Shoe Holder - worth the effort??

[catjammies]

Was wondering if it's really worth the effort to bring along the shoe holder?

And, if we do, is it best used for shoes, hanging on the closet,
OR for organizing stuff in the bathroom- exactly how much counterspace is there?

Thanks.... (My DH & I & our 2 DDs (5 & 7) in one cabin)/....

 

[JCarangal]

I voted for "in bathroom to clear counterspace" since that is closest to what we used it for. First, they pack flat so it isn't difficult to bring along. Ours is clear which was great and easy to see what is in each pocket. We put ours on the outside of the bathroom door to hold all sorts of stuff - suntan lotion, after sun creams, dd's hairbrush, loose change, receipts and other small pieces of paper, sunglasses -- all that stuff that gets tossed on tops of dressers and then gets lost in the shuffle.

This item is a definite "must bring" for me!

 

[Auntie Bon]

A definate bring on my list! I will NEVER travel without one again. So easy to put those pesky little counter top clutter items. Always knew where the deodorant and toothpaste was

 

[CamColt]

I picked dont bother. I have a ton of bathroom stuff. Between contacts, horrible hair, etc...I need a lot of counter space. We have stayed in a cat 11 and a cat 10 and both times I found plenty of space for all my junk.

 

[kajohn]

When cruising with just my husband and I, I don't bring one, there is plenty of places to store things. But....when travelling with the kids it is a necessity!!! It is great to keep track of cameras, batteries, gameboys, sunglasses, lanyards, etc. etc.

We kept it on the outside of the bathroom door, so it was always accessable.

 

[Marcotta]

I took one on my last cruise because of all the wonderful advice I've gotten here...I have to say, it never came out of the suitcase. I can TOTALLY see why people would need one, especially with kids but there was plenty of space for all our stuff (2 adults) in the corner caddy that was already in the bathroom.
Of course, I will bring it along with me on the next cruise in August "just in case" but it will probably be not see the light of my verandah either. At least it doesn't take much packing space.

 

[JulesG]

We just returned from the 4-day Wonder and I almost went out and bought an over the door organizer. I was glad I didn't as there was plenty of room for our stuff. We have 2 girls with tons of bathroom things and found keeping their stuff in one of the bathrooms and ours on the corner shelves in the other was all we needed.

 

[PeachyK]

We just returned for the Eastern (sigh) and I did bring the shoe holder I found a cheap one and it was packaged very flat. I never ended up opening though and brought it home again.

I could see how it could come in handy and may end up using it at home, I really think it depends on the type of traveler you are. Do you bring everything from home with you? I am a minimalist when I travel. I make do with a lot less hair stuff, cosmetics, etc. and travel size everything so the space was not an issue for me. There were 4 in our cat 9. (me,dh,dd10,ds7).

 

[thatmom]

Hi,
They don't cost much and they don't take up much room in suit case so why not.......Just in case you do need it......... We used our and its something I will always travel with from now on. If I don't need it I'll leave it in the bag....But if I do...thank God I brought it!!! Go ahead take a walk on the wild side..Bring One!!!
Have a great trip,
thatmom

 

[KathyTX]

I use the flat kind with pockets in the bathroom. It's handy for lots more than just the countertop stuff. It held cosmetics, combs/brushes, first aid items, colognes, hair accessories, hairspray, shavers, lotions, sunscreens, etc.... maybe I take a lot more "girlie" stuff than most.

I also take one for the closet- the kind that's like stacked boxes. It's great for shoes, socks, belts, anything that works well on a small shelf.

Neither of them was really necessary, but both of them sure helped keep our stuff tidy and easy to find.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

I bought & packed one before our Nov "cruise". It hung on the PO/FQ tv door and was used every day.
Previously we hadnt ever used them for our WDW vacations but it did come in handy.

