Silly Questions from a First Time Traveler/Flier

[Rainforest_Elf]

Well my trip is quickly approaching! I can barely contain myself. But I've got some nagging questions I want to run past y'all as things grow closer to my departure date...

1. I'm a 23 year old woman and I've never been to an airport, never been on a commercial plane. Just what should I know about flying and packing? I've read most of the restrictions and the new fees for luggage, but I'm not going to get arressted if I put a razor blade in my checked bag am I? I'm not going to Disneyland with hairy legs. I just won't!

2. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go insane buying souviners for myself and for my family. I know for my own collection I'm buying a Christmas House and an ornament from Department 56, a throw blanket, a sweatshirt and a coffee mug. I'll be buying various other things for about 7-8 people ranging from coffee mugs to hats, etc.

That being said, how do I bring my loot HOME? Safely, since the stuff will be somewhat breakable. And also, do I just leave a LOT of room in my carry on suitcase and plan on using it strickly for maybe like, a towl and my souviners? I know y'all think I'm insane but this is an honest concern. help.

4. How early do you need to arrive at the airport before your flight?

5. Does the Disneyland hotel have a hair dryer in most rooms or should I bring my own?

I'm pretty sure I'll add more questions as we get closer to the date, but these are the ones that are pressing at the front of my mind right now. any advice y'all can share would be appreciated!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Have you checked out tsa.gov for all the things that are restricted in carryons?

I think (b/c I've done it) you can even bring a shaver in your carryon, so putting it in your checked bag will be just fine.

Remember that if you are buying a snow globe, you will have to ship it or check it, and HOPE it makes it (if you check it). Even the tiniest ones can't go on board b/c they aren't labeled with ounces of liquid inside.

Ornament and coffee mug would definitely go in my carryon on the way home. The other things might or might not go in my carryon, depending on how paranoid I'm being and how full the carryon already is.

Check your airline's info about your airport. They should tell you how early you should get there. Honestly I try to be at the airport (not parking or even being dropped off, but IN the airport) at least 1.5 hours before a flight. That's at minimum. I get way too nervous if I cut it any closer. I've been flying alone since I was 18 and I have my rituals, and I do not like having my "take it easy" rituals ruined by having to rush!

I just noticed you're shopping for 7-8 people! If I were you I might take a trip to a post office or UPS store, to ship those things home. Will make it easier!

On the Disneyland site, it states "Irons, ironing boards, refrigerators, hairdryers, make-up mirrors and safes in each room", so I think you're safe there. No bringing your own required!

 

[DahliaRW]

1. For the most part, if it's not an explosive or gun or something like that, it can go in checked luggage. No worries. And you can buy razors there if something happens, they do have stores in anaheim!

2. I would plan on shipping souveniers home. If you go to a UPS or FedEx type place they will package it for you and everything. Usually cheaper than checking a second bag and pretty unlikely to break if packaged correctly.

4. 90-120 minutes depending on time of day and how busy the airport tends to be.

5. No idea, but most hotels have them.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

I thought of another one!

#6- How necessary is it to confirm hotel reservations? I've got a sheet of paper with my name and confirmation number from the DLH, and I hear that about a week before, you call and confirm, but in my paranoid mind, that makes you more likely to get it deleted. Yes? No? What do you think?

 

[DahliaRW]

I have never called to confirm. Never had a problem. But can't gurantee anything.

 

[farmfresh]

Re reservations: it is usually unnecessary to call and confirm, especially if you have given a credit card number, or made a reservation through a travel agent/or Disney reservations.

You might call if you want peace of mind, it won't hurt.

But do take your piece of paper with confirmation info on it. If the worst should happen, and they don't have a reservation for you, your own records will come in handy. Bear in mind it is highly unlikely that you will need it, but I always travel with copies just in case. In the rare event (i'm trying to keep you calm on this!) that there is a problem, all you do is politely bring it out and ask that they make good on it.

