Possible to only bring a carryon to Disney?

[gdrj]

He isn't supposed to. One per person. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-rule

I never put items in a quart size bag, I put in a small zipper travel bag. Never have had an issue (until my next trip, now that I jinxed myself)

 

[maxiesmom]

I am always amazed seeing the amount of stuff people bring with them everywhere. You aren't going to a third world country. If you forget something you truly need, buy it.
I have never checked a bag in my life and we usually bring one carry on each (no backpacks/personal items- except winter trips when the personal item is a jacket), and that includes our three week long trip to Europe and 9 night cruises.

I'd rather not waste my money buying a duplicate of something I already own.

 

[mountdew1]

Did a 4 day trip in Feb for the Princess Half marathon a few years back with just a messenger bag. Wore my running shoes, jeans, vest and rain jacket down. Packed pair of cargo shorts, 3 t-shirts, underwear, 5 fingers, rain jacket, toiletries and 3 sets of running clothes. Had enough room for the shirts I got from the race.

Please share your secrets on what you pack in the carry-on to last you the whole vacation. I'm a terrible packer and bring everything but the kitchen sink. Even the 3 night trip we did in January, I brought 2 suitcases and a couple carry-on for 3 people.

• If you can't use an item in multiple outfits, don't bring it. Any single purpose item gets left behind.
  
• No bulky coats, thin layers that pack up easily and can be combined for warmth. I bring a vest, thin long sleeved hooded fleece base layer and rain jacket (and most likely they take up less space than the single jacket most people bring). This combo works for me for anything from 20 and snowy to 90 and rain, and everything in between.
  
• As cute as those shoes are, you really don't need to bring them. Pair of sneakers (worn) and pack a pair of sandals if it's warm enough for you.
  
• It's ok to wear jeans/shorts for multiple days if you don't get them dirty.
  
• Don't be afraid to do laundry mid trip. Even if you insist on packing 4 different bottoms, you can still easily fit that (along with 4 tops) in a carry on and do laundry mid trip to last 7 days.
  
• Wear/carry any outer layers on the plane, you can easily stuff your jacket in the bin or under the seat.
  
• Look up packing videos on YouTube. Odds are the way you are packing your bags is really not optimal.
  
• Re-evaluate any toiletries you pack. Look for multi purpose items wherever possible. Instead of packing both skin moisturizer and sun block, get a 2-1 from someone like Clinique or Neutrogena.

 

[belle7708]

I almost exclusively carry on unless I am traveling for longer than a week or need both casual and fancy outfits for multiple days. Suggestions: one pair of sneakers and one pair of flip flops, roll your pants and shirts to fit more in the bag, buy travel size sunscreen sprays and lotions and buy more if needed, wear a hoodie on the plane because it's bulky and rewear at least once if necessary. The only thing I pack more of than days I am in Disney are underwear and socks.

My tactic is to lay everything I want to pack on the bed and then put back 1/4 - 1/2 of what I have laid out. Worst case - you have to buy a few small clothing items at Disney in a pinch (oh the horror )!

 

[UConnFan]

- If you don't have a car, in the Orlando airport, the news shop in the main terminal (Hudson Booksellers I believe) has 8 oz spray sunscreen for about $16. Oddly enough, Ron Jon's Surf Shop had only the cream.

I've never thought to buy at the airport when traveling carry-on only. Fabulous idea!

 

[china mom]

Just did it with 5 of us for a four day weekend. We had 3 carry on sized rollers and each had a small personal bag. And that was with my 83 year old mother's depends taking up half a roller. I packed waaaay too many depends. Brought half back.

 

[CounselorX]

We (my wife and I) have never checked luggage and our last trip was 14 nights long. We did laundry after about 6 or 7 days on one of our rest days. I take my backpack with every square inch packed tight, my big laptop bag packed tight, and my wife has her rolling carry-on size suitcase and her purse, both of which are packed tight. It's a little tough but we do it. We like to go in September so all of our clothes are as lightweight as possible.

