The right backpack for Disney is a must, especially if you plan on spending a significant amount of time there. Walking around, soaking in the sun, standing in lines, and having fun on the rides expends a lot of energy, and having certain items on-hand to aid you during your day is a convenience that shouldn’t be overlooked. The best backpacks for Disney are the ones that serve your purpose and also meet the requirements set forth by Walt Disney Resort.
Our advisor, Richard Bartlett, selected these backpacks for Disney. He chose the Zomake Lightweight Hiking Backpack as the top pick for best backpacks for Disney because it conveniently folds into a small item you can pack into your suitcase. When you need it, the backpack expands to hold up to 20 liters. Read how he chose the top 5.
Backpacks come in a wide variety of styles and sizes. From small packs with one compartment to hiking packs with multiple pockets, backpacks range from small to large, cheap to expensive, and traditional to designer.
Our Home and Family Expert’s Top 5 Backpacks for Disney
Here are the top picks from our advisor. Compare the ratings and key features of each backpack.
| Editor’s Picks | Brand | Rating | Multiple Compartments | Waist Strap | Water Resistant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Zomake Lightweight Hiking Backpack | ||||
| Best for Kids | Disney Mickey 12” Face Medium Backpack | ||||
| Best for Baby | Ruvalino Multifunction Travel Back Pack | ||||
| Best Cooler | Coleman 28 Can Backpack Soft Cooler | ||||
| Best Capacity | Osprey Farpoint 55 Men’s Travel Backpack |
*Ratings are on a scale of 1 to 5 and based on reviews, feedback, and opinions of actual customers
In This Article
Who Should Buy a Backpack for Disney
- You have kids. If you’re planning a trip to Disney with kids, chances are you want at least one backpack to take with you. Perhaps you need a backpack to hold baby items, such as diapers, bottles, and a change of clothes. Or maybe you want your kids to each have a Mickey backpack, like our choice for the best backpack for Disney for kids. Also, be sure to read our tips for the Must Haves for Your Disney Packing List.
- You need to carry emergency items. Consider a backpack for Disney if you’ll be in the park all day but can’t or don’t want to be without food, water, or medication for any length of time. An extra change of clothes is often wise, especially after water rides.
- You need a bag but don’t want to carry it by hand. The convenience of a backpack is that it sits on your shoulders and you don’t have to think about it much. If you’re looking for a bag for Disney, consider a backpack for your day trip needs.
Who Should Not Buy a Backpack for Disney
- If you have to leave the backpack unattended at any time. You should never leave a bag unattended. If you think you might have to leave your backpack somewhere while you hop on a ride or check out an attraction, consider something smaller, like a handbag or waist pack. Most rides accommodate your belongings.
- You’re not going to Disney. While having a good backpack for day trips or park exploration is a good idea, purchasing a backpack for Disney – relying on the resort’s guidelines and requirements – is not necessary unless you’re specifically bringing the backpack into the park.
Research Tips (from a Home & Family Expert)
Here are some tips and best practices to consider when purchasing a backpack for Disney. Be sure to do adequate research on the backpack you’re thinking about purchasing, look for key features, and ask your friends or family if they have any recommendations.
- Consider the backpack’s primary purpose – The type of backpack you choose for a trip to Disney can depend on what you want to use it for. Do you need to hold a lot of stuff or just a few things? Are you mainly looking to “brown-bag” it and carry food and water? Or maybe you have a baby, toddler, or a few kids with many different needs. Look for a backpack that will suit your purpose.
- Make sure the size of the backpack meets the requirements of Walt Disney Resort – The Walt Disney Resort has guidelines and requirements for the type and size of bag you are allowed to bring into the park. Backpacks and coolers larger than 24 inches long by 15 inches wide by 18 inches high are not allowed in theme or water parks, and coolers are not allowed in indoor venues. Furthermore, Disney reserves “the right not to allow any bag, parcel or other item and to deal with any unattended object, bag or luggage in such way as we consider appropriate.” Everything is subject to inspection.1
- Consider whether you need to bring the backpack on a plane – Check with your airline’s bag requirements. You might have found the perfect backpack for Disney, but if you’re boarding a plane, it may not fall within the carry-on guidelines.
- Look for a durable and comfortable-to-carry backpack – If you’re carrying around a backpack for Disney all day long, and possibly for multiple days in a row, choose a backpack that’s durable, sturdy, and comfortable to carry on your shoulders or by hand. Consider the type and number of straps.
- Consider the backpack’s capacity and compartments – Choose a backpack for Disney that will hold all the items you need to bring with you. All backpacks feature a main compartment and some have wider openings than others for easier access to the inside. Other backpacks feature multiple compartments and pockets, varying in size and design.
How Much Do They Cost?
Between $25 to $50
Backpacks for Disney average about $20 to $50. The price of backpacks varies widely and can be anywhere from under $20 to upward of a few hundred dollars. The larger, more versatile, or better quality the backpack is, the heavier the price tag. Some backpacks have specialized or multiple compartments, such as a laptop or tablet sleeve, insulated bottle area, locked interior pockets, or side mesh pockets, and these backpacks may cost a little more than those that feature only one large and one small compartment.
