Help me with my packing!

[bumbershoot]

OP, everyone gets a 311 bag. I have a bunch of 100ml bottles that I decant into. Since DS and DH don't use many products, I can easily put extra shampoo in there for myself. (they are happy to use hotel stuff, but my allergies and hair cannot deal with most of the H2O products) I even decant sunscreen (while also packing a full bottle in double ziptop bags in checked bags).

3 people shouldn't need more than 2 bags.

Definitely not my opinion. If it works for a family and they are of a size where they CAN, that's great. But if you like options (me and DS) or have bigger clothing (DH, and me in the past), that just doesn't really work.

Why would we want granola bars from home when there's mickeys waffles and Mickey rice crispy treats and Mickey bars.

Might work for your family; doesn't work for all. We cannot eat krispy treats and mickey bars (HFCS and corn syrup are things that cannot be tolerated by DH and DS, not to mention we are vegetarian and the gelatin in the krispy treats doesn't work for us). There are very few desserts or snack items in the parks that we can have. So we are all about groceries and the snacks we like to eat at home.

but don't your clothes get wrinkled sitting inside them for days? I tend to hang everything in my suitcase as soon as I arrive at the resort

Not everyone hangs their clothing; not everyone cares about wrinkles. I personally have jersey cotton shirts (no wrinkles) and shorts, generally, for a Disney trip. Not worried about wrinkles.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I am a visual person, I need to see my packing arranged. For me it is using Ebag packing cubes and ziplocks along with a see through cosmetic bag, or over the door shower bag.

My EBags for our family: four lg, three mediums, four small cubes.
In the large all of my Capri, shorts, two jersey easy wear dresses bathing suits. In the medium I put my tops. In the small I put nighties, undies and socks. In a ziplock I put another pack of peds, foot powder, and with thin wicking socks. They lay so nice in the suitcase. I use to over pack before the cubes. Our autograph books in a ziplock, my healthy bag back pack bag. microfiber towel for wet seating. Our ponchos, but I have invested in rain wear from Cabelas that has mesh liner and NOT stickey ponchos. Crocs for rain, saddles to alt during the long day of walking.

I wear my heaviest shoes, like sneakers, and wrap the jacket around our waiste.

Cosmetic/first aid
In the clear cosmetic bag/ or the one that will hand from the bathroom door I got at a thrift shop from LL Bean,
are small size everything. I have two zip cosmetic bags, one with basic makeup, the other is a small first aide pack. I always pack small size antacid, Aleve, sinus, neosporin, band aids from reg to knee covering strong stick. Aloe spray and good Bull Frog type lotion. My kids hate sticky spray and it can miss spots. I use a spray. Zantac, Zertak, Robutussin or cough med. Glide or Arm and hammer body spray, blister relief or covers. A ponytail and clips with a hat keep me Cody enough.

My back pack is:
folding umbrella, ipad in a slip case, Chargers, photography needs, mini flashlight, in a ziplock, travel size charmin wipes, Lysol wipes, safety pins, small sewing kit, extra glasses, SUN Glasses!! lip balm, comb, small brush, my roll of quarters and pennies. In another ziplock or travel pouch batteries, power strip (small one) night light.

I have a all my confirmations and travel documents in hard copy in a Report keeper. They are in plastic sheet covers. The camera if I take my DSLR is in the back pack, it is the smallest one I could fine and one universal lense. Battery charger, extra battery extra SD card. My Panasonic LUMIX fits in there too. I have stopped taking my camcorder.

These are contents that will also go in my healthy back Park bag. They will be in a ziplock or zipper pouch; aluminum case for credit cards, health cards, ID, in U.S. and some cash fits in it. I don't take my passport, but make a copy. Small tablet and pen, three Sharpies, coin purse. Inside is a week and extra meds, I take a picture of the perscription bottles. Only my must need in the container I carry is pain med in original, but not the entire bottle, just what I need.
We fly Allegiant so I can only take one bag each and a back pack.

When I took food, I didn't take liquids, too heavy and they can leak. I took:
Box of cereal, snack bars, gummy snack, bagels. English muffins, or wraps...
Bag of fish, mini pretzel,
I freeze a ice pack in collapsible insultated lunch bag- I take a container of ham/turkey. Leave it in the sealed pouch in one of the containers. String cheese, whip cream cheese.
Either I hoard up mayo-mustard-ketchup packets. Or a squeeze bottle of mayo, jelly and PB.
Ziplocks.
Bowls, small pack plastic cups, sm box utensils, single serve flavor for water bottles.
Ziplocks.
There is a toaster and microwave in the cafeteria.
BUT you are on vacation, fretting over food is a pain anything more then cereal, snacks, and drinks.
I like to take bagels and cereal and buy OJ and milk there just to avoid early AM trip to the food court.

