Carry on only?

[Disney2017]

Not sure if this is the right board?

Has anyone traveled for a week bringing only carry on luggage?

We are a family of 4 ( kids are 6,4) travelling in February. We arrive at night so would have to get our own bags anyway.

We are coming from Canada so will be wearing sweaters/coats so won't have to pack those.

I am really tempted to try bringing only carry on! Wishful thinking?

 

[VAtink]

We did carry on only on our last trip and it ended up being a super tight fit on the way home. We were only there for 5 days, so we thought it would be manageable, but once we started buying souvenirs the carry ons filled up fast! If we were staying any longer I would say we would definitely need to have full luggage.

I should also add, we wished we had brought more clothes as well. After our daily afternoon pool break it would have been nice to put on clean clothes rather than what we had worn that morning. It got a little stinky doing that!

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

Maybe if I were staying a villa with as washer/dryer. But, I certainly wouldn't want to do laundry more than once at the bigger resort-wide laundry rooms at the resorts. It eats up too much time while on vacation.

 

[Mome Rath]

I think it would depend on whether or not you plan to buy anything to pack home, and if the kids' clothes would take up a much smaller space in a (their) carry on. I have traveled 4 days 3 nights to Dis and used my small carry on only. And only took one carry on and a tiny purse, if my personal item had been a large purse or backpack, I definitely could make it a week IMO, but with kids every family will be different. There are some good articles out there on the 'net about how to pack with just a carry on.

 

[sunflare]

My family and I do it all the time (standby flying). We carry one 20" carry on and a backpack. Roll things up, use packing cubes and/or spacebags, and mail any big stuff home.

I managed a 4 night race weekend (with regular clothes, two costumes along with a Dapper Day costume) this way...had to carry a computer for work in there too. It's doable if you plan right.

 

[WDWNY]

We always do carry on only. I use a little bigger "personal item" bag (within carry on measurements, it fits under the seat and I've never had a problem). For my carry on I use my long champ le plague expandable tote so if I end up buying too much stuff I have an option to expand and check it in. If you all bring a personal item (pack stuff in them as well) and carry on i think you can do it!

 

[BlueFairy]

Onebag.com

But more specifically Disney - YES!! Plan tech fabrics that are lighter weight and dry quickly. Plan for a mid-week resort day where you can do laundry. Buy sunscreen at the resort, and rely heavily on the toiletries that WDW provides. Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane and bring 1 back up pair and 1 flipflop or sandal per person. Totally manageable, especially if you can pack warmer weather clothes. For cold weather trips I try to wear my long pants and jacket on the plane to keep them out of my suitcase.

Pack a collapsible soft sided duffle inside your carry on. This can carry clothes home as a checked bag and leave space in a more rigid bag freed up for souvenirs.

 

[ols386]

I think I could go with carry on only. Have never done it, but I'd try it. I always do laundry anyway while I'm there, so why not? Any souvenirs I always take on the plane in a Disney bag and put it overhead or under the seat.

 

[Pooh2]

We do carry-on only for 11-14 day trips. We pack clothes for 5 days and will do laundry twice. The key is to do something fun/useful while the laundry is washing. We look at the washer timer and walk the resort, get a coffee at the food court, check email,grab some breakfast, etc.

 

[AngiTN]

Onebag.com

But more specifically Disney - YES!! Plan tech fabrics that are lighter weight and dry quickly. Plan for a mid-week resort day where you can do laundry. Buy sunscreen at the resort, and rely heavily on the toiletries that WDW provides. Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane and bring 1 back up pair and 1 flipflop or sandal per person. Totally manageable, especially if you can pack warmer weather clothes. For cold weather trips I try to wear my long pants and jacket on the plane to keep them out of my suitcase.

Pack a collapsible soft sided duffle inside your carry on. This can carry clothes home as a checked bag and leave space in a more rigid bag freed up for souvenirs.

Good info.
Can't imagine all y'all doing laundry while on vacation! Isn't one of the points of vacation to get away from the daily chore and grind at home? That would be like doing work or cooking on vacation. Neither work, cooking or laundry should be used when mixed with vacation. Not in this house at least.

