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

[nettii]

I always bring the free samples from mags. or dept. store. but I have a friend who saturates a cotton ball and puts it in a zip lock.

 

[alyssa1027]

I always bring the free samples from mags. or dept. store. but I have a friend who saturates a cotton ball and puts it in a zip lock.

Thanks. The cottonball sounds like a great idea since I only stick with the same perfume.

 

[Disneysnel]

I haven't finished reading all the way through yet but have found some WONDERFUL tips here - Thank you all!

Here's mine (sorry if these have already been listed):
At Walmart they have one of those thirsty towels like a Shamwow that comes in it's own plastic container (in the automotive section) - very handy for cleaning up wet benches or after a water ride! Especially useful if you are going during the rainy season.

Even if you are not using a participating airline for check in at the front desk they will still weigh your bags for you - very useful if your not sure and saves having to moving things around at the airport.

Purchase a big rubbermaid container with a lid for when you get home to put all your travel stuff in and throw in this years packing list - so next time you start packing you are already halfway there.

Please never take shortcuts through bushes, or let your children play in them - there are lots of snakes and creepy crawlies in them, this goes for tree roots and rocks as well!!

Have a safe and happy trip!

 

[MamaJessie]

http://www.trypurex.com

Link to a free sample of the purex sheets, which can't leak

 

[Berta]

...this wasn't already mentioned: Medium weight rubber bands. Freeze the water bottles overnite. Wrap a clean washcloth around the frozen bottle, secure with the rubberbands. Place in day pack for park. As the bottle defrosts, the washcloth absorbs the sweat, your backpack stays dry, the water stays cooler much longer, and you also have a cool cloth to wipe your wrists and back of your neck with!

Rinse and squeeze dry a washcloth. Place in a ziplock bag, and freeze over nite. Toss in backpack in the morning, and you'll have a cool cloth for most of the day!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[SuzySparkle]

How about the poor man's laminating: Packing Tape.

Can't believe someone put this suggestion!!! My daughter went to school dressed as a Dentist for Career Day and that is EXACTLY what I did to "laminate" the photo showing teeth and when they come in/fall out!!! I normally use the self-sticking laminating sheets, but I was out.

 

[Spoonful_Of_Sugar]

Take a picture of your parking spot/section that way at the end of a long day you don't have to run around looking for your car.

 

[SuzySparkle]

I just finished reading this entire thread from beginning to end. AMAZING tips and so glad to have gotten them all.

We are taking our daughters (one-week-past-7 and just-turned-4) to WDW for their first time and can't wait to share the magic that is Disney!!! We're staying at POP and I wondered if anyone knew whether or not you could store under-bed bins beneath the beds. I know some hotels have frames that touch the floor, so I wasn't sure what was possible.

Thanks!!!
Susan

 

[cheyandrew7]

When do you start packing and when do you start buying things for your trip we are going in march 2011 i know its to early to start now?

 

[momminnie]

No! No! it is never to early to do anything to get ready for a trip to Disney!The sooner the better I say!

 

[alexensmom]

Ok, I've posted this before but I can't remember if it was here or not. So, just in case! My DMIL gave us sponges that were soaked with dishsoap that had dried. I was reading about the much missed Palmolive towels and I thought I would suggest this instead. She even cut them into Mickey heads! That way, we didn't have to take down any liquid soap and we could wash up plates, spoons, and sippy cups for DS.

I've also found giant (I mean giant!) ziplock bags recently at our Dollar Tree. They come in L, XL, and XXL. I'm sure someone already mentioned those too, but we use them for everything. Packing, toys, swim stuff. I used one the other day to keep a cake from drying out that was on a tall cakeplate. Way faster than foil and the whole cake was covered.

DH and I take a handful of clothesline type clamps to hang a towel over the vent. They were from Ace and came in a giant tube for $3.99 for around 25, all sorts of sizes. It seems like the air would blow right on to the bed and we wake up with sore throats. This way, it still keeps the room cool but goes straight down instead. They also helped keep a stroller cover down in the back.

We use hooks with suction cups to hang the suits in the shower so they don't leave water all over the bathroom floor.

We bought a waterproof carrier that keeps our keys, cash, and cell phone totally dry. That way, we can leave the bag behind without risking the important stuff. DH just puts it in the zippered pocket of his suit.

