PACKING TIPS-- Post yours here!

[firkat]

Pokprincess, I agree with Amber. We have never had a problem with one roller carry-on luggage and one "personal item," our small backpack or tote or briefcase (the computer bag). We have traveled by air a few times since 9/11 and have not had a problem with this method.

As to spreading everyone's clothing among the several bags, it is unnecessary with this method since nothing is checked. Everything goes on the plane with you. No waiting at the luggage carousel at your destination.

Of course it does mean that they could go through your stuff at security, but for us that has never been more than a cursery open - look around - and close.

Have a magical day!

 

[ObsessedwithWDW]

Miranda Danda, I have the Pink "He gives me Butterflies" tank too!! I got it for Valentines in 2004!!

My pack tip for Florida is:

A Swimmers Towel! They are very small and extremely absorbent...if you get rained on and are sopping wet, it's VERY nice to be able to go inside somewhere and DRY OFF with just a swipe of the towel. It never gets drippy or soggy and once it's wrung out it's totally dry and can go back into the pack even though they usually come with little plastic boxes. You can dry off wet drippy hair or just wipe off sweaty faces...it seriously is a lifesaver in hot humid hurricane prone Florida!!! I had one last time I was in Florida for a conference and we got caught in a rain storm. I dried off my feet and my sandals but my friend with me didn't want to use it and said she would dry off in no time...well her feet were squishing around in her sandals and she got a nasty blister. Not me, dry as a bone!! I never go to Florida without my swimmers towel!!

Where to you get these swimmers towels I think that would be great to leave in my baby bag when in WDW for the occasional fountain that baby runs through or even just to cool her off. Please share where to find

 

[travelbug24]

Wondering too - where to get a swimmers towel and how much do they cost?

 

[my3princes]

Where to you get these swimmers towels I think that would be great to leave in my baby bag when in WDW for the occasional fountain that baby runs through or even just to cool her off. Please share where to find

A swimmers chamois is essentially the same as a chamois that you'd use to wipe off your car. If you want a true swimmers version you can get them at a sporting goods store for around $20. If you want the car version you can get them at Walmart or an auto parts place. I think they are less than $10 and work just as well IMO.

Deb

 

[sameyeyam]

I give everyone a small suitcase and tell them to pack shorts, tank tops, undergarments, swim suits, sandals & toothbrush. If they forget something, oh well, who cares, we're on vacation!!

It is truly amazing how little you can live with. I really get a chuckle when I see the families that have about 20 large suitcases and look like they are moving in for a year!

My idea of a vacation is to relax and not worry about things. Besides the more I pack, the more there is to pick up off the hotel floor!

 

[pooch]

As my shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, etc are running out I'm going to keep those bottles to bring with us. That way when they are empty, I can just toss them and have extra room for the trip home.

I also bought cheapo toothbrushes, kept the toothpaste & floss samples the dentist gives us when we get our teeth cleaned too. All of this will get tossed at the end of the vacation rather than shlepping it back home.

But on to packing: Does this sound right? 4 people (DD 21 & DS 15 w/MONO!!) for 10 days.

2 - 26" rolling duffles - everyone puts 1 pr shorts, 2 matching tops, 3 pr underwear & some type of footwear in each.
2 carryon's: in 1 - all the toiletries, medicines etc.
in the other - PJ's, swim suits, shirt,
shorts, set of undies for each of us.

1 carryon size bag empty in a rolling duffle for extra room on the way home.

I will do laundry at least once (DS will need naps anyway).

Sound good?

 

[richard_andmel]

I use a product called Lock & Lock Containers to put all toiletries and breakable items. They are sold as food storage containers, and are leakproof and really hard plastic so they are crush proof as well. It's a bit hard to see in the picture, but they lock really tight. They are sold here in the UK, but there must be an equivilant in the US.

 

[5boyz]

OP-Totally my kind of packer!!! that is how I always packed my 6 kids diaper bags too (minus the ziplock bags) which is the reason I am here. I have only read the first page but am going to read the rest just want to know where do you get these ziplock bags? I am from Canada so we don't have target or kmart.lol!!!! so please don't say there!!!! Thanks anyone and everyone!!!

 

[Boncho]

OP-Totally my kind of packer!!! that is how I always packed my 6 kids diaper bags too (minus the ziplock bags) which is the reason I am here. I have only read the first page but am going to read the rest just want to know where do you get these ziplock bags? I am from Canada so we don't have target or kmart.lol!!!! so please don't say there!!!! Thanks anyone and everyone!!!

