Don't forget to pack ____

[dixiegirl]

Safety pins - have saved us on several occasions from having any potential wardrobe malfunctions.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Not sure if they have been mentioned yet but we always bring Baby Wipes!!They are amazing in the heat of the day to wipe your face, neck, hands etc. ... Pure Refreshment!!

Yes!!! I actually buy the travel packs of Wet Ones and put them in my park bag. I can't tell you how many moms I've rescued with them. Once on the backlot tour a little girl behind us had just had that full face painting done and it wasn't fully dry. She wiped her hand across her face and her parents told her not to touch anything and just sit there with her hand up until the tour was over So I gave them a couple

 

[loriinks]

I took a small extension cord so I could charge my phone and still reach my bed at night to do some late night planning on my phone.

 

[SpringSprite]

I took a small extension cord so I could charge my phone and still reach my bed at night to do some late night planning on my phone.

A power strip. Especially with multiple adults.

 

[hops&dreams]

I had scissors on my list, too. You can take them even if you are flying, just put them in checked bags.

You can take scissors in carry-on bags, as long as the blades are shorter than 4 inches. (according to TSA website - I had to check last time I flew because I had scissors in my knitting bag).

 

[poeticdiabetic]

We drive from Atlanta to WDW, so I always have to pick up some David's Sunflower Seeds for that long drive. It's not just something to eat, but it's something to do!

As far as inside the parks, we always pack our own water bottles. The reason why is because water is free. Plus, we will put soda in there too (we stay at WDW properties.)

We also bring our hats and sunglasses. Our hat du jour is the Boonie hat. We love it because it keeps the heat, rain and sun away. It's the best hat for Florida weather, IMO.

Lastly, we buy cheap $1 ponchos. One for each day. And all of this is packed in backpacks that we all carry.

 

[2Tiggies]

Zip loc bags. Great for sticky half eaten rice crispie treats, dirty wipes from sticky hands when you are standing in line somewhere and there is no trash can immediately nearby, or to put small things in so they don't get 'lost' in the backpack.

This one is because we stay onsite and always get resort mugs but I take kitchen sponges and a small amount of dish detergent with me, as well as something for drying up. I know you can rinse your mugs at the food court but I like to give them a good wash in the evening. I just hate when my coffee has a Powerade or Root Beer aftertaste

I also take a few clothes pegs so we can hang our bathing suits on the little line that you can extend over the tub in the bathroom. They do well for keeping chip and cookie packets closed too if there are any spare.

 

[vital]

Sunscreen lip balm. Nothing worse than sunburned, cracked lips. The juice from the Dole Whips feels like acid on them.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

What is your best tip about things to pack besides the obvious?

A few packing tips I picked up here that were a huge help to me in the past were: body glide, a sharpie, ziplocks, disposable ponchos.

I have a trip coming up and I'd love to read what you take that helps you solve an issue or just makes your trip more enjoyable.

Don't overpack!

The biggest mistake I see are folks who WAY overpack. That's one of the biggest problems I have with generic packing lists. I've never needed a flashlight, bug repellent, or lots of stuff I've seen on packing lists.

In the parks, my tried an true answer is that you can almost always make due without. Do put on sunscreen, do drink plenty of water, do wear comfy walking shoes always. do bring two pairs of broken in, but relatively new, high quality walking shoes per person - and ideally, one pair should be waterproof. (or bring a third pair of flip flops). Do not wear jeans on the 'wet' rides (especially Kali). Do bring plastic ponchos one days where it might rain. Do carry a jacket if you might get cold/wet. Do bring items that are multipurpose. (smartphone = phone, camera, GPS, way to check email, etc)But that's about it!

Your biggest enemy in the parks is the limit of your endurance. A heavy backpack will weight you down. Sore feet will end your day, and maybe even your whole week! Getting super soggy might = leaving the parks. Dehydration can easily end your touring for the week, especially if you get sun stroke, dehydration sickness, or some other cold. So when I must carry a bag, I try to make it lightweight and something with ONE pouch. (so I don't have to open twenty ouches at security!)

Not having your emergency medication in an emergency will end your vacation super fast!

Extra cash! Extra credit cards! Both can solve almost any problem.

I do pack liquids in ziplocs. I've tried putting clothes in ziplocs, but if I'm up first in the am, pulling stuff from plastic bags is very noisy! I bring just enough POWDER detergent to do like one full load. Only very rarely do I use it. The shower gel in the hotel rooms works for washing mugs! I find I can also do hand washing in the hotel sink for some items. I do have a half-size sharpie I my purse. I also carry a tiny tube of hand sanitizer. (half ounce!) I rarely use it to clean my hands, but I DO use it whenever someone has a cut!

If you buy more stuff than you have capacity, buy a reusable shopping bag. Lots of times I've also used plastic Disney shopping bags as 'carry-on'. they work just fine.

I usually find I ma least happy when we have too much stuff in the airport. Keeping track of lots of stuff is just such a hassle.

 

[DrDad]

Also take a complete list of all your prescriptions with dosages. Just in case.

