I pack this.... just in case

[Saralyn]

I always split our luggage. 2 suitcases with 1/2 of everybody's stuff in each.

We do that, too, plus we bring a carry-on with a spare outfit and a swimsuit for everyone. Maybe we're a little paranoid about baggage handling!

 

[Tonto]

In regards to extra towels, I always grab a few of those $1 store towels that are packed small but expand when they get wet (really washcloths, lol) for the backpack, those have been great when we needed a towel but not a huge one. I also always pack each of the girls and I a Turbie Twist towel for the room. We all have long hair and like to have our hair up in a towel after we get out of the shower and the Turbie Twist saves towel usage.

Another thing I always pack are samples packs. I get a lot of different kinds of samples for shampoos & conditioners, lotions, cereals, energy bars, Tide pods, etc. Free is GOOD.

Oh, and depending on when we are going...a Snuggy (or 2). Perfect for when you are watching the movie at the resort at night, taking a nap in the day without turning down the blankets, etc. Folds up small, and there has never been once we had it that we didn't use it, but there have been times when we didn't have one we wish we did.

Really great, ORIGINAL ideas! Love this- ordering Turbie Twists on Amazon RIGHT NOW! We're bringing a ton of those shrinky-dink towels as 'TinkTreats' for the kids each day but I wouldn't have thought to pack them for the parks. Thank you!

 

[chrismass]

Most of my things were already listed except chewable Tums. Great for upset stomachs after too heavy meals, unusual foods or rock n' roller coaster!

 

[princesserinrose]

Pepto-Bismol. Lots of it. Someone in my family almost always gets sick.

Bug spray. Especially if you're from a northern state like me and aren't used to many mosquitoes. Very useful for night shows.

Hoodies. Endlessly useful.

Ponchos and umbrellas.

Aspirin.

Children's Tylenol.

 

[stasijane]

Aspirin, Plastic sandwish bags, and a extra cell phone battery.

 

[asudol]

If you are from Canada or any country other than the US, bring medications, etc that you may need that are over the counter. For instance, Polysporin Eye drops, Robaxacet, etc.. You can't get these without a prescription in the US - we learned the hard way!!

 

[Sweetly]

The one additional item I add to my list is a little sewing kit.

 

[moralesdavis]

Most everything we bring has been covered, but I have I will add:

• individually packaged alcohol wipes. Dual purpose for these: cleaning wounds AND they work great for nausea! My hubby works at the hospital and learned this trick from the Post-OP nurses. When patients have nausea, they will open up an alcohol wipe, fold it up even smaller and then place it under their noses. Something about the smell alleviates the nausea. I often get nauseous when I get a migraine and have tried this trick and it *really* works. Now I always have my trifecta in my purse... migraine meds, aroma therapy and alcohol wipes.

• a laminated picture of each of our girls with all of their info (height/weight/hair and eye color) written on the back. I take the pics the day before we leave. The laminating keeps them from getting all crinkled up in our daypack.
  
  If either or both got separated from us (God forbid), I have something I can hand over to cast members that isn't my phone and much easier to see than a picture on a phone. Besides, I want to be able to keep my phone in case they call me, communicate with whoever, etc.
  
  We also take a picture with our phones each morning so that we can easily remember what they are wearing.

• a portable phone charger. We have the Droid Maxx phones so they have a really "big" battery, but using lots of apps (touring lines, my Disney experience, camera), etc. can still wear it down faster than we would like. These chargers won't give us a full charge but can help you make that last call you really *need* to make, etc. They're about twice the size of a tube of lipstick so not huge, but considering the size they are a bit heavy.

• Earplugs. While my youngest (5) loves to watch fireworks, she hates the loud noises that go along with them.

 

[ZoZo]

The one additional item I add to my list is a little sewing kit.

Great tip. One year I needed to do a swimsuit repair and had to buy a sewing kit at the POR gift shop. Cost me $8 for what was basically a needle and thread!

Now I bring a tiny sewing kit in an empty Altoids tin.

