Is it a pain to do laundry on vacation?

[monorailsilver]

We always do laundry too. We wear 2 different outfits a day & we don't like to bring a bunch of clothes.

Last trip I had a stroller for the first time & used that as my laundry basket.

We sit at the pool while we do laundry but it does help that the quiet pool is near the laundry at the Poly.

 

[Ziggie]

I don't want to haul a million clothes but I don't want to do laundry either. I figure it would take a minimum of 2 hrs. out of our day (staying at Pop). Never know if a machine is going to be available when you need it, etc. Its going to be too hot to wear an outfit more than once. Can't decide. Any thoughts?

You'll probably get a variety of different answers on this, but for me... I won't do laundry on a Disney vacation. Nope, no thank-you... no laundry for me

 

[FloridaSam]

We were at Pop over the Easter break.

I've never done laundry before whilst on holiday but this time chose to. It was lovely to return home to the UK with no washing! We would put the washing on whilst we were at the pool.

The washers and dryers take about half an hour each. The cost of them was $2 each. (Have a look at the dryers though as there is one which is only $1! It drys for exactly the same amount of time!)

As mentioned by other people I also spent most of my time chatting to other people waiting for their washing!!

Sam x

 

[sters]

I am trying to figure this out too. I thought about getting up at the butt crack of dawn and doing it, maybe it won't be as busy then.

I'ts not. Not being a great sleeper, I found myself doing laundry at 5am (unplanned, but gave up on the notion of sleep for the day) and at POR, the laudromat was near the quiet pool. It's very cool to be floating in the pool at 5 am while doing laundry, believe it or not, and getting to see the sun rise. AN uplanned "magical moment" at Disney doing laundry! Who'd have thunkit?

 

[ncbyrne]

Whether or not I do laundry depends on the length of the trip. 10 days and under - NOT! I've even been known to wash out some undies in the hotel sink and buy a new shirt or two. Anything more that 10 days and I know we'll be going off site to do non Disney things. On that day, we go to an offsite laundromat. It's cheaper and quicker as it's all done at the same time. DH comes with me and we usually find a gift shop or two to pass the time.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

We have also always done laundry, on trips longer than 5 days. Just better than having dirty sweaty stinky clothes lying around. YUCK!! We also sit by the pool, while it is washing/drying.

At pop last week, the laundry room was almost empty at 1 pm. No waits for machines. In fact, I was able to split my loads into 2 dryers, rather than having to reinsert $$. All in all, I think it took about 30 minutes away from my pool time, to sort, fold, etc. Much easier than hauling down twice the clothes!!

 

[GoN2WDW]

The times we've stayed at POR (my Dixie Landings ) and Boardwalk we have done laundry. It is really easy at POR because we just took a mid-day break and went back to the resort to swim. The laundry areas are right by the pools and I throw in a load - swim - throw it in the dryer - swim - and by the time it's dry, we're done with pool time! This way I can pack (and carry) less stuff.

 

[Focusdude]

Since my husband and kids tend to fall asleep fairly early (and I never do!) - I did laundry almost every night! I always had clean clothes - and went home with pretty much all clean clothes! I brought laundry tablets from home. I actually met quite a few nice people while I was doing my laundry!

 

[ajksmom]

Always do laundry on vacation. As others have said it's ME time. No kids, making plans, picking up the room. Just me and the fold-up hamper, a book or magazine too.
I bring tablets and dryer sheets with me and fill old film canisters with quarters at home so there is no expense.
And it is awesome when you get home and put everything right away. Suitcases to the attic and tah-dah you're done.

 

[liznboys]

I always said I would not do laundry on vacation. But I decided to do some in Feb since our trip was long, 12 nights. Most of the time I would put it in before we went to eat in the food court. I overpacked on that trip, and with doing the laundry I realized I could have brought WAY less. I'm planning to bring very little for our trip next week, and I'll take some time one day and do a few loads.

 

[llij]

I did laundry at SOG during our December trip and I was so glad I did. It was a nice peaceful break after a long day in the parks. It was also nice to have clean clothes too!

I plan to do laundry this summer for our 8 day trip. I know that we will sweat through most of our clothes and I really don't want to overpack or have stinky clothes.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Have done laundry at ASMO, Pop and POR. POR's laundry room won hands down. Never crowded and it was right next to the quiet pool. One of our most pleasant evenings was hanging out at the pool doing laundry and having some Malibu and Cokes while the kids swam! Another reason I always do it is that dirty laundry seems to take up more room in the suitcase even when you fold it! I like the Tide with Downey and I put a small plastic container of it in the suitcase. Only one product to take. Also I take my own quarters because the change machines at Pop were broken one time and that was a pain so I learned!

