The old Zip lock packing tip, how do you do it?

[disneyfan67]

I searched the boards for this tip I read about once, but I can't find it in the search feature. Could you nice DISer's help out a fellow member and explain to his wife how this works and how great it really is? When I try and expalin it to her, she looks at me like I have a third eye or something.LOL!


I actually need to learn how to do this as well. I saw some pretty big Zip lock bags at the store and was wondering what size to use? We will be traveling in August (hot and humid) and it will be two large adults and two 9 year old boys.I'm sure we will be going through clothes like crazy when we are there. We always run out of room in our suitcase when it comes time to pack and leave WDW and any extra space we can get would be helpfull. Maybe we shouldn't buy so much stuff when we're at WDW? Nah, like that would ever happen! Thanks for any help.


Eddie

 

[bobcat]

We've been using ziplocks for traveling for years. Kids can get by with a gallon size bag and I will use 2 gallon sizes for myself. All we do is put our clothes into the bags and squeeze out the air. I usually pack the clothes in outfits for the kids, shirt, shorts, underwear, socks all in one bag. I am less decisive before the trip what I will want to wear together so I may pack all of my socks and underwear in smaller bags, and then put a couple of shirts or shorts together in larger bags. All of my clothes are pretty mix and match for vacation anyhow but packing in outfits lets the kids get ready by themselves and I don't have to worry if they match or have clean clothes on during vacation. The kids just unpack their ziplocks straight from the suitcase to the drawers. Not only does this save space but I also don't have to worry about anything that might have been in the drawer before us.

We can then use the empty ziplocks to hold lots of things; food/snacks, wet clothing, really soiled clothes until we get home or do laundry, park maps and items I want to save for the scrapbook, legos from the lego store, etc.

Hope this helps!

 

[Disney Family 5]

I use Ziplocks for everything even at home!! I get the big newest size that is to hold soccer balls, baseballs, and all and the kids put their big trux and stuff in there.

On vacation, I put all our socks in one(per person) undies in another- this really helps keep everyones stuff separated. I never have done their outfits, but I probably will this year, especially for the younger 2. I also put all our toiletries that could leak in some as well.

I bring our detergent is a bag and then double bag it,just to be safe!! I hate to do laundry on vac., but 5 people and 7-9 days is a lot of clothes!! Besides, it cuts down on what I have to do when we get back!!

 

[JillandFamily]

I pack all my DD outfits in seperate ziplocks like previously mentioned. That way there are limited decisions in picking out outfits. I haven't tried for my DH and I - maybe next time.

 

[Alice Sr.]

They really work great. They help to keep your outfits organized, wrinkle free, and you can get more in the suitcase. I put a couple of outfits in one bag and then sit on it (lightly) while zipping it closed. I would never pack without using them again.

 

[magicaddict]

I do the "whole outfit per bag" method and I go a step further by marking on the writeable strip what day the outfit is to be worn. This really helps when I'm trying to coordinate both kids' outfits so they're matching for pictures or just to keep track of them. Some people have referred to me as obsessive but others thought the idea was great. It may take a little more time up front but once we're on vacation it makes getting ready so much quicker. We don't reuse the bags for dirty clothes so I just fold them up and use them for the next trip. I do recommed getting the sturdiest bags if you plan on reusing them as the cheaper ones tend to rip out at the seams after the second use. Good luck!

 

[katied]

I also use the ziplocks. It works great and saves a ton of space. The only thing is - when security hand searched my bag in Australia, they opened each and every ziplock. I had to reseal and resquish each one to make everything fit back in the suitcase. Otherwise, it's worked great everywhere else in the world (and in WDW too).

 

[disneyfan67]

Thanks people! You're the best and I really mean that.

I'm going to be giving it a try on this upcomming trip.




Eddie.

 

[emma'smom]

I packed all of dd1 and dd3's clothes using the "outfit per bag" method for our last trip. When we arrived in the hotel, I just pulled out all of the bags and tossed them in a drawer. We put the suitcases under the bed and grabbed an appropriate bag for each day. We also tossed a bag (or two) per child in the diaper bag. When we need the extra changes of clothes, we had a place to put wet/soiled clothing that protected the rest of the contents of the bag and contained unpleasant odors.

 

[KimRaye]

wrinkle free

How is this possible?! I LOVE the idea, but how are the clothes wrinkle-free??

