Luggage for the Family

[Red_Rider]

Hi All!!! So in September the four of us will be taking our first trip to Disney and I really need to get some new luggage. Currently we have some old, beat-up luggage that needs to be replaced. Does anyone have suggestions for luggage that they have used and like? Is hard-sided luggage better? I've been to a bunch of stores and there is just a huge variety... almost overwhelming. Any info would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Due to airline 50 pound weight limits and extra bag fees, we switched to LL Bean Large Rolling Duffels. My soft-sided samsonite weighed 21.5 pounds! My rolling duffel is just under 9 pounds. Plus they come in cool colors, I am purple, DD is pink flowers...

You do need to be organized when packing a duffel. I have packing cubes (from Container Store) and also use my own free version of the packing cube (I save plastic zippered pouches that new sheets come in, etc). Then I have drawstring laundry bags. During the week we fill them up and they fit exactly into the duffel, when we get home we roll them right into the laundry room.

The only drawback is they don't stand up-right. If I was doing a lot of traveling on public transportation (i.e. Europe) this could be a pain, but for airline travel I am fine with it!

 

[Red_Rider]

I was looking into the rolling duffle but was unsure of how to handle if the duffle got wet at all in the rain, but I guess the packing cubes would help out with that. The rolling duffle seems like a great idea -- I could use them for more than just airline travel. Thanks for the great suggestion!

 

[Heidijs]

We use my parents hard sided luggage and they travel all over the world. I won't use anything else when flying. It's not heavy either. I packed that sucker so full for Vegas one year and I still had 5 lbs to go for the 50 lb limit. At least you don't have to worry about the bag busting open when they whip it around...it won't tear, your stuff won't get crushed in it...it won't get wet from rain...I even go one step further and besides the locking closures, I put a strap around it and snap it shut just in case...dad said he's seen too many suitcases come around the luggage pickup wide open and everyones' stuff all over the place. No thanks! It's not the prettiest luggage but it does the job and I don't worry about it once I check it at the airport. I know it won't be ruined or anything inside it and I can pack it as full as I can and still not go over. I take a hanging scale with and check for when we return home...I'll take duffle bags and like the cloth rolling luggage as my carry on but not checked luggage. That stuff breaks so easily...

 

[momz]

don't get what everybody else has. What I mean is....get something that is easily distinguishable in a pile of black and dark blue bags. Not only will it make finding your luggage easier, but it will decrease the chance of someone else accidentally taking your bag. Also, it can deter someone try taking it your bag purposefully.

That's my only advice...enjoy your trip.

 

[jenlynn0808]

I agree with momz...try to get something distinguishable. When DD's pink and DS's electric blue suitcases roll up easy to spot and grab...DH and I have black total pain (is that our bag, I think it is our bag-look at the tag). One trick we now have though, we 'mark' our black bags. We have bright blue Mickey tags on them, works great when we fly to MI or NJ to visit out folks, when we fly to FL we have to watch a little more carefully as once someone else had the same tags, but on duffles.

 

[Heidijs]

Yep, color helps too. I always pick dad's lime green and red hard sided bags! We NEVER have a problem spotting our luggage! I was going to take his black ones and he reminded me that everyone else has black too so I picked the two that suck out the most!

 

[tlh0726]

Whatever you purchase, remember you will need to store it once you are done using it.


We switched to rolling duffels about 3 years ago and never looked back.
They actually do stand upright also and have telescopic handles

 

[tinkermom23]

We bought new luggage last year and really gave some thought as to when we would use it other than Disney, since we do not travel by airplane very often. But money was a big consideration also.

For DS10 we got him a bag that was a color he would still like 3 years from now. He and I go to Cub Scout camp a few times a year and we need to carry everything a distance to the camp so we did not get the wheeled bags. (I got the ebags weekender convertable and he got an Eddie Baurer duffel. We love them.)

DH has back problems so he cannot carry a lot of weight. He got a wheeled bag that is only carry-on size because he shouldn't be lifting a big bag when it's packed full anyway.

My suggestion would be to get luggage that you can use after this trip is done. And don't skimp- you get what you pay for. Look for a sale but don't go for cheap. JMO.

Have a fabulous First Family Vacation!!

 

[byerspc]

we brought regular luggage last year including two hard sides. The problem with regular luggage is that it takes up too much space in the rooms. We just purchased some High Sierra upright duffles from kohls for this year's trip since we can collapse them so much better.

 

[sherry7]

See this recent thread...lots of good info on it:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2385627

 

[clarkmichelle]

Red_Rider, I received this (http://www.usatravelmagazine.com/a/TravelProducts/TravelProductNews098.html) in my email box the other day. It’s a review of Briggs and Riley luggage. It’s got some nice things to say about Briggs and Riley travelware. I suggest you read through the review. I am sure this will help you in your decision.

 

[donac]

We also have the llbean rolling duffles. I got dh ds's and myself the large rolling, the medium rolliing and the regular small duffle all in matching colors for each of us. I got these over the course of a couple of years. The large is great for a week and the medium is great for a 4 day trip.

Being in the rain is a consideration. We had some wet stuff on our first trip because the cases were on top of a pile being sent to the airlines through ME. We used cases from llbean to organize better and had some things in plastic bags.

WE love the duffles.