To wash or not to wash?

[cmbpanda]

We are going to wdw for 2 weeks in April, my usual holiday philosophy is not to do any washing / laundry while I'm away ( there r 4 of us, me DH, DS12 and DD10). This is our first time in Florida, we usually do beach holidays in the med, so we mostly wear swim gear, which we just rinse out and take a few shorts etc for the evenings. My inclination is to try to do without laundry in Florida, but I'm aware that may be too much to take for 2 weeks. Also I've heard that there isn't a lot of drawer / storage pace for clothes in the wdw hotel rooms. What do others do? Do you pack as much as much as you can ( within weight limits) and avoid laundry or do you cut down in the packing and make use of the laundry room?

If you use the laundry how does that work? Do you have to sit & wait for the machine or do you go off to the pool or bar while its doing its thing? How long does it take? & is it a big inconvenience to fit in in the middle of an action packed holiday. Just interested to hear others strategies

 

[Holstar]

We're going to be a part of 5 - me, my partner and three girls (one of which is a teenager and owns more clothes than me!), and for us using laundry facilities will be a must.

We're sharing a 5 person room, so space for us is going to be limited, and watching room videos on YouTube, it doesn't look like there's much storage. We're going for just under three weeks, and planning on taking about a weeks worth of clothes (4 x shorts, 2 x skirts, a couple of day dresses), plus a nice dress or two, shoes, swimwear etc.

I hate doing laundry on holiday too, but the way I'm trying to look at it is that there will be more room in my suitcase for things and clothes that I buy!

 

[chmurf]

We always do the laundry when we're in Florida. We can travel lighter (and have more room in the suitcases to pack all the things we shop

how does it work ? (WDW hotels)

By each pool, you'll find a utility building. In one part of those buildings there are showers, sometimes lockers, restrooms and a laundry.
You'll need your room key to enter the laundry

You'll find several washing machines and dryers. All are coin operated. You'll need $2 to operate a washing machine or a dryer (8 quarters) there is also a changing machine you can put your bills in to get quarters.
There is also a Washing Powder dispenser (coin op) (single dose of Tide)

a Cycle (washing or drying) is basically 30 minutes long.

What we do is go to the pool. We try to do that often as it is a convinient break from the park in the afternoon when the crowds are large in the parks and when the heat is too much to stand in lines.
For example :
I enter the pool with DS while DW goes to the laundry and starts a washing machine.
she then joins us in the pool.
Once 30 minutes have passed, one of us goes back to the laundry, put the clothes in the dryer and start a cycle, then go back to the pool with the others.
Once another 30 minutes have passed, we all go out of the pool, dry ourselves, and we go to the laundry where there is a table where we fold our clothes and put them back into a large bag.

We then go to the room for a quick shower.

No time lost.

 

[ClaireW]

Even though I try to pack as economically as I can I still find that we need to wash some things on a trip that length because we often get through two outfits (at least top half) every day - often showering and changing to go out again after an afternoon break.

I've done this once at a DVC resort where we had our own laundry facilities but on previous occasions I just took some travel wash and rinsed a few things in the sink every couple of days. This had the added benefit of saving a few little girls items covered in ice cream, etc that would most likely have been stained/spoiled if they hadn't been washed and instead had sat in the dirty washing for a week or so before we got them home to wash.
I did this to save me having to take time out to use the hotel laundry facilities.

As for storage, as a family of four we've not found it a huge issue but I have used empty suitcases for some items and never attempted to put everything away. We could have benefitted from a few more hangers on occasion but I guess a call to housekeeping would soon rectify that

 

[2Tiggies]

I never pack more than 5 or 6 days worth of clothing, at the most, even though we have always stayed longer than 2 weeks. When we have some pool time I pop the laundry into the washer, and half an hour or so later I come and transfer it to the drier. By the time we've had our shower after a swim I can just collect it. I take a lightweight mesh laundry hamper with us and it stands in the vanity area of our room and all dirty laundry goes in there during the day so it's easy. to just tip it into the machine every 5 days or so

 

[Kath2003]

We always do a load of laundry. Virtually no hassle as you can just sit by the pool whilst it's on. Saves doing it at home with jet lag and makes it easier to travel light. We just put laundry into a couple of carrier bags at the bottom of one of the wardrobes then take them down to the laundrette when they're full or we're almost out of clothes. It means we don't need to check bags and we're not tripping over stuff constantly either.

 

[darthtatty]

we take everything we need and we use it all.
we usually take 4 cases for the 3 of us but pay the extra £35 approx for an extra case.

Ive tried numerous times to do washing on each of our visit but its usually busy. everytime ive gone to have a look, theres been a queue of at least 4 people waiting to use the machines. We usually stay at CR, so im guessing it would depend on what hotel youre at.
Id rather not waste time waiting to do washing on holiday when ive paid a fortune to holiday.
Ive never had a problem with storage for clothes either.
we manage to unpack our 4 cases and fit everything into the rails, drawers and there usually a big cupboard too.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

The thought of 2-3 weeks worth of sweaty socks and undies sat in the case is enough for me to do laundry while away

 

[cmbpanda]

we take everything we need and we use it all.
we usually take 4 cases for the 3 of us but pay the extra £35 approx for an extra case.

Ive tried numerous times to do washing on each of our visit but its usually busy. everytime ive gone to have a look, theres been a queue of at least 4 people waiting to use the machines. We usually stay at CR, so im guessing it would depend on what hotel youre at.
Id rather not waste time waiting to do washing on holiday when ive paid a fortune to holiday.
Ive never had a problem with storage for clothes either.
we manage to unpack our 4 cases and fit everything into the rails, drawers and there usually a big cupboard too.

