Please share your best stateroom space saving tips!

[kristieboyd]

We're going to be sleeping 5 in a 4 person verandah stateroom (2 adults, teenager & 2 littles) so I need some space-saving/organization tips for the room!

I plan on bringing an over the door show hanger (possibly 2 - 1 for toiletries & 1 for the kids' shoes, socks, underware, etc), magnetic hooks for KTTW, a pop up laundry hamper, travel sized everything we can manage, and possibly extra hangers to hang as much clothes as possible.

What other suggestions can you more experienced DCLers give me? I have 13 more days to get ready!!

 

[Mom323]

We're going to be sleeping 5 in a 4 person verandah stateroom (2 adults, teenager & 2 littles) so I need some space-saving/organization tips for the room!

I plan on bringing an over the door show hanger (possibly 2 - 1 for toiletries & 1 for the kids' shoes, socks, underware, etc), magnetic hooks for KTTW, a pop up laundry hamper, travel sized everything we can manage, and possibly extra hangers to hang as much clothes as possible.

What other suggestions can you more experienced DCLers give me? I have 13 more days to get ready!!

You don't need to pack hangers, your room steward will give you as many as you need.

 

[kdeans1010]

It's dumb but:
With makeup find 2 in 1 products.

 

[cinmouse]

We always travel with the LL Bean travel bags that hang in he bathroom. They have many sizes & the inside comes out to hang.your shampoo right.in.the shower.
Besides that we also package our clothes by day in 2 gallon zip lock bags..it reduces.over packing.plus everyone knows by day what bag is theirs getting ready.

 

[kristieboyd]

You don't need to pack hangers, your room steward will give you as many as you need.

Great to know, thanks! Will reduce some packing space in our bags!

It's dumb but:
With makeup find 2 in 1 products.

Not dumb at all....it's a great suggestion! I already told DD17 that she has to par down her makeup collection to a SMALL travel sized bag for the trip!

We always travel with the LL Bean travel bags that hang in he bathroom. They have many sizes & the inside comes out to hang.your shampoo right.in.the shower.
Besides that we also package our clothes by day in 2 gallon zip lock bags..it reduces.over packing.plus everyone knows by day what bag is theirs getting ready.

Great tips! I love the idea of packing outfits in zip locks for my kiddos!! How do you handle dinner clothes? For my boys I plan on packing 2 pairs of slacks & 5 polos for the 5 nights worth on dinners. Would you just not put this in the bags?

 

[neg58]

Bring less stuff.

You really don't need so much. You can wear the same clothes to dinner several nights. You don't need shoes to match every outfit. Share one tube of toothpaste. Shampoo and lotion is provided (and great).

Store things in your suitcases under the bed until you need them. For the little kids, you might want to prepare outfits for the day (socks, undies, shorts, shirts) in zip locks, and leave them in the suitcase until that day arrives and put the used outfits back into the bags.

Nancy

 

[kristieboyd]

Bring less stuff.

You really don't need so much. You can wear the same clothes to dinner several nights.

Nancy

Thanks! That is my plan. We're on a 5 night, so I plan on bringing everyone 1-2 pairs of pants & 4 different shirts for dinners, plus an outfit for semi-formal night. I figure my boys (and DH!) will be fine wearing the same pair of khakis with different polos each night. And I doubt anyone will make a fuss about little boys wearing flip flops or crocs to dinner, so I'm not packing dress shoes. I'd probably let them wear the same shirt for 2 nights, but they are notorious for getting things on their shirts & I don't want to do laundry during my vacation!

 

[Mom323]

If you aren't planning on doing laundry on board, skip the pop up hamper and just throw the dirty clothes back in the suitcase under the bed.

 

[noriega]

Take one less shirt and plan to buy one for everyone one while on board. Keep in mind, they cost around 10 to 25 bucks.

That way you have the cruise date on your shirts, etc...for your photos.

I took 8 shirts for our 8 night cruise. I wore 4 shirts the whole time, usually just my favorates. Wore my new t-shirt three of those days because we did a load of laundry.

 

[Mom323]

You can also ask the room steward to remove the table that is front of the couch. It will give you more room to move around.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/DCL_Stateroom-cat-5-6/pages/DSC00004.htm

 

[kristieboyd]

Take one less shirt and plan to buy one for everyone one while on board. Keep in mind, they cost around 10 to 25 bucks.

That way you have the cruise date on your shirts, etc...for your photos.

I took 8 shirts for our 8 night cruise. I wore 4 shirts the whole time, usually just my favorates. Wore my new t-shirt three of those days because we did a load of laundry.

Good idea! I've ordered pirate t-shirts online for my boys, but I'm sure we'll buy DCL shirts, too!

 

[kcashner]

At the risk of being repetitive, don't bring as much stuff. I STILL bring way more stuff than I use...even on a long cruise.

