How do you do it? (packing question)

[crisi]

How about contacting wegoshop and or shipping a package to the resort ahead of time. You can throw in the mugs and mist fans, the snacks, feminine products, asprin, sunscreen etc.

To a certain extent, if you are going to pack in a carryon, you have to let go of the idea of not buying it while you are down there. And let go of looking like youself in photos. And let go of some of the "nice to haves." Yes, cold medication at WDW costs a small fortune, but I've yet to need it - if I do, we will spend a small fortune. Yes, my hair looks better with my own blow dryer, irons, gel, etc. But I'm not bothering with more than a shake and dry (mine is short) on vacation for myself and pigtails for Miss I-want-to-grow-my-hair-out-but-never-brush-it. And I've yet to bring mister fans (course we aren't going in the heat of summer, but we do go in October) and don't bring mugs. I suspect a lot of "I do it in a carryon" are real minimalist travelers - I know my carryon days were pretty minimalist. And the moment you said "mister fans" and "straight iron" - you aren't a minimalist traveler. Doesn't mean you couldn't do it if you really tried, but between pull ups and mugs, I don't think you are going to get there - not at this stage in life.

You know, you don't need to have ME transport your luggage either. You can pick it up from the carrosel and have the driver stash it under the bus.

 

[i like stitch]

Just another post to let you know that "carry-on only" can be done! We NEVER check our luggage.

I make a list ahead of time and don't take things we really won't need/use. I stick with the list.

Underwear and socks go in zip-loc bags with the air squeezed out.

We use toiletries that are smaller, when available.

Our wheeled carry-ons are smaller in size than what the airlines allow, we take a laptop in case as a personal item, and the other personal items are small backpacks which fit under the seats. Because we typically travel in the warmer months, we don't need a lot of bulky clothing. If we're gone longer than 5 days, we'll do laundry.

We've done hawaii for 11 days with just carry-ons, a child, & snorkeling gear/snacks/water in the carry-ons. It's really easy to do once you get the hang of it.

We leave in 2 days---I need to get going with that packing list!!!

 

[powellrj]

we are a family of 4 who do carry-on. We each have a rolling 21 inch bag that will fit under the seat in front of us if we need it to. We each also take a tote bag. We ziploc pack our clothes which really help. I get the 2.5 gallon zipper bags at Target and pack one outfit per bag per person. It really makes our trips easier because everyone has complete outfits(includes socks and underwear) already to go. I also pack swim suits and PJs in ziplocks. I put the outfits in a bag and one of the kids sits on the bag and I zip it up. You would be surprised how much you can get in a bag when you use the zipper method!

 

[dyna]

DH and I could get all our stuff in 1 carry on if we ever flew we'd be more likely to ride a harley the 900 miles to disney than to fly tho. We travel on the bike frequently I've been out as long as 2 weeks with and this is the way I'd have to pack for disney too.

2 pairs of jeans
2 shirts
2 bras
2 panties
2 pairs of socks
1 extra pair of shoes
1 swimsuit
1 rainsuit
If I want a jacket which usually I do for riding at night no matter how hot it is during the day I have to wear it ALL DAY riding no matter how hot it gets.

Very small bag for tolietries usually a quart sized zip lock bag for DH and I both.

We do laundry every 3rd day while on the road. The wardrobe is very simple jeans and black shirt grab jeans grab shirt nothing to decide on that's for sure. I could do disney the same way might even take old shirts I could toss when leaving disney so I could bring new ones home for the DD's of course that means I get to wear their new shirts on the way home lol.

Did I mention nothin like leaving home when it's 60 degrees and ya need full leathers meanin leather jacket and chaps and having to wear that jacket a week later when it's now 90+ degrees. love my harleys tho wouldn't give up ridin for nothin.

 

[HaleyB]

Another light packer chiming in. We have three kids and my daughter takes up more suitcase room than anyone else in the family! We roll our clothing and use the ziplock outfirs method. This makes dressing so easy and I never forget socks or undies for one person (hey, it could happen) because I pack socks/undies/shirt/shorts allin one ziplock.

