Packing for 3, what would you leave at home?

[epsmith921]

Okay I'll admit to bringing the collapsible bins to keep things organized. With diapers it's just easier for us. It makes it more like home for my husband as well since if he can't see it, it basically doesn't exist. We basically toss all the kid toiletries including diapers into a bin but that's it.

No decorations, stuffed animals stay home as we will buy some there. No additional organizational items either. Packing cubes are my life though. Throw in drawers and you are good!

 

[Pookles]

Three flat baskets, one for snacks, one for our cell phones and wristbands and cords, and one for random bathroom stuff. I like having a drop spot and it'll keep things neater. No hanging shelf. May not bring the over door shoe rack, it's a nice idea but I think I'd just forget the stuff was in there and then never use it.

I've eliminated the decorations, just one Mickey mouse for our door, I think it'll help our son to find our room and not knock on the neighboring door by mistake.
Just a small amount of basic meds, bandaids, moleskin, in my little first aid kit 4x3x1 maybe. Been looking for one of those day of the week pill holders and that will cover it...no need for full bottles.

One set of candles to use for night lights. No other lights.

I think I've gotten rid of half a suitcase at least. I've eliminated almost all of the bulky stuff and now it's all small bits. Closer to the trip I will have a better idea of clothes. Haven't decided what we're bringing yet with those.

 

[North of Mouse]

........but if it were you, what else would you leave at home?

Just about 3/4 of your list would be left behind!!!!!!! If all of that were brought/used, when would you have time for Disney?????

 

[DisneyOma]

One set of candles to use for night lights. No other lights.

Candles????? Or do you mean plug in lights that look like candles?

We've never packed nightlights - always left the light on in the bathroom, with the door open just a crack. That way, we all know which way to walk if we have to pee in the middle of the night If the fan turns on with the light, it's great white noise as long as it doesn't squeak. The privacy curtain blocks out the light nicely too so that there is just a small wedge of light.

 

[Pookles]

Yes, it's a little battery operated two pack of fake sparkly candles I bought at Dollar Tree. In addition to the Minions soft light nightlight I found and the Lightening McQueen plug in I also got. Oh, and the string of lights..actually it's battery operated and I thought would be fun on our stroller.

Something happened to my brain once we started planning this trip. Every time i went to the store I got a couple more things on the list. Every time I listened to a video or read a thread about packing I added more. Like the cupcake holders I got for ice cream bar drips (a nice idea, but I will have wet wipes) and the disposable coffee mugs (I should have just schlepped my own reusable as it would have taken less space) and the laundry basket. Oh and two rolls of duct tape, one I can see, but two?

My first clue should have been the fact that I don't use half of this stuff at home. I could have bought walking shoes, bodyglide and moleskin and probably left it at that.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

We pack as light as we can. Our last trip we were at WDW for 11 nights and had another 5 nights on the road - we packed for all 4 of us (2 adults, a 12 year old and 14 year old) in 2 suitcases. We just pack the basics. The only "extra" we pack is cold medicine, after one trip where I had to pay Disney prices for cold pills. Other than that, we've never found that we wished we had something with us that we didn't have.

 

[cjparker0110]

Just in general I take as few things as possible when traveling.

For kids this can be a bit of a challenge, but I would suggest let each child bring one loved toy (preferably one that won't devastate them if they lose it or leave it behind) rather than play packs.

We never bring night lights for hotels. What we usually do is leave the bathroom light on and close the door so that just a sliver comes through (about equal to a nightlight). The same goes for the LED candles and such. I would just leave them at home. It's a vacation.

As a PP already said, you can bring glow sticks but the kids will still want one of the cool ones they sell there. Maybe just splurge one time.

I would forget the wipes as well. Just bring a small thing of antibacterial gel for your hands and maybe a little package (fits in purse) of wet wipes you can use for quick cleanup of faces and fingers for little ones. Don't bring those big things that will fill your luggage!

All the storage stuff seems like overkill. How long are you going to be there? Do you really need a shoe rack? Are you bringing that many extra shoes? I would just bring a normal pair of walking shoes and maybe one nicer pair if you plan on dressing up for a fancy dinner...but honestly most places you are fine with just the one pair. They can just be lined up along the wall when you go to bed. The rest of the storage stuff seems crazy to me. There should be drawers in your room that you can use to put your clothes...nothing more is needed. Some people don't even unpack but live out of the suitcase. Rather than extension cords (plural?), if you think you might need an extra plug in just buy one of those little adapters that converts one plug in into 3. They are inexpensive and take up 2-3 inches of space.

