how many suitcases do we need???

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

were heading down september 30th for 8 days. we have a potty trained almost 4 yr old and a not potty trained 2 yr old. how many suitcases should we take? ive contemplated taking the 4 big ones and putting the 4 smaller ones inside then well have 8 to come home with. but is that too many? not to mention its 15$ per bag fo the first then 25$ each one thereafter both ways. yikes!!! ive read what many of you have said and think we should take two sets of clothes. im stressing and my trips 4 months out!!!

 

[Shagley]

How long will you be staying? Don't pack too many extra clothes because there will be laundry facilities available if you need them. I personally would rather do a load or two of laundry rather than haul an extra suitcase for "just in case". You could most likely get by with 3 or 4 suitcases. I would think that you and your DH could each take a suitcase and the kids could share a suitcase. You could then bring a 4th suitcase with extra diapers, snacks, toiletries, etc. The 4th suitcase could then be used to haul home souvaniers after you have used the diapers and ate the snacks. Just remember, it will be much easier to get through the airport with two young kids if you aren't having to keep track of so much luggage. Have a great trip!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

8 suit cases seems to be a bit too much. You might need one or two extra on the way back if you buy lots of souvenirs, but not 4 extra.

When DD5 and I went in September last year, we had one larger suitcase for all our clothes, and a rolling carry-on. On the way back, I checked the rolling carryon in addition to the large suitcase and only carried on a backpack that was packed in the carry-on on the way down. We bought a decent amount of stuff and our luggage was packed to the max on the way back. Next time, I might pack an extra foldable duffle bag in our suitcases to use on the way back. Or I could just pack less stuff. I definitely overpacked last year.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

i know im worrying about us dragging two wee ones and then ten million suit cases!!! lol were going for 8 days. i know theres laundry there but i really really dont want to do laundry while on vacay( wheres the fun for mom there? lol) i am known for over packign too!!! lol

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

lol i always over pack. i know were not plannign on a lot of souvienrs, im jsut thinking 2 out fits times 8 days+ a lot of freaking clothes! plus towels and diapers(ugh!! and wipes and swim diapers. my mind is just gogin non stop!

8 suit cases seems to be a bit too much. You might need one or two extra on the way back if you buy lots of souvenirs, but not 4 extra.

When DD5 and I went in September last year, we had one larger suitcase for all our clothes, and a rolling carry-on. On the way back, I checked the rolling carryon in addition to the large suitcase and only carried on a backpack that was packed in the carry-on on the way down. We bought a decent amount of stuff and our luggage was packed to the max on the way back. Next time, I might pack an extra foldable duffle bag in our suitcases to use on the way back. Or I could just pack less stuff. I definitely overpacked last year.

 

[MerissaAndMomLoveDis]

On our last trip I took about 1/2 the amount of clothes I have taken to Disney in the past and I took quarters and laundry soap along. Like you, I was kinda irritated about the thought of doing laundry while I was on vacation. But I was NOT going to pay those exhorbitant checked bag fees. It turned out to not be a big deal at all to do laundry. We stayed at All Star Music and the laundry rooms are right by the pool and where they show the poolside movies at night, so one night I just rolled a suitcase with two loads of wash down to the movie and washed and dried two loads while we watched the movie. I was close enough to keep an eye on the laundry and the movie at the same time. I also saw other moms watching their kids swim and doing the laundry at the same time. It was a big convenience and time saver to be able to do double-duty.

So I suggest checking out an online map of your resort to see if that might work for you before deciding how much to bring with you.
Hope that helps.

 

[aTasteOfHeaven]

You may also want to think about buying diapers and wipes and any other misc. stuff when you get there. Or use one of the delivery services I see talked about on here.

I can't even imagine trying to lug that many suitcases around! When we go, we will have 3 suitcases, carryon bags, a carseat, a stroller, and an independent 2 1/2 year old

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Even coming to the US for holidays when we lived in Europe and took back tremendous amounts of stuff, we never needed 8 checked bags for a family of four. You should be able to go down with 3 (4 if you are packing a lot of dipes) and 4-5 to come back, unless you only own 22 inch carry-on size luggage (in which case I think you need to buy 2, 26 inch suitcases).

You know your buying and vacationing habits. Do you really think you'll buy enough stuff at WDW to fill 4 suitcases AND displace your dipes? That sounds like a lot...

 

[sueh]

I am a family of 3 Myself and my 2 girls (9 & 7) and we will be going in January. I will only be taking 2 large suitcases which will be $15 each both ways.
We will also be each taking a carry on as well. I have a Disney duffle bag that has wheels and a handle so I can have my daughter use that one as her carry on and I have my Disney canvas bag.

 

[WantToGoNow]

We are a family of 5. My oldest dd packs for herself and will have 1 large suitcase and 1 carryon (the biggest allowed). She will be flying and the rest of us are driving. So although I could take as much as I could stuff in the back of our Ford Freestyle with the back seats laying down, I only intend to bring 2 large suitcases (me and dh) and 2 smaller ones (ds8 and dd5). I usually pack 2-3 extra outfits for each kid for the entire time because you never want to underestimate what kids can get into. I only bring enough clothes for 1/2 of the vacation and we do laundry on our day off (well dh does while I swim and play with the kids) - we've done this the last 4 trips and it works out well for us because my dh actually likes to do laundry (he does it at home as well).

