Can you fit your whole family in one suitcase?

[Jaime4004]

We have always used one large suitcase for our family of 5. We stay in a rental house so I pack for about 4-5 days and it's easy to do laundry. Also each of us has a backpack with a change of clothes and the kids cannot-be-without toys. Needed the change of clothes one year after a diaper-leaking incident on me.. Generally have room to spare in the suitcase but couldn't pack more because of the 50lb limit. We always fly southwest so I do it because I don't need more stuff to keep track of, in addition to the 3 kids and carseats. When they're older and can keep track of their own suitcases, it will be easier. Unfortunately, my fabulous packing got us into a little trouble last Oct because the only pants/long shirts we had were the ones we wore on the flight down and it got quite cold in the mornings and evenings. Might have to suck it up this Oct and bring a 2nd suitcase to fit warmer clothes...

 

[mzozzietj]

We are a family of five: Dh, me, DD 6, Twins 1 and we fit everything into a Samsonite large duffel bag. We do laundry while we are away, stay in a villa. I pack two pjs for each of the children, one for myself and hubby. The adults take two pair of shorts each and three tshirts, plus what we wear. The babies have four outfits each and my daughter has three. Plus what each child wears on the plane and a change of clothes in a diaper bag. The only carry on we have is a diaper bag for each baby. My advice is to make a written list of what to take and be really brutal on yourself. If you do laundry, you really need very little at Disney as it's so casual. As my husband say, "The babies are luggage," so we have to be very careful about what we bring.

Wow, that's incredible. Do you have a checklist of what you pack for the babies too? It's just DH, me, and our 1yr old DD and I'd love to get it down to one bag but I worry about weight restrictions. Since we travel on SW our bags are free so we typically bring two.

 

[DisneyDorkORama]

nope! no way! not even close! I cant get my daughters stuff into one bag and she is only 2!

 

[DisneyDorkORama]

You should watch this!

Clown Car Packing-
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-viral-video-how-to-pack,0,6577008.htmlstory

 

[PiperPizzaz]

We are a family of 3 DS is only 5 and we take one giant suitcase (like so big sometimes it is over the 50lb. limit and I have to switch things around), one normal size suitcase, then we all have our own carry on and DH has a briefcase and I have a large purse. That is really as small as I can get things and I am the only girl. I can't imagine packing for little girls, lol.

Oh, AND we do laundry during our trip!

 

[Michigan_Minnie]

Ok - you guys are all making me really feel excessive! We have one rolling suitcase per person (probably can get away with the boys sharing maybe?). I better start getting serious b/c we leave in less than 2 months - and I know me - I'll pack shorts, capris, AND jeans - b/c I'm a former girlscout - I must be prepared for ANYTHING!! My husband could get away with a backpack and be happy. The good thing this time is we have a washer/drier.....

So you are all making me really think about being more conservative.

The killer is I travel a lot for my job - so I'm the queen of travelling light for work. BUT THIS IS DISNEY - IT'S DIFFERENT HA HA HA

Oh....Former girl scout here...Hope you dont mind, but I'm using this as my excuse! Thanks!

 

[Michigan_Minnie]

We are a family of 6, so a single case is just not enough for us based on numbers We now have to pay for carry ons AND the first checked bag (Air Tran). My 12 year old is going to be packed with my baby because the 12 year old has adult sized clothes and the baby...not so much! My 2 year old and my 10 year old will be packed together as my 10 year old is amll and so is my 2 year old. I *might be able to pack my stuff with my Dh but he refuses to pack untill right before we leave and I have the clothes for the rest of us layed out on a our small couch. I am planning on purchasing the bonus Disney suitcase for my 2 year old (everyone has there own luggage execp the smallest 2) to carry home anything that we purchase. We have to check our double stroller at the gate, and carry on our diaper bag.

We take 3 shorts and 3 shirts in solids for the kids. 4 undies and socks, and take 1 extra pair of shoes. We take 1 swim suit and 1 pair of pj's. They will wear jeans and a hoodie for the plane ride so we have them if they are cold. Plus, its chilly in Pa in October and not as much in Flordia!

I take 3 pairs of cotton capris and 3 shirts that can go with them mix and match style. I brign one long casual skirt in case iof going otu to eat

I just checked AirTran's website and it says you're allowed one carry on and one personal item. There's nothing about having to pay for carryons. We fly AirTran so I was curious.

 

[wmharley]

Not a chance and I don't even try. That is one reason we drive - no restrictions.

exactly. we can fit what we want, including coolers in the minivan.

Now when we fly, at best, for our 4 member family (DD5/DS2) we use 2 bags for checkin.

We have either a 29" or so wheeled, or the 30" duffle for me and the DW, if a shorter trip (no more than 5 days). the kids share another wheeled duffle.

If our trip is longer than 5 days, like our 7-10 day trips to the caribbean, then we will bring the 29" wheeled, the 30" wheeled duffle, and one other. The wheeled duffle then will become the kids', the 29" will be the wife and mine, and the other one will be overflow. We will also carry a folding duffle in case we need it.

sicne we fly Jetblue, each one of use gets a bag allowance, and if one bag is heavier, we have several others to space the load.

Now all four of us with one bag?

 

[DawnM]

If we can do daily laundry.....sure!

But if you mean no coolers or extras, no.

When we drive to Florida we take 4 golf bags, a large cooler, suitcases, and things like computers.

