Disneyland Backpacks

There is a LOT to carry around Disneyland, you are going to want to have a great bag to tote it all with you.  Today, I’m going to give you 4 great options, depending on what size you will need and plan to carry around the park.

Having a great bag for Disneyland is a MUST. You’ll be carrying it all day (unless you opt for a locker, which is a decent option as well), and you will want stuff as the day progresses… so let’s find out what works best for YOU!

BTW, this is part of my Disneyland Tips for Families series. It includes tons of great info like a trip calculator, getting an all-inclusive package and even the best places to eat.

Disneyland Backpacks

What to put in your Disney Backpack

Now, I needed to break this up a bit I have a whole post on what should be in your Disney bag.  THIS post talks about JUST the bags…. because that’s also super important!

The essentials to take to Disneyland:

However, if you’re trying to think about what you’ll need in your bag — my top six things to not forget:

• Phone
• External Phone Charger
• Tickets (if you don’t have a lanyard)
• Sunscreen
• Tylenol/medication
• Credit cards

BUT, that post I linked to above tells WAY more about what I bring.  I mean, a nurse doesn’t JUST bring Tylenol… 🙂 That post above talks about snacks, cameras, and more!

BTW, there are very specific things that you can NOT bring into Disneyland.

Also, I keep a lot of supplies in the room that I don’t bring into the park — I share what I pack in this post (and I’m still working on packing light).

Disneyland Backpack Rules

There is a good number of rules about what you can or can not bring into your backpack in Disneyland.

Disneyland security is VERY strict on what is allowed in. For me, they are the strictest of the Disney parks as cast members hand check each bag (and each compartment in your bag or fanny pack). You are also required to go through a metal detector at any park entrance (but your bag will be placed on a table when you do).

Before I get into it, make SURE you check the current Disneyland Resort rules and don’t just go by what it is here.

Some frequently asked things you can bring in your Disneyland Bag:

• Water Bottles (both re-useable or disposable – as long as they are not glass)
• Cell phones
• Credit cards (duh, they WANT those)
• Re-useable ice packs
• Umbrella

Some Things You Can Not Bring into Disneyland

• Selfie Sticks
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Glass containers
• Dry ice, or loose ice (of any kind, so you can’t pack loose ice into a ziplock)
• Illegal substances
• Weapons of any kind
• Pepper spray
• Tripod or monopod that can’t fit in a standard backpack or extend past 6 feet.
• Inline skates, skateboards, or shoes with built-in wheels.

What to Look for in a Disney Backpack

A lot of this is going to be very personal to you and what you bring. It may also vary if you have kids who will have a stroller (with a nice big basket underneath!)

A larger pocket

If you check out that post about what I bring — you’ll see that I bring a very compact walking pharmacy and an external charger. Those two things do require a larger pocket. Some bags have SO MANY small pockets, I enjoy the segmentation, but I still need a larger pocket (and how large would be up to you).

Somewhere to keep your tickets

I think it’s nice to have a specific spot to put your tickets (it could be in your wallet vs in your bag).

A Phone Pocket

It’s so handy to have a place to keep your phone as I’m constantly pulling out my phone to use the app or take a photo, etc.

Size Matters

This goes both ways, but enough with the innuendo.

I would aim for as small as possible. You don’t want a lot of room in the rides taken up by your bag. I love my small bag that I can keep on my person easily on each ride.

Unlike Universal, in Disneyland, you take your bag on all the rides with you (unless you have a friend you can leave them with).

Ergonomics

Make SURE that it is something you would be willing to carry across the plains (even if you’re staying close to the park) should you need to. That means:

• Be mindful of the straps and if they dig into your skin
• Make sure they don’t throw your posture off (because that can affect your feet as well)

Pick the Best Disney Backpack for You

The Cute Disney Backpack

Let’s talk about the cutest backpacks ever.

If you’re looking for adorable DISNEY backpacks, look no further than BoxLunch.  Nope, not sponsored (in fact, that’s not even an affiliate link), just drool-worthy.  If you want a backpack that makes you OOZE Disney, check them out!

And yes, because I am vain — I also have a post on cute clothes to wear to Disneyland.

** Be mindful of comfort, and size with these cute bags. I have also heard that the RIDICULOUSLY cute sequined backpacks can snag your’s (and others’) clothes. So — a lame bummer, but something to think of before you plunk down the cash.

The giant backpack: The ADULT Disney Backpack

No, this isn’t for carrying your alcoholic beverages.

This is for a family who has outgrown a stroller but really still needs to tote quite a lot of stuff around the park, OR have the ability to stuff souveniers in too (although we often bring a fold-up bag for those types of items should we need it — our budget also doesn’t allow for a lot of large items).

