Does anyone else overpack for a disney trip?

[loves to dive]

Not as much as some but still do overpack a tad. Like another poster I drive down from Georgia so technically I can pack as much as I want. However, I tend to go solo so anything I put in the car, I have to get out of the car by myself. I don't valet park cause I'm too cheap so I don't want to make multiple trips to the car and back. I was there two weeks ago for 6 nights and took a medium sized suitcase that was not overstuffed and I still could have fit more and a backpack. The backpack was really just for my laptop, kindle, meds, and car snacks. I came home with the following I didn't wear/use 3 or 4 tshirts, one pair of shoes,about 5 pairs of undies, at least 4 pairs of socks, 2 sweaters, a couple of ponchos, one small park backpack. In my defense, I thought I would be sweating through more tshirts then I did. It was supposed to rain every day and while it did, it was usually when I was back in my room. I only got caught out in it once and I had a cheap poncho with me. You can never have too many pairs of undies and socks. I took 4 skorts (one I wore on the drive down) and could have gotten by with 3. I had two pairs of sandals and two pairs of tennis shoes. I ended up wearing both pairs of sandals and just one pair of tennis shoes. I always take 2 or 3 disposable type ponchos, one heavier poncho and an umbrella and I always have either a poncho or a poncho and an umbrella with me with I'm in the parks. I'm going back in the first week of December for just 5 nights. December is tough for me because the weather is all over the place. Being from Georgia, anything under 70 requires some sort of outer layer. I'll probably take a few pair of leggings, a couple of skorts, a combo of t-shirts and long sleeve shirts, a hoodie of some sort and a heavier jacket. I've been there that same week in some years and had to wear a hat, gloves, scarf and heavy jacket.

 

[MPD]

I did 10 days in Iceland with a very small carry-on and a backpack. I can do a two week business trip with a carry-on and laptop bag. But we drive to Disney so I usually take a hanging bag (clothes stay on hangers and stay less wrinkled) and a carry-on bag. Then toss in extras at the last minute LOL. It's usually just two of us (in a MINI) so we take too much when we drive!

 

[bluezy]

I over pack everytime but always forget things still

Our first trip to Disney as adults was 24 years ago. We had our 12 & 14 yo sons with us on that trip. We had a minivan. The entire cargo area of the van was packed full for a 5 day trip (plus 3 days of driving). Keep in mind, this was before Door Dash or anything like that, so I packed everything I thought we could possibly need on this trip. Three hours into the drive, a screw fell out of my son's glasses and we couldn't find it, nor did I have a small enough screwdriver in the tool kit to use on a screw that size. But I did have scotch, duct, and masking tape so we were able to make a temporary repair until we got somewhere to buy an eyeglass repair kit (which is now part of my Disney trip bin). Fast forward a few hours and shortly after arriving at the first hotel, it was clear I should have packed a can of air freshener. And that I should have packed one or two overnight bags so we didn't have to lug all of our bags into the hotel room for a one-night stay....I did shuffle things around that night so that we only had to take 2 bags in at the next stop. I've learned a lot over the last 12 trips....

I will mention that I did a 4 day trip to San Diego recently. Only took carry-on bags and still managed to overpack...but I didn't forget anything!

 

[hardcorestitch]

You can NEVER be too prepared! As long as it fits and you really need it…

 

[Rory607]

I am always an overpacker for any trip. I need options. And at Disney we typically take an afternoon break, so I will change out of my sweaty clothes into clean clothes for the evenings. And I don’t rewear pajamas. It drives my husband crazy, but it’s just the way I am. He should be used to it after 20 years of traveling together, lol!

I do usually do laundry partway through the trip so I can pack less stuff. I am working on packing for our upcoming trip right now and really trying to pare down, but it’s hard.

 

[kylenne]

I don’t overpack. I’m prepared, and I go often enough that I have packing down to a science in terms of what I’m bringing so nothing ever goes unused and I’m very organized with an app and cubes. I’m typically going during the summer and pack 2 outfits a day, always, because showering and changing during my midday break is mandatory for me to feel human on park days and on rest days we usually do a nicer dinner and like to dress up a bit. I lay out all outfits with accessories (incl. ears) so I know exactly what I’m wearing every day and don’t pack things I won’t wear, barring the emergency clothes that go in my personal item. I don’t believe in wasting precious vacation time doing laundry either so I have no problems checking bags. I get them free with 2 airlines so it’s whatever.

I find the constant carry on only preaching tedious tbh. If that works for the way people travel then great! But you don’t get a gold star from the teacher for it, and it’s not for everyone.

 

[japanese maple]

I am always an overpacker for any trip. I need options. And at Disney we typically take an afternoon break, so I will change out of my sweaty clothes into clean clothes for the evenings. And I don’t rewear pajamas. It drives my husband crazy, but it’s just the way I am. He should be used to it after 20 years of traveling together, lol!

I do usually do laundry partway through the trip so I can pack less stuff. I am working on packing for our upcoming trip right now and really trying to pare down, but it’s hard.

I'm notorious for having two outfits a day. And then sometimes maybe I'm having one of "those" days and I hate everything I have. Best to have options.

We definitely check bags! My carryon has my shoes and jewelry!

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

Yep. I call it preparedness. We always go in December. We never know what to expect for weather.

We packed based on the forecast in the earlier days and it seem to always change....sometimes drastically.

