PACKING TIPS-- Post yours here!

[magicaddict]

I swear by the ziploc bag / 1 outfit per bag trick. I even went so far as to write on the bag which day of the week and which park we would be in while wearing said outfit. Since we were there in the heat of summer most often we needed two outfits per day so I also labeled the bags a.m. and p.m. Some of my friends thought I had flipped out but it made our trip so much easier. I also knew that if I had planned for the family to all wear the same shirt a particular day that we would indeed all have on the same thing because the bags were labeled properly.
this trip we are flying plus we're staying 10 days instead of five so I'm really having a hard time deciding what and how much to pack. I know that there are laundry facilities but I really hate to trudge around the resort with dirty laundry when I'm supposed to be on vacation.

 

[kkana]

have to read this full thread later

 

[DisneyJen0504]

wow this is long-better subscribe so I can read all the great tips later!

 

[MargaretF]

After ten trips to the World, here's what I do. In the weeks before, I put all the "stuff" in a shopping bag: mister, sunscreen, batteries, ponchos, etc. as I buy it. We always leave on Sat. morning early. Friday morning I throw the last load of laundry in. Friday afternoon I open the suitcases and remind the family to pack 5 shirts, 5 shorts/pants, 5 pairs socks, (all must coordinate with each other) 5 pair underwear (+bras for me), 2 swimsuits, 1 jacket/sweater/sweatshirt, 1 pair pj's, 1 pair sandals and 1 "nice" outfit for both "nice" dinners. I double check the kids' piles and then pack. Everyone then lays out their outfit for Saturday and packs their own toiletries and stuff for the car trip. I put all the "stuff" in a duffel bag, pack the cooler and we are ready to go. We usually stay 7-8 days and I wash once. This works really well and we always end up wearing everything we bring. I started the kids packing when they were about 5, it took a little work at first, but now they pack for themselves(ages 10 and 12) and it takes just under 2 hours to get everyone done and most of that is rolling clothes to put in the suitcases.

 

[Nighsonger]

I heard that some people send themselves a care package of snacks before they leave. How long before you go should you send yourself a package? I live in IL & I was told it takes about a week for things to arive in FL.

 

[gary4jenn]

I usually send it 7 days before.

Make sure you call the hotel you are staying at to get the right address where it should be shipped to and be sure to get a tracking number.

I ship the tinkerbelle gifts, cereal bowls, dry foods, and my body pillow (which I don't bring home) I get a wal-mart cheap one to use there.

Hope that helps

 

[cmm]

What's a tinkerbelle gift?

 

[ReAnSt]

I think a Tinkerbelle gift is random things that people buy ahead of time that they leave in their hotel room or give to their kids and they say the items are from Tinkerbell/Mickey/etc. They often buy things from the Dollar store or other places that are Disney themed, cheaper than you would buy at Disney.

Make sure if you are flying to check the weight limit of the airline. Those space bags save space but they also allow you to pack more weight into your suit case. Also if you pack one bag inside the other it adds weight. You could always have the extra suitcase sent empty or almost empty. Quite a few airlines are going to a 50lb limit per bag. This is just something to think about when you are packing. You wouldn't want to get charged a surcharge because your suit case is over the limit because you tried to save space.

BECKY

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

Holy smokes!! my husband thinks I am over board... he is going to have to read this thread! It is nice to find "MY PEOPLE!". I have always done the rolling thing, but this ziploc packing sounds fantastic... now i have a new system that should keep me busy till our trip that I am completely obsessing over... i think i am more excited than my kids!! Thanks a bunch guys!

 

[Bangerang]

We tend to visit WDW during the winter months. When I move summer clothes to winter storage, I put together outfits for our trip and store them within easy access.

The month before our trip, I start gathering things together in one place (currently our guest bedroom) and checking them off my packing list. Since we travel a couple of times a year, I keep my tolietry bag stocked. At the end of each trip, I refill/replace used items, throw toothbrushes in the dishwasher, then store it with my luggage ready for the next trip.

I too am a big fan of ziplock bags.

 

[mslil65]

I always bring three bathing suits. I'll swim in one, take a break and inevitably will want to swim at night. The first suit will still be wet, so I use another one. The next day, for some reason, the first suit still won't be quite dry enough (I don't know why I can never get my suits dry in a hotel!) so I'll use the third suit. It's just nice to not have to wear a cold wet bathing suit! If I forget a suit, I use the hair dryer to try to quickly dry and warm up the suit. Luckily, bathing suits don't take up much room!

 

[newtowdw1]

I hope I'm not high-jacking this thread...we're traveling for several days before we get to WDW. Relatives to vist, you know My question is: how would you experts pack the clothes for this? We're leaving August 1 and traveling 1 day, staying 2 or 3, traveling 2 days, staying 2, traveling 1 day, staying 3 or 4, traveling to wdw (FINALLY!!) and staying 10 days, then zipping back up the coast in 2 days. My kids are messy, and to be honest, so am I. What to do?

 

[poochie]

I hope I'm not high-jacking this thread...we're traveling for several days before we get to WDW. Relatives to vist, you know My question is: how would you experts pack the clothes for this? We're leaving August 1 and traveling 1 day, staying 2 or 3, traveling 2 days, staying 2, traveling 1 day, staying 3 or 4, traveling to wdw (FINALLY!!) and staying 10 days, then zipping back up the coast in 2 days. My kids are messy, and to be honest, so am I. What to do?

