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

[SalandJeff]

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!

Love this idea. I also carry all those just in case meds. It is a great suggestion. I am assuming that because you also have the labels, you have no trouble going through airport security???

I also have a very small advil bottle (the size you get like 20 in). I put a few of each med in it and carry it in my small bag I bring to the parks (I keep it in my purse at home too).

Keep the great ideas coming!

 

[DISdreamin']

I don't know if this has been posted, but my favorite thing we did was bring down half-page sized pieces of cardstock pre-printed for each child that had the day and date on it and said "My favorite thing today was:"

We had the kids fill them out each night (obviously we helped DD) and then when we got home, I used those and pictures we took to make scrapbooks for each of them. They still love looking at them and remembering everything, and it really helped me decide which things to put in each of their scrapbooks. They LOVED taking the scrapbooks for show-and-tell once we got home!

 

[amitseo]

Very nice information post on your blog. I got very nice and useful tips. Thanks for sharing. We will look forward for your future updates.

 

[alexensmom]

I like to take Plug-Ins. The plug that holds two scent inserts does the trick.

 

[PiperPizzaz]

I have bins like these all over my house. I have one up on the shelf in my closet labeled vacation and I can just throw things in there.

I have all our cooling things like neck ties, spray fans and also pool rings stuff like that. It has made it so easy the last couple of trips. I don't have to hunt all over the house and worry that I am forgetting something.



My Disney organizing has actually paid off at home too. I have an over the door hanger in our coat closet since I used one at the hotel and it is full of either summer stuff like sunglasses, ball caps, sun screen etc. or mitten, scarves and hats. The off season stuff goes in a bin up in my linen closet.

 

[Berta]

One thing that really helped was to put glow bracelets in my dd4's shoes. She actually did this herself just playing around. She put two glow bracelets into the velcro part of her shoes. It was always easy to find those, whereas the ones on her arm might be out of view if she was facing the other direction.

We had DD wear one as an ANKLE bracelet...easier to see...

Also consider making up a ID card for your child...Name, Resort, Dates , Parent's Name, cell phone # & medical info. Have your child keep it in their shoe or pocket and teach them to show it to a cast member (white name tags ONLY) if "Mom or Dad" gets lost...and take a pix of your child everyday with your cellphone camera...much easier to show the pix than to recall what they are wearing if you're separated (been there, done that! Longest 5 minutes of my life...DD was 4 and used her card exactly how we had taught her, thank God!)

 

[tinkerbell198530]

I bought a buch of zip lock badges to store everything

 

[kchughes]

My best organizational tips: quart and gallon size ziplocks. Although I don't pack each outfit in one, I find multiple uses for them. Over the door shoe hanging thingy with about 20 pockets and then a more shelf type/sweater over the rod hanging thingy. Since we drive, I have a large rubbermaid type bin that I put things like light spinners, autograph books, and whatever else my child accumulated during a prior trip and is bored with in a month. Through the year I throw in samples of laundry detergent and fabric softener that I get free or really cheap, cheapy ponchos, etc. the whole thing goes in the car. We then use it as our laundry hamper. I also ALWAYS take Febreeze spray. We keep it in the car on the drive down and then have it in our room. I also keep a 6 outlet power strip in that box.

 

[katytrott]

We are a ziplock packing family too. I put a days worth of clothing (socks, undies, shirt, shorts) in each baggie and write on the outside who's it is, what's in it, and sometimes even what day it is for (if I need a certain outfit for a certain event). then I squeeze the air out, zip it up, and put it in the suitcase. By doing this I can fit 10 outifts per person (40 outfits total) into one suitcase and still have room for sweatshirts and jeans. The clothes come out perfect too....no wrinkles. It helps my dh with helping to get the kids dressed in the morning. Then I don't get the "what do you want them to wear, does this match, ect..." He can just take the outfit, put in on, and we're off.

I would so love to give this a go this year. I do have a few questions about it however, and I am hoping there are few of you out there in the same situation as me and have experience:

We are staying offsite, in Kissimee, in my parents in law villa. Therefore we have use of a washing machine and dryer. Using the ziplock method would be great to avoid clothes getting messed up and speed in getting kids ready in the morning.

We are flying from the UK and have limited baggage weight due to our cheap airline, and will be abroad for 14 days. Obviously using the ziplock system with an outfit for each day, for 2 kids, would mean 28 different outfits - thats a lot of clothing that is uneccesary in our case.

1: Does anyone still use the ziplock system even if they are going to wash regularly?

2: Does anyone have any suggestions of how to work this system for less days then they are away for?

Thanks everyone

 

[angwill]

The baggies worked well for us for DS when he was younger so he could go pull out a baggie and put it on without messing everything up. Now that he is older it works better for us to fold and roll the clothing. It takes up the same space as using the bags and keeps out wrinkles.

If you are going to wash often it might be easier not to use baggies. HTH

 

[lovesdumbo]

I used ziplocks when I did laundry. I just decided how many outfits I needed depending on when I planned on doing laundry and put those outfits into the ziplocks.

 

[smithmom]

Subbing! Thanks everyone for the great tips. I'm going to read this later, when I have more time.

I'm sure I'll have a few things to add!!

 

[bbak30]

Great thread, can't wait to read more!

 

[Marshay]

We take an 'adjustable' shower head along with us when we go to Disney. One of those that you can pull down so it is easier to wash our small girls, esp rinse the shampoo out of their hair, without it getting in their eyes; it also lets my 4yo rinse herself off, saving us time.

Of course, you also have to take the tools to undo Disney's shower head, too and put it on.

 

[therannj]

Thanks this is a great list. just what i needed.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

My favorite trick that I read in a parenting magazine a long time ago is to put the littler kids' clothes in gallon size ziplock bags. Put the entire outfit (shorts, top, underwear, socks, even hair barrettes and hats), except for the shoes, in a bag, and bring as many bags as days, plus a few extras. This keeps the suitcases in great order, and all the kid has to do to get dressed in the morning is grab a bag. As a bonus, you end up with a lot of gallon size ziplock bags, which are great for everything from wet bathing suits to open bags of snacks.

I stumbled accross the thread and the first that that came to my mind that we do. I figured I would read a few first and just so happens to be the first reply. Doing this sure makes things go easier - no fighting about what to wear for the day. This is a biggie IMO and has worked well for us.

 

[alexensmom]

We take an 'adjustable' shower head along with us when we go to Disney. One of those that you can pull down so it is easier to wash our small girls, esp rinse the shampoo out of their hair, without it getting in their eyes; it also lets my 4yo rinse herself off, saving us time.

Of course, you also have to take the tools to undo Disney's shower head, too and put it on.

If you like this idea....there are spray hoses that fit over the tub faucet. We have one we used for out dog. Definately easier than bringing tools

 

[therannj]

just subscribing.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

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.

This is a good one! About 6 or 7 years ago I could not recall what level at the Airport I parked my car, so now I alwasy log it in my cell phone under a task. Nothing like takin 30 minutes trying to find the car

 

[Marshay]

If you like this idea....there are spray hoses that fit over the tub faucet. We have one we used for out dog. Definately easier than bringing tools

That's good to know. We stay DVC so the shower is separate from the tub in most rooms, so this wouldn't work for us, since I shower with my girls.

But something for me to keep in mind. Thanks!