Stuff you wish you had packed/did ahead of time last time you went to WDW

[micheluvscorgis]

We are officially almost TWO WEEKS away from our first family trip...to WDW, no less. We are really beyond excited!

That said, I, being the mommy, am the official family travel agent, and I am in charge of getting our acts together. I am a bit on the "Type A" side, and, given the fact that we have about two weeks, I want to make sure I buy/gather everything I can ahead of time to avoid last minute scrambling and wasting money.

Have I mentioned we're excited?

Have I mentioned that it's our first time?

Have I mentioned that I'm sort of freaking out because we've never gone on a trip before, stayed in a hotel room, been on an airplane, etc. with the kids before? DS#1 will be turning four in WDW, and DS#2 just turned two a month ago.

I'd love to hear about anything you might have forgotten to pack, wished you had, wound up having to buy at the park that you could have packed instead, etc.

Thanks so much! This board rocks!


-Michele

 

[KingdomHearts]

balmex and tylenol.. we forgot them one year and it cost a bundle... oh also benedryl. We are taking our 16 month old down in one month and I am ordering her yogurt, water, and a few other items from Gardengrocer.com, they will deliver it right to your hotel. Oh and dont forget sunscreen. Have an awesome time! P.s if you need bed rails the resorts will supply them for you for your young one...and I think that s it for now lol have an awesome time!

 

[zhazhazsu]

We don't have kids, but we wished we had brought down more clothes! It was so hot in September, and we were so sweaty, we had to change clothes twice a day.

Also a brita to go water bottle. It would have saved us so much money to be able to fill up at the water fountains, and have clean filtered water.

 

[Swmr359]

Dramamine, just in case. I had to buy in the airport on my last flight and it's expensive! Also plan for a delayed flight and bring books or movies to keep occupied.

 

[Best Aunt]

A small pair of scissors. You may want to cut off price tags, cut open packages, etc. Last time I checked, they were not sold in the hotel gift shops.

I'm not sure if you can put them in your carry-on bag, but since your kids are small, I'm guessing that you will be checking luggage.

 

[brittanyherndon]

this prob goes with out saying but I wish I had brought

Deodorant
tooth brush
toothpast
hair brush
hair tail
first aid kit

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

Buy some ponchos at your local dollar store. Even if it doesn't rain they are good for wearing on the wet rides! If you wait until you're at WDW you will fork out a fortune for them!

 

[micheluvscorgis]

All great tips! Keep 'em coming.

I totally need to head to the dollar store this week...


-Michele

 

[disneymomofmyca]

An over the door shoe organizer to hang on the bathroom door. Keeps all your shampoo, lotions, make up, brushes, ect. organized and off the small counter.

 

[honeydiane1953]

Ponchos u get from the DOLLAR STORE. Those at Disney are higher in price but not quality. Socks, love a clean pair to walk over "maybe" not so clean carpets. Aleve or whatever works best for you. Believe me "something will ache". Band aids, blisters don't cha know. Several pairs of flip flops. Can u imagine a pair breaking and then having to go look what Disney offers?

 

[smylie1]

I was just sitting here writing down our list! We will be heading to WDW on Saturday the 7th! I forgot to put down Dramamine! Thanks for starting this thread or I may have ended up really regretting it!

 

[hellotoyou]

All great suggestions!!

 

[brittanyherndon]

Buy some ponchos at your local dollar store. Even if it doesn't rain they are good for wearing on the wet rides! If you wait until you're at WDW you will fork out a fortune for them!

will the pouchos work on splash mountin

An over the door shoe organizer to hang on the bathroom door. Keeps all your shampoo, lotions, make up, brushes, ect. organized and off the small counter.

don' t bother with shampo they have in complentry in the hotel room waiting for you

 

[dyna]

Our last 3 trips to disney I have pacled 2 changes of clothes for each of us, tooth brushes tooth paste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant an sunscreen for dh a few dryer sheets an sandwich baggie of lanery soap.

My gum, blistex 1 pair of extra shoes

We started staying off site in a condo much cheaper than disney resorts got washer an dryer don't need a 1/4th of the stuff we used to pack. We no longer travel with kids but get at least a 2bed/2bath I out my stuff in 2nd bedroom an bath dh an I can both dress an shower at exact same time without falling all over each other cutting our get out get going time in half. I cook us a hot breakfast every mornin in less than 10 mins dh cleans up kitchen while I make final plans for the day or fold load of laundry.

