Disneyland/World EDC

[pu1869]

WillCad gave me the idea to start this topic for Disney Type EDC.

So if you have any suggestions for EDC, (bags, gear, Navigation Preparation) feel free to post it up here.

EDC at Disney (http://www.maxpedition.com/maxpeditioninaction2/pages/044.htm) ( This was my first Maxped coupon win)

[chavez]

I took the family to Disney World three years ago (in July :idiot2:) and plan to go there in June again.

The first time we went I rented a house in Kissimmee for around $300 for the week. It had a pool, closed garage and was actually pretty nice. There are websites that help you set up the contracts with the owners for rentals like this. I am not sure I would do it again since while it was positive for the most part, the previous renters obviously smoked in the house which was supposed to be smoke-free. The management group for the house tried to clean it up but didn't do all that well getting rid of the smoke. My oldest daughter has asthma so that wasn't ideal.

This time I am considering a hotel for myself, wife and three kids and am looking at the package deals (flight/hotel/car) but wonder if anyone wants to chime in here. My company offers 20% discounts on the park hopper passes so I am getting a good deal there ($1000 for the 3 day parker hopper tickets without expiration which online are between $200 and $300 more).

This year I am going to EDC my new Maxpedition Pygmy Falcon-II. The first time I went I took some other backpack to carry snacks, peanut butter sandwiches, frozen water bottles, sunscreen, etc. I would be curious what folks suggest here. I have heard mention of carrying water filters rather than hauling full water bottles. I have two 32oz Nalgene bottles that will fit in the mesh holders of the Pygmy so recommendations on water filters would be appreciated.

One thing I learned the first time we went was to definitely take advantage of the Fastpass service to get into rides and shows without waiting in lines.

At the time I also had a 7 and 4 year old and I rented a double stroller from the park as a multi-day rental that save me $10 over the three days. It also avoided me having to carry a stroller through the multiple parks. Walking around the park for 12 hours, the kids do get tired. It is likely worthwhile to have a colorful bandanna in your EDC pack to tie around the stroller to identify it easily when you get out of a ride or show. While my two younger kids are now 10 and 7, I still think I will rent the stroller across three days though I may not go and pick one up until the afternoon when they start getting tired.

[pu1869]

Chavez, Here is my chiming in. I am sure that since you have been to Disney already you know some of these things but I wrote this for those who have not been

1 Where to stay:
I have always stayed in the Park. Many people say that it is more expensive but there are many positives to doing it.
a. Transportation: Disney has the Magic Express that will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel and they will handle all your bags. This is round trip so they will also take you back to the airport at the end of your stay. Also when you stay in the park you get the extended hours of the parks that allows you to go early and stay later.
Plus at the end of the day that last thing you want to do is drive to a hotel.

b. Meal plan. Food at Disney is expensive, but Disney has come up with a Meal Plan that allows you to pay up front for your food. The plan give you one counter service, one sit down and one snack for each night and person staying at the park. As I said you can pay for it up front so that when you get to the park you do not have to worry about a food budget as much. I did the math and your value to dollar goes up if you have kids and you can get the pass for your older kids and spit a pass for the two younger ones. Even better is that the Tip is included so all around this is a great deal. Check out the Disney website for more details.

If you do not want to get the meal plan, take advantage of pre-booking your meals. For all the sit down eateries you can call up to3- 4 months ( I think) in advance and book your table. Again June is a busy period and this call ahead seating keeps you for waiting around to eat.

2 Bags-gear hauling
The Falcon-Pygmy is a good choice, but it may get a little heavy when you have to carry for the entire group, imho.

I am a firm believer in distributed loading. Split your load between your wife and you and maybe your kids.
Smaller bags make it easier for you to get onto rides, more so with the older rides. I took a Jumbo and other than getting pretty heavy at the end of the day it worked great. My wife had a Small bag that she carried here stuff in, so if we spit up and not worry who had what.

I just got a Lunanda and I think that it and a Mini Rolly mount to the side would be an excellent option for hauling gear in the parks, even better that the Jumbo.

Grab Bags: organize your gear in smaller grab bags so that if someone needs something you can just pull that bag out. This is perfect for personal toiletries, medication and snacks.

Cargo pants and vests: Keep your maps and park schedule on you at all times and in easy reach

Storage lockers: I pretty sure that all the parks have lockers that you can rent so if you do have a big bag, leave it in the locker and if you need anything from it you can come back and get.

3. Water. June is hot down there and water is key. If you do not mind the taste of Disney water I would just fill up at the fountains. The other option is get a Katadyn FIlter bottle (Link) (http://products.katadyn.com/brands-and-products/produkte/Ultralight_Series_25/Katadyn_Bottle_1L_1057.html)

They are about 30 bucks and have a carbon filter that will take most of the funky out of the water. I took one on our last trip and it worked pretty well. But that was in Feb.

Another option is to get those clips that attach to the necks of standard water bottles and have a lanyard. This way you get a bottle and let the kids carry their own.
IF you kids do not like plain water taste, there are those single serve packets of Lemonade or Kool ade.

4.Other tips: Hit the Books, Check out the Disney park guide at your local bookstore, they give a lot of hints and tips for navigating the parks.

5. Supplys: If you fly to Disney how do you get snacks, you are their for fun not grocery shopping. But that means you have to pack all this food in your luggage, not so.There is another option
Ship your snacks to Disney by UPS. Call the hotel that you are staying with and confirm that they will accept a package for you. Ship you snacks, diapers and extras item right to the hotel.

If you are going to buy stuff and do not want to carry it on the plane, save the box and pack it and you purchased items ( wrap them in you clothes) and ship them back to your house.
( When you ship the box to Disney go to a UPS store and ask them for a return label. Take some tape with you and the Front desk at your hotel can make sure that it gets to UPS)


This tips and tricks have been confirmed over my last two trips to Disney. The most recent was with my wife's family-Feb 07 . I do not claim to be an expert but I think that put more thought into it that most other people ( I guess that is why I am at EDC). Take it all with a grain of salt.

[chavez]

Lots of great info! Thanks! O0

[0dBm]

Bring plenty of hand sanitizer!

[Ken C.]

I went to Disney in this past November. Here is what I learned and recommend.

1. Meal Plan - Take advantage of the this! When you book your trip make sure you ask about the meal plan. You have to do some work and choose where you want to eat but it is well worth it. You are alloted a certain amount per day between lunches, snacks, and dinners. Do not waste it on breakfasts!!! Buy breakfast foods in the store at whereever you stay. We stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and I loved every minute of it.

2. Hotel - Stay in a Disney resort hotel. Hands down the best thing you can do for the money. Do not rent a house, do not stay out of the resort.

3. Park Hopper - Get it! End of story!!!

4. Fast Pass - This was totally cool. I loved jumping the lines! More than the kids!

5. I would try going in October or November. Rates are cheaper and it is not as hot.

My first Maxpedition coupon win.....

[Brules]

Remember, it does rain fairly often in Florida, so be prepared. Our stroller got soaked when we went 2 years ago. Last time we were there it was "Gay Alliance Week" and no one told us ahead of time.
Also remember, all strollers look alike, so use something to make yours stand out from the crowd.

[chavez]

Last time we were there it was "Gay Alliance Week" and no one told us ahead of time.


Well of course! Disney is "The Happiest Place on Earth"! :-X

[mivok]

Re: water at disney/universal, the fountains are great, but you can also ask for ice water at any of the drinks stands and they will give it to you without charge. Very nice if there are no fountains nearby (I don't remember seeing any at universal and only a few at disney), and you get it cold to boot. You still have to put up with the taste of tap water, but I personally didn't find it a problem.

[AcydFlames]

Alright, I've got a trip coming up in a few weeks, to Disneyland here in CA, and I was just thinking about what to bring.

