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Previously, Banshee wrote about some of the items that we pack which are unique to Little Banshee’s special needs. I wanted to expand upon her thoughts to talk more about some of the items that we have found useful. Many of these items are not specific to traveling with a special needs child, so I think you will find it useful no matter what your situation.
Transporting Little Banshee
Because of Little Banshee’s low muscle tone, we usually bring her to the parks in a wheelchair. This saves her from having to walk long distances, and it saves us from having to try to lift her when she decides she’s had enough. At her current size, carrying her really isn’t an option anymore.
Wheelchair
NOVA Medical Lightweight Transport Chair
This chair forms the foundation of Little Banshee’s transportation setup. First thing we love about it is the color: hot purple (although other styles are available). Secondly, we love the price. At around $400, it is much cheaper than many other chairs that we have priced out. We also love are the fact that it has both hand brakes and foot brakes. Hand brakes are definitely must haves when you are stuck on the monorail ramp and you don’t want gravity to take control of the chair.
While it isn’t light by any means, it is still under 30 pounds. Loading into the back of our RAV4 is not a problem at all.
My only complaints are that it doesn’t come with a sun shade or a five-point harness. However, we solved that problem with some aftermarket customizations!
Lap Belt
Wheelchair Seat Belt Restraint
With the standard lap belt that came with the wheelchair, we found that Little Banshee would slide down the seat too much. Her thin frame wasn’t able to be secured with the belt alone. Therefore, we purchased this three-point belt to help keep her from sliding. It attaches to most wheelchairs very easily (including the one above) and gave us added peace of mind that she would be safe!
Canopy
Fortunately, the canopy from our previous wheelchair happened to fit this one. It is the canopy for the Wenzelite Trotter Rehab Stroller. While made for that particular product, we were able to get it to fit the NOVA without any issue. Unforunately, I don’t see either the Trotter or its canopy available for sale anymore. I assume it has been discontinued. Oh well!
Carrying It All
Traveling to WDW
When we travel to Central Florida, we will usually pack our stuff in duffle bags. We do have hard sided luggage, but duffle bags are so much more convenient when you are loading your luggage into a car. You can smoosh the bags down to conform to the available room.
My personal favorite is the REI Co-op Roadtripper 100 Duffel. A couple of these bag are easily able to handle two weeks of stuff for us. The material is water resistant and rugged, so your items are well protected. It has both a handle and a shoulder strap for easy carry. Plus, there are slash points to strap other gear to it, if you desire.
The main drawback is that it is pretty no-frills. There are no wheels, for instance. However, if you just need a basic duffel bag, this is a good choice.
In the Parks
Chrome Industries Buran III Messenger Bag
Usually, I am the one who is the pack mule who gets to haul all of our items. I’ve tried a number of different backpacks over the years, and I’ve never really been happy with any of them. My first main complaints are that, in order to access anything, you have to go through the process of taking the bag off and then back on again. This is a real pain when the bag is full. My second complaint is that you really have to be aware of where the bag is positioned in a crowd so that you don’t turn and hit somebody with it.
After years of suffering with a backpack, I decided that something like a sling or messenger bag would be easier to handle.
My main requirements were a bag that could easily fit all of the stuff we carry with us, had an easy to access pocket for Little Banshee’s iPad when we went on rides, water resistant. Finally, it had to be comfortable!
The Chrome bag above checks all of those boxes. I love the fact that I don’t have to completely remove it in order to get something out of it. I can just swing it around my body, open it up, get my item, and swing it back. The unique seatbelt style clasp makes it easier to take on and off completely when needed without a lot of contortions. It has plenty of pockets, including a waterproof area which is great for storing drinks without the condensation getting everything else wet. Plus, it doubles as a laptop bag for work the rest of the year when we aren’t in the parks.
Obviously, the main downside is the price. It isn’t a cheap bag by any means. I was fortunate enough to get it on sale plus with a gift card, so I didn’t feel as much pain in the wallet. However, I can understand where people might not want to pay the premium price for it. There are other similarly styled messenger bags you can also choose from for less, if you desire. But I can tell you that once you convert to using a messenger bag, you won’t want to go back to a backpack!
Electronics
For better or worse, we carry electronic items with us into the park. In addition to each of us having iPhones, Little Banshee brings an iPad with her to help keep her calm and occupied. Of course, that means we need to bring a number of accessories with us.
Portable Batteries
I am a fan of Anker portable batteries. I’ve always used them. This one is among their most powerful ones. With over 25K mAh (milliamp-hours… a measure of the battery’s capacity), this thing can charge multiple phones several times over on a single charge. It even has enough power to charge up a laptop computer with room to spare. Plus, it can charge your devices super fast… faster than most other portable batteries. It has both USB-A outputs for older style devices, as well as fast USB-C outputs for newer devices.