 

[AntFarm]

We pack small first aid kit, chidlren's tylenol, ibuprofen for the grownups, and copies of our medical and dental insurance cards

 

[GadgetTheInventor]

I always pack a very light-weight zippable extra bag to off-load items if someone is heading back to the room on Disney transportation from one of the parks. It's really nice to send back ponchos after the threat of rain has passed. Bag-carrying is a woman's duty in my family, and this way I can just tell one of the guys "bring the red bag when you come" or "take the red bag back and drop it off at the room". I can just stuff the extra bag into my backpack instead of trying to keep track of an another bag. I (sadly) have a much higher success rate of receiving and not loosing items since implementing this technique.

I also make sure to pack a day's supply of medicine that I might need instead of just a single dose or two. The resorts will often sell a box of Benadryl or Pepto, but medicine in the parks can get very expensive when needing multiple doses.

 

[Trip planner]

I fill a travel container with dish soap to clean our refillable mugs.

 

[Farm Girl]

Clorox wipes are a great idea. Just that little extra assurance.

 

[GMoney66]

Because of the time of year that we visit either Disneyland or World, we have been caught in torrential downpours, we always carry two collapsible travel umbrellas, which fold very small, and a rain jacket which folds into its own pocket, making it very small. The umbrellas I got at LL Bean, and the rain jackets were found on the Lands end website. I keep them in a small backpack which I store in a locker if I don't feel like carrying it. These things have enabled us to continue on with the fun regardless of the cooler fall rain showers!

 

[taterheads]

In regards to extra towels, I always grab a few of those $1 store towels that are packed small but expand when they get wet (really washcloths, lol) for the backpack, those have been great when we needed a towel but not a huge one. I also always pack each of the girls and I a Turbie Twist towel for the room. We all have long hair and like to have our hair up in a towel after we get out of the shower and the Turbie Twist saves towel usage.

Another thing I always pack are samples packs. I get a lot of different kinds of samples for shampoos & conditioners, lotions, cereals, energy bars, Tide pods, etc. Free is GOOD.

Oh, and depending on when we are going...a Snuggy (or 2). Perfect for when you are watching the movie at the resort at night, taking a nap in the day without turning down the blankets, etc. Folds up small, and there has never been once we had it that we didn't use it, but there have been times when we didn't have one we wish we did.

I LOVE the snuggie for the movie night...especially cause we are going in Feb! It's gonna be nippy!

 

[kris082668]

Bump

 

[Mayhem1976]

Like others have said, we take one of those Sham Wow tye towels. ON Kali River my neice was soaked, it was August so it felt nice, but she took her shirt off (she was 7 and my SIL had to hide her!) and then rolled it up in the towel to wring it out, worked great!

Candy!! My dad had a bag of candy with him, kept ansty little ones busy while in line to have a hershey kiss or something.

 

[my3sonsagn]

Most of mine have been mentioned. One other thing I take is a stack of emesis bags. Every single time we've gone someone (or more than one someone) has woken up puking at least once (usually just from excitement + junk food + rides), and my kids for some reason wake up just in time to say "I don't feel so... " - making it to the bathroom isn't even close to an option. We've all learned to keep an em-bag next to our bed - they will grab and use those even upon sudden waking. Much easier cleanup (esp for my emetophobic self!).

We also pack sanitizer/wipes with benzalkonium chloride (basic Wet Wipes) because it has been shown to inhibit norovirus unlike alcohol-based wipes.

Leave it to me to have the gross must-have items lol.

 

[starbound25]

awesome thread!

Most of what I carry has been covered

I think the only thing I can add is:

hair ties and fold-able brush. The brush I got for $1 at Target and I pop a bunch of hair elastics in a small zip bag. Has come in handy more than once!

 

[jamiesmom07]

Cold Meds!
Cut up sponge that has been drizzled with dish soap and dried at home for the cleaning of refillable mugs.
Power Strip-I never leave home without it.
Shower organizer from the dollar store, it's mesh and packs easy, keeps the shower clutter free of shampoo/body wash bottles.