I've also decided to bring my Maxpedition PFII, if for nothing else, the external water pockets. I'll remove most of my gear that the "security" (if you call them that) will be suspicious of, but will still try to carry a few necessities. I'm real curious about what everyone here carries into places like this; be it a theme park, race car event, outdoor concert, etc., where you would be allowed to carry a bag, water, food, and other items, but not be allowed knives, guns, alcohol, etc. I'm not looking to break any rules here, but I'd really like to be able to carry a knife in. Does anyone have any experience here with what they carry in that they "shouldn't"?

My first, and most probable, idea is that I just bury the sucker in the pack with the other goods, and pocket it once in the park. My other idea is to conceal in somehow on my person, and just carry it that way all day. I know I'll probably get in more trouble for trying to "sneak" the knife in, but I feel naked without one on me, you understand. I've got a Boker subcom on the way that should fit the "conceal" plan well.

Just let me know what and how you guys carry some of your normal EDC into a place like Disneyland. Thanks.

[matts2]

You others in the group are going to be taking your map out over and over. And then losing it. Figure out a place to keep the map at hand. And review with the kids your what to do when separated plan.

[pu1869]

Alright, I've got a trip coming up in a few weeks, to Disneyland here in CA, and I was just thinking about what to bring.

I'm real curious about what everyone here carries into places like this; be it a theme park, race car event, outdoor concert, etc., where you would be allowed to carry a bag, water, food, and other items, but not be allowed knives, guns, alcohol, etc. I'm not looking to break any rules here, but I'd really like to be able to carry a knife in. Does anyone have any experience here with what they carry in that they "shouldn't"?

Just let me know what and how you guys carry some of your normal EDC into a place like Disneyland. Thanks.


There was a movie with Micheal Keaton, the Paper where he had a line that was something like " All you need is a clip board and a confidant wave and you can get into any place."

This is very true, The key is look like you belong. If you look guilty even the most inept security person might catch you.

Here are my tips.
1. Keep things that you know are going to be or could be trouble out of sight. So for Disney if you want to take a knife or two put the in your pocket or bury it in the bag. Disney does not search the person just the bag.

2. When you get to the security have your bag ready and open. I carried a Jumbo and I would pull all the zippers open and have the flap pulled open as well. When I got to the station they would poke around but appreciated my readiness and sent me on my way. One great thing with the Jumbo is if you open the flap prior it covers the CCW area of the bag. I think that I was only asked to open it once.

3. Use grab bags. If you put stuff in smaller bags most security people will not be bothered. They are looking for what is at the top and easy to see.

4. Find slow lines, they need to get people through a line quickly and if the line is slow behind you, The screener will be less watchfully.

5. I live in Indianapolis and go to many of the races. One trick I have learned is fall back and watch the screeners, at these kind of events there will alway be some one trying to take in contraband. If you see as screener that looks like they are paying attention stay away from that line.

6. If you look like you are sneaking you will get noticed. Once year I was down in the Pits at Indy for Pole day. There was tons of press and they had all their high end camera gear. I had a descent SLR and a belt with all my lens and other gear. To the other press I was just an amateur but to the rest of the people standing around I looked LIKE i could be part of the press. The result was I was able to get up close to Penske Andretti, Rahal and others. At one point I was in the gaggle taking pictures of Pole winner ( I think it was Buddy Rice that year) elbow to elbow with the press and about 20feet from the driver.

All of these are things I think everyone knows about, I just like making lists. Enjoy your trip to Disney.

[AcydFlames]

Thanks man.

Yeah, I I figured my best best would be the confidence. I've gotten away with many things with nothing more than confidence. I tell my wife all the time, "you have to take it like you own it", and if you truly do, no one even thinks twice.

My fallback plan is to bury it in the backpack, and load it down with other small items (granola bars, fruit snacks, juice, etc.). Kind of like a needle in a haystack.

[racer944]

man, things that i had always instinctively done, ya'll have put here in such a concise list. Not to mention a few other things that I can probably use as well. Something that I've always done in the context of daily driving is have my license, proof of insurance, and registration VERY close by (put it in my rear view mirror when i get in the car). Anytime I've gotten pulled over, be very apologetic, and have the papers immediately before they're even at your door. Has gotten me out of 3 tickets thus far that i probably should have received.

[AcydFlames]

man, things that i had always instinctively done, ya'll have put here in such a concise list. Not to mention a few other things that I can probably use as well. Something that I've always done in the context of daily driving is have my license, proof of insurance, and registration VERY close by (put it in my rear view mirror when i get in the car). Anytime I've gotten pulled over, be very apologetic, and have the papers immediately before they're even at your door. Has gotten me out of 3 tickets thus far that i probably should have received.


Good Tip!

[bpa]

Why bother? You aren't going to need any of it, except cash and sunscreen. Disney controls its experience so tightly that even the hamsters have little bags attached so they don't leave a mess. Don't bother with the weight - if you have small children, you will be carrying them before long, and that is the best EDC ever!

[AcydFlames]

Why bother? You aren't going to need any of it, except cash and sunscreen. Disney controls its experience so tightly that even the hamsters have little bags attached so they don't leave a mess.

I agree that they do control thinks pretty well. But for some reason, that still doesn't put my mind at ease. There's just a relaxing feeling about having a knife on me. I can't explain it. Not to mention a few other items are nice to have around.



Don't bother with the weight - if you have small children, you will be carrying them before long, and that is the best EDC ever!

Arguably, heheh ;). Personally, I prefer the stoller (maybe I'm just lazy).

[pu1869]

Arguably, heheh ;). Personally, I prefer the stoller (maybe I'm just lazy).



I with you, take a stroller. You may carry your kids a bit but not all day!!!.

I recommend the cheap Umbrella type strollers. My wife got one for less than 20 bucks and it has held up pretty good. And at that price if it does get messed up, you just dump it before coming home.

I strongly recommend not taking any of those 2ton plastic strollers. I can not tell you how many parents I saw struggle with folding them up, carrying them and getting them on the bus/train/monorail. If it looks like rain, go by a roll of super large trash bag liners ( 35 gallon or bigger).

If you work in a large office or factory ask the janitorial staff or the Facilities staff. I am sure that they would give your 4-5. Most of them can be really thin ( if they are for office waste) if you can get the large outdoor bags they are a bit thicker thicker and will hold up better.

I had some really cool blue 35 Gal bags that were really heavy duty, but they seem to get stolen even in Disney.

[chavez]

Here is what I said earlier in the thread about a stroller. I wouldn't even bother taking one unless you need it outside the parks.


At the time I also had a 7 and 4 year old and I rented a double stroller from the park as a multi-day rental that save me $10 over the three days. It also avoided me having to carry a stroller through the multiple parks. Walking around the park for 12 hours, the kids do get tired. It is likely worthwhile to have a colorful bandanna in your EDC pack to tie around the stroller to identify it easily when you get out of a ride or show. While my two younger kids are now 10 and 7, I still think I will rent the stroller across three days though I may not go and pick one up until the afternoon when they start getting tired.

[AcydFlames]

Alright, so my recent trip brings a fresh update to Disneyland EDC, at least for me.

My biggest surprise (and I think this was more just me getting my theme parks all confused), was that there are absolutely no metal detectors! No walk through detectors, no guards with detector wands, nothing! It was definitely a nice surprise, don't get me wrong, but I really thought they had something.

You do have to go through their "search" (and I'll use that term lightly here) if you have any bags, purses, strollers etc. It seems that they're mostly looking for glass items in your gear (bottles mostly, I'm guessing; although baby food came to mind as well). I guess they don't want glass all over the park, and I understand that.

