How much baggage do you take?

[Minnie_me]

This is our first major family vacation --- DISNEY for 8 days in July!

We're borrowing luggage from friends, and I have no idea how much to take. Should we each have our own suitcase? (there's DH and I, and our two DD's, ages 9 and 6) Then what about carry-ons? Should we each have our own carry-on? So that would be 8 bags total? Is that too many? Or not enough?!?! LOL!

HELP!!!!

 

[SnowWhite12]

DH and I always take our own suitcase. For DD age 2 we take a large duffle bag. We then usually take a small rolling suitcase for a carry on.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

I would say don't overpack (easy to say, hard to do, I know!)

I say this because my cousin, his wife, and their 5 kids (9,7,6,3,1) just came down for a week. They took 2 suitcases only! One had the parents clothes/ all toiletries, the other had all of the kids clothes. They could do this because they just decided that instead of overpacking, they were going to find time to do laundry while they were there. So if you think it might be a hassle dragging stuff through the airport, I would say pack light...maybe a suitcase for you/ husband and one for the girls? Or maybe 3....with an extra for Disney souvenirs on the way back!

Each kid also brought their own carry on bag with anything they wanted (CDs, markers, books, blanket, snacks, etc) which made it easier when they were separated and couldn't sit together on the plane.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck...just thought I would share that they decided to pack light and LOVED it!

 

[EllyLovesDisney]

For dh, dd and I we take 1 large and 1 extra large suitcases, a diaper bag and a carry-on. That is for 1 week. Dh says I am a overpacker though

 

[mom2aredhead]

We went in October, and I flat out no denying had too much stuff. (and Halloween costumes for MNSSHP which took up a LOT of room) - For that trip we had 2 suitcases, a duffel bag, and a backpack (used as carry-on and diaper bag) - Yeah - we're a family of 3 going for 7 days.

No costumes this time, and I am FORCING myself (painfully) to buy travel-sized anything I can find even though it costs so much more than the regular size to conserve some space. It's also May instead of Oct, so I'm thinking warmer weather = lighter clothes. (Lets hope) Even with all of the stuff we brought last time, we still did laundry while there because lets face it, a newly potty trained toddler does not always allow for a no-laundry week (or day in most cases)
We rent a car and are bringing our own carseat and stroller, so the less we have to lug around the airport the better. I also keep telling myself, it's Florida, not Outer Mongolia, and if I really need something, especially with the rental car I can go to the store and buy it.
(No offense to anyone from Outer Mongolia)

I'm hoping we can bring 1 large suitcase, a rolling duffel, and a smaller carry-on/toddler bag/park bag (the backpack was awful last trip)

 

[disney_fan_fam]

This is our first major family vacation --- DISNEY for 8 days in July!

We're borrowing luggage from friends, and I have no idea how much to take. Should we each have our own suitcase? (there's DH and I, and our two DD's, ages 9 and 6) Then what about carry-ons? Should we each have our own carry-on? So that would be 8 bags total? Is that too many? Or not enough?!?! LOL!

HELP!!!!

I don't think it's that much. I take the same. And we do laundry while there. I always end up bringing home way more souvenirs than expected.

 

[Dad_Z]

We tend to wear some clothes multiple times. Usually a pair of shorts and shirt that just fit/look better than the others. In years past we always returned home not having wore all our clothes once, but having worn some clothes 2-3 times.

I travel enough now to plan on wearing most shirts, pants, and shorts at least twice. Thus, for a seven day trip I would typically bring 4 casual top/bottom colmbinations. I try make some of them interchangeable so I often do not wear the exact same outfit twice in a week.

DW, DS (3), and I plan on bringing one full-size piece of luggage and one "weekender" (the size smaller than a carry-on) or carry-on (if DW decides to bring her gigantic blow dryer) for 4 days, 5 nights in May.

Less is more, and frankly, you could always buy an extra shirt or pair of shorts if you found youself in jamb - you might even WANT to!

Good luck!

 

[mommiepoppins]

well there is 6 of us so I usually take 15 bags including carry on. I pack clothes, pool toys, stuff for the plane, food, suit cases filled with water bottles, laundry soap. I no I am crazy, but I do not like to buy any thing else except for our souvies and dinner

 

[Minnie_me]

Hey, mommiepoppins - - where in Central NY are you? I'm outside of Rochester (on the east side), right on Lake Ontario.....

