Does anyone else overpack for a disney trip?

[leebee]

Well... I'm trying to cut down. I no longer bring the kitchen sink! Seriously, though, we always overpack. In summer I need 2 shirts and 2 sets of undies per day as we go back to the room to relax and shower before going out for dinner. There is no way I'm crawling back into sweaty, icky clothes. In winter, you never know what the weather will be, so we bring jeans and sweaters, as well as tee shorts and hoodies. Also our winter jackets, which we need to wear to/from our home airport, and have sometimes needed when in FL. In the spring/fall, I try to pack according to the weather reports, but there are no guarantees, so I usually ahve a combo of shorts outfits, dresses with leggings, and layers if I need to keep warm. Always take the sneakers, wear a pair of crocs, then pack a pair of crocs. For sleeping there are leggings, tee shirts. Always bring a sweater and a hoodie, just in case, even in the summer as the hotel a/c can be a lot.

Don't get me started about meds and such. Ibuprofen, tylenol, pain meds, muscle relaxants, motion sickness meds, anti-diarrheal, Tums. Also bandaids, moleskin, knee brace, ankle brace, blister bandaids, small blunt scissors for trimming moleskin in the park, sunscreen, aloe, special sunscreen for nose and lips, spray antiperspirant, regular deodorant, face cream, body cream, shampoo, conditioner, anti-frizz stuff. Hair dryer (hotel ones are too hot) and curling iron. I absolutely do NOT want to pay Disney prices for any of these! ALso bring the all-in-one laundry/softener/dryer sheets and stain stick in case I DO have to do laundry.

Then there's the Disney specific stuff: Park bag, coffee pads, ears, neck fan, poncho... you get it.

Honestly it's sometimes exhausting to pack for a Disney trip- but you'll notice, the kitchen sink is no longer on the list!

 

[js]

Yes, even though we are DVC and have a washer/dryer in our unit, I'm always sat 50 lbs. for flying.
I don't know how it happens LOL I go a couple of times a year for 8-10 days and you would think I would know better.

I leave next week and I'm at 49 lbs. with shoes in my carryon! I don't bring a lot of shoes any longer but I think it is now my hair and skin products. I also bring my own wine glasses (plastic and glass) so you can see it's not just clothes LOL

 

[bakerworld]

Never been an over-packer. I do like to pack extra shoes, one nicer outfit, an extra outfit and extra underwear. There are many times when I arrive home having worn everything, which is why I say 'never'. Occasionally, especially cruise vacations, I don't wear everything but it's usually shoes - which drives DH nuts.

Speaking of DH, he is a perennial under-packer. He runs through all his clothes and usually wears home the outfit he sweated in the first day. I cannot convince him that sneakers and thongs are not appropriate all the time.

 

[sherlockmiles]

The few times we didnt overpack was when we KNEW we'd be buying new clothes (ie shirts and socks) at the destination location - so we had to allot for the space for them as if we had brought them from home originally.......

 

[BarbLynnM]

We forgot the kitchen sink once, and I’ll always regret that trip.

Seriously, we’ve gotten sick while at Disney, and the prices we had to pay for two OTC meds was extortionate, so I pack what I think of as my traveling medicine cabinet and take it wherever we go.

I have had clothes shrink in the dryers at the Fort even when on delicate, so I try to pack enough that I don’t have to spend a half-day washing clothes even when we’re on an extended stay.

I’m also not a clothes shopper (finding clothes that fit me is like getting the right numbers in the lotto), so I don’t want to spend time doing that either, so if I forget something it’s a bother.

I’ve been known to pack a full size suitcase and half-size (one that’s too big for carry-on), and two smaller backpacks (for both of us) for a week.

 

[AnnaS]

Always everything but the kitchen sink
I am trying to cut down now that it's just me flying and no more driving down.
I am trying hard to keep it to a carry on and a backpack.
Have done 1 trip with carry-on already. I will be trying again for my trip coming up.

 

[FreeTime]

I am an underpacker. I have a 19 day trip coming up. I will pack everything in an underseat bag. Will do laundry of course. Also will purchase toiletries on arrival.

 

[DisneyMom93]

I’m definitely an overpacker. Not ridiculously so but I always pack more shampoo, conditioner, etc than necessary.

When I went to Italy for a little over a week this year I realized I can actually use the little travel size toiletry bottles and it was more than enough. So I will be packing accordingly for my trip in November. I also overpack a few outfits just in case. And I never use them.

We usually go to Disney for two weeks and my daughters will pack about five or six of their Disney themed Loungefly backpacks. (They do pack stuff in each one.)

We usually pack the allowed 50 lbs per suitcase when we go. (Love my luggage scale.)

I will be going in November for one week with one of my daughters (first time not as a whole family) and I really want to try packing just a carry-on each and a personal item backpack each (got the largest JetBlue allows.) My daughter isn’t very optimistic about it. But I’m up for the challenge.

I also think it will be a good experience for my daughter. She’s an overpacker and also brings her beloved Disney plushes too. It’s just sentimental for her because she’s been doing it since she was four years old. Now she is 20. LOL. But she’s not tied to them so I’m sure it will be fine.

She watches The Summer I Turned Pretty and it may help that the main character only brought a carry-on and backpack with her on a long trip. (Trying not to give spoilers.)

 

[LilyWDW]

I don't feel like I am an overpacker. I do an outfit a day plus one, a couple extra pair of underwear and socks, and I will often plan to buy a shirt to wear on the flight home. I also pick up some toiletries when I get there (especially sunscreen) and will use the shampoo and body wash at the hotel.

One thing I overpack are my meds. I always take 2 extra days of my prescriptions because I can't be without them. I have little plastic bags that I put them in, one bag of morning and one for evening each day. So is it really overpacking or am I just being smart for once lol?

 

[js]

I am an underpacker. I have a 19 day trip coming up. I will pack everything in an underseat bag. Will do laundry of course. Also will purchase toiletries on arrival.

Hi.

I really REALLY would love to underpack. I feel I'm so efficient in my everyday and work life but when it
comes to packing, although it's very organized, it is still too much I'm brining.

However, when you say you have a 19 day trip and will be purchasing toiletries, realistically how much
do you figure on spending? If it was $20+, why not just then check a bag for a little extra money?

I have face products and hair products that I won't compromise on but I can put most of them into
travel tubes and I won't travel without my own blow dryer. I just always check a bag but would love to become more packing efficient. I've watched videos, but I can't seem to do it. Packing my own glass and plastic wine glasses doesn't help either I guess LOL

Enjoy your trip! I leave next week!