Packing Questions

[pdarrah]

OK - I know I still have over 3 months, but I am starting to think about what to pack. (Partly since if I need to buy new clothes for anyone, I better do it now - very soon, they'll start putting all the fall and winter stuff out!) We are doing the 7-day western (October 23).

This is the first vacation I have packed for in about 10 years that wasn't to WDW. I am an expert at packing for that since we have gone twice per year for about a decade!

Some of the "standard" items I pack, I am just not sure about for a cruise:

* Should I bring rain ponchos? (I wouldn't even consider WDW without them, but do we need them for the cruise?)

* Should I bring DS5's light-up spinning toys? (Again, I always bring them to WDW so I don't have to buy new ones.) Is there anywhere kids use them and he'll be begging for one if I don't just bring it?

Lastly, anyone else with a small boy - How many changes of clothing do you need? My son is 5 and seems to attract dirt (think Pigpen from Peanuts). He is currently planning on spending most of his time at the Oceaneers Club, but of course that could always change.... How should a small boy be dressed for dinner (if he eats with us) - are "dressy" shorts OK for small children? If he needs summer-weight slacks, I need to go shopping! There just isn't much need for that at home and he only has 1 pair of pants for summer that aren't jeans.

Thank you for any help,

Pamela

 

[MarkRG]

Originally posted by pdarrah
OK - I know I still have over 3 months, but I am starting to think about what to pack. (Partly since if I need to buy new clothes for anyone, I better do it now - very soon, they'll start putting all the fall and winter stuff out!) We are doing the 7-day western (October 23).

This is the first vacation I have packed for in about 10 years that wasn't to WDW. I am an expert at packing for that since we have gone twice per year for about a decade!

Ok cool then.

Some of the "standard" items I pack, I am just not sure about for a cruise:

* Should I bring rain ponchos? (I wouldn't even consider WDW without them, but do we need them for the cruise?)

You shouldn't need them. There is always the chance of a passing shower, but they normally don't happen like us in the chicago area get(certainly NOT the typhoons we've had lately!), they fly thru in 5 minutes flat most of the time. And there's usually plenty of places to hide out for that 5 minutes.

* Should I bring DS5's light-up spinning toys? (Again, I always bring them to WDW so I don't have to buy new ones.) Is there anywhere kids use them and he'll be begging for one if I don't just bring it?

The shows in the evening, poolside in the evening are the two places I've seen the spinny things.

Lastly, anyone else with a small boy - How many changes of clothing do you need? My son is 5 and seems to attract dirt (think Pigpen from Peanuts). He is currently planning on spending most of his time at the Oceaneers Club, but of course that could always change.... How should a small boy be dressed for dinner (if he eats with us) - are "dressy" shorts OK for small children? If he needs summer-weight slacks, I need to go shopping! There just isn't much need for that at home and he only has 1 pair of pants for summer that aren't jeans.

Don't have a small kid of my own but have seen enough to say, yes dressy shorts with a nice shirt(collar polo type would be fine) are cool for small kids. As far as changes, my only comment is the ship is a very clean place. He'll be hard pressed to get that messy without a great deal of effort. Maybe someone experienced better will comment on that one.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Originally posted by pdarrah
Lastly, anyone else with a small boy - How many changes of clothing do you need? -- SNIP -- How should a small boy be dressed for dinner (if he eats with us) - are "dressy" shorts OK for small children?

I'm taking 7 1/2 y.o. and 8 3/4 y.o. boys in March for the 7-day. I plan to pack 5 day outfits and 4 night outfits with plans to do laundry mid-week. The Navigators and guides all say no jeans / no shorts for dinners, so my boys will wear slacks. WalMart has some nice, inexpensive dress pants. One of my boys doesn't spill; the other wears his dinner. Two bathing suits. Two pairs of sandals and a pair of sneakers and some slip on dress shoes (Payless has penny-loafer styled black ones that are nice for dressing up).

 

[ksjayhawks]

Dressy shorts and a nice shirt would work for the casual nights for dinner. You might want a pair of dress pants for formal nights. Your son may even decide he wants to eat in the kids clubs some nights.

