Staying for 10 days pack for all or do wash??

[BWmickey]

We will be going home for 10 days in June and was wondering what for laundry service or laundromat is on the BW Property?
Traveling with DH and 3 children seems like a lot to pack decided to possibly take an afternoon and do laundry any suggestions?? Thanks.

 

[rombar]

Are you staying in a studio - because the one and two-bedrooms have washing machines in them. If in a studio, there are laundry facilities at the hotels...I would certainly not pack enough clothes for 10 ten days - too much to carry - they are even weighing the luggage at the airport these days.

 

[new_yawka]

I would not pack mor the 4 or 5 days of clothes, especially if you are in a 1BR or larger. The convenience of the washing machine and dryer make it so wonderfully easy to do a quick load or two. To me, this makes it much easier than: (i) lugging an extra large suitcase through the airport and into the hotel; (ii) packing an extra suitcase at home; (iii) unpacking an extra suitcase at WDW; (iv) packing an extra suitcase on the way home; and (iv) unpacking an extra suitcase upon getting home.

OK, if you are desperate to use an extra suitcase, pack an empty duffel bag into your suitcase and fill it up with lots of cool stuff from your vacation for the trip home!

 

[DVC Jen]

We are going to be gone for a total of 17 days (includes drive time) and I know I will be doing laundry at least 3 times. Usually I just grab a good book and enjoy some "quiet" time when I am doing it. We stay in a studio so we don't have the washer and dryer right in our room. One great thing about DVC though.. the laundry room washers and dryers are FREE!

 

[lurontravel]

If you are staying at the BW Villa's, you have access to free laudromat type facilities right there, even if in a studio. I think it's worth bringing a little bit of laundry detergent from home (a lot of folks buy the laundry tablets, and other pack some dry soap pre-measured in ziplocks, and others will buy detergent there. If I were going for over 5-6 days, I'd definitly bring some soap, and plan to do a little laundry. If you're in a 1 BR or larger, facilities are right in the room, and you can wash in the am, dry in the pm or whatever, whenever! Very convenient. If in the hotel, I believe that you have to pay for the laundry facilities, but I still feel it's worth it to pay, not to have to pack 10 days worth of stuff. Just think, you can potentially do 2-3 loads at a time, and be done in a couple of hours while you eat or go to the pool, or whatever! Have a great time!

 

[rocketriter]

If you're staying in a 1-bedroom or larger, the in-room washer and dryer aren't huge but they're adequate for the job. Just be sure to bring some detergent tablets and softener sheets so that you don't have to buy them at resort prices.

If you're staying in a studio you can ask the front desk where the laundry is located. Be aware that in some (all?) of the locations, these machines have coin slots that look like they require money. It is my understanding that they're actually free and you can just turn them on to use them. Again, bring supplies.

Remember, by the way, that you won't get the daily maid service that you get in a hotel. Every few days you'll get a towel change and you'll get a full cleaning about once a week. In between, you'll need to use the washers if you want to clean your towels.

This is all part of the "home away from home" concept. More do-it-yourself facilities like light cooking and laundry, and fewer hotel-type luxuries such as daily maid or concierge service.

 

[Sammy]

We are the same size family - 2 adults; 3 kids, one of which is a teen girl. She alone could fill three suitcases if I let her! We never pack for more than 4 or 5 days depending on the length of our stay. Even before DVC when we stayed in one of the other resorts, I always did a couple loads during one of our "down" days by the pool. Now, with DVC....I just throw a load in before we take off for the day, toss it in the dryer when we return, and voila! LOVE not having to pack those extra suitcases!!

Sammy

 

[Ksp]

With 2 adults, 2 teen age children, we usually pack for 4-5 days, then do a few things in the wash. (I have to admit I'm an over-packer, though. Maybe there's a 12 step program to help me get over it. )
Oh - If you're staying in a studio, be sure to remember that the laundry facilities are complementary in the villas....DH didn't believe me, since they look like you have to pay. It's taken a few trips, but he believes me now that he doesn't need to take change with him when doing the wash.
The resort stores sell small amounts of laundry detergent, etc. We usually just pack some if I plan on having to do more than 1 or 2 loads. Studios don't come with laundry supplies, the other rooms come with 1 load's worth of laundry soap.

