Towels? and other things to Pack or NOT to Pack?

[Vivilove]

Should I bring towels for the pool? Or do resorts supply towels for pool area? I'm sure we will have towels in our room for bathing but do I need additional towels for the pool area? We are staying at AOA and POR.

Also, is there anything we should pack? Anything you advise to leave at home?

We are a family of 3 and my DD is 8. Any suggestions?

Also is there a place to leave your bag when you get on a attraction? I was think of carrying a back pack to hold some extra things we may need while touring the parks.

 

[dawnhaze]

A backpack will go with you on attractions. I've taken one on just about everything. There are lockers at Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom since it gets you very wet, though.

At AoA, there aren't towels at the pools, but you can bring the ones from your room and then call for more. There's a towel return at the pool so people don't have to drag wet towels back to the rooms, though. I think POR does have towels at the pool. I've heard all moderates do, but I only stay value so I'm not 100% sure.

 

[wiserabbit]

POR has towels available by the main pool but value resorts (like definitely POP and probably AOA) will not have towels by the pool and you would have to bring them from the room and/or ask for extras - whenever we stay at a value I always bring beach towels with us for this reason - cause they are bigger and more "fluffy" than the room towels and don't take up much space if you lay them flat in the bottom of the suitcase

I also pack a couple of big drawstring kitchen garbage bags to put dirty clothes in. Also bring hand soap - liquid antibacterial - to use at the sink cause the soap in the rooms just doesn't cut it - especially if you use contact lenses and want to be sure your clean before putting them in or taking them out

The parks have lockers you can rent if you don't want to carry around the backpack - but just know they are at the FRONT of the park so if you need/want something you have to walk for it Some attractions have a bag/net compartment for you to put your purse, etc. in as you ride - my DD has just put her leg through the strap on the backpack and held it between her feet as we rode...and there is always the "fanny pack" which is hands free

Have a great trip!

 

[Taylor'sMom]

You can always use towels from your room, but they are just the small, thin, basic hotel towel. Depending on your body size, they may not really wrap around you. We prefwr to bring beach towels from home. They are larger and keep you warm if you swim later at night when its cooler. Also helps the kids find your lounger in a see of white towels.

 

[ToddyLu]

Most folks pack an individual day of clothes for kids in a gallon ziplock...including outfit, undergarment and accessories. That way the child can grab the bag and dress themselves quickly and you have extra ziplocks to pack the dirty clothes back in. If you have never been to WDW then any trick like this will help you get out of the room quickly. Many people also pack an over the door organizer for toiletries since there is not much storage space in the bathroom at values. We have also always had a small pop up hamper for dirty clothes to keep them out of the way.

There are laundry facilities there and you may want to bring a roll of change. The detergent is $1, I think. I try to do laundry at the Values during the day if we are back for down time. There are always folks in there in the evening...even late evening. Please do not leave your things unattended. Folks will take them out of the washer or dryer so they can use them if you don't.

 

[ZoZo]

Beach towels take up a lot of suitcase room, so I wouldn't bring them unless you're driving. I know I'm always scrambling for more suitcase space, and that's once thing that's easily replaced with items available at WDW. Towels are available at most of the pools, and if they're too small for you, you can always grab two or more. As others have suggested, you can request extra room towels at Value Resorts if pool towels are not provided.

Things I pack from home that are helpful at WDW:

• Ponchos
• Sunscreen (very expensive to buy at WDW)
• White noise machine
• Earplugs
• Moleskin and Bodyglide (to prevent blisters)
• At least three pairs of shoes (in case a pair gets wet or ends up giving you blisters)
• Sunglasses
• Hat or visor
• Ziploc bags in varying sizes (tons of different uses)
• Pop up hamper for clothes
• Small first aid kit with OTC meds, bandaids, etc.
• Clothespins (to hang wet swimsuits, keep room drapes closed, etc.)
• Nightlight (for bathroom)
• Power strip to charge phones, camera, iPads, etc.

Hope this helps!

 

[The Hendies]

ZoZo has a great list! The power strip is a must! For the parks, I bring a tiny bag, and can fit these in:

2-3 wet wipes
2-3 bandaids
small pre-cut pieces of moleskin
a few individually sealed advil
chap stick
a small hand sanitizer (I keep the big one in the room and re-fill)
plus ticket, money, debit card, license and insurance card.
phone

We apply sun block before we leave the resort, and since we are there in the fall or winter usually, we don't feel the need to re-apply.

That's it!

 

[dsneprincess]

We also don't bring towels, eat up to much space. At POR, there will be towels by the pool, we grab extra for the quiet pools and have no problem. We also take to the waterparks and then return with them to the room. At values, we always leave a note and tip for mouse keeper for more towels and have never not had enough. The white noise machine you will not regret as it does block the outside noise. Also close your bathroom door, so you don't have to listen to the noise from there all nite. I love the plug strip idea! I will be stealing that. Bring ponchos or rain coats as they are ridiculously priced, unless you go to Walgreens where they are only laughably priced.

 

[Vivilove]

Thank you everyone. You all have great suggestions!