Packing tips: what I bring now that did not before

[qtwns]

Originally Posted by julsmom

I think it's gross to take your home toothbrushes on vacation and bring them back after. Do people do that? I take cheapie unopened ones & throw them out when we leave.

So brilliant in its simplicity! Why have I never thought of this?

I also take my sleep sack--Some nights I just fixate on who or what was sleeping in that bed before me. On those nights it is into my sleep sack I go. Other times it never crosses my mind and I am fine.

[larryz]

Originally Posted by julsmom

I think it's gross to take your home toothbrushes on vacation and bring them back after. Do people do that? I take cheapie unopened ones & throw them out when we leave.

Frankly, I have a travel toothbrush and a home toothbrush, but that's more a matter of convenience. Why is taking/bringing a toothbrush so repulsive?

OBTW, I wouldn't use a cheapie toothbrush -- I have too much $$$ invested in my teeth!

[disnut8]

My husband and I each have what we call our "ditty bag". We have travel sizes of everything we normally use in our daily routine. We refill after a trip if needed. Very small bags that we just grab before a trip and throw into the suitcase. Then I have a "travel bag" that has our supply of paper plates, plastic utensils, deck of cards, power strip, etc. That just gets tossed into the car.

We never really have to think about what we are taking with us on a trip because it sits there waiting for us. All we do is pack our clothes and we are done.

[Jiminy'sGirl]

Originally Posted by julsmom

Love it all. I personally find the gross room smells more irritating (and I have asthma too) than anything. I also encourage a park wide smell initiative. Better room smells & less park BO.

Originally Posted by CathrynRose

I agree.

I think they should hand out WISPS at the end of meals, as well.

Ever been stuck in line with someone with butt-breath? It's not fun.

I'm giggling. I know we are all more familiar than we would like to be with butt-breath and park BO!!!

[pookybean]

Originally Posted by wdwmom0f3

One of my favorite things that I always take is a power strip. They are great to put on the table to charge cell phones, batteries for cameras and everything else in one spot.

this is a great idea! we are always moving stuff or unpluging things to make room for our chargers. i will def. put this into my suitcase now to remember for our upcoming trip. thanks!

[pookybean]

Originally Posted by julsmom

I think it's gross to take your home toothbrushes on vacation and bring them back after. Do people do that? I take cheapie unopened ones & throw them out when we leave.

i dont think its gross, but i always buy new ones and leave them in the holder at home and toss the old ones our last morning of vacation. more of a convenience so i dont have to hunt for them in the bags when we get in! lol

[acebatonfan]

Originally Posted by MinnieLee

Travel sewing kit and eye glass repair kit. I lost one of the screws in my glasses one year and it was not easy finding one of those kits. Conceirge finally had one i borrowed.

Agreed 100%. A screw came out of my glasses when I was in DC over the summer. Thank god there was a drug store nearby that sold those emergency eyeglass repair kits.

I also bring a few Ziploc bags. They're great for storing liquid stuff you're afraid of leaking, storing all those hotel shower stuff, and holding any really small items (such as the eyeglass screw I lost until I found a repair kit).

I second taking a refillable "travel bag". I have one that hangs over the door, and it has enough room to store travel toiletries, a toothbrush, and any makeup I need for that trip. I just fill it up with all the toiletries I need, throw in my makeup/hair stuff before I leave, and leave the toiletries behind in the container when I come home. I no longer have to worry about forgetting stuff like shampoo and conditioner, hand sanitizer, and body lotion.

[monica9]

Originally Posted by larryz

That's funny - - my DS always comments that the "hotel smell" is what lets him know he's truly on vacation!

I totally agree with DS.
I feel the same way when getting off the monerail at CR and smelling fumes from the monerail mixed with chef mickey. The smell has and will always remind me of my childhood vacations! I would never want to ruin the smell of vacation with an air freshener

[Jen12573]

I just posted this on the other thread as well.

Post-it notes

Put them over the "automatic flusher" sensor in the restrooms to keep the toilet from flushing on you before you or your kids finish. Just remember to manually flush and toss the post-it in the trash (not down the toilet).

[Disney_Princess83]

We bring the overnight/gym bags that we have bought at WDW in the past. They fold up really small but it's grea when we leave with "too much stuff" We can fill it with clothes or unbreakables and put the fragile things in the suitcase.

We also bring our own soap, toothpaste, all those things. It's its a short trio, we take one that's already been partially used and just leave it there when we go home.

Bandaids (for minor cuts, blisters ect) Got caught at MK having to buy a pack of about 4 for $6 as we were no where near first aid... Never again.

Sharpie pens. They are great for character autographs bur the write on absolutely anything. We actually gave a few of ours out to other people on our trip in autograph lines as they didn't have pens. Lucky we take alot!

[ogreenlee]

A year or so ago, I was in Nashville and found these Incense Matches. I bought 5 packs. They work so awesome that I started hunting for them again and they are apparently discontinued which is a huge bummer. These things are awesome for folks sharing a bathroom. The match burns for a minute letting off incense smoke, but dissipates fairly quickly. If you ever see them, buy them!

[QueenElinor]

Honestly, I can't think of a single thing I bring now that I didn't use to.
We all bring just one carryon each, I know that mine and DH's aren't even full most of the time. We travel a lot, I guess we've learned we just don't need very much and don't really want to deal with it on vacay.

I guess in the very beginning I learned to take a more complete first aid kit. We are the most accident prone-bunch there could possibly be. My youngest son was even born on vacation (not at Disney) but we've been to the hospital other times as well.

[OKWAnneMarie]

Originally Posted by MinnieLee

Here are a couple of things that are staples when I pack:

Ziploc baggies (large and small) - so many uses

Extra hangers - i bring the ones from the dry cleaners and just leave them. There always seems to be never enough hangers and space in the bureau is limited.

Power strip

After I returned home from WDW one year with their large shopping bags, I folded it up, put it in one of the front compartments of the luggage and use it every year for any last minute items or fragile items I take home. Saves buying a new one every year.

Snacks, a box of Cherrios (DH has to have his cheerios!), tea bags, sugar, coffee

Downey Wrinkle release

Laundry Pods

Travel sewing kit and eye glass repair kit. I lost one of the screws in my glasses one year and it was not easy finding one of those kits. Conceirge finally had one i borrowed.

Yes, Downey Wrinkle release...GREAT INVENTION!!!

[preschoolmom]

I take a collapsible hamper... It's so nice having a place to put dirty clothes! Plus, you can easily lug it to the laundry if you do laundry on your trip.

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Originally Posted by OKWAnneMarie

Yes, Downey Wrinkle release...GREAT INVENTION!!!

Sorry to intrude but what is downey wrinkle release please? I am from the UK. Should I be adding this to my Walmart shopping list upon arrival? tia