Is it possible to pack for WDW using carry-ons only?

[SandraC]

HI All ~ We are a family of 4. Myself, DH, DD12, DS6. Our April trip will be the first time we aren't bringing strollers or car seats. YIPPEE! We will be flying to Florida for 12 days. Do you think we would pack just carry-ons? Your experiences are welcome! S

 

[Kitty-chan]

I think you can do it! But it does require some sort of laundry strategy: Either you'll need to have laundry facilities, or send laundry out, or wash things in your sink and hang to dry. I've done all three on various trips (Disney and otherwise). DS and I both bring wheeled carry-ons plus backpacks.

We've never checked luggage for a Disney trip. Generally we bring 2-3 changes of clothes, and just keep washing things as we go along. We also wear layers on the plane, so we'll have sweatshirts and multi-layered jackets (I like the "systems" that break down into a windbreaker and a fleece).

Now, the return trip is a little tricker if you pick up a lot of souveniers. So, it's not a bad idea to pack an expandable tote or two, so you can check luggage if you need to on the return.

 

[safetymom]

If you are using DME why just use carry on? They will get your luggage to your resort with no problems.

 

[Kitty-chan]

If you are using DME why just use carry on? They will get your luggage to your resort with no problems.

I guess I'm a little extreme on the topic . . . but I always hate to check luggage. I've had checked luggage get lost or delayed. Plus, if you've got your bags with you, you've got better options in terms of switching to another (earlier) flight, given bag-matching requirements now (they can't put your bags on a flight without you, so once you're separated from your bags you often can't change your itinerary). And last but not least, if your flight gets cancelled after check-in, or you miss a connection, it's often nice to have your bags with you in that situation as well.

Granted, it's a pain sometimes in security, getting bags onto the plane, etc . . . so as always Your Mileage May Vary. It's a matter of personal preference methinks.

 

[beebles]

YES- my neighbor did it. Family of four- 4 and 6 the kids. She did not check a thing. But, then again, she only stayed 5 days. Good luck and washing mid week would be a great idea! I'd love to pack light (try to)!

 

[shellybaxter]

LOL - It wouldn't be possible for me. We are just two adults and are going for 10 days. We have three checked bags and two carry ons. We're leaving on Friday and just don't know what we're going to need

 

[safetymom]

I travel all the time with no lost luggage. Also you can be on a different flight from your luggage. That also happens to me quite often. You could get to the airport early enough that they put your luggage on the earlier flight.

Personally having to lug my luggage through the airport, through the screeners and maybe be stopped for extra screening is not worth the effort if you are afraid the luggage will get lost. It also doesn't usually save you much time with baggage claim either.

I carry a few things with me on the plane in case of flight delays etc. I also don't have to worry about banging into people as I walk down the aisle of the plane.

 

[puffkin]

I think it would be doable in the warm months when you only need shorts and t-shirts because those take up little room. But in the cooler months when you have to pack a little of everything, I think it would be harder. Also, we always seem to come home with some souvenirs that take up room in our luggage.

I would hate lugging four carry ons all over the airport. We usually have a small rolling suitcase (with one change of clothes and toiletries/medications), a back pack (snacks, reading materials, trip documents), and my purse for carryons and that is a pain to lug around. Plus, do you expect your kids to lug around big carryons through a busy airport?

For the risk of losing luggage opposed to the inconvenience of the carryons, I would go with checking luggage. Maybe you could pack one or two larger suitcases to check, and then have each adult take a smaller carryon.

 

[Kitty-chan]

I travel all the time with no lost luggage. Also you can be on a different flight from your luggage. That also happens to me quite often. You could get to the airport early enough that they put your luggage on the earlier flight.

Hmm, I wonder if it varies according to the airlines, or if the gate agent has some discretion? I've been told I couldn't switch flights since my luggage was already checked, and was told it was a new rule due to bag matching (this happened in October 2005). Maybe it was just a convenient excuse to not have to issue me a new boarding pass.

 

[Lewisc]

Now that 100% of all checked luggage is screened, either by hand or by machine, the bag-matching requirements no longer apply. No reason to lug your luggage through the airport. Use DME and don't worry about it.

I guess I'm a little extreme on the topic . . . but I always hate to check luggage. I've had checked luggage get lost or delayed. Plus, if you've got your bags with you, you've got better options in terms of switching to another (earlier) flight, given bag-matching requirements now (they can't put your bags on a flight without you, so once you're separated from your bags you often can't change your itinerary). And last but not least, if your flight gets cancelled after check-in, or you miss a connection, it's often nice to have your bags with you in that situation as well.

Granted, it's a pain sometimes in security, getting bags onto the plane, etc . . . so as always Your Mileage May Vary. It's a matter of personal preference methinks.

 

[Kitty-chan]

Ah, good to know about bag-matching! That information would have saved me a couple hours in O'Hare two weeks ago! Oh well.

