How much "spare" luggage do you bring?

[GammaPro]

We are planning on bringing 2 extra suitcases for gifts and goodies.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

None, any things I buy I put in my carry on. Last year we went to the Virgin Islands and we bought 7 bottles of rum and some really neat stuff, we had three bottles of rum stolen out of our luggage and all of our souveneirs were gone. But we flew with two different airlines, both of which pointed the finger at the other so we never saw anything for the things that were stolen. If I was flying with one airline I would probably bring one but maybe that would just persuade me to buy more.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We might take an extra suitcase if we thought we might need it. However the thought of dragging all the stuff to the airport and checking in might require a bigger car.

 

[goofy4tink]

I always have the best of intentions and think I won't be buying too much. But, for the last 3 trips, I've had to buy an extra bag in order to get stuff home. Now I have way too many tote bags from WDW. I will start putting one in my checked luggagge, but folded up, so I don't have to worry about it when I leave.

 

[Houston_Disney_Fan]

Since our first experience of having to buy an extra suitcase at WDW (cost $100!) we always bring along one large empty one. We don't always fill it up completely, but it's nice to know the space is there if we need it.

 

[mhingher]

My parents got stuck having to buy an extra pice of luggage during one trip. So from that point forward, I always make sure there's room in my suitcase, and I usually bring a smaller piece that I fill with snacks. That way we'll eat the snacks while we're there, and it will be empty for souvenirs on the way back!

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

We had to buy 1 extra piece of luggage on our trip this past October and....I'm almost embarrased to admit......it was bought strictly for the popcorn buckets and souveneir drinks. Hey, we like popcorn, and with all that popcorn you get thirsty, and there were 6 of us, ok DH dosen't eat popcorn but still, 5 is alot.

 

[Hanover]

We bring an extra large duffle bag....it's easy to roll up and stuff in a suitcase on the way there.

 

[Julia M]

I usually bring along 1 or 2 soft sided, fold up/zip up style duffel bags.

I don't always even buy that many souvenirs (although my kids always have some) I also pack really, really well on the way out, and I'm usually throwing things quickly into suitcases on the way home, so it doesn't fit as well

Julia

 

[froggy33]

Can you fill up a smaller rolling suitcase and then put it into the larger rolling suitcase as long as it doesn't exceed weight limits? That would seem like an easy way to do it!

Thanks

 

[mill4023]

On our first trip, we didn't even think about it and ended up needing to buy extra bags while there. But I just ran to the Target and got a couple of big duffle bags for about $20 each.

Next time, we'll just fold them up and bring them with us.

 

[ktglads]

Can you fill up a smaller rolling suitcase and then put it into the larger rolling suitcase as long as it doesn't exceed weight limits? That would seem like an easy way to do it!

Thanks

This is how I pack. I can keep the two together under 50lbs (usually at 47 on the dot) and am all set. I use my bathroom scale to weigh them at home, but even if I am off, I could always split them into 2 at the airport if I had to. On the way home, I am all set with more than enough room for all the souveniers, especially the breakable ones

 

[DisFlan]

We bring an extra large duffle bag....it's easy to roll up and stuff in a suitcase on the way there.

We do this, too. Rolled up, it takes up very little room. We stick a luggage tag on it so we can check it through on the return flight. Even with the best of intentions to hold down the stuff we buy, we ALWAYS seem to need it.


DisFlan

 

[ladysoleil]

I usually bring a medium sized totebag and dufflebag in the checked luggage. Both are small enough to take on as carry-on if we have breakables.

I don't need as much stuff in my carry-on for the return trip, because I don't need all my toiletries and park bag stuff in carry on for the ride home- even if my luggage was lost, I have full size everything at home anyway, so other than meds and my electric toothbrush, which I'd be upset to lose, those things move back to the checked suitcase. I also carry a pretty small purse, which comes in handy.

I pack light and do weird stuff like bring my beat up sneakers and flipflops from the summer for my winter trips- I pitch them out before I leave, and I have more suitcase room. I know this doesn't work for everyone, but generally, the way I run around, my summer sneakers have one good park trip left in them and after that, they're ready for the trash can anyway. Some people do this with their old socks and undies too, but I'd just feel weird about throwing out my underwear each day. :lol: If I had to pack really light, I'd do it though.

If we buy too much stuff, my purse fits inside the small tote with the smaller souvies, which is then my "small personal item" that can fit under the seat, there's extra room in my carry on bag for more stuff, and in a dire, "we bought too much junk" emergency, DH can carry the extra small duffle as his carry on since he generally doesn't use a carry on bag anyway.

The tote bag also doubles as a beach bag for pool or waterparks.

I learned my lesson after too many vacations where I had to find a Target or WalMart to buy a duffle bag to get stuff back home!

 

[Perdygirl]

On our last trip we brought along a large duffel bag. Inside the duffel bag I packed a bunch of snack food (granola bars, cereal, crackers, etc), ziplock bags in various sizes, a cheap over the door shoe holder that I used for organizing toiletries in the hotel, first aid supplies, small supply of laundry soap and a few other things that I was not planning to bring home. Therefore, on the way back I could use the empty duffel for souvenirs. It worked great. The only problem is that the more space you create for "stuff", the more "stuff" you bring home!

 

[Ilovestitch]

I usually bring 2 fold out Bagallinis- they sell them at AAA offices or on ebags.com (just search "bagallini") They are made of super durable ripstop nylon , come in many bright colors and they fold down really small. They are on sale on ebags right now, too.
We usually hang one in the closet and throw our dirty clothes in it on our trip, then we pack our souvineers in our suitcase. I've carried them on the airplane and I've also checked them- the bright colors are easy to see on the luggage carosel.

Here's pic from their site (in DIS green):

HTH -Stephanie

 

[pic22]

We just got back and didn't bring an extra luggage, but the baby left us some room from things that she used, diapers and food, and we had two packages shipped. Shipping is the way to go, especially out of state, the sales tax is dropped and the shipping rates on larger order is great. I think I paid $20 to get two orders shipped, with breakables (Christmas Ornaments), a Train set, and a waffle iron, plus many other things and they will be insured on delivery.

 

[hezreck]

When we went to disney, our suitcases were full on the way there, so we put an extra suitcase that folds flat in the bottom of our other one, so we would have room for goodies we bought. Ends up we didn't need it after all. We rolled up all our dirty clothes on the way home and we had so much extra room in the suitcase that we didn't even use the extra one. I had room left over too. It's amazing how much space I gained. Try it!!