To launder or not to launder, that is the question...

[MacFam4]

I swore I would never to laundry while on vacation...and I never have. But this time around we will be at WDW/traveling for a total of 9 days. In the past, we've gone during November, which meant cooler weather and we would wear our jeans twice. This year we're going the end of May, so no more recycling clothes!

I'm trying to decide if I should buy us each (there's 4 of us) additional outfits, or just wash during the middle of our trip. We will have one day in the middle while we're just lounging by the pool/rest day.

For those of you who launder, is it inconvenient? What type of detergent do you bring? We'll be staying at POFQ.

By the way...52 more days til we're at the Mouse House

 

[scrapquitler]

I wash, but we stay offsite in a place with a washer/dryer in the condo, and I do laundry every other night. Even in a hotel, I would do it.

 

[d's do disney]

I don't find it inconvenient at all. I used to refuse to do laundry too. But one trip, my little guy was really sick and his clothes needed to be washed. It was so easy... POFQ is relatively small, so the washers are very conveniently located. So, now I do laundry mid-way through EVERY trip. LOL Sometimes I do it while my family is ordering dinner at the food court and then switch it after we eat. Sometimes I throw it in while they're swimming or my DH's in the hot tub. Not really that big a deal for me...

As far as detergent, I've done it all. Powder in baggies, small liquid containers, sample sizes and even the purell sheets. They were all just as easy as the next. The purell sheets are probably the easiest and neatest. But, I have to admit, I hate laundry at home. Somehow at Disney, it's not that bad. My DH says even laundry is magical at Disney!!! And maybe he's right!

 

[Britgirlus]

I didn't plan on doing laundry on our trip to POFQ last May, but we were there during monsoon week, so ran out of dry clothes It wasn't so bad - we went to the pool between loads washing and drying (it's right by the pool), so no a big deal at all

 

[amamax2]

We were at WDW last Sept, staying at CBR, and I did laundry twice while we were there - super easy!! I would do it again in a heartbeat to not have to bring extra luggage.

The first time I did it in the early evening while we all were swimming; the second time early morning ( I got to see all the maintainence workers cleaning up the resort, the joggers, and the most beautiful sunrise!). Everyone showered and got dressed when the clothes were washing; I threw them in the dryer and we went to breakfast; pulled them out and we headed to the parks - it was time we would have been at the resort anyways.

I brought pre-measured powdered detergent in doubled-ziplock bags and several rolls of quarters. MAKE SURE you have change because the change machine did not work in the laundromat! I put all the dirty stuff in a suitcase, rolled it over to the laundromat, then when everything was dry, folded it and put it back into the suitcase to wheel back to the room.

Both times no one else was using the machines (although the second time someone came just as I was finishing) so I had them all to myself - did three loads at the same time.

The laundromats are locked - you need to use your room key to access them - so I felt my clothes were pretty safe to leave whille they washed and dried.

HTH

 

[tinkermom23]

IMO, no big deal. The laundry at the resorts is next to a pool so we just throw it in and play at the pool, then DH watches kiddos while I check on the laundry. It's nice not to pack so much and not to have 10 days of laundry to do when I get home.
Last trip I had a bunch of 1 or 2 load detergent packets and it worked fine. This time I got the purex sheets to use. I have a m&m tube filled with quarters (enough to wash/dry 6 loads) and that's my limit. Oh, I also have a free sample from somewhere of a Shout color sheet that you can throw in the wash if you have mixed colors. It is suppose to catch the color so it doesn't settle and you can wash lights with darks. ????

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I did 2 loads of laundry at Pop a few years ago. I put a roll of quarters, Tide liquid packets and dryers sheets into a large Ziplock bag. When it was time to do laundry I just tossed the bag with the dirty clothes into my fold-up hamper. There were so many people in and out of the laundry room pulling their suitcases because they didn't have fold-up hampers, fumbling with the change machine and complaining about the high price of detergent. I felt a little smug since I had my perfect laundry system all figured out!

 

[kampfirekim]

I did 2 loads of laundry at Pop a few years ago. I put a roll of quarters, Tide liquid packets and dryers sheets into a large Ziplock bag. When it was time to do laundry I just tossed the bag with the dirty clothes into my fold-up hamper. There were so many people in and out of the laundry room pulling their suitcases because they didn't have fold-up hampers, fumbling with the change machine and complaining about the high price of detergent. I felt a little smug since I had my perfect laundry system all figured out!

Great system! I take my own supplies too! Besides, it'll just be that much less laundry to do when you get home! Been known to get a little smug myself. If I have a lotta laundry, I've been known to use a stroller to carry it in.

 

[tinkermom23]

I've been known to use a stroller to carry it in.

heck yeah! I just strolled right over to the laundry with my big laundry sack and supplies in the stroller! Kids trailing behind with DH!
I think they had stroller parking outside the Laundry Building at ASMovies !!

 

[ohanaMAMA]

I have done both. one year I packed for everyone for the whole trip. It was a LOT of luggage. The next year I put a lot of thought into it.

This is my system.

We drive to Disney..and find that while our mini van has a lot of seating? It has very little luggage space. Soo....

