New item for "must pack" list

[scschnur]

If you intend to do any laundry on board, go to Target (I am sure other stores have them - I just know my friend found ours at Target) and buy a collapsing laundry hamper. I don't have the brand -but you'll know it when you see it. It is a blue mesh and nylon material that collapses to a flat nothing. When you're ready to use it - pop it open and you have a sturdy hamper to throw clothes in during the cruise. When open - it measures about 19 inches high and 16 inches wide - plenty of space to throw 2-3 days of clothing in for a family of 5. It has a handle to carry the clothes to the laundry room - and a side pocket for detergent, change and softeners... We kept it near the veranda (right in front of the window) and it never got in the way. The kids always knew where to throw there clothes, so I wasn't running through both rooms collecting dirty laundry! Also - my boys bought one of those ESPN mini basketballs at the gift shop - and they spent hours playing basketball (late hours....) with the hamper as the "hoop".

Anyway - I loved it! It will go on all my future cruises with me! I couldn't imagine a cruise without it!!

 

[abitjaded]

Good idea, I had always used one of our smaller roll suitcases. With all the wet stuff and stinky socks, the suicase would get a little, wellllll..... Used to put the detergent tabs in it to de-stink.

Carla

 

[Windermere]

We always use one of the collapsible hampers. Got ours at bed, bath and beyond. We keep ours closer to the bathroom by the highboy. Even if you only toss in underwear and socks it is well worth it.

 

[queenof4hearts]

Great idea, thanks.

How convenient is it to do laundry on a cruise. Probably not as handy as the Disney home away from homes?

 

[mmouse37]

We also bring one with us when we cruise.. works out great. I guess I will have to get my digital camera and take a picture of it open and closed so everyone will know what we are talking about!!!

Stand by for photos in a little while!!

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

Ok...here are two pics of these great little laundry hampers. I forgot where I purchased mine but it was under $5.00. Maybe even the dollar store...but it serves it purpose well!!!

http://community.webshots.com/photo/50699182/66732861wwigqG

http://community.webshots.com/photo/50699182/66732870aqyySQ

MJ

 

[digitalmom]

queenof4hearts, I did wash when we did the Magic about 2 years ago and it was not that bad at all. We were on deck 6 and there was a laundry room on that deck. Sorry don't remember price or how long it took to wash and dry.

 

[scschnur]

That looks quite similar to mine - although mine was a solid navy color throughout. It cost around $6.00 at Target.

The space between the closet and steamer trunk would have been perfect - but we didn't have that. We had two adjoining rooms and that is the area we walked through.

I cannot tell you how many jealous comments we received in the laundry room! Many of them carried laundry in their arms, pull-style bags, plastic bags from the gift store, etc.....

Again - a MUST on the packing list....

 

[Sharby]

Thank you for this info scschnur and the pictures mmouse37! This is a great item for travel - not just a cruise!

I'll be getting these for our next trip to WDW, because I really disliked schlepping the laundry in suitcases or Disney shopping bags.

 

[PeachyK]

I agree, the pop-up hamper is a must have on any trip. I use mine a lot in the summer for the beach toys and towels too.

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

Last year I used plastic bags and they over flow. Last I also packed 70% too much but tiwht little ones laundry is usually necessary. Thanks for the idea !

 

[abitjaded]

Originally posted by queenof4hearts
Great idea, thanks.

How convenient is it to do laundry on a cruise. Probably not as handy as the Disney home away from homes?

Easy to do laundry in the morning, early on in the cruise. But the laundries are small, few machines. It becomes a nightmare later in the cruise. Hard to get things dry, too. Folks seem to like to leave their wet things in a dryer. One morning the place was deserted but by the time I needed to finish the fourth load, could not get a dryer. Had a lot of socks I strung up in our cabin. Things don't dry well. Cabin was a dump for a few days. Have also done laundry at the old Bungalows at DI and Ft. Wilderness cabins. And yes, the cruise was much harder to get the laundry done. But better than smelling some of the stuff (spent 3 days after the cruise at the Swan, and you have NO IDEA how stinky the damp, dirty stuff got.)

Carla

 

[Lil]

Just got off the 7 day Eastern 3/22-3/29. I did laundry twice. We were on deck 7 laundry room was in other hallway. I am a early riser, so I took the laundry down at 5:30am, put in washer, and crawled back in bed for 32 minutes to relax. So with dryer. The clothes dried quickly, even the load of jeans took only 1 cycle. I wonder as the day goes on, and the dryers run constantly, if it gets too humid in the laundry room? I heard people complaining by 6pm when I zipped in to iron something for dinner.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Bring lots of quarters......... laundry is $1.00 for about 30 minutes whether you wash or dry. Also, stay by your clothes: I left mine for a manicure and when I came back they were taken.

I lost about $250 worth of clothes......

In all the years I have been going to disney, that was a first.

 

[MouseClubMom]

Originally posted by Laurajean1014
Bring lots of quarters......... laundry is $1.00 for about 30 minutes whether you wash or dry. Also, stay by your clothes: I left mine for a manicure and when I came back they were taken.

I lost about $250 worth of clothes......

In all the years I have been going to disney, that was a first.

Oh how horrible! We did laundry twice on the Cruise because both DD's got sick (2 days apart!) and we had lots of ummm... laundry to do. We did one load late at nite on the 3rd day and it wasn't too crowded. We did the 2nd round while docked in St Thomas and the place was empty. We left our laundry both times with no problems.

 

[mmouse37]

Somebody actually stole your clothes???? That is horrible. I could see them taking them out and putting them on the table (I have seen that done) but to actually take your clothes....that's sick!!!

I hope you reported it to guest services...I do not know what they could at that point...I guess you could keep a look out for someone wearing your clothes!!!!

MJ

 

[Sharby]

I'd like to be charitable and think that someone else accidently stole your clothes. Imagine this scenario: Wifey says to Husband: go down to the laundry and get the clothes out of dryer #1 & #2. And Hubby accidently takes laundry out of your dryer and then when he gets back he folds it (okay . . . LOL . . .he's a man . . . he sort of folds it. . . ) and then he puts it in the drawers or whatever. And Wifey then doesn't notice that some of it is not their laundry.

Because why would someone take an entire load of your laundry?


(BTW and a little O/T (sorry): Wishydoo has done some nice stuff over on the Technical Support board "Can anyone else hear this?" thread and it would be nice if some of you mosey'd on over to have a look and a listen.)

 

[Fay Ray]

It does sound incredible that someone would pay thousands of dollars to go on a DCL cruise and then be low enough to steal someones laundry. I guess that goes under the "it takes all kinds" category........

 

[house_of_princesses]

We were on a month long trip last October and I finally broke down and spent two nights into the wee hours (at least it seemed that way ) doing laundry at a coin-op facility. (We visited friends along the way, so I confiscated their washers/dryers while visiting.) I can't imagine doing it on our cruise! And yes, we are planning a 7 day cruise. Maybe if I make it a family affair the job won't seem like the slap back to reality it really is!

Ok, ok, I'll buy the fold down hamper.....

 

[lbgraves]

Darn! I had hoped to avoid the laundry thing. I even planned on packing seperate bags for us to leave with the family in JAX for the few days after our vacation. Hmmm...now with an extra 2 days at WDW after the cruise I may just HAVE to do a load or two.