If you do excursions that involve water or spend time at the pool, you will find that he is in a swimsuit a lot! I would pack a few extra tshirts to go with the shorts. (I don't like to do laundry on vacation!)

 

[webray]

Yes, bring the spinning light up toy...they sell them at night..the kids use them at the sailing away/deck parties in the evening.

All the little boys we saw last September..dressed like little khaki pants/polo type short sleeve shirts. They all looked so cute, reminded us of when our boys were little. Dressy shorts would probably be ok..but, I would grab the pants, maybe a khaki and a navy or black pair.

Don't worry about the ponchos...you will probably be in you swimsuit anyway if it rains.

You can always send your little guys outfits out for a quick wash to the disney laundry..very convenient so you don't have to over pack.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

No to the ponchos (not necessary)

Yes to the spining light up toys (or you will be shelling out the $$'s again!!)

I packed 2 outfits per day for my DGD (3) plus two "fancy clothes" and that was plenty! Plus pack at least 2 swim suits so one can be drying while you are wearing one. (That goes for the grown ups too!! I really hate putting on a wet swimsuit!! )

 

[ksjayhawks]

I agree on the swimsuits! That was one of the best things we did was to bring two suits each! One could dry on the line in the shower while we wore the other! They don't take up much room either!

 

[pdarrah]

Thank you everyone for all the advice. We will skip the ponchos and bring the spin-toy. I will certainly bring 2 swimsuits for everyone.

MarkRG "He'll be hard pressed to get that messy without a great deal of effort." - It is AMAZING how dirty a small child can get! If it isn't actual dirt/mud (not likely on the ship) it is food, markers, paint, more food, crayons, glue, even more food, etc. Looking at the kid's navigators that are on-line, they seem to do quite a few crafts at the kids club and somehow, those things seem to always end up on clothes

I am leaning toward nice shorts & tops if he decides to eat with us. He has already declared (after watching the DCL DVD) that "you guys can eat at those places - I'll eat with the kid's at the club!" Since we are sailing right before Halloween, he wants to bring the pirate costume that grandma is making for him. I am thinking that he could wear that on formal night (sort of like the little girls in their princess costumes.) He is going to be a "fancy" pirate like Captain Hook.

I just hate to buy him a bunch of slacks just for dinner and then have him not even use them if he doesn't eat with us.

Again, Thank You for your thoughts/experience/advice.

Pamela

 

[Scratch42]

Also,

PrePack his daily outfits into a Ziploc Baggie, that way you will have everything you need in one place and not searching for everything!

Have fun on your cruise!

Scratch

 

[clh2]

We cruised at the end of October last year - and the one thing I just could not find in Wisconsin in October was a cute pair of dressy sandals for me. I was able to find a sort of bizarre pair that I really didn't like. I left them on the ship to make room for souveniers!

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by clh2
I was able to find a sort of bizarre pair that I really didn't like. I left them on the ship to make room for souveniers!

On our last vacation, a lady had gone a step farther and not only left her "old undies" but had a few clothes that she didn't care much for anyone and left them behind as well. She had plenty of room for her souveniers!!!!!

Last year we threw out the clothes and sneakers we wore while horseback riding at Grand Cayman (Nikki's). If you buy them cheap or they are pretty worn, you can do this and never feel bad!!!

We also bring our own beach floats and either we give them ot others at the beach or leave them at CC near the trash bins. That way others can use them, if they want.

Rae

 

[Lynda Silk]

When we went on the cruise with my DS (who was 10 at the time), I packed 1 pair of dress pants and 1 pair of khaki pants for dinner only. Then I pack a few shirts (polo golf shirts, casual shirts with a collar and 1 dress shirt with a tie). That way, he is dressed nicely for dinner but is not uncomfortable. The 2 bathing suits are a must; I think we take 3 each!

Enjoy your cruise! We're on the Magic after you (Oct 30 - Eastern) and I've got packing lists already written out and bought most of the clothing that I had to get (yes, I'm an obsessive planner)!

 

[ImNarek]

I love the idea of your DS wearing his fancy pirate outfit to the formal dinner! Too bad I won't be on your cruise to see it. I love the way Pirate captains (at least the film variety) dress! You'll have to post a pic when you get back.

Have a great trip!

Karen