Our Methodology: Why Trust Safe Smart Family
With the help of my home and family experience, as well as some in-depth research, I selected the top backpacks for Disney based on size, durability, function, and extra features. There are several factors, such as material, capacity, purpose, and Walt Disney Resort requirements, to consider when choosing a backpack for Disney, and we used those factors to compile the top five choices. – Richard Bartlett
The Best Backpacks for Disney: Full Reviews
Voted the best overall backpack for Disney by our home and family expert, the Zomake Lightweight Hiking Backpack meets the bag requirements set forth by Walt Disney Resort and packs conveniently into your suitcase or overnight luggage. Available in an array of colors with a matching carry pouch, this lightweight hiking backpack is waterproof and ready for those sudden afternoon rain showers that often pop up during your Disney World stay.
The Zomake hiking backpack for Disney features one main compartment, one front pocket, and two side pockets, all with SBS metal zippers that are resistant to abrasion. The main compartment holds up to 20 liters and the side pockets are open mesh. There’s also a small interior pocket that zippers. Made from durable nylon, this backpack for Disney is comfortable to wear with wide breathable straps for your shoulders. Don’t worry about temporarily placing the backpack on the ground either – the bottom is reinforced for durability.
- Folds for storing and comes with a carry pouch
- Multiple pockets for keeping various items
- Durable and waterproof
- Not resistant to water for long periods of time
The best backpack for kids for a trip to Disney is the Disney Mickey 12” Face Medium Backpack, according to our home and family advisor. What better way to explore Disney World than with a Mickey Mouse backpack that sports a giant Mickey head? Featuring a large main compartment, a small front pocket, and two side mesh pockets, this backpack measures 1 foot and holds items such as clothes, small coloring books, notebooks, and crayons.
The Disney Mickey Face backpack features Mickey’s colors, red and black, and has adjustable buckle shoulder straps for secure carrying. Made from a durable nylon, the backpack’s compartments zipper shut. The bag is not recommended for children under 3 years of age.
- Features Mickey Mouse
- Multiple compartments
- Not for children under 3 years old
When you’re walking around Disney with a baby, it’s best to be prepared for a multitude of scenarios. The best choice for a baby backpack for Disney is the Ruvalino Multifunction Travel Back Pack. Obviously not for your baby to wear, this large backpack is within regulation size for the Walt Disney Resort, and measures just under 12 inches by 8 inches by 16.5 inches. With two large compartments and 16 pockets, the Ruvalino backpack holds a myriad of items to meet the many needs of your baby.
Holding everything from diapers and baby bottles to your laptop and cell phone, the Ruvalino travel backpack is made from polyester and resembles luggage more than a standard backpack. It’s outfitted with adjustable straps for wearing on your shoulders, but also features large carry handles if you prefer to carry the backpack by hand. And with pockets designed specifically to organize diapers and insulate bottles, the compartments open wide so you can easily access all the many pockets and items you have inside.
- Comes with changing pad
- Built-in baby-product organizers
- Wide openings
- May not fit all types of baby bottles
Walking around Disney in the hot sun all day requires staying hydrated. The best cooler backpack for Disney, according to our expert, is the Coleman 28 Can Backpack Soft Cooler. Holding up to 28 cans, this backpack is designed to hold food and drink, with one main large compartment, one medium front pocket, and two small mesh side pockets. Pack a few sandwiches, store a block of cheese, keep a couple sticks of pepperoni, stay hydrated with water, and carry napkins and more to get you through the day.
The Coleman cooler backpack for Disney is designed to keep your items cold – the main compartment is well-insulated with heat-welded seams so your food and drink stay ready for when you are. The backpack features three wide straps to help you carry the bag with better weight distribution. Two straps go over your shoulders and the third can be buckled around your torso. Customers report the backpack is water-resistant for the water rides at Disney, the bag does not leak, and it effectively keeps everything cold.
- Insulated and leak-proof
- Features three straps
- Front and side pockets may be tight
If you’re looking for the best backpack for Disney with the largest capacity, our advisor chose the Osprey Farpoint 55 Men’s Travel Backpack. Made from nylon, the Farpoint 55 measures 25 inches by 13 inches by 13 inches, can hold up to 55 liters and carry up to 50 pounds. The front of the backpack is outfitted with a detachable daypack so you can carry around a smaller bag if you prefer. The daypack features a laptop and tablet sleeve that fits most 15-inch laptops.
The Osprey Farpoint 55 features a large main compartment equipped with two compression straps to help hold things in place. There are three straps to help distribute the weight of the backpack – one each for the shoulders and one for the waist. The shoulder straps and waist belt stow away in the back of the pack so you can use the backpack as a regular bag with handles instead. The main zippered compartments are outfitted with slider locks to keep your items secure.
- Features a detachable daypack
- Converts to a carry bag
- Lockable zippers
- May be too large for airline carry-on
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of backpacks are allowed in Disney World?
Can you bring backpacks on Disney rides?
Does Disney have a clear bag policy?
What size bag can you bring into Disney World?
Article Sources
Safe Smart Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
- Walt Disney World Resort Property Rules. Disneyworld.disney.go.com. Accessed April 24, 2022.
- Walt Disney World Resort Property Rules. Disneyworld.disney.go.com. Accessed April 24, 2022.
- Plan Disney. Plandisney.disney.go.com. Published June 17, 2017. Accessed April 26, 2022.
- Plan Disney. Plandisney.disney.go.com. Published February 20, 2020. Accessed April 26, 2022.
- Walt Disney World Resort Property Rules. Disneyworld.disney.go.com. Accessed April 24, 2022.
Home and family advisor for Safe Smart Family with more than a decade writing about home and family lifestyle topics and expertise in home product reviews