 

[lovethattink]

I don’t overpack. I’m prepared, and I go often enough that I have packing down to a science in terms of what I’m bringing so nothing ever goes unused and I’m very organized with an app and cubes. I’m typically going during the summer and pack 2 outfits a day, always, because showering and changing during my midday break is mandatory for me to feel human on park days and on rest days we usually do a nicer dinner and like to dress up a bit. I lay out all outfits with accessories (incl. ears) so I know exactly what I’m wearing every day and don’t pack things I won’t wear, barring the emergency clothes that go in my personal item. I don’t believe in wasting precious vacation time doing laundry either so I have no problems checking bags. I get them free with 2 airlines so it’s whatever.

I find the constant carry on only preaching tedious tbh. If that works for the way people travel then great! But you don’t get a gold star from the teacher for it, and it’s not for everyone.

What app do you use?

 

[_19disnA]

Being prepared for a variety of weather isn't what I consider overpacking. You might decide to wear a different outfit in the evening. If flying, I always find the airplane temperature to vary from too hot to too cold (even on the same flight), wearing layers or a light jacket even in the middle of summer is a good idea. Disney restaurants generally seem too cold with the AC running full blast, so I would rather pack a few sweaters then sit at dinner shivering when a particular restaurant is too cold.

I can remember one year flying back from Disney and there were some people on our flight returning from the Bahamas. We were flying north and landed in a snow storm. That guy in shorts and a tee-shirt looked rather silly getting off the plane.......LOL. Like he never thought that it was going to be below freezing when he landed???

 

[bluezy]

I don’t overpack. I’m prepared, and I go often enough that I have packing down to a science in terms of what I’m bringing so nothing ever goes unused and I’m very organized with an app and cubes. I’m typically going during the summer and pack 2 outfits a day, always, because showering and changing during my midday break is mandatory for me to feel human on park days and on rest days we usually do a nicer dinner and like to dress up a bit. I lay out all outfits with accessories (incl. ears) so I know exactly what I’m wearing every day and don’t pack things I won’t wear, barring the emergency clothes that go in my personal item. I don’t believe in wasting precious vacation time doing laundry either so I have no problems checking bags. I get them free with 2 airlines so it’s whatever.

I find the constant carry on only preaching tedious tbh. If that works for the way people travel then great! But you don’t get a gold star from the teacher for it, and it’s not for everyone.

I feel the same way. I could never do only a carryon for a Disney trip. I had a hard enough time doing it for 4 days in San Diego (it's the first time I've done carry-on only. You're right, it's a huge myth that you get a gold star for doing that -- I was so upset. Kind of like when I didn't get a tiara and parade when I had a completely unmedicated birth for my first child. Total disappointment. ). The only reason I was able to do carry-on only for that trip was because the weather is the same there every day (72 and sunny!) so I didn't need to really think about "what if...". I only needed 4 easily interchangeable outfits (plus 2 extra shirts to allow for my "I don't feel like wearing that shirt I picked out for today when I packed 3 days ago" mood), my pajamas, and an extra pair of shoes. That would never work for me at Disney. I usually have 2 or 3 outfits I stand and stare at on any given day at home and I don't even work outside of my home! It's pathetic. It's worse at Disney (or almost anywhere). There's no way I can plan 10 days worth of specific outfits ahead of time. If I flew to Disney, I'd have a carryon bag, a personal item (backpack), and 2 big checked bags.

 

[kylenne]

What app do you use?

Packr, it’s really easy to use and very customizable. You set up a trip with the destination, how long, how you’re getting there, where you’re staying, what kinds of activities you’re doing, etc and it will pull from preset lists of items to generate a master packing list for the trip. You can mark items off as you go. You can also edit the list at will and you can also manually add presets to a trip. Here’s an example for my next one.



Since it knows I’m going to Canada it automatically put the eTA form. If I were to change my transportation to driving for example it would add different items. Same thing for accommodations, since I have Friends/Family it has “gifts” but if I change it to hotel it will pull from my hotel list.

You can also make your own lists to pull from for a trip. I have a Disney specific one that has things like magic bands and ears that I don’t ever need on other trips.



I’m an iOS user so not sure if it’s on Android but it’s 100% free and a godsend.

 

[japanese maple]

n/m

 

[sherlockmiles]

Hi!

Where can we refill refillable mugs at the resort? Particularly coffee!
And maybe after 9 or 10 at night?

rooms have coffee makers
if you buy their refillable mugs, cafeterias are usually open until 10 pm.
after that there is an outdoor refill station, but only for soft drinks.

 

[japanese maple]

rooms have coffee makers
if you buy their refillable mugs, cafeterias are usually open until 10 pm.
after that there is an outdoor refill station, but only for soft drinks.

I posted this in wrong thread, sorry!!!

 

[sherlockmiles]

I posted this in wrong thread, sorry!!!

I know, but figured I'd answer anyway

 

[sherlockmiles]

I posted this in wrong thread, sorry!!!

Then again....you wouldnt be the first person to pack a coffee maker for vacation..........

 

[hardcorestitch]

Then again....you wouldnt be the first person to pack a coffee maker for vacation..........

Free Joffrey’s!

 

[DizneyFamof4]

We drive to WDW and have a van, so yes we overpack. But we also bring water and food with us so that is a big plus. No way are we going to spend vacation time doing laundry, so that is not an option at WDW. My ladies (DW and 2 DD's) pack a lot more than me, they each usually have a big suitcase plus a backpack. Also, we have plenty of room for souveniers if need it on the way back. I use to ask my DW when I am packing the van getting ready to leave, why do we need this or that, but there have been a number of times that it came in handy during our trip and she made a point of it to let me know.