If you use cloth diapers to save money, did you use them on your Disney vacation?

[GatorMama]

I'm trying to decide whether or not we should take cloth diapers with us or not. Our last three major trips, we used disposables for various reasons. I do have some that we could use for our upcoming vacation, but I'm pretty sure they won't last the whole trip, and I'd rather NOT spend the money on buying MORE nasty things to toss into a landfill. I just don't know how practical it is to take our cloth.

We are driving and will have two days of travel on both ends of our 8 day vacation. The first 7 nights in Orlando, we'll be in an off-site resort with a washer/dryer. We are taking the 2 park days/off day approach.

Really... the only negative I'm seeing is the space it will take to pack cloth... and the time for laundry. As far as budget goes, I should take them, huh?

 

[RachaelA]

Do you put them in the dryer? That would be the deciding factor for me. I wouldn't want to take a lot so I would wash the dirty ones daily and bring just enough for one day and wash each night. (or in your case 2 days because you have 2 days of travel at each end). I still don't know if I'd want to carry 2 days worth of dirty diapers in the car....

My DH has already said no cloth on trips though

 

[GatorMama]

I've both line dried and used the dryer, so I didn't consider that at all in my decision. I can line dry the covers/pockets and toss inserts and prefolds into the dryer without a problem. Two days of dirties isn't much really now that he's older. Anything super stinky gets tossed at a diaper change and wouldn't be carried in the car. When he was teeny tiny (before poo got flushed), it didn't smell enough (through the bag) for us to worry about it in the car. DS just had to have his own suitcase to travel- half for clothes and half for diapers.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Less fuss and muss if you use disposable especially since you are driving. I would hate to travel with poopy diapers in my vehicle or carry poopy diapers around with me in the park especially on hot humid days.

 

[GatorMama]

Less fuss and muss if you use disposable especially since you are driving. I would hate to travel with poopy diapers in my vehicle or carry poopy diapers around with me in the park especially on hot humid days.

Since I already have some disposables, I'm thinking that I'll take cloth with me for overnight and evenings, but have disposables for mornings and afternoons in the parks... then at least I'm not carrying around the super stinkies during the hottest part of the day.

 

[magik]

I don't have kids, but people I have traveled to WDW with do and use cloth diapers. One time they just used their cloth in the parks and washed every other day (we stayed in a place with washer/dryer). Another time they used gDiapers while out and about (reusable cloth waterproof covers, but flushable absorbent insides). The time they used the cloth in the parks, they flushed the poop, so it really wasn't stinky carrying them around for a few hours. Plus, since the kids were that little, we were never in the parks for more than a few hours at a time so they could unload back at the hotel during nap time before heading back out for the late afternoon/evening.

 

[3pletprincesses]

Nope I took disposable with me when the girls were younger. I was tired enough from being all day at the park that I really didn't feel like doing laundry in the evening.

 

[bumbershoot]

We didn't know that we would be Disney fans when DS was still in dipes, so the most we ever did was one day, once a year, for two years, at Disneyland, and yes we used cloth on him. But we traveled other places, and never bought any disposables, so I'm 100% sure we would have used cloth with a longer stay.

Even if I were using disposables I'd still follow the directions that tell you to put the poop into the toilet and THEN throw it away (found on the Pampers website, though they do move it around every few months, also found on the packaging of the tiny Huggies we were sent when DS was brand new, and just makes sense to get the waste into the sewer system vs the groundwater system), so the only thing different would be the carrying around of cloth. And, frankly, apart from the bouts with rotavirus (so stinky), I was never as disgusted by DS's dipes (even after a day at Disneyland or SeaWorld, or a long weekend without washing machine) as I am by opening a garbage can in a restroom and smelling a bunch of disposables...so I highly doubt I could contribute to that in good conscience.

Having access to that W&D is key! It allows you to not have to pack ALL the dipes. We had two big wetbags, and I would pack the dipes into one wetbag, then put the dirties into the other as the trip went on. With access to a W&D you wash every couple days and it's all good.

We used pocket dipes, and I tried to preserve the elastic in the pockets by hang-drying...but I hang-dry most of my clothes anyway, so not being able to use the dryer for the pockets wouldn't impact my stay at all. I already have things hanging all over!

