Packing Problem...

[Ladybugsy]

Not sure if this is the right place to put this, but here goes. I AM PACKING TOO MUCH! I have a HUGE suitcase for 5 people. I have packed everyone 5 outfits in ziplock bags...sucked the air out, to no avail...they keep getting air in them. I did manage to fit 25 outfits in there, but the suitcase is so heavy, I can barely lift it, and it has to go in the car carrier on TOP of a Tahoe!
I have 3 kids. DS, 15, DD, 13, DD, 6. We will be there from the 13th to the 22nd. I thought 5 outfits was reasonable...but then there are 10-12 pairs of shoes, along with everything else. 7 of us are going down in my Aunt's Tahoe. It holds 7. Luggage on the top, wheelchair and walker in the very back. I don't have any more room. The trip back will be fine since my new Expedition will be delivered to my hotel while I"m there. But going down, I'm starting to get hives thinking that I may not be able to take everything I need to. I don't mind doing laundry one day, but I don't want to do it 2 or 3 times while I'm there. I actually have 4 suitcases, but bought this big one so I could get everything in it. I'm actually thinking of taking all the outfits out of the bags and lying them in the suitcase flat and see if that helps the situation. If you have 3 older kids....HOW DO YOU DO IT? I'm starting to worry.

 

[Paisleyjane]

Where are you staying, you better plan on doing laundry one day! Good Luck!
There are luggage forwarders who will forward luggage to your hotel for you ahead of your trip - check the internet or the yellow pages, it would be waiting for you when you arrive! Or - UPS it to yourself at the hotel!

 

[Ladybugsy]

Where are you staying, you better plan on doing laundry one day! Good Luck!
There are luggage forwarders who will forward luggage to your hotel for you ahead of your trip - check the internet or the yellow pages, it would be waiting for you when you arrive! Or - UPS it to yourself at the hotel!

LOL...it must weigh 200 pounds...lol. I would never be able to afford that. We are staying at POP for 5 days and AKL for 4 days. Surely I can find the time to do some laundry. I just worry about actually getting it there. I'm hoping someone who has done this before will either give me some packing tips, cause obviously, I'm not doing it right...lol. Or let me know what kind of rules they lay down for their kids...as far as how many outfits, shoes, extras, etc. they are allowed to bring.

 

[safetymom]

Be sure to weigh that suitcase also. If you go over the weight limit for your airline you will pay a hefty charge for each suitcase that is overweight.

 

[Paisleyjane]

One pair of sandals, one pair of tennis shoes each! Five outfits would be fine for each, IF you are going to do laundry. I have travelled with my two (now 21 and 22) many times and their friends. Have also travelled with big groups of High School students, where each was allowed only one carry one and one small suitcase. Shoes are the problem, which is why I would limit them to those, and if they are wearing the tennis shoes in the car, then sandals/flip flops should not take up that much space. Good Luck!

 

[babar41]

The joke in the family is I am the packing queen. I drive a little 2 seater car with a trunk smaller than some purses I carry! A few years ago my DD who was 16 at the time went on a trip with me where we were gone for 10 days. You know how many outfits a 16 year old girl can wear in just one day? A long story short, everything fit plus we did some Christmas shopping while we were gone and actually got all the presents in the car for the way back too!

Here is the secret for packing a car. Loose the big suitcase. OK, not really, but remember even though you won't be able to put suitcases inside the car is no reason every nook and cranny can't be filled with items not in a suitcase. The wheelchair and walker will take up room, but chances are you can put all of the shoes around the wheelchair and walker loose. Also, everyone will be wearing one pair of shoes, so that means you only need to store 5 to 6 pair. Every shoe is a perfect place to pack at least 2 pair of socks each, if you're not taking socks, then underpants. Make sure each shoe is packed to the fullest amount of things belonging to the owner of those shoes.

Under the seat of the car will be a good place to store a ziplock bag full of toothbrushes, toothpaste... basic necessaties.

