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

[Scurvy]

Slightly OT
Dcanoli - Prices at Ikea are usually really good. I'm 3.5 hours away from the Atlanta one and I go there every time I go to Atlanta. We get all of our organizational stuff there, and it's also great for kitchen stuff, candles . . . all kind of things, really. There's even a cheap restaurant that's surprisingly good.

 

[Dcanoli]

Hmmm....maybe if I'm down there, I'll go, but I don't normally go into the city! Kind of scares me....

Is it IN downtown or on the outskirts?

 

[fakereadhed]

Organizational tips:
I make a spreadsheet at home with each day (vertically) and include park hours and EMH info. When we make our ADRs I put the conf # on there too. About a week or so before the trip I print out the spreadsheet, cut the days into separate strips and use my home laminator.

I do that too! Thought I was the only one with a "vertical" spread sheet.

My best organizational tip: Get an Owner's Locker! It keeps me from having all of my Disney stuff in a pile in the bottom of my closet all year, and makes it simple to travel with carry on only now that all the airlines are charging for checked baggage.

 

[fakereadhed]

Thanks! I would never think of Ikea as being the cheapest in town--more like a dollar store or Target or Wal-Mart.

I'll go check those links now.

Also saw a hanging toiletry bag last time I was there that looked like a cheaper version of llbean.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40084253

 

[janiebegood]

Hello! I'm about halfway through reading the entire thread! Great ideas -- I'm saving my favorites in a Word file.

My tip is Johnson's Baby Head-to-Toe Washcloths, which you can buy at various stores --I've found them at Kroger and Walgreen's. You can also buy them for $3.99 for a box of 14 from Drugstore.com by putting "Johnson's Baby Head-to-Toe Washcloths" in the search form.

These are pre-soaped disposable washcloths. They're great for trips because it's one less liquid to carry. I usually put however many I need in a sandwich-size ziploc. They weigh almost nothing and can't spill -- the perfect thing for a trip with a kid!

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

IKEA is the best!! Now, I wouldn't buy lifelong furniture there, but my decorating finger gets itchy so often it's not a big deal. Check them out, you won't regret it!! Everyone I've taken there has become an addict. Our closest one is three hours away, but we try to make it down once every couple months.

 

[chi chi]

when the kids were little, and we were still at home the week before the trip, I'd have them write thank you notes to mousekeeping. We'd make a thank you note for each day of our trip, go ahead and put them in the envelope with some money, and seal them. That way, we'd have them in our suitcase and we were prepared to leave the mousekeeper a tip each day we were there.

We do the same, however, I print out a Thank You with a Disney character on it on labels for mousekeeping and place the labels on the envelopes. The kids, now grandkids , get to put the envelope out each day and sign it. I wonder last trip what mousekeeping thought when the signatures were written by a 3 and 5 year old.

 

[janiebegood]

I love this idea. I printed out Ariel "stationery" yesterday and my rising first grader got to practice her writing by writing out "Thank you for cleaning our room!" on the page. We'll add some money and put the envelopes away until it's time for the trip. There, one thing accomplished!

 

[Scurvy]

Hmmm....maybe if I'm down there, I'll go, but I don't normally go into the city! Kind of scares me....

Is it IN downtown or on the outskirts?

It's really close to Georgia Tech, somewhere around 16th Street I think. It's not far off of I75. (The traffic in the area scares me, but my husband drives through there! )

 

[lcuktsao]

You're very welcome! The prices were a pleasant surprise for me as well! Finding it (and other small items) can be a challenge though. If you haven't gone yet ... the shoe organizers were located near storage boxes at our store.

Sorry for the late reply ... been off-line for a while ... happy to be leaving for WDW in less than 60 days, but also stressing out about my growing to-do list

Thanks! I would never think of Ikea as being the cheapest in town--more like a dollar store or Target or Wal-Mart.

I'll go check those links now.

 

[4forMe]

This has been a very helpful thread. Thanks to all who have posted tips.

I was wondering how all of you organize the paperwork you bring re: ADR's, daily itinerary, etc. I have all that plus maps, directions, rental house info, flight info, car rental info, etc. etc. I've never brought this much paperwork on a vacation before! Any tips for storing/organizing this paperwork? I really did not want to have to bring a bulky binder. Thanks.

