Just got back -- some packing tips

[JulieNMM]

Thought I'd add my 2 cents on this tip. We did use the packets when we went but we didn't put them in water bottles. Ice water is FREE at all the restraunts so we would get a cup and add the crystal light to it. It was refreshing and cheap and we could just throw away the cup when we were done. This worked really really well for us! I just don't want people to completely discard this tip.

I was just sharing my experience! Also, although cups of water are free at CS restaurants, we found it was so much easier to just buy a bottle of water at the kiosks that were everywhere. CS restaurants are few and far between and have long lines. I mean, if you're already at the CS restaurant that would work, but we were buying bottles of water at least once an hour.

JULIE

 

[JulieNMM]

the first thing i must ask is...screwdriver??? did you read somewhere that you would need one?

its nice to find another mom who doesnt use sunscreen there. i really thought i was the only one. in the beginning of every trip i bring it to breakfsat with good intentions, then by 2 ive realized ive forgotten it. but i really find that we are not outside long enough to get burned.

thanks for the tip on the towels, i was debating those for this year. ill just bring the kids cover-ups.

There was another thread with a list of everything to pack and someone said screwdrivers for putting batteries in toys, etc. So I brought two small ones. And I actually heard someone in a store asking for one!

JULIE

P.S. My kids are totally tanned so sunscreen wasn't needed when we were at the parks.

 

[jennykay]

I was just sharing my experience! Also, although cups of water are free at CS restaurants, we found it was so much easier to just buy a bottle of water at the kiosks that were everywhere. CS restaurants are few and far between and have long lines. I mean, if you're already at the CS restaurant that would work, but we were buying bottles of water at least once an hour.

JULIE

I was wondering about this, too. Did anyone else find it was too time consuming to get water from a CS restaurant? Anyone have a tip for making it work?

 

[noahdove]

I may be hit with a ton of ice cubes, but why can't or shouldn't we drink the water from the fountains? I took my refillable mug the last time and I used it to put water in to drink? Am I missing something? Thank you

 

[imthatgirl]

I may be hit with a ton of ice cubes, but why can't or shouldn't we drink the water from the fountains? I took my refillable mug the last time and I used it to put water in to drink? Am I missing something? Thank you

you can, its fine to drink...but...it just so happens to be the worst tasting water on the planet. im convinced its so you will spend money on bottled water.

 

[imthatgirl]

There was another thread with a list of everything to pack and someone said screwdrivers for putting batteries in toys, etc. So I brought two small ones. And I actually heard someone in a store asking for one!

JULIE

P.S. My kids are totally tanned so sunscreen wasn't needed when we were at the parks.

thanks, i was thrown on this one. we dont usually open things until we get home, so i didnt even ask for one.
we are also outdoors people so we all have great tans, and never burn.

 

[goofygrl4]

As a person who has been packing her own luggage for the past 12 years and has a touch of OCD, I've really got it down to a science. Im a re re re packer. I will pack, weigh the suit case, check the list and the go through it all and really make sure I need it and then re pack and probably do it again a few more times!. I've also learned to pack really light and buy things like shampoo and Conditioner and body wash and sun screen and things like that so im not carrying so much bulky weight. You buy it there use it there and throw it away. ( I share with my mom and sister so we use it all up!)

About the water. we buy it off property at publix. chill it in our room firdge and carry it in our bags to the park. One bottle a day and refill at the fountains. I love the crystal light so I use a lot of it. I also have resort mug that I use for coffe and drinks through out the day at the resort!

We have a car at our disposal so it makes it easier to run to target or wal mart or publix, pick up everything and go from there!

OCD or not LISTS and past experience really really help. After about my 5th time packing my self ( my mom let me start packing my own luggage when I was about 11 or 12) I've really got it down! At 23 it's hard to not want to pack everything and anything but When it's going to cost extra money, im willing to re ware and wash there!

We always buy a small thing of laundry detergant when we get there and do laundry mid way through our trip! AND now we travel with a infant/toddler so my sister does laundry about every 3 nights!!!!!!!!

 

[Carlyzmom]

THanks for all the tips! We will be driving from Texas with 6 people in my Suburban. So, not a lot of room for a lot of packing. I always pack too much, but maybe all of these great tips will help!

