PACKING TIPS - What's yours?

[staceycanada]

Do they have a place for doing laundry on the cruises?
On our WDW trips we take clothing enough for half the trip and do laundry half way through.

One adult watches the kids in the pool. The other does laundry.
It worked out great. I even did cloth diapers on our last trip. LOL

 

[rtkane]

1. Digital scale to weigh suitcases
2. Cross pack in case a bag gets lost (this bag can be your overnight bag if you come in the day before--which you should always do if possible--so you don't have to dissamble your "cruise bags")
3. Strips of duct tape on aerosol can lids (around the perimeter) to keep the lids on. Tape can be taken off and stuck to the container while in use, then re-taped back on to keep the lid in place (all liquids in plastic bags)
4. Plenty of kitchen garbage bags to keep dirty clothes in. Fill one up, goes in the suitcase under the bed--makes end of trip packing easy
5. Stuff shoes with socks so they don't have empty spaces that take away from packing space
6. Roll jeans/etc. and fit lengthwise (so it fits between the handle guides in the suitcase--helps give you a bit more room)
7. To avoid creases, pack shirts/dresses like a "U". (for example, put the bottom of the shirt in, put clothes on top of that, then the top of the shirt layers on top of it, so the shirt doesn't get hard creases).

 

[anna08]

Another eBags packing cube lover here. And with Southwest rapid rewards shopping, lots of extra miles when you buy online!

Have been a lifelong traveler, and yes, always lay out clothes and put stuff back. Have to remind myself, you can always do laundry or even buy a new shirt if the need arises. We usually use one suitcase for the four of us (2 kids) and hopefully someday we'll be just using carryons. For the Bahamas and Caribbean cruises, I think I wear a swimsuit and cover-up for 80% of the daytime hours. I've never wished I had packed more than I brought.

DH always uses space in shoes to stuff small stuff - socks, etc...

 

[100AcreWood]

This is more a kid tip but I always use the really large ziplocs for the kids casual clothes. You can fold them nicely and then put each outfit in a separate bag. Before sealing I push all the air out and it vacuum packs it to save room. I unpack by placing the bags in drawers. Each bag has the top, pants, underwear, and socks. Each child can chose their bag each day but I know that they match and we aren't left at the end of the trip with upset kids and really odd looking outfits. It also saves them tearing through drawers, losing stuff, and time in the morning. They independently get ready and I get to get myself ready at the same time . Hope this helps someone.

I do this too. My kids love it. I even do this for summer camp for my oldest. She said it makes it so easy for her - just grab a bag and head for the showers. My dh thinks I'm nuts.

 

[OMD13]

On my last trip I had 3 kitchen trash bags for dirty laundry. I used one for whites one for colors and one for darks and packed into one suitcase. It made for easy laundry when we got home.

 

[KansasFroggie]

I do this too. My kids love it. I even do this for summer camp for my oldest. She said it makes it so easy for her - just grab a bag and head for the showers. My dh thinks I'm nuts.

Yep. We do this for camps also . It makes mornings so much less stressful

 

[MonoMan]

I try to make sure that each suitcase contains some clothing for everyone just in case one suitcase gets lost or delayed. I also always make sure that at least one suitcase is only half full - we never seem to pack as tidy for the trip back home and the extra room helps accommodate any thing we buy to bring home.

 

[lilpooh108]

Ok, mine might sound silly, but it worked last cruise, so we'll be doing it again this cruise. Dress bags, or large plastic bags from Macy's, Dillards or wherever. Last cruise, I took EVERY formal, semi-formal, or dressy/silky item, and placed in it's own plastic bag. Then folded and placed into suitcases. When we got them out? No need for ironing or sending out to be ironed! I don't understand HOW it works, but it worked for us!

This does work. It's the static cling effect I think.

 

[sturner324]

3. Strips of duct tape on aerosol can lids (around the perimeter) to keep the lids on. Tape can be taken off and stuck to the container while in use, then re-taped back on to keep the lid in place (all liquids in plastic bags)

Great idea!

 

[Alifay]

I've yet to cruise, but taken many Disney trips and this is my favorite packing tip...

Similar to putting kids clothes into bags - I put entire outfits on hangers. I plan out what I want to wear each day (depending on where we will be/what we will be doing) and plan the outfit accordingly. ALL clothing items go on one hanger. Top,skirt, leggings, etc. When I get to my room, I pull out the hangers, hang them up and unpacking is 90% done! This also really helps to keep all the little things together (panty hose!) and make sure you don't forget an aspect of an outfit while packing, since you see it all together. Will probably bump this up by adding a ziptop bag with a hole in the top to slid onto the hanger -- in this I can add undergarments, hair accessories, and jewelry to go with the outfit. And no stress deciding what to wear, where any of it has gotten away to, or if there are enough provided hangers to go around.

