Too many bags - Am I insane???? Last pre-trip post!

[tkmmc]

O.K. We are FINALLY leaving early tomorrow morning after 9 months of Disboard obsession, packing, planning, ADRing, praying for good weather. We are driving down for a 9 night stay. I'm afraid they are gonna roll their eyes (at best) when we come barrelling in the doors of the WL. Baggage count so far:

1 midsized suitcase of clothing each for DH, myself, DD (7), DD (2)
1 Duffle Bag of towels, sunscreen, bathing suits, goggles for the pool.
1 large rolling duffle bag with in room snacks and quick breakfast goodies
1 duffle bag diapers, wipes, ointments
1 backpack with our toiletries & medicine
1 midsized suitcase with things for the room (power strip, night light, travel sized dish detergent & clothes detergent, just to name a few.) I like to call this bag: "I would've never known to pack this kind of stuff if not for the disboards."
1 tote bag with my kids' travel stuff for the car ride (crayons, books, travel games etc.)

So that's 10 bags! Not to mention the camera bag, my purse, the smaller diaper bag, an empty (small) soft-sided cooler for the parks... UGH 14 bags now!

Oh yeah, my pillows (can't get a decent sleep without them)

OH MY - The pak-n-play (yes, I know I could get one on site but I've read a few posts that suggested I should just bring my own)

DANG - the stroller

Man - a couple of cases of bottled water

I can't consolidate bags because they'd be too big to carry! I've really tried to ask myself if all of these things are necessary - I think they are. It's too late to turn back now. Everything is done, the car will soon be loaded!

Am I crazy or are there any other big packers out there? Please tell me I'm not the worst! I guess we'll tip big and smile a lot! I hope there's space left to sleep in our room!

Did I mention I have a VW Beetle? Just kidding!

O.K. fellow Dis-ers. This is my last post before our big trip. Thanks for the info, support and FUN!

 

[mommytoone]

Have a great time! I leave on Friday, and I feel like you. I have just started to pack today, and thank goodness I booked the flight before all the charges. I can check 2 bags each, 1 carry one each. There is just 2 of us I have to downsize our stuff. Now I am weeding out what is not necessary.

AGAIN HAVE A GREAT TIME, AND HOPING THE WEATHER IS GREAT!!!!!

 

[newholidayx2]

maybe i'll see you there
i leave next tues morning
spending my afternoons/nights at Off Kilter

Im flying delta so had to cut myself back to 1 checkin bag - never really took a carryon (just a personal item) so taking that long with my clothes - checkin bag has my liquids

 

[thegrimdwarf]

Holy cow. Have you made sure it'll all fit in your vehicle?

Having that many bags would drive me nuts. I would have bought bigger luggage so we'd have fewer bags. But I'll use any excuse to shop, lol.

Have a great trip!

 

[estherhead]

It's too late, just enjoy! But I will say, I think you could have done without. THe laundry is soooo easy at Disney I took half the clothes & did a washing half way through. It worked perfectly & allowed us to literally have half the bags I was originally planning. There were 5 of us & we only had 5 suitcase, 1 stroller, and we each had a backpack. I swear, it was plenty.

But don't worry! You'll have a great time even with all the baggage. ;-)

 

[DAKnits]

I had to reply because I am the heaviest packer that I know and have always been this way. I am driving up with my 4 year old, my friend and her four year old daughter, and this is what I'm bringing:

1. one mid sized suitcase filled to the brim with all the "gear," food, and supplies ( stuff like sippy cups, paper goods, pull-ups, food, detergent, alternative day bags in case I'm uncomfortable with the one I decided on, everything you can think of!!!)
2-3. one 32" rolling duffel with all of our clothes, shoes, blanket and pillow for each of us (after reading through some of the posts on cleanliness in the hotels) and my hair dryer which won't fit in the small toiletry duffel (I really don't think all of this will fit, so I'm most likely going to have to pack another large duffel for the blankets, pillows, shoes)
4. one small sized duffel with our toiletries
5. one very large bag (Salt Water Beach Canvas Whale bag) for the car, filled with car snacks and toys
6. my regular sized backpack already packed for the park (I'll keep in the stroller while at the park)
7. my small size Ameribag Healthy back sling bag as my "personal" bag that I plan to bring on the rides, filled with purse stuff, valuables, etc...
8. one large cooler with all of the foods that need refrigeration, packed with ice packs
9. my stroller
10. my portable potty for use during the car trip, and then I'll bring it in the hotel room since DD won't poop in a real toilet yet

I wonder how my friend and her daughter will fit in my car!!!!!

