Traveling with only a carry on

[debilovesmickey]

Has anyone flown to WDW with only a carry-on-- no checked luggage?
I am considering this, as it will be just DH and I in November and for only 5 nights.
But I am not sure with all the new security if I can pack all the toiletries etc that I would need.....
Anybody ever do this -- and if so do you have any tips?

Thanks!
Debi

 

[catgirl]

We're going to try to do the same. Traveling with my mom & 7yr old niece. I figure we can each have our quart size ziploc with 30z liquids in it, we should be find. Plan to take travel powder laundry soap and fabric sheets incase we need to do laundry.

 

[ohiotinkfan]

We have used only carry on luggage the last 2 years and we have not had any trouble. We are a family of four 2 teens and 2 adults, we all use rolling carry ons and one bag/backpack. We never take shampoo, conditoner, or lotions because Disney provides them. We pack deodorant, travel size toothpaste, hair gel/spray and a few items like that. The nice thing about Disney is you can buy almost anything you need in the gift shops! If you have a car you can always pick up any thing you might need at a dept. store.

We usually wash clothes when we stay more than a week. I traveled this past Thanksgiving with DD and didn't have any trouble at that time either.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

All 6 of us travel with Carry-on only. The kids have one bag each, DH and I have 2 (the mommy bag and the camera bag make up the extras). We just came back from 11 days at WDW and we took 4 sets of clothes. We did laundry twice.
You can spread the liquids out between the 2 of you. 1 toothpaste, one shampoo, etc.... The bags have more room then you think. I had 5 toiletry bags on the way down and 2 on the way back. We just tossed things as we finished them.

 

[happymommy]

I have done this for years. Even for 2 weeks in Hawaii. The only thing we do then is ship a couple of snorkel fins and masks.

It is so much easier than checking luggage. My kids each have one rolling carry on plus a backpack. I do laundry while on vacation.

For WDW, we take a towncar service or a rental car from the airport, so I stop and get some items from the grocery store.

I think it's a decision to pack efficiently and just bring one pair of shoes. Even when my DH went to the Caribbean for 5 nights alone 2 years ago, we didn't do laundry (we went to Peter Island, so we had dinner outfits) and I was too cheap to pay to send out for our laundry (I did rinse out our swimwear of course), we only brought a carry on each.

Once you travel and do not have to wait on that stupid luggage carousel, you won't go back.

 

[hsmamato2]

we're leaving this weekend, we all have a packed duffel + a personal small backpack- (ds 10 has a small rolling case) that fits enough clothes for about a week before we have to do laundry....shouldn't be an issue as I told my teen yesterday,don't pack everything you WANT to bring with you,just pack what you'll need!
for 14 days we all have 7 pr. underwear-7 pr socks- 4 pair pants,3 pr shorts- 5 t's -4 long sleeves- one xtra sweatshirt-crocs
we'll wear down pants,t-shirt,l/s shirt,sweatshirt,and rain/windjacket-and one pair walking shoes.
this is enough variety to last for at least a week, most times the jeans can be reworn quite a bit before they're grungy.....
tip- roll all clothing,it makes it way easier to pack!

 

[eab]

We just did this in December and never again. Unless I buy luggage with a handle and wheels. We had duffell bags (like the Vera ones) and they were heavy. The only good thing about it was that I did not pack a bunch of stuff (just in case) that I would end of not wearing. Kept the cost down on the souvineers also. I bought a snowglobe (stupid I know) and than had to leave it at the security area since I forgot you could not take on board.

 

[englishteacha]

Here's the thread where I asked the same question a couple weeks ago:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2347555

 

[debilovesmickey]

Thank you!
Thanks for the link to the thread already posted too.
We will be there for really only 5 days and I don't plan on souvenirs other than a sweatshirt!
I can do laundry there and we will NOT have a car, but staying on site I guess we can use the toiletries provided and buy sunscreen.
I guess I need to read up on what CAN go in the carry-on ( liquids etc)
I don't fly hardly at all and so am not as familiar as many people probably are with the rules.

I also anticipate possibly being at a park before our room is ready due to flight times and then I am not sure what I will do with luggage-- I won't want to carry it around...... Dh will have a laptop which will count as one of his carry-ons...

Thanks for the tips everyone!

