it does not come with us everyday.
As for a phone charger, we have never brought one to the parks with us. We have IPhone's and as long as we don't sit and play games in the lines it holds a charge just fine, even when using it as the camera for the day.

 

[SteamBoat6092]

Gum and chapstick are always favorites of mine.
Something my mom always brings the iced tea packets or poweraid drops, not a necessity but if you're trying to cut costs and are looking to spice up your water you can go that route. A small umbrella or ponchos in-case of surprise rain isnt a bad idea either for a backpack (not sure what the weathers like).

 

[danyoung56]

Yes, your iPhone can take pictures, but its not a proper camera, is it ?

I can't speak for the iPhone, but my Samsung Galaxy S5 has a terrific camera in it. In fact, I stopped carrying a separate camera and just went with the cell phone!

Do they have little cubbies before each ride to store waterbottles? I can't remember!

Most of the rough rides have a bag in each car that you can stuff things like sunglasses, hats and water bottles into.

Enjoy!

 

[yedliW]

I can't speak for the iPhone, but my Samsung Galaxy S5 has a terrific camera in it. In fact, I stopped carrying a separate camera and just went with the cell phone!



Most of the rough rides have a bag in each car that you can stuff things like sunglasses, hats and water bottles into.

Enjoy!

I exclusively use my phone as a camera as well.

As far as using the seat back pockets, they work great, as long as you remember to grab your stuff when you get off the ride!

 

[sheriffwoody]

I hate bringing a bag, so I just take my phone (my case has a spot for id/card/cash) and a camera on a strap around my shoulder. If it's calling for rain, stuff a poncho in your pocket. We also just got water at the quick serve places when we got thirsty.

 

[Pixie VaVoom]

Mary, here is a slightly funny story regarding cargo shorts. I work in law enforcement, and although you cannot tell by my avatar, I have the typical cop haircut. Anyways, I had my credentials (looks like a bulkier rectangular wallet) in my left thigh pocket. As I pass the bag check, another CM asks me what was in my pocket. I told him they were my credentials. He asked if I was military or LE and I told him. He then proceeds to ask to see them. Long story short, the CMs may get suspicious if his pockets are too bulky. Have a great trip!!

"Is that a CREDENTIAL in your pocket...or are you just happy to see me?? "
- sorry - could not stop myself

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I can't speak for the iPhone, but my Samsung Galaxy S5 has a terrific camera in it. In fact, I stopped carrying a separate camera and just went with the cell phone!

Personal choice here. I would never trust my phone to capture photographs from a planned major event (such as a Disney Holiday). The phones pictures are acceptable when the unexpected happens and you're out and about without a camera

 

[yedliW]

Personal choice here. I would never trust my phone to capture photographs from a planned major event (such as a Disney Holiday). The phones pictures are acceptable when the unexpected happens and you're out and about without a camera

If you regularly shoot with a DSLR (and are comfortable adjusting f stops, shutter speeds and film speeds etc.. to get the best possible shots), then yes, but phones these days are as good or better than most point-and-shoot digitals.. plus you get the added convenience of being able to post them to facebook/twitter/instagram etc right away. There are also several photo editing apps available cheap/free that are more than the average person would need/want to use. There are several features that come standard to the phones (i.e burst shots.. panoramas.. filters.. etc..)

One thing you don't get is a optical zoom, but with 12+ mp, you can zoom in and crop and still get a decent sized print. I have printed 16x20 posters of photos I have taken with my phone and the average person couldn't tell the difference.

The one thing I don't get is the people taking pictures/videos with iPads (or other tablets). Seems a bit risky to me to even have your tablets at the parks with you at the parks. The risk of damage/theft/loss is too high for such a big ticket item. It doesn't seem to offset the upside. But that's just me..

 

[stevehousse]

Chargers and wallets and magic bands! I honestly would skip the water bottles as you can get free water from basically any food service location that has a soda fountain, which most, but not all food kiosks have! Sunscreen and have fun!

