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

[jaz211228]

Especially for traveling with young children....copies of birth certificates. We've had our shrunk down to credit card size and laminated. This way we can keep them in our wallets. This was suggested to us by a Southwest Airlines worker.

 

[lajones81]

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?

I doubt that the blanket is washed daily, too.

 

[highland3]

Rain ponchos....

I have read this on the boards before and I can't agree more. Take along at least two sets of cheapiies from the dollar store. We only took one set and they rip easily. To buy four more in the parks cost $25!!!!!!!

 

[Laurabearz]

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).

I have a funny story about this.... Way back in 1992 I went to WDW and lost a roll of film. About 2 weeks after I got home I got a call from a Chicago Police officer asking if I was at WDW recently... not know how to answer (cops asking after all) I fessed up to being there. ANyway he said he found a roll of filw while there and got it developed.... In one of the photos was of us on top of our car (we drove that trip). This cop... who happened to also be from Chicago... traced our licence plate and viola! HE called to return the photos!

How cool is that??

Anyway I second bringing zip lock bags. I pack complete outfits for our kids in ziplock baggies... shirt, pants, unides, socks.... that way the kids just grab a bag inthe morning... and for the baby we grab an extra bag for the diaperbag.

 

[Alysa]

what a nice police officer!

 

[doorcounty1]

There are two things I can't live without. My fan, ( so I can't hear my husband's snoring), and my brita fill and go water bottle ( I cant stand paying for all that water in the parks, and the water fountain water tastes bad until i put it through the brita bottle)

 

[juliesue]

Most of these have been mentioned before, but here goes:

1) Laundry tablets/dryer sheets/quarters- to do laundry at least 2 times for a week trip. We only pack for 3 days each and do laundry during our pool time.

2) Ziplocs - God's gift to all families!! LOL

3) Nightlights - It get's very dark in the rooms. My 8 and 11 year olds still need these.

4) Kid's Tylenol, etc - Just in case. We have had illness happen on a couple of our trips.

5) 2 swim suits per person - They just never seem to dry out overnight.

6) Rain gear - Please be aware that buying Disney ponchos is not only very expensive - everyone looks exactly alike in them. But a couple of cheap Dollar store ones (in any color but yellow) and you will have a much easier time tracking your party.

7) Uncrustable sandwiches - if you have access to a refrigerator with a feezer, these are a great snack for the park. Put a frozen sandwich into each person's fanny pack. By the time they are hungry, the sandwich will be thawed. Makes a great snack and much cheaper than Disney snacks.

What NOT to Bring (imho)

1) Strollers - These are easy and cheap to rent by the day at the park. They are also a major pain for you and everyone around you at the airport and on Disney transportation.

2) A huge diaper bag/backpack - Unless you have a stroller to hang this on, you are going to wear yourself out with this. Pack ONLY what you need for the day - and avoid the temptation to overpack.

Well, I better get back to my family now. Funny, they seem to want dinner tonight! LOL

 

[mepperson]

What a great thread. I am SO glad I found it. This is our first ever trip to WDW, so I am writing everything down!!!

Thanks so much - and keep them coming, please! Mary

 

[Hockeychic]

Great tips everyone thanks

 

[ryan840]

I found the Brita Fill & Go bottles at walmart, and picked some up to sell on ebay, to help fund my trip... I was looking at the bids, and someone actually paid $50 for one!!!! (it was a multiple item auction, and they ordered TWO!!) Why would someone do that? It was not my auction, and I wouldn't accept that much if it was! I just can't believe what people do on ebay...

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

LOL, instead of writing everything down I just opened notepad on my PC, then I copy and paste all the ideas to print out later. Saves my hand!

 

[Neecoal]

I always pick up a bath mat (the no slip kind) at the dollar store. I just leave it behind when we leave.

 

[Ambassador]

Pack no individual luggage weighing more than fifty pounds. Orlando skycaps are independant of the airlines, with their own rules and standards. We had to pull sixteen pounds of clothing out of one bag, to be re-distributed among our over-stuffed few remaining bags.

 

[Rachie0507]

Anyway I second bringing zip lock bags. I pack complete outfits for our kids in ziplock baggies... shirt, pants, unides, socks.... that way the kids just grab a bag inthe morning... and for the baby we grab an extra bag for the diaperbag.

Oh, I love that idea!!! That must make packing much easier and also save time when getting ready. I will definately be trying that!!

 

[northwds]

Love this thread.....anymore ideas from those who have been to WDW recently? Thanks

 

[mistaroo]

Great suggestions! Photocopying the passes and putting the towel over the door are two great ideas I hadn't heard of before now. Here are some items I was glad I had during my recent trip-

- hairdryer, if you need a more powerful blow dry
- dishwashing detergent and bottle brush for washing baby bottles
- baby thermometer and vaseline in addition to standard first aid items (why do fevers tend to spike late at night afer the stores close?)
- water bottle fan. I bought mine at Walmart for $5 but they were selling them in the parks for $18!

Definitely buy the ponchos if you are going in the summer when afternoon thunderstorms are often a daily occurence. Instead of listening to the wise advice given by my fellow DISers, I let my relatives talk me out of bringing some dollar store ponchos (why oh why didn't I listen? . Of course, I ended up paying $32 for three adult and two child ponchos in Epcot during a torrential downpour.

 

[chris7]

Just wanted to subscribe to this thread. Took me forever to get throught it because I kept having to cut and paste into my running WDW word doc.

 

[Laurajean1014]

On one of our 10 day trips, my DH noticed that no-one packed underwear for him. He only had on the purple (tighty whities) that he wore on the plane. We checked DTD and the biggest size (TW) were size 10 Buzz Lightyears.

We went to the outlets but totally forgot to buy underwear there!

Thankfully we had a one bedroom unit at OKW, so I washed them twice a day for him.....

Now he always packs enough underwear!

 

[lucyanna girl]

Sorry if this has already been posted.
I always take along Claritin and nose spray. Something about Florida, If DD and I don't use these we always get a sinus drip and end up going to the drugstore there. Now we start the day before we leave and never have a problem.
I also take along Ibuprofen, Something for upset tummys, and a thermometer. Nothing like waking in the middle of the night to a child who has a roaring fever and no way to see how high it is. Eye drops and fever blister medication. With six children we have had lots of small problems that are easy to fix with the right medication, but not so easy at a strange hotel in the wee hours in a strange city.

Oh, and don't forget the sunscreen and aftersun products. The prices on these in the parks are high.

 

[brandip22]

good idea about the claritin, lucyanna. I am from northeast La, too although I live in Baton Rouge now and we need this all the time. Now, I'll make sure we take it on our trip!