1st trip...what do I need to buy?

[bamamom]

We leave in 15 days This is our first family trip to the World and I'm looking for that expert advice that I get here on these boards
So far I have bought:
*towels are the disney store for the kids at the pool (love those sales, this will be a surprise when we get there)
*film
*4 poncho's from
*toothbrushes from $ tree so we can throw away when we leave.
*ziploc bags to put kids clothes in
*disney shirts from disney store (again great sale)
*glow sticks

What else do I need to get that are must have's for the trip?? We are driving (12 hrs) so I'm going to video store to buy some movies for the DVD player for the trip and batteries for the game systems but I know there has to be more.........

 

[WillCAD]

Since this is your first family trip, you might consider spending the extra money to get WDW ponchos when you arrive. Truthfully, there's nothing special about the WDW ponchos except thier origin, but they can become $6 souveniers for your kids.

* Hand sanitizer or hand wipes
* Water bottles and carriers

For the drive, pack a cooler with several different kinds of snacks and drinks - pretzels, chocolate, fruit, cheese and crackers, rice cakes, whatever types of snacks you have at home. One or two types of snacks get boring after 12 hours. Ditto for drinks - water, juice, soda, several flavors to keep things from getting boring.

Besides the DVD player and game systems (several games each), bring a book or two, coloring books and crayons if you have younger kids.

As you drive through various areas, your radio reception will change. You might want to listen to music, so bring a few tapes or CDs of stuff the whole family likes. Make sure you don't bring anything that gets on the adults' nerves, since you can't wear headphones while driving - whatever plays on the radio has to be something the driver likes.

One more thing about the drive: I have made the drive from Baltimore to Orlando many times (14-16 hours), and I have found that 3-hour shifts behind the wheel are long enough to give the off-person a good rest, but short enough not to push the on-person beyond their limits. Use cruise control if you have it, pick a speed you're comfortable with and stick with it, don't change lanes a lot, and don't be intimidated if big trucks come up behind you or beside you.

And keep your camera handy in the car - you never know what you might see along the way that's worth taking pics or video!

 

[bamamom]

Thanks WillCAD!!

Anyone esle?

 

[princesslily]

My must have was the water mist fans from Wal-Mart! Much Much cheaper!
and extra batteries.

 

[barkley]

walmart has much chaper dvd's than the video store. also get a cd wallett (put the dvds in it-takes up much less space/easier to find/put away),

if you don't already have um-invest in cheap plug in headphones for the dvd player and the game systems (my kids will watch or play the same ones over and over and over...a parent can only take so much!),

alsohol free baby wipes (great for everyone to use as wet cloths while traveling as well as at the parks),

a collapsable laundry bag-great to pack everyones shoes into in the car, and can be used for laundry in the room (i take a second one as a catch all for toys, souvineers, etc).

 

[goofiecrazy]

Bring a couple of clothes pins to hold the curtains closed at night so the light doesnt come in through the crack..If plan to do laundry then bring a foldable hamper that u can take to the laundry room and then just leave in the cornor of the room.

 

[jezebella]

One word.....poncho

I'm at wdw about once or twice a month and we always have a prepacked dvc bag with ponchos, sunscreen, water bottle, and snacks.

 

[jmminarik]

What else do I need to get that are must have's for the trip?? We are driving (12 hrs) so I'm going to video store to buy some movies for the DVD player for the trip and batteries for the game systems but I know there has to be more.........

Don't families sing,or play license plate bingo, or I-Spy, or all of the other pre-electronic games that everyone can do these days? You might want to do an Internet search on that sort of participatory thing if you're not familiar with them.

-Joe

 

[daisyduck123]

1) A disposable, waterproof camera for the waterparks.
Our Target sells these for under $10.00

2) I gave my DD10 & DS7 each their own disposable camera to take pictures
with on the trip.

3) At Michael's Crafts store, I bought metal pin backings (about $2.00 a pack)
to use for the pins on my kids lanyards. The Mickey backings that come
with each pin you buy (or trade) do not stay on well & a few years ago a
CM recommended buying our own backings at a craft store. We never lost
another pin.

4) Ziploc bags - - quart & gallon size. These come in handy for so many things.

 

[WillCAD]

3) At Michael's Crafts store, I bought metal pin backings (about $2.00 a pack)
to use for the pins on my kids lanyards. The Mickey backings that come
with each pin you buy (or trade) do not stay on well & a few years ago a
CM recommended buying our own backings at a craft store. We never lost
another pin.

Wow, I don't collect or trade pins, so I only have a few, but my experience with these plastic pin back has been exactly opposite - they have stayed on my pins much better than the metal backs.