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

[Cynsational]

To the person wondering about carrying a stool with them, I have one the EZ Foldz Folding Step Stool (search for that on google - hardware stores carry it) this in my bathroom at home. Very lightweight, folds easily, easy to carry and super strong. Could easily fit in a carry-on if you wanted. Our local hardware store had it.

Re: lost cameras. A Photojojo contributor had a great piece on storing information on a protected portion of your SD cards. In the event that he accidentally leaves it behind, he created special picture-messages specifically to be found by anyone snooping through his camera’s memory. The article is here: photojojo. com / content /tips / recover-lost-cameras/ (take out the spaces for the url - I'm too new to post links).

 

[catgirl]

I bring the large command hanger and use them on the connecting door in the hotel room. Gives you additional hanging space for towels, jackets, etc. By hanging them on metal door, you don't need to worry about damaging the walls. Magna Doodles are also great things to bring into the parks. If you buy the type with a clip on it, they can be attached to strollers or back packs, etc. They are great for keeping the kids entertained. Can draw on them, play games such as hangman, tic tac toe, etc.

 

[shreyas]

This is a really excellent read for me. Must admit that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw. Thanks for posting this informative article.

Sweepstakes

 

[thelionqueen]

I cannot believe this thread is going on 4 years old!!
I have used many of these tips ove the years, and I hope they continue to help others!
Keep em' coming!!!

 

[cissy]

How great that this has been going on so long. It has been a few years since we went, but a few things were lifesavers for us (sorry if they have been mentioned already)

1. stack your penny press money in m-n-m tubes so you will have it handy. Bring two or three tubes but carry just one a day due to weight.

2. if renting a stroller, bring a couple of those stroller hangers and keep a canvas catch all bag on it with all the extra stuff you may need but don't want to carry on rides. (extra socks, sun screen, wipes, etc.) But make sure the bag handles are not too long or the bag will hit the back of the wheels!!!

3. if renting a stroller, take some clothes pins so you can attach the park map to the top which will save you more time than you realize. AND it really helps identify your stroller when it gets moved.

4. Glow sticks. Go get them and have enough to share with some of the kids around you. Pay it forward on this one cause it is cheap and other parents will bless you for saving them the $$.

5. Before you go to bed, lay out whatever you will need in the morning so you can get up and go!!

6. The shoe organizer is the BEST thing you will take.

7. Shipping a box down with another folded up in it will be the second best thing you take. We sent ahead....small boxes of cereal, plastic bowls and utensils, glow sticks and small gifts, lanyards, costumes, coats (we went in December), our catch it all bag, clothespins, ponchos, shoe organizer, etc. We used the second box to ship home souvenirs. It is dirt cheap and saved us paying ridiculous airline fees.

8. Organize your mousekeepers tip in separate envelopes before you go so you will have it handy to leave out every morning.


Finally, one of the best things we did was ask grandparents to give the kids disney gift cards for their birthdays and holiday gifts. Not only did it save us from having to buy a lot of stuff oop, but it taught them a great lesson on how to manage the money. We paid for the trip and the meal plan but they had to pay for any extra's like souvenirs and special snacks. What an amazing lesson for them, even at ages 5 and 6. Both of them came home with money left on their cards.

 

[BeadyLady]

If you need an easier way to save the memory cards from your cameras; just take a picture of your information ; name, address, reward, etc as a picture and hope at least the memory is mailed back.

 

[calderli]

If you need an easier way to save the memory cards from your cameras; just take a picture of your information ; name, address, reward, etc as a picture and hope at least the memory is mailed back.

I would highly recomend doing this. I had my camera stolen in August on our trip to WDW and we lost all the pictures that were on the memory card. Many memories lost.... I will definately be doing this (plus never taking the camera off my neck) on our next trip.

 

[BeadyLady]

I would highly recomend doing this. I had my camera stolen in August on our trip to WDW and we lost all the pictures that were on the memory card. Many memories lost.... I will definitely be doing this (plus never taking the camera off my neck) on our next trip.

So sorry to hear this, how can anyone be so rotten in such a happy place?

Do you have the wrist strap for the new camera? Around my neck drives me crazy.

 

[AmandaLee]

What's a good way to carry around a SLR camera? My DH bought me a reallly nice Olympus, but I really don't have an efficient way to carry it...is there a good bag I should look at?

 

[disneymarie]

Ds uses a D hook for his cam corder, I am not sure about the bouncing around though. I use a bagelinni over the shoulder/hip so I can just reach in.

