Can you pack efficiently?

[mrsminniemouse]

Well I really cannot.

We stay for 2 weeks at WDW and we fly from England. It is DH, myself and DD nearly 2.

I take soooooooooo many clothes and shoes it is ridiculous. We want to bring back souvenirs and clothes so if I pack light I can buy more!!

We will be in a 1 bed at VWL in May for 13 nights. How much do I need to pack if I am prepared to do laundry? We will go to Walmart or somewhere on our first day for diapers and toiletries and groceries.

I know some of you pack a certain number of outfits and have strategies for packing less. Any tips gratefully received!

Mandy

 

[SueOKW]

I have the same problem when I go to England!! In my case I want to be prepared for anything.... so I have about 4 pairs of shoes from nice to walking. I am getting better at it... I also used to overpack for WDW!

14 days - with laundry - - you really only need enough different sets of shorts, shirts, undies and socks for 3 days. If you can fit 5 days, fine - but laundry is so easy to do - compared with schlepping heavy bags through airports and customs.. AND not having room to take back trinkets! One jacket, perhaps one sweater and one pair of slacks. Swimming every day? 2 suits.

Shoes? 2 pairs max. Trainers and pool sandles. If you need a nice pair for evenings out - ok - but just one pair! Same goes with nice dress if going out - 1.

If you need anything else, Disney or Walmart will be happy to sell to you! It's really a matter of discipline - you don't NEED as much as you are convinced you do.

That's my opinion - and hopefully this year I can stick to it!

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Sue, thanks for your tips. At least in Florida in May you dont need lots of heavy clothes. We we went in December we had to take such a variety of stuff. And like you say........there are always shops around!!!!

THanks again!
Mandy

 

[SueOKW]

And you inspired me to look at what i've set aside to take - - so far I have more shorts than days there!! ha ha!!! time to trim down!

I love having a washer dryer!

 

[Pa@okw95]

With the washer and dryer right in the units all you need to do is pack for about 3 or 4 days. If you child needs diapers then just buy them at the store at the place you are staying, no problem.

 

[Alexander]

I do always bring a few extra outfits for DS. You just never know how many they may go through in a day before you get to the wash!

Do you plan to buy special shampoo and other toiletries to bring with you? If so, don't bother, buy them when you get here. Buy the travel size, use them up and toss them or just leave them behind. I used to schlep the big bottles and finally wised up! The three of us can travel with one med-lg suitcase for a week know.

Oh and lose the shoes! One pair of sandals and one pair of sneakers for DS, and DH and I bring one pair of sandals each. They are the ones you can wear in water so if it rains or we're at a waterpark, they dry right up. They are a good quality sandal that can be walked in for miles a day.

 

[athenna]

I ALWAYS overpack. Every trip I say I won't but every trip I do anyway. I don't leave for 24 more days and am just about packed. With the way the weather has been here in New England, I know I won't need those shorts before my trip. I have at least 2 outfits per day
I lost 63 pounds on Weight Watchers so of course I had to buy new clothes anyway, and the majority of them are in the suitcase now.
I will have to restructure it before I leave or I won't be able to drag the suitcase!

 

[lllovell]

Way to go on the weight loss Athena!!! Congrats hun!

The first vacation with a baby convinced me that I was NUTS carrying so much stuff. Two pairs of shoes each, outfits equal to the number of days since the boys do get dirty. (this will adjust down too as I get used to haveing free laundry facilities and/or washer/dryer in the room!!!) Two swim suits each and we are off and running.

Sadly, I am so doomed for our next trip. We are going to the beach for a couple of days first which is kinda like packing for two trips in one.
But - I just have to remember that the boys don't care if we dont have special chairs for them or a whole trunk load of sand toys. They just want to know that they get to play at the beach and then at WDW. Sometimes I need to remember that they are happy just about no matter what!


Now...if I can just get hubby to not pack a whole suitcase for himself!!!

 

[athenna]

Thanks lllovell!