If I chose to order from garden grocery it is Milk, OJ, capris, soda and a case of water. Loaf of bread and cold meats, slice cheese.
This isn't my list, it's from my head as we plan our trip

I have stopped taking, curling iron, blow dryer, tons of make up, perfume, jewlery, multiple shoes. It's not my honeymoon, the days are long and hot, sweaty.

 

[pooch]

You don't mean her clothes for the week in her backpack?!? But I agree, any toys/stuffed animals she may need go in the backpack along with anything she wants to use on the plane. If you want it sweetheart, you have to carry it!

 

[pooch]

Bumbershoot, I get that My post (or any opinion post) doesn't work for everyone but the OP asked for opinions. She didn't indicate any special issues to take into account such as food allergies or size of clothing. Of course these suggestions might not work in those cases. As with all requests for help on the DIS, hopefully the OP can pick through the posts and put together a plan that works for her.

 

[goofy4tink]

You don't mean her clothes for the week in her backpack?!? But I agree, any toys/stuffed animals she may need go in the backpack along with anything she wants to use on the plane. If you want it sweetheart, you have to carry it!

Have to agree!!! My dd, now almost 22, has been traveling with me since she was 3!! The rule is you're responsible for your stuff! If you want it, you carry it!!! Now, that wasn't for her checked bag. BUT...anything, other than her clothing, that she wanted (toys, books, etc) had to go in her carry-on bag. And she was responsible for that carry-on bag. She was so cute when she was 3, carting her rolling Barbie bag through the airport. And before anyone gets on their high horse, she was not an impediment to other travelers!!! She was taught the correct way to pull a bag in an airport!!! That got old quickly...she went to a backpack a year or so later!! If it doesn't fit in her backpack she doesn't take it.

Most people tend to overpack. My dh is one of the worst offenders. He needs enough clothing to get him through a week when he goes away for a weekend. God forbid he not have the exact shirt he feels like wearing that day!!! They're all golf shirts....get over it!!! The blue one is just as good as the white one..you're wearing it with jeans!!!! So, cut down on what you pack.

 

[pooch]

And my DH needs Garaminals for men!!!

Also, her backpack has to fit under the seat or you'll be up & down in the overhead the whole trip!

 

[loves to dive]

And my DH needs Garaminals for men!!!

Also, her backpack has to fit under the seat or you'll be up & down in the overhead the whole trip!

Don't you wish they really made those? My DH's packing goes like this: Honey do I need to help you pack? Me: No but you need to pick out clothes. Him: What do I need? Me: X amount of short sleeve shirts, x amount of shorts, etc. Him: Which shirts and shorts should I pick? Me: whichever ones you want to wear. Him: do these go together? Me: get out of the way and let me do this. Later: Him: did you get my x or x? Me: did you lay it out? Him: you told me to get out of the way. Me: that was for clothes, get your x or x if you want me to pack it. Him: will I need x? Me: I don't know will you? Him: I'm not sure. Me: get out of the way and let me do it. Later: Him: honey is there anything I need to do to help? Me: look at everything I've laid out, do you want anything else? Him: I don't think so do you think I need anything else? Me: get out of the way and let me do it. Later: Him: honey can I help? Me: no.

When we get where we are going: Him: honey did you bring my x? Me: did you see it when WE were packing? Him: no. Me: oh well then I didn't bring it I guess you'll have to go without. Him: why didn't you pack it? Me: really? Him: I'll just buy another. Me: good idea. Or him: honey, these don't fit me. Me: why were they in your closet? Him: I just didn't get rid of them. Me: oh well guess you'll do without. Him: I'll just buy another. Me: good idea but I'm not repacking those and taking them back home. Him: o.k. I'll leave them for the cleaning people with a note to either use them or donate them. Me: why didn't you do that at home since I'm the cleaning staff there? Him: (with sheepish smile) didn't think of it. Me: shakes head.

Gotta love em.

 

[charmed59]

You don't mean her clothes for the week in her backpack?!? But I agree, any toys/stuffed animals she may need go in the backpack along with anything she wants to use on the plane. If you want it sweetheart, you have to carry it!