 

[jshelley]

It's really close to Georgia Tech, somewhere around 16th Street I think. It's not far off of I75. (The traffic in the area scares me, but my husband drives through there! )

It is in Atlantic Station which is off 17th street exit, just north of
Georgia Tech. I haven't been down to it, but everyone says it is nice
and fun. Traffic down there has been such a mess with all the repaving activity at night and on the weekend.
If you go any time soon, check for traffic warnings first.

Julie

 

[mrs.explorer1977]

This has been a very helpful thread. Thanks to all who have posted tips.

I was wondering how all of you organize the paperwork you bring re: ADR's, daily itinerary, etc. I have all that plus maps, directions, rental house info, flight info, car rental info, etc. etc. I've never brought this much paperwork on a vacation before! Any tips for storing/organizing this paperwork? I really did not want to have to bring a bulky binder. Thanks.

I printed our ADRs and reservation numbers onto a 4x6 index card (just threw it through the printer in the same spot the photo paper goes and brought a copy with us EVERYWHERE. I also had a folder with the big pieces of paper -- plane tickets, airport hotel reservation, ME info etc. It had a flap with velcro on in, so it kept everything together, which was nice, and I just slipped it into our diaperbag when we didn't need it while we were in transit to the resort.

HTH!

 

[janiebegood]

This has been a very helpful thread. Thanks to all who have posted tips.

I was wondering how all of you organize the paperwork you bring re: ADR's, daily itinerary, etc. I have all that plus maps, directions, rental house info, flight info, car rental info, etc. etc. I've never brought this much paperwork on a vacation before! Any tips for storing/organizing this paperwork? I really did not want to have to bring a bulky binder. Thanks.

I just bought a folder/portfolio at the $1 spot at Target -- it has five compartments and it has a loop closure to keep things from falling out. It's perfect for 8.5" x 11" sheets. My Birnbaum guides (both adult and kid) also fit in it. It's a little heavy, but I plan to check it anyway, so...

I'm planning to print out each day's itinerary(including ADRs, confirmation #s, park hours, transportation info, etc) on half a page and get it laminated and keep it in my bag, and leave copies of allllll that in the portfolio in the room.

 

[4forMe]

I printed our ADRs and reservation numbers onto a 4x6 index card (just threw it through the printer in the same spot the photo paper goes and brought a copy with us EVERYWHERE. I also had a folder with the big pieces of paper -- plane tickets, airport hotel reservation, ME info etc. It had a flap with velcro on in, so it kept everything together, which was nice, and I just slipped it into our diaperbag when we didn't need it while we were in transit to the resort.

HTH!

Thank you! What great suggestions. I even already have an envelope with the velcro flap - my son used it for school last year. This is exactly the kind of info. I was looking for. Thanks again!

 

[4forMe]

I'm planning to print out each day's itinerary(including ADRs, confirmation #s, park hours, transportation info, etc) on half a page and get it laminated and keep it in my bag, and leave copies of allllll that in the portfolio in the room.

I had not thought about getting my pages laminated - great idea also. Thank you!

 

[thelionqueen]

bump

 

[exwdwcm]

We printed out the daily itenerary, including ADRs on index cards and laminated them, then put them together on a key ring and each person got a copy. That way everyone knew the plan (this was a party of 7 adults and one child) and what to expect next. we plan out all of our meals and a general time frame for each morning park and afternoon park and the time for our midday break. it is just easier to have a plan with a group that size or you waste too much time deciding on the fly.

so everyone loved their itenerary on a keychain. it included our flight times and other info too.

i also buy a cheap portfolio thing with sections at target in the $1 section for my stuff too.

 

[SunshineOR]

For those of you struggling with your m&m container lids, I'd recommend a switch. I always use Airborne containers for my quarters and have never had a problem with the lid. The lid also has a nice "squisher" on the top that holds the quarters and keeps them from jingling and rattling.

 

[Dcanoli]

What a great idea!

NO ONE has ever mentioned this! I may add this "secret" to the secrets thread!

Plus, you get the added bonus of getting Airborne instead of M&Ms!

We are leaving in two days for a quick "outside-the-parks" business trip w/my husband.

I was just about to go and buy some mini-M&Ms today! Thanks for this tip! LOVE IT! (Of course, my kids will HATE it!)