 

[Jeanne434]

I thought this was THE BEST TIP I got from these boards! It was so handy for putting just everything in. It costs less then six dollars and packed easily. Spots for just abo9ut everything in it and made finding things so much easier. Never leave home without one in the future! And it is kinda cool at home too! I am going to but a few more! Never thought about using them for anything but shoes until now. I think it will work great for craft supplies, beauty stuff like lotions, potions and more! How about in the kitchen for all those odd shaped utensils that fit so poorly in the cabinet drawers? Or kids toys, small stuffed animals, blocks etc?? Makes me wish I had more doors!

 

[tkd lisa]

I'm one who used it extensively! For all the clutter type things. It was great, because 90% of the time, when someone asked "Mom, where's ......" the answer was "in the shoe holder". After the 2nd day, they actually learned to look there before asking!

 

[DisneyDadInFL]

DW just bought one after I told her about suggestions on this board. Traveling with DS (7) and DD (6) so I think it will come in handy with all of our "stuff".

 

[delo4]

I thought this was the best tip!! We were a family of four, two teenage girls. It was wonderful. We hung in on the front of the bathroom door. That way if anyone was in the other bathroom, they could still get what they wanted without waiting. It also came in handy to store cameras, room keys, suntan lotion, film, etc. I told my family not to ask me all week where anything was. My answer would be "its in the shoe holder". I will be taking it with us this summer for our annual beach week. My daughter uses one in her college dorm now. All the clutter is off the counter and on the back of her door. Makes it much easier for clean dorm room checks.

 

[dcbrown]

This idea was by far the best ever. I put everything in it. If you get the one with the two larger pockets at the bottom, they can even hold hairdryers. Put it on the outside of the door so that the bathroom can be in use and you can still get to things. Whoever thought of this....Thanks...I hate clutter!!!

DCBrown

 

[mmmom]

I pciked one up at $ store but never used it. Thought the shelves in each bathroom were enough for our family of four--but it takes up very little space so if unsure just pack it.

 

[Otisp]

As she did with several of the ideas I picked up from the board, my DW initially poo-pooed the shoe-holder idea. She eventually gave in, and now it's part of all of our trips. It's not just that it keeps things off the bathroom counter, it's just easy for us and the kids to stick everything from brushes to wallets to cameras to cable-car passes (while it was draped over the door at the St. Francis). It was DW's #1 favorite tip. BTW, #2 was to individually package each day's kids clothes in separate giant zip-lock bags.

 

[DisneyDarwin]

Somewhere in a trip report, I also raved about this being the best tip I ever got. We hung our $6 special on the cabin side of one of the bathroom doors. We never thought about putting shoes in it. Batteries, camera, walkie-talkies, change, flash card, navigators, maps, shore excursion tickets, sunscreen, glasses straps, bubbles, KTTW cards, snack food, and more. When we came in the door from whereever, we'd unload our pockets into the holder instead of on the counter or bed. This shoeholder was the el cheapo plastic kind that you could see through, so we could look into the pockets and immediately see what we were looking for. When Carl the cabin attendant came in to clean up (which he did quite well) we told him to put stuff in the shoe holder. Too easy. We now taking on all vacations that go over a couple of days. It's great for skiing -- where are my gloves? lip balm? change? lift pass? gator? goggles? sunglasses? etc.

 

[keith & co.]

Next cruise I may take 2- 3!!! They will hang on the front and back of each bathroom door!!!

The out side doors will be for cabin clutter..... The inside doors will be for shampoos and grooming stuff..... I looked all over (DFW) and could not find a bath tub hanging device I liked!! But the split bathrooms were so small it would be nothing to reach in and out to the back of the door for shampoos etc....

Neighbor suggested even putting names on large pockets at bottom for each DD!! " Vacation is not a vacation from picking up for yourself" "Oh Mom!!" Great idea as we were always looking for one's watch or name tag.... or that wrist band you are not suppossed to remove!!

Really great idea and if you do not take it THEN you will really need it!!

Barbara