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

[Aliceacc]

(boy do I feel dumb).

Don't.

Joining the DIS means learning a whole new language: ADRs, MK, AK, CR, WL... the list goes on forever. Like anything else, there's a learning curve.

 

[TENIA66]

Just read about using m&M tubes for storing things like tampons and it's a great idea!

 

[Matt'nMeg'sMom]

In Nov 2006, my mother in law took her entire family (18 of us) to DW for a week long Magical Gathering. We stayed in 6 rooms at the All Star Music. My MIL paid for everyone, including airfare. (She said she was spending her sons' inheritance on something she could actually enjoy. )

To contribute to her gift, I made 18 backpacks filled with must-have items for every attendee. They each got:

• a drawstring sports-backpack
• a bag-tag that had said Carlson 2006, Disney Logo and their name in Uncle Walt's handwriting.
• a Magical Gathering t-shirt that said Carlson 2006 and the Disney Logo
• sunglasses
• a visor
• sunscreen
• first aid kit with Tylenol, Dramamine, bandaids, SPF chapstick, etc.
• light up toys and glow sticks for parades
• a fan that hangs around your neck
• poncho
• batteries
• extra toothbrush/toothpaste
• snack food that wouldn't melt: granola bars, mints, twizzlers, protein snacks, etc.
• a water bottle and the little single serve packets of ice tea and lemonade
• an All Star refillable mug
• and for the kids, I added autograph books, pens, crayons and a disney coloring book.

I shipped four boxes of these pre-filled backpacks to the AllStar,and handed them out on the night we arrived. They were a total surprise to everyone and they loved them. All the cousins still use their backpacks today.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

In Nov 2006, my mother in law took her entire family (18 of us) to DW for a week long Magical Gathering. We stayed in 6 rooms at the All Star Music. My MIL paid for everyone, including airfare. (She said she was spending her sons' inheritance on something she could actually enjoy. )

To contribute to her gift, I made 18 backpacks filled with must-have items for every attendee. They each got:

• a drawstring sports-backpack
• a bag-tag that had said Carlson 2006, Disney Logo and their name in Uncle Walt's handwriting.
• a Magical Gathering t-shirt that said Carlson 2006 and the Disney Logo
• sunglasses
• a visor
• sunscreen
• first aid kit with Tylenol, Dramamine, bandaids, SPF chapstick, etc.
• light up toys and glow sticks for parades
• a fan that hangs around your neck
• poncho
• batteries
• extra toothbrush/toothpaste
• snack food that wouldn't melt: granola bars, mints, twizzlers, protein snacks, etc.
• a water bottle and the little single serve packets of ice tea and lemonade
• an All Star refillable mug
• and for the kids, I added autograph books, pens, crayons and a disney coloring book.

I shipped four boxes of these pre-filled backpacks to the AllStar,and handed them out on the night we arrived. They were a total surprise to everyone and they loved them. All the cousins still use their backpacks today.

Oooh! Fun idea! There are only six of us, but I think I'll do the same thing!

 

[tspann]

I've been reading this board for two days now (each and every post) and have made two pages of notes. What wonderful suggestions!!

I have some questions about mailng a box to the hotel and then home again which I am going to start another thread for. Don't want to get too far off topic here!

 

[Mickeyherewecome123]

I have been readying this all day on and off. Thank you all so much for posting these ideas.
I have a couple of ideas to add
-bring Lysol wipes to wipe down the hotel room I know Disney Resorts are always clean, but I am so anal, I wipe down door handles, the phone, bathroom faucets,, light switches, etc.
-I also found this website that has temporary tattoos for kids with emergency information on it Like if lost call mom (815)333-3333
Here is a link to it http://shop.tottoos.org/product.sc?categoryId=1&productId=8

 

[Dcanoli]

Those tatoos are really cool! I've never seen anything like them before.

Also, a cheaper alternative, and I think it was on The Mouse for Less' website, is ID cards. They print off on business card "paper."

We printed off several and each day, before we entered the Parks, I had each child put one in either their pants pocket or shoe (if no pocket available). Then, if they got seperated or loss, they could find a CM, and the card had our cell phone numbers and hotel information on it.

 

[Figment's Girl]

I have two things to add to this: (Sorry if they have been mentioned)

If the weather is mild but your kids are easily effected by coolness, bring a sweatshirt or long sleeve T. My last trip with DS in October was warm but he absolutely froze during Hoop de Doo. So much so that all he wanted to do was pull his arms into his shirt and not eat.

Second, think about bringing earplugs or something like that for kids. My DS absolutely loved the rides but he has sensitive hearing (We have this odd quirk in our family where one sense is always more acute then another. His is hearing, mine is smell, etc) and even rides as tame as Universe of Energy just killed him.

