The Best Backpacks for Disney, Universal, and More Amusement Parks

Best backpack for Disney fans

The moment you set foot on Disney property, you'll see Loungefly Mini Backpacks. They're ubiquitous among guests who want to show their fandom, not only at Disney but also at Universal Studios and other character-themed amusement parks. You can get Sesame Street Loungefly bags for Sesame Place, Harry Potter ones for Universal Studios, and Star Wars, Princess, Minnie Mouse, and more Loungefly backpacks for Walt Disney World and Disneyland—you name it, Loungefly has made a character backpack for it.

Aside from the theming, the basic design of the bags doesn't vary much. There's usually a large main compartment, a smaller front pocket, and two side pockets that aren't large enough for a bottle, but can hold your phone. Some guests worry about someone snatching their phone from their side pocket, but we think you'll feel someone messing with your bag, so we put it there for convenience. Don't worry, there's plenty of space inside if you'd rather not.

These are the best backpacks for Disney solo travelers and couples, since you won't fit much beyond the basics inside. We have no trouble holding a 21 oz standard Hydro Flask, a Vapur Eclipse collapsible bottle, a rain poncho, a travel bottle of sunscreen, hand sanitizer, sunglasses, a wallet, and even a snack and a small toy inside if your fellow traveler is a kid. However, it won't replace a larger backpack if you're part of a family of 4 or 5. The stiff materials actually work in your favor, here, as it's easy to pack the main compartment and find what you need, and the bag is easy to take off and stow at your feet when it's time to ride. Plus, the materials wipe clean if the backpack gets wet or dirty on the ground. Comfort isn't the greatest, as the straps are padded but thin, but it's also not the worst one we've found on a backpack for Disney. The carry handle makes it easy to grab when it's time to get off of a ride, and we like hooking our hat onto it so we don't lose it on Big Thunder Mountain or the first drop of Pirates of the Caribbean.

• You can carry what you need throughout the day while showing your fandom
• It's easy to fit at your feet on most Disney rides, just put your legs through the straps on more intense coasters

• The materials are stiff, and the straps aren't the most comfortable, though they're not too bad unless you've really got it loaded up
• The side pockets aren't big enough for bottles, but they will fit a phone

Best mini backpack for Disney with organization

If you like the mini backpack style but can't decide on a character, go with the Bellroy Cinch Minipack. Its straps are more comfortable than those on some other small bags, though the materials aren't stiff, so it feels a little saggier to carry. That said, it takes up less space when you have less inside, so it's adaptable to your gear, depending on the day. We fit nearly everything we'd want to carry for a family inside, including toys, snacks, three water bottles, a poncho, sunscreen, a wallet, a battery bank, hand sanitizer, and a phone. We have to mention, though, that it's difficult to pull something out from the bottom without dislodging everything first. We think this one's best for a single user or a couple, since then it's easier to grab what you need without losing something as you walk.

There are also plenty of pockets around this bag to help you keep things organized. Side pockets cinch shut to hold your water bottle so you don't lose it on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, and there are two front pockets for smaller gear. A slip pocket is covered by the bag's flap, which snaps shut to hold gear inside, and there's a zippered pocket to secure your wallet and other small items you don't want to lose. We like to stow a wallet in the zippered pocket in the main compartment, though, since we don't tend to need it much at Disney, and use the app to buy food and other gear. The loose straps make it easy to take on and off so that you don't hold up the line at your favorite ride, and the cinch style is easy to squish at your feet.

• You can carry a lot, but it takes up less space when you have less inside
• Water bottles or an umbrella fit in the side pockets

• The shoulder straps are unpadded
• Because it's so unstructured, it can easily feel off-balance

Best backpack for Disney families

If you're looking for the best backpack for Disney and you need to carry gear for more people, you'll want something bigger than a mini backpack. The Away Featherlight bags are extremely lightweight, come in a variety of colors, and are machine washable when you get home. Since there's no way you'll escape a trip to Walt Disney World or any other amusement park without at least a few marks to show for it, that's something to keep in mind when choosing a bag for your theme park trip.

