How much do you pack for a week at Disney?

[katmu]

We leave in less than 2 weeks so I need to start thinking about packing. I've been watching the weather but I want to be prepared for both warm and cold temps. I've never been to Florida in January so any tips on how much and what to pack would be appreciated. My college age sons will most likely wear mostly shorts as they are more warm blooded than me. The older one will wear shorts even in January in Minnesota. I'm not quite so warm blooded though. We will be in Orlando for 8 days total including our departure day.

I'm bringing 2 pairs of my most comfortable shoes plus flip-flops just in case we go to the water park, but I'm struggling with clothes. I generally like to pack light (carry-on only).

 

[rachael95]

Sounds like you're flying. So you might want to plan on doing laundry, that would cut down on how much to bring.

I'd go with a pair of jeans since you can wear those a couple days without washing and maybe a pair of capri pants since you can wear those when it's warm or cooler, and most of them can be rolled up into a small ball. Then for the day-time, I'd get at least 2 pair of shorts. Jeans shorts might be an option too for being able to re-wear.

Bring a cardigan or pull-over and then you can layer on top of t-shirts and that cuts down on having to bring long and short-sleeved shirts. A nice cardigan can also dress up a t-shirt so you get double duty that way too.

If I'm not doing laundry and have space, I usually bring 1 extra outfit per every 4 days I'm going to be gone.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I only pack a few outfits and then do laundry half way through. This way when we get home I only have half the amount of clothes to put away. Plus doing laundry at Disney is not bad. The laundry rooms are by the pools so I do laundry while hanging out at the pool. I also wash clothes on our last day while relaxing at the pools that way I come home with 99% of our cloth clean. It only take 1 hour and 20 minutes to wash 2 -3 loads since there are multiple washers and dryers


Remember Jan is Florida's coldest month.

 

[mcoaddict]

I always over pack and then don't wear half of what I bring. It does get cool by Florida standards but from an Ontario perspective it's still gorgeous. Once we were there for a cold snap and we wore a thin long sleeve shirt over our tank tops and shorts. But we still swam every day. So I would think if you wear your biggest clothes there then pack the rest carefully you should be able to get away with a carry on. You can always do laundry if you need to. But i've never needed to. Have fun!

 

[Jenny Sanders]

I always over pack. I usually bring 2 outfits per day, bikinis, cover ups, jammies, and way too many shoes. I like to have the extra outfit, so I can dress up for dinner, or feel fresh after a day in the parks. There's no way I'm doing laundry on vacation...
29 trips to Disney World and counting...next stop POFQ march 2014

 

[katmu]

I'm going to try to start packing tonight and see how it goes. I'm thinking more tops, underwear and socks and fewer pants & shorts. I'm going to wear a merino hoodie under a fleece to the airport (it will likely be single digits or below when we leave) and maybe pack 1 cardigan. I'm hoping I can fit everything in the carry-on. If not, I do have a 24" but I don't like having to check bags.

 

[rachael95]

I'm going to try to start packing tonight and see how it goes. I'm thinking more tops, underwear and socks and fewer pants & shorts. I'm going to wear a merino hoodie under a fleece to the airport (it will likely be single digits or below when we leave) and maybe pack 1 cardigan. I'm hoping I can fit everything in the carry-on. If not, I do have a 24" but I don't like having to check bags.

Remember you get a carry on and a purse with many flights. You can always switch to a bigger purse bag and fit some things in there.

 

[rachael95]

Double post

 

[bookgirl]

I pack enough 'bottoms' for half the trip in neutral colors, like khaki or in jean material. (when it's not hot and sweaty I wear them twice, if it's hot then I plan for laundry)

I take one shirt for everyday, then put in two extra either incase of spills, sweat, etc. All shirts must go with any pair of bottoms I decide to wear. I never take clothes that only go with certain pieces. Mix and match is the way to go.

Underwear and socks one for each day AND at least 2 pairs extra, sometimes 3. (these NEVER get worn twice )

I take one pair of jeans or crops and one sweat shirt/hoodie 'just in case'. Often the jeans or crops are my plane clothes as they are the bulkiest and take up more room in the suitcase.

One pair of sneakers (two if I have room), one pair of flip flops. I've never needed dress shoes at Disney.

I stick to a basic any piece can go with any others, and I try to include at least one piece in each that can be dressed up just enough to wear to an ADR like HBD or Yachtsman.

Watch and maybe one pair of basic stud earrings.

Basic toiletries with as many cross purpose products as possible. (my shower gel doubles as shave lotion, my hand lotion can also be used as body lotion, etc) I dislike the Disney line of hair and body products, as well as having skin allergies, so I don't ever plan on using them. And usually a small kit of nail clippers/file/eyeglass repair kit/first aid.

I don't wear make up on vacation so only the minimum needed (tinted moisturizer, mascara, colored lip stick).

One small bag for parks.

Usually a small stash of Starbucks Via packs/snacks.

All of this fits in one 26' checked suitcase



In my backpack as carry on:

Cpap (sleep apena machine)

I use a tablet so no books, mp3 player, dvd/cds needed every thing on this.

Phone also doubles as camera.

Spare glasses/sunglasses

Small baggie with hand sanitizer, chap stick.

Charger/headphones/etc

Snack for plane (I don't do honey roasted peanuts, yuck)

Honestly I feel like I over pack.

My one January trip I took crops only and wished I had shorts, only used a hoodie, never needed an actual coat.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

I am cold natured and have been to Disney is January. If it is above 60 degrees outside I wear Capris everywhere I go. So I took Capris for our January trip and only took 2 pair of blue jeans. I also took a hoodie. In the mornings it might be 50 degrees so I would wear my jeans and hoodie. Then around 11 am it would warm up to 70 and I would have to take my hoodie off and tie it around my waist. I think I ended up wearing my jeans almost every day because of how chilly it was in the mornings.

But my DH is not cold natured and he wore shorts every day of that trip. He was just chilly in the a.m then he felt great the rest of the day. I didn't mind the hoodie around my waist so it worked out for me to dress that way.

If you are from somewhere very cold then the temps in Orlando in January might feel great to you. But I would pack for chilly weather just in case. If you walk out of your room door every morning and it is not too chilly for you right then, then the rest of the day will be fine for you.