A few tips I will definitely use again...

[Molly K]

Someone asked about the clothes not wrinkling. Well toddler clothes fit into a 1gallon ziplock great. (I use them to send extra clothes to daycare with my son. His name is on it and no one wonders who clothes they are if they end up out of his cubby.) But you can do this with adults as well. (So they husband or older kids don't ask what they should wear.) The older kids/adults don't fit into a 1 gallon bag though, but ziplock makes a 2 gallon bag. These things are GREAT! I use them for a ton of things around our house. I can only find them at Target though. Fold things up, push the air out and pack away!

 

[son3disfan]

WOW ... What a great thread.! We leave in a week ( and of course I'm almost packed!!!) ( DH thinks I'm NUTS!) and now I am going to run around to find these M&M tubes ( with three kids collecting coins it was such a drag looking for pennies every 10 minutes last year..).. and ziplocks... I hope I can fit them in my already OVERPACKED suitcase. I did buy a Dollar store "shoe organizer" to hang on the door for all those little extras... ( creams , toothbrushes.. ect.) that always take up so much room on the vanity counter.I also found a single serving coffee maker at Walmart for about $7.00 so I can have my fix before Breakfast in case the rooms don't have one....It's so small and fits into my suitcase great!

 

[themeparkcomando]

You can buy an inexpensive pop-up hamper at most dollar stores. I like it better than a suitcase, because you can leave it in the bathroom and collect all the dirty clothes easily. Since we drive, I just throw that in the back of the van and have a suitcase free for other stuff.

 

[Angela Kay]

I also use the over the door shoe organizer. I can't imagine not having it. It keeps the clutter off of the counters and you can see everything.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I posted this somewhere else about a remedy for wrinkled clothes.

I bring a spray bottle and fill it with water. Mist the wrinkles. It usually takes care of the problem. Sometimes I'll gently run my hand over the area if it's a tough wrinkle.

Works like a charm. And it's free! (Unlike the expensive, Downey "Wrinkle Release".)

HTH!

 

[TKERBELL]

this is what i love about these boards - just when I thought I had it all down - someone comes up with a fahbulous idea that i just have to use - the over the door shoe thing - I can't even begin to imagine how I got along with out it before - there are 6 of us in my family and that one idea just my be the saving grace that i have been looking for - can't wait for more

Way to go DISer's!!! You all are the best!!

 

[natalie from pa]

I also used a variation of the Gatorade Idea. My kids like Koolaid, so I made single serving packs of KoolAid with foodsavor bags. About 3-4 TBSP of Koolaid Mix (out of the jar) flavors a water bottle.

Also with the fanny packs, if they are made from nylon they are a great place for kids to put their pins for pin trading. The lanyard drove my dd crazy, so we just put the ones she wanted to trade with for the day on the outside of her fanny pack.

Natalie

 

[sandiegosusie]

Can you tell me where you found/bought kid-size fanny packs?

Thanks!

I bought my kids their packs at www.gearlabs.com They are kid sized and come in dozen or so colors...also they are only $4.95! They are shipped out immediately!!! We got ours in 2 days!

 

[Andrea]

awsome, just reading... its just my hubby and i but i love ideas

 

[msbegin]

Everyone laughs at me for this but... I always pack kids clothes in ziplocs, but also wanted to get DH's clothes ready so I wouldn't have to tell him every morning he did not match. Since I recycled shorts for him, putting outfits together would not work. So as I was packing, I laid each outfit on our bed--- shorts, shirt, shoes, etc & snapped a pic w/ the digital cam.
I printed the pics up 4 to a page & taped them to the inside of his closet in our travel trailer (you could tuck them in your suitcase)

This way DH & kids always looked good & I didn't have to worry about anyone!

Gosh, I hope you guys don't slam me for this!

 

[KimRaye]

I bought my kids their packs at www.gearlabs.com They are kid sized and come in dozen or so colors...also they are only $4.95! They are shipped out immediately!!! We got ours in 2 days!