Not all the clothes fill fit in your suitcase? Then put outfits in plastic bags and put them around the wheelchair and walker.

The idea is don't think of packing just inside a suitcase. The whole car can be a suitcase.

The bad side, unpacking is a real pain... but hey, you will have made it to Disney with everything you need! Good luck!

One last side note.... You could ship a box with a a couple of days worth of clothes. Might cost you $40, but would give you some extra room in the car. Here is some pixie dust for your packing!

 

[tjmw2727]

Can you ship some things down ahead of time? UPS and Fedex have some great rates for shipping and then you can just pack them to drive back in your "new car!"

Otherwise I would cut down on the shoes and maybe even the toiletries and such if you can hit a grocery or wallmart when you get to the wdw area.

Unless we are doing a cruise or V&A's I just bring sneakers and sandels?

TJ

eta - I thought of about a couple more things. Zip Locks, Leave about a 1/2 inch open closed in the ziplocks they fold flatter that way and the clothes still stay fine.

For car travel, (my brain is just engaging) its different than air travel. Instead of one big suitcase, designed for airtravel, try duffles. We find one per person works better, even backpacks if the kids alreay have them for school. One per person and then maybe 1 for toiletries and one for leftover but totally necessary shoes (that can be left if necessary). This way you can stuff them under feat under the seat and in the corners of the trunk etc.

Have fun and enjoy the trip and the new car!

 

[dreamalittledream]

I love the idea of "car as suitcase"! You must have seen me pack to go to the shore! How about throwing in an empty duffel to put the loose items in once you get there, that way you are not doing a clown car exit in front of the hotel.
You say you'll have the room on the way back, I would highly suggest shipping yourself a box, $20-40 would give you a piece of mind.

 

[can'twait]

I'm picturing the "clown car exit in front of the hotel"...

 

[daisy_77]

At Target, there are these really cool packing bags that suck all the air out so you can have room in your suitcase. The large ones are 4.99 and are in the luggage section. You may need an iron. I think that most resorts and hotels provide one. Good luck!

 

[Msslaydbug]

THose were some great packing tips babar !! My mom taught me the stuffing the socks into the shoe trip !!

Also another thought if you kids might be bringing a backpack or other larger type bag with their "fun stuff for the car" have them put 1 ziplock outfit bag into their backpack !!

Hope you find a way !

 

[Ladybugsy]

Packing around everything is a good idea, thanks. I can just see myself pulling up to AKL and pulling everything out of the car...lol. I guess I'm just getting the pre departure jitters. So much to do, and no time to do it. I'm hoping that the suitcase will be okay on top of the car. But I guess that's what luggage racks are for.

 

[babar41]

Ladybugsy... I never said the unpacking was easy! Just that you'll be able to take everything you want. There have been times my husband has said we look like traveling gypsys when we check in to a hotel.

I'm sure your luggage will be OK on the roof, just make sure it is tied down well, plus I know some places rent carrying boxes (don't know what they are called) that go on the roof.

One last word of caution... If packing your large suitcase makes it too heavy to lift, maybe it would be better to pack 2 smaller ones.

Best of luck to you! Darn, I wish I could help you pack! I always look at packing three carloads into one as a gigantic puzzle. Don't get stressed. It'll all work out!

More pixie dust for you!

 

[mhingher]

I have the same problem, you're not alone! Not only do I tend to pack too much, but I get so excited about vacation that I start packing a month in advance! Usually I end up taking things out.

One piece of advice-- bring at least 2 suticases, you'll need room for souvenirs! One time my parents went to WDW and ended up having to buy luggage while they were there b/c they had no room for everything they bought! Packing an empty duffle bag is a great idea, that was actually my plan for our next trip!

We're not goin until May.. I'm so jealous! Say hi to Mickey and tell him we'll be there soon!!

--Melissa

 

[mel63]

Check the owner's manual, and see what the weight limit is for the roof rack. It might not enough for the suitcase. If you are using a rooftop carrier, same thing. They have weight limits too. It might be better to pack in smaller cases, instead of one big one.