This 18L bag only weighs 1.2 pounds, so you won't feel weighed down before you even load it up with gear, and the lightly-padded back panel and shoulder straps are comfortable to make it through the day, even if you're wearing a tank top. Seriously, the polyester twill is super soft and not scratchy. The top handle lets you get on and off rides quickly without struggling to find the shoulder straps in the dark.

As for what fits inside, we had no issue stuffing it full of a few toys to keep the kids busy in line, a few diapers, a baggie of snacks, a poncho, three water bottles (one collapsible to fill only when necessary), our phone, wallet, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, and sunglasses. There are bottle pockets on each side, so you have space to keep the whole family hydrated as you wait in line.

• It's super lightweight, yet still holds everything you need
• It has dedicated slots for your passport and a sleeve for a laptop or tablet if you use it as a personal item on the plane

• Lighter colorways will need washing when you get home
• While it's water resistant for brief showers, you'll need to cover it with your poncho in heavier rainstorms

Best small bag for Disney

Sure, you can get the Orbitkey Urban Sling Mini in a plain colorway, but why not get the Disney version and show your fandom with a well-organized little bag that fits on nearly any ride? We like the Minnie Mouse version because it has enough space for your gear and maybe a few odds and ends that your travel companion asks you to carry. The crossbody bag is comfortable and easy to take off quickly. You can cinch it up tight to your chest to wear it on any Disney ride (except big thrill rides, like Tron Lightcycle/Run, which prohibit loose articles), and perhaps even on coasters at other theme parks. It's most comfortable when worn more loosely at your side, and keeps all your gear accessible whenever you need to pull out your phone to book a Lightning Lane or reapply sunscreen.

We had no issue fitting a collapsible water bottle, our wallet, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and a small bag of snacks in the bag. A raised mesh pocket inside keeps your sunglasses from getting crushed by other gear, and the rear pocket includes a pass-through for a cord, so you can carry a battery bank inside and charge your phone while it's in your hand. You'll need a battery bank to make it through a full day at Disney, so we're happy to see the inclusion. There isn't much room inside for extras, but if you bring a disposable poncho and hook your collapsible bottle to the Orbitkey ring on the strap, you can make this the best crossbody bag for any amusement park.

• This well-organized small sling carries like a purse and won't get in the way on most rides
• It's really comfortable to carry all day

• The sling is best worn as a longer crossbody, but you can cinch the strap tighter for a ride
• It has just enough room for the essentials, but no more

Best lightweight backpack for Disney

If there's another brand that's just about as ubiquitous at Disney as Loungefly, it's Vera Bradley. Their quilted cotton backpacks are lightweight, breathable, and washable. There are tons of fun prints to choose from, so you can show off your Disney style, whether you like Minnie, Mickey, Stitch, or someone else. The harness system is quite comfortable and easy to put on and take off, with padded shoulder straps and a cushy back panel. There's no breathable mesh, but we don't find this bag getting much hotter than anything else in the hot summer sun.

This could be the best backpack for Disney if you have a family, too. We fit just as much inside as some larger bags, just in a smaller footprint. Bottle pockets on each side hold drinks nicely, and a front pocket has plenty of room for a wallet, phone, battery bank, hand sanitizer, and sunglasses, keeping them easy to access. A slip pocket on the back panel holds park maps or a character autograph book for quick access, but it lacks a topper, so be careful when setting it down. The main compartment has yet another zippered pocket to lock down small items and space for everything else, from a poncho to toys to snacks, holding everything you need without weighing you down or making it hard to fit at your feet when you get onto Pirates of the Caribbean. It's also small enough that security shouldn't take too long to look through it if you get pulled aside before entering the park.

