Carryons only?

[Allieloopy]

This will be our second trip to Disney. The first time we each brought a bag to check and a backpack on the plane. I had my large purse also.

We had too much stuff the first time plus there are more baggage fees this time around.

We are going to try to get along with one carry on each and one backpack each. I guess this leaves out my big purse, unless I can stuff it in a backpack.

Lotions, shampoo, sunblock and stuff will be delivered when we get to Pop along with our groceries. Halfway through the 8 days we will be doing laundry.

So what would you bring in just one small bag and a backpack? I am trying to make sure we are covered for all the weather options in Feb.

Let's see, a hoodie for everyone, swimsuit, socks, shoes, undies, 2 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of jeans, 4 shirts of various weights. Hair brushes, medicine and I can't think of anything else right now.

What am I missing? We get new toothbrushes delivered with the groceries. For some reason that thrilled the kids to no end last time.
Any stuff we buy that doesn't fit in our cases will be shipped home. Hopefully that will cut down on DH's impulse buys.
I actually would love to ship our dirty laundry home and bring the souvenirs on the plane!

 

[karliebug]

we are going to try and do just carryons this trip too. One pair of jeans (plus the pair we will wear on the plain) swimwear,undies and socks, several tshirts and shorts. We will probably be wearing our sweatshirts from Pa. Everyone will have their quart baggie with liquids. We will use shampoo from the resort but will probably need to bring conditioner (3 girls with long hair). I just cant see paying all that money for luggage.

 

[happymommy]

We've been doing only carry-ons for a few years now. The easy part is that we usually end up travelling in warm months, so tee shirts and shorts fold up nice and small.

I went to TJMaxx a few years ago, and bought each of my kids a cute color (his is red, hers is teal) rolling carry on suitcase. That way, they each can handle their own, as well as a backpack.

My kids shower at night, then sleep in shorts and a tee shirt that they'll wear the next day on vacation. That saves on laundry - no pj's needed (I still wear them).

We really only need one extra pair of shoes each - wear the heavier ones on the plane, then bring sandals or whatever, pool flip flops in the suitcase.

It really is easy - even when we're going for two weeks to Hawaii we do only carry ons. I do laundry on vacation all the time. I don't like bringing home so much dirty laundry also.

You should be fine with the ages of the kids you have, let them pull their own suitcase. Sometimes it's hard to put it in the overhead storage on the plane, but there is usually some kind soul to help me if DH isn't along.

 

[2002Disneybride]

This seems like a great idea. With two little ones (1 in diapers) I am not sure I am ready for this yet. What do you do with the things you buy while on vacation?

 

[TheMorgans]

We have done this on our last several trips. Our rule is you can only take what will fit in your bag plus your "personal item". This trip will be more of a challenge since we will be gone 10 days. I found that if I roll up the clothes instead of fold they will take up less room and have less wrinkles. Each person has their own quart baggie too. I buy the 3oz empty spray bottles that are available at most pharmacies to carry Downy Wrinkle Release and Fabreeze. My daughter (13) and I also have large purses that I put extra items in too. My husband has a CPAP machine and its carrying case has some extra room for small items.

I try to get creative with the packing. We wear the clothes that would take up the most room in the luggage - jeans and a hoodie with a light tee underneath so we don't bake when we arrive. We too wear our bulkiest shoes and pack the ligher one. I have also been forced to only take 2-3 pair of shoes. I pack the undies and PJ's last because you can stuff them tightly into the corners or other spare areas. When we stay off site at a vacation villa I use the space bags. They have always worked great, but you need a vac with a hose to suck the air out and I will not have access to that on site.

This will also be our first vacation that we have ever had to change planes -- in Atlanta and in only 53 minutes. We will have to hurry to make the connection and if we had checked luggage I would be worried that it would not make the connection.

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

I have thought about doing this. So you can bring a rolling carry on and a backpack? I was hoping that we could just wasn't sure how strict they are with a personal item.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

This is a great idea. Each kid has their own rolling suitcase. I bought them for their first flight about 3 years ago. Back then they could be used as carry on (actually this is what the tag said when I bought them) but had to be given to the flight attendant when we boarded the small plane...can these suitcases still be used?
If so I am only going to check 1 large bag..I can haul my souvies home and it is still cheaper than shipping.

 

[mom2cinderella]

2nd Disneyworld trip 1/27/2009 to 2/05/2009

My concern would be the weather. We were at WDW from 1/27/07 - 2/2/07 and we didn't need shorts, or bathing suits, or sunscreen that week. It was chilly, especially first thing a.m. and at the night time events like Fantasmic, Illuminations, Wishes, etc. I don't think I could handle 10 days with just one pair of jeans or hoodie!