 

[PeanutButterMom]

I 15th the ziplock bags. We do the quart and the gallon size for various things. Also, definitely the hanging organizers- I got mine from the Dollar Spot at Target and it was so nice to be able to easily find our toiletries and not have stuff everywhere.

That reminds me! I also brought 2 of the tiny 31 collapsible storage things (they're maybe 6" squares? And collapse to nothing). Wee would throw our MBs, PP+ fob (don't need that anymore, I guess), pin lanyard, etc in it on the table in our room, and then when we're ready to go somewhere everything we need is there. I obviously like to be organizer.

I got a 2-pack of external "lipstick" chargers from NoBetterDeal. They were cheap and definitely did the job. I used a tiny USB (4") and would just shove it in my bag or pocket for a while and my phone was always ready to go.

 

[MtGreenwood]

Not so much what we pack but how we pack. We pack everything in large duffle bags. It helps to keep the room more open. We just fold them up and throw them on a shelf. We will use the to stuff dirty laundry in them and and we always bring an extra one just incase we go home with more stuff than we came with. It really saves on the limited space you have in the room.

 

[linzbear]

A small pen light/flashlight. Makes it so much easier to read times guides or a map in the dark, and if you drop something small, much easier to search for it.

 

[RayRay13]

Lightweight portable battery pack(s) for your phone. No need to search out a charging station. Best $30 I have EVER spent.

Ditto!!

 

[little miss minnie]

Zip locks, wet ones wipes, travel size wrinkle spray, moleskin, $1 ponchos from walmart, waterproof case/box for important stuff like phones and ID's.

 

[AliceandAriel]

What is your best tip about things to pack besides the obvious?

A few packing tips I picked up here that were a huge help to me in the past were: body glide, a sharpie, ziplocks, disposable ponchos.

I have a trip coming up and I'd love to read what you take that helps you solve an issue or just makes your trip more enjoyable.

Don't forget to pack-

- Light jacket. It may look sunny outside, but it can still be COLD. And you don't want to be like me and get so cold you bought a $60 (but very cute) hoodie to survive the day.

- Sunscreen. If you're fair, and it's even remotely sunny down there, yer gonna burnnnn.

- Snacks! Why pay $6 for a tiny bag of mixed fruit and nuts when you can bring stuff from home and spare yourself the nightmare?! I have a list of snacks and baked goods I'm bringing next trip that'll curb me from spending an easy $50+ on snacks alone.

- Ponchos. Again, I was a dummy and forgot the poncho/rain jacket. Guess who paid the $8-9 for one in MK? This gal.

- Extra battery for cell phone. With the usage of the apps and what have you, you're lucky if your phone doesn't die before the day ends. You can get those portable rechargeable batteries for under $20 and they'll be your best friend.

- ID/Cards/Photos of ID and Cards. Kinda obvious.

- Change! If you do pressed pennies, remember it's .51 for a pressed penny (two quarters and said penny).

- Medication. Advil, tylenol, aspirin, airborne, etc. Be prepared for everything and anything, because the one thing you aren't prepared for usually gets you.

- Paper towel tubes to store your sketches from the Animation Center in DHS. (If you do this. If not, bring it anyway and pretend to be a pirate looking for treasure. Arrrrgh, x marks the spot matey!)

- Pens. Everyone needs a pen. Everyone forgets or loses a pen. Don't be that guy. Don't forget the pen.

- Ziplock bags, big and small. Pack your clothes in the large ones for safe keeping on the way down. Unpack as needed, and when you go to pack your dirty clothes for the return trip home, put them in the ziplock bags. Saves your luggage from smelling like a ripe piece of fruit, and if anything explodes in there you're double covered.

- Duct tape? I've never needed this… but I bet it would come in handy somewhere. Disgruntled tourist?


Yeah, that's all I've got for now. Have fun!

EDIT: I lied. I thought of more!

- Hand warmers. Self explanatory, only if the weather is predicted for 50 or less.

- Hand sanitizer. Useful for those moments you can't wash your hands.

- Travel mug/cup. Good for if you want to not go through five different paper cups during the day for ice water/coffee. Just make sure to rinse it (NOT in the water fountains… people use those to clean baby butts. EW.)

- Lysol wipes or Clorox wipes. People will say wet ones, but they're not as good. Clorox is best at killing bacteria in a shorter time, but I pack both Lysol and Clorox for double duty as needed.

 

[gilltrooper]

5 Hour Energy Shots !!!!

 

[wendybeth75]

Over the door shoe hanger for all our stuff to stay organized.

 

[Bazinga]

Always take a small pair of nail clippers into the parks. NEVER fails that I break/chip a nail and it nags me the rest of the day!

 

[BubblyTrip]

I take Clorox wipes and get all O.C.D. on my seat, armrest, table, window screen, fan knobs, and anything else I think someone's cootie-covered hands might have touched near me.

Ever since I had a child, I too do this. I'm not a germaphobe about many things, but planes are just...ick.