We don't bring many extras. I figure we go to the zoo, which is 2 hours away from home, without bringing a medicine cabinet and knock on wood, so far that has been ok. If we ever need anything I know I can get it either from Disney or if I have to I can go offsite and get it (in a cab if I didn't have a car). But then I was one of those moms that stuck two diapers in her purse with a baggie full of wipes and was good to go (breast feeding means traveling light!). Maybe I would stick a change of clothing in my purse for the baby too. So I think I qualify as a minimalist when it comes to packing.

Which, come to think of it, I better get started on...

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

How about contacting wegoshop and or shipping a package to the resort ahead of time. You can throw in the mugs and mist fans, the snacks, feminine products, asprin, sunscreen etc.

To a certain extent, if you are going to pack in a carryon, you have to let go of the idea of not buying it while you are down there. And let go of looking like youself in photos. And let go of some of the "nice to haves." Yes, cold medication at WDW costs a small fortune, but I've yet to need it - if I do, we will spend a small fortune. Yes, my hair looks better with my own blow dryer, irons, gel, etc. But I'm not bothering with more than a shake and dry (mine is short) on vacation for myself and pigtails for Miss I-want-to-grow-my-hair-out-but-never-brush-it. And I've yet to bring mister fans (course we aren't going in the heat of summer, but we do go in October) and don't bring mugs. I suspect a lot of "I do it in a carryon" are real minimalist travelers - I know my carryon days were pretty minimalist. And the moment you said "mister fans" and "straight iron" - you aren't a minimalist traveler. Doesn't mean you couldn't do it if you really tried, but between pull ups and mugs, I don't think you are going to get there - not at this stage in life.

You know, you don't need to have ME transport your luggage either. You can pick it up from the carrosel and have the driver stash it under the bus.

If I had carryons and huge luggage plus purse and the kids had their backpacks (as originally planned)- there isn't a way in the world I could keep up with the kids in an airport plus keep an eye on luggage coming out and then lugging it to DME. In fact that is one of the reasons I started thinking hard about trying to minimalize how much we took because everything was hunky dory the last trip (using DME) until we had to go from resort room to check out at the lobby carrying all that luggage ourselves. That was a disaster! I had to carry it all at once- I couldn't leave luggage just sitting in the lobby for another trip (and wasn't about to leave my kids there to watch it) and we were in too big of a hurry to check in luggage with the airlines in 'sections' making multiple trips with the kids. LOL I started having visions of trying to pull huge suitcases on top of huge suitcases plus carryons again... didn't like that memory. LOL

The pullups are a NON OPTION. Even with the pullups I still need plastic sheets (last time we ended up with a shower curtain under sheets but it worked! LOL) even with him wearing the pullups. He has a medical condition and he's not a baby (almost 8yrs old) so we're not talking a little bit of urine...... LOL

I plan on ponytails anyway but the straight iron is a necessity- it is HERE, it definitely is when in the humidity at WDW. It would drive me nuts to have a huge frizzy "afro" type ponytail in the back- and I'm not exaggerating that. and it's so thick that if I don't do the straightening I can't get it into even the biggest ponytail holders. It has nothing to do with wanting to look good in pictures- I assure you. I prefer not to even be in them except with Mickey. LOL

Hey, I've got one of those miss letting her hair grow out but never wants to brush it too! LOL

The mister fans are for my sanity... my kids get grouchy if they are sweltering in a line without the fan (I don't let them use the mister anywhere near me- don't like it. So I definitely don't let them use the mister while in line- but the fan saves my sanity because they aren't grouchy then LOL)

Okay so maybe I'm not a minimalist but as I've posted already- I am trying and I was able to get it down to 3 carryon baggage.

