first fam trip to disney..packing advice needed!

[mlacreta]

Hi All! We are about a month away from our first trip to disney. We have 3 adults and 4 kids headed down for 14 nights! (Plus papa and nana for the first 6.) We are staying mostly at OKW then the last two nights at BCV. Could anyone give us some packing advice? We will be flying and I am trying to figure out if it is ok to check luggage on the plane with food like cereal, juice boxes, ect. Plus I'm wondering do the starter packs of soap, laundry detergeant, things like that run out and so we would need to pack more? We have the DP for the first 6 nights but will still need food for the rest of the time. Also do the villas have towels? I read a post about having to order towels? is that just if you want new ones every day? what about if you go to a water park..should we bring towels from home? Any and all advice welcome to help make this first trip a smooth one!

 

[dvc_bwv]

We will be flying and I am trying to figure out if it is ok to check luggage on the plane with food like cereal, juice boxes, ect. Plus I'm wondering do the starter packs of soap, laundry detergeant, things like that run out and so we would need to pack more? We have the DP for the first 6 nights but will still need food for the rest of the time. Also do the villas have towels? I read a post about having to order towels? is that just if you want new ones every day? what about if you go to a water park..should we bring towels from home? Any and all advice welcome to help make this first trip a smooth one!

Packing in checked luggage I wouldn't include juice boxes, I'd put those in a carry on. As for cereal, I'm not sure. We usually do a little grocery shopping once we get there.

The laundry detergent is only one small box (1 load) and is replenished on T&T day, but if you need more you'd have to purchase or sometimes if you ask mousekeeping when you see them you can get one or two.

Towels, wash clothes, etc are supplied in the villas and there are towels at the pools.

We usually pack light (half as much as needed) and then do laundry half way through trip. Toss clothes in washer in the AM before going to the parks and then toss them in the dryer when you get back.

Have a great first trip!!!

 

[KarenP99]

Do you have a UPS store near you? We shipped a big box 17x17x17 & 30lbs and it was only $20 (ground, so I sent it 6 days or so before my arrival). Great for snacks, laundry det, extra clothes...lots of things! I print a return label and fill it up & ship it home as well.

 

[starbox]

You'll get a package of towels when you check in - the difference between DVC and a resort room is that you don't get fresh towels every day. You can pay for extra towels if you want them, and towels are provided at no charge at the pools.

At the water parks, you can "rent" towels cheap (I think 1$ each) and just turn in the wet ones at the end of the day and not have to mess with washing/drying towels at all!

There will be a shop on site that sells most basics - the two things they don't have that I always want/need is antibacterial hand sanitizer and clorox-type wipes. Also, I've always purchased the special bandages for blisters before leaving - the one time I did not, I got a blister and the only thing I could buy was a regular band-aid which did not help nearly as much.

 

[Mahusky]

We generally pack light with W&D. Pack about 2 days worth of clothes (plus the ones you have on ) and maybe 2 nice shirts or pants if I have to go out to a nice rest.

Also we pack one Misc bag that we check that we pack with snack stuff including cereal and laudry degergent. Also helps on the return with all the stuff the kids collect on the return.

Remember when you check bags there is a weight limit (50lbs) so if you wanted to pack juice boxes you could but I would choose heavy items carefully.

 

[debbiepump]

14 days? Take lots of laundry soap!!! A few things I've learned-last trip-had bought 2 pr of expensive sandals good for walking around-ended up with my tennies on-so much for that one. I always pack more laundry detergent-we use the powder tide so I premeasure and put in zip lock (sandwich size) bags and then put in a larger bag (in case they come open). Can 'spread the wealth' through everyone's suitcases this way. The towel issue, I just will throw them in the washer/dryer if we run low-not a biggie to me even though some say they're 'on vacation' it's not a biggie to do this and can do alot more better things with my $$ than to pay for more towels. I've found I never eat all the food we take, we're in the parks and eat more or the heat just zaps our appetites. Breakfast foods are the main food for us. I bring my own coffee (from Seattle, need I say more?) and if I'm in the half and half mood for my coffee, just bite the bullet and buy a small container at those 'grocery stores' WDW has.

 

[JimMIA]

WHOA! Couple of questions first. Are you going to have a rental car? Also, are you planning on cooking in the villa? What size villa? (hint: "studio" is not a good answer!)

 

[mlacreta]

Thanks everyone for all the great advice! JimMia - to answer your questions - we are staying in a 2 bed rm villa the whole stay. We don't plan to have a rental car as of this minute but the thought did cross my mind to maybe get one for just the first day to go groc. shoping. but it got complicated when we booked the two (well 3 really) different reservations and are using the dp the first 6 nights. for the rest of the time we will cook i guess. we originally figured we'd have all meals at the villa to save money but dh does the cooking and REALLY liked the idea of the dining plan. not enough in the budget for all 14 nights so we settled for the first 6! I figured we could pack alot of what we need for food (with the exception of perishable items) since we have 7 plane tickets and each passenger can check up to 3 - 50lb bags. I did peak at two of the grocery delivery websites recommended today. I thought GG looked expensive and the other one confusing slightly. well, i have a month to figure it all out anyway! 1 month and 6 days to go.....can't figure out how to get that ticker thing in here!

 

[saratoga_socks]

Do you have a UPS store near you? We shipped a big box 17x17x17 & 30lbs and it was only $20 (ground, so I sent it 6 days or so before my arrival). Great for snacks, laundry det, extra clothes...lots of things! I print a return label and fill it up & ship it home as well.

This is what I would recommend you to do too. Great idea. Or you can also order items on-line and have it shipped to the resort a 7-10 days before your arrival or you canhave them delevered overnight.