Do You Have Packing Tips/Advice? 9 Days+3 Kids = Packing Overload

[Mugglemama]

I sure hope some of you out there have some advice I can implement!

This will be the highes number of consecutive, full days we've ever spent in the parks. 9 days! We bought AP's this year, and decided to combine two trips we were planning so that we'd only have to do the drive once (it's 24 hours of driving, in all...). We also have a weekend in the middle + 2 days of driving...so I technically have to pack for 13 days in all.

And I've done that before. However, my kids have all grown a TON in the past 2 years, and I haven't had to pack for a long trip since then. For years, I utilized the pack-each-outfit-in-a-gallon-zip-lock-bag trick - and it worked great! I loved it! But their clothes don't fit in ziploc baggies anymore (I might be able to still pack my 7 year old's clothes that way...).

I *can* do laundry in the middle of vacation, but I'd love to avoid it (I think?).

What do you guys think?...will it make my life easier to pack more clothing and not do laundry mid-vacation...or would you recommend packing less but doing laundry?

Also, any packing-related organizational tips for packing kids' stuff? We all have matching duffle bags, each person now has their own (the two youngest used to share, but their clothes take up too much space now...). We also take a separate cinch bag for shoes, a tote with towels, and a bag with shampoo, makeup, etc.

I give myself a week to pack (we leave in less than 3 weeks), and this time, I just don't even know where to begin. Help? Please?

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

You could always take your own bag of detergent and handwash a couple shirts in a sink. I've done that before. Then you're not really having to go do laundry, but your stuff is getting clean mid trip.

I'd probably take less and wash some..We're driving with three kids. Mine all get to share one suitcase. Wish me luck. LOL

I did buy some travel space bags which I think will help

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

wow thats along time- yes you should and could do laundry- also - ship a box of clothes to your hotel in advance.... saves space ... not sure if your are driving or flying.... clothes clothes clothes....

 

[mouseymommy]

I would try to use some items again. For example, wear a pair of jeans or shorts more than once. Then if you have to do laundry, maybe you could just wash a load or two of shirts or something. I would hate to spend my vacation doing laundry, but it seems almost impossible to pack enough clothes for that many people, for that long.

 

[msheriffm]

I would take plenty of clothes because the weather is so unpredictable. Even in taking a variety you might have to do some laundry if the weather is the same for too many days. Remember Disneyland is in the middle of a city not like WDW so finding a laundermat should not be that difficult.

As my kids aged I started folding the underwear, socks and shirt inside the pants or shorts. Then I always just have some extras for weather changes. I have found ziplock bags in larger sizes but they can be expensive but if you reuse them it might be worth it to you.

Good luck, packing is stressful to me.

 

[Susie63]

I would pack 13 t-shirts each as they roll up small and 4-5 pairs of pants. Half way through you could just wash a load or two of pants.13 undies,13 socks ,bathing suit and a hoodie & light jacket.That should easily fit in a small duffle.To optimize room...roll your clothing.

 

[limace]

We packed for 3 weeks on a sailboat in a carry on each-you can do this! I'd pack mix and match items, fewer bottoms than tops. You can use shampoo to wash clothes in the sink, or just plan on laundry once mid trip. For myself, I buy some of those quick dry travel underwear and a wash and dry, no wrinkle dress or skirt, then a variety of shirts, two pairs of shorts, and a comfy pair of long pants. Sweatshirt, two pairs of shoes, couple bras, you're done. They make a lot of artificial fiber work out clothes that roll up really small, don't wrinkle, and dry fast.

 

[Susie63]

I am not sure if this will work for you,but when we have multiple stops and stays.I pack one bag for each night with pj's and clothes for the next day,for everyone, in one bag.Then we are only hauling one suitcase and a toiletry bag into each hotel. I label each bag for each stop.

 

[MrsSpfaff]

Everyone gets their own backpack you pack 14 short sleeve shirts 1 long sleeve 14 shorts 2 jeans 1 jacket or sweater 7 socks, 14 underwear a swim suit a towel. My poor kids get 7 underwear and less clothes

 

[Mugglemama]

Thanks for the replies!

I think I will take 7 pairs of shorts (I don't think any of us even *own* more pairs than that, lol...), and 10 shirts/tops each (one of which will be extra-nice incase we go somewhere nice for dinner one night). That way, shorts get worn twice (no big deal, my kids don't get filthy anymore - thank God...), and a few of the darker shirts can be worn twice, also. 14 pairs of socks/undies...2 long sleeved shirts OR 1 light sweatshirt (will depend on the weather forecast)...one pair sneakers, one pair flip-flops...bathing suits...one pair of sweats...one pair of jeans...and multiple pairs of boxers & T-shirts for everyone to sleep in (they roll up super tiny, and I can't stand for my kids to not climb into bed freshly showered and in clean jammies...). They can use each set of jammies twice.

Hmmmm...if I do that, then I think I can get through it with minimal packing AND avoiding laundry.

I'll bring a tiny bottle of detergent incase I want to wash something and hang dry it in the room.