The next good news was that my backpack was able to go with my on everything I went on. This was probably more of me just getting my parks and rides all mixed up again, but I was somewhat worried about what would happen with my bag. In some theme parks, Great America for example, I know it's very common for you to just drop off all your gear (jackets, hats, bags etc.) at the exit just before you get on the ride. That is, you wait in line with all your stuff, and when it's your turn to ride, you go on through to the exit side of the ride, drop your things off (usually on the ground, but sometimes they have a shelving unit/storage space designated for this), and then go back onto the ride and go. On some rides this doesn't bother me; it's the rides with more than one car going at a time that scares me. If it's just a single car load ride, then I'm fine; you drop your stuff off, go ride, and you'll be the next one to go pick it up. But if it's a multi-car ride, then there will be other groups of people getting off of their rides and exiting while you're still riding. There is nothing to stop anyone from walking off with your stuff. The ride staff isn't watching your gear, and everything says something along the lines of "We're not responsible for lost, damaged ... / Leave at your own risk". I really don't trust many people, and have always hated leaving my stuff like that. But I'm pleased to say that everything I rode at Disneyland was backpack-frinedly! I brought my Maxped Pygmy Falcon II, and loaded with a decent amount of gear, it was able to ride everything. I did not ride the two water rides, so I can't vouch for those (it wasn't water ride weather down there a couple days ago). I was worried about Splash Mountain though, just because you sit single file in a log, all front to back, with nowhere for storing gear really. This could be a ride where you have to drop your stuff off, but I'm not sure. But the PFII rode Screamin', Muholland, and Indie, it would have ridden Space Mountain just fine, but I left it in the stroller those couple of times, it made it through the caves of Pirate Island (which are smaller than I thought at first, it'd definitely a kid sort of thing, but that didn't stop me!), it would have been fine on Soaring', but again I didn't bring it, but it would have just sat on the floor and been fine, and it rode the Caterpillar ride, the Bug's Life flying box ride (I don't know what it was called), and the tea cups, all perfectly! The tightest fit was probably California Screamin', because it had to sit between my feet, and there isn't much room to spare there anyways on that ride. but once it's in there, even the upside-down didn't move it, it was safe and sound. Anything larger than a PFII (which isn't a tiny pack, but it's not a giant either) might be a burden on a few rides. But for anyone that is as paranoid as me, rest easy, as you can take a backpack full of gear on almost every ride!

The trip was great. The first day I geared-down, being super afraid of the evil metal detectors and strip searches and all; but still brought my Fenix LOD and my trusty Swiss-Tech (old school 6-in-1, USA made good one!). I just attached a short lanyard to the LOD and clipped the pliers onto the lanyard, and let that hang down into my pocket. Then I hid a small blade in my wallet (never leave home without a blade, regardless of size!), because even with a full metal detector setup, they don't dig through your wallet. And that was it; pliers, light, and blade, that's about as minimalist as I've gone in years (and of course, my wallet, and cell phone, but those are gimmes). And to be honest, it was kind of nice actually. Although, I did feel good about getting back to the hotel on the last night, and loading my pockets back up will all my stuff! But now I'm considering slimming down on my gear a little.

So metal detectors and backpack situation, those were my two biggest concerns before the trip, and I just had to get it out there for anyone else who might have similar concerns. Handguns might be a little harder to sneak in, but a pocket knife, small PSK and/or FAK, even multitool would be all right. Just don't flash it around, don't ask the people searching your stuff "is this... [pulls out machette]... okay to bring in?" and you'll be fine.

And oh yeah, the free water/ice thing really comes in handy. At something like $3 a pop for bottled water, it can add up quick! Not every station I hit was willing to fill it up with water, but they all at least offered ice. One of the girls even said "I can't give you water, but I can give you ice and the fountain is right over there." I don't know if it's park policy of not, but either way, it's free, and I'll take it.

This has turned out to be much longer than expected, so I apologise for some of my rambling, but I hope it might help address someone's concerns. Thanks for all the tips you guys offered before my trip, they definitely helped!

[Denix]

I spent a total of 20 days at Disney and 3 at Universal over the last 3 years. What can I say, I'm seriously starting to think that my wife has an affair with Mickey :laugh:

I agree with what AcydFlames says. It's pretty easy going getting in the parks. They barely look over your bag. I walked in every park with my Swisschamp in plain view on my belt, with the Victorinox logo quite prominent. I noticed that I wasn't the only one with a SAK on his belt, and I even noticed a few guys with Leatherman pouches. No comment from anyone at any time.

Guy

[WillCAD]

I've been going to Walt Disney World (WDW to those of us in the know) and Universal Studios (Uni) at least once every year since 1990. I've got it down to an exact science. I even help people plan their trips on Disney-themed message boards (kinda like EDCF, but all about Disney).

Let me address pu1869's comments first, since he broke it down into well-organized categories:

Where to stay:
I have stayed both on-site and off-site. I prefer to stay on-site, but my budget doesn't always allow it. By staying off-site I save considerable coin. Some people think that staying off-site negatively impacts your trip; not so, as long as you choose a nice hotel from a major national chain, and not more than 5 minutes drive from Disney property.

Disney property is larger than the island of Manhattan. Even when you stay on-site, you are often as much as a 20-minute drive from wherever you might be going; staying off-site is not nearly as big a deal as some folks believe.

Transportation:
Disney's Magical Express service is a free bus ride - and luggage shipment - from Orlando International Airport to all WDW resorts. It is available free to all on-site Guests (reservations required in advance). It does not service non-Disney hotels.

But I always rent a car, for several reasons:

1) I hate being at the mercy of a bus system. Disney's internal transportation system rivals any major city's transit system, but a bus is still a bus, and I hate being crammed into an SRO bus with 100 other cranky, hot, sweaty, smelly people at the end of a long day in the parks. I prefer to have my own wheels.

2) I like flexibility. With my own wheels I can go where I want, when I want, 24/7, without ever waiting for a bus, boat, or monorail.

3) I like to get out of WDW property for shopping, dining, and to visit Universal Studios. There is a whole city full of other stuff to see, do, and eat outside the WDW gates, and I like to sample some of it on every trip.

4) It saves me TREMENDOUS amounts of time. Disney's transportation system will take you anywhere you want to go on-site, but it ain't the fastest thing in the world. Example: 2 trips ago I wanted to go from Disney's Pop Century Resort to Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney. Since I knew I would be drinking at PI, I took the bus. I got to the bus stop just as a bus was leaving, so I had to wait 20 mins for the bus, 10 mins for it to load up, 10 mins drive time, and 10 mins for a stop at the Marketplace, before finally getting to PI. Total travel time - 50 mins. By car it would have taken me a total of about 12 mins, including finding a parking place.

Meal plan
The Disney Dining Plan comes in two flavors - Standard and Deluxe. Standard averages about $50 per day per person, and gets you one Table-Service (TS) meal plus one Counter-Service (CS) meal plus one snack credit per day. Credits roll over if you don't use them, and you can use more than your allotment per day if you want; there are, in fact, a few signature restaurants that take two TS credits per meal. I don't know how much the Deluxe version costs, but it gets you two TS meals, one CS meal, and a snack per day.

The DDP is a great bargain if you're a big eater. But be warned - if you're not a big eater, stay away, or you'll feel like an over-inflated tire at the end of each day.

I eat a lot of Counter Service meals, so I never bother with the DDP.

Whether you get the DDP or not, Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) are an ABSOLUTE MUST for any TS restaurant. ADRs can be made up to 180 days in advance, and all of the good restaurants book up well in advance. Most of them do not accept walk-ups, so if you try to fly by the seat of your pants, you'll be sorely disappointed.

Bags-gear hauling

When at WDW, I'm a serious minimalist. There is a bag check at the entrance to each theme park, and those lines can back up a lot, particularly in the morning, so I like going bagless. I carry my camera on a harness (see link in my signature), and a water bottle, a poncho, my phone, and a pocket-size trip on on a 2" web belt. Batteries and memory cards go in my pockets. I usually forego carrying a full assortment of tools; I stick with just my small folder, dropped into my pocket.

WDW entails a LOT of walking. I average 7-9 miles per day in the parks, usually more at Epcot. Anything you carry will eventually feel like a ton of bricks, so keeping it light is usually a good idea.

