Having gone - what have you learned you could do w/o?

[MagicalMomAZ]

I learned I don't need a lot of "character" clothing. I made sure the kids had a shirt/day...plus hats ....croc jibbitz - they didn't care that much. I won't spend the money on the clothes again.

Also learned to bring spare clothing & stash in a locker.

Ooh! And not to make ressies in DTD only - what a PITB!!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

I learned we didn't need to bring a water bottle to the parks in January. I think everything else we bring is important!

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

Why not? We went through ours quickly in January..

 

[Belle Ella]

I've learned to do without anything that doesn't fit into my camera bag. I don't need a purse on top of it. I don't need my wallet. Just the important things that will fit into the camera bag and voila - that's it.

 

[mechurchlady]

I take buses and use a scooter. After each trip I clean out my bags. I carry for winter and early mornings a small blanket, all weather jacket, sweatshirt, power bars, one park map, latest schedules, hygiene and health stuff, and lots of plastic baggies. Sometimes I have plastic silverware and paper towels.

I removed the socks I used carry in the bag, do not know why I carried those. Got rid of old receipts also and anything I do not need other than listed above. Water bottles is one thing I quit taking. I can get free ice water in the parks. Also I do not need q-tips, antacids, Shout clothing wipes, or band aids. I trashed the yucky Carmax lip balm as I normally do not need lip balm. I have to have hand cream for dry skin especially after a day in the parks.

 

[DizMe]

I've learned I can do without almost everything if I can just go to the park Seriously, I don't need snacks or water (use the fountains and eat regular meals). I don't need souvenirs. I don't need photopass.

I DO need at least one special thing, though. They can vary, but generally my top priorities are: staying at a resort hotel, eating a meal at BB, having lunch or breakfast at Carnation Cafe, and buying one special item I really, really want and that is within my budget. Sometimes I get all of the above but other times I only get one. I would give up everything else to stay in a resort hotel, but I know a lot of people would totally disagree with that priority .

 

[Ken2Blitzkrieg]

were down to the bone

camera
money
and maybe some sunblock .. until we get passed the ...
lobstermen from mars look

 

[PinkBudgie]

Why not? We went through ours quickly in January..

I found that the free cup of water I got with my meals was enough. I didn't need more than that in between. DH, of course, always needs lots of water. In summer, I'm hot so I drink a lot more.

 

[ylatan]

souvenirs. we really didn't need them. we got a bunch and honestly since we've been home, we haven't messed with them much.

the one thing i appreciate that we got was the pictures from ariel's grotto. they came out really cute. other than that, next time we are totally not getting tons of toys, t shirts (for the kids...dp and i did not get anything, really.) etc. not worth it, not worth carrying it back on the plane, IMO>

 

[LuLusApple]

I didn't need the toaster or half the food I brought into the hotel. We left the toaster at the hotel.

 

[avalon451]

and maybe some sunblock .. until we get passed the ...
lobstermen from mars look

I've seen a few of those lobstermen in the parks! Yeeoowwchh!

Ditto on the souvenirs. I have this irresistable urge to buy silly hats while there. Like my big blue Mickey Sorcerer hat that lights up and twinkles. Yeah, it was cute, but it made my head too hot to wear it in the parks, and after I got home? Well, let's see, I took it to school one day (I teach Kindergarten) and displayed it for Show 'n Tell... that's about it.

Also found we bought too much food for the room and ended up leaving some of it. We ate breakfast there every day, and we snacked and sometimes did the snacky stuff for lunch, too, but we still had too much.

 

[arje]

I would like to do without the trip home!

 

[mechurchlady]

My heavy walking shoes. I took them on my trip and never used them. I tend to pack the wrong clothes except this last time all I had was cool weather clothers for late Texas Summer, lol.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

I would like to do without the trip home!

I think a lot of us are with you on that one!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

extra clothe Never needed them took way to many "well this would be cute" things that I never wore

 

[DianneMcLean]

Candy - I know it sounds awful, but we always spend a ton of money on candy to bring home, and then once we get home we never eat it! It just all looks SO GOOD!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Extra clothes is one for me. I hate not having what I need or may need, so I pack my whole house. But I realized last trip I had way too much clothes that I didn't wear.

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

extra clothe Never needed them took way to many "well this would be cute" things that I never wore

Ooooh- me too! I bring a suitcase full only to find I wear the same thing or stick to one shoe more than the other. After last yrs vaca (w/ a washer/dryer in OR) I realized I only need about 3-4 outfits/wk!

 

[joeysmommy]

I am a self-admitted over packer.
On our last trip I wore everything I brought(which was more than I needed) because I didn't want to deal with doing laundry at GCH. So if you know you will take a few hours out of your trip to do laundry then don't pack too many clothes.
Also, I changed mid-day a few times after getting drenched on GRR.

It's great that they have a laundry room but every time I went to do laundry 2 years ago the washers and dryers were all in use.

As far as the parks I have 2 boys, 5 and 7 yrs so I do need to bring in sunscreen, water bottles and snacks.
Last trip I spent hours on the internet trying to find the perfect kid-sized fanny packs so they could schlep their own stuff. Guess what happened? I ended up putting their fanny packs in my back pack

So to answer the question- I could do without backpacks for the kids
but I do use everything that I bring into the park even tho I feel like a pack mule.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I'm an overpacker too! This trip I am going to try the outfits in the ziplocs so I am not doing...well I can wear this shirt with these shorts OR these capris.... Not only for me but the kids too! With 4 kids (3 carseats) and 3 adults in an Expedition, I need to skimp on the clothes so I have room for my double stroller! LOL