Since we started regularly going to Universal Studios in the summer of 2020, we have used a few different bags to carry around what we need. Having a bag that is dedicated only to use for the theme parks is one of the ways we can go last minute on trips so easily.
Note that at this time, my girls are 6yo and 9yo. We are beyond diapers and sippy cups so keep that in mind while planning your bag.
How to pick the right bag for you for theme parks
When looking for a bag to bring to Universal, consider what you are willing to carry around all day and remember, smaller is better. Universal Studios has free small lockers (14 in x 5.5 in x 16.9 in) at most ride entrances, and if your bag is too large, it will need to go into a paid locker. If you are visiting Walt Disney World, those parks allows guests to bring a bag with them into nearly every attraction in the theme parks.
As I stated in my post, we keep lots of snacks in our bag because we allow our kids to snack all day long. We also keep lemonade mix packets and Liquid IV packets to encourage staying hydrated throughout the day. We only use one bag for the entire family, trying to fit multiple bags in a locker or keep up with multiple bags throughout the day is too much for us to handle on vacation 🙂
We started with the 5.11 Sling bag, which was great for all the room and pockets that it had. It was a bit bulky, which made it difficult to squeeze into the lockers if it was full. While you would think having lots of pockets is helpful, it was difficult to remember which pocket held which items.
We have also used a larger 5.11 bag for our trips during Uncelebration when we knew we would be trading items and had costume pieces to hold.
What we use now is the Chaco Radlands Sling Bag, which they seem to have discontinued. It has one large pouch, plus a few tiny pockets that keep little items (pills,bandaids,glasses) secure. It adjusts easily, so the girls carry it sometimes too. Sling bags are the way to go for our family, light enough while still being able to hold everything.
To make it even better, I sewed on a wand holder. It keeps the wand tips from getting damaged and needing to be “repaired”.
These are some things we always keep in our bag:
- Snacks
- Lemonade packets and Liquid IV packets
- Dramamine
- Ibuprofen
- Bandaids
- Sunscreen
- Tissues
- Shared Water bottle (this or this)
- Wands
- Map that came with our wands
- Caffeine pills
- Ponchos (if weather is iffy)
- Gift cards for the parks or Starbucks
- Temporary Tattoos for Universally Crafted
Since this bag is only for the theme parks, we do not unload it at the end of a trip. We restock the snacks each morning before entering the parks. Before each trip, we check to make sure we aren’t running low on pills/bandaids and decide if we need ponchos.
Would you create a bag dedicated only for the parks? What would you put in it that I didn’t include?