If you must bring bubble bath, only bring one! No need for multiples. That's just crazy in my opinion.

Honestly, this looks more like a list you would bring if you were going to be there for like a month...and if you are then I am insanely jealous. But seriously, lighten the load a bit. Bring clothes, toiletries, medicines that are needed, your mini antibacterial gel, your mini wet wipes, ONE bubble bath, one pair of shoes each unless really needing more and one toy each (something small...no lightsabers). If your kids need other entertainment, bring some small notepads and a few pens or crayons. This keeps my kids entertained for long drives (our 3 and 4 yr old anyway). That should save you about 2 suitcases!

 

[novatwinmom]

I agree that less is more - but someone questioned the need for a laptop and I actually encourage bringing one.
At the end of every day, I download the pictures I took from the camera(s) to the laptop. That way if the camera goes missing you only lose that day's pictures, not all the pictures from your trip. On trips to other places, we also use the laptop to watch DVDs because at non-Disney locations the kid TV selections in hotels tend to be Spongebob or nothing. We've also occasionally streamed Amazon Prime shows on the laptop in hotels. Hopefully Disney's offerings are better - while I've visited in the past this is my first time staying on site!

I do bring a few more medicines than others list, mainly because my kids have a strange tendency to break out in hives for no apparent reason. So a bottle of benadryl comes along (they're 5, so no pills yet). We also bring our regular medicines that we take every day, plus cold medicine for the adults. I have a certain rubbermaid box with a lid that goes on all our trips - larger than the ones people are saying they can bring, but it's been indispensable in the past. So consider your kids when deciding how much medicine to bring.

I thought about bringing toys, then realized my kids would rather play with their new souvenirs than the stuff I brought along.

I'm considering a pack of Kirkland baby wipes though. I swear, if there's a way to get sticky and dirty, one of my girls will find it...

 

[bhartman]

You sound like me on my first trip with kids! from your list of extras, I would bring a couple of the play packs for restaurant waits, etc, antibacterial wipes because little kids don't know how to hover in public restrooms, and maybe a couple of the glow things that you bought. Everything else can stay home.

On our first trip, I made Disney themed play packs for each of my kids for every single ADR. I think I thought it would take a lot more than it really did to keep them entertained while we waited for food to arrive. I can think of two times on that trip when we used the play packs - waiting in line for the next Disney Jr. show and waiting for our table at ohana.

The worst part about lugging that stuff down there is that then you end up lugging a bunch of things into the parks. You don't want that. You want free and easy! Bring less because you probably won't need most of the pared down version of your list either.

 

[Pookles]

It's great getting everyone's perspective. I hover between wanting to be prepared for anything and not wanting to take things I won't use. Due to timing issues I will be packing most of our bags about a week before we leave so I will have plenty of time to rethink. Hopefully not so much time that I decide to fill another bag. Part of the organization stuff is because I hate living out of a suitcase and I've read there's very little drawer space.

And good points all on the toys, souvenirs, stickers etc. No matter how much I think I'm being prepared and "saving" over getting things there, I know I'm still going to breakdown and buy stuff once it's all said and done.

 

[Pookles]

You sound like me on my first trip with kids! from your list of extras, I would bring a couple of the play packs for restaurant waits, etc, antibacterial wipes because little kids don't know how to hover in public restrooms, and maybe a couple of the glow things that you bought. Everything else can stay home.

On our first trip, I made Disney themed play packs for each of my kids for every single ADR. I think I thought it would take a lot more than it really did to keep them entertained while we waited for food to arrive. I can think of two times on that trip when we used the play packs - waiting in line for the next Disney Jr. show and waiting for our table at ohana.

The worst part about lugging that stuff down there is that then you end up lugging a bunch of things into the parks. You don't want that. You want free and easy! Bring less because you probably won't need most of the pared down version of your list either.

This: I think I thought it would take a lot more than it really did to keep them entertained while we waited for food to arrive.

Yes, I think I thought so too. And when you buy one or two here and there it doesn't have as much impact as seeing the whole pile. That along with the fact that we're going with 5 cousins the same age and we're staying at Disney so there's a ton to do. Thankfull all the cousins love stickers and everyone of us will use the glow sticks...14 in all. Heh, I can always "make it rain" when we're there too.

 

[GrandAdmiralStrife]

Travel-sized toiletries
phone chargers (you'd be surprised how often that gets forgotten)
extra battery and battery charger + a few memory cards for your camera (so much better to have a real camera than using your phone's camera)
any prescription medications
I guess I can see one power strip, as I'd need it for 2 phones, the camera's battery charger, and my son's tablet. It'll keep them all together and not spread out over the room.