 

[SueOKW]

what fun it will be to visit disney having lost all that weight! congrats!

re: hubby and suitcase, I just had to chime in.. mine does that too! I can get my stuff and my two DDs in one big one!!!

 

[lllovell]

lol he will take a pair of jeans (I always say - HONEY...its Florida....in the summer....when will you wear jeans...."you never know" - not once have they been on him - I swear lol) He takes 3+ pairs of shoes. TOOLS!!! (in case we break down you know - love him dearly, but this is why I bought AAA). So many t-shirts and shorts and then golf shirts and more shorts LOL AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Lately, I have packed for us all...and you can actually SEE out the back window of the VUE. I am hoping to do that this week for our trip next Friday, but I have seen that pile of clothes aready growing on top of his dresser

 

[chris1gill]

Well, we are two adults & two growing children & even though I only pack enough for four days, it seems like we have a TON! I think we have more problems when we need to pack an extra warm outfit though, those take up so much room...

Anyhow, four outfits & an extra shirt or two for the kids, that's what we take, oh & a pair of pajamas...

We are leaving for a month at the end of the year for time in Hawaii & Australia & we are still only carrying 4 outfits.... we have something like 8 airports to get through, so I don't want to have to check anything, I want to be able to carry it all on!

 

[lenshanem]

I'm trying to pack a little right now... I HATE PACKING!!!

I pack less and less each trip...

 

[dianeschlicht]

I used to pack a lot too, but I have gotten pretty good at packing light for DVC. If we are going in a hot season, I pack 3 pairs of shorts and tops 5 sets of underwear and socks and I throw a load of clothes in the washer every day....darks one day, whites the next. We usually take at least 2 pairs of shoes each, and we have big feet! That's why I like to make room for the shoes!

 

[Dancind]

DD and I make an August trip to WDW every year, and we have it down to one carryon size suitcase, and one 26" suitcase. Oh, and the laptop for some reason. One year we just did carryons, but if we take the pin bag we need to check the slightly larger suitcase. I usually do laundry once, halfway through the trip. Lightweight sandals go in the suitcases, heavier tennis shoes on our feet.


When we cruise, forget about it. Between formal wear for three of us, slightly nicer clothes plus casual and excursion clothes, then SCUBA GEAR, there's no chance of packing light. The only thing I hate about cruising, schlepping the luggage.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I am one of the most efficient packers on the planet. If you do what I do for a living, you can't help but get very good at it.

On the other hand, I travel with women. Always my wife, and quite often my mother-in-law.
TRUE STORY: One year while returning our rental car at the airport, my MIL realized she couldn't find her keys. She had me digging through her luggage in the rental lot. While digging, I came across an entire suitcase that contained 11 pocket books. I was just shuffling though purses in amazement. Onto the next suitcase. Well, apparently my MIL likes to match her shoes to her purse, as I shuffled through another entire suitcase of shoes.

I never saw anything quite like it.

MG

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Thanks everyone for the great replies.

Congrats Athenna on losing all that weight. I lost 37.5lb with Weightwatchers after I had my daughter. God bless WW!!!!!!!

Mandy (who is DETERMINED to pack less and buy MORE! Gotta love the Premium Outlets!)

 

[Terry S]

I have been doing better each trip as well. We normally stay for 10 days and I have everyone pick out 4 outfits for the trip. So we only have 4 sets of shirts, shorts, undies, and socks. It seems to work out great.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I have been doing better each trip as well. We normally stay for 10 days and I have everyone pick out 4 outfits for the trip. So we only have 4 sets of shirts, shorts, undies, and socks. It seems to work out great.

Ya, but how many shoes and purses?

MG

 

[Terry S]

Too Funny, MG! Actually I don't bring a purse at all. Just my fanny pack. I do have a pair of sandals, a pair of tennis shoes and a nice pair of shoes if we plan on a nice night out. My 7 year old daughter on the other hand is nuts with how many shoes she wants to bring, I am not looking forward to when she is a teenager.