US & Canada PTR - 2 sleeps to go, wow

[becpee]

It counts if you buy the postcard and the fridge magnet. If you only buy a Cinnabon it doesn't count.


I have lots of Atlanta Olympics fridge magnets and a postcard - one trip I did, Atlanta seemed to be the hub airport at the time, I visited Altanta 3 times that trip and never left the airport, I must've flown over some Olympic stadium 6 times, but I never left the airport. (this was last century, pre internet, using a travel agent, I think I went SYD, LAX, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, New Orleans on one leg - 36hr to New Orleans from Syd, 'visiting' 3 airports!

We got the magnet! But we missed out on the souvineer baseball

 

[shushh]

It counts if you buy the postcard and the fridge magnet. If you only buy a Cinnabon it doesn't count.


I have lots of Atlanta Olympics fridge magnets and a postcard - one trip I did, Atlanta seemed to be the hub airport at the time, I visited Altanta 3 times that trip and never left the airport, I must've flown over some Olympic stadium 6 times, but I never left the airport. (this was last century, pre internet, using a travel agent, I think I went SYD, LAX, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, New Orleans on one leg - 36hr to New Orleans from Syd, 'visiting' 3 airports!

We got the magnet! But we missed out on the souvineer baseball

Ah...great minds think alike. I need a second fridge to display all my magents acquired whilst travelling!

 

[australiankaren]

if i fly OVER a city I say I have been there......so really I have been to every city between LA & Mickeys house...is this wrong??? Ok, maybe not the ones I flew over at night, although they sure are pretty

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

if i fly OVER a city I say I have been there......so really I have been to every city between LA & Mickeys house...is this wrong??? Ok, maybe not the ones I flew over at night, although they sure are pretty

hahahaha

 

[aussietravellers]

Ms.Shuttergirl.

I haven't been around for what seems like forever and have just found your PTR.

Am off to make dinner, but will start reading from the beginning later tonight and tomorrow and catch up on all of your news and plans. Just wanted to pop in and say Hi.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Ms.Shuttergirl.

I haven't been around for what seems like forever and have just found your PTR.

Am off to make dinner, but will start reading from the beginning later tonight and tomorrow and catch up on all of your news and plans. Just wanted to pop in and say Hi.

So funny, I just sent you a PM because I'd seen you were back on the boards and here you are. Missed you

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

OMG, so on previous trips to the US we have always gone in warmer weather and pretty much just wore shorts or 3/4 pants with a t-shirt. We took along 1 hoodie and it was all very easy in terms of suitcase space.

Jump to this upcoming winter wonderland holiday and it's a whole different ballgame. We have 11 nights in WDW which will still be warm weather and then the rest of the trip is in cold to freezing conditions.

We will need per person (2 girls, 2 boys) at a minimum:-

1 - Winter Down Coat
1 - Extra cold weather jacket from Snowgum (not so bulky as the Down coat)
1 - set of full thermals
2 - Hoodies
4 - pairs thermal socks
2 - beanies
2 - woollen scarves
2 - sets of gloves, 1 snow type, 1 woollen
1 - hiking boots
1 - sneakers
1 - ear muffs

Now that is really just the "outer wear". It doesn't include actual clothing.

2 or 3 - jeans
1 or 2 - shorts (for Orlando)
1 - sun hat or cap (for Orlando)
4 - long sleeve tops
2 or 3 - t-shirts
2 - dressier tops for girls/shirts for boys for all of the evening events we will attend throughout trip
1 or 2 - pjs
6 - undies/jocks
1 - normal socks (for going out)
1 - trackie pants (mainly for longer flights)
1 - bathers/rashie/boardies
2 - bras each for girls.

This is the basic list and will work for most of the family but not me. I like to have a few extras up my sleeve and I won't be shopping for new clothes like the rest of the family do. I hate shopping for clothes at the best of times so I choose not to do it for myself when on "holidays". Love shopping for the kids though.

What is freaking me out is this is a serious list of clothing. It's many suitcases worth. How am I going to fit all of my DH's shopping in ?

Any help or thoughts would be great.

 

[battymum]

Wear as much as you can!

 

[battymum]

What is your baggage allowance? If you have two each, I think all that would fit in one large case each, leaving you four empty ones to fill up!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Work out what you want to buy in the US and take less. If you're shopping for the kids and DH, then take less of their clothes.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Wear as much as you can!

somehow I don't think even that will solve the problem

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

What is your baggage allowance? If you have two each, I think all that would fit in one large case each, leaving you four empty ones to fill up!

We are 2 x 23kg cases for the international portion but as all internal flights were booked individually and with different airlines, sometimes we have 1 bag free each and other times we have to pay $25 for the first bag each and then $35 for the second bag.

Work out what you want to buy in the US and take less. If you're shopping for the kids and DH, then take less of their clothes.

Yeah perhaps I will get the rest of them to take less, good idea PIO. We will be shopping up a storm for DH and the kids so this will work better.

 

[Marlea98]

We did a similar trip and after our cruise we basically boxed up most of our 'summer stuff' plus souvenirs and posted them home (massive box for about $160). In Montana we bought the kids ski jackets and pants each at $100 a set and snow boots at Walmart for $25 a pair. We left them behind for other family to wear or their friends at some stage. if the kids fit into them at Christmas '13 thats a bonus. DH and I borrowed similar items of clothes from his family there but I did buy a down jacket that rolls up into a little pillow at Macy's for $40 or $50. We had a set of thermals each but didn't get as much wear out of them as we thought we would. It was all about layers. I did donate a lot of old clothes to charity before going home with heaps of new stuff too. We flew home from LA.

