Things you don't think of until you're there...

[ryan840]

OK, gimme your best. I need to start planning my suitcase, so what things do I need to bring? I know the essentials, sunscreen, bathinkg suits, toiletries, first aid kit, diaper bags, proper clothes, extra underwear, etc... but what things do you wish you knew to bring beforehand? One thing I saw on another post was to write your name on your photopass as soon as you get it, so I know I'll need a permanent marker... what else? (ok, I admit, I may be planning a bit early, but its all in good fun!) It will be my husband and I with our (then) 21 month old son. While we're on it, what things don't we need that people tend to pack?

 

[orangebreezer]

Coffee mugs, my hubby loves his coffee and we always end up having to buy mugs because he will not drink it from a polystyrene cup. I also pack a couple of plastic cups for the kids and plastic forks and spoons.

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

For those with small kids:
making individual ziploc bags for meals including disposible sippy cup, disposable bib, fork/spoon and disposable placemat is a life saver! I also included some wet wipes for cleaning faces/hands. This made meals easier for me since I could buy one meal and split it between my dd and me. She didn't need a plate with the disposible mat.

 

[pezpam]

Photocopy the backs of your tickets! It's basically the only way to get new tickets if yours get lost.

I LOVE Brita Fill-n-go bottles. Sport bottles with filters built right in. The water at WDW doesn't agree with me or my daughter, but put it in one of these and it comes out as good as bottled water - and you can fill it for free from water fountains or even with free ice water from couter service places.

Also, traveling with kids, I have found it much easier to pack some laundry detergent tablets (powder would surely explode in my suitcase - just my luck) and fewer clothes. A lot of resorts have laudry facilities right next to the pool, so you can throw in a load or two while DH splashes with the kids, join them while things are in teh machine. The lower hassle factor of fewer/smaller suitcases makes this very worthwhile to me if I will be there for longer than I can cover with one suitcase of clothes.

I also skip the umbrellas. If it's cool, we have our sweatshirts tied around our waists anyway and we can put those on and pull up the hood. We won't stay out in the rain, but it suffices to get us where we need to go and between attractions.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Ziploc bags! We used them for everything. The gallon ones were great for holding maps and other collectibles we got in the park. They kept our stuff dry in the parks and you can roll the air out to compress everything. In our siutcases we used them for dirty clothes that didn't get washed while we were there. DH is famous for grabbing lots of napkins and these kept them organized. Also, put your sunscreen in them before you pack. We saved a suitcase full of clothes that way, the bottle exploded and it stayed in the ziploc bag. We usually pack a few of each size.

The other thing is the mini m&m tubes for change. Each of my kids got one for pennies and one for quarters for the press machines and if we bought anything with cash we threw the change in the tubes. They fit perfectly in there fanny packs and I wasn't lugging all the change around.

 

[zzammmi]

health insurance cards

 

[HenDuck]

air freshener for hotel room
house slippers or flipflops for dirty hotel room floors
car insurance card
birth certificate for minor children
phone numbers for physician's exchange and doctors' offices
extra camera battery
laundry bag

I'll keep thinking....

 

[cbrfan]

Lysol!! Or whatever disinfectant you prefer. We use it on the phone, doorknobs, remote ( also a good idea to put the remote in a ziplock bag) and on the headboards of the beds. Bathroom goes without saying. I'm not a total germ freak, but those are the things that can be really disgusting. I also request that mousekeeping put an additional top sheet over the blanket so it's kind of enclosed in something that's laundered regularly.

 

[llp479]

I always bring a night light for the room and plastic/disposable cups. Don't want to worry about dds breaking a glass.

 

[ryan840]

These are all great, keep em coming! Thanks!! Just a side note- don't they wash the blankets after each guest??

 

[Colinsmom]

No, blankets are not washed that regularly. I've heard about once a month.

Definitely night lights and ziploc bags, we used a lot of those. Travel size Purell and antibacterial wipes for meals on the go and snacks in the stroller. Cell phone charger cord, extra camera batteries (and charger) and memory sticks... I'll have to think more about this one!

 

[bengalbelle]

We brought pre-printed labels with our name and address and put them on our film canisters in case we lost them (hopefully someone would send them to us if found).
antibacterial gel
if you're driving there or from the airport, quarters for the tollbooths
moleskin for blisters

 

[robyn323]

These are great1 You've giving me stuff I didn't even think about! Now I'm busy writing.. Thanks

 

[LuvindisCruiser]

No, blankets are not washed that regularly. I've heard about once a month.

Definitely night lights and ziploc bags, we used a lot of those. Travel size Purell and antibacterial wipes for meals on the go and snacks in the stroller. Cell phone charger cord, extra camera batteries (and charger) and memory sticks... I'll have to think more about this one!

The blankets aren't washed daily? I hate to lay on the bedspreads in hotel rooms. If, I request a blanket to put over the bedspread, you don't think it would be a clean one form their laundry room?

 

[Drewandwendi]

Tape. I always need tape for something when on vacation. Tape and scissors-even if they are safety type. Also paper clips or clothes pins to close snack bags. Copy of home insurance papers.

Lysol is first on my list this trip after contracting MSRA. I will be pulling sheets, blankets and pillow cases off as soon as we walk in. We are bringing our own.

Oh, garbage bags-for dirty clothes or anything that might be wet on your way home.

Towels. Big bath sheets. Another thing I hate to use inhotels-their rough, nasty smelling towels. Wish we had a camper lol.

 

[Tara]

A pair of nail clippers for your purse or carry-on if you are flying. TSA puts zip-ties of checked luggage and there is nothing worse than needing something out of your suitcase right away and having to hunt down a pair of scissors to cut the stupid tie off so you can get in your bag!

 

[Catrin]

One thing we have loved having during our last few vacations is a mesh pop up hamper.
It was so easy keeping dirty clothes in the hamper, and then taking that to the laundry mid week.
It folded right in the suitcase pocket.

I will also second Ziplock Bags and water bottles. One thing that I will bring more of next time is Granola Bars....it is a lot cheaper bringing a few boxes instead of getting a snack from the vendors!~
Catrin

 

[makaira]

I did lose one of our parkhopper passes and was getting a little attitude when I tried to replace it. That was until I pulled out the photocopy of the back of the pass. It was smooth sailing after the CM saw that. Also, I carried a small pack of baby wipes in my pocket everyday to use after meals and snacks.......and bathroom breaks.

 

[cajunmommy]

A couple of hints I read on the Cruise Board that I forgot to use last trip...

-A big binder clip / chip bag clip / clothespin to help keep the curtains closed if you're averse to light leaking into the room while you're sleeping.

-Cheapy over the door shoe-holder to help organize toiletries, especially if you're staying in a Value resort where counter space around the sink is limited.

 

[agnes!]

I always pack nightlights, but not the 'bulb' kind anymore...since every time I did in the past the bulbs wouldn't work when we go to the hotel room. Now I pack these nightlights that are little flat panels...GE makes them plus I think one other co. I've seen this style of nightlight at my local Safeway as well as The Home Depot. (HD had a nice multi-pack that was quite a bit cheaper than Safeway of course.)

agnes!