Packing when driving?

dani blaski

Mouseketeer
Joined
Mar 8, 2004
Messages
259
Any tips you can share? I am planning a driving trip in November. We are staying at a condo so I will do grocery shopping before and when we get there for perishables. I will have an ice chest. Also, what do folks pack if staying at Windsor Hills? Curious as to the essentials you don't consider for a condo.
Thanks in advance!
 
My tip is...

Distracted driving is a hazard. Do not pack when driving.

Stacy
 
My tip is...

Distracted driving is a hazard. Do not pack when driving.

Stacy

Ok, I know the OP is looking for suggestions on what to pack, and I'm sorry that I don't have any for you, but I just wanted to thank Stacy above for the great laugh this morning!
 

Good laugh - I had to re-read the title before realized what the OP had said!
But OP - I recently stayed in a condo near Disney although not WH and I packed a small box with some staple food items from home instead of buying them when I arrived - things like spices for any meals you might plan on cooking so you don't have to buy bottles/cans of it for a few shakes, cooking spray etc. Alot of the things I brought were almost empty and once we were done with them we trashed them.
Our condo had pool towels for use but I brought some for us to use from home that were nicer and cuter!
A power strip is helpful for charging electronics if you haven't already thought of it.
To save space (our SUV was packed to the hilt plus 5 people) I brought almost empty shower gels, shampoos etc even though it meant more bottles - once gone it meant I had room for treasures :)
Night lights in several rooms (kitchen, bathrooms) are a must for me when I travel.
Clothespins/clips have a wealth of uses when I move in to a hotel or condo - clip open bags of chips etc, clip curtains closed to keep out the bright lights at night or the sun in the morning when I want to sleep in a little bit, hanging up things, etc. They don't take up alot of space.
Packing tape/duck tape - so many uses, I wish I had packed a roll when we had a wheelchair wheel "blowout" on the first day of a trip to Disney in 2010 - thanks to guest services at the Yacht Club we were able to fix the wheel and it lasted for the entire trip!

I can't wait to hear other answers so I can add it to my useful things to pack list. I keep packing cubes filled with stuff all the time so I can grab what I need depending on the type of trip I am taking.
 
When our kids were young, we'd pack a "car box" for road trips. It was just a shoe box in an easy-to-reach spot, with things that came in very handy. We still travel with one because it saves space, keeps things organized and keeps me sane. Contents:

a dozen napkins or paper towels
four plastic grocery bags (for garbage)
small pack of wet wipes
eye glasses cleaning cloth
pocket pack of tissues
gum
small sunscreen and bug spray
paring knife
small flashlight
a few paper cups for sunflower seed eaters
little snacks: nuts, raisins, single waxed cheeses, a few crackers
single drink mix packets like Crystal Light or PowerAde
 
Things i would pack for a road trip.

Small tool kit - phillip and flat screwdriver, flashlight, scissors, and duck tape.
 
We drive every trip and stay in a fully furnished 2BR suite with a full kitchen..that being said, I have a "Disney Box" I always take with me, that I refill when we get home. Some things are just less expensive here at home, and when I get groceries, I just get FOOD !!

garbage bags
both sizes of ziplocks
tin foil
rain ponchos
power strip
two foldable hampers
2 cookie sheets..they have pots and pans, but nothing for baking or reheating
Purex washer sheets
paper plates and bowls..never enough dishes, and I hate doing dishes !!
coffee mugs..I have two favorite Disney ones just for vaca !!
Our Travel Keurig and pods !!!!
duct tape
scissors
small sewing kit
eyeglasses kit
over the door shoe holder for dialy receipts and park maps


I am a bit anal, but we have honed the list over 14 trips, and 15 coming up in 50 days !!
 
I always pack in a laundry basket. It makes it so much easier to do laundry. I can also get more in the basket than a case and I have less wrinkled clothes.
 
Ok we have taken a few road trips and have found some things that work for us. We have 3 kids so I pack a small back pack for each of them with markers, pads of paper, journal books (for the older two), a plastic bag, earphones, game consoles, snacks/drinks, travel kleenex and travel wipes. That way they can grab what they want without having to stop to dig something out of the back. As well they can keep things neat inside the van and unload it themselves when we get there.

I keep a small cooler bag at my feet in the passenger seat with healthy snacks and drinks to last us about 2 days. Every penny saved is a penny that can be spent having even more fun at the parks. :banana:

We also bring our spices and items that we need only small amounts of. I'll measure out things like tea bags and protein powder for the amount of time that I will be spending there. And, I agree that it leaves a little extra room for our Disney treasures once these items have been used up. I take my favorite knife and baking dish with me as some of the condos knives are very dull and the baking dishes are sometimes not big enough.

We also bring the small hotel bottles of shampoo and conditioner to save space. There is an entire thread of unusual things to pack that have given me so many great tips. :worship:
 
We drive every trip and stay in a fully furnished 2BR suite with a full kitchen..that being said, I have a "Disney Box" I always take with me, that I refill when we get home. Some things are just less expensive here at home, and when I get groceries, I just get FOOD !!

garbage bags
both sizes of ziplocks
tin foil
rain ponchos
power strip
two foldable hampers
2 cookie sheets..they have pots and pans, but nothing for baking or reheating
Purex washer sheets
paper plates and bowls..never enough dishes, and I hate doing dishes !!
coffee mugs..I have two favorite Disney ones just for vaca !!
Our Travel Keurig and pods !!!!
duct tape
scissors
small sewing kit
eyeglasses kit
over the door shoe holder for dialy receipts and park maps


I am a bit anal, but we have honed the list over 14 trips, and 15 coming up in 50 days !!

This is great ! I have a rubbermaid container that I found on clearance at Target. I have started collecting items from the dollar aisle and researching for my budget.
 
Something I love about driving is that you can really pack whatever you want! Yes you still have some space restrictions, but its a lot better than on planes.

Just think of anything you'd buy once down there and pack that!
 
I've never stayed at a condo at Disney...however we are timeshare owners and I have stayed at several. IMO...one of the essentials when staying at a condo is to be very, very realistic about your food plan, that is, what you are and are not willing to do on your vacation.

I have found that it is ESSENTIAL to have a plan of some sort for meals. And then you can call the condo and see if they stock your necessaries for the meals you plan. For instance, if you plan a crock pot meal...an excellent idea...you get it going earlier in the morning when you are more perky and it is ready and waiting for you at the end of the day...then you need to know if your condo has a crock pot. And if the crock pot is the right size.

I also believe that any and all prep that you can do at home will be a blessing on your vacation.

Like others have mentioned, remember to pack the staples from home...that is, things that have more than one use...cooking oils, vinegars, spices, sauces, etc. A helpful tip is to stop recycling or throwing away empty containers and save them for different things for your trip. Keep salad dressing and other condiment containers, peanut butter jars, jelly jars, etc. and use these for packing things from your kitchen. Try to just pack what you think you will actually need in these types of containers that you don't have to repack for the drive home.

If your condo has a washer/dryer, bring laundry supplies. Sometimes the cleaning supplies for the kitchen are weak...if you are picky about things like that, bring what you like to use.
 
We drive to WDW. We pack all of,our shoes in a laundry basket. Saves room in suitcases, and you will likely need the basket anyway. We also put our laundry soap in the basket.
 














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