Carrying on - Any tips?

[allymouse]

Hi All,

My BF and I are leaving in 21 days! We are staying 5 nights, 4 full days.
I'm hoping to carry on this trip... any advice?

Thanks!

Ally

 

[LJSquishy]

If you plan to do carryons only, make sure your liquid toiletries are under the maximum amount allowed. I think they all have to fit in a quart-sized clear Ziplock bag, and each item has to be less than 2.4 ounces or something like that. That includes makeup, toothpaste, lotion, shampoo, etc.

Also, check your airline's rules on the size of carryons allowed, especially if you are using more than one airline. I found that for my upcoming trip in Feb one of the airlines we're using has smaller size limits than the other we're using...so we have to make sure our carryons are the smaller size. We will probably be checking one large bag in addition to our carryons though since we will have to pack layers of clothing for the unpredictable weather.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Where will you be staying? Do you have easy access to a washer/dryer and would you want to do laundry while on vacation? For us it's not a big deal since we have a washer/dryer in the one-bedroom DVC villa that we normally stay in but when staying at a regular resort laundry can be a pain.

I can't imagine packing enough clothes, toiletries, etc for a 5 day trip with just carry ons but that is just me, I tend to bring quite of bit of stuff with me

 

[kristytru]

LIquids under 3oz and in a quart-sized ziploc bag. You can carry on 1 bag and 1 "personal item" such as briefcase, purse, backpack, etc. Your personal item should be able tofit under the seat in front of you. If you are renting a car when you arrive, you can get away with not packing a lot and just make a Walmart stop on your way to WDW. Using those vacuum spacesaver bags is helpful, but watch the weight of the bag. Enjoy!

 

[ZellyB]

A big key to this is access to washer and dryer. If you have that, it would be very easy as long as you are willing to curtail the clothing you take. We recently did a week long trip to WDW with 5 of us using 4 carry-on suitcases, so it can be done.

I never check bags anymore even when it's no charge. It's just so much easier not to mess with baggage claim or worrying that your bag doesn't make it to your destination.

I would second the PP though that you need to double-check carry on dimensions with your airline. They are squeezing those down more and more (as more people avoid baggage fees) and what used to easily qualify as carry on size might now be too big. You can do it!!

 

[allymouse]

Well, we are staying at the Dolphin, so no access to washer and dryer.
I figure with two rolling carryon suitcases and 2 small tote bags as personal items, we might be able to manage.

I always take the "wear what you wore down, home" approach, which will be jeans, a comfortable top of some kind and a hoodie... so that's clothing I don't have to worry about fitting.

The hotel has nice hair dryers, so I can leave that. Limit the number of shoes I take

My guy will hardly take up any space... but the weather is so unpredictable in November for me, at least based off our last two trips. Warm in the sun during the day, pretty cool at night.

Thinking the sundresses and shorts might not make it on this trip, while I can carry a cardigan or hoodie with me, my legs were freezing last year. It will be a wait and see as we get closer game.

I am definitely going to have to do a dry run!

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Sounds like you have it figured out. We do carry-ons only for 12 people. We have 12 carry-on suitcases, 2 c-paps, 1 auto-pap, and one nebulizer (all of which are counted as medically necessary devices and are allowable), 12 personal items such as a purse, beach bag, or duffel bag, and two strollers. We wear our clothing for colder weather on the plane so we don't have to pack it, and put our swim stuff and park items in our personal bag so we can head straight out to the parks after stowing our swimming stuff in the lockers. The only tricky thing for us was the liquid rule b/c for that large of a family going for 11 days, we really had to trim down what we took. Have fun!

 

[glk2009]

We do 2 carry-ons for me, DH and DD3 for 8 day trips. Haven't checked a suitcase in years.

If you're worried about your liquids, you could ship a care package to resort so that it's waiting for you when you arrive.

I'm not familiar with the Dolphin and don't if they have shared laundry facilities, but sad as it is I have done laundry during the middle of our trip (even when we've stayed non-DVC).

Good luck!

 

[Sugardimples]

The Dolphin does have a laundry room for guests.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

If you are bringing a computer, don't pack it in the main compartment of your carry on suitcase. You have to put it in a separate bin and it a pain trying to deal with your 3-1-1 bag, shoes removal and having to open your carry on all the way to dig out the laptop. (Did that once - never again!)

I put my 3-1-1 bag in the outer compartment of my carry on to make it easier to get to when going through security.

I also had a roll of pennie/quarters for pressed pennies and put that in the outer compartment of my carry on so I could put it in the bin with my 3-1-1 bag. Saves having to get the carry on searched when they see the bundle of what looks like metal.

Wear your heaviest shoes/shirts/pants on the plane. That will help keep your carry on lighter and save room in it.

When you are going the weather is going to be up and down. Keep an eye on it. I had pre-packed for my end of Nov. 2010 trip based on the weather a week before leaving and it changed drastically within a few days. Luckily I was watching the weather and could re-do my packing.

Bring a sweatshirt each, hoodie (wear this on the plane), 3 long sleeve t-shirts, 4 regular t-shirts, a pair of shorts, gloves, hat, extra pair of pants, swimsuit if you hope to go swimming. That way you've got layers you can take on and off as needed.

And you can do laundry if you need to. That's how I made myself take a break one day. I had to get some clean clothes.

If there is a certain kind of cold medicine you need, bring it with you. You may need it. When I needed some, all they had in the resort store was the "feds" actifed and sutafed. Neither of which I could take. I had a miserable last day with no cold meds since I didn't have a car. At least they had Vicks cough drops.

 

[megsoro]

Travel space bags. They have ones that you just roll. The best things ever. Seriously. I wouldn't bother taking shampoo etc, those are usually provided, and replenished. Make your "personal" item a large backpack. Don't stuff it full, but I have found a backpack is easier to access and more secure than an open tote. Also, pockets allow for great organization!

 

[jclark5735]

I'm hoping to do this too. I know my mom and I could and 2 of my daughters would be ok too, but DH and dd1 will try and rebel. Maybe if I make them pay for baggage out of their spending money they'd be more inspired to make it work.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Travel space bags. They have ones that you just roll. The best things ever. Seriously. I wouldn't bother taking shampoo etc, those are usually provided, and replenished. Make your "personal" item a large backpack. Don't stuff it full, but I have found a backpack is easier to access and more secure than an open tote. Also, pockets allow for great organization!

The only issue I had with not taking my own shampoos and soaps is that on my parents' first trip they brought home mickey soap and shampoos, and guess who was allergic??? I got these huge itchy red patches all over my skin! Ick!

 

[aubriee]

The only issue I had with not taking my own shampoos and soaps is that on my parents' first trip they brought home mickey soap and shampoos, and guess who was allergic??? I got these huge itchy red patches all over my skin! Ick!

Another one here who does not like the WDW shampoos and soap. If I absolutely had to, I might be able to surive a week with their shampoo, but as dry as my hair is, I have to have my own conditioner. Same thing with the soap. It is just too drying. I have to have my own shower gel and lotion. My other problem with carry on only is sun screen. As a true southerner there is no way I would go out without sunscreen, even in the dead of winter down there. I use the spray Neutrogena Dry Touch with Helioplex in a spf 100 (or spf 75 if I can't find the spf 100). I believe all they sell down there is Coppertone spray with like spf 35 or 45, and by the time you buy enough, you might as well pay for a checked bag. In the past I have used the sunscreen wipes, but didn't care for them. They work for carry on only though.