Also, unlike many portable batteries, it comes bundled with its own outlet plug, so you don’t have to purchase that separately.
Finally, it is very light and compact for portable batteries in this size range, so you don’t have to worry about it weighing you down. You can even stow it in a pocket if you choose (although it will stick out)
Again, this is on the expensive side, as you can find smaller, less powerful batteries for less. If you don’t need something of the magnitude of the Anker 747, you can also check out the Anker PowerCore 20100, which I also bring to the parks as a backup. It isn’t quite as capable as the 747 being an older model, but it still does a great job.
Electronics Protection
We’ve used this case for Little Banshee’s iPad for several generations now. It is made out of a rubbery material with extra reinforcement in the corners. It may not feel as tough as some of the hard plastic cases, but it works just as well from our experience. I can’t tell you how many times she has thrown or dropped her iPad, but with this case, it has survived many a fall! Plus, it comes in hot pink, among other colors, so what could be wrong with that?!
I also love the handles. This makes it easy for Little Banshee to carry it on her own, given her issues with fine motor skills. They also allow us to attach a strap so that we can keep it secured to her wheelchair when she is in it.
Finally, it also comes with a screen protector which is included in the price! And speaking of price, for around $20, it is a steal!
I really like Smartish cases, as they provide great protection at a reasonable price. I’ve dropped mine with this case attached, and I’ve had absolutely no issues! I also like the grippy texture along the edges which provide that extra little bit of friction to keep it solidly in your hand.
For screen protectors, I had been a fan of the MaxBoost brand products. They are inexpensive compared the ones you find in stores, they provide a plastic alignment tool to make it easier to install it, and the product is high quality. However, I don’t see them sold on Amazon anymore. BOO!
These things are super versatile. Not only do we use them to keep our bag organized, they provide waterproof protection for anything you want to make sure stays dry… including electronics!
Drinks
Anytime you go to Walt Disney World when it is hot (which is pretty much year round!), you need to be drinking water. This is especially true if you are also drinking other potent liquids. Otherwise, you’re going to be in for a rough time of it. To save money, we usually bring in our own water bottles and refill them at a quick service dining location (most provide free ice water upon request).
Simple Modern Insulated Water Bottles
When Banshee first told me about these, I was skeptical. Can a water bottle really keep drinks cold all day in the hot Florida sun? The answer is a resounding YES!
These bottles are pretty amazing. The insulation keeps cold drinks cold; they keep hot drinks hot. They are super durable. They are stylish. They even have a spot that you can use to hook them to a carabiner for easy carry. Plus, they are a lot cheaper than those fancy Corksicle bottles.
MIO Sugar Free Water Flavor Enhancer
While Central Florida tap water is safe, some people may not like its taste. That’s where MIO comes in. A few drops and that tap water now becomes a tasty sugar free fruit drink. I especially like the vitamin-enhanced Orange-Tangerine flavor. You get some extra vitamins and your water tastes sort of like an orange creamsicle!
Rain Gear
If you go to WDW in the summer, you are pretty much guaranteed to end up in a rain storm! Now you might think that just getting wet is a benefit on a hot day, I can tell you that it is not. Walking around the parks soaking wet is super uncomfortable, especially when you go inside in the A/C. Believe me, you are going to be shivering! That’s why we always carry some rain gear with us.
While you can opt for a rain poncho, either the overpriced WDW ones or the cheaper ones you can get outside the park, we prefer the rain jacket. This style is not only durable and protective, but it packs up super small, so it is easy to carry in your bag with you. The main downside is that they aren’t very breathable, so they can get humid. However, the same can be said for most waterproof clothing items. If they were breathable, they wouldn’t be waterproof!
Notebooks
Field Notes 3.5 in x 5.5 in Dot Graph Notebook, 3 Pack
I love taking notes when we are on vacation. Not only does it help me to remember what we did and how we felt, but it helps when coming up with ideas for this web site! I am one of those people who prefers to take notes using pencil and paper, versus typing them into my phone. These little notebooks are perfect for that. They are inexpensive, and you can easily stow them in your bag or in your back pocket.
Field Notes brand in particular come in a variety of different paper and cover styles, so you can get one that fits your personality!
Wrap Up
I hope you enjoyed this little look into what items you might find with us if you see us in the park. Hopefully this gives you some ideas of your own when you are planning what to bring with you. Feel free to leave us a comment and tell us what items you take with you into the. parks. We’d love to compare notes!
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