Thanks! What exactly 'fits' IN the pouch tho? I bought (and am returning 3 kids fanny packs from the site previously linked because you can't fit much more than a pacifier in it!), and I'm looking for something to hold an autograph book and maybe a disposable camera. Am I doomed to adult sized for the kids because of this? Again, thanks!

Gosh, I hope you guys don't slam me for this!

Not at all!! I also have a husband who doesn't 'match'.

 

[Silverbelle990]

I was trying to think of a way to have all my DH's clothes ready so he wouldn't have to worry about not matching

"Hunny, does this match?" or me saying "Your not waering that??"

The zip locks are a great idea...i wonder if i can fix it so he won't notice.... ....................................Thanks

 

[sandiegosusie]

Thanks! What exactly 'fits' IN the pouch tho? I bought (and am returning 3 kids fanny packs from the site previously linked because you can't fit much more than a pacifier in it!), and I'm looking for something to hold an autograph book and maybe a disposable camera. Am I doomed to adult sized for the kids because of this? Again, thanks!

Not at all!! I also have a husband who doesn't 'match'.

I think you probably may be stuck with an adult sized pack. I just took ours out and packed it with a few snacks, purell, chapstick and mini first aid kit, and there was still room. But not room for the autograph book or water bottle. My sister in law encountered the same problem and she is going with the adult sized ones. Bummer 'cause they look so huge on the kids!

 

[ardig123]

I just bought 2 of those fanny packs... I was hoping to fit an autograph book as well. I know you said a water bottle won't fit, but how about a juice box? I guess as long as they can carry snacks and money it is worth it! I will just have to lug around their autograph books and water!

 

[KimRaye]

The zip locks are a great idea...i wonder if i can fix it so he won't notice.... ....................................Thanks

Maybe clothespins?

 

[KimRaye]

I think you probably may be stuck with an adult sized pack. I just took ours out and packed it with a few snacks, purell, chapstick and mini first aid kit, and there was still room.

Wow, you fit ALL that into the Everest kids fanny pack? I'm amazed!

That same link has a medium sized pack which I might buy, I think they were $2 more each, but I'm waiting until the autograph books arrive so I can measure first. Otherwise I'm stuck with adult sized.

Thanks everyone!!

 

[NvrBnToWDW]

Instead of hip/fanny packs, I bought portable CD player holders from the $1 section at Target. They are a thick foam (like a coozie) and have a wide waist belt. I thought these would be good for my DS's autograph book and pen. We tried them out and they fit perfectly.

 

[swillis]

I just bought fanny packs at Walmart for the kids. ( 5 bucks each) They weren't huge, but big enough to hold some snacks, autograph book and spending money. I got water bottles that are 1 liter sized, come with their own little insulated cover. They have a short strap with a clip, the kids can clip the water bottle to the fanny pack.

I looked at the water bottles with the long strap that you wear across your chest, but I was thinking that would chafe in the hot May weather.

For me I will be bringing a backpack that I bought on a Disney World trip 14 years ago! I've used this backpack for every trip I ever go on. It's great!

 

[sandiegosusie]

Wow, you fit ALL that into the Everest kids fanny pack? I'm amazed!

That same link has a medium sized pack which I might buy, I think they were $2 more each, but I'm waiting until the autograph books arrive so I can measure first. Otherwise I'm stuck with adult sized.

Thanks everyone!!

Yep!!! The purell is actually on the zipper on the outside. I also pinned the guest of honor badges on the front. Looks cute!

 

[TENIA66]

I Suggest Pre Dating And Labeling Film For Camcorders And Film Cameras......you Get In A Hurry Switch Tapes, Forget To Mark Then Re-record Memories Gone...

I Use The Baggies Every Time Too, But On A Tighter Budget Used The Wal Mart Sacks Tied Up