I can totally relate to you -- I'm an obsessive planner and bring so much stuff, it becomes burdensome -- but at this point in my life, there's very little chance I'll change, even though I really try! I always end up using the majority of what I bring, which only validates my overpacking. The good news is, you'll eat the food and use toiletries, so you won't have the same amount of stuff going back -- unless you just fill up that space with souveniers!

Enjoy your trip, and at least you'll have everything you need!

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I use to pack a ton, but I am getting better!

I am wondering why you brought your own towels. You can get them at the pools. I know they are not as big as my beach towels, so I just get extra.

This is definitely not a money saving tip, but I love garden grocer so I don't have to pack all the snacks, water, etc. The prices are actually not too bad, but there is a $12 delivery fee.

I bet you had a great time and were prepared for anything!! (When we drive, I bring my own pillow also!)

 

[tkmmc]

I had to reply because I am the heaviest packer that I know and have always been this way. I am driving up with my 4 year old, my friend and her four year old daughter, and this is what I'm bringing:

1. one mid sized suitcase filled to the brim with all the "gear," food, and supplies ( stuff like sippy cups, paper goods, pull-ups, food, detergent, alternative day bags in case I'm uncomfortable with the one I decided on, everything you can think of!!!)
2-3. one 32" rolling duffel with all of our clothes, shoes, blanket and pillow for each of us (after reading through some of the posts on cleanliness in the hotels) and my hair dryer which won't fit in the small toiletry duffel (I really don't think all of this will fit, so I'm most likely going to have to pack another large duffel for the blankets, pillows, shoes)
4. one small sized duffel with our toiletries
5. one very large bag (Salt Water Beach Canvas Whale bag) for the car, filled with car snacks and toys
6. my regular sized backpack already packed for the park (I'll keep in the stroller while at the park)
7. my small size Ameribag Healthy back sling bag as my "personal" bag that I plan to bring on the rides, filled with purse stuff, valuables, etc...
8. one large cooler with all of the foods that need refrigeration, packed with ice packs
9. my stroller
10. my portable potty for use during the car trip, and then I'll bring it in the hotel room since DD won't poop in a real toilet yet

I wonder how my friend and her daughter will fit in my car!!!!!

I can totally relate to you -- I'm an obsessive planner and bring so much stuff, it becomes burdensome -- but at this point in my life, there's very little chance I'll change, even though I really try! I always end up using the majority of what I bring, which only validates my overpacking. The good news is, you'll eat the food and use toiletries, so you won't have the same amount of stuff going back -- unless you just fill up that space with souveniers!

Enjoy your trip, and at least you'll have everything you need!

Thanks for the support! I too use a majority of what I bring.

 

[tkmmc]

I use to pack a ton, but I am getting better!

I am wondering why you brought your own towels. You can get them at the pools. I know they are not as big as my beach towels, so I just get extra.

This is definitely not a money saving tip, but I love garden grocer so I don't have to pack all the snacks, water, etc. The prices are actually not too bad, but there is a $12 delivery fee.

I bet you had a great time and were prepared for anything!! (When we drive, I bring my own pillow also!)

I'm only bringing beach towels - one each. I guess we like to stretch them over the beach chairs to "mark our spot." Also, I do like the extra big towels for the pool.

 

[AmyBWV99]

You're not alone that sounds 'light' for us when we drive. If we drive for the 4 of us DH, DS 2yr, DS 11 months & I, we will fold the rear seats down in a minivan and fill it till it won't hold anymore. We will take 4 suitcases of varying sizes, pillows, duffle bag of running gear, cosmetic case, diaper bag, toddler bag, food tote, activity bag (big DVC Member bag full of toys), DVD player bag, tote box full of movies and various camera and phone chargers, lap top bag, 2 single strollers (when the kids won't stay off each other after a time of touring a duex SBS), 1 double stroller, their car seats, car seat tray, pack n play for baby, Aero bed for toddler, beach bag, camera bags, cooler, breast pump (when needed), box with diapers, baby food & formula then various odds and ends stuffed in nooks and crannies (plus we've goen over Halloween and took a pumpkin & on Xmas trips bring a small live Xmas tree).

Crazy i know and we tip REALLY WELL all the valets and i don't know that if we've ever driven we've gotten it to the room in less than 2 valet carts. Which never ceases to amaze us at the mentalness of the valets, they'll bring one out i'll tell them you'll need another to which they always say no way i can get it on one, well you know what? I'm ALWAYS right it always takes 2!!! Then we get the bonus when they store our luggage they will forget that i tell them there's 2 carts and piss and moan that they have to go back and look for it or they get me calling every 5 minutes after the 1st cart gets delivered to say and now we're missing..... I think we've had up to 21 items on a check in granted they tag everything even cans of formula. So you can imagine how this goes in reverse, I call say we need a valet and we NEED 2 carts and they will show up with one, I will say I told them you need 2 and they say I can get it on one then I typically reply with well, it took 2 to get it up here and do you think we're leaving with less??????? So frustrating. we always tip at least $1 per bag/item so it's worth their while to make it in one trip.