Water

Even winter can be hot in central Florida, particularly for those from up north who are not used to it. And summer is a sauna. So water is a necessity at all times. I carry a 24oz Brita Fill and Go sports bottle, which has a built-in replaceable filter that takes the funny taste out of the local water. Water from drinking fountains on WDW property has a metallic taste, and water outside has a slightly sulfurous taste; the Brita bottle takes that away.

Brita stopped making the Fill and Go bottles several years ago, but Pure Water 2 Go (http://www.purewater2go.com/bottles.html) makes several similar models that have a good reputation among the online Disney community.

Other tips

Know the lay of the land - check out my WDW Maps (http://willcad.org/disney_maps.shtml) page to get an idea of where everything is located.

Look through the menus (http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm) to pick which restaurants you want to try, and do this well in advance of your 180-day mark so you can make those all-important ADRs.

If you're planning a WDW trip and have never been before, join a Disney planning message forum like Tagrel.com (http://tagrel.com/forum/), where you can ask any question related to WDW and get it answered by experts.

Supplys

If you rent a car, you can easily stop at the super WalMart on SR 535 (http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCC&cp=28.342678~-81.485966&style=h&lvl=17&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=17495370&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1) for water, snacks, and other sundries. If you don't rent a car, you can ship a box of supplies and even a case of bottled water to your resort.

There's a lot more to a WDW trip than this, but these basics can get you started on the planning process.

I'm always available for more questions, so just ask away.

[pu1869]

I think that we can all agree that WillCAD is the ultimate Disney authority and his post shows a key point that goes not just for Disney trips but for our hobby of EDC as well...it is all an evolution.

Example, all my advice is based on three-four trips with each trip my gear and tactics evolved. Some was by trying some was by observations of others at the park.

WillCAD is at the other end of the spectrum, he has had the ability to visit more times and thus has refined his gear to what is the most efficient package for his experience level. Does that mean it will work for you, who is to say, but having the information before you go will help make your trip more enjoyable.

I would like to thank WillCAD for putting his 2 cents in. I have hoped that he would chime in as the content in his other post has been very detailed and informative.

By the way WillCAD, that Camera Harness looks pretty sweat, I may have to get me one of those.

[WillCAD]

I think that we can all agree that WillCAD is the ultimate Disney authority and his post shows a key point that goes not just for Disney trips but for our hobby of EDC as well...it is all an evolution.

Example, all my advice is based on three-four trips with each trip my gear and tactics evolved. Some was by trying some was by observations of others at the park.

WillCAD is at the other end of the spectrum, he has had the ability to visit more times and thus has refined his gear to what is the most efficient package for his experience level. Does that mean it will work for you, who is to say, but having the information before you go will help make your trip more enjoyable.

I would like to thank WillCAD for putting his 2 cents in. I have hoped that he would chime in as the content in his other post has been very detailed and informative.

By the way WillCAD, that Camera Harness looks pretty sweat, I may have to get me one of those.




No such thing as Ultimate, my friend. Every time I think I know it all, someone asks me a question that completely stumps me.

Evolution is right; my theme park gear changes slightly with every trip. Once in a while I make a radical change, such as when I first constructed my Batman-like utility belt to avoid the bag check lines, or when I first started carrying an SLR camera, or first started carrying a water bottle around with me; but on each trip my gear configuration changes at least a little. I try new gear, retire old gear, and re-configure the gear I've got. Next trip will be no exception; after returning from last year's trip, I added some belt keepers to my utility belt to keep things in place better, added a battery pouch to my camera harness, and my pedometer died on the last trip so I will have to get a new one before the next trip. Later this year, I'll be buying a new cell phone, so I'll have to create a new holster for the utility belt to accomodate it, and I'll probably have new walking shoes and some other new wardrobe items by then, too.

Thanks for the compliment on the camera harness. It's still a new product, and to be honest, I haven't sold many yet (I think people have a hard time visualizing it from the pics). But I use it myself every time I carry my camera around for more than a few minutes, and I'm very proud of it as a commercial product. If you buy one of my camera harnesses, mention your EDCF user name; I'll throw in a pair of memory card pouches free (normally $10) for EDCF members of Loaded Pockets status or better.

[SparkTrader]

Hi,

I have visited WDW a couple of times and agree with most of the stuff posted below. When we visit Florida we stay with family in Cape Canaveral and driving in from outside is very easy. If you are visiting the Orlando area, I would also suggest a visit to Kennedy Space Centre although security is a lot tighter than Disney, they made me turn on both my camera and keychain flashlight to prove they were what they were supposed to be.

The main reason for my post was to add a few comments about Disneyland Paris for anybody living this side of the pond.
I have visited there on many occasions, and actually used to work for Disney in the UK.

Most of the comments about WDW apply to DLP. Water, food and batteries are all overpriced if you purchase inside the park but there is no problem bringing in your own. There are basic back checks at the entrance but I have only seen them look into open bags, never rummage.

The Food Plan referred to in previous threads is not available in DLP but you can get vouchers for meals with some Hotel packages.

If visiting for more than 4 days a year, consider an annual pass as this can also get you a 10% discount on Food and shop purchases.

If anybody wants to know more specifics about the Paris park, let me know.

Matt

[FrogmanM]

This has been a very useful thread! Man reading all this stuff makes me wanna go to the "happiest place on earth"! :woohoo:

Mayo

[Elric]

For a surreal, fictional read on Disney, grab a copy of Cory Doctorow's "Down and Out In The Magic Kingdom" -- It's available free online and is a cross between Disney and 1984 (caveat, I'm only halfway through it).

[bigkahuna]

Just returned from Florida. At both Disney World and Seaworld it was bag checks only.

[WillCAD]

I had almost forgotten about this thread. But "what do you carry in the parks" is a topic that comes up fairly often on the Disney boards I frequent, and I recently took a couple of new pics of my WDW EDC setup, so I might as well post them here (click the pic for full-size):

http://willcad.org/images/gear/gear.jpg (http://willcad.org/images/gear/gear.jpg)

[DragonRider]

For Disney World, We are DVC Members, go 2-3 times a year.
Ill be there for Christmas08 and Springbreak 09.


Belt line
Pocket Camera on belt carrier, 830
Iphone 7-8
BM 930 Kulgera 2-3 appendix
Keys on belt loop, right side
G19 IWB 430
Mag Carrier 7-730

Left Pocket-Night Ops Gladius
Right Pocket-Spyderco Wave, DO NOT WEAR with clip, got me stopped once by plainclothes Disney guy on the way to EPCOT before lines, when I pulled the BM Ruckus :o out it was funny, they kept it till I was done. Didn't notice the Glock

Right Cargo, Wallet and Ziplock bag for electronics
Left Cargo, Sony Ebook 500 Reader, waiting for the bus gets boring.
2 AA batteries, Spare SD Card is in the Reader, headphones for Iphone, Small tripod for fireworks

Depending on weather, I will have a lightweight rain jackets/vest, wearing synthetics.

We leave early and get home late, anything we buy we generally send to the hotel to avoid carrying bag for when park hopping.

John

[antman157]

Im headed to Disney next week .. Still working on my EDC

So far its:

Wallet / money / credit card / park pass w/hopper / room key
Keyring with car key and spyderco ladybug (not much of a blade, but better than nothing)
camelbak with 70oz water bladder, sunscreen, band-aids, neosporin, headache meds, and jolly ranchers
camera bag with Canon S5 IS, 52mm lens adapter with UV filter, batteries, and 2 4GB SD cards
Sunglasses and chapstick
iPhone 3G

Cant wait to get to Disney

[sbillard]

Going to Disney ? mmmh I would take some mouse traps :evilgrin:

[antman157]

Going to Disney ? mmmh I would take some mouse traps :evilgrin:


Good idea! :)

[Antig]

drink up me hearties, yo ho! :cheers:

[Stelth]

For a surreal, fictional read on Disney, grab a copy of Cory Doctorow's "Down and Out In The Magic Kingdom" -- It's available free online and is a cross between Disney and 1984 (caveat, I'm only halfway through it).

