We usually feature larger companies in our merchandise articles. But, we’ve found a real gem from a lesser-known one, Designer Park Company, and absolutely had to share it with you all. The “gem” in question is their Rope Drop Backpack, a bag designed with a day at the Parks in mind. I’ll go over precisely what that means and also show the backpack in action during my recent visit to the Disneyland Resort. So, let’s take a look!
What Makes the Rope Drop Backpack Special?
With so many hidden features, you could almost consider these the “Swiss Army Knife” of the mini backpack world.
The Outside
For starters, the fabric used is water-resistant, which is especially convenient during the random showers that seem to crop up in Walt Disney World (and recently Disneyland, too!) or for a spur-of-the-moment ride on your favorite water-dousing attraction). And the Rope Drop Backpack measures 11.18 inches tall, 10.23 inches wide, and 8.66 inches deep.
As for the front of the bag, trading pin and Ear Headband collectors will appreciate the front pouch and the buckled strap. The perforated pouch is made especially to display your favorite pins using locking pinbacks. And the strap can hold one or two pairs of Ear Headbands.
From this side view, you can see that the backpack has three zippered compartments in different sizes.
The back side also houses portions of the bag’s unique elements. To accommodate the included Schweitzer Hydration Kit (more on that in a bit), there is a hole with a covered flap from which the water pipe feeds from the bottle on the inside to the outside. Along the shoulder straps are loops made to hold the water pipe and its attached bite valve in place.
And zippered compartment runs along the bottom of the back. It contains a net that you attach to the two rings on the front of the backpack, adding to the storage capacity of the bag. The suggested maximum amount of weight to store in the net is 5 pounds (the maximum suggested weight for the entire backpack is 15 pounds).
The net is especially helpful for storing purchases made during the day and damp (or soaked) items you wouldn’t want mingling with the rest of your belongings.
The Inside
Now, let’s go over the Rope Drop Backpack’s three zippered compartments.
The smallest compartment on the front has no additional noteworthy details inside. This is also the pocket where you would attach your trading pins.
The second compartment has two pockets for phones sewn onto one of the sides. My iPhone 11 Pro fits into them easily, even with its protective case on.
And the largest compartment is at the very back of the bag. It has two elastic-topped pockets for bottles along the backside of it.
Items Included with the Rope Drop Backpack
Next, let’s talk about what is included in your purchase. You, of course, will receive the backpack you selected, but that won’t be the only item you’ll get in your shipment. Every Rope Drop Backpack comes with 10 locking pinbacks and the Schweitzer Hydration Kit (no doubt a nod to the World Famous Jungle Cruise).
These locking pinbacks do a great job of fastening pins to your backpack, and unlike the ones sold at Disney Parks, these don’t require an additional tool to secure the lock. Instead, they rely on a spring-loaded fastener that you either push to attach or pull to remove the pin. And if you want more beyond the 10 included with the backpack, they can be purchased separately in packs of 10, 20, or 30 for $4.95, $7.95, and $9.95, respectively.
The Schweitzer Hydration Kit can turn twist-top bottles into an easy-to-use drinking system that can be stored inside your backpack. The kit includes two different adapters to fit different bottle top sizes, a water pipe, a bite valve, and a magnetic clip that attaches to the shoulder strap to hold the bite valve in place when not in use. These can also be purchased separately for $19.95.
BONUS ROUND! The Backside of Water Bottle
The Backside of Water Bottle, also from Designer Park Company, is sold separately for $24.95 and designed to work with their Schweitzer Hydration Kit. The 32-ounce, double-insulated metal bottle has two openings on its lid, a traditional one at the edge for sipping beverages (which can be closed with a flap when you are not drinking) and a silicone-rimmed one for use with straws (one is included) or the Schweitzer Hydration Kit.
A Day at Disneyland with the Rope Drop Backpack
After exploring all of its features, I was eager to try the Rope Drop Backpack for myself. So on my most recent trip to the Disneyland Resort, I used it as my day bag, and here are the results!
What’s in the Bag?