Got the shoe organizer not needed it in several trips now, got the ponchos oh we havet aken them every trip but never take them into the parks with us an in 30 days in parks this year needed them 1 evening oh wait even with ponchos we'd have been soaked that night by the time it came time to leave park rain had stopped.

Oh an i have a tiny pair of folding sissors that goes every trip an I use them every trip

Our Dec trip I'll pack 2 changes of winter clothes an 3 changes of summer have our winter coats hats an gloves just in case.

I did my share of disney visits with kids never with a stroller mine was older before they went an can't say I took more because I had kids with me but because at the time I was naive an thought I needed everything listed on the boards that others took but we all have our own opinion as to what we can not live without.

 

[Lisa0620]

I wished I had packed a park bag checklist for each day. DH can't stand having wet feet, so I had packed flip flops for him to wear on Kali River Rapids, etc., but I forgot to take them to the park when we went to AK. Little stuff like that, that you obsess over before you go, but forget in the morning hustle and bustle.

 

[ElementCamper]

Power strip-never enough plugs for those that travel with laptops, camera and phone chargers.
Small printer-I have an HP A620 that does really nice 4x6 prints, nice to be able to make some while you are there.
Aleve-good for those theme park aches and pains
zip ties-good to secure luggage to prevent 'tampering' (personal experience, prescription medication taken from room). At least you know someone has been in your bags.
Day and Nighttime Cold/Flu medicine-expensive there and if you get sick you don't have to leave to go hunt some down. Just medicate, get some sleep and you can usually bounce back.
Hand sanitizer-pump bottle for room and pocket size for use 'liberally' throughout the day.

 

[GCM]

Extra memory card and batteries or better yet rechargeable batteries and battery charger, cell phone charger.

 

[ckdsnynt]

We are officially almost TWO WEEKS away from our first family trip...to WDW, no less. We are really beyond excited!

That said, I, being the mommy, am the official family travel agent, and I am in charge of getting our acts together. I am a bit on the "Type A" side, and, given the fact that we have about two weeks, I want to make sure I buy/gather everything I can ahead of time to avoid last minute scrambling and wasting money.

Have I mentioned we're excited?

Have I mentioned that it's our first time?

Have I mentioned that I'm sort of freaking out because we've never gone on a trip before, stayed in a hotel room, been on an airplane, etc. with the kids before? DS#1 will be turning four in WDW, and DS#2 just turned two a month ago.

I'd love to hear about anything you might have forgotten to pack, wished you had, wound up having to buy at the park that you could have packed instead, etc.

Thanks so much! This board rocks!


-Michele

Watch the weather forecasts! It was in the 98 degree range late last month and the high today there is going to be 88. That is probably a huge shock for someone from Colorado! Be prepared (based on the weather reports for really warm days (like shorts) and cooler nights (like jacket)

 

[ckdsnynt]

An over the door shoe organizer to hang on the bathroom door. Keeps all your shampoo, lotions, make up, brushes, ect. organized and off the small counter.

Especially with all the germs going around now. Do you really want your toothbrush laying on that counter? Was it really sanitized before you checked in?

Oh, and zip lock baggies, different sizes. Take some to the parks. I even use one to line the ice bucket in my room.

Take one or two clean wash cloths to the park. Wet them and wipe your face if it is too hot. Then put them in the baggie and reuse.

 

[brittanyherndon]

Power strip-never enough plugs for those that travel with laptops, camera and phone chargers.
Small printer-I have an HP A620 that does really nice 4x6 prints, nice to be able to make some while you are there.
Aleve-good for those theme park aches and pains
zip ties-good to secure luggage to prevent 'tampering' (personal experience, prescription medication taken from room). At least you know someone has been in your bags.
Day and Nighttime Cold/Flu medicine-expensive there and if you get sick you don't have to leave to go hunt some down. Just medicate, get some sleep and you can usually bounce back.
Hand sanitizer-pump bottle for room and pocket size for use 'liberally' throughout the day.

did u report it to the frount desk I would have in a heart beat