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

[joeysmommy]

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

Yes! I tried the clothes in the ziploc bag last time and it was great! I loved tossing the kids a ziploc to get dressed. Usually they dig thru their drawer and make a big mess deciding what to wear. Also great for saving room in the suitcase- squeezing the air out.
I wrote their name on each bag with the day of the week (gotta be color coordinated for pics). I brought home the bags and am still reusing them for other things(non-food).
While packing at home I check with my kids about which shirts they want- gotta have Star Wars and Goofy then I go from there.
Will definitely do it again this trip.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I've been buying shirts from the Disney store whenever they go on sale. I haven't bought matching shirts yet, but I will as soon as I can find the same shirt in all their sizes. Luckily I've never been in the habit in dressing them alike on a regular basis, so they actually like it when they can all match! LOL

 

[LifeIsTinkIsLife]

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

aw! the only thing I left behind at a hotel was a Pocahontas watch, haha!

EDIT: I learned that I can do without the cute backpack that holds almost nothing but it looks cute. Plus, I can save the $4 it is to buy a cookie ice cream sandwhich that I can get for like $1.50 at the gas station across the street from our hotel.

 

[KrazyKat4DIS]

I learned that I could without a purse! And I am slightly a "high maintenance" kind of gal. I used to bring my entire make-up bag (don't ask why - I don't know...)

I used to be an overpacker too, as others have stated, and that was just for a day trip! Now, I give DBF my ID, annual pass, and $$$ to carry in his wallet (I have typical girl jeans where nothing fits in the pockets besides a hair thing and chapstick). If it's cold, we rent a locker for sweatshirts, but other than that, we're good to go! Not lugging around a bag has been so liberating! I love it! Of course, at least twice during the day I have freak-out that I left my purse somewhere...

 

[Tasscrapper]

I overpacked on food. We ate most our meals in the room but still ended up with about 25-35% of what I brought left over. This next trip I have budgeted a bit more for 'outside food' and will be much stricter with what I think we will really use.

I'm still trying to find the happy medium on clothers. One trip we had to much the other we trying to find clean stuff for the boys. I think I might try the zip lock bag trick for my son this trip.

 

[DizMe]

Oh, I forgot to mention the time I brought coffee from home. I love fresh ground coffee, but it was NOT worth the hassle. It's Disneyland! There is caffeine in the air! The coffee we got at the coffee shop in DTD was about as good as what I managed to make in the hotel, and a WHOLE lot less trouble. Then I discovered there was free coffee with real cream and to-go cups in the lobby--even better!

I used to overpack, but I learned from my dd how to pack a couple of key items, leave makeup to a minimum, and get it all in a small carry-on that can be stowed beneath the seat. She manages to get by with no purse of any kind, but at DL I'm devoted to my fanny pack, however dorky it may appear

 

[l’amore bella]

I can do without the souvenirs.

 

[jenjersnap]

I am an overpacker too but that won't change. My boys - and sometimes DH and myself - wear matching clothes at Disney. Other than portraits, it's the only time they do. I use ziplocs too, it keeps us organized and TSA baggage checkers' hands off my undies in case they pick our luggage to check.

We have found that souvenirs aren't very important to us. Taking our big Nikon DSLR camera isn't necessary (much as I would like higher quality pics, it becomes the 4th child I need to keep track of - adds stress!). I drag the boys' pins and lanyards every trip though it is probably unnecessary as they haven't picked up the trading bug. I've refined what I need in the parks over the past 5 years so I've got that down to an art.

 

[mechurchlady]

Add to my list of things to get rid of this trip is notebooks and pens. I think 2 in the bag and 3 in the purse are enough as I pulled out at least 8 pens and pencils this last trip and 3 note pads and notes scribbled on bits of paper.

 

[wendypooh22]

I learned that I could without a purse! And I am slightly a "high maintenance" kind of gal. I used to bring my entire make-up bag (don't ask why - I don't know...)
QUOTE]

Oh me too!!! I am down to my drivers license, atm card, my ap, cell phone and my chapstick.. All of this fits in either my wristlet or my pooh wallet attached to a lanyard.. If I do bring a bag it has minimal items (water & chex mid) and we store it in a locker with the "just in case" sweatshirts.

 

[teatime]

I can do without the souvenirs.

Same here !!! every year I brought an extra duffle to bring back souvenirs, Im not going to do that next time. and Im going to stop packing so many cloths!! 4 out fits for 7 days ( plus the cloths on there back is enough.) to many cloths, to much snacks, and way to much to carry.
Im going light this time suit case wise, and Im having grocery's delivered, milk, chips, water and juices.
carry on only !!