 

[mom25kiddos]

I have five kiddos, so pack for 7-in two bags. The 'extras' I take are things that I can't find there-like certain special snacks and such. Then I see what room I have for the extras and go from there. Start with the essentials and then decide what you have room for-I have a pretty strong aversion to clutter so things like room decorations drive me crazy, but I do bring things like glow sticks and small toys and such for the plan.

 

[scrapquitler]

When I started planning our trip to WDW 5 months ago I was very excited. I immediately began stockpiling all of the useful items I came across in various posts, ultimate packing lists and videos and now I have quite a collection.

The list is long, medicines and first aid stuff, Disney t-shirts and socks, play packs for keeping kiddos entertained, glow sticks, night lights for room, lanyards, pins for trading from ebay and autograph book, (have to be prepared tho my son will have no interest in either, not sure why I insisted) LED candles for fun, room spray to scent up the place and create a memory, Lysol wipes, antibacterial wipes and gel, a shoe rack, a hanging shelf rack, some hangers, extension cords, folding baskets for room organization, various bubble baths, string lights and decorations for room, and all of those stuffed animal for in room surprises.

And don't forget the new Wookie backpack with R2D2 lunch tote and stormtrooper coin purse, filled with stuff my son doesn't need but in my excitement I thought would be really fun, themed snacks, astronaut ice cream (why?) tattoos, crayons and stickers, more glow lights (I bought separate themed ones for each park)...most of it Star Wars themed with toys to match when our son has no idea yet what it is...including light sabers for all 3 of us.

Last night I was trying to find a spot for the big bag of candy I thought for some reason we'd want...uh, we don't really eat candy at home, why would I start? Especially with turkey legs and cupcakes around every turn? It came to me that I don't actually have to bring this all with me. I had the best of intentions, but I'm second guessing myself now. Especially since all the stuff I've gathered already fills a suitcase. And then there's all the clothes (have to pack for cold and warm weather) and shoes, the electronics and extra batteries, AND all the items we do actually need, as well as our big bag of snacks/breakfasts.

I've already decided that big bag of candy is going to work with me instead, but if it were you, what else would you leave at home?

Of your entire list, I would bring only the things that I have bolded. I do think the extension cord (and power strip) is something that is a MUST, and my little guy would be upset if I didn't bring the night light.

I _MIGHT_ have my son (you don't say how old he is) carry the backpack as his carry on for the flight, and in it I'd have him put one or two small toys or a beloved small stuffed animal to keep him busy/comfortable on the plane.

I'd leave the rest at home.

I usually bring a lot of snacks because my kid (the smaller one and the big one I'm married to) usually eat a lot of them in the room because they aren't big fans of meals while we are in the park. On our most recent trip, they surprised me and ate hardly any of them, so I'm only bringing a few snacks next time.

I really think the room decorations are overkill...and you probaly are going to find that you won't be in the room all that much anyway, so why lug all that stuff?

The rest of it sure, it can be fun, but it is a lot of stuff, and it's not at all necessary. Go ahead and pick one or two things if you want (maybe the glow sticks, stickers and tattoos...they are all small and won't be coming back home anyway), but there's no need for most of it. And your child isn't going to think he missed out if there's no light sabers.

 

[Pookles]

Ha, true about the light sabers, he doesn't even know what they are. So then it's for DH and I and we don't need them there. He's 4, so I may be schlepping his backpack, so I'd best keep it light.

The extension cord has two usb ports and plug ins. With iPads, phones, cameras, batteries and battery packs to charge it just makes sense to me t o be able to charge more than one thing at a time.

Definitely going to pack the essentials first, to see what I've got with just what we need.

 

[treemi01]

DH and I are trying to stay in every WDW hotel, and so far we are doing quite well, so we've stayed in a great variety of values, moderates, and deluxes. We are a family of 6 with 4 smallish kids (8, 6, 3, 1), and we've always had enough drawer space to store everyone's clothes. I've never done room decorations because we are never in the room if we are awake, and we would never see them. My kids have never played with a toy from home once while in WDW (sometimes on the plane, though). We've also never needed any entertainment at restaurants because most provide something if needed. We have brought a pop up bin to serve as a diaper/wipes caddy for diaper changes in the room if we've had a baby. We've never done anything else you mention either, with the exception that I do bring along some form of Childrens Tylenol or ibuprofen just in case. WDW is made for kids! They will entertain the kids with everything there! You will have so much fun!

