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

[chimneyman2000]

Great info!

 

[taylor5]

I saw the coolest little thing at wal-mart in the automotive accessory aisle. They have this tiny little multi-tool that fits on your keychain! Some of them are about the size of a key, some are heavier, lighter, bigger, smaller, more tools, less tools, etc.

I thought these would be handy to take with you for surprise tool emergencies (i.e. putting batteries in all those toys for one)

 

[timzagain]

I saw the coolest little thing at wal-mart in the automotive accessory aisle. They have this tiny little multi-tool that fits on your keychain! Some of them are about the size of a key, some are heavier, lighter, bigger, smaller, more tools, less tools, etc.

I thought these would be handy to take with you for surprise tool emergencies (i.e. putting batteries in all those toys for one)

I always pack a small multi-tool or penknife just for that purpose. I nearly got myself in trouble once - I accidentally dropped the penknife in my carry on luggage and had to ditch it at the security checkpoint. Airport security suggested that I could have gone to the Post Office to mail it home, but I would have run the risk of missing my flight and paying exhorbitant fees to change my ticket.

After that experience, I always made sure to pack a dollar store penknife instead. My DH was not impressed when he learned that I had to jettison his nice, expensive little knife!

A few months ago, I checked the TSA guidelines and the rules have been relaxed a bit. Apparently, you can travel with a sharp object in carry-on luggage, if the blade is less than 4 inches long. DH will be quite relieved - he feels so lost without a multi-tool you'd swear it was his third arm!

 

[nettii]

I love the pop up hamper and I bring tooth brush holder, I also LOVE the ziplocks!(Life savers)


But my favorite organizational thing to bring is little fabric baskets. They are square and lie flat, they have ties on each corner so you can tie it up to a square fabric basket. I always bring them on vacation! We always have loose stuff from our pockets and back packs it just helps me keep organized!Nettii

 

[tracipierce]

So glad that this thread is back, I loved it on my last trip, got tons of ideas!!!

Just a heads up to those who were looking for tiny bottles of dishwashing liquid, I got a little bottle for our last trip and there's till enough left for our coming trip, from http://www.minimus.biz/ they stock every possible miniature/trial size product you can think of. I ordered tons of stuff as well as a welcome pack of snacks and had them sent straight to the resort, it worked out great for us.

Happy planning everyone :

 

[Micka Mouse]

subbing

 

[Rozzy]

So glad that this thread is back, I loved it on my last trip, got tons of ideas!!!

Just a heads up to those who were looking for tiny bottles of dishwashing liquid, I got a little bottle for our last trip and there's till enough left for our coming trip, from {minimus website link} they stock every possible miniature/trial size product you can think of. I ordered tons of stuff as well as a welcome pack of snacks and had them sent straight to the resort, it worked out great for us.

Happy planning everyone :

We are leaving in 30 days for our 5 night WDW whirlwind, so I have been reading reading reading all of these incredible ideas that have been shared over the past 3 years...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING

This website , however, made me absolutely giddy!! I literally giggled with glee while looking at all the little individual sized products they have to offer! I can't wait to place my order and get it sent directly to The Contemporary Resort.

My Mickey Ears off to you and to everyone else for sharing such valuable information with us all!

Roz

 

[lovesdumbo]

We are leaving in 30 days for our 5 night WDW whirlwind, so I have been reading reading reading all of these incredible ideas that have been shared over the past 3 years...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING

This website , however, made me absolutely giddy!! I literally giggled with glee while looking at all the little individual sized products they have to offer! I can't wait to place my order and get it sent directly to The Contemporary Resort.

My Mickey Ears off to you and to everyone else for sharing such valuable information with us all!

Roz

I've used minimus several times and had great service from them. I've ordered toiletries and snacks. They do a great job packing all the toiletries in plastic away from the food items. BUT....they are on the west coast so I would place your order about 2 weeks before your trip to be sure it is waiting for your when you arrive.

 

[Rozzy]

I've used minimus several times and had great service from them. I've ordered toiletries and snacks. They do a great job packing all the toiletries in plastic away from the food items. BUT....they are on the west coast so I would place your order about 2 weeks before your trip to be sure it is waiting for your when you arrive.

Thanks for letting me know. I'll place my order this week Looks like we'll both be in the World at the same time! Have fun too

 

[tracipierce]

We are leaving in 30 days for our 5 night WDW whirlwind, so I have been reading reading reading all of these incredible ideas that have been shared over the past 3 years...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING

This website , however, made me absolutely giddy!! I literally giggled with glee while looking at all the little individual sized products they have to offer! I can't wait to place my order and get it sent directly to The Contemporary Resort.

My Mickey Ears off to you and to everyone else for sharing such valuable information with us all!

Roz

Glad to have helped Roz!!! Aren't the mini product adorable
glad you had fun, have a great trip

 

[lovesdumbo]

Thanks for letting me know. I'll place my order this week Looks like we'll both be in the World at the same time! Have fun too

I don't think I would order this early. I have found that 2 weeks out is just about right-it takes about 10 days to get to WDW so that means the package arrives about 3 days before me. I wouldn't want it hanging around for 2 weeks before me-seems like it could get lost at the resort.