Great tip! Thanks for sharing. I downloaded this and read it in 2 days. If you like science fiction and Disney World it's a good read.

[scríbhneoir]

Make sure your shoes are comfy and broken in. My feet were super comfy in my Crocs, but we wound up buying some moleskin for someone. You might want to add some to your kit as the price at DW is premium.

[sdg]

My post in another thread about using my Malaga for Disneyland.



Well the family and I just spent three days at Disneyland where I carried my fully loaded Malaga about 90% of the time (I basically only put it down during meals). Finally getting to actually use the bag as intended (OK, not exactly as intended, but you get the idea) has really helped me to appreciate its functionality. I was able to carry just about everything my family needed for full day at the ole fun park... extra clothes for the kids, the wife's wallet, ponchos (it rained) passes and maps, video camera (very small), Canon Rebel, memory cards for both, mini tripod, autograph books, snacks, basic meds, wet wipes, etc., etc. The only thing I didn't carry in the bag was water as we had a stroller with a small basket to toss it into. This was definitely nice as a 32oz Nalgene would have added a lot of weight.

Although I experienced a very small amount of soreness at the end of each day, I alternated shoulders (because I thought it was a good idea and not because I needed to) and barely noticed it. The day after we left the park I felt no discomfort at all. I'll put it in the damn comfortable to carry category. An unexpected benefit of having a single shoulder strap at an amusement park is the fact that you can easily rotate it from your back to your front. This allowed me to get on most rides without taking the bag off. I was able to keep the bag on me on just about every ride with a bar that comes down on the lap. The large and quick disconnect on the strap was also great as it allows quick removal AND, it's handy when putting the bag on under a poncho in the rain!

Most of the compartments, straps and loops worked great and became assets during this trip. I used a small s-biner clip to hang my video camera off the plastic loop near the quick-disconnect on the strap, keeping the camera safe and in easy reach for those must-record moments....

I am very happy with the utility of this bag and now that I've actually used it for something other than keeping all my junk in one place I can highly recommend it.

Thanks again for all the help. Thank you Monkey for a great review!



We stayed at the Candy Cane Inn and really liked it. The room was fairly basic but it had everything we needed. I have no doubt that staying at the Disney hotels is more convenient, but for us the difference of a few hundred dollars would have meant one less day in the park (we spent three days there). The hotel is within walking distance (a few blocks... 10 minutes max) and has a shuttle that goes back and forth all day long until around 10:30pm. We're a family of four with a 2.5 and 5 year old and didn't mind this at all. We plan on staying in the same hotel next time we go.

We didn't do the pre-paid meal plan. I don't really know why, but my wife looked into it and decided it wasn't for us... do some homework on that and decide for yourself.

Enjoy your trips. We sure did!

[Cuso]

Im headed to Disney next week .. Still working on my EDC


Keyring with car key and spyderco ladybug (not much of a blade, but better than nothing)


HUH? not much of a blade? Are planing on skinning some deer in the park?? :lolhammer:

[wenestvedt]

We had an extra poncho, and I took along several small (2" long?) spring clamps with rubber-dipped ends. I used them to anchor the extra poncho over the parked stroller when we went on rides. I also used them at night to make the curtain cover that last sliver of light coming through the window. (The kids were 3 and 15 months at the time, and we went to bed early!) On the flights I clipped all our travel documents together in my bag. They were great!

I brought in a Swiss Army Knife, but not my favorite one. Being "helpful" at the bag search can ease your entry. :7)

These days I would include a small Cable Cuff or three and a few lengths of paracord.

Big Zip-Loc bags allow you to seal up soiled clothes or wet stuff, and to keep your water from leaking.

[powernoodle]

For my part, I figured out pretty quickly that the less I had to carry the better. I used a small fanny pack with a small digicam, tickets/fast passes, hand sanitizer, and maybe some sunscreen. It sounds swell to plan on carrying around a ton of gear, but when its 100 degrees and 100% humidity, one's priorities change.

Also had a small flashlight and a Spyderco. The light came in real handy when the electricity went out when we were in space mountain. That building is dang cool when you can see it without the special effects. Its basically a big, indoor roller coaster. Very cool. :)

[serverslayer]

I just got back from WDW this last Saturday, and from watching the weather down there, this week starts the rainy season. I would definitely suggest poncho's for everyone in your party. I would also suggest something to carry and extra water bottle as we ended up drinking lots of water. We also found a small portable pack of baby wet wipes great for cleaning up after the kids. We didn't quite go through the whole pack and it cost about 1.50 at the big W in the travel section.

If you plan on taking lots of pics with a digital camera, stock up on SD cards now. The 4 GB ones there cost $51 apiece! For that price you can buy many 4 gb cards, and you will wish you had.

Also, try to carry as little as possible, and things that are either waterproof or can be stored in a waterproof container. The water rides and the rain will leave everything you have soaked.

[sdg]

The ponchos in the park are only a few bucks. Even though we had some cheapo disposables from Wal-Mart we ended up buying some there for the kids because they had a kid's size that fit much better. It was still big on our 2.5 year old but I used a surefire lanyard to cinch it around her waist... worked great!

We used one of the extra disposables to cover the stroller.

[wenestvedt]

I was there a few years ago, and gift shops will exchange "official" ponchos (with Mickey on the back) for new ones if they rip.

Someone on their way out handed us four ponchos on the day we arrived, along with the above hint, so we were happily dry our whole trip. Thank you, Anonymous Poncho Donors -- we have not forgotten you!

[antman157]

Looks like I am gonna need ponchos from all the rain Florida has been getting ..

Oh well .. We leave at 3 am ... :roof:

[sdg]

It poured one of the days we were at Disneyland and we still had a great time. Enjoy!

[WillCAD]

Looks like I am gonna need ponchos from all the rain Florida has been getting ..

Oh well .. We leave at 3 am ... :roof:


Enjoy!

It's entirely possible to have a great trip to WDW in the rain. I've done it many times.

And don't be worried if the forecast shows rain every day; during the summer in central Florida, it rains briefly every afternoon, but an hour later everything is dry as a bone. Just carry your ponchos with you to keep dry during the short downpours.

[antman157]

Hey everyone .. Back from Disney unfortunately ...

Here was my EDC

Spyderco Ladybug on car keys
Carmex squeeze tube chap stick
Wallet
Band-aids
Water bottle with filter
Poncho for me and wife

Wife bought EDC item for keychain (a lego Indiana Jones figurine)

[newtothis]

If your traveling with babies they have baby stations sponsored by, I think carnation or another baby company that are large AC rooms with rocking chairs and free baby products. Private changing areas. When my kids were babies I think they had a TV playing to keep the older children busy while babe gets changed.

[Donny Dont]

I just returned from a fantastic trip to WDW with my family. We stayed on site in the campground.

We carried in many water bottles, but also made sure the kids were all well hydrated before we entered. If you like a cool mist, purchase the spray bottle with fan before you get into the park. The mouse will shake you down for almost 20 when it is hot.

I wish I had brought a separate wallet for carrying the park passes, keys to the world and fastpasses. I hated having to bring out my wallet frequently in such a crowded area. That said, I heard nothing about pickpockets at Disney.

I asked one of the security guards searching bags about knives and was told I could carry what I liked.
I felt the emptiness in my pocket the first day . . .

Joe

[WillCAD]

I just returned from a fantastic trip to WDW with my family. We stayed on site in the campground.

We carried in many water bottles, but also made sure the kids were all well hydrated before we entered. If you like a cool mist, purchase the spray bottle with fan before you get into the park. The mouse will shake you down for almost 20 when it is hot.

I wish I had brought a separate wallet for carrying the park passes, keys to the world and fastpasses. I hated having to bring out my wallet frequently in such a crowded area. That said, I heard nothing about pickpockets at Disney.

I asked one of the security guards searching bags about knives and was told I could carry what I liked.
I felt the emptiness in my pocket the first day . . .