Hey......I'm almost mentally prepared to actually start packing! Thanks for the help, ladies!

 

[bruinred]

Sounds like a good list. Have a great time!

 

[nannyz]

Firstly, I always pack like a sailor would -- rolling clothes instead of folding, and packing into every corner of the duffle.
Secondly, and this may sound crazy, but I do it a lot -- pack your worn out underwear (or buy super cheap ones) and throw them away as you use them.
I have no desire to stop in the middle of my vacation to wash dirty undies, nor do I want to carry them home.

 

[starshine514]

Hi mugglemama! I have a couple of suggestions, we had a few rainy days on our trip last May, I would consider two pairs of jeans, as well as a long-sleeved shirt and a sweatshirt (I only wore short sleeves one of our days there for our May trip). If your hotel has laundry facilities, if space is limited, you may want to plan on doing laundry (see if you can snag one of those Tide Pods samples I keep seeing ads for online). I know Desert Inn does, as we did laundry there in May (hadn't planned for it to be as cold as it was, and DD4 spilled something all over her sweater). I also tried washing something out it my room...it took days to dry (fine for removing a stain, not so much for something you need to wear again soon). Also, I'd bring a shirt per day, I know I don't want to wear a sweaty shirt a second day and my little ones are known for spilling things on theirs. Like you said, shirts are small (it's those pants and things that take up so much space).

Our days will overlap with yours, we'll be leaving in 25 days!

 

[gis]

I suppose I can give some of my own advice for what I do when I go camping. (I backpack, so I need to pack light and what I do is a bit extreme.. but you can see if anything helps..) I actually plan to rewear clothing especially shorts and pants.. shirts I try to only wear once a day.

Sometimes this can be a lot, but I have these storage bags that are waterproof I use for camping. They are like ziplock bags, but come in many sizes and are extremely durable. The ones I have are made by Sea to Summit and they come in all sorts of colors and sizes. I like the colors because I can basically color code by types of items. They also have compression versions which would turn your basic dufflebag worth of items into like a 2 gallon milk carton.. They are a bit spendy, but if you feel you constantly need to worry about this, they're worth it.

I've also found a pretty interesting way to store toothpaste - I have a small little container, it's almost like the type to clean contact lenses in, except it's only one side (you could probably get away with a contact lens container). I put tooth paste in there. It's small, closes tight, and is usually enough toothpaste for a shorter trip.

Hope you have fun! And whenever I do the 'non-ultra-light-camping' thing, it's the pillows that take all the room.


EDIT: Oh. One more thing that I like to do (this will probably work best for the guys.. unless you really enjoy more form fitting clothing), I wear these non-cotton, synthetic clothing that's used for camping or running or biking. The benefit of these is that they keep you much warmer in the cold, keep you cooler and less sweaty in the heat, and they are literally dry in minutes.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Don't forget a stain stick!

 

[LisainCalifornia]

One thing to keep in mind is that you may not want to re-wear clothes that you have (or your kids have) been out in the parks in all day. For example, I will wear a pair of jeans twice sometimes at home, but at Disneyland--no way. All of that walking, sitting on rides, sitting on the concrete curb, sitting on asphalt waiting for fireworks to start, getting splashed by Pirate and Splash mountain water--it all adds up to gross clothing. After a full day in the parks I wouldn't even consider putting those clothes on again! Yuck!! Even all of the walking makes your clothes more sweaty and gross. The last thing I would want to do is pull back on yeterday's jeans after a full day at disneyland.

I have never taken a 9 day trip with my kids (I also have 3)--but if I did--I would imagine laundry would be a priority.

 

[BayAreaMom]

Personally, I would just do laundry. A few weeks ago we stayed at HoJos for 3 nights and I actually did a load on our 3rd day there. I started it at 7am and it was done by 8:30. Very easy. I brought laundry soap from home because my daughter has sensitive skin and we use Tide Free exclusively. I think it cost maybe $2? The machines were in our building so it was very convenient.

I have found my kids often go through 2 outfits/day and their clothes get DIRTY at the parks. So washing was perfect for us. And we were only there 3 days!

 

[californiamomof4grls]

Here is my best tip!!! As a mom of 5 packing for our trip in 10 days! Read this thread! It is AWESOME! Make sure you have pen and paper ready so that you can make your list! It is really a fountain of information! Many of the people who posted are WDW visitors. But they all stay for long trips so it may really help you out!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1082988&highlight=packing

 

[todzwife]

I'd rather do 2 loads of laundry mid-vacation than come home to 14+outfits x 5 people!

We don't even own that many clothes, so I wouldn't have a choice but to do laundry in the middle...we did that last time we went for 6 days and it was nice to not have a ton of stinky dirty laundry to do when I got home.

 

[hlbtimes2]

I usually plan on doing laundry once on each trip (on a 4-5 day trip). I do it one afternoon during break, on about day 3. One or two loads- most hotels have multiple washers and dryers, so its pretty quick. And it seems like most have laundry near the pool area. If nothing else it cuts down on all the laundry when you get back home!