What is your number one park day essential?

The perfect pair of Minnie ears? A raincoat to avoid the dreaded $12 Disney poncho? How about a comfortable pair of walking shoes? Our reporters are in the parks every day, so they know a thing or two about the best things to bring to guarantee a successful trip. Sure, sunscreen and portable phone chargers are a no-brainer, but what do they put their essentials in? Well, we asked them and they had some thoughts, so we rounded up a few of their favorites for you all.

The style of bags that our reporters bring to the parks fit into three categories: Belt Bag, Sling, and Backpack. Let’s get into it.

Belt Bags

This category is for the minimalists among us. Some of our reporters swear the only way to get by in the parks all day is to keep it simple. Pack the absolute essentials and leave the excess weight in the hotel. A long park day can entail over 20,000 steps at times, after all! No need to lug around a heavy backpack all day — leave the water bottle at home and stick to free water spots around the park.

Zorfin Fashion Waist Pack

This stylish bag is made of premium nylon, which is durable and waterproof for those inevitable rainy days. It also features four separate zipper pockets and three card slots and has an adjustable strap.

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2-Way Zipper Belt Bag

If you’re looking for a sportier look, this 2-way belt bag comes in tons of colors and is also made of durable nylon that is easy to clean. It features an adjustable strap and a convenient buckle so you can wear it either around your waist or as a sling.

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Now, belt bag fans love the simplicity of carrying them in the parks, but they’re not perfect for everyone. If you’re traveling with a family, for example, you’ll likely need a little more space in your park bag. So, let’s move on to the bigger options.

Slings

One step up from belt bags are slings — still pretty lightweight and convenient but with a little extra space. Want to be able to pack a bigger bottle of sunscreen and a reusable water bottle? This bag is for you. Slings offer a similar convenience to belt bags but with a little more wiggle room. You can keep them light if you wish, depending on how you pack. Some of our reporters won’t head to the parks without a sling, so let’s see a few good options for them.

Waterfly Crossbody Sling Bag

This sling will allow you to carry a few more things but keep everything in order. There are multiple compartments including a front zipper bag and a buckle bag, and the shoulder strap is reversible, so you can wear it on either your left or right side easily.

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Haunted Mansion Mini Sling Bag

If you’re looking for something with a little more Disney flair, this Haunted Mansion Sling has the classic purple attraction wallpaper print all over. This sling also has plenty of compartments to keep all of your park essentials organized, and there are sections to fit a water bottle and an umbrella on either side.

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Backpack

Ok, backpacks are a classic way to carry your things around in the parks, and some of our reporters use them exclusively. They offer a little more space so you can make sure you are prepared with everything you need throughout the day. And, let’s face it, some of them are irresistibly CUTE.

Loungefly Disney Peter Pan Shoulder Bag Backpack

Case in point: this Peter Pan Loungefly. It’s an officially licensed, faux leather bag with printed glow-in-the-dark details. Sometimes, matching your outfit to a Loungefly with your favorite Disney movie is a must-do in the parks, and this is a pretty convenient way to do it.

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Small Nylon Lightweight Backpack

Alternatively, you can still get the convenience of a backpack but keep it lightweight! This small nylon backpack is waterproof, has multiple pockets, and — although it is small — it can fit all of the essentials! There is room for a water bottle, umbrella, sunscreen, and plenty of other park day necessities.

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Our reporters have varying opinions on the best way to tote around their essentials, but it’s important to figure out what your priorities are when deciding what to bring. Having the right park bag can make a huge difference in how smoothly your day goes, so make sure to give it some thought! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news.

Click here to see some of our favorite carry-on bags

What is your favorite bag to bring to the parks? Let us know in the comments below!