*Overpackers Unite.. Am I the ONLY ONE? ....

[Disneymom in TX]

I had to laugh the other day as I was planning for our return visit in December that the perk to having to pay for my DD's airplane seat this time was the ability to have two more pieces of checked luggage and another carry-on. Yes, I am a sick Disney mommy who needs help.

 

[aubriee]

Let me say that I'm a long-reformed former overpacker. The above sentence just JUMPS out at me as symptomatic of the problem and how it can be fixed.

First off, repeat after me, NO JEANS!!! (Well, you can have one pr. *if* you are going horseback riding, but no more!) Jeans are heavy, bulky, take forever to dry, and do not keep you warm when it is cold. They are a terrible choice for any kind of travel. Instead, pack zip-off pants or lighter trousers such as windpants or khakis, plus two prs. of very thin long underwear (I like silk, but hi-tech wicking fabric is good, too. And yes, you can buy it for kids.)

One water-resistant fleece jacket and pr. of gloves packed in a space bag will keep you warm when worn over a t-shirt; no need for as many long-sleeve shirts as short, and wearing the tee underneath keeps the fleece from getting smelly. Fleece also resists spills, so that's a plus, too.

I'm definitely an overpacker! I like NotUrsala's idea of no jeans. They do take up alot of room. As far as fleeces I'm afraid I always pack at least four or five, because I want them to match my shirt and pants I have on. Like others, when I go in Dec I pack a suitcase for cold weather and another for warm weather. When I was there last Dec I had a whole suitcase full of winter stuff I didn't even unzip. My downfall seems to be shoes--I always carry at least 6-7 pairs for a 10 day trip. I also carry alot of stuff just in case I get sick and alot of toiletries.

I'm willing to admit that I'm an overpacker (hey, I carried two large suitcases and a carry on for just me last Dec). What I need are some ideas on how to pack lighter, without breaking into a cold sweat, especially when going during the winter months. I'm always afraid I'm going to forget something I need, so I just carry everything I could possibly need and then don't use half of it.

 

[bama-mom]

Oh, I am stressing so bad right now over the packing situation. We leave on Monday and I have to work Sat. and Sun. 12 hours each So most of my packing needs to be done by tomorrow night. It will be me, dh, dd 4 and ds 18 months and we are flying, renting a car and staying off property. We will make a run to Wal-Mart or Publix when we get there for diapers, juice, milk, breakfast, etc. (will have a full kitchen).

I am worried about going over the 50 pound limit! I think I am going to try to pack dh and dd in one case and me and ds in another. Then I have to worry about shoes, toiletries, blow dryer, costumes so I will probably need another smaller suitcase. Then the carryons, we are bringing our laptop for the first time, camera bag of course, video camera, small diaper bag/backpack.

Not to mention 2 Maclarens, 2 carseats.................
Maybe I should get off the computer and get packing!!

 

[samnbilly]

Count me in too!
I always overpack, and then when my husband is about to crack-I bring an extra suitcase to bring home all of our souveneirs All these new restrictions with the max. amt. of pounds for the suitcases must've started because of me. You would be amazed at how much I can actually fit in a suitcase

 

[Taja]

I'm a reformed overpacker! *LOL* My BFF and travel buddy still overpacks horrendously. Our December WDW trip should be interesting! We will have 3 adults, 1 child and one very young infant. Since large bags don't fit well in rental cars (why do full-size cars have trunks that don't hold full-size suitcases?), we're planning on smaller bags. We'll be there 10 nights.

I've trial packed into a 21" pilot case that will be checked, an 18" wheeled duffel (holds my laptop, other electronics & geek bag, jacket, change of clothing & toiletries) that fits into the overhead bin beautifully and doesn't require much space, and a large tote bag to keep with me for the 4.5 hour flight. And, yes, I will be doing laundry around Day 6. *sigh*

Since I refuse to purchase special clothing for travel (my rule of thumb is 80% of my wardrobe has to be suitable for 80% of my life!), I include 2 sets of thermal underwear (part of the 20%) and 2 lightweight sweatshirts, which work well under my reversible fleece/water resistant stadium jacket if the weather gets wicked. Everything else is part of my regular wardrobe.