Instead of using suitcases or luggage I pack us into two laundry baskets.
Our trips are always 6 days 5 nights long. For each person I pack 7 shirts and 4 pairs of shorts. One pair of nice jeans for dinner one night and enough underwear/socks for the entire trip. When we arrive at our resort I unpack the baskets and then put them in the closet area. One basket is designanted "darks" one is "lights" and as we wear our clothes they are separated appropriately.(I have a collapseable hamper for socks and underwear.) Halfway through the trip I do two loads of clothes. One of lights, one of darks. viola! everyone has more than enough clean clothes to finish the trip. AND by the end of the trip the clothes are already separated for washing when we get home!

In the past I have just packed a ziplock full of whatever laundry soap I use at home.. But THIS YEAR.. I LOVE the new purex all in one laundry sheets. I plan to just slip a couple in a ziplock with a roll of quarters and I will be set!

 

[indimom]

during our first trip to Disney. BUT, about halfway through the week, DH decided he wanted to wear some of his most comfie outfits again, so he did all our laundry. We figured out it's painless, convenient during pool time, and we don't have to pack as much.
Very nice to come home without a pile of dirty laundry. (BUT WATCH THOSE SOCKS or USE A LAUNDRY BAG, WE LOST TWO - UNMATCHING OF COURSE - ON OUR LAST TRIP.)

 

[MacFam4]

Thank you all for the advice/tips. I think I'm going to do laundry after all. We would be fine washing one load of lights and one load of darks. That will save me from having to buy about 3 extra outfits each, and since there's 4 of us, that would be 12 extra outfits to buy

 

[notsosnowwhite]

We do laundry on our longer trips - I still think it's a little bit of a pain, but worth it to not have to pack as much. I send away for free samples of detergent during the months before the trip (Walmart has these often) and don't have to buy detergent on site. Good luck!

 

[brymolmom]

I love doing laundry on trips. For me, it saves from having to wear the 'less liked' clothes - you know - you always bring a pair or two of shorts that aren't as comfortable, etc. By doing laundry - we can wear our favorites all the time. I also hate to pack and haul a ton of suitcases - not worth it IMO. So I pack a fold-up laundry hamper (same as a PP, I also use it for short trips - just easier to throw dirty clothes in there). I bring the detergent sheets - someone may correct me but I think they are PUREX and it is a sheet that looks like a fabric softener sheet - but it has detergent AND fab softener in it. So you put it in the washing machine and then transfer it to the dryer along with your clothes. WAY easier than packing liquid or powder (that I had get all over my luggage once). I HIGHLY recommend buying a package of these. I think I got mine at Target.

I always make some new friends in the laundry room at POP too!

 

[southcarolinagirl]

We always do laundry midway thru our 8 day trips. Purex, popup hamper & roll of qtrs already packed. No biggie!

 

[kampfirekim]

I love doing laundry on trips. For me, it saves from having to wear the 'less liked' clothes - you know - you always bring a pair or two of shorts that aren't as comfortable, etc. By doing laundry - we can wear our favorites all the time. I always make some new friends in the laundry room at POP too!

That's what I'm talking about! I used to have those few uncomfortable items too. I like to take a little extra detergent, just in case someone gets in a pinch. It feels good to share.

 

[Fantasmic23]

Big time Laundry Lady here!! While I hate doing laundry at home, I don't mind at all when we're on vacation. Yes, (like a pp's DH said), even laundry is magical at WDW! Any chance I can pay extra and have Pluto come to help me fold clothes?

We've always stayed off-site in a condo in the past and mid-week, I've done a load or two. In late November we'll be at POP (our first time at a WDW resort!!) and I'm adding a pop-up hamper and those Purell/Purex sheets to my TO BUY list.

A POP Laundry Meet anyone?

 

[sjs314]

I use to always did laundry when my boys were younger, it gave everyone some resort downtime, either at the pool or arcade or even napping, the pluses for me where not dragging home so many dirty clothes that my first day back home all I did was wash clothes. We are staying in a villa this year with a washer and dryer so yes I will be washing , not taking as much with us for the trip to keep baggage down at the airport. Already bought my purex 3 in 1 sheets(wish they had those years ago I always bought what I needed in the on site laundermat)

 

[puffkin]

I used to be in the camp that there was absolutely no way I would ever do laundry on vacation. Now we are DVC and I love doing it on vacation. We pack tons less and I abosultely love coming home with most of my clothes clean. WE are staying in a studio this year, so no washer/dryer in the room, but I still plan on doing laundry during the week. The Purex sheets are FANTASTIC!

 

[budbeerlady]

When our last trip was 10 days in August we had to do laundry. I wasnt paying all the extra bag fees to bring enough clothes. (It was 2 shirts a day weather!)

We stayed at ASMu in the broadway section. We were right by the piano pool and the laundry. So one Wednesday afternoon we swam and did laundry. It really didnt take too long, we were the only ones in there so we had free range. I plan on doing it again this year because I had to pay luggage fees so if I can squeeze Dd and I into 1 bag it will save me $40!