I saw them in one of the Sears sale catalogues this weekend on the bottom of one of luggage pages.

 

[katytrott]

Woaaaaah. So many ideas, so little time. I think something we could all do with is Professor Slazinski's shrinking machine. Shrink everything and throw in into the suitcase. Might as well shrink the suitcase and pop that in your pocket. Not sure how to unshrink when reached WDW though

 

[firkat]

For those space-saver bags, you may want to try Travelsmith.com. I know they have them, but they may be more expensive than at the discount stores.

 

[gems_smiling]

Hello everyone! I decided to start this thread for everyone to post their own (or search for) packing tips for Disney (or any other trip, for that matter). I'll start:
I make a list of all of the outfits I am taking with me. An example would be...
(1) Black Express princess crown tank top, Dollhouse jeans skirt, black flip- flops
(2) Pink "He Gives Me Butterflies" tank top, Lilu shorts, pink Old Navy flip- flops
(3) Brown Wet Seal baby tee, One Tuff Babe shorts with brown belt, Brown AE flip-flops.......

I make the list and number each outfit. About 1 week before my trip I make sure each outfit is clean and ready to go. Rather than pack it immediately, I stack all my outfits on a shelf in my room. I put the list with it so that when I pack (all at one time) I can make sure I have everything I need to take. Also, I number each outfit on the list and then I pack each outfit in it's own Ziplock baggie and I number the baggie to correspond with the number on the list. This prevents me from digging through my suitcase. I also roll up and pair of socks, undies and a bra to match the outfit. Those go in the baggie as well. On my list, I also include whether or not I care if the outfit gets wet. Some of my outfits are fine to get wet, but I would prefer if others didn't. This makes it easier when knowing what to wear for which park(s) I plan to go to that day.

This is what i plan to do this year. My mum is going to think i have gone planning crazy (well she thinks that now) but it sounds like it will save a lot of time while I'm there. Just need to find some cheap large ziplock bags now here in the UK.

 

[disneychickforever]

I have a notepad about 4 pages, and about to make my packing list....and my trip is about 4 months away......god, my parents think I am Obsessive Compulsive, lol.

I'm already trying shirt designs and working on autograph pages....

My packing tip.

We are doing matching shirts, and I'm making them. What I am going to do is I am going to pack all the shirts in my suitcase, and tell the others not to pack shirts...each day I'll surprise them with there shirt. And I'm the daughter, wow, my future husband, whoever it is, will get really annoyed when I have kids!! LOL.

 

[MeLaNie9]

We used the travel size Space Bags and loved them!!! DH packs a lot of needless stuff and since I haven't been able to change him and we were taking breakfast foods, some snacks, and diapers/wipes - we save a lot of room with the Space Bags. We did weigh our bags as we packed to make sure we weren't over our airline's weight per bag limit. We have plenty of room for the stuff we bought on the way back because of the Space Bags and using the food, snacks, diapers/wipes during the stay.

 

[ZoZo]

I tried travel space bags and did a "test pack" with space bags vs. tightly rolling my clothes. I found there wasn't much difference - I ended up rolling my clothes, as I have always done. But I think if you have bulky items that take up lots of room (like fleece or a pillow), space bags would be great.

 

[yanners]

My only question about the space bags is how do you shrink them for your trip home? Does mousekeeping let you use their vacuum?

 

[WillCAD]

Some breeds of space bag don't require a vacuum - they have a one-way valve, and you just roll them up from the bottom like a tube of toothpaste, squeezing the air out as you go. The valve prevents the air from getting back in.

 

[CocozMom]

Subscribing - thanks for the great ideas. I need all the help I can get!

 

[TinaLala]

I pack for myself and my two children...I let DH do his own packing.

I make one master list and then try to streamline it when the actual packing day comes. I toss things into suitcase sprinkled through out bedrooms so that by the time the actual packing day arrives most of the things have been washed and are already in/near the suitcase.

We've been a lot so I pack an 'extra' bag full of surprises, like shirts that I've bought at the disney store or special pens or their princess outfits and things like that. I try to buy things on sale at home and bring them so that they won't buy then at WDW and spend a fortune. "Mom I want a princess shirt!" But look honey I have a new one for you and you already have 5 more in your suitcase. Oh, yeah I forgot to mention all the shirts we wear are disney shirts when we're at WDW. You have to be in proper uniform.

I always bring a brick of crackers and two thermal coolers to fill up with ice at the room.

 

[AmberLuvsWDW]

Bumping!! It looked like this thread was getting lost!