For items that are to be used more than once, I just rearrange after wearing the first assembled outfit (place these shorts with that shirt and accessories after worn once) or leave them aside on their own.

 

[pharmd08]

Use either packing cubes or vacuum bags for packing. Either works well and save a ton of space in the suitcase.
I completely agree with the poster who said if flying in the night before pack everything you need into an overnight bag, this way you don't have to open your "big" suitcase for one night.

Some of my biggest packing problems are overweight luggage, especially when traveling on a long trip.
If flying, make sure to use a LIGHT suitcase. I've had suitcases that were heavy and that cuts down on the amount of stuff you can get in them before you reach the 50lb mark.
Always wear your heaviest shoes on the plane. Usually your athletic shoes, but this really helps with weight issues.
Weigh, weigh, and reweigh.
If you get to the counter and your luggage is just a little over, if you can get out a pair of jeans and/or shoes, you will usually be ok.

 

[TDBurns]

Great tips!! I can use this information.

 

[lawdawg327]

Do they have a place for doing laundry on the cruises?
On our WDW trips we take clothing enough for half the trip and do laundry half way through.

One adult watches the kids in the pool. The other does laundry.
It worked out great. I even did cloth diapers on our last trip. LOL

Yes, they have self serve washers & dryers. You don't even need quarters as you can use your KTTW card to charge the costs. If you don't mind paying the extra price, you can send your laundry out and they will wash, fold and bring it back to you. We always try to pack less and wash clothes about halfway through the trip; we usually try to do it late at night once kids have gone to sleep.

 

[MassDisLovers]

This may sound crazy but its a tip I learned from my dad. We take our old underwear, socks and pajamas on trips and throw them away each day. We've expanded this concept to include clothing that is serviceable but just not a favorite item. Wear it on the cruise or vacation, then throw it away! When a vacation is planned, I start putting aside items to take and discard. Leaves plenty of room for souvenirs or if not much is bought, the bags are much lighter going home!

 

[uglpetti]

We've done the same by throwing away DH undershirts for years. They take up a good portion of the bag and it leaves room for souvenirs on return.

 

[Purdue Mouse]

My three biggest tips:

1) eBags packing cubes. These are essential not just for cruises, but all of our trips. They help to keep suitcases neat and orderly, and keep clothes separated (we have different colors for each family member so they're easily identified). Unpacking is a breeze as well, as they fit in most hotel and stateroom drawers - you simply unzip them. These also allow me to start packing things in advance without having to get out all of the big bags or suitcases right way.

2) Before a cruise or big trip, I prepare a spreadsheet listing each day, broken out by activity and daypart (i.e. Morning/Excursion, Palo Brunch, Castaway Cay, Dinner Attire, Bedtime), and detail EVERYTHING I will be wearing for each day or daypart (right down to specific undergarments, jewelry/accessories and shoes). Once I have everything listed, I then go back and start editing to eliminate unnecessary items (i.e. realizing that I can wear the same sandals with all of my dresses, that I don't need new pajamas for each night, etc.). Then when it's time to pack, I print out the spreadsheet and pack everything I've listed. I'll usually include an extra "emergency" outfit and possibly a sweater or hoodie, but other than that, breaking everything out by daypart really helps keep me from overpacking, or conversely, forgetting something essential.

3) I also keep a separate running list for non-clothing items and toiletries, and starting a month out, will write them down as they come to me (even writing down the "obvious" things like passports, sunglasses, my son's favorite stuffed Mickey, camera chargers, contact lenses, etc.), then I go down the checklist the night before our trip to make sure I haven't forgotten anything. I've found that once you have a general "master list" like this, you only have to make minor edits for each new vacation.

OMG I see I have to fight for my title as the Princess of Over Planning!!! Lol

 

[Karmatir]

This may sound crazy but its a tip I learned from my dad. We take our old underwear, socks and pajamas on trips and throw them away each day. We've expanded this concept to include clothing that is serviceable but just not a favorite item. Wear it on the cruise or vacation, then throw it away! When a vacation is planned, I start putting aside items to take and discard. Leaves plenty of room for souvenirs or if not much is bought, the bags are much lighter going home!

This is exactly what I do too. Works like a charm and I can get rid of those not so favorite items but still pack "light".

 

[Silverfox97]

Scott wrote a nice article on this for Touring Plans if anyone is interested:

http://blog.touringplans.com/2013/0...packing-for-your-disney-cruise-line-vacation/

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MNTravels]

Bump

 

[summerrluvv]

Thanks for the tip about the packing cubes, I just bought some.