As for the ziplocs, to get extra air out, roll the items before putting them in the bag, squeeze out as much air as you can. Get a straw and close the ziploc on the straw, suck out air, then quickly pull straw out and zip the rest of the way.

It sounds funny, sucking the air out, but it works. Do it for any ziploc that you pack.

Have fun!

 

[DisneyWisher]

Packing around everything is a good idea, thanks. I can just see myself pulling up to AKL and pulling everything out of the car...lol. I guess I'm just getting the pre departure jitters. So much to do, and no time to do it. I'm hoping that the suitcase will be okay on top of the car. But I guess that's what luggage racks are for.

You can always have them transfer your luggage from Pop to AKL. Instead of individual ziplocs maybe a big garbage bag in the suitcase with everything inside that. I'm assuming you are doing the ziploc bad thing in case of rain. The vacuum bags that were recommended are great. I got mine at bed bath and beyond. In the huge one, I fit 2 comforters, after I vacuumed the air out it fit under my bed with plenty of room on top. It might make your suitcase less packed and lighter. I'd also do 2 suitcases instead of 1 huge one. At Pop if you are staying in 50's the laundry room is right there by the pool, at AKL the laundry room is near the entrance to the pool area though its inside the hotel (at Pop it has its own building)while the kids are swimming you could be doing laundry (pack laundry detergent, they charge $2 for soap per load, plastic sandwich bags are great). I do this, I take everything down in a suitcase and when folding just pack it back in the suitcase. I have been known to do the laundry the night before we leave so I don't come home to tons of laundry.

 

[dawsonsdad9401]

Is it possible to fold up the wheelchair and walker and put on top of the Tahoe and the luggage in the back? Use some barrier (i.e. towel) between the wheelchair and roof to protect the top of the truck from scratches.

 

[AlwaysAPrincess]

Our family always drove down to WDW from NJ when we were younger & teens. The most recent trip my parents drove from NJ to WDW with my sister, & her 2 1/2 year old daughter. My mom packed in those space saver bags that push out all the air. I think she went online to QVC to buy the ones that you "squish out the air" so that she did not need a vacuum. Everything layed flat in duffle bags. My mothers other trick is that you roll your clothes....the downside...you WILL have to iron. This is what we did before those space saver bags. Rolled shirts, shorts, capri's etc. You won't believe how much MORE you can fit into a duffle bag!!! Now is you are like me and HATE to iron (I would rather clean bathrooms that is how bad i HATE to iron) not a good choice. My mother on the other hand finds ironing relaxing!?!?!? Ok has anyone ever heard such a thing!?!?!?! Guess I didn't get that gene! LOL

I am a chronic overpacker. I have since learned to be a lot better after they charged me at the airport b/c my bag was so heavy. Here I thought I would be smart & have my DH & I pack in one large suitecase instead of 2 smaller ones. I actually went to Target to get a duffle bag to check at baggage so I would not get charged on the flight back home!!!
Good luck packing & have a wonderful trip!!!!

 

[ironz]

Definitely lose the one suitcase plan...wouldn't want someone to get hurt lugging it around/putting it on the car!!

Besides...why aren't the kids carrying their own stuff? esp. the teenagers...they're old enough for sure!

I would think you'd have way more flexibility with a few smaller bags (as outlined in some other posts) rather than one huge one.

Have fun!!!

 

[Ladybugsy]

The ziploc bags don't work. I rolled em up, used a straw to suck the air out. Put em in the suitcase, and when I came back later, there was air in em. Just my luck after sucking 25 ziploc bags.

Okay, you're probably right. I do have 3 other suitcases. I could pack those instead and just take the monster suitcase back. But 2 of my suitcases are missing a leg. The ones they stand upright on next to the rollers. I am going to be so embarrassed to have the bellman handle our broken luggage. I just *know* he'll be thinking, "Sure, they're staying at a deluxe resort, and can't afford luggage". Anyway, I'm sure it'll work out.