Not sure what everyone else will be taking (won't know until we reach MCO, as they originate their trip in another state. We'll join forces in PHX and continue to MCO.

What do you want to bet the baby (who will be 3.5 months old) will have the most stuff? Stroller, car seat...

 

[Taja]

Count me in too!
I always overpack, and then when my husband is about to crack-I bring an extra suitcase to bring home all of our souveneirs All these new restrictions with the max. amt. of pounds for the suitcases must've started because of me. You would be amazed at how much I can actually fit in a suitcase

My BFF/travel buddy probably went to the same school of packing as you. It's amazing what she can fit into a suitcase!

 

[Taja]

I'm definitely an overpacker! I like NotUrsala's idea of no jeans. They do take up alot of room. As far as fleeces I'm afraid I always pack at least four or five, because I want them to match my shirt and pants I have on. Like others, when I go in Dec I pack a suitcase for cold weather and another for warm weather. When I was there last Dec I had a whole suitcase full of winter stuff I didn't even unzip. My downfall seems to be shoes--I always carry at least 6-7 pairs for a 10 day trip. I also carry alot of stuff just in case I get sick and alot of toiletries.

I'm willing to admit that I'm an overpacker (hey, I carried two large suitcases and a carry on for just me last Dec). What I need are some ideas on how to pack lighter, without breaking into a cold sweat, especially when going during the winter months. I'm always afraid I'm going to forget something I need, so I just carry everything I could possibly need and then don't use half of it.

My BFF/travel buddy packs the same way you do. Every outfit has to match!

I use one basic colour (black is the base of my wardrobe), then coordinate everything around that. I lean toward blue (everything from truquoise & teal to royal blue) and purple (lavender to deep purple), but will be including some berry/burgundy items for December. And a long-sleeved Quacker Factory t-shirt embroidered with holly leaves & berries. Two pairs of very comfortable walking shoes, one pair of Birks (double as slippers) and one pair of slightly dressier shoes (usually sandals--I don't like closed shoes). I wear one pair of walking shoes on the flight, so I only have to pack 3 pairs.

While I don't take it to WDW, I also have a long black crepe skirt than folds into nothing in case I need a dressy to formal outfit. The top and accessories determine the degree of formality.

All toiletries are are repackaged into smaller containers that are refilled after each trip. My smallest containers will take me through about 15 days for most items. And I do pack for potential illness: NyQuil liquigels, Imodium, antihistimines, etc., but only small quantities. Just enough to tide me over for few days until I can get to a store or have something delivered.

My downfall for weighty items is books. I love to read. Don't do much of it at WDW, so I carry one on and pack one. Just in case!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I used to be a huge overpacker...packing just about everything but the kitchen sink...you know, just in case! As time goes by, I seem to get better with each trip. We had 2 adults and 2 kids on our last trip and each of us had one large suitcase that we had to check going down to Disney and then on the way back we had the original 4 we arrived with plus 2 smaller suitcases full of souvenirs that we had to check. I envy the people I see in the airport that travel with one small or medium sized suitcase and thats it!

 

[Pirates4me]

We have only one for each of us and then a duffle bag type that we take empty and fill it with all the Disney Booty we bring back

 

[AFL]

I thought I was an over packer LOL

We were in Disneyland for a week last Dec. Each of us had a bag - a duffle bag for each of the boys, hubby had the small suitcase and I had the big one.

This Dec just Hubby and I are going to WDW for the first time. It will also be our first trip without the boys (ages 15 & 16). I have a list - we are gone 7 days so 7/2 = 4 pairs pants, 8 shirts, sweatshirt, swim suit, socks and underwear, all for each of us. Toiletries. I need a dress or 2, and extra shoes to wear with dress and I'm packing leggings to take in the backpack on the days I'm wearing a dress, incase it gets cold.

I'm thinking I can fit hubby's clothes into the small suitcase, my stuff into the medium suitcase, which I'm going to pack inside the big one (so I have that extra bag to bring home Christmas presents). I think we'll be Ok with just one carry on and the camera bag, though. Plus there's Hubby's wheelchair.

