Is it realistic to think I will be doing laundry while in WDW?

[LuvOrlando]

I always do laundry while on vacation. But, I tend to do it at night while DH & I are watching TV so if there is a line or things go wrong my day isn't messed with. Because the kids are sleeping its easier on me and we take turns. I load it, he puts it in the dryer, I check on it (usually run dryer a 2nd time) & he carries it back for me.

Because its so expensive I pack powder detergent with a bit of the packaging inside so the airline people know what its supposed to be, and dryer sheets. Also, I always take Oxiclean and one of those 'Shout' sticks with me because the laundry rooms don't seem to carry stain stuff (my kids make lost of stains ).

Like rt2dz, its also been my experience that the dryers take 2 turns to dry the stuff. When I get there I awlays ask the women who are leaving which ones work or don't, they ALWAYS know and it keeps me from wasting $.

The change machines always seem to be out when I go so I get a $10 roll of
quarters from the bank before I leave and take them along- just tell the airport security they are in your purse.

 

[tacomaranch]

I just love to sit by the pool with a ice cold gin and tonic with a fresh cut lemon wedge and do laundry! Coming home and not having to do more work is worth it to me. I have everything clean the nite before we leave and then just put it away at home. Done is less than half an hour!

 

[Vickie46]

we wash clothes atleast once on our trip.. and if you are at the all stars resorts.. they are always very busy for some reason!

 

[mom2boys]

We always do laundry at Disney. Last trip we stayed at PopCentury. The laundry room is right beside the main pool. DH did laundry while the watched the kids at the pool. It worked out well. While the waiting on the washer/dryer DH would visit with us at the pool. The laundry by the pool makes it seem like less of a chore.

 

[eeyoregon]

We have done laundry on every trip including 2 loads on board the 7 night Disney Magic.

1.) Bring a folding mesh laundry hamper. You can purchase them at Walmart, Walgreens, Target, etc. for under $5 this time of year (back to school). They are light weight and fold completely flat in the bottom of your suitcase but spring into shape when unfolded. It is so handy to just toss the dirty clothes into the hamper and then carry it to the laundry.

2.) Bring your own supplies. Fabric softner sheets double as a nice freshner in the suitcase, cruise stateroom and hotel room.

3.) Keep a close eye on your loads of laundry as they tend to get removed if you step away for a few minutes as some guests just are very patient.

 

[Tess'smom]

We go to the World every year for 8-10 days I do laundry every time we vacation. I hate traveling with lots of luggage. I was always afraid to pack detergent in baggies in my luggage for fear that airport security would think it was illicit drugs or something.

 

[Cars2006]

We went through 2 outfits a day with our 18 mth old when we went last September. Between icecream, playing in the water areas, lunches, sitting on the ground watching parades, grime from the play areas. And of course a leaky diaper or two. Plus once in awhile he used us as his napkin.


We stayed 8 days and about on the 6th day I did two load of . We took turn swimming in the pool with our son. I stayed and did the washing and then dh stayed when the clothes were drying. I wouldn't leave the clothes alone. I heard one person talking and she had her childrens clothes stolen the year before. Also just make sure you bring soap. We didn't and it One less thing to do when you get home

 

[maxtomsmom]

We'll be doing laundry. My DH and I plan on taking shifts. I will sit and wait for the washers while the kids are in the pool. Then, he'll do the same with the drier. I have to be the one who puts them in the wash and drier otherwise we would all end up with pink underwear. In addition, he truly believes everything is drier friendly. After the drier, everyone comes out of the pool for a snack in the room and we will quickly fold the clothes. This way the kids can enjoy the pool and we each get some quiet time even if it is in the laundry room.

 

[rosiebean]

We did laundry on our December 05 trip. We were there over Christmas with extended family, and of course the parks were CROWDED. So on one of the warmer mornings (they were all pretty warm last year) we took a break from the extended family and the crowds to do laundry and hang out by the pool. There was NO ONE at the pool. It was very relaxing and peaceful, and we had a fun time!

