A few tips I will definitely use again...

NvrBnToWDW

Mouseketeer
Joined
Sep 8, 2004
Messages
284
Last year was our first trip to The World and here are some of my tips:

1. Pack kids' outfits in gallon-size baggies and label them by the days (Monday). The kids can just get their baggie from the hotel drawer and put it on. :thumbsup2

2. I stock up on Gatorade Mix pouches, they sell them near the Kool-aid at Walmart. They're made for 2 quart pitchers, but we'd just pour some into our water bottles and shake. These were a great life-saver when my son got dehydrated and a bloody nose in Epcot last year. :guilty:

3. I planned on washing laundry last year and even had a roll of quarters saved just for this, but I didn't think about what I'd lug the clothes down to the laundry room with. I tried the plastic bags that Mousekeeping leaves the towels in, but they ripped, so this year I'm prepared with a laundry bag (like the ones college kids use).

4. Definitely let each kid have his own hippack. That way they're in charge of their autograph book and glow in the dark sticks and quarters for the penny-press machines. That way, you don't have to stop every minute to dig in your backpack or purse. :sad2:

5. I saved the colored tubes that M&M Minis come in and filled them with pennies and quarters. I stacked them 2 quarters, then 1 penny, and repeated this pattern all the way to the top. Each kid had his own color and could easily find the money whenever we bumped into a penny-press machine. :)

6. Dining Envelopes! :cheer2: I took plain white envelopes labeled with each day (Sunday) and every time we ate I'd put in the receipt and at the end of the day I'd tally the total. This helped us stay in our food budget for the week. Also in the envelope I kept a $20 bill for each day's snack (popcorn, cotton candy). If we didn't use it all we'd just put it in the next day's envelope.

7. Souvenir Envelopes! I also took an envelope for each kid with their name on the front and every time they bought something we'd stick the receipt in their envelope. (Since we didn't let them carry cash and used our room card for purchases) At the end of the day, I would subtract what they spent from their total and write it down on the envelope. That way they knew how much they had left and it helped them to choose their souvenirs wisely, instead of just asking Mom and Dad to get them whatever they want. :woohoo:
 
LOVE your idea about the M&M mini's tubes! Can't tell you the number of times I was either looking for one more quarter or one more penny.
 
Just wanted to comment on the coins. IF you are flying, do not put these on carry on luggage. I went through ALOT going through security with rolled coins. Seems that they think they are explosives. :rotfl: Spent a long time in security, next time I will pack them in luggage. Suggested by airport security. But they will probably blow up my bag :lmao:

My friend took them out of carry on and placed them on the conveyer? belt and still had a terrible time getting through.

Just a heads up so you will be prepared.
 
Wow! The dining envelope system sounds great. It will be just DH and I, but I was wondering today how we were going to keep from blowing our dining budget. This will work great, :sunny: Thanks!!
 

Great tip about the Gatorade mix pouches. Will definitely pick those up before our trip this Sunday.

Last year having each of my sister's six-year-old quadruplets have their own fanny pack was wonderful. We are avid penny pressers and so them being able to have all their own items at their disposal (M&Ms mini tube with coins, autograph book, etc.) saved so much time. (Tip for penny pressers: Use pre-1982 pennies as they are 97% copper and press 'nicer' than the 1982+ pennies. Also, leave the dated side of the penny dirty/tarnished and (for most machines) insert the penny into the slot with the date side facing outwards. After the penny is pressed the design will be on one side and you will still be able to see the Lincoln head and date on the other side (you can shine up the design side with a rubber eraser or small touch of copper cleaner). We sorted out a lot of 1971 pennies to use for our trip to WDW last year and our upcoming trip as that is the date that WDW opened).

It's also good to also put i.d. in their fanny packs with parents' cell phone numbers, allergies, etc. Gave my sister and I peace of mind, as well as the kids, knowing that if they got separated from us (which never happened, thank goodness) all they had to do was approach a cast member and show them their i.d. card.