 

[JulieNMM]

As a person who has been packing her own luggage for the past 12 years and has a touch of OCD, I've really got it down to a science. Im a re re re packer. I will pack, weigh the suit case, check the list and the go through it all and really make sure I need it and then re pack and probably do it again a few more times!. I've also learned to pack really light and buy things like shampoo and Conditioner and body wash and sun screen and things like that so im not carrying so much bulky weight. You buy it there use it there and throw it away. ( I share with my mom and sister so we use it all up!)

About the water. we buy it off property at publix. chill it in our room firdge and carry it in our bags to the park. One bottle a day and refill at the fountains. I love the crystal light so I use a lot of it. I also have resort mug that I use for coffe and drinks through out the day at the resort!

We have a car at our disposal so it makes it easier to run to target or wal mart or publix, pick up everything and go from there!

OCD or not LISTS and past experience really really help. After about my 5th time packing my self ( my mom let me start packing my own luggage when I was about 11 or 12) I've really got it down! At 23 it's hard to not want to pack everything and anything but When it's going to cost extra money, im willing to re ware and wash there!

We always buy a small thing of laundry detergant when we get there and do laundry mid way through our trip! AND now we travel with a infant/toddler so my sister does laundry about every 3 nights!!!!!!!!

We had a car and bought cases of water (and beer!). We drank a ton of water in the hotel room and took a few bottles with us to the park, but we still ended up buying tons of bottles in the park. I only like my water icy cold, so tap water doesn't work for me.

I agree that lists are great! I made a list and checked it twice rotfl: ) but didn't pack and unpack.

JULIE

 

[ajo66]

thanks, i was thrown on this one. we dont usually open things until we get home, so i didnt even ask for one.
we are also outdoors people so we all have great tans, and never burn.

Never underestimate the power of the sun! I always tanned well - used sunscreen, but not always consistently.....had a melanoma (worst of the 3 types of skin cancer - the kind that spreads quickly and can kill you)removed at age 38....certainly didn't expect that!! Luckily mine was caught early enough and surgery was my only treatment. I see my dermatologist 4x per year and have a nice scar to remind me that the sun is not my friend. So, I have to say....please, please, at least protect your children!!

 

[imthatgirl]

Never underestimate the power of the sun! I always tanned well - used sunscreen, but not always consistently.....had a melanoma (worst of the 3 types of skin cancer - the kind that spreads quickly and can kill you)removed at age 38....certainly didn't expect that!! Luckily mine was caught early enough and surgery was my only treatment. I see my determatologist 4x per year and have a nice scar to remind me that the sun is not my friend. So, I have to say....please, please, at least protect your children!!

calm down, we use tons of sunscreen on a regular basis, if you read my earlier post you would see for some reason in disney i just forget, i have good intentions in the morning, but then by like 1 ive realized ive forgotten.

 

[ajo66]

calm down, we use tons of sunscreen on a regular basis, if you read my earlier post you would see for some reason in disney i just forget, i have good intentions in the morning, but then by like 1 ive realized ive forgotten.

Sorry....it was mentioned more than once and I forgot to multi-quote and it just happened to fall with only your post. I just wouldn't want anyone to think it wasn't necessary - especially those not used to the Florida sun. I think a lot of people will read Julie's post because we are all looking for new packing ideas and tips. Thanks, Julie, for those! Didn't mean to do anything other than give a friendly reminder. I can't help but be a little passionate about it.

 

[Secondgradememories]

Never underestimate the power of the sun! I always tanned well - used sunscreen, but not always consistently.....had a melanoma (worst of the 3 types of skin cancer - the kind that spreads quickly and can kill you)removed at age 38....certainly didn't expect that!! Luckily mine was caught early enough and surgery was my only treatment. I see my dermatologist 4x per year and have a nice scar to remind me that the sun is not my friend. So, I have to say....please, please, at least protect your children!!

Thanks for adding this. Tanned does not mean protected from skin cancer. My family found this out the hard way too. Check this out for more info:
http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/safebasics/tanning.html

No offense to those who say they don't use it, but once your family has lost someone, a tanned someone, to skin cancer, you want to spread the word: Use a good sunscreen; no-one is immune to the cancer causing sun!