 

[hsmamato2]

honestly you're going to Disney world...a wonderful place,but a place where you'll contribute significantly to landfills just by being there,using disposable cups,plates,napkins,forks,straws,etc (multiply that by the # of us who go there)
I understand 'going green' but it seems like a buttload(pun intended) of extra work for...not much. And a pack of dipes costs around 10.00,so in the scheme of Disney budgets,that is NOTHING to spend.
I vote for using disposables on vacation. at home,I'm sure you can easily sanitize the places where you wash the dipes, out and about,not as simple. ANd I do like being 'green' myself, but the sheer quantity of throwing away at a place like WDW is massive.....I mean,I don't even consider packing and using my own silverware from home for my trip,or washing my own cloth napkins while there either....I use easily provided items. I *could* bring those things,but I don't....

 

[mistysue]

We did cloth at bedtime and disposables in the parks. I try to minimize what I carry all day and a bag of wet diapers is just extra weight and another thing to figure out how to fit in my bag.

 

[adventure_woman]

I agree with those that say use cloth while you're back at the room and disposables in the parks. I would also use cloth while you are on the road. I never have blowouts with cloth but ALWAYS seem to with the disposables!!

 

[GatorMama]

I agree with those that say use cloth while you're back at the room and disposables in the parks. I would also use cloth while you are on the road. I never have blowouts with cloth but ALWAYS seem to with the disposables!!

I KNOW! I'm pretty sure we'll do a combination... it's making more and more sense the longer I think about it.

 

[mhsjax]

I guess I am out of the loop, I never used cloth, or I don't understand. But I know you dump the poop, but after that do you just throw them in the washing machine? I would hate to think I washed my clothes after someones else's dirty diapers, even if the poop had been dumped. Sorry but the whole cloth diaper thing disgusts me.

 

[DisGirl819]

Less fuss and muss if you use disposable especially since you are driving. I would hate to travel with poopy diapers in my vehicle or carry poopy diapers around with me in the park especially on hot humid days.

I agree with this. I have moved twice and traveled a bunch with my cloth diapered kiddos. We tried a move with cloth and it was a big fat FAIL. The car stunk like dirty diapers after a day...if you plan to wash every night then it might work though. And I found the hotel washer/dryer didn't clean them sufficiently either.

Nope I took disposable with me when the girls were younger. I was tired enough from being all day at the park that I really didn't feel like doing laundry in the evening.

I do this on vacation too...totally me. Its my vacation...I don't do laundry.

I guess I am out of the loop, I never used cloth, or I don't understand. But I know you dump the poop, but after that do you just throw them in the washing machine? I would hate to think I washed my clothes after someones else's dirty diapers, even if the poop had been dumped. Sorry but the whole cloth diaper thing disgusts me.

Well, the OP wasn't asking for opinions on cloth diapering. She already uses them and is happy with them. So I'm going to say you're a bit off topic? However, to answer your question, if they come out clean from the washer, then the washer is clean too. If you're using shared machines, you NEVER know what anyone else has put in the machines before you. Have you ever used a laundromat? I bet you cloth diapers have been washed there before. Have you ever used the w/d at a hotel? I bet they were used there too. Do you have kids? Have you ever washed clothes from a diaper blow out? Puked on clothes? Bed linens from a potty training preschooler? pet messes? I'm sorry but your argument holds no water here unless you simply don't do any laundry whatsoever.

 

[mhsjax]

I agree with this. I have moved twice and traveled a bunch with my cloth diapered kiddos. We tried a move with cloth and it was a big fat FAIL. The car stunk like dirty diapers after a day...if you plan to wash every night then it might work though. And I found the hotel washer/dryer didn't clean them sufficiently either.



I do this on vacation too...totally me. Its my vacation...I don't do laundry.



Well, the OP wasn't asking for opinions on cloth diapering. She already uses them and is happy with them. So I'm going to say you're a bit off topic? However, to answer your question, if they come out clean from the washer, then the washer is clean too. If you're using shared machines, you NEVER know what anyone else has put in the machines before you. Have you ever used a laundromat? I bet you cloth diapers have been washed there before. Have you ever used the w/d at a hotel? I bet they were used there too. Do you have kids? Have you ever washed clothes from a diaper blow out? Puked on clothes? Bed linens from a potty training preschooler? pet messes? I'm sorry but your argument holds no water here unless you simply don't do any laundry whatsoever.