Joe


I carry my park pass and Fastpass slips in a neck lanyard like this one from WalMart:
http://willcad.org/images/misc/walmart%20lanyard.jpg

It's easy to access and fairly secure - how is someone going to pick-pocket your chest? And they are cheap at 97 cents.

They also help prevent magnetic strip failures on those lovely Key To The World cards that Disney uses for hotel key/park pass/dining plan credits. The plastic cards they buy in bulk have crappy mag strips that fail at an extraordinary rate, from static electricity, tiny scratches due to being put in/taken out of pockets and wallets, and passing through turnstiles and FP machines, and possibly from magnetic fields, though I personally think that the whole magnetic field thing is BS after seeing how tough it was for the Mythbusters to cause a credit card failure with magnets.

I carry a small folder with me in the parks, but I keep it in my pocket and I don't advertise when I use it. It's best to keep a low profile when using a sharp in any crowded public place these days, as so many people tend to think of any sharp tool as a "weapon" and panic if they see one anywhere but in a kitchen. WDW does prohib the carrying of "weapons" in the parks, and some of the bag check folks consider any sharp to be a weapon and will prevent you from entering the park if they know you have a knife or multitool. As with so many things, however, this seems to have a wide range of possibilities due to the personal opinions of the bag check people, spotty training, and nebulous policy definitions by Disney.

[knestle]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned here.

If at all possible, go on a weekday rather than a weekend.

I went with the wife and kid for four days.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were fine. Sometimes a little busy, and a few long lines, but tolerable.

Saturday morning was IMPOSSIBLE! NEVER, ANYWHERE, have I EVER experienced such a human log jam!

Shoulder to shoulder doesn't even begin to describe the situation!

In less than 20 minutes my nine year old daughter was crying.

We left Disney and spent the day at Sea World.

[WillCAD]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned here.

If at all possible, go on a weekday rather than a weekend.

I went with the wife and kid for four days.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were fine. Sometimes a little busy, and a few long lines, but tolerable.

Saturday morning was IMPOSSIBLE! NEVER, ANYWHERE, have I EVER experienced such a human log jam!

Shoulder to shoulder doesn't even begin to describe the situation!

In less than 20 minutes my nine year old daughter was crying.

We left Disney and spent the day at Sea World.


Weekends are most crowded at all of the parks, but each park has its heaviest and least heavy crowd days. Knowing these in advance can help you to plan your trip better in advance and avoid the worst crushes of people.

According to the various guidebooks, the parks tend to be the busiest on the following days:

Magic Kingdom: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
Epcot: Tuesday and Friday
Disney Hollywood Studios: Sunday and Wednesday
Disney's Animal Kingdom: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

[Loogie]

Already some good advice here.

My wife is a total Disney World-phile. Last time we went, we stayed on site at a value resort and used the free transportation. Though you have to wait a bit, and the busses can be crowded, it is a huge money saver.

For water, we brought some regular bottles of water (Evian or whatever) and added little filter-caps that fit right on (can find them online). We refilled them in the park, and the filters made the water taste good.

For EDC items, we wore cargo shorts, and sewed up some water bottle carriers (which were cut from some old packs in our basement) which attached to Mountainsmith Vibe II waist packs. We intentionally went light, as it was very hot.
Though space was certainly limited (the waist packs are very small), it was fine! The pack doubles as a wallet, and holds some other goodies such as hand sanitizer, money, medications, sunglasses, tickets, sunscreen and even a little battery-powered misting fan! We split the supplies.
I placed a couple of carabiners on the packs and this was very nice for hanging a hat or attaching other things.

The water holsters were perfect: they are made of semi-stiff foam, so they stay open, making it easy to simply drop the bottle in. They also have elastic keepers so you don't have to worry about the bottles jumping out.

Now, I have a Mountainsmith Kinetic which I carried there before. But, strangely, it is a pretty cumbersome pack because of the placement of the bottles. You can't easily get to the bottles, and if worn on the front, it bounces up and down on your bladder.

Worn around the waist, it clamps your shirt-bottom closed, limiting airflow, and things get hot fast. It is nearly impssible to wear it under a shirt (the Vibe fits fine, even with the water bottle).

I recommend packing as light as possible, but of course this isn't easy with kids.

[geekygirl]

I have just read the entire thread and would like to say thanks in advance for all the information - a fair bit of it hadnt even crossed my mind!

I am going to WDW/Orlando/Kennedy Space Centre in March next year with my boyfriend (Florida local) whilst he has been to these places before and has a bit of local knowledge neither of us had even considered the meal passes....thanks!

I cannot wait to get there, last time I was in the US was in 2000 and that time I went to Disneyland :woohoo:

[dirtbuster]

You will have a blast.....we are actually still in Orlando for our last leg of our trip. Stayed at Disney Yacht Club Resort for the 1st 7 days -highly recommended if you don't mind the rates but it is accessible by ferry to Epcot and Hollywood Studio. Proceeded to Port Charlotte for 4 days and then back to Orlando. Drove to Kennedy Space Centre yesterday and we will do SeaWorld today before heading back to reality.

I used the Colossus for my DSLR, camcorder and other stuff. My wife uses the Fatboy. I will do a complete field test review when I get back. PM me if you need to know anything on our trip experiences

The tips I got from this board was very helpful and the reason why our trip was successful

:luck:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/dirtbuster/MaxPedColossus.jpg

[dirtbuster]

A little off topic but can save you from being ripped off while in Orlando.
Stay away from bargain electronic store.

I purchased a few items at Best Brands (their receipts showed Studio B) in Lake Buena Vista Factory Outlet Stores and later found out that they were overpriced. Went back to the store to complain - sorry no return or exchange. Sales are final. So buyer beware or at least research before buying. I certainly learned my lesson.

Here is the link of the store - STAY AWAY!

http://www.lbvfs.com/Orlando-Best-Brands-Outlet.cfm


:thumbsdown:

[yoyosma]

Thx to the DisNuts over at DisBoards (http://www.disboards.com/) I had a great trip to DW. They go often and share very bit of info you'd need.

We went the slowest week of the year, 1st week December. It was decorated for Christmas, not crowded, walked on every ride/attraction with ease.

Next trip we will skip Animal Kingdom. Our mall has wider walkways. Very strange design and does not accomodate crowds well.

Meal Plan is a must. If you have younger kids, plan on not eating dinner out but use your big meal for late lunch. We were conked out by 7pm every night.

Main advice: Don't do it all. There's so much to enjoy.

[figtree]

Well lets toss in my thoughs...
Here is a quick rundown of How my family tackled the Disney War Zone
-used a camel back Outlaw-its a small mountainbiking backpack-has a great padded camera pocket
-mini meds pouch-few ASA and motrin and some famotidine-basically a few things for aches/bellys/migraines, and MI's
-few bandaids-4 large and 2 XL-and one ampule of benzoin-mostly blister care here-they have medics stationed everywhere-didnt see the point of carrying more
-Canon SD870IS/2 4gb cards/2 batteries
-leatherman micra-all around handy!
-inova microlight clipped to shoulder strap of pack-great for searching for dropped items or deep in your pack after dark
-thermometer clipped to opposite shoulder strap-just for curiosity of the heat factor
-small biner-for clipping items to pack as needed-scratch that-make it a regular locking D-will hold mugs and such easier
-few walmart disposable ponchos-dirt cheap -i bought about 20 of them back when they used to be 25cents each-they weight nothing and are great for those quick down pours
-pack has a nice outter pocket for stuffing wet ponchos in
-MSR micro towel-were are talking a few oz here-was worth it to dry off wet child and adults after water rides-again its smaller than your palm and weights nothing
-tiny pack of hand wipes and 4oz alcohol gel from TARGET in the dollar isle-nice way to stay clean for meals without having to search out the bathrooms every time
-(for me) spare contacts and eye drops
-sunglasses for all 3 of us
-Neutragena spray on sunscreen-this stuff is GREAT-not greasy and dries in seconds
-safe key and room key-used the safe for storing wallet/purses
-floss-hate stuff stuck in my gums!!
-2 large safety pins-never know when a button on a pair of shorts would break


Things I may eliminate-ie. never used once the last few years while visting ANY amusement park
-iphone-now granted I love my gadgets-but disney-seriously I want a VACATION, and the last thing i want to fool with is texting or some one calling me for no reason
-some would say emergencies, i figure my family is with me,and EMS is on site, and otherwise i'm too far away from home to worry about it
-bandana (replaced by MSR micro towel)
-ink pen and note pad-sounds reasonable, but i asked myself, when was the last time i needed to write something down in an amusement park-??
-whistle

-THOUGHTS???