One pair of black pants or a black skirt can pair with different tops and take your thru multiple dinners...and since you wear your dinner clothing for 2-3 hours per night, each outfit can do a couple of nights unless you dump something on it. Your DD doesn't need 42 pairs of shoes! You don't need hangers (state room host will happily supply all you need.) You don't need a pop up laundry basket--use a suitcase or a big plastic shopping bag/garbage bag. This will fit in your suitcase to go home and no worries about smelling up the luggage!

Make the kids pick up their stuff and declare it either "can be worn again" or "must be washed."

For the little kids, pack each outfit in a ziplock bag and smash the air out. Put the bags in the drawer and each day, pull out a bag. All the parts will match and you don't do a socks/underwear hunt. Even dad can get them dressed.

Again....DON"t bring as much stuff.

 

[kristieboyd]

For port days (GC we're doing our own thing...shopping/sightseeing and a taxi to Sea Grape; Cozumel we're doing DCL excursion snorkeling w/ stingrays) would you pack a day outfit for the kids, or just swim trunks/t-shirt plus dinner clothes for the day?

 

[jelliott04]

All the parts will match and you don't do a socks/underwear hunt. Even dad can get them dressed.

J

 

[poohs4me]

Definately pack less stuff - that being said I overpack the underwear. With the hot weather you never know and I am not one to want to laundry. I also plan to buy shirts I will wear.

We do not like the over the door hangar thing. It gets in our way.

Also think about what you will really want to carry. My mom always brings a purse but then it just sits in the stateroom taking up space.

 

[neg58]

For port days (GC we're doing our own thing...shopping/sightseeing and a taxi to Sea Grape; Cozumel we're doing DCL excursion snorkeling w/ stingrays) would you pack a day outfit for the kids, or just swim trunks/t-shirt plus dinner clothes for the day?

Outfit. The swim stuff will get all sandy and they'll want something to wear once back on the ship.

Nancy

 

[kristieboyd]

Definately pack less stuff - that being said I overpack the underwear. With the hot weather you never know and I am not one to want to laundry. I also plan to buy shirts I will wear.

We do not like the over the door hangar thing. It gets in our way.

Also think about what you will really want to carry. My mom always brings a purse but then it just sits in the stateroom taking up space.

I plan on packing extra underwear as well. With a 4 year old & a 7 year old, I'd rather be prepared & they don't take up much space!!


ANOTHER QUESTION:
We're doing a 5 night Feb Western Caribbean....would you pack a pair of jeans and/or sweaters for each person or no?

 

[kdeans1010]

Not dumb at all....it's a great suggestion! I already told DD17 that she has to par down her makeup collection to a SMALL travel sized bag for the trip!

I checked at Sephora and QVC, they have kits that are super small. Benefit has a kit (Primping with the Stars) with all the pieces. Tarte has a kit that has BB cream, a primer, and mascara for $12, and Benefit has another kit (Goodtime Girl) with mini pieces for $15. Makeup kits are awesome.

 

[wendyoconnor]

Don't pack a blowdryer if you are on the Dream or Fantasy. The blow dryers on those ship work well. The blow dryers on the Magic/Wonder are the built in hotel kind that don't work as well.

What we wear to dinner on the last night is what we wear off the ship, we shower before dinner and put on clean clothes so they are still reasonably clean the next morning. It's one less outfit to pack.

Pack a swimsuit cover up that can also function as a robe. Or a sundress that can double as a swimsuit coverup.

Pack 2 fewer outfits then you think you need. We spend afternoons by the pool so no one cares if I wear the same shirt twice to breakfast.

On the Dream/Fantasy the luggage slides easily under the bed, freeing up closet space and is easy to access. On the Magic/Wonder you have to lift the bed up to get the suitcases underneath.

Fold and/or pack dirty clothes each night, this is a last night time saver

 

[I❤MICKEY]

My boys hate putting on a wet swim suit - I'm not really a fan either. I have planned to back three per person. They don't take up that much space. Is that overkill? Are there swimsuit dryer/spinners like at the gym?

Take one less shirt and plan to buy one for everyone one while on board. Keep in mind, they cost around 10 to 25 bucks. That way you have the cruise date on your shirts, etc...for your photos.

So on each cruise there is personalized cruise specific merchandise for sale? Are the shirts more of a t-shirts or polos? Adults and children's sizes? What other types of cruise specific merchandise can you purchase to commemorate your trip?

Pack 2 fewer outfits then you think you need. We spend afternoons by the pool so no one cares if I wear the same shirt twice to breakfast.

If we plan to spend the day at the pool would it be acceptable to bring the boys in their trunks and rash-guard to breakfast (dry of course). And me in my suit with a sundress over the top? Or would we really need to be dressed?