Packing the whole house...

[KPtoys]

O.M.G. I feel like I am packing everything under the sun for our 7 day trip in September. I guess with 3 kids that is how it is or am I just being neurotic??

 

[mrstomrice]

I felt the same way for our trip. Did you consider thinking about doing a load or 2 or laundry while you are there? Alos, I ordered snacks, diapers, baby food and drinks from gardengrocer.com. It was great to have and was a space and moeny saver. I had a 10 month old with me, so it was helpful. Have a great trip...I want to go back already!

 

[bellebud]

well, with kids as young as yours, sometimes you have to pack the whole house!

I've found as mine got older (first trip they were 21 months and 3yo, now they're 6yo and 7yo), I pack less and less. Last trip I decided i'm even going to 'splurge' and buy toiletries from the gift shop at the resort (toothpastes, etc). They have everything there and we just don't need as much stuff anymore. So it's a little more money than walmart - but it won't break the bank for the little i need to buy, and i don't need to remember everything from home, something that becomes stressful for me.

I've also found I would always overpack, never touch more than half our stuff, but had it there 'just in case'... not worth it to me anymore. I remember our first trip, we drove, so we were able to bring anything, and we brought everything! We had a huge box full of snacks for the kids... little kids are picky and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find snacks they'd like there. Now looking back, I could have found plenty there they'd eat.

Now we fly, each only bring a carry-on (I do laundry there - I hate tons of smelly, dirty clothes), and I'm much less stressed when we travel. I also always plan on buying each person a WDW t-shirt or sweatjacket, so I even factor that into the packing. less is more for me now, but again, yours are little, so bring what you know will make them comfortable.

 

[barkley]

i saved schlepping a bunch of stuff by mailing a box ahead of time to the resort with all the bulky junk-extra shoes, swim shoes, any otc meds i take 'just in case', swim junk (goggles, floaties, swim towels). i also toss in some laundry tabs and do several loads when we go (but it helps cuz we stay at dvc's so there's a w/d in the room).

i saved schlepping a bunch of stuff back by purposely packing mostly clothes that the kids were just about grown out of and would no way be using after a fall trip to wdw (swim suits, shorts, tank tops)-anything in good condition that mine won't use again i launder and leave in one of the resort laundry rooms with a sign that sez 'freshly laundered-free to anyone who can use'. anything unusable (worn to death bathing suits, stained items beyond help) i just toss in the trash. in this way i have room for all the 'valuable' junk we end up buying at the parks.

 

[Hannathy]

Just remember you aren't going to the middle of the Rain Forest. Anything that you forget and could possibly need can be bought at Disney or the nearby area.

 

[KPtoys]

I get frazzeled when I have to bring all 3 kids to the store (with DH or not) around my house I couldnt imagine purposly shopping in a different state

 

[mom*to*2*princesses]

I second the idea of not taking as many clothes and planning to do laundry once or twice during the week. It really saved us from packing loads, and I could've taken even less clothing as my kids have several outfits that they really love and chose to wear them 3 x in one week. For our April trip we each had one pair of capris (jeans for my husband) and one long-sleeved sweatshirt/sweater, and that's what we wore on the airplane both coming and going. I know some people hate the idea of doing laundry on vacation, but for me it's no big deal and it's actually very freeing--one less thing to worry about (are we going to have enough clean clothes?)

One area I do go "whole hog" in is medicines and toiletries. We take a little of everything we could possibly need (but my emphasis is on little there--never whole bottles or packages or whatever). My theory is that if I don't bring it, it's going to be the one thing we really need and I won't be able to find it!!!

 

[1rockinmamato2]

Just remember you aren't going to the middle of the Rain Forest. Anything that you forget and could possibly need can be bought at Disney or the nearby area.

The day I realized that was a wonderful day indeed! I used to think that if I fogot to pack my Tylenol, I'd be without during my trip.

Now, with Walgreens and Walmarts being open 24/7, I don't worry about the little things anymore. The last trip we took with the kids, there was even a Walgreens adjacent to our condo's parking lot. It wa like having my own 24 hour store.

Now, I only pack the necessities and leave the "just in cases" at home. That leaves room for more souvenirs in the car for the trip back home!