 

[nunzia]

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 .

I'm with you. All I really need is to stay onsite. In the parks I carry:wallet, camera, emergency snack (low blood sugar) and maybe a water bottle to refill at fountains, but really, it's so easy to get water at CS places. That's it
I find what I DON"T need..souveniers (occasionally something special), expensive table service (I am becoming a Cafe Orleans lover though), adult meal (kid's are fine)
What I LIKE to have each time and pretty much will: churro, popcorn, corndog and now I seem to get cravings for Dole Whip...

 

[nunzia]

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!

Oh..whoops..I have to have the salt water taffy and bring some home.

 

[Amysita]

I learned I could have gone without my journal...like I had any time to sit down and write in it...even if I'd had the time, I wouldn't have written in it anyway...it was the furthest thing from my mind.

 

[Nanseev]

Not sure if I've actually *learned* this...because I continue to make the same mistake..lol...but all of the snacks that I pack for the park to save money! Once I'm there, I totally give in to the temptation! I have good intentions, but end up wth popcorn, hot chocolate, pretzel, etc.!

Thankfully, I've never been one for the souveniers...the kids are another story...lol...but they know they are limited to one for the entire trip.

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

As a mom - there are MUST HAVE junk to be carried. It's hard to pick & choose what will be needed & what's not a big deal. This may be for a different thread...

 

[gr8leg8]

is it fair to say.....

my MIL

That woman has a gift to make my crazy.

my mom?
any time.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i have a red bag that folds up small that I pack for all the extra stuff. cups stuff any thing we though was to cute to toss out lol I have to stop that

 

[Gisele]

My purse....... however, must have something to carry X in. Last year, before visiting Dl. I bought a nice, cute messenger style bag, from Target, near where I live.
It almost flew out of the Indy ride though, that would have been bad news..... picture it.... the natives blowing darts ordeal.... oops there goes my bag..... darn..... help.... no really.... ride ends, must retrieve bag... have my wallet in there....at least my train tickets are back at the hotel.... phew..... but would have to walk to the train station (Insert screaming person icon here!) anyway..... now the ride is shut down, so Cast Members can look for my bag... now I am getting angry looks from almost everyone.... young and old alike..... just got flipped off by a tough looking 3 year old TOT in pull ups! (Insert another screaming person icon here!) Oh my! Now by his parents...... I reply: like this could not happen to any of you? Please..... of course it can.... and probably has.... (Sigh)...... ah..... there it is.... and than goodness, all of the contents is still in said bag. Otherwise..... I might get beaten up by that mean TOT! Or his parents..... so what is ten minutes of every one's time? This is suppose to be a vacation.
I bring my own water bottle, good way to save money, then I just refill it. I so far have been too lazy to go to cs so as to ask for cold water, so if the fountain water is kind of warm, oh well. With the little drink add ins, the taste is fine.
On same trip, I was going to buy one or two souvenirs, but decided I did not want to, at that time. It can wait. After all, I need more money,not more stuff.
I do like to dine at least once during my visit, The Blue Bayou Restaurant. That is a treat for me. I know that some people may dine there every day of their visit, however, I have never felt nor have had the need to do so. So I do not. It is not necessary for me to do anything but the former. And even then, if I should ever decide not to dine there, I am fine with that idea. I like my great off site rates, I love not having to deal with parking.

 

[Mugglemama]

Yes! I tried the clothes in the ziploc bag last time and it was great! I loved tossing the kids a ziploc to get dressed. Usually they dig thru their drawer and make a big mess deciding what to wear. Also great for saving room in the suitcase- squeezing the air out.
I wrote their name on each bag with the day of the week (gotta be color coordinated for pics). I brought home the bags and am still reusing them for other things(non-food).
While packing at home I check with my kids about which shirts they want- gotta have Star Wars and Goofy then I go from there.
Will definitely do it again this trip.

i, too, learned that i don't need NEARLY the amount of clothes i typically pack for the kids! it took me 15 years of taking trips with kids (i have 4) to realize this! lol!

the ziploc idea was the best packing-for-kids tip i've ever gotten in my life! it takes a lot of time and thought before the trip, but once the trip starts, it saves SO much time. i also pack their underwear, socks, hair ties, etc. for the day in the ziploc with the outfit, and cut fabric softener sheets into strips so i can tuck a strip into each bag to keep the clothes smelling fresh (because when we bought new luggage, i noticed it smelled really strong of whatever material it's made out of, and it made the clothes stink!).