Unless you are taking Magical Express, I would suggest waiting to get your diapers, swim diapers, wipes, food and snacks, etc. after you get there (or use GardenGrocer.com to have them delivered to your resort). They take up a lot of suitcase room and Disney charges an arm and a leg for them in the parks/gift shops.

 

[MariDisney]

I wouldn't take 2 sets of clothes for everyone for each day. We go for 8 days and take about 5 outfits each. I then wash halfway through the trip or so. We do the pool/nap thing every afternoon. So, that's when I throw in a load. With the little ones, I'd maybe take 2 additional sets of clothes. I usually bring a duffel bag in one of our suitcases for souveniers. Anything that won't fit in there I have the resort ship home for me. For the 3 of us we take 1 large and 1 medium suitcase.

 

[MariDisney]

An additional piece of advice...I used to generally pack all of one person's clothes in the same suitcase. This past trip, we had a misdirected bag, so all of my DD's clothing was potentially gone (actually, the bag was returned within a few hours). I was sort of cranky that we would be forced to shop the first night there for her. If I had spread things out, we could have waited a day or two before shopping.

 

[Schmeck]

8 suitcases is way too many for an 8 day trip with 4 people. In 4 months it will be September, very warm, and summer clothing for a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old should fit in one smaller suitcase. Even if you don't want to do laundry on your trip, all your clothing should fit in 3 suitcases. Pack the diapers and wipes in the 4th, and you should be fine.

 

[aidtrismommy]

I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old. I take one suitcase for them (with a sleeve of diapers and swim diapers) And one for me (larger) I overpack too, but kids clothes are so small that I have enough room. I also do laundry. At the end of the trip, the diapers will be mostly gone so there is room for souveniers. I like the idea of packing a duffle bag in case you need extra room on the way home. 8 suitcases is excessive IMO. Maybe consider staying in a villa, the 1 bedrooms have washers. And that way, you can fly home with suitcases full of clean clothes!!!!

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

8 suitcases?!? Never! That's just outrageous. We're a family of 4 and bring 3 - 2 big ones and 1 carry on. It's always been enough for us and we don't even do any laundry. I'll pack mine and my dh stuff in one suitcase and the boys stuff in another. Then we'll put whatever is left into the carry on.

 

[LWatson]

We are only planning on 3 as a family of 4. I would say 2, but we are going in Dec and we will headed to a wedding after, so we will need mor clothes for that. But yeah I way over packed in Feb (1 suitcase for me, 1 for DH, 1 for DS1 (small), 1 for DS2(again small), 2 computer bags, and a big beach bag). I'm hoping this time to go to 2 checked bags, a carry on with flying needs, and a duffle bag JIC. We are flying SWA so we get a few bags w/o having to pay for them.

 

[AshtonsMom99]

We aren't flying so I guess we will have a little more Freedom there but as I am reading this $25 dollars for a checked bag! Holy smokes! Insane....I wasn't planning on doing laundry there, but will have to as we are staying in FL for 2 weeks...Does anyone know if there are any laundromats in thw Disney area or at least the Orlando area near Disney?

 

[katieandemismom]

Well..... two main thoughts. If you pack the diapers/wipes/swim diapers on the way down, they'll be used so you can put souveniers in their place in the suitcases on the way back. We always pack two duffle bags that fold down tight in the suitcase "just in case" we need return trip space.

Second, you could always FedEx or UPS down the baby essentials and then send the extra stuff home the same way. It's cheaper (especially if you have an account number) than paying the baggage fees and you don't have to lug it around in the airport.

My biggest packing tip for the kids is to buy gallon sized ziplock bags. Put a complete outfit (shirt, shorts, socks, and undies) in each one. Roll them to squish out the air. Then all you have to do is grab a bag each day and dress your kid. It is a huge help for us b/c dh would put the shirt that matched one pair of shorts on with a different pair and then we'd have problems. Plus you can grab a bag for each child and throw it in the diaper bag so you'll have a clean set all the time. Once you use an outfit, you can use the ziplock for something else (carrying wet or dirty clothes back to the room, keeping a bathing suit for the kids with you in case they want to play, etc.).

We have two girls plus dh and I and we usually check two bags and carryon one each.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

2 outfits per person per day is way too much. I packed one outfit for each day plus 4 extra. This was for an 8 day trip. I also pack one warmer outfit just in case a freak cold front hit Orlando in September. I definitely didn't need that. Next time I'll only take one outfit for each day plus 2 extras. That should be plenty.

You should be able to pack all the clothes and toiletries for your family in 2 suitcases. Then pack diapers and wipes in a 3rd bag. You'll use those up and then have room for souvenirs on the way back.

I always recommend taking a carryon bag packed with one outfit for each family member in case your luggage gets lost.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I take one suitcase for each of us. The kids clothes are smaller so it is easy to fit diapers, wipes and extra clothes in the kids suitcases.

I never do laundry on vacation. Thats taboo to me. I pack one outfit for each day and then about 4 extra just in case.

We did a 10 night trip once and was able to fit everything in 4 suitcases for the 4 of us, plus diapers and wipes for DD. It is very expensive to buy diapers in WDW, so I definetly wouldn't suggest that.

You will use alot of the diapers during the time you are there and that will make room for souvenirs. It will be fine.

I take the diapers out of the package and line the suitcases with them. It takes up way less room then trying to fit the whole intact package.