TIA

 

[Alice Sr.]

How is this possible?! I LOVE the idea, but how are the clothes wrinkle-free??

TIA

I know I was extremely skeptical myself. But I think what happens is that the clothes don't move around in the suitcase. Some of the things that I don't iron before I put them in the bag look better when I take them out When is your next trip? Try it and let me know if you have the same results that I do.

 

[justplaingoofy]

I like the whole "one outfit in the back" method.. Works great for kids and adults that way you don't pack as much!.. Takes the guess work out of "hmmm what to wear..."

* If carrying more than one suitcase I like to split it up... So that each person has something in each bag in case one gets lost!

 

[tatooed goofy]

I love the ziploc bags. I use the gallon and pack outfits.....label for each day.
It is great to just grab a bag in the morning and go. Everyone has their outfits and gets ready on own. IT is Great!!

 

[momamy]

This is a great thread! i use ziplocks for everything! i cant wait to try theses ideas! thank you!

Amy

 

[jaycns]

The new larger size gallon bags let me pack adult size clothing too by the outfit. Which helps me out since I tend to be a bit of a time hog when it comes to picking out what I will wear each day! Less time at WDW picking what to wear means more time wearing it in the parks!! My boys LOVE being able to just pull open a hotel drawer, read the label on the bag (example: Animal Kingdom day) and zip the right bag open and presto...it's everything from the underwear to the outfit right there. That lets my young boys get themselves ready (and I still have them looking suitable...normally I don't mind what they come up with as matching, but I love buying Disney photos and in my old age I want to look back and see my family in matching clothes...not nec. to each other...just each person matching themselves). For us the ziploc bag has been a huge time saver in the mornings. A huge space saver in the suitcase and a huge help in having extra plastic closeable bags around for storing pins, foods, etc.

Also, it does take way more time to pack (esp. if you are like me and have to have everything planned down to the day of what you are going to wear when) but it saves so much "Disney time" that it is a trade off that is very worth it for me. Family together time at Disney is worth me staying up until 3 am the night before we leave squeezing the air out of ziploc bags and making lists of outfits!

Have fun at Disney!

 

[foxfire]

How is this possible?! I LOVE the idea, but how are the clothes wrinkle-free??

TIA

I am very careful when folding my clothes to put in ziplocks. It takes me a little longer but I make sure to really smooth out items and then I make the bags as airtight as possible. I put all t-shirts together, all shorts together, all jeans together, etc., socks, underwear, and such go in separate bags. There may be slight fold lines when I take the clothes out but rarely any wrinkles.

When I get to the resort, I just take the bags out of the suitcase and put them in the drawers. At night, I take out whichever tee/shorts/jeans I plan to wear the next day and hang them up. When I get a shower, I put the hanger on the back of the bathroom door so the steam can help release any fold lines, then I hang the outfit in the closet until the next morning. Since I first tried ziplock packing, I was hooked. It really does work to save tons of space and you can be virtually wrinkle free if you take the time to smooth clothes really well when packing.

I also put makeup, toiletries, and any loose or small items in ziplocks. Maps, reservation info, my AAA tourbooks/triptiks, etc. all go in ziplocks that I place in my travel bag for the car. It keeps things all together and so easy to keep track of them.

 

[hrj01]

This is the Greatest Idea I have heard for packing!!! I will be doing this to save time and not have to worry when I tell my daughter to get dressed that she will be in what I want her to wear and it be all in one place.

Thanks so much for the tips!!!!

 

[TNAngie]

One idea for folding the outfits is rolling them. I did this last year. I take the shirt and lay it flat, then I roll up the shorts and place them at the top of the shirt. Then, I fold the sleeves inward over the shorts and then roll both pieces together. I've even started doing this with pajamas at home, so the boys can just pick up a matching set without hunting through the drawers. I don't know if this makes any sense, or helps anyone, but it was worth a shot.
-- Angie

 

[hezreck]

I packed an extra duffel bag thinking I would need it on the way home for souveniers and stuff because our suitcase was completely full on the way down. Well, on the way home I rolled up all of our dirty clothes and had so much extra room in the suitcase that I didn't even need the duffel bag. Rolling clothes is the way to go from now on.

 

[KimRaye]

One idea for folding the outfits is rolling them. I did this last year.

So, rolling AND Ziploc works ok?


I'm hoping Ziploc goes on sale soon!