The Anti-Packing List: What should have been left at home?

[ColoradoLime]

We're all super organized here thanks to everyone's great packing tips, so for fun I want to know what did you pack that you didn't use? Items that were useless, stuff that only took up space and had not function, or anything that was recommended that you personally didn't end up using.

Let's have fun with this!

 

[Heluvsme]

Jeans (we go in June)

Things for my kids to play with in the hotel room....unneccessary! I brought coloring books/crayons, a few small toys, etc. In reality, they were happy with going to the pool, watching TV, and playing with the souvenir or two they got in the parks.

Hats. I had good intentions of all of us wearing them, but in the end, a small amount of sunscreen, on a Qtip, will cover the parts on our scalps. The hats were hot and no one wanted to wear one.


BUT...one good thing that I put in last minute that was a huge help---a pop up hamper!! We put all our dirty, sweaty clothes in it and on our day off, I just hauled that to the laundry! Made it so much easier!!

 

[summersalt]

Sewing Kit and Hair Dryer. Didn't need either one last trip.

 

[OilyStars]

8 different pairs of Flip Flops.

I wore my runners the entire time!

 

[blondemom]

I second the kids' toys. We drive down, so we have room for stuff. On that note, DON'T bring crayons on a road trip from NJ to Florida. You will end up with hot pools of wax. What was I thinking??

 

[tinkerlisa]

I second the kids' toys. We drive down, so we have room for stuff. On that note, DON'T bring crayons on a road trip from NJ to Florida. You will end up with hot pools of wax. What was I thinking??

This happened to us but not on a trip from CT to Florida but a camping trip an hour away from us! We gave our son(then 2 1/2) the baggie of crayons and some paper that we kept in the car for trips.
He kept telling me that the crayons were broken and I said no they are fine. When we got to our destination, What he was trying to tell me is that the crayons were really soft and bending!

Anyway, we didn't use our sewing kit or hats. We keep our boys hair cropped very short and they wont keep hats on so i just kinda rub the top of their heads with sunscreen.

 

[ColoradoLime]

These are all great - keep them coming!!

 

[timzagain]

1. Hats - didn't really use them
2. Sneakers - wore them on Day 1 and they made my feet hurt; switched to my favourite Reef sandals for the rest of the trip
3. Reading material - I love to read, but I just didn't get the chance to do much of it on vacation
4. Blow dryer & curling iron - didn't really use either
5. Extra sunglasses - at home, I rotate between 2 pairs, but I ended up wearing the same lightweight pair for the whole trip
6. Too many clothes - including a dressy just-in-case outfit I didn't use.
7. First aid supplies - took way more than we needed; next time it'll be allergy meds, Advil or Aleve, chewable or quick-melting kids pain/ fever meds, Band-Aids and Neosporin to go. For anything else, there are first aid stations, and 24 hour Walmart stores

 

[chesterpdt186]

1. Extra shoes other then good walking pair and pool pair
*the pool pair should be able to fill in if your walking pair gets wet it is florida
(my wife had brought like 4 pairs for a 4 day trip. and we are locals)


2. umbrellas, waste of space, if it rains down here it will mostly be coming from the side, and you wont want to lug it around. Use ponchos instead

Also in worst cases
"If you don't have it, and need it, go buy it"

 

[The Hendies]

I am a classic 'mini' packer. Yes, I bring the first aid supplies, OTC medications, sewing kit, etc, but I bring just the basics. Who cares if the tack down a white button with blue thread? Fix it when you get home. 4 - 5 band aids will do, anything more and you can go to first aid in the parks. I agree with umbrellas. No one wants to walk through the parks dodging everyone else's umbrellas. The only thing I brought that I didn't need was extra long pants and heavy jacket, even in December. But, December in Florida can be quite chilly, we were just lucky.

 

[EmpressBubbles]

I agree with the umbrellas. Who wants to pack it around waiting for it to rain?

 

[WalkingintheFog]

I went in the last half of September last year.
Here's what I crossed off my list for this September:

Dark clothes (no black jeans or tops).
In fact no demins, and more lightweight clothing.
Umbrella (disposable raincoats yes, umbrella no)
Books (other than my Disney guide book of course!).... that includes work-related info.
Hangers (because I could have gotten as many as I wanted just by calling housekeeping)
Ipod (the laptop had all the music, and speakers too....and I didn't go for long walks in the morning... did that all at the parks).
Camera case that clipped on to waist (I was too nervous that it could slip off my waistband and I would lose the camera... it was a small camera and easily slipped into my front pocket or (sorry) fannypack.

 

[Orangeandwild]

Just went in May....

Umbrella, never rained while we were there and no intention of carrying that thing all day anyway

Sweater..it was in the 90s everyday we were there, never needed it even in the room

Jewelry..Brought several differnt necklaces and ended up not wearing any as I did not want sun screen to get on them. Wore the same pair of Disney earrings whole trip.

 

[housetomouse]

Beach towels (it was too cold to need them)

Extra shoes/sandals in case main pair was causing blisters or feet were hurting. I have various foot problems, so I'm not sorry I brought my extras for just in case. Really didn't need the extra shoes/sandals for the kids, though.