Another tip for a laundry bag are those giant Ziploc bags that are now being sold (I think they are five gallon?). They also come in handy for wet clothes, etc.
 
Grammyof2 said:
Just wanted to comment on the coins. IF you are flying, do not put these on carry on luggage. I went through ALOT going through security with rolled coins. Seems that they think they are explosives.
Good tip. I had the same thing happen to me when going through security with rolled coins. Next trip I put them in my checked luggage but could tell that they had been removed and examined. From then on I've always taken them out of the coin wrapper and put them in see-through Ziploc bags so that there was no question as to what they were.
 
I love the dining envelope idea. I will be on the DPlan and using my DDE card but I have having all those slip in my fannypack. I can then see how much for Dining plan and how much for DDE plan. I can then give a better report of how much I spent/saved each day. using both plans
 
I do something similar like you do with the gatorade. I absolutely HATE the taste of water, and gatorade is worse than that (from being a kid and riding in parades, gatorade is all we drank! Does "original" even have a flavor??!! I'm odd, I know!)
I buy the Crystal Light singles, or the ***mart off brand version. They are small enough to fit into my purse, and definately makes my water bottle taste better! They come in sugar free lemonade, original, peach, or rasberry ice tea.

I'm definately bringing a hamper! I never even thought of that idea! I always used the mousekeeping bags in the closet.
Thanks for the idea!
 
quadaunt said:
It's also good to also put i.d. in their fanny packs with parents' cell phone numbers, allergies, etc.
Can you tell me where you found/bought kid-size fanny packs? :confused3

Thanks!
 
Kim...I found some smaller fannypacks at WalMart in the purse section. They are technically adult size, but the bag is smaller and the strap can be made really small.
 
We carried a clothes hamper on our last trip in Dec. Great idea. :thumbsup2 Also the m&m tubes for carring the coins. we never had to hunt for pennies and quarters when we needed them for the press machine. :tink:
 
I also had the kids use their own fanny packs. Mainly for snacks! :rotfl2: I found them at Target in with the luggage. They were adult size but could get small enough to fit my DS4.

We also had a "color of the day" t-shirt. We all had 2 sets of matching shirts and then just color matched the rest of the days. (orange, yellow, green...) It really helped keep everyone together.
 
Grammyof2 said:
next time I will pack them in luggage. Suggested by airport security. But they will probably blow up my bag :lmao:


:lmao: :lmao: :rotfl2: :rotfl2:
Mine are all packed I'd better go take them out.
 
::MinnieMo
NvrBnToWDW said:
5. I saved the colored tubes that M&M Minis come in and filled them with pennies and quarters. I stacked them 2 quarters, then 1 penny, ... :) :

LOVE this idea ! :thumbsup2 :thanks:
 
I have to add a few I used the last time.

Instead of M&M tubes I used empty perscription containers. The tops are more secure and you don't end up with spilled quarters. The other up side to then is that they are opaque(sp) so you can see when you are getting low on quarter/pennies.

Instead of a hamper I used a suitcase. I rolled it down to the laundry and then folded the clothes and just rolled them back to the room. much easier than dealing with bags. I also did this when the kids were in the pool. Just watch the clock and you will know when it is time to dry.

Deanna :bored: :cat:
 
I went through airport security many times with pennies in M&M tube with no problem, not to say nobody would. I was worried that if they were in checked baggage then they'd be more apt to open it and disturb all of my well packed clothes, and they're not concerned with getting it put back neatly. At security, I took it out of my carry on and told them what it was, and they said fine. I did ask if it was a good idea and they agreed that it would be more hastle to check it.They see these tubes all of the time at Orlando airport. They just laughed.
I also used my luggage to do the laundry. Although I stayed there and read a book. If I planned on leaving for an hour ,I'd be afraid somebody would take it. Some people need extra luggage to bring bach souvenirs ! :rolleyes:
 














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