 

[labdogs42]

We are a family of three and we take one XL rolling duffel with most of my stuff and DH's and a small rolling suitcase with DS's stuff. We pack an empty bag in one of these bags to check on the way home with souvies, etc. We take three carry ons -- the diaper bag, a bag with the cameras and snacks, and the laptop bag. I can't do it with any less bags. This is for a week. Oh yeah, there' no way I can wear an outfit more than once -- I'm always too sweaty for that! And there's no way I'm wasting time at Disney doing laundry!! Call me an overpacker if you must, but it works for me!

 

[Vickie46]

I took too many pieces of luggage last time.. I refuse to do that this time.. I want one piece of luggage for me and DD5 and my husband will have his... I refuse to take the laptop this time.. too heavy.. plus too much work downloading all those pics.. we have a ton of memory chips so that will be fine.. I think I have atleast 6 of the 1gb.. I am packing light light light this time.. makes for a much nicer trip.. another nice thing to do is rent those nice strollers they have at the parks.. they move so much better than your regular stroller.

 

[almburr]

a bag for averyone. a carry on. An empty suitcase for all the stuff you buy.

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

If you are staying on site, WDW Magic express will transport you luggage to your room for you so I guess you COULD pack the kitchen sink. But if offsite? With connecting flights? Carrying all that stuff around an airport and to rental counters and such? Too much like work. For a week? One carry-on suitcase per person. split up amongst your party a small backpack for the parks, notebook 'puter if bringing, camera bag, etc.

Figure on doing laudry once roughly mid-trip. Buy toiletries, sundries, sunscreen etc locally after arriving. Go low maintenance on everything. Limit to one set of nice evening out clothes/ensemble. Double undies, socks, and tops/shirts for each day - July is sweaty.

Minimize - don't take anything that might be "nice to have". 90% of your time will be spent in shorts/top/sneakers sweating and getting wet in the parks.

 

[a1tinkfans]

We're a family of three (2 adults and a teen)
We travel with 2 Large suitcases and one carry on. I SO say I am going to cut back but never do, you never know, you just MIGHT really need that extra pair of shorts, shoes, shirt, etc...etc...

Have a great time!

 

[bellebud]

we only do carry-ons. no waiting for your luggage at the airport (especially nice on the trip home, just getting off the plane and leaving), no possibility of losing your luggage or it getting damaged. we just bought new ones... 21" wheeled w/ backpack straps and zip-on/off backpacks on the front. we'll each wear the zip-off backpacks on the plane to get through the gate (i think the luggage would be too big for the carry-on size w/ the backpacks attached, but while in transit, we'll probably attach them and roll the luggage. very easy for each of us to handle). we got one for each of us (myself, dh, dd7yo and ds5yo). the kids clothes are smaller than ours, so if we need to, we put some of our stuff in the kids suitcases. when we buy stuff at wdw, we always ship it home. i love getting that package a few days after we return from the trip. i always forget its coming w/ the all hustle and bustle of returning home and getting back into a routine. Surprise!!

if the kids pick a toy, it just has to be small enough to fit in their luggage if they want it then. they really don't pick out toys anymore anyway, this will be about our 8th trip in 4 years coming up in may, so that does make it easier for them to pass on stuff. also, on your last day, you can pack stuff up and ship it home to yourself from the front desk of your resort (i haven't done that myself but have read about others doing it). so you wouldn't have to worry during the trip about 'is that too big to fit in the luggage?'

Each trip we've taken, we've packed lighter and lighter, realizing each time how little you really need when you're there. And i've also realized that even if you pack it, sometimes you don't bring it in the parks and have to buy anyway. example... watching Wishes one night, ds got chilly, i hadn't brought his sweatjacket to the park that day (of course i thought ahead and packed it and another one though, but it was in the room). so i had to go buy one at the disney store anyway. so now we had 3 sweatjackets to take home for him that trip. also, i don't 'need' my special shampoo, etc, for myself that i always felt like i needed. the disney shampoo, etc, they provide in the room is fine for a week. i also will cave in and buy in the hotel store what I didn't bring along or forgot to pack. yes, the prices are higher than my hometown walmart, but the convenience is worth something to me. i'm on vacation and don't want to feel like i have to be a girl scout, being prepared for every possible situation. Having to feel like i have to remember every single item we "might" use in a weeks time really reduces my stress. i'll just get it there if i need it (tylenol, etc)... and usually we'll need it when we're not in the room, so we'll have to buy it anyway. then i'll be really mad that i packed it but have to spend the money anyway.

pack light, pack light, pack light.

forgot to add... i always plan on buying each of us one disney-logo clothes item, which is a nice souvenior and helps reduce my packing too. so the extra sweatshirt or pants i might be tempted to pack, i don't and i plan on buying one there as a souvenior, usually from our resort shop so they're different each year (we're in the process of trying out each resort till we've tried them all).