 

[MickeyMouth]

We will be there for 7 days and I will do laundry twice (maybe 3 times). I throw in a load of colors and a load of whites and go lounge by the pool while DH & DD swim. It is very relaxing.

 

[jpeltier]

We're staying at CSR for our trip and I want to do laundry. In the past,when we've stayed at FW cabins,I have always done laundry. This trip I'll do the wash
the day before we leave. Its nice to get home and not have to start the washer IMO.

 

[madalex]

Haven't read all the other responses, but here is mine: yes, it is a pain, but it is also a pain to take clothes for every day on a long trip. Although it does take one afternoon out of the trip, ultimately, I think it is worth the trouble (and I am the one that does the laundry when we go).

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

A question: Has anyone ever had trouble with leaving their laundry and going swimming? My apartment in the city (San Francisco) had a laundry unit on each floor and I couldn't leave anything in there unsupervised for even ten minutes and this was in a very nice building in one of the nicest parts of the city! So I guess I just worry alot about that.

I was also someone who said I do not do laundry on vacation. Previously I've always just packed enough. But I have no choice this trip. We'll be gone a total of 16 nights (one night SF airport hotel, 5 nights BC, 5 nights AKL, 4 night Disney Cruise, 1 night Poly). And we just don't have that many summer clothes 9especially because with the heat I'm sure we'll put on a new outfit after our afternoon swim to be "fresh" for dinner, etc. So I think we'll do laundry the mid part of our time at WDW, and once more before the cruise. Dh is actually much more likely to do it then me. And I'm guessing he'll also be paranoid about leaving the clothes in there, and will sit with them the whole time. But it would be nice if he could come out and join us in the pool.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

A question: Has anyone ever had trouble with leaving their laundry and going swimming? My apartment in the city (San Francisco) had a laundry unit on each floor and I couldn't leave anything in there unsupervised for even ten minutes and this was in a very nice building in one of the nicest parts of the city! So I guess I just worry alot about that.

The entrance to the laundry, is within eyeshot of the pools, or at least it is at Pop, CSR, and CBR, which is the 3 places I've done laundry, so really no worries about that. I can't speak about AKL, or Poly though.

What a wonderful long vacation you have planned- Have Fun!!

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

What a wonderful long vacation you have planned- Have Fun!!

Thanks! This is our first time to Disney World, first cruise and first time we've ever been able to do a trip like this (probably the only time too). Been going to Disneyland regularly since I was 4 (the age my dd will be this trip), and been dreaming of going to WDW almost as long as that. I cannot wait!!!!!

 

[Focusdude]

I left my laundry every night (I was at Pop) - it never occured to me that anyone would take it (I have heard of that happening in laundrymats, though!). People would not even take it out of the washer or dryer - they would wait for the person to come back. I usually started my wash, went and had a margarita while I read my book, and then went back to my laundry - I always made sure I was back at least 10 minutes before the time cycle was up. It was a relaxing way to spend an evening - since everyone else was asleep - there really wasn't much I could do!

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Big laundry veteran here. 1st time @ cbr no problem neice's swam with sister and visited me, in and out by quiet pool (trinidad) quick and easy!
Then we tried out laundry @ dixie landings and that worked just as well, no problems. We moved up to the "deluxe's" and that's where it gets interesting. We have done laundry @ CR, POLY, GF (big pine key), YC, BC, and loved doing it @ BWV 1br. We have met some VERY nice, wonderful people at all the resorts. Friendly, helpful, disney lovers, interesting folks. BUT we have had at least 3 experiences on different trips in the POLY laundry room where it was packed and a line was waiting, people not happy, and actual fights started. Who was there first, How many machines where you using? People who had left stuff in machines and never came back the entire time we had been there someone finally removed there stuff (5 people in line waiting for dryers) person folded the kids clothes and set them down nicely on top of a bag on the machine, the lady flew in swearing, throwing things, carrying on. I thought punches where gonna fly. unbelievable. Last year @ the poly we just didn't want to face it we rode around looking for a laundry mat (off site) found one, turns out it was kinda scary area, after we got in there, but we got in and out. So don't want to go off site again. We have went at the poly at 2pm, 6pm, 4am, 1am, everytime we walked by we would look in there and check out the crowd if it was empty we ran and got our stuff, but by time we would be ready to leave it would be packed. I always stay with our stuff, the rooms are so crowded that turn over there is fast so I don't want someone waiting for us. There is a nice tv room in the poly with the laundry. The game room is also next door but probably moving with the new changes.

We always shop and by our own downey /soap etc... and offer it around and then leave it on our last laundry visit, so someone can use. Everyone remember your on vacation, relax, we all want to get done, I enjoy laundry its calming (not at poly) but lets you take a moment to re-energize and plan where do I want to wear this?

Mky