 

[RaginforDisneyRoy]

Yes, it's overpriced, but you can get pretty much whatever you need from the gift shop where you're staying. If you're off property you can go to any drug store an purchase. I think bringing some essentials is a must (Tylenol cold, Neosporin, Immodium and the band aid selection) and we found that the anti-blister glide is invaluable (we use Band-Aid Friction Glide Stick). These items can be packed in your toiletries back fairly easily. I spent 7 years in the Army and got pretty good at filling up empty space, but if something unusual pops up, I can run down to the lobby and get it. It's also important to remember that you're probably coming back with more stuff than you went down with and unless you're shipping all the purchases home, you need room for that.

 

[Pesky]

LOL! I hear you! I hear these tips and think "oh wow, what a great idea, I should totally do that." And then realize that some of the stuff doesn't quite work for us. We use our car seat bag as the dirty clothes hamper. You will find you don't need half the play packs you got. I got one for each of mine. Yeah, we donated them to the local children's hospital as they never opened them. I also went overboard on pins for our trip -- kids had and have no interest. I will probably bring a few to trade to finish out some collections to stick around some pictures but otherwise, that was a bust. Okay, so here's what I'm taking for the next trip, having learned from the last time:
* hand sanitizer (carry it in my purse and on board the plane), sanitizing wipes for the plane
* pump hand soap (we'll probably acquire some when we hit the grocery store after landing)
* pillowcases with embroidery hoops and pens for autographs (and ziplock bags to protect them) -- I made my own autograph books (thanks to the Creative DISigns board) that the characters and handlers raved about but they were SO.HEAVY. And I haven't done that scrapbooking I planned to. So I'll either do the pillowcases or do a smaller version of that autograph book all ready for a 4x6 or 5x7 pic to be inserted. Kids do want to do the autographs -- it's just additional character interaction and they enjoyed it.
* extension cord -- we got one that has several USB ports to charge multiple devices at once.
* bandaids, blister bandaids, polysporin, tylenol and ibuprofen, tums, pepto and immodium
* debating the hanging shoe rack myself -- that might be pretty handy
* a lunch tote as it does keep the snacks from getting crushed and doesn't add much weight (but it doesn't go into my bag!)
* each kid's carryon has a spare change of clothes, few books, blank pad of paper for drawing and coloring, pencil bag with crayons or colored pencils (they are not huge coloring book fans so I've FINALLY learned my lesson there), stickers, favorite lovey/stuffed animal, lunch tote with snacks (I use one of these for the parks), water bottle. Aside from the lunch tote, none of this stuff will likely come with us to the parks. DD takes her backpack from school and DS has a Lightning McQueen one that he's honestly outgrown but I don't want to replace quite yet.

I'd forget your room spray, folding baskets, shelf rack, bubble bath, hangers (just hang two things on a hanger or request additional), most of the pins unless you plan to trade, and a bunch of the separate stuff for your DS. Remember -- you're not going to Mars. You can always pick up something there if it turns out you really need it. Have fun!

 

[Stacymarie1216]

Additionally, you can bring a million glow sticks, but your kid is STILL going to want that light up toy they're selling from the carts before the parades...

I know is this is old, but YES!!!! Just bringing a handful for when it gets dark in the car on the 17+ hour drive there. But when they see those light up spinning crazy town glow things at the park - your glow sticks are going to disappoint :/.

 

[cyneswith]

When I started planning our trip to WDW 5 months ago I was very excited. I immediately began stockpiling all of the useful items I came across in various posts, ultimate packing lists and videos and now I have quite a collection.

The list is long, medicines and first aid stuff, Disney t-shirts and socks, play packs for keeping kiddos entertained, glow sticks, night lights for room, lanyards, pins for trading from ebay and autograph book, (have to be prepared tho my son will have no interest in either, not sure why I insisted) LED candles for fun, room spray to scent up the place and create a memory, Lysol wipes, antibacterial wipes and gel, a shoe rack, a hanging shelf rack, some hangers, extension cords, folding baskets for room organization, various bubble baths, string lights and decorations for room, and all of those stuffed animal for in room surprises.

And don't forget the new Wookie backpack with R2D2 lunch tote and stormtrooper coin purse, filled with stuff my son doesn't need but in my excitement I thought would be really fun, themed snacks, astronaut ice cream (why?) tattoos, crayons and stickers, more glow lights (I bought separate themed ones for each park)...most of it Star Wars themed with toys to match when our son has no idea yet what it is...including light sabers for all 3 of us.

Blue, I would take. Green is conditional. Are the play packs/snacks for the trip itself? If so, sure. If for the parks/hotel, no. Disney is stimulating enough.