Sorry, but that is my opinion, and yep you are probably right, since I have used washer at WDW. Adn no, they have done lots of studies about the germ in washers. At least at home it is my own germs and that is bad enough. Never really used a laundry mat. OH and never any pet messes in my machine. If it is soiled by the dog, it gets thrown away. So, sorry, but not sorry.

FWIW, I don't care who uses cloth diapers, I understand why some would. For me, no thanks, but I stand by what I said earlier, I believe another pp mentioned that same thing about being able to sterilize or clean the laundry facilities better at your own home.

And I just re read your comments, you said that hotel washers and dryers didn't clean them sufficiently, so why are you asking me about if the diapers are clean then the washers are clean. You just contradicted yourself.

 

[DisGirl819]

Sorry, but that is my opinion, and yep you are probably right, since I have used washer at WDW. Adn no, they have done lots of studies about the germ in washers. At least at home it is my own germs and that is bad enough. Never really used a laundry mat. OH and never any pet messes in my machine. If it is soiled by the dog, it gets thrown away. So, sorry, but not sorry.

FWIW, I don't care who uses cloth diapers, I understand why some would. For me, no thanks, but I stand by what I said earlier, I believe another pp mentioned that same thing about being able to sterilize or clean the laundry facilities better at your own home.

And I just re read your comments, you said that hotel washers and dryers didn't clean them sufficiently, so why are you asking me about if the diapers are clean then the washers are clean. You just contradicted yourself.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions about how to diaper their kids, no biggie.

And honestly, if I'm concerned about the cleanliness of a washer I can run an empty cycle with bleach through it. I invite anyone else to do the same. And you're right, I did say that in my experience hotel washers are not as good as mine at home, which is why I don't cloth diaper on trips, moves or vacations. However, it irks me when someone thinks cloth diapers are more disgusting than disposables. They are both disgusting, they are diapers. I'd rather save money by washing mine than throwing my money in a landfill.

Let's try to keep this on topic for the OP and in my experience, I would leave the cloth at home.

 

[cbg1027]

I agree with the disposables on the budget front. It wouldn't be a significant cost increase to your trip budget.

As for being environmentally friendly, only you can make that decision.

My brother and sister-in-law used mainly cloth with their two kids, but kept disposables around for travel and when other people were watching the kids. I thought that was a good compromise. If you use all cloth at home, that's a huge reduction in waste, so I wouldn't feel so guilty about using disposables for a week.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I agree with the disposables on the budget front. It wouldn't be a significant cost increase to your trip budget.

As for being environmentally friendly, only you can make that decision.

My brother and sister-in-law used mainly cloth with their two kids, but kept disposables around for travel and when other people were watching the kids. I thought that was a good compromise. If you use all cloth at home, that's a huge reduction in waste, so I wouldn't feel so guilty about using disposables for a week.

I agree with this. When my kids were in diapers, I used cloth at home but for vacation and day trips and things like that we used disposables.

 

[GatorMama]

I appreciate the genuine responses.

I'm in touch with some people that live in the area and might be able to help me work out a wash routine that will clean the diapers sufficiently. Part of the problem with washing while traveling is that the water is different so a normal routine might not work. Yeah, the machines can make a difference too, but the water can be a pretty major issue if you're not sure what you're dealing with ahead of time. I'll take my calgon just in case. I need it BAD at home, so it can't be much worse... heck... it might be better!

 

[ineedmyblankie]

I CDed DS. At Disney, we used disposables for a few reasons:
1 - Were flying and had limited room in our luggage.
2 - We didn't want to do any laundry on vacation.
3 - We didn't have a W/D in our room.
4 - Overall, disposables were more convenient and less stressful, since I didn't have to think about wetbags, going home to do wash, etc.

If we had a W/D, I might have tried disposables in the park and CD when out of the park. Although, I think my DH would have said no CD on vacation at all. Even though I found it much less stressful to just do disposables the whole time, if not using them will stress you out, then definitely figure out the best way to make it work.