DH and I have gone with carry on bags only twice. Thankfully we both have large back packs that can hold almost a weeks worth of clothes all by themselves, these are our personal items and can go under the seat in front of us. We also have wheeled carry on bags that carry several more days worth. It's easier in the summer when you know you won't need long pants or sleeves. Winter is the hardest to pack for at Disney since you can have temps in the 40s and temps in the 80s, all in 24 hours if you are unlucky.

My biggest problem is not overpacking. It makes me all twitchy to go on a trip and NOT give myself several outfit choices. I just can't force myself to lock down what I'll wear each day before I leave. I'm trying to get better but it's so hard! I have managed to stop bringing different shoes for each day. One place I don't skimp, underwear. 2 per day for Disney, is a must.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I do carry on and I do laundry while there. It does not take long to do laundry. the laundry rooms have multiple washers so do a load of whites and one to two loads darks at the same time. It take me 1 hour 30 minutes to two some times 3 loads of laundry while swimming or relaxing in the hot tub. I also do laundry the last night we are there while we are enjoying the hot tub. then I come home to all clean clothes and not have a mound of clothes to wash one load at at time when I get home. Everything just gets put away. Nice way to come home from WDW.

 

[jenniy122]

I can do it, and don't do laundry, but don't have kids.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Hats off to all of you who can, I definitely cannot! We spend 8-10 nights, I have outfits planned and zip lock bagged for day and evening, (I LOVE Disney bounding! lol), and we need pool wear as well. (Bathing suit, cover up, hat, etc) Not to mention cosmetics and shoes (3 pairs - 2 pair of park shoes to alternate, and 1 pair sandals) I no longer carry the entire med cabinet, but do have a decent first aid supply so we don't need to hit a store if someone gets sick.
Believe it or not, we carry almost nothing into the parks... I'm no pack mule, nor do I expect DH to be. But luggage, yep, I need 1 large and 1 small suitcase! Lol!
Edited to add: I will NEVER do laundry on vacation, unless it were an emergency! (illness, etc) I don't love doing laundry when I get home, but for me it's a price to pay for a week or 10 days without work! And it really isn't that hard, maybe 3 extra loads, no biggie!

 

[Accident]

My normal suitcase is basically a carryon even though I'm not flying anywhere and I do just fine. I find I can fit about double in the same space when I use the duffle bag style carryons. they aren't rigid walls so they just let you stuff a whole lot more in them. the catch22 is it's annoying to carry around and rather heavy and time to time I need to gate check it which is no big deal, much easier to gate check with no fee than baggage check with a fee.

Home is when the bags multiply though, I do still use the duffle as it fits into other suitcases well and gives that extra bag we always need to get home.

Another quick tip, your clothing is fluffy coming out of the wash. even if you don't want to use them, get one of those cheap vacuum bags and use it to compress the clothes. leave it overnight and then open it up and pack. your clothes will not be as fluffy and you'll fit more. keep in mind when you do laundry on your trip though because you'll have issues fitting htem in to get home if you do.

 

[AngiTN]

My normal suitcase is basically a carryon even though I'm not flying anywhere and I do just fine. I find I can fit about double in the same space when I use the duffle bag style carryons. they aren't rigid walls so they just let you stuff a whole lot more in them. the catch22 is it's annoying to carry around and rather heavy and time to time I need to gate check it which is no big deal, much easier to gate check with no fee than baggage check with a fee.

Home is when the bags multiply though, I do still use the duffle as it fits into other suitcases well and gives that extra bag we always need to get home.

Another quick tip, your clothing is fluffy coming out of the wash. even if you don't want to use them, get one of those cheap vacuum bags and use it to compress the clothes. leave it overnight and then open it up and pack. your clothes will not be as fluffy and you'll fit more. keep in mind when you do laundry on your trip though because you'll have issues fitting htem in to get home if you do.

Or better yet, leave it in there. I have several I use when I'm bringing DGDs fluffy Princess dresses, petti skirts, and other dresses with ruffles and layers. It will flatten those suckers right out and when you release the bag upon unpacking, they are miraculously unwrinkled.

 

[elaine amj]

I've done it. Each person carried a rolling carry on plus a backpack. I have to say - it was a LOT of stuff to lug through the airport and keep track of. And - I think I was grumpier because we did have free checked bags - but DH hates waiting for luggage at the other end. That said, I would do it again. Especially if I have to pay to check my bag.