 

[pmcpmc]

for about three weeks but combine Disney with shopping .
we bring only two changes each,fills half a small case.
buy the rest in orlando,good excuse.
We bring full set of cases empty ,return full.
What fun.

 

[new_yawka]

Originally posted by pmcpmc
for about three weeks but combine Disney with shopping .
we bring only two changes each,fills half a small case.
buy the rest in orlando,good excuse.
We bring full set of cases empty ,return full.
What fun.

I've decided to be adopted by pmcpmc and join the family for the next trip

 

[DVCDawn]

Originally posted by Sammy
Now, with DVC....I just throw a load in before we take off for the day, toss it in the dryer when we return, and voila! LOVE not having to pack those extra suitcases!!

Sammy

This is pretty much what we do. We usually stay in a 1 bdrm at BWV and whoever gets up first in the morning starts a load going. By the time everyone's up, had breakfast and gotten dressed it's time to throw it in the dryer. Be warned, however, that it usually takes two dryer cycles to get the clothes dry.

DVC Dawn

 

[Pumbaa_]

Another vote for laundry! Especially with a longer stay. The washers and dryers at BWV are by the pool. Bring your book, get comfy and enjoy some quiet time.

We stay in a 1 br whenever we can and I throw a load in at night or in the morning before we leave. I usually wash the towels too and not have mousekeeping in for trash and towel day.

I bring my cheer powder from home, I measure each load into snack size ziploc bags, bring my shout gel and dryer sheets. Works quite well!

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

We pack a 3 day supply of clothes, along with Tide, Bounce and Spray N Wash.

Wash in the a.m., Dry in the p.m., Wear it the next morning!

 

[zurgswife]

Pack 4days of clothes and do laundry...start it as we go out the door in the am then throw it in the dryer later in the day...

 

[mbhoxsie]

That's exactly what we do...

Pack about 4-5 days... If you have a 1BR, 2BR, or GV, start the laundry in the morning as you are walking out the door, and then finish it off when you get back home at night....

If you have a studio at BWV, you'll have to use the public laundry room... Still not a big deal... Make the fourth day a pool day, and do a couple of loads of laundry then...

 

[ronw]

The in-room laundry is one of our favorite DVC features. We often travel in carry-ons for a 5 or 6 day stay. Of course this has other DISadvantages - we usually get special treatment by the airport security people. A whole family with nothing but carryons, Hmmm step over here please...

 

[BWVDee]

Count us in with the "pack for 4-5 days and do laundry" crowd. It makes life much easier to not have to lug so many suitcases through the airport. Once DD got into her teens, she was horrified that she would have to wear the same outfit 2x's in a 10 day period--HORRORS! But after one trip of her lugging her own huge suitcase that she had crammed full with almost half of her entire wardrobe, she very quickly saw the wisdom of my way of thinking, LOL!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Since you are 5 people, I am going to assume you are staying in a 2 bedroom. Definitly plan on using the in-room washer and dryer. We always pack VERY light and do one load of wash a day. It's so easy to throw whites in one day and coloreds the next. We start the washer when we leave for the parks in the morning and throw things in the dryer when we come back for a mid-day break. For a 10 day trip, we have never taken more than 2 small roller bags, and they mostly have toiletries and shoes in them!

 

[marymrg]

Same here.....pack for 4-5 days and do laundry as needed. I did let DD14 pack extra shoes/sandals though.

My parents were with us most of our last trip and I think Mom cheated. I don't remember washing much for them until about day 7!!

 

[JimC]

One of the reasons DVC is so appealing to us is the washer and dryer in the one bedroom units. We pack enough for four to five days max.