Water shoes

Extra bathing suits (it was too cold to swim for most of our trip)

Extra swim shirts

Too many shorts; too many sleeveless shirts (it was cold while we were there)

Sand toys (got a bucket and shovel from Hurricane Hanna's)

Drinks (we drove, so brought bottled water, gatorade, wine, and beer, but we stayed concierge so really didn't need to bring drinks. We'd never stayed concierge, though, so didn't know what to expect. The only thing that came in handy was bringing a bottle or 2 of water into the parks).

Cooler (we had no need for it while at WDW, but liked it for the ride to and from WDW)

Extra sunscreen (just had too much)

Raincoats and ponchos (it didn't rain)

Very glad we had: enough socks (almost ran out); underwear (same); power strip for charging electronics; extra ballcaps; fleece jackets; long pants.

 

[housetomouse]

BUT...one good thing that I put in last minute that was a huge help---a pop up hamper!! We put all our dirty, sweaty clothes in it and on our day off, I just hauled that to the laundry! Made it so much easier!!

Same here! I brought 2 of them and filled them both. It helped keep the mess off of the floor.

 

[housetomouse]

1. Reading material - I love to read, but I just didn't get the chance to do much of it on vacation
2. First aid supplies - took way more than we needed; next time it'll be allergy meds, Advil or Aleve, chewable or quick-melting kids pain/ fever meds, Band-Aids and Neosporin to go.

Same and same. I brought too much to read, and way too much in the way of first aid supplies.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

My sister went to Cuba a while ago, she asked for some Packing tips.
I just found the email I sent her:

• Leave the dark/black slacks and tshirts at home... you'll thank me.

• Ditto for the padded bras and spanx.

• If you're bringing the white shorts/slacks/skirt, leave out the dark undies and the smiley face undies... unless you want to make people smile.

• Pack your bag and then take 1/3 the clothes out. You WILL only wear 1/2 of the clothes you first put in there (FACT)
  (For 1 week, really: 2 swimsuits (bikini + 1 pc), 2 pr capris/summer pants; 1 pr shorts; 4 tops; light dress or skirt, 2 prs sandals, 1 pr walking shoes/sneakers. A lightweight shawl can do double duty as a shawl or a sarong for over your hips.)

• Make sure your carry on contains swimsuit, sarong, clean undies, top, shorts, and comfy sandals. That way you'll still have a good trip even if the checked bag is lost.

• Buy a $1 bottle of sunlight soap dishliquid, empty it, and fill it w/ liquid Tide. Double bag it in ziplocs. Double bag in ziplocs ALL liquids you're bringing.

• Bring a pair of loose PJ pants for lounging in room.

• Bring earplugs, little scissors, little sewing kit.

• Adhesive tape is priceless. A few Immodium. Roll of Tums. Roll of Tylenol. Aloe. Benadryl. Blistex SP1000 for your lips (and ears too). Waterproof sunscreen.

• Disposable plastic raincoat in your bag everyday not spent in swimsuit. A handheld fan or misting fan bottle. Pack of gum.

• Don't bother w/ foundation. Bring waterproof mascara if at all. Don't bother w/ hairspray or gel or mousse.

• Get waxed a few days before you go. Loofah daily.

• Drink more (bottled) water than booze (I know you will, just pass it on to your friends)

• Take the bedspread off the bed, fold it and put it away. Do you have any idea how infrequently they are washed, and yet how many people sit nakey on them? (same things with the chairs in the rooms..sit on them, just not nakey!)

• I bring my own pillow, but that's because I'm a princess.

• Don't prop the room door open... there are snakes and spiders.

• When you go snorkeling and use THEIR snorkel + mask, be sure they've sanitized it and rinse it well yourself ..before chewing on the snorkel that countless others have chewed on....just to be safe! If you're going catch a communicable disease, catch it because you've been.... communicating.

• Taking your camera? Make the 1st picture on it a picture of your name/ email addr/hotel. Just in case you leave it somewhere. And take ziplocs everywhere you take your camera... in case of downpour. Triple zip it before you take it into the water.

• If you get your hair braided on the beach, remember to put sunscreen on your scalp (because you know you won't really wear a hat).

• Keep the air conditioning in the room to a minimum: it will be easier to deal with the outside heat and you won't get a sore throat due to dryness in the room.

• Winter boots, snowsuit, mitts for arriving back home. What? It's early April that you come home? Make sure it's the waterproot snowsuit and mitts then.

• 
  Have a good trip.

She actually went 1 up on me: First full day at the resort she went to the Salon and had her long hair cut chin length! I actually walked past her in the airport a couple times when I went to pick her up!

 

[BellesFavoriteBook]

Because of the swine flu scare, I took too much hand sanitizer (would have been fine with one bottle and some single wipes), water shoes that I didn't use (didn't go swimming @ the resort pool and also stayed in the room when my sister and her family went to the beach, I was worn out from the Epcot day the day before).

 

[AnastasiaTremaine]

WalkingintheFog, that was such an awesome list! Thank you so much for sharing your travel wisdom

 

[Shagley]

This September we are only taking carry on luggage, so we are only going to be able to fit in the bare minimum. What I won't be taking is...

*Beach towels (will just ask for extra hotel towels)
*long pants (only shorts & capris)
*too many clothes - only taking enough for 1/2 the trip (will do laundry once)
*too many shoes (only tennis shoes & keens)
*hairdryer (will have one in room), curling iron, makeup, or too many hair styling products.
*too many first aid products or OTC medications. Just a small amount of the necessities (ibuprofen, benadryl, band aids, triple antibiotic ointment, eye drops, etc.)