My best advice for any travel hiccup is to stay at the desk (hotel, airline etc) calmly until it is resolved satisfactorily. The hotel will want to help, and they will also want to clear the queue that is growing behind you. So just wait it out!

But mainly, don't worry! It's going to be fun!

 

[CrazyDuck]

last time I went to DL I shipped 2 boxes of souveniers home fedex and paid over $150 to do so. This time we bought nesting suitcases and will bring em nested and then separate them while we are there so that we will have plenty of extra space. There is a target near by that you could pick up a cheap suitcase to use for your souveniers too.

 

[Mililani Mouser]

1. Arrive 2 hours prior to departure, this is a must especially if it's a busy airport. Bring ID. Wear shoes that are easy to take off at the airport. They also make you take off your belt and jacket and put it in the xray machine. Bring snacks from home to eat on the plane because you will not believe the airport food prices. Check if your flight is serving meals, many charge extra for this now. Bring something to read, too.

2. You can ship your souvies home in the large flat rate USPS priority mail box, use lots of bubbly wrap and have it marked fragile. Some airlines are charging extra for luggage or for overweight bags, it may be cheaper for you to mail it.

3. My DLH room had a hair dryer.

 

[Mililani Mouser]

I forgot to say, get luggage locks! And if you do, stick around for a while when they xray it, or they will bust the locks.

 

[JaneJetson]

I forgot to say, get luggage locks! And if you do, stick around for a while when they xray it, or they will bust the locks.

At some airports, they x-ray and open/inspect bags elsewhere. Places you, the bag owner, can't be. So waiting around isn't always possible.

I've never even bothered locking my luggage. But I never put anything of value into checked bags.

 

[pinktink83]

Well my trip is quickly approaching! I can barely contain myself. But I've got some nagging questions I want to run past y'all as things grow closer to my departure date...

1. Yes, you can bring a razor in your carry-on bag, also small scissors, nail clippers, tweezers. I would check the list for your airline on their website to go over their specific rules, but I have not had a problem with those items, and Ive flown like 5 times this month! If you are really worried about it, you can just check you bag. You can put pretty much anything in a checked bag. Its carry-on that has all the rules. Don't forget about the under 3oz liquid rule if you are bringing toiletries in your carry-on bag. Includes hair products, lotions, etc. And you can only bring ONE 20oz ziploc bag of of them on your carry-on bag. Its probably easiest to just put that stuff in your checked bag and then you dont have to worry about sizes.

2. I would bring them in a carry-on bag, NOT check it. Ask at the stores if they can wrap them up good in bubble wrap, box them etc.

4. I plan on an hour and usually have PLENTY of time getting through. It helps if you check in on-line (through your email, you can do it the day of) then when you get to the airport all you have to do is print out your boarding pass from a computer kiosk thingy. Drop off your checked bags. Then straight through security, find your gate and your done!

5. I think most hotels have hair dryers. Call and ask to be sure.

 

[jernysgirl]

I just wanted to add, make sure you have cash on you for the plane ride. If your flight does serve meals, or offer a movie, they most likely charge extra (I think almost everyone does now.) I think a lot even charge for snacks or drinks these days too from what I have heard. Avoid going hungry or paying outrageous ATM fees in the airport and just have enough cash to cover little expenses like this on you before boarding.

I would also like to add, that when flying I usually shoot for arriving 90 minutes before arrival, but have pushed it to 45 (which I don't recommend for someone who is paranoid like me). I have always had PLENTY of time to check-in and get through security.

Have fun and relax. If something does go wrong, it will just be something to laugh about later.

 

[CrazyDuck]

I just wanted to add, make sure you have cash on you for the plane ride. If your flight does serve meals, or offer a movie, they most likely charge extra (I think almost everyone does now.) I think a lot even charge for snacks or drinks these days too from what I have heard. Avoid going hungry or paying outrageous ATM fees in the airport and just have enough cash to cover little expenses like this on you before boarding.