I did read way back in the beginning of the thread someone that said they used the icebucket for a bathroom caddy. I know the last ice bucket we used had dirt and dust in it, so I'll pack my fold down shower bag instead. And, at the risk of sharing too much, I used one for a morning sickness receptacle instead of not making it to the bathroom. I just threw it away and said someone took it while I was getting ice. I don't think they believed the story, but that's ok.

I dont go to a hotel without Lysol spray. One travel size takes care of door handles, phone, remotes, sink, toilet and bathtub. And now......the ice bucket. Im not really a germaphobe, but my DS2 is all boy and does the strangest things....as I just caught him licking the patio window

 

[Julia Says]

I have read all 53 pages of this thread over the last couple of days... whew! I don't have any tips to offer yet, but I've just requested several detergent samples, and plan to pack my kiddos' clothes in ziploc bags. We're going in August, so their shorts and t-shirts/tank tops should fit easily. Also planning to pack a sweater organizer for the closet (which is how I store ds#2's clothes at home!).

Thank you all for the great tips! Hopefully I'll have some to add eventually!

 

[saffron1000]

Great tips!!!! The Lysol wipes will be a MUST for me. I find hotel rooms a little icky. Still looking for a cheap over the door shoe rack.

 

[snowpixiemn]

I've read all the entries for this post and wanted to let you know of one more use for your ziploc bags. Put the tv remote in one once you get there, who knows how many dirty germy hands have touched it before you.

 

[Girlpower]

Here's what I'm planning to do for baby's meals. I'm going to put together one large ziploc bag for each day of our trip. Each bag will have:

• Snack size ziplocs with pre-portioned infant cereal
• Baby jars required for the day (probably 2 veggies and 1 fruit)
• 3 spoons
• 3 disposable bibs
• 3 disposable placemats
• Empty plastic bowl (or I might just use cups/bowls from restaurants)

I'm going to assemble these before leaving home. Each morning I'll just grab a large ziploc, and I'll have baby's food for the day.

 

[hcoker1]

We just returned from WDW and used some ideas found here. The pop up hamper from the dollar store was GREAT! It meant that we could put the suitcases away and the dirty clothes went in the hamper in the corner. We also have the over the door shoe rack since our last cruise and that worked well too.
I printed off business card sized itineraries for all of the adults for each day. They had the park hours, special things to look for and our ADR confirmation numbers and times. I laminated them all with the business card lamination from the dollar store and hung them on a binder ring. They were really handy since they clipped to my shoulder bag.

 

[Mama of Triplets]

Just a idea for the kids... I am always so nervous that one of the kids will "get away from us" I have seen that people write on the kids arms, in their shoes and everything with all info that may be needed to find you.
I just bought a pack of key tags they sorta look like little luggage tags the kind that has the piece of paper that can slide out. I write our cell numbers on the paper then use the key ring to loop it onto their pant belt loops.
It makes me feel much better!


I also LOVE the pop up hamper!! Saves so much space!
We also like to use these baskets that were meant to go inside of a locker they have a magnet on the back side and stick to the doors. We put in car keys, room keys, and anything else little we need to grab on our way out the door.

 

[shutterbug3070]

Today, I was at Toys R Us and while checking out I saw DW character bags such as Mickey Mouse & Friends and Toy Story. I don't remember what the other ones were. I got both versions of MM. We are going to use one for the activity bag in the motor home and one to hang on our door for "Mickey Mouse" to visit each night and leave the goodies he brings. These bags were only $1.99 each! Thank goodness my DS wanted to ride the Mickey Mouse car they have there or I wouldn't have seen them because they were past the checkout.

 

[byrdangel]

i just read the whole thread and have taken tons of notes...i don't have anything to add..YET...but just wanted to say THANKS to everyone for sharing their tips...

 

[ginnymack]

I always end up taking up a ton of room for my "just in case" meds for both adults and kids (advil, jr advil, mucinex, immodium, bonine, zyrtec, children's zyrtec, rolaids, & other cough & cold stuff) I found a GREAT little bead storage container in the craft dept at Walmart - basically a cylinder where the 1st container served as the top for the 2nd container and so on. It has a total of 6 compartments, but you can add more on. I pulled out my label maker and labeled each compartment and put the meds in the appropriate spot. I cut out the label off of the box, wrote the expiration on the back and also tucked it into the container. If the tablets/capsules did not fill the container, I tucked in a cotton ball to take up the extra space. Now, I can save a TON of space in my bag, plus I have everything ready to go for any trip (even an overnight) and I can refill as needed!