 

[harryk]

Hi all,

We are headed to WDW on Tuesday and haven't been there in several years. A few questions:

1) We wanted to bring water bottles with us to cut down on buying water in the parks. Do the parks allow you to bring water into the parks?

2) Other than our iphones, magic bands & potential water, is there anything else that is a must to bring to parks? We were hoping NOT to carry a backpack with us to the parks but afraid I'm overlooking something! We are a family w/kids 13 & 8.

Thank you for your help.

Are you staying at one of the on property resorts? If yes, carry as little as possible. Your can charge purchases to your credit cards, rooms, etc. and use the magic bands to charge purchases back to your room. Your can have all your purchases shipped to the front gate for pick-up when you leave or shipped to your resort.
Your can store items in the lockers at each park you visit. Your only have to pay for the locker once (per day) and the fee is transferable to the lockers at other parks if you hop from one to another during your stay. Make you visit as easy as possible and carry as little as possible.

 

[Kosmo1986]

you may have left already but.......

If you don't want to carry water bottles, any quick service place or snack kiosk with fountain drinks with give you a free big ice water, no purchase necessary no questions asked.

I myself always bring a small backpack. Every ride at disney (unlike universal) allows you to bring your backpack so no need to get a locker or anything. it makes it much easier.

 

[HollyAD]

I always bring a small draw string back back. It's enough space to store water, small thing of sunscreen, ziplock bag to protect my phone on water rides, and my small change purse with my Id and back up cash/ credit card.

 

[DfromATX]

Camera ?
Yes, your iPhone can take pictures, but its not a proper camera, is it ?

I bring my camera (and iPhone). It would be too unorganized with an iPhone. I like to print out all my photos and put them in an album/scrapbook.

 

[DfromATX]

I hope this hasn't already been said, but I bring a couple of band aids. Somebody always gets a blister! We are a family of 6 and we don't bring anything that can't fit in a pocket! (We did bring water bottles before, and those flavor packs, but then no one wanted to actually carry theirs around, so...)

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I like to print out all my photos and put them in an album/scrapbook.

Printing photos - Oh, that's so last century !!!!!!

 

[DfromATX]

Printing photos - Oh, that's so last century !!!!!!

I know it's not the way of today, but I make albums for every vacation we take. And, it pleases me when I see one of my kids flipping through them on occasion.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I know it's not the way of today, but I make albums for every vacation we take. And, it pleases me when I see one of my kids flipping through them on occasion.

We have countless photo albums upstairs, gathering dust. Its a shame as they contain so many great memories. Its far easier nowadays just to load a CD a view loads of photos/albums at the press of a button

 

[DfromATX]

We have countless photo albums upstairs, gathering dust. Its a shame as they contain so many great memories. Its far easier nowadays just to load a CD a view loads of photos/albums at the press of a button

I have albums of my children from birth until about age 10 or so, then not so much. The rest are all on a CD/USB stick, with the exception of all my vacation albums, and no one ever loads the CDs into a computer to look at. I think the albums are easier because they can just pick them up and flip through them.

Recently, my mother gave me all of my grandma's old albums. I have some photos from the late 1800's!!! It's amazing they haven't disintegrated by now, especially considering my mom had them stored in a tub in her garage! I don't know what to do with them and I'm not about to scan them all in - it's too many, so like you said, they will probably just sit in my closet and gather dust, but at least they're indoors.

 

[jloucks]

I have albums of my children from birth until about age 10 or so, then not so much. The rest are all on a CD/USB stick, with the exception of all my vacation albums, and no one ever loads the CDs into a computer to look at. I think the albums are easier because they can just pick them up and flip through them.

Recently, my mother gave me all of my grandma's old albums. I have some photos from the late 1800's!!! It's amazing they haven't disintegrated by now, especially considering my mom had them stored in a tub in her garage! I don't know what to do with them and I'm not about to scan them all in - it's too many, so like you said, they will probably just sit in my closet and gather dust, but at least they're indoors.

There are services that will scan them for you. That's something I am gearing up to do/use. Same sorta deal. My parents have about a billion slides.