Thanks a lot. We are staying at CR & it was the thought of having to queue for a machine or having to keep going back to check that would irritate me. It's not the process of doing the laundry that bothers me. It's the faff of checking for a machine or sitting in a laundrette waiting to bag a machine when I'm on holiday. The jury is still out, but if there is enough storage I might go with the usual strategy of taking everything and just doing washing if we run out or if it happens to be convenient.

 

[darthtatty]

Thanks a lot. We are staying at CR & it was the thought of having to queue for a machine or having to keep going back to check that would irritate me. It's not the process of doing the laundry that bothers me. It's the faff of checking for a machine or sitting in a laundrette waiting to bag a machine when I'm on holiday. The jury is still out, but if there is enough storage I might go with the usual strategy of taking everything and just doing washing if we run out or if it happens to be convenient.

yeah that was the annoying thing, keep going back and checking.
weve been in May & August, so its at different times of the year too.
When weve been in May and all our clothes are soaked from the rain. weve had to dry clothes on hangers around the room and bathroom.
we have a disabled son and take a few medical items, so thats why we have an extra case. otherwise we could easily fit things into 3 cases.

If youre at the CR- you should get a large set of drawers by 1 bed. a very large cabinet in the middle of the 2 beds, it looks small but theres loads of room in there. In the wardrobe there is a small set of drawers-usually good for kids clothes/underwear/t-shirts etc. plus we stack clothes on top of this. then theres 2 large rails, with a shelf above.
we usually manage to store a couple of suitcases in here too.

I think there should be pictures at the start of my trip reports.
just had a look but theres not really any clear pics.
Im sure ive got some, somewhere-will have to look for them.
If you look in the resort section, theres a CR thread and theyve got loads of pics.

 

[scoobydooby]

I always do mid holiday laundry and again the day before we leave. I get up at dark o' clock to guarantee use if the facilities and have a lone swim in the quiet pool.

 

[wayneg]

If we are away for 2 week or less we take enough clothes to not wash, any longer then we do a few bit in the sink unless staying at OKW, its so easy to use the washers by the pool we do a load everytime we swim.

 

[darthtatty]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3049229

heres the CR topic.
theres 2 rails in 1 side of the wardrobe, we tend to put cases at the bottom and not use the bottom rail.
the only thing lacking is coathangers.
Shame they dont have clearer pictures of the middle cupboard as it really is roomy.

Its also got useful info about the laundry room.

 

[cmbpanda]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3049229

heres the CR topic.
theres 2 rails in 1 side of the wardrobe, we tend to put cases at the bottom and not use the bottom rail.
the only thing lacking is coathangers.
Shame they dont have clearer pictures of the middle cupboard as it really is roomy.

Its also got useful info about the laundry room.

Thanks I have seen the CR thread. It's fab, but wasn't sure how busy the laundry gets etc. also even with all the fab pics I couldn't work exactly what storage was between the beds or next to the bed in the corner where the table is, so your info is really helpful

 

[2Tiggies]

The thought of 2-3 weeks worth of sweaty socks and undies sat in the case is enough for me to do laundry while away

^^^^ This!!!!

Throw a few laundry tablets in the suitcase and WASH THOSE SOCKS!

 

[queendisney]

We always do a wash a couple of times. Its so much easier with lack of storage space in the room and obviously luggage space to just take enough for maybe a 5 days to a week. You will prob find like a lot of us do, that if you take enough for the whole holiday you will overpack and not wear most of it! Its lovely to chuck it in the machine and go for a swim in the evening.

 

[Elise79]

We always wash while we are in Florida.

We used to do it a mid stay wash when we took all our clothes over with us. One afternoon when we were at the pool I would just do the washing at the same time.

We now stay in one bed DVC villas so have an in room washer dryer and keep most clothes in an Owners Locker so I wash most days and do a final wash in the last night before repacking the OL.

It really doesn't bother me - its not like I have stand and watch it or do it my hand.

 

[cmbpanda]

The thought of 2-3 weeks worth of sweaty socks and undies sat in the case is enough for me to do laundry while away

LOL. Yeah if we were socks & trainers people I think I may be more inclined to investigate the laundry! But hoping it will be 2 weeks of crocs & sandals weather, so no sweaty socks. As for undies we generally hand wash them every couple of days.

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

I NEVER do any washing whilst we're away and as you can see by my pics we're a family of 4, me , DH, DS15 and DS17. We go to WDW for holidays ranging from 9 nights to 14 nights.

I pack 2 pairs of clean undies per person per day (1 lot for the morning and another clean lot for after the shower in the afternoon). We all take about 4 or 5 pairs of socks but as we wear Merrell sandals they normally come back unworn ...... so no smell Each pair of shorts can be worn twice and a clean t-shirt/shirt for everyday plus a few extras. We also buy clothing whilst we're out there. I also tend to throw in a pair of jogging bottoms and a pair of jeans per person. We take 4 cases which are about 2/3rds full outbound and busting on the way home

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Most of the laundry facilities are right by the pool so I don't mind doing laundry. I put a load or two in if no one else is doing laundry. Which I hav never encountered anyone else using the machines so I can do two or three loads at once. The SSR has a huge laundry room by the main pool with 4 washing machines and 8 dryers. Then I go sit by the pool. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to wash and dry a load.

I always do laundry half through our trip and again the night before we leave since I can do about three loads in less than an hour and a half where as at home I would have to do each load one at a time. Again I spend time at the pool while the clothes or washing. Then when I get home all the clothes go into the drawers and I don't have to worry about washing all those clothes when i get home.

If you are staying at a DVC resort doing laundry is free just bring soap or you can buy it for $2 a box in the vending machines. Just be sure to bring some dryer sheets from home otherwise it will cost you another $2 for softner.