Sounds like a reason to do some shopping at WDW to me!!!

 

[Pixie]

Question. Do you roll the clothes before placing them in the ziploc bags or leave the clothes flat?

 

[TN Traveler]

Wow! This is a long thread!! Obviously I haven't read all 5 pages yet but wondered about one thing. Some of you stated that you lay out your clothes the several days before you leave which I think is a great idea but I can't do that!! I have only 4 or 5 pair of shorts and have to wear them before we go!! Someone also stated that you pack a full outfit per day in a Ziploc bag including socks, panties and bras....so you take 5 (or more) bras for a 7 day trip? WOW!! I don't have that many bras either!!
Last June was our first family visit to Disney altho I had been in 2001 w/a group of travel agents (I have been one for 10 yrs now!). One thing I enforced on my kids was they must wear socks and tennis shoes in the Parks. DD13 wore her tennis shoes the first day at MK but said her feet got so hot she wore her flip flops the rest of the week! I also did a couple loads of laundry while we were there which saved space.

We have a timeshare condo in Panama city Beach, FL that we go to almost every year. One thing I make sure to pack is laundry detergent. The vending machine at the Condo has only Tide which makes DH break out. So I'll save a plastic bottle, wash it out and put my liquid detergent in it and then carry a few dryer sheets in a ziploc bag.

When I fly I ALWAYS put my toiletries in Ziploc bags. One year we made the mistake of not doing that and when we arrived in Key West, DH had toothpaste all over 3 pair of shorts!! Back in the early 90s another travel agent I went on a fam together. She didn't put her hair mosse in a Ziploc bag. When she went to pick her suitcase up from baggage claim, there was white foam oozing out of zipper area of her suitcase!!! Apparently the can had exploded while in flight!! Needless to say that's not a mistake she made again.

So I guess that's my packing tip altho it doesn't sound like any of you need any help at all!!

Karen aka TN Traveler

 

[WillCAD]

I hope I'm not high-jacking this thread...we're traveling for several days before we get to WDW. Relatives to vist, you know My question is: how would you experts pack the clothes for this? We're leaving August 1 and traveling 1 day, staying 2 or 3, traveling 2 days, staying 2, traveling 1 day, staying 3 or 4, traveling to wdw (FINALLY!!) and staying 10 days, then zipping back up the coast in 2 days. My kids are messy, and to be honest, so am I. What to do?

Your course of action depends on two things: budget, and attitude.

If your budget allows you to buy a bunch of new stuff while on the trip, you can stretch your packed clothing out; you may have to ship some stuff home to get yourself down to the luggage allowance of your airline, but this is the easiest way to go.

If budget doesn't allow that, you will have to do some laundry while on vacation. Packing for 3 full weeks would make your luggage over the weight and size limits of any airline, even if you use all the great tips in this thread, so you'll have to pack less and wash clothes so you can wear them more than once. This is where attitude plays in; some people simply refuse to do laundry while on vacation, and if you are one of them, then you might have to jump through a lot of hoops to stretch your clothing allowance to 3 full weeks.

My advice is, pack enough clothing for 1/2 your trip, and do laundry halfway through. It's not fun, but it will save you a lot of trouble in the long run and allow you to pack much lighter, and not have to spend a lot of money on fresh clothing.

 

[Bangerang]

I hope I'm not high-jacking this thread...we're traveling for several days before we get to WDW. Relatives to vist, you know My question is: how would you experts pack the clothes for this? We're leaving August 1 and traveling 1 day, staying 2 or 3, traveling 2 days, staying 2, traveling 1 day, staying 3 or 4, traveling to wdw (FINALLY!!) and staying 10 days, then zipping back up the coast in 2 days. My kids are messy, and to be honest, so am I. What to do?

On our last trip down, we drove 2 days, stayed at Cocoa Beach 2 days, went to WDW for 7 days then drove 2 days. Rather than everyone have separate luggage, we packed for each length of the trip. We had an overnight bag with toiletries, PJs and a change of clothes for the hotel stays. (We brought this in with us at each stop.) I packed a separate beach trip bag then a third WDW bag. When loading the trunk, we put the WDW stuff in the very back, with the overnight bag in the front. Since my DS was 1 at the time we had an additional overnight bag with diapers, favorite blankets, etc. that we used throughout the trip. Once at WDW everything came out of the trunk. Our villa had a washer and dryer so I washed clothes as needed.

 

[Angelgirl13202]

Great tips you zip lock bag group... Question how big are your DH cloths not to be rude but do you just use ziplocks for the kids... My future DH is well a Big man.... and i dont think his cloths would fit in ziplock... mine of course lol i look like im 12 so most of my cloths are kids sizes lol i love being tiny sometimes.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I pre-pack all toiletries 2-3 days before and pack the evening before all the clothes. I roll all of the items and stuff a shoe in a shoe to get the most amount of space. I also pack another suitcase into one, so I have an extra case for souvies and t-shirts.

Since we are in a DVC one bedroom; I pack pb and jelly, syrup, oatmeal, ketchup, etc. - this allows me to buy things from home at the cheapest price (wait for sale).

I hope this helps.

 

[JerJan]

I apologize if this has already been posted! I only skimmed through and I didn't see this suggestion...after rolling your outfit together put a rubber band around it, the clothes won't wrinkle (as previously mentioned) and your outfit is ready in one bundle.