List writing time...what will I forget?

[SmallWorld71]

A sticker book with lots of stickers to peel off and put in usually keeps my DD4 busy for a while. Mini Magna Doodle type things are good too as they can be used over and over again. Walkman (don't forget extra batteries) with tape of child's favorite songs - including Disney ones to get in the mood. A happy singing child is a lot bettter than a cranky crying one.

Things I sometimes almost forget to pack:
hair brush
Deodorant
socks
toothbrush
jammies for kids/ lounge pants for adults (especially good for walking to the food court early in the morning)
sunglasses

 

[dmaz]

A second vote for ziplocs large and small and the ponchos from walmart.
Make sure you remember to put them in your bag for the parks.

I keep all of my stuff in a small ziploc in my fanny pack at every park just in case. They are a staple for every amusement park now - not just disney.

We also bring some garbage bags for our dirty clothes. I throw all of our dirty clothes in them each day and usually do one load of laundry while we're there. It also makes it easy to stuff dirty clothes back in the suitcases to go back home. Just squeeze the air out of the bag and you have plenty of room leftover.

 

[wehavesix]

Great thread! I've been copy and pasting all these great lists into a Word Doc so I can print it out and begin picking things up between now and our trip at the end of May. By then I should have everything bought, organized and packed. My dh will be so impressed!

 

[Indy's Girl]

One tip I have heard on these boards is to buy "ear planes" (for adults or children) when flying. These are special ear plugs that help relieve the pressure on the ears during take off and landing. I have not personally used them yet but am purchasing some for my trip this summer. For a 4 year old this may be more useful than gum for relieving pressure which can make anyone miserable.

In this same category, maybe bring some regular foam ear plugs. These could be useful in a loud attraction if your child gets scared.

 

[Em&Bec'sMom]

I got this little tip from a fellow DIS member prior to our Nov 05 trip. My girls (9 & 5) absolutely freak out when the automatic toilets flush while they are still sitting on them. Sometimes the kids are just too short to register with the little sensor "eye" (especially when they have to bend over to stretch to reach the TP) and FLOOSH, followed by a scream, and even once pee on Mom's shoes! So the tip is....carry a small pack of the little Post-Its. When you enter the stall, peel off a post-it and stick it over the "eye". Works like a charm. Also great for road trips, since the rest stops always seem to have auto-flush.


And one more thing I forgot before (and had to edit the reply)...
A small notebook and pen to keep in your "to the park" bag. It was nice to be able to jot down comments, impressions, special moments, etc when we had a few minutes in line or waiting for a meal to arrive, rather than waiting until we returned to the room exhausted at the end of the night.

 

[ksloane]

Wow, you DIS'ers never cease to amaze me! I can't wait to start packing. I think the dirty laundry bag is brilliant! This will definately help keep the hotel room clean and help when we pack up. There's so many things that I would have forgot without you guys! MORE MORE MORE!

We used a pop up hamper (my daughter has two or three with disney characters). Stuck it in a corner and we threw dirty clothes in it all week.

I like the over the door shoe rack idea. What type of things do you store in those?

Any small stuff - shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, lanyards, film, batteries, basically anything small enough to fit!!

 

[GusT]

thanks so much for all of these! my fiance already thinks i'm annoying with the planning, but with all these tips i'm making my list now for our may 27th honeymoon....i'll have enough going on that month with a wedding i need to pack for disney now!

 

[3mickeymom]

I haven't seen sunglass holders mentioned yet. I have the kind that dangle around your neck but my husband likes the neoprene sport ones. They make nice ones now(pretty beaded stlyles). I got mine in Walmart. I think my husbands are called croakies and I bought his at the surf shop. You are constantly putting on and taking off your sunglasses as you enter stores and attractions. It is so easy to just let your glasses dangle around your neck. Of course we put our sunglasses away before riding any coasters.

 

[3mickeymom]

I saw quite a few people using an umbrella as a shade parasol when we visited Universal. I made a mental note that I would bring one the next time I traveled with my Mother-in-law. She is bothered by the sun and it isn't always possible to stay out of it.

Mister fans. They are very expensive when you buy them in the park. They can be purchased much cheaper at home at Walmart or QVC. I have small pump ones(no batteries required) that are slim and easy to travel with. I take them everywhere all summer long. People are always asking me where I bought them. They are from QVC.

 

[amycakes]

subscribing

 

[NashvilleTrio]

Bring a sponge and small thing of dish soap, especially if you are having sippy cups and/or refillable mugs (which you can buy when you get there) you can wash them in your room.

For our last trip, we found some disposable dish washing cloths that worked great for cleaning up any cups or dishes. They're a dry cloth with dry soap inside. All you have to do is get them wet and you have a soapy dishcloth that you can just toss in the trash when you're done! And we didn't have to worry about dish soap leaking in our luggage. I'm not sure, but I think they were "Dawn" brand. Very handy...

 

[chewysmom]

Great thread!! I'm taking notes!

 

[MoeFam]

PaMom- Would love to see your list on what to take/get for places with kitchens. We are staying at the Orange Lake Resort in a villa and want to eat in as much as possible. These days eating out with our two- is neither fun nor relaxing!

 

[hollyb]

I haven't seen sunglass holders mentioned yet. I have the kind that dangle around your neck but my husband likes the neoprene sport ones. They make nice ones now(pretty beaded stlyles). I got mine in Walmart. I think my husbands are called croakies and I bought his at the surf shop. You are constantly putting on and taking off your sunglasses as you enter stores and attractions. It is so easy to just let your glasses dangle around your neck. Of course we put our sunglasses away before riding any coasters.

LOVE this idea!!! Never would have thought of that.

 

[GettinReadyforDisney]

I always bring Lysol spray and spray every surface in our room. For 3 or 4 trips in a row, one or all of us got sick while we were in Disney. Once, we all got a stomach virus -- one after another -- ruining 4 entire days of our vacation. We had already been there 3 or 4 days when that happened, so I'm convinced we got sick from germs in our room. I've heard alot of others talking about getting sick at Disney, as well. We have not been sick once (keeping my fingers crossed for our next trip), ever since I started bringing Lysol spray!!

 

[GettinReadyforDisney]

A couple of other things that I thought of:

I keep a "Disney box" -- when we get back from a trip, I put light spinners and other souvenirs that are really only used in Disney, any extra ponchos that we didn't use and other things that we would only use in Disney. Then, it's all together when we start packing. Also, I usually put some extra Mickey soap, shampoo, etc. and bring it out a couple of weeks before our trip -- This always adds to my kids' excitement!!!

Also, I too use the over the door shoe caddy. I picked up this tip years ago. My husband laughed at my "over organizational skills" but now thinks its great!! It keeps all the toiletries and medicines off the counter and in once place. Plus, you can hang it up before your trip and start putting things in it, as you think of them (or buy them).