[figtree]

Well lets toss in my thoughs...
Here is a quick rundown of How my family tackled the Disney War Zone
-used a camel back Outlaw-its a small mountainbiking backpack-has a great padded camera pocket
-mini meds pouch-few ASA and motrin and some famotidine-basically a few things for aches/bellys/migraines, and MI's
-few bandaids-4 large and 2 XL-and one ampule of benzoin-mostly blister care here-they have medics stationed everywhere-didnt see the point of carrying more
-Canon SD870IS/2 4gb cards/2 batteries
-leatherman micra-all around handy!
-inova microlight clipped to shoulder strap of pack-great for searching for dropped items or deep in your pack after dark
-thermometer clipped to opposite shoulder strap-just for curiosity of the heat factor
-small biner-for clipping items to pack as needed-scratch that-make it a regular locking D-will hold mugs and such easier
-few walmart disposable ponchos-dirt cheap -i bought about 20 of them back when they used to be 25cents each-they weight nothing and are great for those quick down pours
-pack has a nice outter pocket for stuffing wet ponchos in
-MSR micro towel-were are talking a few oz here-was worth it to dry off wet child and adults after water rides-again its smaller than your palm and weights nothing
-tiny pack of hand wipes and 4oz alcohol gel from TARGET in the dollar isle-nice way to stay clean for meals without having to search out the bathrooms every time
-(for me) spare contacts and eye drops
-sunglasses for all 3 of us
-Neutragena spray on sunscreen-this stuff is GREAT-not greasy and dries in seconds
-safe key and room key-used the safe for storing wallet/purses
-floss-hate stuff stuck in my gums!!
-2 large safety pins-never know when a button on a pair of shorts would break


Things I may eliminate-ie. never used once the last few years while visting ANY amusement park
-iphone-now granted I love my gadgets-but disney-seriously I want a VACATION, and the last thing i want to fool with is texting or some one calling me for no reason
-some would say emergencies, i figure my family is with me,and EMS is on site, and otherwise i'm too far away from home to worry about it
-bandana (replaced by MSR micro towel)
-ink pen and note pad-sounds reasonable, but i asked myself, when was the last time i needed to write something down in an amusement park-??
-whistle

-THOUGHTS???

[figtree]

sorry about the double post
-regarding phone-yes its taken on vacations and daily EDC, i'm just saying INSIDE the parks, i never found a true need vs. excess weight to justify MYSELF carrying it.......others may see the need

[figtree]

and for my blade choice-the micra-security actually picked it up -was clipped to inside main pouch in pack-and said nothing-i figure what in the holy hell is someone going to do with a 1" blade-i guess they felt the same

[Jean]

Semi-related question, maybe it needs (or has it's own) thread. What should EDC be for kids?

I have been to amusement parks in Europe where they tagged my kids with my cell phone number. I thought it was a great idea, so I have a card on each of them with some contact numbers now.

How much info is too much, what else should they have - I guess the answers need to be separated by age?

Right now the 3-6yolds have a laminated card with numbers, a small led light (photon like, but not as bright - which is actually good in this case) and flat whistle on a colorful lanyard.

[antman157]

Well lets toss in my thoughs...
Here is a quick rundown of How my family tackled the Disney War Zone
-used a camel back Outlaw-its a small mountainbiking backpack-has a great padded camera pocket
-mini meds pouch-few ASA and motrin and some famotidine-basically a few things for aches/bellys/migraines, and MI's
-few bandaids-4 large and 2 XL-and one ampule of benzoin-mostly blister care here-they have medics stationed everywhere-didnt see the point of carrying more
-Canon SD870IS/2 4gb cards/2 batteries
-leatherman micra-all around handy!
-inova microlight clipped to shoulder strap of pack-great for searching for dropped items or deep in your pack after dark
-thermometer clipped to opposite shoulder strap-just for curiosity of the heat factor
-small biner-for clipping items to pack as needed-scratch that-make it a regular locking D-will hold mugs and such easier
-few walmart disposable ponchos-dirt cheap -i bought about 20 of them back when they used to be 25cents each-they weight nothing and are great for those quick down pours
-pack has a nice outter pocket for stuffing wet ponchos in
-MSR micro towel-were are talking a few oz here-was worth it to dry off wet child and adults after water rides-again its smaller than your palm and weights nothing
-tiny pack of hand wipes and 4oz alcohol gel from TARGET in the dollar isle-nice way to stay clean for meals without having to search out the bathrooms every time
-(for me) spare contacts and eye drops
-sunglasses for all 3 of us
-Neutragena spray on sunscreen-this stuff is GREAT-not greasy and dries in seconds
-safe key and room key-used the safe for storing wallet/purses
-floss-hate stuff stuck in my gums!!
-2 large safety pins-never know when a button on a pair of shorts would break


Things I may eliminate-ie. never used once the last few years while visting ANY amusement park
-iphone-now granted I love my gadgets-but disney-seriously I want a VACATION, and the last thing i want to fool with is texting or some one calling me for no reason
-some would say emergencies, i figure my family is with me,and EMS is on site, and otherwise i'm too far away from home to worry about it
-bandana (replaced by MSR micro towel)
-ink pen and note pad-sounds reasonable, but i asked myself, when was the last time i needed to write something down in an amusement park-??
-whistle

-THOUGHTS???


Thats a good list ...

Im about to go to Disney and like some of your ideas, such as:

Micro towels to replace bandana
Leatherman Micra to replace Leatherman Wave

And I like the idea of a thermometer ... Pretty cool idea

[defuse kit]

I don't envy those of you with kids. Well, at least not when going to Disneyland. My girlfriend and I live about 60 miles apart. Disneyland is right between us. We've got annual passes and have already gone about a dozen times this year.

My Disneyland EDC is pretty basic. Plain jane messenger bag, light jacket/sweater or long-sleeved shirt, FAK, camera, phone, water bottle, hat, sunglasses, AAA flashlight, pen, ipod/headphones, and my keychain. Keychain always has a SAK or SwissKey (usually the SwissKey for Disneyland), LED light, and now a Pico Pry Bar. I'm thinking about keeping a Kershaw Leek in the waistband, but it is super hot and the less gear the better. I usually just dump my knives in the car before I leave.

There are some Disneyland specific things I would recommend though. I don't know where else they are in the country, but Disney liquidates their merchandise in traveling stores. This is a great place to pick up crap pins. Pin trading is fun, and if you do it right, relatively inexpensive way to pick up souvenirs. The trick is, Disney employees HAVE to trade with you, up to two pins per employee. So you pick up a bunch of pins for not much money, and find something cool and interesting from the staff. Beats buying the pins there (unless there's something you HAVE to have).

Also, if you have any foreign family or friends, Disneyland also does maps in several different languages. They're all free and make great free souvenirs. Even if you don't have any foreign friends, having Disneyland's map in Japanese and German is always a laugh.

[bpa]

I don't envy those of you with kids. Well, at least not when going to Disneyland.

I'm no fan of anything Disney, but we took the children to Disneyland a number of times and always enjoyed it. No leashes, no EDC, just lots of patience and water.

[defuse kit]

You're lucky to have such great kids. I see tons of parents at Disneyland with terrible children screaming and generally giving their parents terrible headaches. The most memorable one was a family walking down Main Street USA. The mother ran ahead to catch one of her kids who had dashed ahead. The father was pushing the stroller behind. We were watching when he turned, looked me dead in the eye, and said "Don't have children".