We went with the rule if you want to bring it, you need to carry it. Mine were the kids with their own tiny rolling suitcase. They were in charge of their own luggage from 5 on. They were in charge of their own packing from the time they could read the packing list. To this day, my youngest, now 21, can pack for two weeks in a school size backpack and a 15" duffle bag.

 

[mastermind307]

OP here and while I like the idea of the packing cubes, I'm not sure if they're worth the expense right now. I'd have to buy a couple sets and that's can get pricey. And a Disney vacation isn't cheap so I'd rather not have to spend extra money right now. I did find some 2 gallon freezer bags at Wal-Mart somebody mentioned so I bought a box. I may get another box, and that way I can separate put an outfit in each bag. Then I can divide the bags between the suitcases and when we get to the resort and unpack, I can just give DH the bags with his clothes in them.

I think I will let DD pack what she wants on the plane in her backpack and then if there's room in one of the suitcases after we pack the clothes and other items, she can pick a couple toys/games to bring with her.

Since there's not a lot of food we want to take, I might try to pack it in with the clothes and other items. There wouldn't be anything perishable, just some cereal, granola bars, and a couple other snack items. I think that way we can take what we need and want and only have 3 suitcases. Since there are 3 of us, we can each carry/roll one suitcase along with our carry on.

Thanks for all the ideas and tips, I have a good idea of how I want to pack our stuff.

 

[mastermind307]

Don't you wish they really made those? My DH's packing goes like this: Honey do I need to help you pack? Me: No but you need to pick out clothes. Him: What do I need? Me: X amount of short sleeve shirts, x amount of shorts, etc. Him: Which shirts and shorts should I pick? Me: whichever ones you want to wear. Him: do these go together? Me: get out of the way and let me do this. Later: Him: did you get my x or x? Me: did you lay it out? Him: you told me to get out of the way. Me: that was for clothes, get your x or x if you want me to pack it. Him: will I need x? Me: I don't know will you? Him: I'm not sure. Me: get out of the way and let me do it. Later: Him: honey is there anything I need to do to help? Me: look at everything I've laid out, do you want anything else? Him: I don't think so do you think I need anything else? Me: get out of the way and let me do it. Later: Him: honey can I help? Me: no.

When we get where we are going: Him: honey did you bring my x? Me: did you see it when WE were packing? Him: no. Me: oh well then I didn't bring it I guess you'll have to go without. Him: why didn't you pack it? Me: really? Him: I'll just buy another. Me: good idea. Or him: honey, these don't fit me. Me: why were they in your closet? Him: I just didn't get rid of them. Me: oh well guess you'll do without. Him: I'll just buy another. Me: good idea but I'm not repacking those and taking them back home. Him: o.k. I'll leave them for the cleaning people with a note to either use them or donate them. Me: why didn't you do that at home since I'm the cleaning staff there? Him: (with sheepish smile) didn't think of it. Me: shakes head.

Gotta love em.

Too funny. I can see my DH doing the same thing.

 

[jec6613]

For all of those concerned about wrinkles, neatly folded dress shirts put in the lid of your suitcase won't wrinkle. That's why you have the mesh pocket in the lid, it's not just decoration (at least on a decent suitcase): it's designed to hold things flat and compress them so that they don't wrinkle.

 

[goofy4tink]

OP here and while I like the idea of the packing cubes, I'm not sure if they're worth the expense right now. I'd have to buy a couple sets and that's can get pricey. And a Disney vacation isn't cheap so I'd rather not have to spend extra money right now. I did find some 2 gallon freezer bags at Wal-Mart somebody mentioned so I bought a box. I may get another box, and that way I can separate put an outfit in each bag. Then I can divide the bags between the suitcases and when we get to the resort and unpack, I can just give DH the bags with his clothes in them.

I think I will let DD pack what she wants on the plane in her backpack and then if there's room in one of the suitcases after we pack the clothes and other items, she can pick a couple toys/games to bring with her.

Since there's not a lot of food we want to take, I might try to pack it in with the clothes and other items. There wouldn't be anything perishable, just some cereal, granola bars, and a couple other snack items. I think that way we can take what we need and want and only have 3 suitcases. Since there are 3 of us, we can each carry/roll one suitcase along with our carry on.

Thanks for all the ideas and tips, I have a good idea of how I want to pack our stuff.

That's what I do. I love using the 2 gallon baggies. If some else's bag leaks, and your bag is underneath it? Your things stay dry. If your bag is left sitting out on the tarmac due to a thunder storm? Your clothes stay dry even though your bag gets soaked!!
I also stash food throughout the bags. Then, you have room for all the 'stuff' you bring home with you!!!