must haves...

[Maybelle]

For what it's worth, I have made a list of all of the things that we "had to have" for our trip a couple of weeks ago; things we couldn't have gone without. I got so many tips from this board and all of them were so appreciated!! However, I found that I ended up taking way too much that we never used. This is the pared down list of what I will make sure to take along on our next trip! (Hopefully before too long!! ) Hope it is helpful to someone!

for the room:

-prepackaged cereals and oatmeals. We heated water in the coffeepot for the oatmeal and found it kept us full longer than the sugary cereals.
-cereal bars
-anti-bacterial wipes. Wiped down the faucets, doorknobs, tv remote, phone receiver, etc.
-envelopes with mouskeeping tips made up at home with correct amount of $. This made things much easier every morning not having to look for the right bills to leave, plus we decorated the envelopes with cute stickers beforehand.
-dishwashing wipes, for the re-fillable mugs and our plastic spoons from our cereal.
-advil
-peppermint foot and leg lotion
-children's chewable tylenol
-chewable pepto bismol
-clothes pins. I got plastic ones on hooks at the dollar store to put over the clothesline in the tub.
-trash bags for dirty clothes
-Downy wrinkle remover

for the parks:

-water bottles. We got Britta filter bottles and filled them each am with ice.
-water bottle holders. The only ones I could find with a strap to fit our bottles were from Walgreen's. They cinched in at the top and worked great.
-purell
-autograph book
-fat permanent markers
-camera
-sunglasses
-sunscreen
-lip balm with sunscreen
-hats
-money
-mini fan (for dd)
-dollar store rain ponchos
-watch (so we could keep track of times to return for fastpass!)
-quarters and shiny pennies for pressed penny machines
-fanny packs
-glow sticks/toys for evening activities (kept dd from asking for everything she saw that lighted up!)
-AIRWALK clogs from Payless (dd and I walked around in ours for 6 straight days with no problems! I had much less back and hip pain than normally when I walk around that much, and not even anything close to a blister!!)
-TICKETS!

Also one of the most helpful hints I got was to pack our outfits in ziplock bags. I did this for dd and myself, and it worked great. I think it did cut down on wrinkles somewhat, but mostly it was great that dd could just pull out a bag when she got up in the am and not have to worry about putting an outfit together. Saved lots of time!

If you are a "first timer" like I was, I hope you don't stress as much as I did about packing everything you might need. I was so stressed out, and then we got there and had a blast! Can't wait to go back!!!!

 

[babytrees]

Great list!!

Thanks...added to my cut and paste "book"

 

[GeorgiaTiggerGirl]

Good idea about the anti-bacterial wipes!

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

oh, dishwashing wipes....good idea!!!! Thanks for taking the time to write all of those things down for us!

 

[Mitzi]

Can anyone tell me where I might get these dishwashing wipes? I'v checked a few places but haven't found them yet...

 

[tcarr5]

target, walmart, kmart etc. look where the regular dish detergents are..they should all have them

 

[Maloy]

I use the dishwashing wipes while camping! These are wonderfull. The ones I found at my walmart are Dawn dishwashing pads. They come in a plastic box quite large. and have a scouring side and a soft side to the pad. All you got to do is run water on it and the soap comes out. And its really alot of soap!!!! I was able to do all dinner dishes and reuse for breakfast dishes while camping!!
Thanks for all the great suggestions!!! I just wish i could find those britta bottles!!! Guess im going to have to settle on having those walmart brand water bottle, tea and lemonade packs.

 

[Maybelle]

I was able to stumble onto the Brita bottles at our local CVS stre several months ago, but I have heard you can sometimes find them on e-bay.

I bought Palmolive dish wipes (lots of soap!) at a local discount store. Couldn't find them at our Wal-Mart or Target.

 

[momofbgtwins]

I saw the Britta water bottles at our local CVS a few days ago...

 

[PixieDust32]

Thanks for the tips!!