Have a great trip! Maybe we'll be on the monorail together. I hope it warms up here in Massachusetts. I've been to WDW several times in August and always seem to do OK in the heat because it is hot at home too. I went to Disney in May and it was unseasonably warm there (98) and really cold (40) at home-that temp change was really rough.

 

[VBAndrea]

Great thread! Of course I am staying up late reading through all of it.

One little tip on getting free samples is to go to Walmart's web site and
go to the "In Stores Now" section and see what they have to offer for free samples. Start doing it right away to get a variety of products in time for your planned trips.
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples-And-Trials.aspx
I've gotten free shampoo samples, wipes, etc. Often it's just a one time use thing, but still every little freebie helps. You have to always fill out name/address etc and a few little questions, but it's simple and fast.

And as for the contact lens solution, please just go to your eye care practioner and ask for a sample solution kit. Don't just fill your case and reuse it as the last thing anyone needs on vacation is an eye infection. Also, one day disposable lenses are awesome for traveling, which is what I usually do.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

I use cups from the coffee/water station in the hotel room as toothbrush holders--if it's a motel with light plastic cups that will tip over easily I put the mini toiletries (shampoo/lotion/bar soap) in the cup to weigh it down.
**But** I always put our toothbrushes back into the travel cases before we leave for the day--God knows the germs that will get wiped or sprayed onto them when housekeeping is rushing around by the sink!
Brilliant idea boomersmom on taking pump hand soap--I put a bottle in my permanent travel case! Thank you!

 

[momsavealot]

Great thread! Of course I am staying up late reading through all of it.

One little tip on getting free samples is to go to Walmart's web site and
go to the "In Stores Now" section and see what they have to offer for free samples. Start doing it right away to get a variety of products in time for your planned trips.
http://instoresnow.walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples-And-Trials.aspx
I've gotten free shampoo samples, wipes, etc. Often it's just a one time use thing, but still every little freebie helps. You have to always fill out name/address etc and a few little questions, but it's simple and fast.

And as for the contact lens solution, please just go to your eye care practioner and ask for a sample solution kit. Don't just fill your case and reuse it as the last thing anyone needs on vacation is an eye infection. Also, one day disposable lenses are awesome for traveling, which is what I usually do.

Great site! I just signed up for all the free samples and saved it as a favorite!!

 

[santa's surpriz]

I like to bring those collapsible cubes, they work out great to put on a dresser or shelf to keep organized and they are nice for the flight home bc I can put souviners and momentos that I don't want crushed or crumpled in the luggage.

 

[santa's surpriz]

I have read this entire thread and have a handy Word document with tons of tips on it. And so I wanted to add one that I don’t remember seeing.

My DS11 wears glasses and as you can guess, they get filthy. I don’t like to carry around even the small bottles of cleaner but wiping them on regular cloth doesn’t always work. Wal-mart carries individually wrapped glass wipes especially for glasses (No chemicals that could damage any coatings). I don’t remember exactly how much a box was but I think we got like 24 for $4 or less. I throw a few in our bag and use them on his glasses or our sunglasses if needed.

I have done the same thing, I created a word doc with tips and info from various sites organized it by category, it's about 40 pages...then a co- worker asked me if I had any tips bc she was planning to her firs trip...I was so excited to share but I quickly became known as the Disney freak among my peers at work! I still get harassed about that and it was 2 years ago! Now if any one knows any one who is going they always come to me!

 

[TikiGoddess07]

Okay, it took me all night, but I finally made it to the end of the thread! Great tips, all!! I copied many of them to my ever-expanding excel file.

My only tip.... and not even an organizational one... last trip we wrote a note from Tinkerbell for the girls to find once we arrived in our hotel room. It basically said that she had stolen some of Hook's treasure and hidden it in our room. We had hidden some chocolate coins all about... and did this every morning. It got the kids out of bed quickly!

Kathy

 

[Targsmom]

http://www.minimus.biz/

zomg! This is the best site ever!!!!!

 

[TikiGoddess07]

Another organizational tip --

I'm always forgetting things to bring to the parks, so I plan on making a morning list to check off (as suggested by a previous poster). Included in stroller bag: water bottles, mini mister fans, sunscreen, antibac gel, tissues, snacks, and gum. Carrying: phone, room key, credit card, and camera case.

But I'm also making a 'pack' of things that we (hopefully) won't be using but should bring. I found some plastic curtain bags (you know, the see through ones that bedding and curtains come in, with zippers). In one I put our stroller cover, 5 ponchos, first aid items, ziplocs, shout wipes, glasses wipes, a change of clothes, and a chamois. This will go under one of our strollers. Easy to carry and waterproof -- and we won't have to repack it all every morning, just add to it if we took something out the previous day. Plus since it fits under the seat of our umbrella stroller, it won't tip it over.

Kathy

 

[Jenn4615]

subbing