Carry On Packing List

[WorcesterJoe]

Hey All,

I have been reading these posts for about a year, and I can't express the fun and information I have gained from taking the time to have a beer and plan my family's August trip. These threads are addictive.

My question is for people who are cheap (like me) and want to save $50. Delta charges $25/way for a checked bag. My family of four DW, DS (9) DS (7) are staying for seven nights at the POFQ, and have been considering just going with carry-ons to WDW. I was wondering if anyone had done this in the past, and had some pointers for me. OR, alternately, if you think this is stupid, and should just pay the $50 for the extra space, let me know.

A big concern is what to do with souvenirs on the return trip.

Thanks!

 

[Singinglizzie]

I have done carry on before to WDW for 4 days, but it can also be done for 7 days. I traveled to China once for 2 weeks with 3 pairs of pants in a carry on, so 7 days should be a snap. If luggage is $50 each, then I would certainly look for ways to cut out that expense. I have read about folks that bring clothes they plan on "throwing" out, then use the extra room in their suitcase for souvenirs on the way back. Another tip is to wear your "heaviest" clothing on the plane, so your luggage is lighter to carry. While no one wants to do laundry on vacation, you could carefully select your clothing and plan to do laundry half-way through the trip. Another idea is to mail back your clothes and lastly, be very selective about the size of your souvenirs or ship them home. You can do a lot with $50! One last idea is to get one of the airline credit cards (typically an annual charge of $50) that lets you check in luggage for free. I have a Continental card that gives me that priviledge. Unfortunately they just merged with United that won't honor that privilede on United flights. Good luck!

 

[ancestry]

We have done carry-ons only when flying AirTran. It can be done but you have to pack lightly and carefully. Be prepared to do a load or two of laundry during the trip as well.

We now try to fly JetBlue or Southwest so baggage fees are a non issue.

 

[aubriee]

I have a Heys Exotic Spinner bag that I sometimes use. They can be expensive, but I found mine at Marshall's for like $49.00 for the 21" carry on and $70.00 for the 25". I love them. They are ultra light and the spinners make them very easy to maneuver in any direction. A child could push or pull them with three fingers. lol I have done 8 nights/9 days at WDW with just the carry on and a small duffel bag as a personal item. Here's the ones I have:http://www.leatherandbags.com/product-p/d204-pld.htm.

I expanded the carry on to pack it, to make it easy to close, then zipped the expander part back up once I had it closed, but even if I had left the part expanded (which I did on the way home) it still easily fit wheels first in the overhead bin.

As far as packing, I used an 18" packing folder and folded my thinnest shorts/capris and tshirts/tanks into it. Eight outfits fit into the 18" packing folder and fit perfectly into the top half of the carry on. I slid a pair of flip flops on either end and clipped the divider in place. In the bottom half of the carry on I rolled two sundresses into a small packing cube, a swimsuit and a coverup into another small packing cube, 8 pairs of underwear and a nightgown into a slim cube and 8 bras into another slim cube. I then took another small packing cube and put in miscellaneous stuff (razor, body glide, deodorant, small bag bath salts, small hair brush, folding travel toothbrush, sunscreen towelettes, facial cleansing towelettes, etc). All of this fit in the lower half of the carry on, along with a pair of flat dressy sandals.

In the personal item, I had a small folder with my paper work, a Vera Bradley minihipster that I used as a park bag, a VB make up bag (with travel size make up brushes, a tiny sample lipstick, lip balm, and sample size 3gr jars that screw together in columns for my mineral makeup), a sunglass case, a VB tech bag which held my camera and cell phone, a VB makeup bag that held chargers, and a quart ziplock 3-1-1 bag that held a tiny travel size mascara, travel size bottles of shower gel, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and antifrizz cream and a travel size toothpaste. It also had small 5gr jars that screw together that held moisturizer, eye cream, and night cream. There was room leftover in that personal item, but it still easily fit completely under the airline seat.

For me the key to packing in small places is packing folders and packing cubes, packing clothes in thin materials (avoiding heavy bulky fabrics), and using travel size products wherever you can. My thin Carribean Joe cargo shorts don't take up near the space that my husband's heavy cotton ones do and are cooler done there anyway. I have tshirts in all different weights, but if I need to pack light, I pick the lightest ones. Every bit a space used adds up, but I like using my own toiletries down there, so I hardly ever carry any full size products, if I can get it in travel size. If you don't mind using their bath products/shampoos you can save a little space there.

 

[WorcesterJoe]

I guess it can be done, if one is willing to do a load or two of laundry.

Great tips so far, thanks!

 

[prncess674]

The other thing to consider is to pack one largish suitcase and just check one bag then do the rest as carryon. The biggest benefit will be in the sunscreen savings. Sunblock for 4 people for a Florida vacation can mean several bottles. All liquids must be 100ml/3oz and must fit in a quart size ziploc bag. Resort prices on just this one items could total wipe out the cost savings. Check one bag with sunscreen, bulky tennis shoes, snacks for the room, etc.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, first of all...you need to consider flying DirectAir out of Worcester sometime. We flew with them in April and it was surprisingly wonderful. Doing it again in Oct. But only when the weather is good. You know how the weather is in Worcester in March!!!
On another note...welcome to the DIS boards. It's nice to see someone from my neck of the woods here.

So..can it be done? Yes. BUT...I would recommend checking one bag, each way. That's only $50 r/t, and it will make your life so much easier. If you decide not to go with that, then get the largest allowable sized carryon they allow...22x14x9ish, or 45 linear inches. Then, pack sparingly. You will have to do laundry at some point. The issue is going to be toiletries....you can only have 3oz containers, and they must fit in a quart sized ziploc baggie. Granted each paying passenger gets one, but that's not usually enough to carry the toiletries you'll need for the whole trip.
You will have to make do with less stuff. IF you're good with that, then you should be fine.
You are going to need at least 4 changes of clothes..tops, bottoms, undies, socks. Then shoes (2 pr is a good idea), bathing suit. You can probably get by with those things in a carryon bag for each person.
Toiletries that will be an issue are shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, some deoderants, sunscreen, that type thing.

When I have gone with just a carryon, I don't have to worry about toiletries. I have an Owners Locker that has all that stuff in it already....as well as extra shoes, bathing suit, beach towel, etc.
You can pack your personal item, usually a tote bag that fits beneath the seat, with electronics, paperwork, books and snacks.


It can be done, but I would just bite the bullet and pay the $50 for one checked bag each way. If you have extra room in it, you can fill it with snack items. Then, those will have been eaten while in WDW and you now have room for those little extras you buy there.