• The cotton material is breathable and washable
• You can get a version that's even lighter if you opt for the featherweight fabric instead of cotton

• The quilted material is cushy but lacks breathable mesh
• You can get it in the larger standard version or a mini, depending on how much space you need, but we think this small version is a happy medium

Best backpack for Disney water rides

Do your plans include riding Kali River Rapids, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, or another water ride? Then the best backpack for Disney is something water-resistant, like the Exped Splash 15. This rolltop backpack will keep your gear dry if you get caught in a downpour or get splashed on a log ride, but it lacks creature comforts and helpful organization. The only space to fill is the main compartment, and it's a big dump pocket, so security will have to search through everything if you get pulled aside for a secondary screening. It also means that you'll have to dig for your phone, wallet, and sanitizer, since they're bound to slide to the bottom of the bag.

On the other hand, it's much more comfortable to wear than it looks, and it holds everything you'd need for a family with room to spare. We like to pack soft gear toward the back and bottom to create a bit of a back panel, so we don't regret it midway through the day. The straps are thin, but the webbing isn't scratchy, and they don't dig into your shoulder. It's easy to put on and take off quickly, and compresses when you need to fit on a ride or carry less. It's a flexible option when you don't want to carry something super structured around Disney, Universal, or another amusement park.

• It's water-resistant, durable, and packable
• The bag is also great for carrying gear to water parks

• The shoulder straps can dig in if the pack is full
• There’s no organization, inside or outside the pack

Best bag for single riders

For something low-profile and comfortable that still holds a decent amount of gear, we like the Osprey Daylite Sling. Its broad, well-padded strap is comfortable to carry all day, even loaded down with an insulated water bottle, phone, battery, wallet, poncho, sunscreen, and everything else you'd need for a day at Disney. Both the strap and the back panel are lined with breathable mesh, too, to stave off a sweaty back.

There's a front pocket to keep your wallet and hand sanitizer within easy reach, and the slip pocket in the main compartment fits a poncho nicely. We lock down our battery bank and cord in the zippered mesh pocket, and you can keep your phone and entry card in the zipper pocket on the strap. It isn't just for right-handed users, either; switch the side it connects to at the bottom to wear it over the other shoulder if you're left-handed or your shoulder gets tired midway through the day. While it's small enough to fit easily at your feet, it's not quite as quick to take off when it's time to get on a ride, so pull it over your head before you make it to the front of the queue.

• You can keep what you need close to your body
• The back panel and strap are comfortably padded, and you can carry it on either shoulder

• There might be a lot of strap dangling since the keeper is inflexible
• A water bottle must be stored inside the sling instead of on the outside

Best Disney waist pack

When you want the best crossbody bag for an amusement park to stay organized, you'll want this 4L Orbitkey Sling. You can rock your Disney style with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, or Toy Story, with all the same pockets we love in the Orbitkey Sling Mini. However, it has more space and a style you can wear crossbody or around your waist if you burn your shoulders. We have room for all the essentials (phone, wallet, battery bank and cord, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, sunglasses), plus space for a full-size water bottle, snacks, and a poncho. The strap extends from the side, so it lies flat against your chest when you tighten it, but you can hang it looser or around your waist if you prefer.

This best crossbody bag for amusement parks compresses to a slimmer footprint when you carry less, yet has enough space for a day's worth of gear for a single rider or a couple. You might even be able to take it on larger roller coasters if you can squish it to fit under the shoulder harness.

• You can connect accessories to the custom hardware on the exterior, like a portable fan to cool down
• The strap buckle is next to the bag for easy detaching

• It's a bit bulky around your waist if you stuff it
• It has a large footprint on smaller bodies

Best flexible backpack for Disney

We like packable backpacks for Disney, as long as they're comfortable to carry, and the Matador 18L Packable Backpack fits the bill. The harness system is simple, but it can keep up. The straps are broad and lightly padded, as is the back panel, and everything is lined with breathable mesh to keep things as airy as possible in the heat. There's even a sternum strap for extra support, which you just might want after carrying it for 10 hours. It's easy to take off and squash into the car when you get on a ride, since the materials aren't structured. And since it's packable, you can tuck it into your travel backpack to use when you need it at the park without having to carry it on the plane if you have another personal item bag you'd prefer to use instead.

