Does having a washer/dryer impact what you pack?

[tiggerriffic]

We are travelling in early March with a 2 and 4 year old. DH is concerned that I will WAY over pack. I was thinking of packing 4 days of shorts and 4 days of pants for a 7 day trip, and just washing whichever we end up needing. Am I setting myself up for too much laundry, or is this better than packing 7 sets of each.
Thanks for sharing your experiences!

 

[cgcw]

Even with the washer & dryer I overpack but I love to be able to go on vacation and come home with mostly clean clothes. It's a nice bonus to me. We tend to do a lot of little loads while on vacation. A days wardrobe can easily be washed and dried with very little effort and time. I'll start the load before we go out and dry it at night while we're settling in. Also, I find that I'll throw a load of towels in so that we have fresh ones for showers/baths. I would have a hard time staying in a studio because I'd miss the flexibility of doing the laundry on my own schedule.

 

[Scoootch]

I don't think having the washer/dryer in the room has actually impacted HOW MUCH I pack but it definetly is much more convienient. I end up packing for whatever outfits I think I'll end up needing for both myself and the family and always overpack that way - lol. What does make it much more convienient for us though is that we tend to change outfits 2 or 3 times in one day sometimes with coming back for meals or to take a swim. And after wearing the outfit we've changed out of (esp. in the summer time stays with the heat) we don't wear the same outfits again until washing them so I tend to do alot of small loads of laundry since we go through so many outfits. So having the washer/dryer in the room is definetly easier that way.

 

[bicker]

We definitely factor it into our packing. We'll bring enough underthings for a half-week-plus-one, no question. We'll also typically cut many other categories in half as well (although, when we have the money, we sometimes bring even less, planning on souvenir clothing purchases to make up the difference).

 

[mikesmom]

It definitely impacts how much we pack. We tended in the past to overpack - a set of clothes for each day and then extras in case we got too sweaty, in case we dropped a popsicle and got too dirt, whatever.

We now get away without bothering with the extras. I personally pack even less as it seems there are always 2 or 3 pair of shorts that I prefer as they are the most comfortable, etc. Now I just pack those with tops and toss a load in the washer in the morning or as we are balcony sitting in the evening. It's just great!

 

[Granny]

We definitely pack much less than we would otherwise due to the washer/dryer in the 1BR....your note did not say, but I'm assuming you are in a 1BR? If you are in a studio, then you will not have "in room" access to washer/dryer...you will need to use the ones (at no charge) that are available to any of the guests in a common area.

We also use the laundry to freshen towels since they have to last four days.

Have a great trip!

 

[Luv2Dream]

In our case, absolutely. In fact, it is the one feature of the villas that I find most valuable. I always overpacked before DVC. Now, I only take half a week's worth of clothes, tops. And the only reason I even take that much is because we have been driving down, not flying. If we were flying I'd probably pack even less.

 

[Beachlover]

We packed less because we knew that we could wash our clothes. I always overpack, and I still did on our recent DVC trip, but I did cut down! It was great having the dryer to freshen up clothing after taking it out of the suitcase, also. Nothing needed to be ironed as a few minutes in the dryer took out the little wrinkles caused by packing. Just another example of the little things that make DVC so great!

 

[DVC-Don]

We only bring two sets of day clothes, two sets of evening clothes, swim suits for the 4 of us and pool towels. That's it!

Prior to DVC we would bring a suitcase and carryon for each of us. Now the 4 of us go with one suitcase and two carryons.

Love the washer/dryer in our DVC unit.

 

[Dean]

We definitely pack less, enough for about 3 days with maybe an extra shirt and pair of socks.

 

[shelbyjosh]

Most definately! We will be down there 3/5-3/14 and I will probably pack 5-6 different outfits for both kids. It is worthwhile to have the w/d available. I usually end up doing aload of colors and whites during the week and then will wash all dirty stuff the night before we leave. Makes for a quick and easy unpacking job. Especially since we will be putting the shorts and tees away for the sweaters and jeans!! When and where will you be staying? We are at OKW!!!! Not soon enough!!

 

[mbhoxsie]

It has definately cut down on how much I pack for myself... For 8 day stay, I usually pack about three days worth of casual outfits, and one formal outfit in case we go out for a big dinner..

My DW always has a tendecy to try and overpack herself and our son... But she's getting used to cutting back...

On my trip to VB last year, our w/d combo broke down twice... The maintence guys had it fixed in a day and a half, so I really can't complain... The "Group" building w/d was still availble for no charge...

 

[JudithM]

Originally posted by cgcw
Even with the washer & dryer I overpack but I love to be able to go on vacation and come home with mostly clean clothes. It's a nice bonus to me. We tend to do a lot of little loads while on vacation. ... I would have a hard time staying in a studio because I'd miss the flexibility of doing the laundry on my own schedule.

My sentiments exactly! I save a 16 - 20 plastic soda bottle & put in a mix of detergent & bleach (for colors). When I am finished, I recycle the bottle. I pack a few dryer sheets in a baggie - just remember not to pack them with or near edibles!

 

[Disney Doll]

I pack half of what my number of days are, and do a couple of loads of laundry about 1/2way through the trip. In other words, if I am going on a 10 day trip, I pack enough for 5 days.

 

[WDWLVR]

I love having the washer and dryer. We have packed less when going to our DVC home. It is so easy to do a load or two during the trip to keep things fresh. I just pack my tide tablets and dryer sheets in with our other toiletries and don't have to worry about needing them there (though there has always been a box of tide on the washer).

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

I always overpack too. But, having a washing machine doesn't mean I'm going to do laundry on vacation!!!

 

[SimplyMagical]

For a seven day trip, we usually pack clothes for four days. I tend to do a load of wash every evening when we get back to the room. One thing I love is that we come home with everything clean!! It makes returning from a seven day vacation at WDW and unpacking for five people much easier. There is nothing worse than coming home exhausted from a vacation and facing dirty laundry for five people!!!!

 

[justcruisin]

As someone who HATES to do laundry, I LOVE it when on vacation! It's so much easier to bring less than to lug all that stuff. Remember, your children are little, you and your husband will be carrying their stuff!

I like to bring packets of "spray and wash" and a few of the laundry detergent that comes in the cubes. And to do a very small load each night ... The W/D are right there, folding what we wore from the earlier day takes almost no time.

I've also learned my toddler stains EVERYTHING he wears, even with the spray and wash packets, leaving those clothes until we get home never gets the stain out!

 

[ncligs]

We definately pack less.We always fly down so DW and I only bring 1 carry-on each.This way we are off the plane and in our rental car(Emarald Aisle

) 10 minutes after landing. No waiting for luggage, walk to any car we want, and on our way to OKW. From the time the plane lands, we are usualy at OKW within 45 minutes total.
So yes there is a very nice advantage to having a washer and dryer in the rooms.

 

[DeeP]

I have ALWAYS done laundry at least once during our WDW vacations even pre DVC, I never packed a whole weeks worth of clothes it was just too much especially when the kids were young. So staying in a DVC unit with a washer & dryer does not make me pack less it just makes it a LOT more convenient to do the laundry. Actually now I pack more when in a DVC unit because I pack stuff for the kitchen like coffee, filters, S&P etc. LOL!