That said, raise your kids right and carry the right gear and you too can have great times at Disneyland, just like bpa!

[bpa]

Thank you, I am. They are grown now, and we still like each other, as near as I can tell.

Never needed any edc in Disneyland other than what was age-appropriate for the children. Everything ran like a clock there, even the clocks. There aren't any pidgeons - they must have some sort of agreement (signs in pidgin, maybe?). Actually the only EDC was a wallet full of folding green - everything is expensive there.

[GrumpyGrizzly]

Re: water at disney/universal, the fountains are great, but you can also ask for ice water at any of the drinks stands and they will give it to you without charge. Very nice if there are no fountains nearby (I don't remember seeing any at universal and only a few at disney), and you get it cold to boot. You still have to put up with the taste of tap water, but I personally didn't find it a problem.

If your kids don't like the "tap" water, take a couple of bottles of water with you. When they empty them, stop by a fountain and when they aren't looking, refill the bottles. When they get thirsty, pull them out and I'll bet they wouldn't know the difference.

[haiyter]

If your kids don't like the "tap" water, take a couple of bottles of water with you. When they empty them, stop by a fountain and when they aren't looking, refill the bottles. When they get thirsty, pull them out and I'll bet they wouldn't know the difference.

or you could just enhance it with flavor like adding lemon etc

[Clead]

Is pocket carry for a multitool and a folder still ok? I remember walking back to the hotel when I absent-mindedly left my Surge in its case on my belt. Oops. For the rest of the trip it just rode in a cargo pocket. hilarious that they check bags but not pockets.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

One thing I've seen other parents do is take cell phone photos of their kids when they get to the Park. In addition to other's suggestions about having your contact info pinned on younger children's clothing, taking the photos can be handy if a younger kid gets lost, because you have a photo of exactly what he looks like and what clothes he's wearing on that very day.

[Gatsby]

Just got back from WDW and took a bunch of suggestions from this thread - thanks!

The weather was such that we didn't need to haul jackets or extra water/supplies, and given my kids ages (almost 5 and 8) they walked the whole time so we could travel light.

My EDC daily consisted of:

Witz See It Safe - worn around my neck with my and my kids KTTW, and Fast Passes for various rides. I had an LRI Photon X light attached to this as well which proved useful in addition to my EDC light.

REI Travel Day Bag - really a nice little bag that I chose over a SAK similar size bag as it was better organized. In it I had one of our digital cameras, sunglasses case, blackberry, leatherman micra and an SAK minichamp, pen, paper, park maps and my wallet/cash. Because of the small size I was able to always have it with me without having to store it even on space mountain and other high energy rides (or on Mission Space I put it in the gear compartment). One thing I did not do the first day was have any additional attachment options - the next day I had a few different carabiners and s clips which I used mostly for purposes of attaching my and my sons baseball caps when we went on fast rides - one of the REI small locking carabiners worked perfectly. I also used this to attach the entire bag to my chair at meals a few times just in case I was distracted by taking pictures or the like. I took on the trip and had room for a few of the cheap wal mart ponchos but the forecast (and actual weather) was for sunny skies every day so I never took them to the park.

In addition I had a regular knife and my EDC light - I carried a Spyderco Caly3 mostly due to the deep pocket wire clip that is very innocuous, and I had a Lumapower Incendio V3+ either in my pocket or for a few days on the included belt holster - it is so small that either method worked fine. Part of my choice was functional and part was based on what I could replace, of my two wire clip Spydies the Caly3 is less expensive than my Sage 2, and the Lumapower is less expensive and smaller than my Novatac 120P or Surefire E1L (or other multi level pocket lights I have).

One thing that proved quite useful in the hotel were two Petzl Tikkina headlamps, which my wife and I used to read in bed after the kids were asleep! Very very useful indeed and much better than trying to point a flashlight at a book. I also had a couple other lights with me including my Novatac 120P and a nano charger for the batteries to keep them topped off in the room. I did use the 120P around the hotel where size was less of a concern.

I ended up not using the Micra or the Minichamp very much but was glad to have them on hand just in case (did use them a few times at the hotel but never in the parks).

I went to the shortest security line each time and had no problems with any of the above mentioned gear and I know at least one of them saw the Minichamp and Micra. At this time of year crowds are lighter so I wasn't as concerned about getting through bag check or the gate - although i considered a no bag option with cargo shorts - but one of our cameras is big enough that it is just not very convenient without a pack of some sort. I was happy to avoid the full backpack however, and only have a small bag to keep track of. I also appreciated having only 1 item which was my priority regardless of where we went (other than the family of course!).

The one thing I do wish I had was one of the micro towels. We didn't ride flumes or have any rain, but there were a few spills here and there were it would have been nice, and once or twice the boat seats were damp in the morning from dew. I recommend one of those for any situation really - it would have been handy.

Otherwise, a very successful trip!

[WillCAD]

Is pocket carry for a multitool and a folder still ok? I remember walking back to the hotel when I absent-mindedly left my Surge in its case on my belt. Oops. For the rest of the trip it just rode in a cargo pocket. hilarious that they check bags but not pockets.

They can check bags without touching you, but trying to have them check pockets of clothing that people are actually wearing would open up so many "innapropriate touching" lawsuits they'd go out of business.

I certainly don't want anyone sticking their hands in MY pockets, cargo or otherwise.

[WESBC]

Just got back from D-Land and still continue to carry my normal EDC without problems.

I surprised one of the churro vendors when I flashed her my ID in my Flipside wallet. Someone is going to be happy for Christmas.
http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab306/wesleycatig/EDC/scaledIMG_0681.jpg

[Clead]

Hey WESBC what's with all the bright colours? :P Nice setup. Thanks for the answers guys. I'm headed there in less than 2 weeks now, and it's good to know everything that's legal to carry will be in my pockets.

[locknload223]

We went to DW last weekend. I used my Falcon II as our day bag and made sure all the pointy objects were removed, even my Wave. The Fenix TK11 was left in an external pouch and security checked every zippered pocket, she even went straight for the semi-hidden ccw/bladder pocket. She let me in with a smile but I can't help to think security goes through classes and is fully aware of all types of bag including the more current tactical models. ...She went straight to the ccw pocket...

[defuse kit]

She let me in with a smile but I can't help to think security goes through classes and is fully aware of all types of bag including the more current tactical models. ...She went straight to the ccw pocket...

It varies from person to person. I've had cast members who check every single pocket and I've had ones who casually peek inside the main pocket, not even getting to the bottom. I've been using a PFII with a stealth admin pouch as my Disney EDC bag and there are a lot of pockets to go through.

I typically don't need much more than perhaps a keychain multitool or small SAK, both of which live on my belt keychain and never get looked at by security. So yes, if you want it in, keep it in your pockets. You can always dump it in your bag later. Just don't be surprised if it stays there.

[medic2807]

I like to save money. I love Priceline, so I used that to get my hotel rooms in Orlando. The first 3 days we stayed at Grand Cypress Resort. Talk about nice. Probably the coolest swimming pool I have ever seen, with all kinds of caves and slides. It was close to the parks. We packed food for the parks. I would suggest buying one of those tinfoil looking cooler bags you find at Walmart or Target. They can be folded down and put in the bottom of a pack to keep food cold. You won't be able to find them ANYWHERE near The Magic Kingdom (gee, wonder why?) We packed a lot of fresh fruit (apples, bananas) and granola bars as well a fruit snacks for the kids. We each took a nalgene bottle (4 in total) and packed it all in my wife's camera bag (this was before I knew about all the cool pack makers out there) and it worked great. We didn't bring any ponchos (wish we would have due to Splash Mountain) or Ibuprophen but should have. My dogs started to hurt!

[antman157]

Heading to Disneyland in April! Working on my EDC now because Im looking to purchse a few new items (juice and quark light)