You can fit quite a bit in this backpack. But even though it can carry up to 15 pounds, I didn’t fancy actually toting that much weight on my back all day. So here’s what I took with me:
- Wallet – measures 4.5 inches tall and 5 inches wide
- Pillbox (the container with Alice on it)
- First Aid Kit (the grey pouch that says “I love Disney Parks” using neon symbols) – measures 3.5 inches tall and 8 inches wide
- Pouch with spare face masks (the one with Lotso Huggin’ Bear on it) – measures 4.5 inches tall and 8 inches wide
- The Backside of Water Bottle – measures 8.5 inches tall and 3.34 inches in diameter
- Magicband+
- Fuelrod
- Charge cords for iPhone and Magicband+
- Set of bamboo utensils
- Reusable straw (in the Magic Key-branded container)
- AirPods
- Spare Apple Watch strap
- Ear Headband
- 3 Trading pins (secured with the included locking pin backs)
- White Rabbit nuiMOs plush (attached to the backpack strap with an elastic hairband)
- Murray, the MiceChat Beaver – measures 12 inches tall but can be squished to be a little smaller.
Here is what it looks like after being packed into (or attached to) my backpack:
Even after everything was packed in, it wasn’t cumbersome to carry around, and I think it looked quite stylish.
The Rope Drop Backpack in Its Natural Habit
I began my day in the park that started them all, Disneyland …
I spent some time showing the backpack’s different aspects to Rosita. She requests that a bird-sized one be developed in the near future.
While I haven’t tested it for mountain-climbing purposes, I did wear my backpack on my trek over to the Matterhorn in Fantasyland to take in the picturesque view (from the ground level, that is).
I even traveled to a galaxy far, far away, and after the trek, I was especially grateful for the easily-accessible hydration system.
After that, I park-hopped over to Disney California Adventure …
While Walt Disney came to California with a suitcase and a dream, I visited the Storytellers Statue on Buena Vista Street with my Rope Drop Backpack.
A wet poncho is a familiar occurrence after a ride on Grizzly River Run. That hidden net would come in handy for holding it.
The Collector himself, Taneleer Tivan, would be impressed with the backpack’s space to display your favorites from your pin collection.
Looking Back on My Experience
The Rope Drop Backpack worked well on my last visit to the Disneyland Resort. It had enough capacity to hold everything that I needed. I also appreciated how the wide degree to which the compartments open when going through the security checkpoints, which made it easier for the guard to check all of my possessions.
And the Schweitzer Hydration Kit was an absolute godsend. It was bright, warm, and humid when I was there, and having quick and easy access to drinking water was greatly appreciated. I will note that I used my Hydration Kit in conjunction with the Backside of Water Bottle, which helped keep my water cold and was easy to refill at water bottle refill stations around the Resort and also by pouring in water cups from quick service dining locations.
If you are in the market for a new backpack to use on your next Disney Parks visit, I would definitely suggest looking into the Rope Drop Backpack. And if you are one of those guests who want to pack more than I took, there is another backpack by Designer Park Company that I think you will be interested in, and you can learn more about it in this next section!
Are There Other Styles?
I used the “Camel” Rope Drop Backpack, but there are plenty of other options to suit your fashion sense.
The World is a Carousel of (Backpack) Colors
At present, there are 11 different colorways listed for the Rope Drop Backpack. Each one costs $89.95, except for “The Plaid,” which is a tad pricier. Here are a few examples:
This is the “The Plaid,” styled after the Parks tour guides who wear plaid costumes. This one is $94.95.
Several colorways are currently out of stock, like the “Black with White Polka Dots” and the “Rose Gold,” but you can sign up on each item’s listing to be notified when it is back in stock.
Master Gracey Is Waiting to Serve You
The Rope Drop Backpack is not the only bag the Designer Park Company has created. There is also the Master Gracey Backpack, which is a tad larger with a different arrangement of compartments, but all the features that make the Rope Drop unique are still intact.
The Master Gracey Backpack comes in three colorways, like the “Charcoal” one shown here, and each one costs $94.95.
As you can see from the side view, the Master Gracey Backpack has two pockets versus the Rope Drop’s three. But what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in space. The Master Gracey style measures 14.76 inches tall, 11.5 inches wide, and 6.69 inches deep. And it can support up to 18 pounds, compared to the Rope Drop Backpack’s maximum weight capacity of 15 pounds.
In addition to “Charcoal,” the other colorways are “Olive” and “Gray.”
A Special Discount from Designer Park Company
Thanks to Designer Park Company, we have an exclusive code for use at their online store. Simply input the coupon code MICECHAT at checkout to receive 10 percent off your order!
[Note: The Rope Drop Backpack featured in this article was provided by Designer Park Company. I purchased the Backside of Water Bottle personally. All opinions are my own.]
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Let’s Hear from You
Would you be interested in using one of Designer Park Company’s bags on your next visit to the Parks? What features do you like the most? Let us know in the comments below!
And if you use our coupon code, please share what you purchased!
I also want to thank Mike Kindrich for his assistance with this article.
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