 

[skier_pete]

We had a real struggle with this on our July-August trip down there. We ended up shipping a box of stuff home so we had room to fit our souvenirs, but we had only a small portion of our trip with really "winter" temperatures. We were trying to limit to one bag per person because of all the overage fees on the flights, with 4 people you might want to consider one extra bag to be worth it for the winter clothes.

Don't forget you may think WDW in December will be warm, but that isn't necessarily the case. Our one trip in December we started with days in the 25 C and ended with a day that was only about 5 C, with some days in between that were maybe 15 C and rainy. Now, that's way warmer than what you'll likely find up north, but still not shorts and T-shirt weather.

As someone who travels a lot to cold climates I'll mention a few things:

-Outerwear is pretty much infinitely rewearable, so limit as much as you can. Two scarfs and two hats per person? Why when only one will do the job? Shoes take up a lot of weight as well, so do your best to limit

-Use compression bags for those bulkier items. Those bags that you can put clothes in and roll up to squeeze out the excess air. These are great for bulky sweaters and jackets. They don't eliviate the weight limits on your suitcase, but will allow you to fit more in a smaller suitcase. Most US airlines charge a pretty hefty fee if you go overweight, which is usually 50 lbs (22 KG). Some airlines charge less if you pre-book extra bags.

Others mentioned shipping stuff home/ahead, but you are traveling on so many different flights I don't think that really helps you much. However, as you buy clothes, that is an option is to ship your extra clothes home.

SP

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

We had a real struggle with this on our July-August trip down there. We ended up shipping a box of stuff home so we had room to fit our souvenirs, but we had only a small portion of our trip with really "winter" temperatures. We were trying to limit to one bag per person because of all the overage fees on the flights, with 4 people you might want to consider one extra bag to be worth it for the winter clothes.

I was also thinking about posting some things home. Glad to hear it worked out for you. We may just have to do this.

Don't forget you may think WDW in December will be warm, but that isn't necessarily the case. Our one trip in December we started with days in the 25 C and ended with a day that was only about 5 C, with some days in between that were maybe 15 C and rainy. Now, that's way warmer than what you'll likely find up north, but still not shorts and T-shirt weather.

Sounds like the temps could definitely be all over the place. I've been reading some TR's from last year and it sounded like it was quite warm for the time I will be there and only cooled off closer to Christmas. I will make sure we have a variety of gear to cover all bases

As someone who travels a lot to cold climates I'll mention a few things:

-Outerwear is pretty much infinitely rewearable, so limit as much as you can. Two scarfs and two hats per person? Why when only one will do the job? Shoes take up a lot of weight as well, so do your best to limit

I know 2 hats and 2 scarves is probably overkill. My thinking was that if the conditions are cold/wet/snowy then it would be good to be able to alternate to give them time to dry out???

And yes the shoe thing is a bother. We all have water proof hiking boots that are crazy heavy but other than on the international flights we will likely have them on our feet. Other than that we will have 1 pair of sneakers each and I guess since we have a few nicer evenings out we will need 1 pair of nicer shoes each.

-Use compression bags for those bulkier items. Those bags that you can put clothes in and roll up to squeeze out the excess air. These are great for bulky sweaters and jackets. They don't eliviate the weight limits on your suitcase, but will allow you to fit more in a smaller suitcase. Most US airlines charge a pretty hefty fee if you go overweight, which is usually 50 lbs (22 KG). Some airlines charge less if you pre-book extra bags.

We will have our trusty digital scales with us and I'm always very careful to stay underweight. I have bought some of those compression bag things. I haven't had a play with them yet but hoping they will work wonders

Others mentioned shipping stuff home/ahead, but you are traveling on so many different flights I don't think that really helps you much. However, as you buy clothes, that is an option is to ship your extra clothes home.

SP

Thanks so much for all the wonderful advice Pete. It really helps to hear from someone who has travelled in the colder weather before.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Getting so excited about visiting this special city and have begun researching their NYE activities. It looks like a great place to spend a family NYE and ring in another year.

Here's a link to start you drooling:-

http://www.quebecregion.com/en/what-to-do/calendar-events/new-years-in-quebec-city?a=vis

 

[Ozdisneydreamin]

Quebec looks beautiful !

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Getting so excited about visiting this special city and have begun researching their NYE activities. It looks like a great place to spend a family NYE and ring in another year.

Here's a link to start you drooling:-

http://www.quebecregion.com/en/what-to-do/calendar-events/new-years-in-quebec-city?a=vis

MS.Shuttergirl i am now insanely jealous that looks so gorgeous can i please come i will not throw any teenage tantrums i promise

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

MS.Shuttergirl i am now insanely jealous that looks so gorgeous can i please come i will not throw any teenage tantrums i promise

Sold, I'll have to leave my teenager behind but hey, it will be worth it to have you along

 

[battymum]

It does look beautiful shuttergirl, you are going to have an amazing time.

Do you take your good camera when you travel, or is that a business tool of trade only?

I would love to have photos like that.