Packing and Luggage....

[daystar]

Hi,
This is our first flight, we are taking US Airway to Orlando and i was wondering how many luggage you can take per person???If there is four of us, can we each take a carry on???My boys are 5 and 12 wondering how many outfits do you pack for your children???We are going in December so i know that the weather varies...Do you take your own towels for swimming???Does anyone take the time out of their vacation to do laundry???May sound like simple questions but this is our first family trip away, i don't want to over pack if i don't have to...I just want to be perpared.....I don't know what i would have done without all of your help....I'm very thankful to these boards....
Thanks

 

[jdads2]

Call the airline at the airport which you depart. They may have some information on their website on the size of your carry-on.

 

[ducklite]

Yes, you can each have a small carryon. A school back pack (as opposed to a climbing K-2 pack) a diaper bag, a tote bag, etc. are all fine. One thing to note--if your kids play with GI Joes or Green Army men, the little plastic weapons will NOT be allowed as carry on and will be confiscated!

US Air's website is very specific about what you can and can't take and size/weight restrictions for luggage.

How long are you traveling for? My rule of thumb is over a week and I do laundry.

How much to pack depends on you--will you be doing a lot of fine dining? If so you'll need appropriate clothes for the restaurants. If you're doing mostly moderate restaurants and counter service, then one outfir per person, per day is generally fine. Keep in mind that it can be COLD in December, and you'll need at least some long pants and a jacket or sweatshirt for everyone.

We do'nt take beach towels with us, they take up too much space and depending on which resort you're staying at you can either get towels at the pool or take them from your room and they'll bring you more.

Anne

 

[daystar]

Hi Again,
I'm so glad that you told me about the G.I Joe weapons....My son who is five years old favorite toys are his army men and if there was a toy that he could take with him that would be it....Now i know that i will keep the weapons for his G.I Joe men at home and he wont be heart broken when they take them away...Thank you....We are staying at the All Stars Sport Resort for six days.....
Thanks

 

[Memaw2Wm]

Here's a link to US Airways baggage policy:

http://www.usairways.com/customers/travel_policies/baggage/

Basically each person can check 2 pieces of luggage up to 50 lbs each, have a carry-on bag and a personal item (purse, briefcase, sm backpack, camera case).


We flew Delta last summer ... using Ziplock bags I was able to cram 8 days worth of clothes into my grandkids 17" rolling suitcases, I then packed their backpacks with crayons, coloring books, reading books, Game Boys, bottle of water and their "luveys" (stuffed animals).

I carried a medium zip-top canvas tote (Lands End) and a hip pack. My zip-tote had some reading material for me, a bottle of water, a box of Cheez-Its and my camera.

I checked two bags, but had packed an empty duffle "just in case" ... on the way home the duffle was stuffed with dirty laundry and I packed our souveniers in the kids' carry-ons and the extra duffle counted as a check-in for them.

I did pack beach towels, but that's because we were going to Blizzard Beach and I didn't want to rent towels or bring bath towels from our resort. I also bought some laundry soap tablets, but I ended up not having to do laundry this trip.

 

[ducklite]

I would very strongly suggest you NOT cram as much as possible into a suitacase these days. Chances are farily good that your bag will be opened and hand searched (we seem to be averaging one in four). If they can't get it all back in, they aren't going to bother trying--they *might * chuck what won't fit into a plastic bag and put it through, but then again they also *might* let it fall to the floor.

These days, make it easy to close. I underpack all the suitacases, leaving them only about 2/3 full.

Anne

 

[Memaw2Wm]

Actually the only suitcases I crammed full were the kids and we carried them on ... the clothes were packed inside zip-lock bags and it wasn't hard to zip them shut.

 

[daystar]

Hi Again,
Thank you all for your help....Has anyone ever used those bags that you suck the air out of , can't remeber what there called but i seen them on tv and at walmart....I wonder if they actually work and give me more room in the suitcases....Has anyone also brought an empty suitcase or bag to bring back stuff you bought while at WDW...
Thanks

 

[nancyL]

Our last trip (13 days long) I packed 15 outfits for each person plus 3 pair of pjs and 5 extra pairs underwear. I ended up doing laundry AND not wearing all the clothes. Id pack for about 2/3 of the days you'll be there and just take out an evening and do laundry. Its what I will do from now on. Its very relaxing and gave me some alone time- I left the kids and husband in the room watching tv w/ some snacks and I had 2 hours to myself by the pool or shopping in the resort store, or...I had even contemplated going to the bar for a relaxing drink (grin) but ended up staying by the pool. My biggest issue was that we'd go to the parks in one set of clothes, go to the pool in the afternoon and then get dressed in different clothes for evening. This dirties 3 sets of clothes each day!
I used zip lock bags that I squeezed all the air out of- works the same as those bags you can get on tv. Worked great going but coming back was a pain. I wont do it again.
In the past we have purchased luggage at the hotel in order to cart all our things home again.
I would agree w/ packing suitcases 2/3 full and taking the extra luggage rather than trying to fit everything in smaller bags. Sorry so long.. I guess I had alot to say! lol
nancyL

 

[bearloch]

Hi, just got back on Sat from week at A.S.M. had a blast, we flew air tran and were allowed 3 suitcases per person there was 3 of us and we took 7 cases none were searched which surprise me as I was "hand searched on the way home". I also took a empty case for survinors which i filled up and we were allowed 1 carry on and a personal item, which we all used and they were very relaxed about it, my daughter carried her goofy, back in her arms and had a carry on and a personal and there was no promblem. But to be safe check with the airline and airport.

and have fun