What product(s) can you NOT live without during WDW vacation?

[HappyMommy2]

Just wondering what others consider absolute "must-have" items for a WDW trip? We recently returned from our first big WDW vacation and discovered that we couldn't live without our:

1. Mister fans (great for cooling off as well as for entertaining the
kids in their stroller--we made sure they didn't
get the mist all over other guests, though!) Also
extra batteries.


2. Brita bottle: I'm normally a tap water drinker, but due to
warnings from posters on this board I took a
Brita bottle to combat the yucky flavor of WDW
water, and boy, was that a smart decision!! The
water there was, IMO, almost undrinkable. DS3
called it "stinky water" and literally gagged on it.
But the Brita bottle solved that problem entirely
and saved us $$$ on bottled water!

3. Graco DuoGlider: I had worried about this being too bulky
and cumbersome (we never use it at home), but
it was a godsend at WDW for our 3- and 1-year-
olds. The canopies were great protection from
the sun, the backseat reclined for the baby's naps,
the basket held plenty of stuff, and the thing
folded up well enough (and latched closed) so
it wasn't too much trouble on the bus. So
glad I took it instead of renting at the parks!!

4. Extra outfits in Ziplock bags: Another great tip from these
boards. We took 2 outfits per day per kid, stuffed
them in Ziplocks and squeezed out the air, and
put them in the diaper bag. Then when DS3 or 1
got ketchup all over his clothes, no problem--and
when they both played in the fountains till soaked,
or we got caught in the rain, they could have dry
clothes.

5. The obvious: camera and plenty of film, lots of baby wipes, etc.

What can your family not live without, at the hotel and/or at the parks? I'm already "planning" for our next trip!

[house_of_princesses]

Well, HappyMommy2, I think you just about covered it all! Of course the obvious thing to bring would be your savings account....;)

Another thing I find helpful is something to put maps, tix, touring guides, notes, etc. in. All those papers get to be cumbersome as well as unruly. (A Passporter or small notebook with pockets works great.)

I also put a slip of paper in each child's pocket with their info on it. Name, resort, cell phone number. They have instructions to pull it out and hand it to a CM if the need arises.

What are some other essentials?! :D

[DisneyFeePee]

The things that I cannot live without are items that clean! I make sure that I take my little trial size Lysol, anti-bacterial gel, wet naps, toilet seat covers, etc. I even take latex gloves. I keep all of this in a small case (or ziploc bag) that fits in the front of my tote bag, so it isn't a bother to take along. It has turned out to be a great tool, because I don't really like stopping unless it is necessary. I love Disney, but even they can't make sure everything is sanitized, and we love taking advantage of the outdoor dining.

[Kimberle]

A backpack. You need something fairly comfortable to hold all your "stuff" while waiting in ride lines.

[grinningghost]

The Mistymate. :D

[KDawnLily]

Sunblock Sunblock Sunblock
That sun is sure strong way down there compared to way up here.
Also a great fannypack. Great spot to hide that Savings account someone mentioned before.
Facial Tissues, kleenex and handy wipes(premoistened tissues)
always great to have on hand to clean up a bit with whil eyou are in the parks.
I have an active 5 yr old boy so... BAND AIDS
I don't know how many times he has fallen and scraped his knees while at WDW.

[Figment&Piglet]

All meal-related: Disposable bibsters (use and toss), Table Toppers (the tables all looked clean, but still, felt better to put the finger foods on something), and lots and lots of wet-naps!

Also, I second the Ziplocs. Had extra clothes, diapers & diaper wipes, snacks -- just about everything that would otherwise be "loose" was put in a Ziploc and the air pressed out. Very handy!

[AdventurerKat]

Well, the adults on our trip wouldn't dare leave home without insoles for our shoes. :) Sure helps with the wear and tear on the tootsies.

[ReneeQ]

I keep a small ziplock in my backpack with bandaids, peroxide wipes (found them at Walmart), tiny tube of Neosporin, pre-cut Moleskin, Tylenol and chapstick. These items always come in handy.

[llp479]

In addition to everything named above, I also take adult and child's motrin in my fanny pack. Sometimes that sun gets to be too much, and headaches set in. Or, in DH's case, lower back pain from walking.

[ducklite]

My DH teases me because I always keep assorted sizes of Ziplocks in the front pocket of my luggage. Of course then he's the one always asking if I have one. :rolleyes:

So on my list are Ziplocks, an ultra-small umbrella (I don't like ponchos), Shout Wipes, moleskin, Advil, a few packets of Neosporin and some Band-Aids, Tums, Ammodium, and hats for everyone!

Anne

[cheeringmom]

disposable rain ponchos, rain cover for stroller and two way radios (i have 2 teens besides a toddler). Lifesavers every time we've gone

[HappyMommy2]

Wow, everyone is posting great ideas! Thanks so much; I'm taking notes for our next trip. Sounds like Ziplocs are a must-have for lots of us!

Thanks again. Keep the ideas coming...

[swilphil]

I like the snack size ziplocks best and brought lots of snacks to put in them. If you have a fairly large group, bring your cell phones. The 4 adults in our group had 4 different cell phone companies, and they all worked great. We had a little trouble in MGM in certain spots, but we could just go around the corner and get service. Of course, DH forgot to take the phone out of his pocket when he went into the pool--now THAT was a problem. LOL

[mmgrdg]

Just back last week....

my fanny pack
wet-ones wipes/anti-bact gel
ziplock bags! (ok, so i only brought them because I read here how many people used them, and I can't tell you how handy they were for different things!!)
a disposable camera for the times my DH and I split up with the kids...that way we still got pics of everything, even if they weren't with the "good" camera
a list of any PS's for the day (ok, i laminated it too, but I'm just weird like that! :D (
little packs of sunscreen
moleskin....man, that stuff is awesome! after the first day, i had some "hot spots" on my feet...I used the moleskin and it was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm trying to go through my list and see what we DIDN"T use too, ya know, the extra stuff that just took up room in the suitcase or fanny pack! Already dreaming about next time.... :D

[viluvsdisney]

Shout wipes - of course the very first person to use one was not our 2 year old DD but my husband.
I also need to ask - what is moleskin? Where do you get it? Thanks!

