Is it possible to travel without a rolling luggage?

[MagentaMulan]

So my mom does not want to bring a rolling suitcase with her when we go to Disney world in a couple of months. She thinks that she can bring a "weekender" size shoulder bag and be okay for a week. This is our first time going to wdw and the longest trip we have ever taken really. I've been trying to convince her that a rolling carry-on luggage would be more easy and comfortable to travel with. We are flying down, not driving. She honestly has no idea how much stuff we will actually need and will bring back. (I am bringing a carry-on but i'm leaving plenty of room for souvenirs.)

Has anyone traveled to Disney like this? How can i convince her to get a rolling luggage?

 

[Saimaeve]

How long will you be there?

Rolling luggage isn't necessary at all. I like weekender bags over rolling luggage.

You can always ship stuff back

 

[MagentaMulan]

We will be there for 5 nights, 6 days.

 

[Nechville]

My mom is a super light packer. She uses the hotel toiletries, wears the only pair of shoes she will bring, and will rewear some shorts. She could totally get by with the smaller bag. And she is a great packer, rolling her clothes tightly. I honestly don't know how I am her daughter, I am such am overpacker!
Adding - she would still probably use a small carry on size rolling bag as there is still a lot of walking at airports with parking, and the other times you have your own bag. She wouldn't want to have to carry it.

 

[Alesia]

You carry the luggage that you feel you need and let her carry the luggage that she feels she needs. Some people pack light and some people don't. Why do you need to control how much luggage she brings?

 

[MagentaMulan]

My mom is a super light packer. She uses the hotel toiletries, wears the only pair of shoes she will bring, and will rewear some shorts. She could totally get by with the smaller bag. And she is a great packer, rolling her clothes tightly. I honestly don't know how I am her daughter, I am such am overpacker!

That is exactly my mom! Since we are going in January we have to plan for really cold temps and high temps. I'm the type of person who hates carrying stuff in my hand because i'll set it down somewhere and forget about it.

 

[MagentaMulan]

You carry the luggage that you feel you need and let her carry the luggage that she feels she needs. Some people pack light and some people don't. Why do you need to control how much luggage she brings?

I don't want her to feel uncomfortable if her shoulders hurt or feel like she needed more things. She carries a lot of stuff in her daily life, so i don't understand why she wouldn't bring just as much now. I'm not trying to control what she brings, i'm just trying to help her.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My SIL will only bring a weekender bag when she travels even if it's for a week. She says she can always buy more luggage at her destination if she needs it.
And she has never needed it. She just does laundry a couple of times during the week.

Now going to Disney - I would think she would do better with one wheeled suitcase but if she wants to lighten her load and do more laundry that's up to her. She may change her mind once she starts packing too.

She could always pick up more luggage (a disney suitcase!) at Disney if she needs it like my SIL says she'd do.

 

[MagentaMulan]

I also suggested a rolling weekender duffle type bag as a comprise. But haven't found any that she likes yet.

 

[Alesia]

I don't want her to feel uncomfortable if her shoulders hurt or feel like she needed more things. She carries a lot of stuff in her daily life, so i don't understand why she wouldn't bring just as much now. I'm not trying to control what she brings, i'm just trying to help her.

Many, many people make it through airports without rolling bags - they certainly aren't a necessity. And many people actually do prefer a bag that they can carry. A rolling bag can sometimes be a huge PITA. Unless she has some kind of cognitive impairment, she should be fully capable of knowing what fits her needs. I know you're trying to help, but you really should just trust that she can adequately judge what bag is going to fit her needs.

The absolute worst case scenario is that she finds that she needs an extra bag for the return trip. If that happens, she can just buy one. It's not really a big deal.

 

[MataHari22]

I would let her bring whatever she wants to. I'm a light packer and I bring a small carry on (mine does have wheels though) and everyone is always trying to make me take a bigger bag and check it. If they want to, that's fine, but I don't want to. I am going for 8 nights and 9 days with just that and my back pack bag. I think they way overpack.

 

[MagentaMulan]

Thanks everyone.

 

[lauradis]

Op Im a rolling suitcase girl, my hubby likes over the shoulder bags. But really why bug her about it she is a grown woman and can pick what she wants.. they do have laundry places at every hotel on property.

If you suggest it and she doesnt want to, oh well not worth worrying about

 

[KateB]

If you have a Costco membership they have a smaller tyle of rolling bag. It would probably be the perfect size and wheels. I understand your concern.i would have the same for my mom especially if she gets stuck changing gates and having to walk a ton. That happened to my mom on our trip home.

 

[fabfemmeboy]

Some weekender bags are about the same size as a small rolling suitcase. Last year I took a 10x10x19 duffel and had plenty of space - two extra pair of shoes, lots of light layers, TSA-approved toiletries, etc...and that was putting my laptop in the duffel AND traveling in January during polar vortex. Even bringing back a sweatshirt I had room! Some people just pack lighter than others. So yes, it is entirely possible someone could pack just a weekender bag for a week at Disney.

 

[monaleigh70]

I am a pretty good packer and can get away for up to10 days with a rolling suitcase that fits in the overhead compartment on the plane. My ability to pack well just comes from experience; I would find that much of the stuff I used to bring I never wore. It's wonderful not having to go to the carousel to wait for extra luggage. I find rolling suitcases so much more friendly that over the shoulder bags, they put an awful strain on your body. Everybody has different preferences. When I traveled with DD and kids I would say bring whatever you want, as long as you carry it. It didn't take long to get on board with thoughtful packing strategies!

 

[LovesTimone]

So my mom does not want to bring a rolling suitcase with her when we go to Disney world in a couple of months. She thinks that she can bring a "weekender" size shoulder bag and be okay for a week. This is our first time going to wdw and the longest trip we have ever taken really. I've been trying to convince her that a rolling carry-on luggage would be more easy and comfortable to travel with. We are flying down, not driving. She honestly has no idea how much stuff we will actually need and will bring back. (I am bringing a carry-on but i'm leaving plenty of room for souvenirs.)

Has anyone traveled to Disney like this? How can i convince her to get a rolling luggage?

I have a weekender that I travel with, but I have a folding rolling luggage carrier, once folded it fits on top of my carry on perfectly. It make life so much easier in the airport, walking to and from transportation, getting to the room at the resorts can be a bit of a hike. I would suggest this to her so she carry on the bag she likes without hurting her back or shoulder. I also have a large day bag that I use as my purse when flying for anything extra.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Everyone is different, if she says it'll work for her then let her. My DH packs the night before and fits everything into a carryon with room left for take homes. I pack twice the size bag, start at least two weeks before a trip and almost always end up wishing I had brought that one shirt or that one pair of pants. To each their own.

 

[cattywampus]

What is it about packing that brings out the "my way is the only way" in so many people?