Need Help from Packing Experts!!!

[TinkerbellMama]

So it's me, dh, and ds1 leaving in 8 days for The World...and I need to start packing!!! Anyone got a REALLY SUPER DETAILED packing list they care to share?? I am especially looking for one geared towards families with babies, since I'm worried I'll forget something we need for ds, most of all. I'd also love to have any great family packing tips. Thanks!!

 

[JuneCleaver]

My TA gave me some awesome packing tips...ZIPLOCK BAGS!

1. An entire child's outfit for the day can go in a gallon zippy. No worrying about your hubby putting mismatched clothes on the kids while you are in the shower...and at the end of the day, dirty clothes go back in the ziplock.

2. 2 gallon ziplocks can hold a week of undies and socks. Zip them up, let out the air, and you have a vacumn sealed bag of undies!

June

 

[megan4777]

Ok, I just packed for DD's (3 months and 2 yrs) as well as myself. I put all of my dd's outfits in baggies. I did put like 2-3 days of clothes in one baggie, though, because otherwise it was a waste of space. I would put 1-2 pair of shorts and 2 shirts. We had a washer and dryer....
I also put all the 4 m old socks in one baggie....and the 2 yr olds in another. I think my biggest tip will be to put YOUR underwear in a baggie by itself. I put all my bras and underwear in a baggie and found that no opened it (when going through security).
I found, thought, that I also didn't pack enough pants or sweatshirts for the girls. I also didn't pack enough hats/gloves (hey we went late oct/early nov). Make sure you pack enough warm clothes. Gee, I sure did suck at packing!!!
I will definately be re-doing my whole packing thing on our next trip, though.

 

[WDWLinda]

Just returned 2 weeks ago from a trip with our 4 yr old and 8 mo. old sons. We rented a car and made a grocery stop so I didn't have to pack diapers, formula, baby cereal, baby jar food, etc.

We checked the baby car seat at the curb and put a booster seat in a suitcase. Gate checked the stroller.

Things I packed:
plastic bowl for cereal
disposable spoons
extra baby bottles
baby medicines
favorite blanket/stuffed animal
little bottle of dishwasher detergent for rinsing stuff, including bibs
extra bibs
plastic colored rings that connect together and to the stroller or crib to keep toys or sippy cup from falling to the floor

If you're staying on site in a moderate or deluxe hotel (not sure of the values) they'll loan you a crib/pack & play and refridgerator. Make sure you use the baby centers for changing. Try to get back to the hotel for afternoon down time. Go to a character meal for a good up close introduction to the characters. Don't forget your camera and have a great time!

~Linda

 

[WDWLinda]

About those baggies...every day I put a gallon size zip loc in the diaper bag with a diaper, wipes, and small towel so its easy to locate in the bag and you take that with you into the bathroom for changes.

Ditto on the extra warm clothes - I didn't pack enough and we went in Oct.!

~Linda

 

[lovehoney]

I like the detail of this list, but it is a little lacking on the baby front.


http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/trip/UltimatePackingList.shtml

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I guess I should add that we use cloth diapers, so we can't run out of those...I'll just do a load of laundry! He doesn't need baby food from jars. He is breastfed so no formula or milk to worry about (our family doesn't use dairy products at all, actually, so we won't need a fridge). The main things I am planning to pack for him are diapers, clothes, one small bowl/utensil set to eat from, bibs, jacket, nail clippers, brush, his burt's bees shampoo bar , teething tablets (just in case), cloth wipes (double as napkins and washcloths), sunscreen, baby sunglasses, hat, his special fleece blanket he always sleeps with, snacks such as bananas or teething biscuits, and a few small toys. He doesn't use any medication or toiletries other than the shampoo bar, and he sleeps with us so we won't need the crib. We are bringing our own stroller and of course we'll have the carseat. I am just worried there will be SOMETHING I forget, need, and can't find while at WDW.
Thanks for the tips, and keep 'em comin'!

 

[Littlemotherhaywood]

I like the detail of this list, but it is a little lacking on the baby front.


http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads/trip/UltimatePackingList.shtml

Does anyone else think it's strange that toilet paper is listed as an item to pack for the suitcase. I can only assume this is for people who may be staying at a condo or something. Is there something I should know about Disney and toilet paper

 

[SheriN]

LOL Yeah I wondered about that one too! LOL

Sheri

 

[WDWorBUST]

The one thing that you didn't mention that I loved having was the big Huggies disposable changing pads. I got the small ones by accident and hated those....but the big ones are so nice for diaper changes. If it didn't get dirty I'd fold it back up into itself where the part that touched the diaper table only touched itself so I still had a clean pad to use again. The only other thing you might take is a thermometer and baby tylenol (or whatever you use) just in case.

