As a Theme Park Reporter, it’s my job to go to Disney World…ALL. THE. TIME.

And when you go to Disney World multiple times a week, there are some things you learn rather quickly. I can direct you toward any souvenir you’re looking for, give a recommendation for the best value lunch spot, and of course, I know which bathrooms in Disney World are absolutely ELITE. But before I learned all those things? I learned how to pack for the theme parks. My bag typically has everything I need for a successful park day…but what would happen if I tried to go bagless?

On a recent visit to Disney World for work, I decided to go bag-free for a day and see if it would be better than lugging around a Loungefly or fanny pack for 8 hours. I’m typically a “pack the whole emergency kit” person, so would I be able to survive with just a few basic essentials?

To start, I chose a cool, overcast day. For optimum success with going bagless, I recommend choosing outfits with as many pockets as possible (time to dust off those cargo pants! 😂). I wore leggings with side pockets as well as a rain jacket with two deep pockets. Spread throughout those four pockets, I was able to store my phone, FuelRod and cord, a small wallet, my keys, and a 16.9oz water bottle.

I felt a little bogged down with everything in my jacket pockets, but the freedom of not having a backpack was a definite benefit. I had to pare down my packing list for the day to the bare necessities, which could have been a problem if I’d needed a Band-Aid, some Ibuprofen, or my lip balm. However, the big problem came not in the form of what I was missing…but what I picked up.

The same day that I attempted to go bagless, Disney announced some new Minnie Mouse-themed treats. And on that treat list was a Minnie Mouse Kitchen Sink Sundae from Hollywood Scoops. Guess who was in Hollywood Studios that day?

I enjoyed a delicious snack, but then I had a problem. A red, plastic, kitchen sink-shaped problem.

So yes, on my day of going bagless, I ended up carrying this Minnie Mouse sink with me everywhere. And I do mean EVERYWHERE. She went all around the park…

…to a galaxy far far away…

…to Andy’s backyard…

…and on a tour of the Skyliner resorts!

She even accompanied me for a lunch date at Centertown Market at Caribbean Beach Resort. Turns out we both love fish tacos.

As much as I enjoyed bonding with my sink (thank you for a lovely day, Minnie!), it certainly wasn’t convenient to carry around all day. So what’s the biggest mistake you can make when going bagless in the parks? Doing your souvenir shopping early in the day! Anything you buy first thing in the morning is going to be lugged around for HOURS. And then it’s like you brought a bag with you after all.

Of course, if you simply can’t wait to purchase a souvenir that you see, another option is to rent a locker at the front of the park. Each of the Disney World parks has lockers you can rent with a daily rate to store your belongings. This might also be nice if you want to bring a bag, but you don’t want to carry it. Just keep in mind that the lockers are typically located near the park entrance, so you’ll have to walk back and forth to visit them.

If you’re going to commit to packing minimally, just don’t forget to hydrate throughout the day. For those who don’t want to carry a water bottle, you can pick up free cups of water at quick service restaurants and select snack stands.

I hope you learned from my mistake and that you’ll be able to go bagless more successfully in the parks!

We’ll keep you in the loop with any more Disney World advice and tips, so stay tuned to DFB!

50 Secrets We’ve Learned From Going to Disney World Every Day — Click Here!

Would you go bagless in the parks? Tell us in the comments!