 

[mommy2aprincess4]

subbing

 

[dzneelvr]

1) I pack a dozen thick plastic hangers so our tops and shirts can dry in the room rather than wait through a dryer cycle in the laundry area
2) We use our Disney VISA all year long and receive $300+ in free money to spend at WDW any way we want
3) One more: I pack a small amount of our medicine cabinet "stuff" just in case someone comes down with a cough, sore throat, headache, cut, scrape, blister, etc. Sure beats shelling out huge $$ for them at the gift shops

 

[semo233]

I'm nervous about packing night light with a light bulb. I have used the glow sticks that are about 8" long and connected them around anythign that the kids might bump into. No need to find a plug either. I've used them for slumber parties and wrapped them around bannisters, etc. The next morning, you just toss them. If you are ordering these for the kids as well, you can get a big pack at Oriental Trading and use them for both night lights and bracelets/necklaces.

 

[sconnell]

I'm nervous about packing night light with a light bulb. I have used the glow sticks that are about 8" long and connected them around anythign that the kids might bump into. No need to find a plug either. I've used them for slumber parties and wrapped them around bannisters, etc. The next morning, you just toss them. If you are ordering these for the kids as well, you can get a big pack at Oriental Trading and use them for both night lights and bracelets/necklaces.

Hey, I have a LED nightlight that I just keep in my suitcase. It cost I think $1.50 at walmart. It's encased in a plastic thing that looks nicer and helps spread the light, but there's no glass to break. It's reusable and you can save those glowsticks for the kiddos!

 

[monymony3471]

Reading this thread is the best way to spend time when you have 300 days to go!

You can't read it enough. Sometimes you just overlook a great tip.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I buy those thin little wipes- I think they are called Handy-wipes or something. I cut them into smaller pieces and put dish soap on them and leave them on the counter to dry. When they dry I pack them in a ziplock. In the room, just add water and I have a little disposable dish wipe with soap to clean up a sippy cup or a refillable mug. They work great!

I did something similir to this in Sept. Instead of Handiwipes I just used paper towels. I think I read the tip on this thread awhile back (if not I know it was a tip somewhere ). Just spread out some paper towels, rub some dishwashing soap on your hands and make "soap" hand prints on the towels. After they dry, fold them up and put them in ziplocs. They work great!

 

[PLANNER88]

bump

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

Sorry if my tips have been mentioned:

As far as child ID, I had small dog tags engraved at Wal-Mart for like $2 each..it had my kids first name, my cell #, and my DH's cell #. Then we attached them to their shoes. Thank God we never lost a kid and needed them!

If you drive to the parks, and have a digital camera, take a picture of the sign saying what section you are in. There is nothing wrong than leaving after 8 hours in the MK and thinking...crap, were we in Mickey 10, or Daisy 21 (and then have it turn out you were really in Dopey 101!).

 

[mom_of_3_70737]

One thing I did last year was I washed all of the laundry before we left to come home. We are a family of 5 and sometimes wore multiple clothes each day so at the end of 8 days, that was TONS OF LAUNDRY! I brought detergent and oxy clean to spot clean some things in the room sink if they were stained from the day at the parks. At the end of the stay, on the last day before we checked out, I got up early around 6:45am and loaded everything up and drug (literally was dragging) the bags down to the laundry facility. I was the only one in there and was able to use all of the washers and dryers at the same time. It made washing everything very fast. I was done with it all in a little over an hour!!!!! The best part was it was clean and folded when we got home!!!!

 

[Wit]

Bumpity bump bump!

 

[Atotty]

One thing I did last year was I washed all of the laundry before we left to come home. We are a family of 5 and sometimes wore multiple clothes each day so at the end of 8 days, that was TONS OF LAUNDRY! I brought detergent and oxy clean to spot clean some things in the room sink if they were stained from the day at the parks. At the end of the stay, on the last day before we checked out, I got up early around 6:45am and loaded everything up and drug (literally was dragging) the bags down to the laundry facility. I was the only one in there and was able to use all of the washers and dryers at the same time. It made washing everything very fast. I was done with it all in a little over an hour!!!!! The best part was it was clean and folded when we got home!!!!

I do this, too. It's so wonderful when you get home and don't have to do all that laundry.

 

[sully7]

Thank you for this thread!!! I used it for our trip in Sept '06 and couldn't have done a good trip with out all the great tips.

This Sept we are redoing the trip (with the Free Dining!! ) I am thrilled that all the tips I need are still here! I can't remember them all but my faves are packing in ziploc bags and bringing an over the door shoeholder! Saved my life!!!

I can't wait to spend hours going over all the info! Started packing my Disney goodies box already!