I would also like to add, that when flying I usually shoot for arriving 90 minutes before arrival, but have pushed it to 45 (which I don't recommend for someone who is paranoid like me). I have always had PLENTY of time to check-in and get through security.

Have fun and relax. If something does go wrong, it will just be something to laugh about later.

Ding....... Not Southwest!

 

[Tyr23]

I just wanted to add, make sure you have cash on you for the plane ride. If your flight does serve meals, or offer a movie, they most likely charge extra (I think almost everyone does now.) I think a lot even charge for snacks or drinks these days too from what I have heard. Avoid going hungry or paying outrageous ATM fees in the airport and just have enough cash to cover little expenses like this on you before boarding.

Just as an FYI, Alaska Air has gone to a totally cashless system for onboard beverages and food so make sure you bring a debit card or credit card with you! We were on a flight to Chicago the day they rolled this out and people were FUMING about not being able to pay cash. The poor flight attendants had their hands full with angry customers and learning a new system as well.

 

[pcryan]

We just flew home on Alaska Airlines from John Wayne Airport last night after 4 days at DLand. Announcements were made several times regarding excess carryon luggage so I wouldn't push it. At the next gate Continental made announcements that they had run out of room for storing carryons in the overhead bins and that those that hadn't boarded yet needed to check their bags.

I would take an extra bag (such as a duffle) and pay the extra bag charge if I had to because I think it would be cheaper than shipping items. That being said you can ususally go to the business center at the hotel and they can ship it for you. A third option that I used this weekend is to have Disney ship it for you. I bought two canvas prints (16 x 20) and they are being shipped to me in Washington state for $21.00. By doing this they are tax exempt which pretty much covered the shipping. I often wait and do all my shopping at the World of Disney store in downtown Disney (they have most everything all the other stores do with a few exceptions) and have them ship it. The shipping charge is determined by the dollar amount you spend. By having Disney ship if anything is broken they will replace it and they do a great job of wrapping. A snowglobe came once with a small piece broken off, they shipped another and told me to go ahead and keep the broken one (probably cheaper than paying to send it back).

If you use a Disney Rewards charge card (Chase) you receive 10% off your purchase over $50.00 at the World of Disney store, another way I justify the shipping.

 

[kmaclou]

I'm a huge fan of getting Disney to ship my goodies home for me. It saves me the hassle of having to make sure I have space or exceeding the weight limit for my suitcase.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

I'm a huge fan of getting Disney to ship my goodies home for me. It saves me the hassle of having to make sure I have space or exceeding the weight limit for my suitcase.

How does one do this? Just buy it in the park, pay a shipping fee, and give them your address?

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

This time we bought nesting suitcases and will bring em nested and then separate them while we are there so that we will have plenty of extra space. There is a target near by that you could pick up a cheap suitcase to use for your souveniers too.

I do have a target near me...let me as you a question about this suitcase you got.

Now I'm a really light packer. My carry on is going to have most all of my essentials. My checked bag is going to have some towels, my laptop, and anything "dangerous" I can't bring with me in my bag, so I figure that bag will have plenty of space for souveniers... I hope. But this nesting suitcase sounds fabulous, wht exactly is it??!

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

Hello again, it's me!

I don't know what kind of bag to use for my carry on! Is there a website that shows the dimensions of a carry on suitcase? Do they need to be pretty darn small?

Bare with me, remember, I'm a first time flier, I know nothing about this stuff!!

 

[WhtMagick]

Hi! Sounds like you're going to have an awesome trip. Have been reading your questions and have one for you : Why are you thinking of bringing towels with you? Last time I stayed at DLH they had nice, big, fluffy towels. Plenty of them too! You can always call housekeeping for extra's as well. Not trying to tell you what to do, just wanted to let you know how the hotel's towels are. We take our own when we go to budget hotels 'cause my spousal unit and I are not itty bitty! Didn't have to worry about that at DLH!