Packing for 9 days, what to do?

[cuches]

I always do laundry at least once while we are there,sometimes twice.It is so easy because all the resorts have their laundry next to the pools. so you can throw a load in, watch the kids swim(or swim yourself). Get the big fruity drink of your choice from the pool bar. and relax while your clothes spin. Just bring your own detergent (those new purex 3-in-1 sheets would be ideal) and a roll of quarters and your set. I often do another load right before we leave so that I am bringing home clean,folded clothes rather than a big,bag of stinky ones.

I plan on doing this as my DD just HAS to swim daily so I will have plenty of chances to do laundry. But do you HAVE to bring your own detergent or can you buy it in the laundry area? When I was a kid growing up in Queens we never had our own washer/dryer and I remember my mom would sometimes buy the single packets of detergent at the laundromat (problem paid top price too) Or do you think it's cheaper to get the new purex sheets???

Tina

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Remember Disney is now charging a $10 fee for packages mailed to a resort.

I would do laundry. I always only pack enough clothes for 4 days of a 8 day trip and do laundry. Most laundry facilities are close to the resort pools and I couple doing laundry with spending time at the pool. I can put a load in the wash, grab a bit to eat, go back and put the clothes in the dryer and then sit by the pool and wait for them to dry.
I can say that the drying time takes a bit longer. So it takes two dry cycles to get the clothes dry.
Couple it with spending time at the pool makes it not seem like a chore.

On our last day of our trip I do laundry again so that when I get home I don't have all that laundry to do when I get home. Since Disney has multiple machines a can do two loads at one time so I am not stuck doing one load at a time at home. I can come home from vacation and know that I don't have a mountain of laundry to do.

Plus this leaves room in your luggage for the suviners you buy.

Some people actually mail themselves some of their items in advance to the resort. The resort will gladly accept the package as long as you have your name on it and arrival date - call the front desk direct fr directions.

My friend said that this worked for her family because they sent items that they were planning on using up and not returing home with (detergent, suntan lotion, ect..) But I guess you could ship them back too!

We stayed for 8 days recently (but drove) and we did laundry twice during the week - use the Purex drying sheets - Washers and dryers worked fine..each load was $2 to wash/$2 to dry - have change machines there or you can go to the the cafe's or gift shops.

Space bags are a must!!! Especially for returning with dirty laundry!

 

[debbiedana]

Remember Disney is now charging a $10 fee for packages mailed to a resort.

I don't think that is correct. I believe that CSR does, but most of them do not.


BTW, the Dollar Tree sells "Compression Bags" now, just like space bags but CHEAPER!!! I found these with their laundry items. I just bought a couple for my trip, especially on the way down because we are bringing some food with us in our suitcases, and those convenient but rather bulky bowls of cereal were taking up way too much space.

And also, you couldn't pay me to do laundry on vacation. Laundry is one of the things I am on vacation FROM.

 

[babybaja2]

If you can live without your personal rain ponchos (depending on how bulky they are) Walmart sells disposable ones in the camping/sport section for like 89 cents. They come compacted folded up, easy and little enough to put in a fanny pack or camera bag, nicer to carry in the parks, I always buy extras for each day, because you really only get one day use out of them.. I love the water rides at the parks, but I hate being wet after walking in the parks, I wear the poncho and then as I get off the ride, I just hand it to the next mom that is standing there with the same "I don't really want to get wet" look.. lol

 

[babybaja2]

Also, don't worry about going all out on your first aid kit.. pack the basics, but while having a couple of band-aids is good, you are most likely not going to need the whole box of them... All the parks have first aid stations, and with my kids, we have visited many of them, lol.. so far just for minor bumps and scrapes and they have never charged us yet.. even for the tylenol for me!

Rea

 

[menye]

definitely send yourself a box to the resort. anything you will not be bringing home. snacks, cereal, water, sunscreen, shampoo, diapers

 

[ZoZo]

Plan to do laundry at least once, and you can pack half of the number of clothes. It's a nice chance to take a mid-afternoon break from the parks (we tossed ours in the washing machine and hung out by the pool).

Some people say they would never do laundry while on vacation, but the pay-off is just huge!!!! You can do more than one load at once, and it only takes an hour and a half (or so). Totally worth it in my opinion.

 

[Thumper_Man]

The best tip DW and I learned, only take half the clothes you would normally take. DW and I tag team and do laundry while we're there. By tag teaming, we cut down our laundry time and get it done much quicker. We love those Purex 3 in 1 sheets. We own a timeshare, so we have complimentary laundry facilities. As others have stated, we put our laundry in while we're at the pool. Even forget we're doing laundry at times 'cause the time goes by so quickly while we're at the pool.

We also only use 3 bags. One bag to carry all our shoes, shampoos, lotions, and stuff like that. We then each use one suitcase for our clothes. We split our clothes up and put a little of each others clothes, in each others suitcase. Just in case all our luggage don't make it to the airport. This way we each have clothes. Learned Dis Tip from reading other posts.

If you don't have the space saver bags, another trick is to roll your clothes. My dad was in the military and he taught me this trick. Be surprised how much you can get into a suitcase this way.

 

[hillview]

We often pack for 2 weeks. Four people. We pack 2 large LL Bean duffle bags and then take 3 carry ons. The LL Bean duffle bags are light empty and we never have paid for over weight luggage. We also take a collapsed duffle bag and pack it -- to take home the goods with us . We don't do laundry. I do pack maybe 3-4 outfits for me plus an extra couple odds and ends. Kids get 7 outfits each plus a spare for the plane. We do get an extra t-shirt for the kids (or 2) and they wear them on the trip (unwashed). If pressed, I will wask out something in the sink but only did that once with DS #2's bibs (yuck). I take plastic ziplocs with outfits in them and take diapers, wipes and swim dipes plus overnight diapers. I take 2 pair of shoes pp. It is doable. You do need to slim down some thing but I always pack medicine for the kids and conditioner for me.
HTH!
/hillary

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

I don't mind doing laundry while on vacation, when we go in June it usually rains in the afternoon so that is a good time to visit the laundry room
I also love to read so I can read at the same time

We usually do 1 or 2 loads, just enough to last through the vacation
and it is nice to not have tons to do when you get home

I will have to try the space bags, I have not seen them at Dollar Tree but will look next time