Overpacking!!!!!!!!!!

[MaryKatesMom]

I've been stopped at the gate at MCO for overpacking. Usair has become very strict on their weight limits. Charging an extra $25 has proably done more for limiting my packing than anything else.

I've had to switch to smaller bags for the DD's and myself. I would just pack 1 large bag for them and 1 large bag for myself. No I have to split them into two smaller bags.

I vote for no laundry on vacation!!

 

[wnissen]

I'm just glad that my wife is the packer in the family. I'm bad at it! I used to be a hideous overpacker. Now my major excess is insisting on a complete change of clothes in the carry-on. I figure, even if our luggage gets lost, we will still be able to do laundry not in the nude!

Walt

 

[TaraBelle1069]

Originally posted by Mickeyhugger

For all of you 'shoe addicts,' I overpack those too. [/B]

This is my biggest problem! I like my shoes to match my outfit. I was trying to bring clothes that go with brown sandals but then wanted to bring this black and white striped MM t-shirt so had to get black pants so can't wear brown sandals (some would...I wouldn't...that's just me). So I searched and found red sandals to go with all my other stuff and the black (MM has a red mouth on shirt...I think!). I'll probably end up bringing the brown sandals anyway. Then there are the casual sneakers and the good walking shoes (for exercising and pre-cruise WDW walking). Then there are the shoes to go with the dress clothes. So that's at least five pairs of shoes!!

 

[Buddy Bear]

Your going to laugh at this but my family went away for two weeks (4 days WDW, 7 days DCL, 3 days Universal Studios) and only brought with us "carry on" luggage.

We only pack what we need for half the trip figuring that we will buy clothes in WDW or on the ship because we like to have souvenirs that remind us of our trip.

That coupled with the fact that we make use of the laundry facilities on the ship over packing is not an issue.

Furthermore, to keep our luggage down to the minimum we ship home some of our clothes and other items that we don't want to bring back on the plane.

I know it sounds crazy, but it paid off major benefits on our last plane ride home. We were flying back to PHL on US Airways from MCO when our flight was cancelled.

With no flights going to PHL that night I asked to be transferred to Continental flying into Newark. We were immediately rerouted and made it home later that night. Had we checked luggage this trip could have been a big inconvenience.

Jeff

P.S. We were traveling with a six month old infant. Sarah was actually the reason this trip will be one to remember for a lifetime.

For those traveling with children in diapers don't pack the diapers, pick them up on the way to the port. We stopped at Walmart on the way and picked up what we needed for the rest of our trip.

 

[mbb]

Originally posted by Buddy Bear
.....Your going to laugh at this but my family went away for two weeks (4 days WDW, 7 days DCL, 3 days Universal Studios) and only brought with us "carry on" luggage.....

That's all we bring too!
19 day trip...carryons only...coming home...different story!LOL!!

However, I have to confess...
my girlfriend and I took a cruise - many moons ago, back when we were young and single...we each had two suitcases, a garment bag, and a carryon...

We had outfits for every day, complete with coordinating shoes/sandals...and unmentionables

Yep, EVERYTHING matched

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Glad to see so many here 'in support of overpacking.'

Must be a girl thing?

Don't hate me for this guys, but ladies; how many of your DH's ask 'why do you have to have take so many shoes? Who's really going to notice if your shoes match your clothes?' OMG! Taking shoes which DON'T match? Is he kidding? Also, my DH is fine w/repeating clothes for dinner each night. He thinks three outfits for rotating dinenrs and a daily change of socks & underwear is fine. (Plus different t-shirts for almost everyday.) I'm not complaining, because he's a real sweetheart to let 9-yo DH and I have 75% of the closet and drawer space. But I just cannot imagine reducing the number of clothes and shoes. To me, it's almost half the 'fun' of cruising!

 

[TaraBelle1069]

My parents have become very light packers from many trips to Africa. However, there it's fine if you wear khaki pants or shorts every day and no one really notices that they are the same ones. Actually growing up, my friends all thought my dad wore the same thing every day but he had something like 11 safari jackets and probably even more pairs of pants (he worked for the zoo).

This trait, however, has not rubbed off on me. I'm the person who has been donating my old clothes as I lose weight....and many of those 'old' clothes are things I never wore!!

My mom used to have almost as many pairs of shoes as Imelda Marcos. I thought this wouldn't rub off on me but it did. Now she wears Birkenstocks almost every day and I will be alotting a good chunk of my suitcase to my shoes.

My normal Disney packing is to take a duffle bag inside my suitcase. Duffle comes home with dirty clothes, suitcase comes home with souvenirs!! I learned my lesson about this though.....one year, I forgot that I had two coming home and only picked up my suitcase at the airport. Had to go back the next day to claim my dirty laundry!!

 

[wide awake]

I am amazed out how energetic all you other ladies are. I just don't buy clothes that won't go with black shoes/purse...so for the cruise I'll be taking nice black shoes to wear at dinner, flip flops, and water shoes. I like sticking to one accessory color...you can buy better quality, and you never have that last minute change of purse/wallet thing.

 

[cjsmom97]

Hi. My name is Jeanna and I am a chronic overpacker.

 

[Tinkertude]

J, you made me lol and hold my sides. I guess that makes you a friend of Imelda M. lol

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by Tinkertude
Just a word of warning. A friend packed all of her shoes and her dgd 's in one bag too. It didn't make it on the ship. So they had the shoes they had on and a pair of flip flops bought in the gift store for a whole week. It was not a disney cruise but since that time I always mix the suitecases with everyones clothes and shoes so that everyone would have something to wear incase of lost luggage.

I guess that could be a real problem if you travel solo...

 

[taswira]

Yep - Solo is a bit different!

<B><a href="http://www.primateprojections.com/103004/packlist.html">This is my packing list</A></B> for my upcoming 7-night Halloween Magic cruise. It varies only slightly from what I pack for the 3 or 4-night, and since it will be Halloween I had to add my costume and treats for the DIS trick-or-treating. But everything fits into one 26" soft-sided wheeled bag I check, and one shoulder tote carry-on. That's my rule. If I can't carry/manage all my luggage on my own (as in no porter), I don't take it.

The possibility of my checked bag not arriving on time is why for embarkation I wear something I <I>could</I> wear to dinner if absolutely necessary - - nice slacks, a decent top and acceptable shoes. I like to wear a dress to dinner even at PC, but in a pinch my boarding attire would suffice. However, I always have late seating so fortunately have not run into that problem.

I do understand about families having different packing problems, but as a solo my pack list hasn't changed since my second DCL cruise (and next month's will be my tenth!). I know what I need/use and what I don't, so I know exactly what works <I>for me.</I>

BTW - Hello videogal1 and Cash!