Okay I'm not a minimalist by nature AND I'm too cheap to bring myself to spend a fortune on medication/personal care needs/etc. that are so much cheaper at home (usually free with coupons- yes, I'm a couponer too LOL). I'd rather take more luggage than pay a fortune for things like that while there.
But I AM working on it- right now I'm resisting the urge to pack a 2nd pair of shoes for each of us in case our tennis shoes get soaked while there. I'm not sure I'll be able to avoid that temptation. LOL

Oh and the person that mentioned not packing clothes in carryon and leaving it in checked luggage because you'll just buy clothes if your luggage is delayed or lost..... that SO could not happen with us. Well it could for my younger two- they are easy to buy clothes for, but not for myself and my eldest daughter. We're not the type that can just walk in a store and pick an outfit by size alone or trying on one thing and walking out with it. Our body shapes (me: heavy, daughter very thin but has some butt and thighs therefore nothing seems to fit right- either too tight on butt/thighs but fitting at waist or WAY too loose at waist if fitting the butt/thighs. you have no idea how much shopping and trying things on I have to do just to get her a few new outfits for school/etc. It's a nightmare with her!) There is simply no way- even if I was a millionaire and didn't care HOW much things cost, that I could just walk in the resort store and buy clothes for me and my eldest daughter. No way, no how. LOL I could spend my entire trip just trying to find clothes. I'd honestly just rather wear the same clothes day after day (washing them ofcourse!) than even attempt to buy clothes while there. LOL

Hey everyone- I do appreciate your tips and advice though!

 

[PatsGirl]

We each have our own carry-on bag, largest size we can handle, and a backpack. My DS15, has a duffle bag to carry on and my DD* has a princess suitcase to carry on. Everyone wears jogging suits or jeans/sweatshirts and sneakers. We each bring a pair of sandals for dinner and the pool area. Between my sons' and my suitcase, we can fit any extras. We each carry one set clothes and a swimsuit in our backpacks and I also carry the meds and camera in mine. We never seem to have a problem packing for our WDW trips -- it's the ski trips that are a real pain. Try packing two of everything, hats, gloves, longjohns, sweatshirts, and then your regular warm clothes for each day -- carry-on isn't doable at all

 

[blanq]

My family packs fairly light, and we are fine with doing laundry while on vacation. We have never been able to pack just carry-ons though. My question for all of you who do is "Do you not shave for your entire vacation?" Razors must be checked, and I couldn't stand not shaving for my entire vacation! I suppose you could do a grocery stop, or mail down packages with razors but for me I guess that would be equal in hassle to checking my luggage.

 

[can'twait]

Get out? Razors must be checked? Even disposable ones? I never heard of that before. Looks like I have a few more inches in my bag now - yippee!

 

[egoldber]

Razors must be checked, and I couldn't stand not shaving for my entire vacation!

Well, my husband has a beard, so he doesn't shave when on vacation. But I have carried on a disposable razor numerous times and never even given it a second thought.

And to the OP, if you're not comfortable being a minimalist, then I wouldn't try. You'll just stress yourself out. Maybe concentrate on trying to find a better system for dealing with checkout?

 

[justlikeeyore]

I read somewher that after you pack but your luggage and wallet on the bed than take half out of the luggage and add double to wallet

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

We each have our own carry-on bag, largest size we can handle, and a backpack. My DS15, has a duffle bag to carry on and my DD* has a princess suitcase to carry on. Everyone wears jogging suits or jeans/sweatshirts and sneakers. We each bring a pair of sandals for dinner and the pool area. Between my sons' and my suitcase, we can fit any extras. We each carry one set clothes and a swimsuit in our backpacks and I also carry the meds and camera in mine. We never seem to have a problem packing for our WDW trips -- it's the ski trips that are a real pain. Try packing two of everything, hats, gloves, longjohns, sweatshirts, and then your regular warm clothes for each day -- carry-on isn't doable at all

Oh I know different times of the year can be difficult packing due to weather. there's no WAY I'd try to pack with only carryons during "iffy" weather (shorts during the day/pants at night) or really cold weather. Our Thanksgiving-Dec trip, although it was 12 days so can I be forgiven? LOL), we had 10 "pieces" total.That included our checked luggage, carryon, 3 kids backpacks and so on. With 5 people even with packing for 6 days and washing clothes during the trip- it was a lot of stuff packed due to length of stay but also due to possible weather changes. And I was glad we did too- we had lots of different weather while there on that trip. LOL

We have never had to put razors on checked luggage. We don't carry straight razors but disposables... never had a problem taking that on carryons.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I read somewher that after you pack but your luggage and wallet on the bed than take half out of the luggage and add double to wallet

LOL!!!!!!!