Post your best organizational, space saving and trip making secrets here!!

[gwcollins71]

Great thread! Sign me up!

 

[sully7]

I love this thread!!

We are heading to Ft. Wilderness in sept (Free Dining! Yay!!!) I already have started gathering things and hiding them from the kids and DH.

I got glow sticks at Jewel/Osco for $1 per 11 sticks. They come with connectors to make necklaces, earings etc!

I am also going to bring stuff to make the storage easier. I will bring a collapsable hamper and over the door shoe organizer for the bathroom.

I am also going to bring some hanging canvas shelves (the kind that velcro over a closet rod) to use some closet hanging space for shorts and T shirts! Also I found the cutest collapsable canvas cubes at Target (they are about 1 cubic foot) for the kids stuff. They should hold each kids clothes for the week (using the one outfit per ziploc bag idea!) All these things will fold down to nearly nothing and the use I plan to get from them will definately be greater than any space thay may take up in transit!

Keep the great ideas coming! I know that our trip will cost less and be more fun because of what you all are teaching me! Thanks!

 

[gwcollins71]

Sully,

I see that you're mentioning Jewel-Osco. Where are you from?

 

[TerBear4]

One of the most helpful ideas (I think I read it on this thread) has been the empty prescription bottles from my local pharmacy. I asked for three or four and my pharmacist gave me a dozen in various sizes. I'm using them for all the vitamins, aspirin, tums, and other medications. Then I'm labeling them all with one of those clicker-label things (I forget what they are called). It has been a life saver.

Almost there!!!!

 

[5wdwfans]

bump

 

[sully7]

Sully,

I see that you're mentioning Jewel-Osco. Where are you from?

GWCOLLINS,

We are in Bolingbrook! I guess we are neighbors!

 

[angwill]

When we go on vacation to Disney, the beach, or wherever I pack bathing suit bottoms for my son for each day. This way he is ready for the water whatever kind we run into and they dry quick. I buy them at the end of the season each year in a bigger size for the next year for about $2-$4 each

HTH,
Angela

 

[sconnell]

We drive, so I can bring lots of little extras.

*We are going to bring those folding chairs in the bag so we can sit outside of our room while the kids are falling asleep. We'll get something to drink or snack on. We can also take them with us to the playground or to sit while the kids run around in the courtyards at POFQ.

*I love the idea about decorations in your windows, since we are going near MNSSHP, we'll take seasonal items like cobwebs!

*I'm bringing magnets to post our schedule on the metal door.

*The Schedule-My most important organizational tool. It is our flexable guide. If anyone would like a sample of my schedule, pm me your email addy and I will email you a .pdf version. It lists all of our days, park hours, emh, parade times, conf #s, ADRs, etc. Everything on one sheet. If you have the capability to create a .pdf (not just read one) then you can save it that way and then print it on what ever size card you want. (3x5 or 4x6 is good, even business card size, if you want to do each day then pass them out)

*I bring a little rubbermaid box (maybe a little larger than shoe box, maybe the same size) to put all of our snacks in. I take them out of the box so more will fit. Granola bars, fruit snacks, individual bags of chex mix, they all stay in the box. They aren't scattered all over and they can be moved easily.

*I love the idea of getting dinner time ziploc bags ready so you have them in a little kit. This could even be done for toddlers! I'm going to put a disposable bib, antibacterial handi-wipes, a suprise like pipe cleaners for nice quiet places, a small snack in case they don't really like what they serve. Then all of it can be put in the bag and thrown away! Don't forget the clean ups for Mickey Bars too! (those things can get MESSY!)

*If you are a scrapbooker, try to bring a container to put all of those little mementos in every time you go back to the room. I've seen those 12x12 plastic cases for $7 at the craft stores. That way nothing gets lost or bent! And your expensive ride photos can go in there too!

 

[english rose 47]

Found little first aid kits ayt Dollar Tree and Walmart I plan on picking up themed bandaids to add to each of them like Zoo animals for AK,Race cars for MGM, Nemo for Epcot anf Mickey or princess for MK.Kids bought cheap hardcover small notebooks at AC moores and I looking for Disney stickers to decorate them.Camp towels from Walmart are a space saver. I found ponchos at Dollar Tree 2 for $1 I plan to toss after using rather than worry about refolding or mold. The shower curtains for privacy how do tou hang them?

 

[Stephieann]

just posting so i can get lots of good tips.!!!!!!

 

[wheelerkidz3]

wow! these are some great tips, and i can't wait til we can use them in a few months!!!

 

[familyfirsttimer]

The shower curtains for privacy how do tou hang them?

I've heard of using a tension rod but that seems to be a paid to pack. I would suggest the Command Hooks by 3M, they are made to be removeable and leave no marks/residue (just not sure exactly how you would hang it but seems much easier than a rod!

Also, check DollarTree for Disney Stickers that you need. I found lots of different ones over the last few weeks, I check check if I am near them. Yesterday, I found Disney tattoos at a local Dollar store(not DollarTree). The had princesses and Mickey/Minnie. I got a few of them. Last year we paid $5 or $6 for my girls to get a small one at the POP. They are young enough that they don't care where they get them, Mom is as good as getting it at the park.

Have fun!

 

[sconnell]

*If you plan to go to the water park or pool when you first arrive, pack all of you swimming items together. (I put all of our suits, water shoes, sunscreen, etc. in our beach bag.) If you are flying, you can put them in a suitcase that way. If your room isn't quite ready yet, then all you have to do is pull out that bag and everything is ready!

 

[SLDL]

Subscribing....this is some great info!

 

[thelionqueen]

Just to let everyone know, the travel sizes @ Bath & Body works are only 2 for $5. I loved the idea of buying a new scent when travelling so it would remind you of the trip when you got home. Also, lots of the body washes & lotions are only $4-$5. Just an fyi!

 

[dawnedwards]

these tips are great

 

[okduke]

Sooo many good ideas!

We're not making our trip for 83.7 days, but we just could not wait to see what Dollar Tree had to offer.

We got the Disney themed photo albums . . . princess, pooh, and mickey. $1 each. Not sure what we'll do with them all. I think we bought 8.

We got several Disney themed Sticker sets. They had a huge selection of the glow necklace/bracelets. We bought two different kinds and we're walking around the house right now comparing them. We'll definitely go back for more.

We were hoping to find the discontinued Palmolive towels. No luck, but . . . . we found something that compared itself to the Palmolive DishWipes. Sunglow DishWipes . . . 20 5 x 4 inch wipes for $1. I have no idea if this is the same thing or not but we're going to give them a try.

Other things: Goofy/Donald Duck coloring books, 5 toothbrush set with travel covers, beach balls for the pool.

Loving this thread. Keep the ideas coming!

 

[english rose 47]

Just heard today that Oriental Trading has a catalog with Disney scrapbooking supplies, Scrapbooks pages stickers, I'm calling to get a copy of the catalog, my boss said she just ordered but didn,t have the catalog with her. Will let THREAD IF IT" S AS GOOD A DEAL AS SHE SAYS!

 

[PreppyPolyMom]

This thread is so great! So much I hadn't even thought of. I ran out yesterday to Dollar Tree and found Palmolive Dish Wipes. they have some tiki luau looking stuff and we are staying at the Poly so I got a nightlight with a tiki figure on it. I also got a "polynesian" looking toothbrush holder for the room! This is fun!

 

[sconnell]

I ran out yesterday to Dollar Tree and found Palmolive Dish Wipes.

I can't believe this! I've been looking EVERYWHERE! It's like I'm crazy! My DH is tired of me looking for these! I'm going to have to go to our DT's today!