Debi

 

[Dreamer24]

I just posted specific questions about carry on toiletries in the travel thread. I fly at least a handful of times per year but I've never done carry on only because I usually fly southwest.

My husband and I are going for 7 days in a few weeks and here is my packing plan.

I will not bring shampoo, conditioner, soap or lotion which is a first for me! I also am limiting my shoes to a pair of sneakers (which I will wear) and a pair of flip flops. IF I have extra room, I will pack one pair of dressier shoes.

We will each have a rolling suitcase with our own clothes and shoes for the week. This should easily fit and we will use space saver bags for additional room.

I will have small tote bag as my personal item with items we will need on the plane, portable dvd player, ipods, reading material, snacks.

For the liquids, here is how it worked. I couldn't believe how much I could fit by buying containers with only the amount I acutally need for a week!

My quart-sized bag:
3.4 ounce bottle of sunblock
Toothpaste
Hair product in round container
Face lotion in round container - I have really sensitive skin
Inhaler
Lip gloss
Mascara
Perfume in spray bottle


My husband's quart-sized bag:
3.4 ounce bottle of sunblock
Toothpaste
Hair product in round container
Cologne in spray bottle
Regular travel sized shaving cream


For deodorant, I bought travel sized solids which do NOT need to be placed in the baggie.
Instead of hand sanitizer, I bought purell wipes which also do not need to be in the baggie.
Instead of liquid wake up remover, I bought almay wipes so that I did not need to put them in the bag.
I always used to put chapstick in the bag but I now know I don't need to!

Should we need additional space, my husband can bring a small personal bag, but I do not think we will need to. I hope this helps!


Here are the round 10 gram containers I purchased
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300377694700&ssPageName=ADME:L:COSI:US:1123

And the spray bottles I purchased
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290384103857&ssPageName=ADME:L:COSI:US:1123

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

The bell services at the resort will hold you luggage for you. Or maybe you will be lucky and your room will be available.
** Pack a few dryer sheets in case you need to do laundry.. why buy them from the vending machine when you can toss a few in your carry on. Plus your carry on will smell good.

I find we only need to pack 1/2 the amt of clothes and I do laundry when I am there. It's really is not a bother. Most of the laundry facilities are located by a pool so I couple doing laundry with relaxing by the pool. Or at the SSR if I use the laundry room by the main pool we can grab a bit to eat while waiting on the laundry. I also found that some of the laundry rooms have the x-large front load washers so I can do a lot of laundry at one time.

Thank you!
Thanks for the link to the thread already posted too.
We will be there for really only 5 days and I don't plan on souvenirs other than a sweatshirt!
I can do laundry there and we will NOT have a car, but staying on site I guess we can use the toiletries provided and buy sunscreen.
I guess I need to read up on what CAN go in the carry-on ( liquids etc)
I don't fly hardly at all and so am not as familiar as many people probably are with the rules.

I also anticipate possibly being at a park before our room is ready due to flight times and then I am not sure what I will do with luggage-- I won't want to carry it around...... Dh will have a laptop which will count as one of his carry-ons...

Thanks for the tips everyone!

Debi

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

We NEVER check any more. It's so much easier to just carry on. We've even gone to Vegas without checking, and for me I need alot more "dress" clothes, etc. for Vegas and we were still able to do it.

 

[PEANUT1]

We are leaving Friday and I packed and only have carry on bags..There are 4 of us and we will each have a roll on carry on and a backpack. The bags aren't even stuffed It is gonna be cold in disney so I packed 2 pairs of jeans, another pair of pants, a pair of capris, a sweater, sweatshirt, 2 t shirts, my eagles jersey and 2 pairs of shoes..I didn't pack undergarments yet or a bathing suit as I believe it will be too cold to swim.

This will be my first time not checking any bags well we do have to check a carseat but that will be free.

 

[luvndisney358]

Hi and good luck. I am leaving Sunday and am a Jersey Gal too!
We ARE checking bags, I don't think I'm ready to graduate to just a carryon but it sure sounds like heaven to me!

 

[TinkerBrie]

I just went to Vegas with just a carry on. I ended up shipping home a $50.00 box. Don't even ask what, I am pretty sure my stuff exploded and expanded all by itself. OK. I did a little shopping... I definitely OVER PACK for Disney, I could never do it carry on only, except for maybe in my dreams!!!