I also found that it took two cycles in the dryer to dry everything, and some things were still a bit damp. Also, since I hate to get back from vacation with a huge suitcase full of dirty clothes (and with DH helping), it wasn't a chore at all to do some washing on vacation.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

When we use our timeshare I do at leat 2 loads a day. Now that we're staying onsite, hooray! I don''t expect to do laundry more than once. I am bringing 10 outfits for DD, 7 outfits for DS, 7 shorts for DH and 7 for me. Sometime in the middle of the week, I'll do laundry if we need it. My DD is most likely to need clean clothes so Im packing extra for her. I just wonder where to buy little bottles of detergent??

 

[rt2dz]

Bring your own detergent, WDW charges $1 per load on their deteregent. Target sells the sample/trial size for 3 loads $1. Or buy powder and put it in baggies. You can also go to websites of the manufactors and start requesting free samples. 1 load = $0. Tide is really good about this. P&G also gives free samples of Downey and frequently bounce.

 

[mom2boys]

Bring your own detergent, WDW charges $1 per load on their deteregent. Target sells the sample/trial size for 3 loads $1. Or buy powder and put it in baggies. You can also go to websites of the manufactors and start requesting free samples. 1 load = $0. Tide is really good about this. P&G also gives free samples of Downey and frequently bounce.

Great suggestion. We use either the laundry tablets - similar to dishwasher tablets - or we just use shampoo. Shampoo works fine and doesn't harm your clothes.

 

[maxtomsmom]

We buy small plastic bottles or you can use little water bottles. We fill them up, mark what's inside with a Sharpie pen and pack them in our toiletry bag. I do this for shampoos, conditioners, dish soap (which we use to rinse out water bottles to drink out of) laundry detergent. I also bring many zip lock bags filled with the powders and dryer sheets. I bring a small amount of dish soap to clean out our water bottles so we can keep using them. To buy a new water bottle every time we want water is a waste. I also pack the individual ice packs and crystal light packs to change things up.

 

[mickeywho?]

On our last trip we found a early night back at the hotel room so I thought I may as well do some laundry to save time unpacking after getting home.
Of course, what should have taken an hour took two because someone used five washing machines and left them for an hour after the loads were done. There were seven in the laundry room - who made you laundry queen! She certainly got a good telling off from the other guests who were all taking turns with the machines she left over. In hindsight we should have just taken her loads out and left them for her in a basket.
FYI - there were notices on the wall stating approx. how long it takes a load to run and a thankyou for not hogging.
The only negative in what was a great vacation so I tried to not let it get to be - I'm obviously holding some resentment. Off to the laundry therapist to deal with this one!

 

[mickeywho?]

We brought down a collapsible laundry hamper (folds flat for packing) so I had something to put our dirty clothes in while in the room and it had handles so it was easy to bring to and from the laundry room.

 

[momofprincess]

We belong to DVC and have washing machine/dryer in the room. We usually stay 10 days but only bring 3-4 days worth of clothes. We throw in a load before we head out the door in the am.
Before we joined DVC, I (the mom) would do laundry at the coin-operated machines at the hotel. But, since it was vacation, I always went to the poolside bar of whatever hotel we were at and bought a nice, big, banana daquiri to make the whole laundry experience that much more pleasant.

 

[eeyoregon]

I also pack the individual ice packs

If flying, remember that the gel ice packs are banned and have to be in your checked luggage.

Sure makes keeping your food cold on a 7 hour flight difficult!

 

[maxtomsmom]

If flying, remember that the gel ice packs are banned and have to be in your checked luggage.

Sure makes keeping your food cold on a 7 hour flight difficult!

Oops! I should have checked my post. I meant that I pack the individual ice tea packs they sell in the store. I use to pack ice packs, but now we use two zip lock bags and ice from the hotel and put them in a personal soft cooler. When the ice melts, we dump it or refill it later on. It helps keep the water cool. It's just soooo expensive to buy water every time. We try to save when we can. Thanks for pointing it out for me.