 

[kay1864]

I have never checked a bag in my life and we usually bring one carry on each (no backpacks/personal items- except winter trips when the personal item is a jacket)

I should point out that a jacket does not count as your personal item--you can bring a carryon, personal item (large makeup bag/small duffel bag/oversize purse) AND a jacket, with no problem.

 

[BigAlsGal]

For airlines like allegiant they charge for carry-ons. DH and I carry only a"personal item". Aka our backpacks. You can get a lot in the quart size bag. I never pack shampoo or conditioner. Usually liquid make up, sunscreen, and 5-6 mini bottles of vodka.

 

[ParrotBill]

I never put items in a quart size bag, I put in a small zipper travel bag. Never have had an issue (until my next trip, now that I jinxed myself)

They have to see the items clearly - anything other than a clear ziplock bag is a risk. A TSA agent who wants to enforce rules could challenge the size of the bag if it is not shaped exactly like a ziplock too.

Also remember that when planes get crowded, or you are the last group to board, or the plane is a smaller region jet, they can require you to check bags you intend to carry on. So always keep your valuables, electronics, spare batteries, and medicines in a small personal bag that will fit under the seat in front of you.

That said, I cannot get the ladies in my family to give up the "products" they need for a week. My ziplock back has a small toothpaste, hand sanitizer, neosporin (for blisters), sunscreen, and lip balm. I use hotel shampoo. The ladies complain Disney does not have good enough conditioner or provide enough (DVC) to last for long hair, which makes sense.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

got a hard sided carryon suitcase, it's difficult to overstuff those.

 

[bc7ate9]

I never put items in a quart size bag, I put in a small zipper travel bag. Never have had an issue (until my next trip, now that I jinxed myself)

I never put my stuff in a bag either - just keep everything in my normal travel toiletry bag. I've been through many airports and none of them have noticed/cared. If they suddenly felt like enforcing the rules, that'd be fine with me, but they haven't yet.

 

[katt789]

I've taken only a carryon many times, heck sometimes all I've taken is a back pack. And that's a struggle for me when it comes to make up lol! I just opt to buy sunscreen down there instead.

 

[IvyWinter]

I've never NOT gone to disney with more than a carry on, even for a 7 day trip. More than that may be cutting i close, otherwise its 100% doable (with a bag as a personal item on the plane).

 

[mickey1968]

I am going to try super hard on my upcoming 5 night trip to just do a carry-on and my park bag. I do okay on toiletries. My makeup is powder-based Bare Minerals (don't normally use it at Disney anyway) and I will use the Disney shampoo, but I do bring shower gel, lotion and hand soap. I don't like bar soap for anything. Somebody else mentioned the solid sunscreen from Neutragena. I tried that on a previous trip and it worked great. My deodorant is also a solid. I usually get tripped up on shoes, electronics and extra stuff like scrapbook/journaling supplies that never get used!

This trip will be in April so I should be able to do all shorts instead of jeans and even capris. Last fall I discovered the wonders of the performance running pants/capris and tops that help regulate your body temperature. Made a huge difference and the added bonus is that they roll up into almost nothing and could be rinsed out and dried overnight!

On the quart size bag, also remember that your saline solution, eye drops and most prescriptions don't have to be the bag. They can be in a separate bag but are expected to be pulled out to go through the scanner. But I also have gone through the line numerous times without pulling them out because I forgot to pull them out.

 

[Carolyn Louise]

Just got back from a 5 day trip and did carry on only! My suitcase was a little fuller coming back with what I bought but it still fit everything. I did the quart bag of liquids but apparently I could have brought more because my friend had a gallon ziplock full of stuff and no one cared. I think as long as you stick to the 3.4 oz bottle rule you'll be fine.

Travel sized sunscreen lasted with leftover, but I only applied once a day, didn't burn either. I'm not a lay out in the sun kind of person though.

My advice is, get a really GOOD carry on suitcase. Some of them manage to be roomier than others. I have a hard shell samsonite that I bought in November and wow, what a great purchase. I was able to fit a ton of stuff. I was also flexible at the last minute and willing to cull some things that wouldn't fit before I left.