 

[Minnie824]

One thing I'm doing for my 18 mo old is to bring the pull up diapers - not pull ups , but the like 1T version of diapers that actually pull on...that way, in the parks, I don't have to worry about getting her to lay down to change her most of the time...she can just stand there.

 

[WDWorBUST]

I second the 1T pull-ups - I used those this last trip when DD was 23 months and they were WONDERFUL....I never had to lay her on a changing pad in the parks. But I was prepared with the changing pads just in case.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

The one thing that you didn't mention that I loved having was the big Huggies disposable changing pads.

Thanks, we are taking a reusable one that is part of our diaper bag. We do not use disposable products unless absolutely necessary, even on vacation. I know people think we are nuts, but we do not use disposable diapers, wipes, changing pads, bibs, dishes/silverware, etc. I guess we are actually a pretty light-traveling family. We took ds at 2 mos. old to Orlando for a week, and each of us had only a carry-on...including the 10 cloth diapers we took!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Forgot to add that we have never used a thermometer or Infant Tylenol so I don't believe we'll be taking those things with us. In an emergency I would be more than willing to pay a higher price for these items, but I seriously doubt they would be needed. Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[crzy4dsny]

One thing I have learned the hard way is not to pack all of one persons clothes in one suitcase. Spread your clothes out thru all of the luggage. This way if one of your suitcases gets lost, you will still have some clothes. On one of our trips one of ours went missing for 3 days. All of the kids clothes were in that one suitcase. So we had to spend a over $100 for clothes for those few days, in addition to the hundreds of $$ in brand new clothes in the lost case. Luckily it showed up quick.

 

[lovehoney]

Does anyone else think it's strange that toilet paper is listed as an item to pack for the suitcase. I can only assume this is for people who may be staying at a condo or something. Is there something I should know about Disney and toilet paper

I didn't even notice it on the list. But now that you mention it, I really hate that papery TP you get in a lot of hotels.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

One thing I have learned the hard way is not to pack all of one persons clothes in one suitcase. Spread your clothes out thru all of the luggage. This way if one of your suitcases gets lost, you will still have some clothes. On one of our trips one of ours went missing for 3 days. All of the kids clothes were in that one suitcase. So we had to spend a over $100 for clothes for those few days, in addition to the hundreds of $$ in brand new clothes in the lost case. Luckily it showed up quick.

You know what? That is a great tip! Dh was just saying tonight that if a suitcase got lost or waylaid, we could just re-buy the contents. I was like, with what money???? I don't think he realizes how expensive it would be to re-buy someone's entire wardrobe, toiletries, and the like...not to mention valuables like cameras, electric razor, etc. It would take hundreds and an entire day of shopping, at the very least. We can't afford that financially OR time-wise!!!!!!

 

[Littlemotherhaywood]

One thing I have learned the hard way is not to pack all of one persons clothes in one suitcase. Spread your clothes out thru all of the luggage. This way if one of your suitcases gets lost, you will still have some clothes. On one of our trips one of ours went missing for 3 days. All of the kids clothes were in that one suitcase. So we had to spend a over $100 for clothes for those few days, in addition to the hundreds of $$ in brand new clothes in the lost case. Luckily it showed up quick.

Ugh, how awful. Thanks for the tip. I always pack the kids stuff in one suitcase and ours in another, but I may just mix it up in case something like that happens. That would really suck I'm glad you eventually got your suitcase back though.

 

[tinytotrn]

We'll be leaving in 8 days, too. I never thought of gloves/hat.....just how cold does it get down there at night???? I thought it would be 60's at the very lowest.....

 

[TinkerbellMama]

We'll be leaving in 8 days, too. I never thought of gloves/hat.....just how cold does it get down there at night???? I thought it would be 60's at the very lowest.....

LOL, I meant a SUN HAT! You are correct...it will probably be high 60s/low 70s everyday you are there. A sweatshirt or light jacket should be enough for the nighttime chill, and a pair of sweatpants or a blanket for the legs of little ones.