Usually we pack light anyway - 1 giant suitcase and one rolling carry-on for all 4 of us for trips from 7-12 days. This includes my pillow (hotel pillows give me a neckache). I do laundry every 4-5 days and while it takes a bit of time, I don't find it too big a deal.

My favourite packing light tips:

- roll clothes. I was shocked at this since I have always laid our clothes flat. Then one day I experimented - and its true, rolling (tightly) takes up less space.
- plan what you will wear. All our clothes are packed by outfit and because I am a detailed itinerary planner, I typically know what we will need to wear each day and pack accordingly (dryfit clothes on days we will get wet, etc)
- one set of swimwear is plenty. Just wash in the sink and dry after each use.
- use hotel-provided toiletries and supplies where possible and practical
- minimal shoes. I force myself to stick to the least amount of shoes possible (yes, this caused my heart to ache on my Europe trip - but I survived lol). For Disney, this means 2 pairs of sneakers and 1 pair of flip flops per person.
- no jeans. If space is tight, the jeans go. They take up more space and are heavier. We mostly wear yoga pants/nylon pants/shorts for all of us. Workout clothes are comfy, can handle rainy weather, and are perfect for long days at the parks.

Good luck!

 

[AngiTN]

I've done it. Each person carried a rolling carry on plus a backpack. I have to say - it was a LOT of stuff to lug through the airport and keep track of. And - I think I was grumpier because we did have free checked bags - but DH hates waiting for luggage at the other end. That said, I would do it again. Especially if I have to pay to check my bag.

Usually we pack light anyway - 1 giant suitcase and one rolling carry-on for all 4 of us for trips from 7-12 days. This includes my pillow (hotel pillows give me a neckache). I do laundry every 4-5 days and while it takes a bit of time, I don't find it too big a deal.

My favourite packing light tips:

- roll clothes. I was shocked at this since I have always laid our clothes flat. Then one day I experimented - and its true, rolling (tightly) takes up less space.
- plan what you will wear. All our clothes are packed by outfit and because I am a detailed itinerary planner, I typically know what we will need to wear each day and pack accordingly (dryfit clothes on days we will get wet, etc)
- one set of swimwear is plenty. Just wash in the sink and dry after each use.
- use hotel-provided toiletries and supplies where possible and practical
- minimal shoes. I force myself to stick to the least amount of shoes possible (yes, this caused my heart to ache on my Europe trip - but I survived lol). For Disney, this means 2 pairs of sneakers and 1 pair of flip flops per person.
- no jeans. If space is tight, the jeans go. They take up more space and are heavier. We mostly wear yoga pants/nylon pants/shorts for all of us. Workout clothes are comfy, can handle rainy weather, and are perfect for long days at the parks.

Good luck!

Unless you swim daily. And it's summer. They will not dry in 1 day and there may be nothing worse than putting on a clammy, damp swimsuit. 2 are a must for us. Thankfully, swimsuits take up no significant space

 

[elaine amj]

Unless you swim daily. And it's summer. They will not dry in 1 day and there may be nothing worse than putting on a clammy, damp swimsuit. 2 are a must for us. Thankfully, swimsuits take up no significant space

I'm a mean Mom - and yes, I make my kids put on clammy, damp swimsuits the next day. My strategy is to take each piece and wring them out inside a towel (those with better arm strength than I can get even more water out this way). I also bring along a bungee cord and clothespins so that i can string up a line inside the room (harder to dry inside the bathroom). By and large, our swimwear (which include dryfit tshirts) are reasonably dry the next day.

You're right though - swimsuits don't take up all that much space in the grand scheme of things so it depends on your packing. Our family has only about one swimsuit each so that's all we bring.

 

[Accident]

Unless you swim daily. And it's summer. They will not dry in 1 day and there may be nothing worse than putting on a clammy, damp swimsuit. 2 are a must for us. Thankfully, swimsuits take up no significant space

how has your experience been with packing them? the one and only time we did this, nobody packed the pump to compress them again and when we tested using the pump it didn't go well at home

 

[AngiTN]

how has your experience been with packing them? the one and only time we did this, nobody packed the pump to compress them again and when we tested using the pump it didn't go well at home

The ones I use have a one way valve and you squeeze the air out yourself, no equipment needed/used