When we fly I par it down some we usually only take one double stroller and i'll wear the baby when they jsut can't take being together anymore. We're flying in a few weeks and we'll be taking 3 suitcases & car seat checked thru, then to the gate we'll lug the other car seat for the plane ride, double stroller, baby bag, toddler bag & computer bag. I always end up doing laundry when we fly i can't get enough clothes packed to make it for the whole time the boys are messy and we take 1/2 the running gear we'd take if we drove so we have to wash that alot.

 

[holly7347]

All I can say is its a good thing you aren't flying

Now I'm beginning to wonder if we can make it all work for the 4 of us with just 3 suitcases (1 big 2 small) to check and 3 backpacks to carry on. I will use a camera bag to hold my camera bag and work as a purse. So total I hope bags I hope to take are 7. 3 suitcases, 3 backpacks for the plane, 1 camera bag/purse. But we no longer need diapers and we are in a stroller swap so we aren't traveling with a stroller so that helps make this more managable. We also aren't taking towels. I'm not sure that we will do much swimming but if we do swim we will make due with hotel towels.

 

[BabyFu18]

I just had to reply to say I don't think you did badly with packing for a family. This summer when I went to Disney I took 2 pieces of rolling luggage, two large duffle bags, a traincase, a large purse, a standard size pillow (best idea ever!).

Really you did well packing for a family, I pack heavy but see nothing wrong with it as long as we have the room (we drive to FL). If you were flying I'd try to be conservative with the bags, but since you aren't I don't see anything wrong with packing anything you'd like.

 

[goofygal71]

I take one suitcase per person (4). I'm a super light packer. Granted, I don't have children in diapers, I know that changes things.

When I read your posts, all I can think, is OH MY ACHING BACK!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I used to pack like that when the kids were younger so you aren't alone.

Now that they are older, I find myself looking for ways to pack lighter each time we travel.

Someday, you'll be able to do that to.

 

[Echo queen]

That's a lot of stuff We mostly fly to WDW 1 suit case x 4, me dh and 2 sons 10 & 13. We will all have some type of back pack. We will spend 5 nights at CR and then 7 nights at our time share which is home away from home. So we will pack cloths for 6 days and do laundry at the resort (in room washer/dryer). Because we are packing cloths for 6 days we will have plenty of room for all of that other stuff on the dis packing list including a small Christmas tree seeing as we will be there for Christmas day. Our bags are often search by TSA (Underware in ziplock bags, YES)

 

[disneyJMD]

I spent the whole day washing, drying and folding landry so that I can spend the rest of the weekend packing. After a phonecall to mom, we will have another suitcase available for our use, as I never thought through the fact that we own a small one and a large one--for 6 people! So I am getting a big one on Monday from mom and dad. I have to pack for 12 nights and 6 people, including a DS1 which makes the process 10x as difficult-diapers, pacifiers, wipes, bibs, baby blankets and extra clothes as he is very messy! So I have "packed" it in for the night and will continue my adventure tomorrow--wish me luck!

 

[Echo queen]

I spent the whole day washing, drying and folding landry so that I can spend the rest of the weekend packing. After a phonecall to mom, we will have another suitcase available for our use, as I never thought through the fact that we own a small one and a large one--for 6 people! So I am getting a big one on Monday from mom and dad. I have to pack for 12 nights and 6 people, including a DS1 which makes the process 10x as difficult-diapers, pacifiers, wipes, bibs, baby blankets and extra clothes as he is very messy! So I have "packed" it in for the night and will continue my adventure tomorrow--wish me luck!

That's alot of packing. Good luck

 

[WantToGoNow]

We will be travelling with 12 people (me, dh, dd24, dd's best friend, cousin and her dh and 6 kids - 9, 8, 5, 5, 4, 2). Can you even imagine the luggage that we'll be bringing? My family packs light and does laundry midway through the week - we usually have 1 large suitcase each for the adults and a small suitcase for the kids. We will then have several carry-ons with the things we need for arrival day and to occupy on the plane. We will not be taking a stroller this time. We use Garden Grocer to get breakfast items, snacks and drinks to the resort.

I have no idea how much luggage my cousin's family will have for 2 adults and 4 children - including 1 that will still probably be in diapers and a couple needing strollers.