[LIFERBABE]

Moleskin
Safari TT Stroller (I'll be pushing this thing when my kids are grown! It's like a purse with wheels)
Disposable Cameras (Kodak Max)

[CindyAnn]

My husband refers to me as the ziplock queen, but obviously I have a lot of company! I use ziplock bags for toiletries, outfits for the children, souvenirs, etc., etc. I also couldn't go to WDW without moleskin. Probably our weirdest essential is post-it notes. My DD HATES the automatic flushing toilets, so I just cover the little electronic eye with a post-it note, and then peel it off before we leave the cubicle. (bandaids also work, but they're a little more awkward). We did this when she was 4... when she was 5... when she was 6... and there's no reason to believe things will be any different on our next trip when she's 7.

[LIFERBABE]

Moleskin is a self adhesive foot bandage that can be cut into any size you require. I like the poster that used the term "hotspot". When you feel a hotspot coming on (blister or callous) you use the Moleskin to relieve the rubbing.
I keep some cut up in my purse in case I need it and last trip I definitely needed it. This stuff will keep you going!

You can purchase moleskin at any drugstore or Wal-mart in the Health and Beauty aids section. They have store-brand (generic) or Dr. Scholl's etc. Costs $1 to $4 per package depending on the brand.

Cut it up before you go so you don't have to carry sharp objects into the parks.

[kaseyC]

I agree with ziploc bags. Also our digital camera and laptop. We made a point each evening to email the pics we had take each day to our home account. In case something happened to the memory stick or camera , some of our pictures would be safe at home. We had a fear of some of the security procedures affecting the memory stick. It was pretty cool because we also emailed some pics to the grandmas and they were tickled.
The other thing that proved to be a lifesaver at meals with an antsy 1 yr old. A rool of stickers and a smal spiral note book, it kept her busy at quite few meals- sticking them on the paper and then trying to peel them off.

[tink2dw]

2 kinds of sunscreen
1. gel for faces
2. spray on, to get the teens and Dh even use sun screen

Plus we found out these work 100% better than lotion we have used before.

[tink2dw]

2 kinds of sunscreen
1. gel for faces,it didn't sweat off or into eyes
2. spray on, to get the teens and Dh even use sun screen

Plus we found out these work 100% better than lotion we have used before.

[jtbdas]

A great big smile and happiness.

[deb305]

- 2nd pair of shoes. The rotation helps alleviate blisters (and may create a few new ones)
-watershoes for children. This is great for running in fountains with clothes on,clothes dry, shoes don't. Also saves toes in waterparks
-lots of socks
-security item for little kids (blankie, animal) for hotel. Forgot how scarey they could be for them
-quarters and pennies for penny press machines
-kleenex
-hats for kids (big and little), the sun is brutal even in Winter

[Mermaid02]

I'm loving this thread, as well as it's "sister" thread! Our first trip is 9-30 and I'm hoping to be well prepared. Keep it all coming!

[GRAYWIFE]

I cannot travel to anywhere without my Sound Machine. I am a super light sleeper and cannot sleep in a hotel without it!!

[trishfromoz]

we arrived in 2 weeks, what are moleskins? They sound pretty good, where can I buy some, we don't have them in OZ:D

[house_of_princesses]

TrishFromOz, You can get moleskin from any of our local pharmacies. I would bet WalMart, Target, or KMart will carry it as well. Last I saw it, it comes in a 4 x 8 cellophane package. It looks like tan felt, but has sticky stuff on one side and is 1/4" thick. Now, I haven't had the need to purchase it for a while, but I can't see how it would have changed much. If you can't get it in Oz, (I thought Oz was in Kansas? ;) ), then you can get it in Orlando at the local Walgreens or CVS. They may even carry it in the Resort sundry store. HTH

GrayWife, I'm with you on the sound machine! I usually use a box fan!

[madge]

I absolutely cannot live without my Birks and my Tevas....happy feet are very important :) We prefer the band-aid blister block to the moleskin, though. it's a lifesaver for us!

ziplocs, hand wipes, camera, sunscreen, etc....all essentials!

[Kirby]

Chapstick
Gum (they don't sell it there)
Tylenol or Advil
Pepto Bismol or Immodium AD

[bearloch]

dental floss is on my list along with extra shoelaces and trail size of "shower to shower" or baby powder to help keep dry and fresh!!


Back in Sept its been way to long!!!

[Yzma and Kronk]

1. Pipecleaners! Keeps the kids entertained in car, on plane and standing in line.
2. Glow sticks from the dollar store - saves from buying expensive items while waiting for fireworks.
3. Moleskin - also works when the inside of your tennis shoes wear out and hence rub against your foot. I cut a piece of MS and applied it directly to the shoe "hotspot". Avoided a blister!
4. Bandaids and Q-Tips Treat & Go (first aid antibiotic and a cotton swab in one package)
5. misty fan (in summer months only)

[todddebtd]

I bought little foam fans that clip onto the stroller..Everyone loved them and asked me where to get them (Wal-Mart $1)