Greetings Erin!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I'm so excited you will get to soon experience the magic of a Disneyland Resort vacation. I have visited the parks on numerous occasions with a purse and with a backpack. It is really personal preference, but I'll give you some of the tips that have worked for me while spending my days at the parks.
One option is to go lightweight and carry a small purse with just the necessities, which for me would be my phone, hand sanitizer, lip balm, and sunglasses. In this case I would utilize a daily
Locker Rental for storing purchases made throughout the day or a change of clothes if the weather is predicted to get cooler in the evening. These lockers are conveniently located in Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park and can be accessed all day without an extra charge.
Recently, though, I have really enjoyed having a backpack in the parks. I can bring an external battery for my phone, autograph books/pens, my Mickey Mouse Ears, a sweatshirt, a water bottle, sunscreen, and some light snacks. The choice is really up to you, but know that both options would work out great, and any purse or backpack usually will stow easily by your feet on attractions.
All purses and backpacks are searched when entering the Disneyland Resort, so make sure to check out the
Park Rules if you have any concerns over what you can or cannot bring into the Disneyland Resort.
I hope this helps, and have a Fantasmic day!
-Jennifer