 

[MataHari22]

I never check my bags. One carry on and one personal item, only. (Regular carry on with wheels and a jansport backpack.) My trips are 8 nights. Here is my packing list from my last trip in November. I have to laugh because the person I travel with, thinks I overpacked. Meanwhile, I see so many people that have what I have, plus a checked bag, sometimes for even less days than I go!

2015 PACKING LIST 9 days

Yellow Skirt
Nasturtium golf skirt
Aqua Checked golf skirt
Grey Golf Skirt
Green Golf Skirt

Old Navy Orange Floral Pants***
Old Navy grey knit pants

Nasturtium golf shirt
White golf shirt
Yellow Shirt
Aqua golf shirt
Blue Shirt
Purple Shirt
Chartreuse cami
Chartreuse sweater
Coral Sweater

PJs
3 Bras
Undies
Socks

White Keds
Black Rocket Dogs
Sketchers Sneakers

To wear on plane:
Black Maurice's Pants
Orange Drape shirt from Maurice's
Tigger Hoodie

Orange Print Scarf
Olive/teal/yellow/chartreuse/cream print Old Navy scarf

Vera Bradley Perfect Petals purse
VB Red Bag

***only thing I didn't end up wearing

Medications:
Thyroid
Pepto
Benadryl
Gas-X
Pain killer

iPhone
Charger
Jackery Bar
Earphones
Sunglasses
Ear plugs
Small camera

Rain ponchos

Zip lock bags
Moleskin
Anti Bacterial & Eyeglass Wipes
Soap
Sunscreen
Lip balm
Deodorant
Tooth Brush
Toothpaste
Biotene
Moisturizer
Brush
Hair Dryer

Notes
All tickets
Little ID Wallet
License
Credit Cards
Cash
Tip Envelopes
Mouse Keeping Envelopes
Magic Bands

 

[fla4fun]

I am always amazed seeing the amount of stuff people bring with them everywhere. You aren't going to a third world country. If you forget something you truly need, buy it.

I had a little laugh when I read this. I only live about 20 minutes from WDW, so when I stay there, I drive. For a ten night stay for ONE person, I bring one huge rolling bag, a medium rolling bag, and a carry on rolling bag which has all my electronics, camera bag, and anything I don't want to leave in the car all day (I typically leave from work, so I bring the carry on into the office). Then on top of that I have the flat of bottled water, and at least one 12pk of soda, and if it's winter, another small bag with two jackets, gloves and scarf. I'm always joking about wondering what I might have left at home that I think I'll need, and that I'm not going to a third world country. Heck, if I forgot something I couldn't live without (like a phone or iPad charger) I could just go home and get it. I just have this thing about not wanting to leave that Disney bubble once I've made it inside . . .

I don't fly much (love road trips too much) but when I do I usually do carry on only on the way to my destination, with a folded bag inside. Then on the way back, I check the folded bag with dirty laundry, and fill the carry on with souvenirs. The folding bag is washable, so I don't mind filling it with dirty laundry, and if it gets lost or stolen, well - someone else gets to do the laundry .

 

[nooneshome]

Am I the only one but every time I see this thread I think it says
Possible to only bring a crayon to Disney?

 

[bookgirl]

I try to pack anything I think I might need. I just don't want to 1. Deal with the hassle of tracking down a needed item and 2. Pay an overinflated price.

That being said I do try to get away with the smallest bag/s possible (allowing for room to bring home things).

At Disney I generally choose not to go carry on only because I usually will not have a car and they do price gouge. I also know that I'll be bringing stuff like things to decorate my window and maybe a few extra shirts/layers because I always seem to go through more clothes there, and extra shoes because switching out shoes can save a vacation with that much walking. I also know that I will be bringing back stuff for myself and my mom who loves stuff from Disney.

Other locals I can totally get away with a carry on and my backpack.

I have a mini ipad (books, movies, music, internet, time killers all in one small device), I use my phone to take pictures as I'm not into photography as a hobby. I have a collection of packing cubes and utilize ziplocks heavily, between the two I can increase my usable room by at least half.

I am thinking of trying DLR with a carryon in April as I am may be doing a split stay on and off site so will have to transport my luggage mid trip. I won't need some items and I doubt I'll be bringing back much, so I'm already strategizing.