12 Best Bags for the Amusement Park

As official theme park Sherpa for our family, I know the value of a good bag that gives quick access to water bottles and snacks, but doesn’t cause aching shoulders by the end of the day. Personally, I like the triangular sling bags that easily slide across the body to access the main pocket without stopping to take the entire bag off your back. However, backpacks are larger and fit more supplies for bigger families. Below are 12 bags perfect for your day at the amusement park. These bags are big enough to carry the theme park essentials, but not so bulky that you can’t fit them on a ride or inside the park locker.

Best Sling Bags for the Amusement Park

1. BANGE Sling Bag Travel Backpack

The BANGE bag backpack is a great small bag that can be thrown over the shoulder or worn in either direction across the body, thanks to a reversible strap. The pocket on the strap allows for easy access to a smartphone carried right in front. One pocket also contains anti-theft RFID blocking to keep credit cards safe, it also has a hidden double USB port to keep your devices charged on the go.

Related: 9 U.S. Amusement Parks Kids Should Experience Before They Grow Up

2. OutdoorMaster Sling Bag

Another compact bag with a reversible shoulder strap, hidden anti-theft RFID pocket, and water bottle holder is the OutdoorMaster Sling Bag. The fabric is water-resistant, and it’s large enough to hold a camera and some theme park bag essentials, but not too bulky to get in the way on a ride or weigh you down throughout the day.

Best Waterproof Bags for the Amusement Park

3. Waterfly Sling Chest Backpacks

The Waterfly crossbody shoulder bag is lightweight and water-resistant. It contains a pocket on the strap large enough to hold a cell phone or small theme park bag essentials, and a side pocket for a water bottle. A hidden pocket stores valuables such as a wallet, credit cards, or cash. A bonus for this bag for amusements parks is that it folds up into an interior zipper pouch for easy packing in your larger luggage.

Related: Tilt-A-Hurl: 7 Surprising Ways to Combat Motion Sickness 

Best Backpack Bags for the Amusement Park 

4. XD Design Bobby Compact Anti-Theft Laptop Backpack with USB port

For those concerned about security, XD Design’s anti-theft backpack contains protective layers, cut-proof protection board, hidden zippers, and hidden pockets. There’s also an integrated USB charging port, perfect for keeping your phone charged and ready for photos on long theme park days. The only downside is there’s no outside pocket for a water bottle.

5. Osprey Packs Daylite Daypack

The Osprey Packs Daylite Daypack is a comfortable, lightweight backpack for Disney World or any amusement park, with plenty of space for theme park supplies. Two full Nalgene-type water bottles can fit in the side pockets, and the front pocket contains a mesh organizer and key clip. The shoulder straps and back panel are padded with a breathable mesh covered foam for comfort throughout a long day.

6. Patagonia Refugio Pack 28L

This basic, comfortable amusement park backpack features a large, roomy, main compartment. The Patagonia Refugio Pack contains lots of pockets to store theme park tickets, keys, and snacks, and the chest strap helps distribute the weight evenly. The side pockets are also large enough for a 40-ounce water bottle.

Related: The Best Kid-Proof Water Bottles for Travel 

7. Under Armour Hustle 3.0 Backpack

This inexpensive, amusement park backpack is water-resistant, and contains plenty of separate compartments to keep your theme park bag essentials organized. The Under Armour Hustle Backpack has two side water bottle pockets to keep the family hydrated after a thrilling roller coaster ride. The bottom compartment made for gym shoes, but can be used for wet clothes after a quick change from the splash ground, log flume ride or a lunchtime spill.

Best Crossbody Bags for the Amusement Park

8. MALEDEN Sling Bag

Smaller than the triangular sling bag, this crossbody sling bag is a good choice to keep theme park bag essentials up front and accessible. It’s also a great size for kids who want to carry their own bag and can get used to keeping track of their own snacks, hat and sunglasses. The inside pocket is large enough for even the largest of cell phones, but don’t expect to carry a water bottle with this small bag.

9. Baggallini Everywhere Bagg

For those looking for more of a purse-style, Baggallini’s Everywhere Bagg will hold everything needed for the theme park, and can also transition nicely for that date-night dinner outside the parks. There are lots of compartments to organize a smartphone, DSLR camera, and wallet, and there’s even credit card slots integrated into the bag itself. The side of the bag opens up via a vertical zipper revealing a water bottle pocket, and the bottom of back pocket unzips to slide over a suitcase handle.

Best Disney Bags for the Amusement Park

10. Disney Minnie Mouse Backpack

If your kids love Minnie Mouse, they might be willing to carry along their autograph book in this Minnie-themed backpack. The 16-inch lightweight backpack for Disney World offers one large main zippered compartment and a smaller front zipper pocket perfect for holding a Minnie hair bow. You can personalize the backpack to give it the perfect finishing touch.

11. Comic Images Backpack Buddies

Children strong in the ways of the Force will always have a friend on their back with Chewbacca or Wicket backpacks. More of a conversation starter than a functional backpack, this Disney park bag can hold a couple of small toys or snacks on the inside.

Dave Parfitt lives in Rochester, New York, with his wife and two daughters. A runner with a PhD in neuroscience, he lived in numerous Northeastern and Midwestern U.S. cities before taking a college job in the Finger Lakes. He’s traveled worldwide, but a Walt Disney World trip with two budding princesses is the trip that elicited the family travel wanderlust. He shares his vacation tips and tricks on AdventuresbyDaddy.com.

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