Really, any backpack – like this one will do.  BUT, make sure that it has:

Water bottle pockets — great to stash things quickly — and clearly, to keep water bottles.

A few pockets, so you can separate out things (one giant pocket with your phone, wallet, snacks — etc makes it hard to find anything — although I wouldn’t buy something with a TON of pockets, just a few).

Personally, I prefer 3 pockets.  One for the important stuff — wallet, keys, phone, and then aim for some “slimness” — a lot of times you end up with a backpack that pokes out a lot (due to a lack of structure) which can make it easy to bonk into people when you turn in line.

A Smaller backpack for Disney

Honestly, although having a lot of room SOUNDS good, you can always use carabiners to tie bags onto your backpack and I LOVE a smaller, lightweight backpack.

This one looks amazing:

• It folds up small for packing
• It’s SUPER lightweight — nice not to have the weight of the BAG (vs goldfish snacks) holding you back.
• It comes in a lot of colors, and it can be handy to peruse for the teal backpack in a sea of black.
• It has a good number of pockets.
• Comes with a warranty — so, though some people have complained of it wearing thin — you can get a replacement.  Pretty cool, and gets GREAT reviews
• It has “cinchers” — which means it can still say thinner

(I actually am buying one right now.)

We actually use a smaller backpack we got at REI that isn’t full-sized and can fit really easily in rides, etc (it is harder with a larger backpack).  Something more like this (I think the one we have is used for kids as well — so you can always look for a kindergarten/preschool backpack — just make sure the straps are worthy of a day at the park).

Cross Body Disneyland Bag

I use something like this or this (they discontinued mine)

** BTW, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Travelon bags.  I love how they have clips that hold it shut.  I absolutely adore them for travel.  I am super paranoid, and they just help me feel so much safer!  While their bags are often cheaper on Amazon or Ebags —  I can give you 20% off  anything on the Travelon site with code Pullingcurls-Travelon

But I saw this on Amazon and I LOVE this one – and I think you could stuff more in there if you want to (although I try to be a minimalist with my Disney bag anymore).

Fanny Pack for Disneyland

I think FannyPacks have gotten a bad rap in the past few years.  BUT, you’re at Disneyland.  Clearly, you’re a tourist — so embrace it!

If you want to go something really small — you could use something like this.

Something like this isn’t much larger, but holds much more!

Or, there is something like this that can also be a cross-body bag, depending on how you like to wear it.

Something like this is a bit more fashionable.

Or, if you’re ready to be a SERIOUS fanny-pack wearer, there is something like this.  BUT, frankly, I think that might have to come off on all the rides — so, that is something to consider.  I don’t have to remove my small cross-body bag.

Of course, I couldn’t talk fanny packs without sharing this one.

Pro Mom Tip: Kids can easily have their own fanny pack to carry their own snacks or needs!

If you’re looking for something a little more Disney-themed — I have a few of those too:

Disney Minnie BackPack

I was trying to weed out the kid’s ones, so I think this one and this one are pretty great.  If they’re out of your price range, there’s this one too!  My friend Jessica from Happiest Blog on Earth showed me this one too (you can see what’s in Jessica’s bag).

Vans Disney Backpack

Man — Van’s backpacks are pricey!  I found this one (love the old-school Mickey Mouse Club effect on there), this one and this one.  Although, this one is my fav.  So cool!

Jansport Disney backpacks

Lots from Jansport!  This one has lots of different patterns!

Although, I’m always the practical one (except that gold Minnie ears one, I am drooling over that one) — I would probably recommend a high-quality backpack, vs a Mickey one.  #partypooper.

For me, I think you need to decide the bare minimum of space that you will feel comfortable with and then buy a bag that fits that.

Toting a large bag around is NOT going to be fun.

If you have to bring a diaper bag, hopefully, you have a stroller to stash it in. That way I only needed to bring a medium-sized backpack into the ride vehicles with me (be sure to have a few baby essentials in that bag as well).

And make sure that it fits well and doesn’t hurt your shoulders or arms.

Or, just buy that gold one…. and yes, I’m still drooling.

Of course — to GET a bag fund — save some cash with Get Away Today and their best price guarantee.  I have used them since 1997, and currently have TWO Disney trips (a girls trip, and a family trip) planned with them right now!  Save an extra $10 on a trip (hotel & tickets) when you use the code CURLS10.

Be SURE to pack all the right stuff (but not TOO much) with my Disneyland packing list! Remember, don’t miss my other Disneyland Tips for Families.