I've never heard of the britta bottles before, except for here (boards).
Can someone be kind and tell me about this bottles, where can i find them, and how much each, and how they work.

Thanks

Sorry!

 

[Maybelle]

The bottles are like the Brita water filter pitchers. They have a filter that filters the water as you drink it so you don't get the chlorinated or sulfur taste. Sadly, you may not find any, as I believe they have been discontinued. Some stores have been selling off what they have left, but they are sometimes available on e-bay. Good luck.

 

[mel63]

Things I do differently
1. Small pump bottle of antibacterial dish soap. I use this for dishes and hands. Then I do not need to bring softsoap with me. A tiny bit works for your hands. Then I just bring a one dish scrubber, usually 10/$1 at the dollar store. Then throw it out at the end. When I get home, I refill it and take it next time.
2. Clorox wipes to wipe down everything. They come in a soft pack for travel.
3. A pop up hamper and a couple of large Ikea shopping bags. The pop up hamper fits perfectly in the Ikea bag, so if anything wet is thrown in, it won't get the floor wet. Then use the other for garbage. Kitchen garbage size bags might work also, I haven't tried. I just make sure when I go to Ikea, I pack everything in a couple of large bags, then save them when I get home.

 

[PixieDust32]

The bottles are like the Brita water filter pitchers. They have a filter that filters the water as you drink it so you don't get the chlorinated or sulfur taste. Sadly, you may not find any, as I believe they have been discontinued. Some stores have been selling off what they have left, but they are sometimes available on e-bay. Good luck.

Oh I see!

Thanks

 

[BrendaE]

Great tips, thanks for the info. I especially like the dishwashing wipes, I never heard of them until this. They sound like a great idea.
Thanks,
Brenda

 

[klwdisney]

I also bring a nightlight so I don't get disoriented in the dark if I have to get up.

Also, plenty of shaving cream!! I brought the one I had in the shower from home with me on one trip and it ran out on Day 3. The store at the hotel only had Colgate so my legs and underarms smelled like a man for the rest of the week! haha

 

[Maybelle]

I brought a nightlight with me but did not end up using it. There was a small light on the hairdryer that gave enough light for us. Besides that, we went to bed around 11:30 or 12:00 each day and got up around 6:30 or so. Everyone slept pretty soundly after walking all day then swimming!

 

[mel63]

I bring a night light too. I have the glade plug in nightlight. So, the room smells nice too. If it is too bright I just plug it in the bathroom and leave the door open.

 

[daisy_77]

Great list! Thank you for sharing!

 

[tigertam]

The bottles are like the Brita water filter pitchers. They have a filter that filters the water as you drink it so you don't get the chlorinated or sulfur taste. Sadly, you may not find any, as I believe they have been discontinued. Some stores have been selling off what they have left, but they are sometimes available on e-bay. Good luck.

I found a few at Walmart, but they said they weren't going to carry them anymore. There were no filter refills. Does anyone know how I can get them? Has anyone found these still for sale?

 

[tigertam]

Maybelle,

Thank you for posting, it is very much of a help!! It is close to 45 days till we go and I was lurking on the board today and started feeling like I needed to start a list of things to bring and one of the next posts I read was yours!!! Thanks for the list, what a help. I had started a more detailed list to remind me what I needed with my digital camera and camcorder.(that was what I was reading about before your post) That thread was reminding me of the finer details that sometimes you forget when you just say camera. I also have been buying things.(I need to use that idea of putting out a disney box and collecting things!) The only problem is I have already started using my stock of film for the camcorder!

I had a question for you. I have been trying to get a mini fan. I wanted a snake kind for the stroller(battery operated) and a misting mini fan. My son just bought a mini fan at a camp and it was so weak! I was wondering what you have and how is it?

Oh and it took me a while to absorb your glow in the dark idea-but I finally get it. What a great idea. The light went off for me when I realized that I have a few still hidden away and only paid like 15 cents a piece at Walmart. What a savings then buying something in the park. Bringing extra little gifts to give them will hopefully cut down on them asking.