We stick water bottles or umbrellas in the side pockets, and compression straps at the top hold them in place on a bumpy ride. The pocket you pack the bag into becomes a top pocket for your wallet, phone, and battery bank, and we stick a poncho, sunscreen, and hand sanitizer in the front pocket in case something leaks or the poncho is wet. You have plenty of room in this 18L backpack for everything else, from snacks and diapers to toys and an extra layer when the temperature drops.

• It's easy to pack away in your travel bag
• It doesn't take up a lot of space when you don't have a bunch inside, and squishes easily at your feet on a ride

• There's no breathable mesh on the back panel, so it can get a little sweaty
• Packing heavy gear in the top pocket can weigh it down

Best colorful backpack for Disney

Have you ever glanced away in the middle of a theme park and lost track of your friend or family member? Everyone is easier to spot when they carry a bag from Cotopaxi. If you get the Batac 16L Daypack from the brand's Del Dia collection, workers choose which fabric scraps to use to make your bag. That means no two bags look the same, and they're usually pretty brightly colored. So if your dad is wearing it and gets ahead of you, you'll be able to spot him in the crowd, and your kids can pick you out of the line if they lag when you carry it. The harness system is lightweight and minimal, with broad, breathable mesh straps and a shoulder strap that are easy to take off quickly. There isn't much of a back panel, so you'll feel gear against your back. We put something soft like a poncho or an extra layer against the back panel to make it softer.

The Batac is also the best backpack for Disney because it has a daisy chain on the front to hold extra gear, whether it's your Mickey ears, hat, or hand sanitizer. Mesh side pockets hold your bottles, keeping hydration handy without falling out on a ride, and there's a front pocket for quick access to essentials. We use it for our wallet, phone, and battery, but it's also a good spot for a damp poncho. While the material inside isn't extremely water-resistant, it's at least an extra barrier between wet things and your dry gear. Inside the main compartment, a small mesh pocket at the top holds what you want to keep within reach, whether that's snacks, sunscreen, or your phone, and there's also a large slip pocket for diapers or a dry poncho. The rest of the space is open and quite deep, so security may have to dig through it to make sure everything is OK to go into the park if you're stopped at the entrance. On the other hand, we think this is the best backpack for Disney families since it holds enough for a crowd, including extra bottles, toys, and more. It's lightweight and compressible, too, so it squishes easily onto rides and takes up less space when you bring less (or finish up your snacks).

• It's easy to spot in a crowd
• The bright interior makes it easier to find gear in the deep main compartment

• You can't pick your favorite color with the Del Dia colorway
• There's no mesh on the back panel, so it can get sweaty in the sun

Best backpack for keeping drinks and snacks cool at Disney

The best backpack for Disney might be something insulated. This backpack cooler can keep your drinks and snacks from melting throughout a hot day. You can bring food and drinks into Disney parks (but not glass containers or loose or dry ice), so pack this with reusable ice packs, plastic bottles, and snacks to keep your crew happy in line. Its shoulder straps are lightly padded and lined with mesh for breathability. It's a little scratchy, but it's not too bad. Zippered pockets on the front and lid hold things like your phone, wallet, sunglasses, battery, and hand sanitizer, and you can stick something slim, like an umbrella, in the side pockets. We put bottles inside since the entire point of a cooler backpack is to keep food and drinks cold, but you may not want to use the main compartment for other gear to keep it from getting cold and potentially damp. The Picnic Time Disney Backpack Cooler is fine for a poncho and sunscreen, but you might want to carry the rest of your family's gear in another backpack or crossbody bag.

However, most other amusement parks don't let you bring in outside food or drinks, so you'll want to pass on this one if you're visiting Six Flags, Cedar Point, or Universal Studios. If you are hitting up a theme park that lets you bring in food and drinks, like Disney, though, it's much more comfortable to carry than a hard-sided cooler or a soft lunchbox and easy to get on and off a ride.

• Granola bars and chocolate-covered snacks don't melt into gooey messes when you use this bag
• The shoulder straps are surprisingly comfortable, and the material is flexible, so you can still fit it on a ride

• You can't bring loose or dry ice into Disney parks, so you'll have to bring ice packs to keep things cool
• Most other theme parks prohibit outside food and drinks, so save this backpack for Disney