Michele

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

This is a great idea. Each kid has their own rolling suitcase. I bought them for their first flight about 3 years ago. Back then they could be used as carry on (actually this is what the tag said when I bought them) but had to be given to the flight attendant when we boarded the small plane...can these suitcases still be used?
If so I am only going to check 1 large bag..I can haul my souvies home and it is still cheaper than shipping.

You can definitely use the small suitcases. I used to be a corporate business traveller and flew smaller airlines like Horizon a lot. It is still a true carry-on bag - they just don't have any place for you to put it inside the aircraft. They legally have to take the carry-ons that won't fit into the bins and then have them waiting for you outside the place as you get off. It's not like the aircraft that has the appropriate sized bins, but just can't fit them inside due to the bins being full. Those have a "mandatory checked" policy and you have to get them at bag claim. They won't pull those out and have them waiting.

2002Disneybride: I'm in the same boat and I actually pack all of the diapers for the trip, as well as other consumables and such and then use that space for our souveniers. That way I definitely know I have some room to take things home.

 

[Allieloopy]

Make sure to check with your airline carrier as to the size and amount of things you can carry on. For example, the carry on suitcase I used to use for when I traveled for work (before 9-11) is way too big now. It would have to be checked. We are using the two small rolling bags that came with our luggage set and bought two more small ones in a thrift shop here. $5.00 each!!

With babies though I wouldn't even try! You have to lug the kids as well and there is no way I would put myself through that. It would be worth the extra money to check bags IMHO.

My kids now can roll their own suitcases and we are bringing way less to occupy them. The portable dvd player was barely used last time, as well as a lot of the coloring supplies and small toys I packed. Although this time I am bringing the laptop and paying for internet a few nights. Then I can download pictures everynight as well. Last time we lost our memory card of our daughters first dinner with Cinderella.

We are traveling from Michigan in the middle of winter and are wearing or carrying our lighter winter coats just in case Disney gets chilly!

 

[Lady V]

I was thinking of doing that for our trip in Feb. It will just be me and my two kids. So-we could each do a carry on AND a backpack??? hmmm...we are flying Delta so that would save us a lot as each checked bag is now $15 each way I think....hmmm

 

[crashbb]

I was thinking of doing that for our trip in Feb. It will just be me and my two kids. So-we could each do a carry on AND a backpack??? hmmm...we are flying Delta so that would save us a lot as each checked bag is now $15 each way I think....hmmm

If you have a small backpack you can use it as your personal item. It needs to fit under the seat in front of you (and I've seen people lug on backpacks that would never fit there). I'm finding that airlines are becoming stricter with the "personal item" are sometimes not allowing both a roller suitcase and a backpack is bigger than a mediumish purse.

 

[tanyaandallie]

I've thought about doing this if we ever go again. I wonder if the baggage fees will backfire and everyone will start bringing their suitcases on the plane! I'm sure they would love to see my family of 4 all coming on with their rolling suitcase!!!

 

[crashbb]

I've thought about doing this if we ever go again. I wonder if the baggage fees will backfire and everyone will start bringing their suitcases on the plane! I'm sure they would love to see my family of 4 all coming on with their rolling suitcase!!!

My guess is that they'll reduce the the maximum allowed carry on size - Air Tran's is already 1 inch smaller than most of the other airlines.

And they'll be more strict with people following the carry on rules.

 

[RMulieri]

Just be aware that because of airlines now charging for baggage, many people are totally overstuffing and exceeding the allowable carryon size .Therefore if you are not boarding the plane relatively early it is getting harder to find bins to put those carryons.On my last flight there was a very po'd family because there was simply no room so they had to check their bags, and then we were delayed a good 7 mins because they decided to argue with the flight attendants about it.Pack as light as you can and board as early as you can.

 

[peemagg]

One thing that I use is the travel space bags. These are the ones that you roll to get the air out of. They are great for travel. Everything is organized and if for some reason, my suitcase comes open or has to be checked then all anyone has to do is lift a plastic bag.

When we traveled with my small nieces and nephew we used gallon size and 2 gallon size bags for the kids clothes. We tried the tip to pack the bags for a complete outfit per bag. This worked out great!

We are traveling this time with only a carry on and personal item. We will do laundry at least once or twice during the trip. With the travel space bags you are able to get more in the same amount of space.

We even found a site that sells shampoo and soaps and other liquid things in small sheets that you just add water to. I don't remember the name of the site, but if you do a search for traveling light you could probably find it easily.