Going back to the OP -- I think the question was whether it was possible to pack for WDW using carry-on only, not whether it was desirable? I'm sure we could argue all day about the merits of checking vs. not checking . . . a holy war for the ages! Perhaps it's fair to say that it's possible, but may not be desirable, and is largely a matter of personal preferance.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I've thought about trying it - we are going for 7 nights in April. But I am usually a compulsive "what-if" over-packer, and would rather not have to worry about doing laundry on the trip so I will have 1 carryon with swimsuits and the basics for one night, and check the rest. at that, we will be hauling enough stuff around the airports - DH's camera bag, my big travel purse, DD's each with a backpack to hold lovies and stuff to do, plus the carryon.

I might pack laundry soap/dryer sheets (we must use specific brands due to skin sensitivities) just in case...

 

[christinou]

We just did it for 4 days, we could have done so for 5 days, we did have extra clothes but not longer without doing laundry, so it is possible if you are willing to do some laundry.

 

[Jennifer48]

For my first trip to Disney for 7 days, I just packed a carry-on with wheels. It is doable, you just have to have a packing strategy. Roll up clothes, put socks in your shoes, things like that. Plus since it was my first trip, I had quite a few souveniers that fit on the return trip home!

 

[KristinU]

We did it with last year for a long weekend trip (4 days total I think) - we being DH and DS (16 months at the time) and myself. It was warm and DS's clothes are small - we didn't have a problem at all. DH and I both have traveled pretty extensively for business, so we both have become minimalists as far as packing goes. I love just walking off the plane and walking to my rental car and heading out.

Best of luck!

ETA: Space bags and Zip-loc packing are a big help, too!

 

[MinnieM21]

Nevermind I messed up what I was trying to say. Basically, you might have to go and check in your bags and won't be able to take them as carry-ons if the plane is full.

 

[disneymoon0606]

I wouldn't do it. When I was on a flight back from Orlando, the flight attendants made an announcement that there was no more room to store carry-ons in the overhead bins. People had to go all the way back to the ticket counter and check in their bags. Then they had to go through security again and back to the gate. They were told that they had to check in their bags right when they were already on the plane. So many people had to do this. You never know if there might not be any room left. On some of my other flights to and from Orlando, there was barely enough room to fit everyone's carry-ons.

Although I know it is quite possible for there to be no room left in the overhead compartments for carry-ons, I have never heard of a traveler being required to personally go all the way back to the ticketing counter to check the bag, and then have to go through security again. What I've heard is pretty much standard (and has happend to me personally) is that if you're on the plane and find that there isn't enough room to store your carry-on, the flight attendant will take it and have them check it right there. This way, nobody has to go inside and back to the ticketing counter. It's really not much of an inconvenience, except that you have to pick it up from the baggage claim when you get there.

 

[shellybaxter]

Although I know it is quite possible for there to be no room left in the overhead compartments for carry-ons, I have never heard of a traveler being required to personally go all the way back to the ticketing counter to check the bag, and then have to go through security again. What I've heard is pretty much standard (and has happend to me personally) is that if you're on the plane and find that there isn't enough room to store your carry-on, the flight attendant will take it and have them check it right there. This way, nobody has to go inside and back to the ticketing counter. It's really not much of an inconvenience, except that you have to pick it up from the baggage claim when you get there.

We flew on a small plane once with small overhead compartments and had to "gate check" our carry ons. They were waiting on the jetway as we exited the plane.

I have never heard of anyone having to go back to the counter and check there bags either. Wouldn't that make the plane REALLY late to take off??

 

[MinnieM21]

Although I know it is quite possible for there to be no room left in the overhead compartments for carry-ons, I have never heard of a traveler being required to personally go all the way back to the ticketing counter to check the bag, and then have to go through security again. What I've heard is pretty much standard (and has happend to me personally) is that if you're on the plane and find that there isn't enough room to store your carry-on, the flight attendant will take it and have them check it right there. This way, nobody has to go inside and back to the ticketing counter. It's really not much of an inconvenience, except that you have to pick it up from the baggage claim when you get there.

The flight attendants didn't take the bags for the people. I was on a large plane and it was completely full. I messed up what I was trying to say but the flight attendants told the passengers that they would have to go back and check in their bags because there was no more room. I don't think they had to go all the way back(I would hope not!). But the flight attendants didn't make it clear to the people and told them they would have to check in their bags and wouldn't be able to take the carry-ons on the plane. The passengers looked really upset about not being able to take their carry-ons and having to check their luggage in. But then again, I'm not exactly sure where they had to go. Nevermind. I'm awful at getting across what I'm trying to say.

But yes, the plane did take off way later.

 

[MinnieM21]

I just wanted to add. Have you thought about using DME? That way you won't have to worry about your bags. Many people seem to have good experiences with DME and we're using it for our January trip.