UGH I might need to rethink my suitcases LOL

AFL

 

[badblackpug]

My personal suitcase last year was the largest out of the set and it was just 3 ounces under the 50 lb weight limit. I am told by Mr. Pug that I am "*expletive* ridiculous!"

 

[NotUrsula]

If you feel that your fleece must match your outfit, you solve that issue by making sure that all of your outfits match one another. I go with three colors max, one of them usually beige. Same deal for the rest of the family -- you just have to recognize that when you travel you need to limit your color choices. (Besides, when everyone is coordinated the photos look nicer.) Always put fleece in a space bag -- it weighs very little, but it takes up a lot of space unless you squash it.

We have a family rule that no one gets to put more than 2 prs of shoes in the baggage, and then I pack socks and undies inside the shoes so that they keep their shape. Shoes are deadly for taking you overweight; wear the heaviest prs. on the plane.

We travel with an infant, and we usually go to the beach, so we bring a hardside cooler with beach stuff as one checked bag, along with (yes, you read this correctly) ONE 29" suitcase for our family of four. I pack it with space bags, and it always comes out to around 47 lbs. One large suitcase is all we can manage, because we also have a stroller and a carseat, plus 3 backpack carryon bags. My rule is that if we need help to manage it, we have too many bags.

My best tip is never to put a single item in a suitcase until you have gathered together every item that you are planning to take. Spread them out on a bed, then LOOK at what you have laid out. Then put half of it back where it came from. [You've given it due consideration and decided against it.] Finally, have one person put everything into the bags, which eliminates duplication of essential items. (DH is weird about dental floss. I usually find about 8 pkgs of it spread through the luggage if I let him do the packing.)

 

[*love*2*shop]

ok, so I kind of started FINALLY packing tonight and I am up to 3 full large suitcases and DEF will need *atleast*2 more.....Looks like 5-6 LARGE total, all @40 lbs or so each.......trying to be sure i leave a few lbs for ...stuff we bring home....

Then all 4 of us have a carryon and then we have the DBL stroller..... hubby is still going to FREAK!

 

[Stacerita]

I am a compulsive over packer. I can't help it. I really can't. Just this past weekend I went to Havasu. I packed a huge suitcase, plus took a small bag for my tolitries, a medium bag with some books and stuff, plus my purse. The suitcase itself was something I would take if I was going somewhere a week or longer and couldn't wash while gone. But yes, I took it for a weekend. And I packed 7 pairs of shoes just in case. I wasnt sure what we would be doing and wanted to be prepared for anything.

 

[aubriee]

Always put fleece in a space bag

Shoes are deadly for taking you overweight; wear the heaviest prs. on the plane

My best tip is never to put a single item in a suitcase until you have gathered together every item that you are planning to take. Spread them out on a bed, then LOOK at what you have laid out. Then put half of it back where it came from. [You've given it due consideration and decided against it.]

All right Not Ursala (or any other light packers), I'm putting myself in your hands. I'm going solo to WDW Dec 8th-16th (so there's a good chance the weather will be all over the map=shorts and long pants, and coats, in other words). I usually wear Crocs or flip flops to WDW (hate tennis shoes). I'm going to one signature restaraunt, so will need one nice outfit. I do use the zip lock bag method to pack (so I can squeeze more into my suitcase ). I am a very light sleeper and can't sleep without my white noise machine, so that is a absolute necessity. My own bath products are another necessity, as are products like sunscreen, bodyglide, and pain and cold medicines. Again for my trips the last two Dec I've packed two large suitcases and a carryon just for me.

Pack me for 9 days with one checked bag and one carryon, considering the variances in the Dec weather. I hate overpacking and am open to change, (but do not want to do laundry while I'm down there).

 

[Swimnoid]

Well, you all are worse than me. Luckily, though, when we go to WDW we drive so we can just keep shoving stuff in the car and not worry about how much we have. And since we stay in cabins and can park at the door we can use laundry baskets and things to pack in. Makes it really easy.

I have a friend who used to travel with me to Fort Lauderdale for a week every spring. While I had a good sized rolling duffle filled with stuff for the week she would have everything she needed in a back pack! for a week! I was amazed.