 

[disneymarie]

I know lots of people have listed the over the door shoe organizer, but we haven't gotten very much use out of it. DH and I always just put our stuff back in our toiletry bags when we're done.

What I HAVE gotten a lot of use out of was one or two of the hanging sweater organizers (or shoe) for the closet. I use them to store stuff I don't necessarily want in the floor, and I don't usually like to use the drawers in hotels. I always take them on cruises, too.

That is what I use also;with the shevles I can put about anything including the cosmetic bag. His and Hers, the dd's

Instead of cluttering up the table tops and counter everything fits in it and stores flat to take.
Mine came with my Huggable Hangers, but I saw the kids and others at Walmart.

 

[disneymarie]

Well I haven't been there yet but there are some awesome ideas on here I'm going to use.

One thing I am doing is I have a 3 ring binder that has the sleeve in the front so I printed out some Disney pictures and put our name and dates we're going. Inside I printed out all our boarding passes, our Disney confirmation package, all our dining reservations, phone #s to all the services we'll be using, stroller rental etc...so I will toss it in my carry on and have it all there if we need to look something up and tear out the reservation sheets the days we need them and stuff them in my pocket just in case...just make sure you black out and credit card info so you can safely leave it in the room while at the parks etc...my DD4 thinks this book is so neat to look at. I will print out park maps and resort maps as well and I also have a sheet printed out of all the parks magical hours and what days we're going where...

Someone have the Disney Link to create free maps and Iteneray?
I found my dd had loved planning hers and having it sent ahead of time.

 

[rootbeer momma]

gotta go buy my ziploc baggies so i can start packing now!

 

[foxyroxy40]

my tip is bring aluminum foil we use this to wrap up our water bottels keep them cold longer and keeps are stuff dry

 

[njgeneral]

There are a few things that I absolutely love. For the kids, I love the washcloths with soap already in them. I put them in a Ziploc and this can go in our carry on. I also carry with me the small individual pack of wipes because you can never have too many. If you are renting a car, I try my best to buy toiletries down there when we grocery shop. If you are going to a national chain, the prices are the same. This was you may be able to carry on your bags.

The biggest thing I love...... the cereal that is in the individual bowls. I packed these in September when I when with my DD. They are perfect for the plane or at the hotel room and you do not have to dirty any dishes.

One more thing that rocks... there is a product by Smuckers called Goober. It is a Peanut butter and Jelly mix. It comes in one jar and totally rocks for PB & J sandwiches. We made these everyday for the kids and they loved them. It avoids buying 2 jars of the ingredients and if you don't have freezer room, it takes the place of uncrustables!

 

[tncplace]

I found some 3M brand sponges with soap already in them today at Wal-mart in the camping section. Great find for cleaning out the refillable mugs.

 

[BeadyLady]

What's a good way to carry around a SLR camera? My DH bought me a reallly nice Olympus, but I really don't have an efficient way to carry it...is there a good bag I should look at?

I agree with DisneyMarie - I just use a larger bag as I need to carry more than just a camera; then on the wet rides I know the camera is in my zip top bag.

 

[nettii]

.

7. Shipping a box down with another folded up in it will be the second best thing you take. We sent ahead....small boxes of cereal, plastic bowls and utensils, glow sticks and small gifts, lanyards, costumes, coats (we went in December), our catch it all bag, clothespins, ponchos, shoe organizer, etc. We used the second box to ship home souvenirs. It is dirt cheap and saved us paying ridiculous airline fees.

.

How did you ship your box back?

 

[MagicMomentsMom]

Wow! Great tips. I have a whole page of things to look for/buy at discount stores!

We are taking our 7 children to WDW in December so I am trying to find inexpensive treats! Does anyone know where you can get the spinning lights that you get at Disney? Do you happen to know how much they cost at the park? I saw some spinning globe type lights at Wal-mart. I wanted to get them a treat before we went. We do not really buy souvenirs since there are so many of us.

Does anyone have any other trip making secrets that would make the little ones have the time of their lives? (at a lower cost than disney has).

Thanks! Michele

watch the walgreens clearance sections after each holiday--they have tons of disney stuff and it clearances out super cheap. After christmas I got buzz lightyear spinny toy for 50 cents. Did the same thing last year and bought when stuff went on clearance and I had 2 boxes (way too much for the trip) of goodies for DD. So I saved them and put them in her stocking and when the birthday fairy came this year! Oh and target sometimes has the light spinny things too, i got those on clearance last summer/fall--a tink one and a minnie one.

 

[alyssa1027]

There are some great tips on here. Does anyone have any advice as to how to pack your favorite perfume without bringing the bottle with you? Thanks