 

[kileybeth]

This is the part my DH hates the most. He travels for buisness all over the world. He only ever takes a carry on.


On vacation the poor man is beside himself. He has me DW, and currently 4 children still at home. Last trip , two in diapers w/ strollers.

This trip one is potty trained but still has an occasional accident (which seems to be worse for planning!) I am not going back to pull ups, I'm just not doing it!)

Still 2 strollers, yes, they want/need their own and rentals are out of our budget and we like them around resort and in airport as well.

I also refuse to do laundry on vacation unless we have an emergency (stomach flu or something) come up.

DS14 and DD12 would rather die than share a suitcase. . .

You know where this is going don't you?!

My list looks like this:

1 medium suitcase for everyone (large for Mom ) checked luggage
1 sm/md suitcase for food (altho I am contempating wegoshop.com this time for delivery) on way down, souvies on way home. checked luggage

1 carry-on a piece
(backpacks for kids, except baby is a dipar bag which I carry for her of course) DH is the brief case w/ laptop, camera, ressies, other paperwork. . .
DW (me) is the rolling 21 inch carry on for our pool stuff when we get to resort before check in or luggage appears.

Last year we also had 2 carseats to check for our rental car. And 2 stollers to gate check. this year no rental car= no carseats, monorail resorts rock.

As has already been said, once my luggage gets out of the car at the airport and turned over at check in, I will not touch it again until it comes off the belt back in our hometown after our trip, I will not touch it again so far as hauling anything goes. GOD BLESS MAGICAL EXPRESS

Is this a nightmare? When we drive, a bit. That said, last year we spent 14 days on a road trip out west (9 different hotels) and once we were checking out for 2nd time it had become a doable routine with everyone knowing their part.

Also once we get in our hotel, I take the time to set it all up in some order. (think "okay, guys, shoes go here. your stuff goes here, your stays over there, no bathsuits any place but here. . . ) and put away as many suitcases as I can (stack inside each other, some collapsable). Always makes me wish my home was as easy to maintain!

While Dh, myself, and older kids will re-wear outfits, the 2 little ones will easily go thru more than one a day so, pack according to how many Mickey bars you will be serving!


and DH says we look like the Beverly Hill Billy's when we drive and open up our van doors at a nice hotel check in area after so many miles on the road. I think that's why this time he agreed to fly. . .

so yeah, happy planning from the Jed Clampents over here.

 

[TheMorgans]

I am going to try to limit the luggage on this trip. I only want 3 checked bags for all of us!! That may be too ambitious, since I have not yet started packing and we are going to be gone 10 days. Additionally everyone will have their own carry-on that they must carry. I have the large space bags that you can roll the air out so I am hoping that this helps. We have an off site villa with our own laundry, so on paper this is do-able.

I have always been a HUGE over packer for all of the rest of our trips and I am trying to reform.

 

[islandmum]

well if there is a competition we'd win LOL!!

we're doing a 3 stop vacation, plus we have to buy months worth of clothes, stuff for the house etc.. as we cant buy it on our island so we take empty suitcases we fill with all that stuff plus our vacation stuff.

the list goes ...

2 sets of golf clubs
2 car seats
2 strollers
laptop bag (carry on)
3 hard suitcases
2 huge duffle bags
4 backpacks (2 as carry ons).

as yet we've never lost a piece of luggage and as we use porters and towncars for transport the luggage is never an issue in terms of carrying it.

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

Since we leave for Disney in 3 days we are pretty much packed. We're a family of 4 and have 2 large suitcases (one for me and dh and our toiletries and one for the boys and their toiletries) plus a carry on with a change of clothes for all of us and bathing suits.

 

[jenrein]

We had one pilot bag per kid, one huge and one medium for my husband and I. Then 2 duffle bags- one full of shoes and one full of toiletries.