 

[heather13]

I haven't read the other posts, but we just returned from five days of travel and used one suitcase for three of us, and DH had a carry on which we were able to tuck in the seat of our carseat (sent through checked baggage for free). We didn't need to do laundry at all and ended up with one outfit left per child, although we weren't sure about the weather so the leftover clothes were shorts-like and impractical while we were there.

A few things I do - packing cubes for each family member and a separate one for PJs. Bare minimums for toiletries and combined into one bag (we don't need four tubes of shampoo or toothpaste - we can share within reason). The adults also wear pants twice and I coordinate outfits so that I only need to bring two sweaters/cardigans/jackets. I wear the bulkiest one on the plane and pack the other. I pack one sweater or jacket per child and tuck it into the bottom of our carry on bag (a JuJuBe BeRightBack). Each member of the family only brings one pair of shoes. When we didn't have to worry about checked bag fees I would bring two or three pairs along, but now I have to really plan my outfits ahead
And we use something similar to this: http://www.landsend.com/pp/Lighthou...K&CM_MERCH=IDX_00018__0000002438&origin=index which has a bottom compartment where we tuck dirty clothes throughout the week. I also try to only put soiled clothing or underpants in there, as more than once I've had to reuse a kids shirt later in the week. Oh, and only one pair of PJs per person too! HTH! Life seems to be much easier the fewer clothes we bring.

 

[jennyleettu]

I don't know the diminsions for our suitcase but it's the big on that comes with the sets...I was able to pack DD (3), my niece (7), DH and I all for WDW when we went for 5 days, and I took several extra outfits (which was good because it rained the whole time we were there and it gave us clothes to change into) and didn't do laundry. We checked that bag and then took a smaller carry on suitcase with one days worth of clothes, PJs and toitetries just in case something happened and our other luggage was lost.

Our carry ons were pretty empty which was good because it gave us extra space for the return trip but we didn't really need much since we didn't buy much while we were there.

 

[Tigge50447]

I'm able to fit my son's and my clothes in one suitcase. Then we both carry on a backpack. we also bring a ugly green bag filled with snacks with check in using the disney yellow tags that make it magically appear in our room.

 

[northriver]

I'm single with two kids. I couldn't have done one regular suitcase or carry on only when we stayed on-site but the past couple trips we've rented condo/villa. With a rental car to pick up groceries combined with a washer/dryer, we are just fine with one suitcase in the summer, and in the spring one checked suitcase and one carry on size. When we stayed on site, I'd pack breakfast stuff and other odds and ends in the luggage that now we just pick up at at Mart store on the way from the airport to the rental property.

My favorite combination of luggage is one Hays suitcase to check and one carry on size suitcase. The Hays has NO pockets of any kind. It is super lightweight and you can fill a TON of stuff in there. It is like magic. Pretty sure our is a 26" bag. I got rid of all my larger suitcases becase they always go over the weight limit. However, the drawback with the Heys: it opens flat and there are no pockets, so you can't easily stick in random items at the last minute. It is nice to have a carry on bag as well with space and a place for those last minute items. My favorite carry on bags are the eBags Mother Lode 22" bag, and I also have a High Sierra backpack that is a perfect carry on size that I actually bought to hike the Grand Canyon and needed a backpack for both hiking and travel but have used this bag since as a carry on just becasue I like having a backpack and hands free to pull a regular suitcase with one hand and hold on to my child with the other.

 

[elilala]

NO, not possible(at least for my family)

 

[quandrea]

Wow, that's incredible. Do you have a checklist of what you pack for the babies too? It's just DH, me, and our 1yr old DD and I'd love to get it down to one bag but I worry about weight restrictions. Since we travel on SW our bags are free so we typically bring two.

I'll make a list and post it for you.

 

[quandrea]

Here's what we take for the twins 1:

four bottles
two sippy cups
four bibs
four baby spoons
diaper cream
changing pad
2 snack cups
we buy diapers and wipes down there
four sleepers
6 tshirts
6 shorts
2 receiving blankets
2 pr socks
2 jackets
double stroller
small bag toys/books for plane
2 pr Robeez slippers
2 crib sheets
2 bathing suits
Family first aid--bandaids, polysporin, alcohol, all kinds of tylenol, glycerin suppositories, hydrocortisone cream, tweezers, benedryl, gravol

This list does not include clothes for the plane. This is what I bring regardless of the trip's length. Do laundry daily. For one baby you'd need half as much. Hope this is useful.

 

[crispychicky]

Not sure about 1 suitcase (I bet you'd hit the weight limit ~50lbs), but you could definitely get a week's worth of clothes for 1 person in a carry on!

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/05/06/business/businessspecial/20100506-pack-ss.html

http://www.academichic.com/2009/05/30/unpacking-methodologies-rolling-vs-bundle/#more-3987

http://www.onebag.com/

 

[daisy2jae]

we have 5 of us so 1 suit case doesn't work. (not the way we pack) however i can get us into 2 if i had to plus our carry ons.

 

[roscoepc1]

I COULD have the last trip (ie everything would have fit), but it would have been VERY overweight. The charges for that are more exhorbitant than they are for an extra suitcase.

 

[reservations4five]

We are a family of five- I can not do it for all of us- but I can do it if it is just the girls and I.
We went to the beach this summer, I had the most people to pack for and the least amount of "stuff"
If we are staying offsite I do laundry. If we stay on I try to pack enough that I don't have to do any but mix and match.

I pack then try to take 1/2 out too.