Wanna look in my bags? More packing tips! 4 weeks left!

[hollybearsmom]

great tip to have a mini list of everything for helpers to check it off

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Glad to see you updating!!!! Your packing tips look great. I LOVE TO PACK. Cannot wait to take our suitcases out of the attic. I'll do that in July for our non-disney trip and then i'll leave them out til we go this way I can stick stuff in them for our trip instead of having stuff everywhere else.

Wow, it's getting close for you!

 

[Wiloughby1]

great tip to have a mini list of everything for helpers to check it off

Thanks! I am thinking about doing a picture list on something like a keychain tag for DS's backpack. I need to work on his executive function skills before he ends up like DH. Some people struggle because that's how they're wired. DH was raised by wolves and never had any structure. He never learned any skills. I need to overcompensate at our house!

Glad to see you updating!!!! Your packing tips look great. I LOVE TO PACK. Cannot wait to take our suitcases out of the attic. I'll do that in July for our non-disney trip and then i'll leave them out til we go this way I can stick stuff in them for our trip instead of having stuff everywhere else.

Wow, it's getting close for you!

It was hard for a while. Life gets in the way, you know? I've gotten so much done lately. I need to post pictures of all the things that the DISigners have helped me create. I have so much ready to print! Maybe that will be an upcoming post. I still have to cross-post my clothing list!

 

[Wiloughby1]

I dragged my feet with this one. It isn't as good as the others, but it had to be done! At least of what I ACTUALLY put in a suitcase. Keep in mind, this is my list when I am NOT flying. Flying means taking bigger suitcases, combining them, and including the mini-kits. These are packed for the car. Specifically, the car that I won't see for 19 hours on the auto-train.

Clothes are also my weakness. I am an indecisive dresser. I need OPTIONS. But this is what I'm really taking for my family.

The planes/trains/automobiles post will be more exciting, I promise! Here goes:

Clothes- A Philosophy

You can’t decide how to pack your clothes until you decide whether or not you are doing laundry. It seems that there are 3 camps when it comes to laundry on vacation (excluding the unexpected)
-Those who appreciate the break from laundry and do NONE while on vacation
-Those who prefer lighter bags and wash mid-trip
-Those (like myself) who wash at the end of the trip to skip the big wash-and-unpack chaos.
All are excellent and reasonable, but I am presenting my packing strategy using the third option. We typically stay in a condo and I wash on the last night. This trip we are spending the last 2 nights at POFQ, so I’ll wash the night before we change hotels, and have minimal wash when we get home. I have a pop-up hamper and all of our clothes get tossed in as they are worn, then I take the whole thing to wash.

DS, being a boy, was far less interesting for me to dress. He wore one piece outfits and sandals almost every day, and only a few things were Disney. Now that I know how the characters respond to the shirts, I want to dress the kids in more Disney gear. And I have a GIRL!! Plus, I did the previously unthinkable for my family: I got us the matching mother/daughter/father/son mickey/minnie shirts from the Disney Store. Just one day we’ll match. For the rest, the kids outfits reflect the park we are visiting and DH and I will dress the way we usually do. (if you are interested in my specific selections for the kids, let me know, and I'll do a kid outfit post)

I like cotton clothes generally, because I don’t like the feel or smell of synthetics in the heat, and I choose light colors when possible. I avoid dressing the kids in white though because it never keeps its brightness and I want to get lots of wear out of the shirts post- trip. I don’t iron, so all those cotton items are folded neatly and uniformly and fit tightly in the suitcases. If I can’t get a tight fit, I’ll sometimes add a towel (from the pool kit) folded flat over the top. I also hate socks once the temperature rises above 70f. My kids wear Keens and Crocs all summer, too. DH wears sneakers, because he's the family rebel.

So on to tips and lists...

Tip #9 Whenever possible, give each person her/his own suitcase. My kids have little Disney rolling carry-ons. DH and I each have small rolling carry-ons. If we were flying, I would do a medium regular case for the kids to share and one for DH and me. I have more flexibility with the car, for sure!I know some people mix every suitcase in case one gets lost. My thought is, I'm only going to FL, I can buy new, if I must.
Tip #10 Stack kids outfits in order with last-to-be-worn on the bottom, first on top. I put the whole outfit together. Undies and socks go in the pocket on the lid of the suitcase. This ties to my no-ziploc rule. Besides the fact that (even when you reuse them) they are an unnecessary cost, they slip all over the place and leave my suitcase feeling messy. I also get terribly annoyed trying to squash out the air. I use the same outfit stacking strategy for myself. With DH I stack shirts together and shorts together, because he doesn’t like a pre-assembled outfit.
Tip #11 The outfits take up one half of the case. The other half is a stack of pjs, sweatshirts, swimwear, and spare outfits. Shoes are tucked around the sides.
Tip #12 My rule of thumb for babies with an “only wash before we leave” philosophy is 1.5 outfits per day. So for every 4 days, pack 6 outfits. For preschoolers, 4 days, 5 outfits are fine, plus a couple extra undies and shorts. That also includes a dressier outfit in case we go somewhere nice. For spares that I use in the park, I prefer minimalist with a baby. Always a one-piece.
Tip #13 Pick your shoes first, then coordinate all of your clothes to match them. In Disney you need comfortable shoes for all the walking. My Keens are black so all of my selections will match black shoes, other than my dressy outfit that requires other sandals.

The Lists: (our trip includes an overnight train each way and 8 resort nights. We are planning 6 whole plus 3 half park days. I have left out outfits that we are taking on the train as those will be in another bag for another post) We’re also going in in May, when it’s drier, not brutally hot, and not crowded. Obviously you would need warmer clothes in January and possibly mid-day changes in August.

18 m/o DD
3 one-pieces
1 sun dress
8 outfits consisting of 1 t-shirt and 1 pair of shorts or skort
1 pr Keens
1 pr regular sandals
2 pr socks- she’ll wear crocs on the train, socks IF it’s cold going home
6 pr pjs- we bathe before bed, so unless her diaper wets through, we’ll reuse.
2 hooded sweatshirts
1 pr leggings in case there is a cool morning
3 bathing suits (one wet, one dry, one dirty always seems to be the case)
1 cover up
Sun Hat
1 Minnie Mouse costume

Notes about DD’s selections:
-DD is very sensitive to the sun. Nearly everything I packed will cover her shoulders.
-Her Minnie Costume is really a cotton polka dot dress that someone made for her and some ears. I don’t know if it will get used.

46 m/o DS
10 outfits consisting of 1 t-shirt and 1 pair of shorts
15 undies- DS forgets to go when having fun, so IDK what to expect at WDW
6 pjs
1 pr Keens
2 hooded sweatshirts
2 pr socks (if needed with crocs on train)
3 swim trunks + rash guards
1 big t shirt for pool
ear hat from last visit
Sun hat

Me
3 prs twill shorts
4 prs cotton shorts
1 pair nylon shorts (to ride Kali on AK day!)
2 pr capris
10 shirts, some tanks some t-shirts (one to match each pr shorts)
1 hooded sweatshirt
10 pr underwear
5 cotton bras (because that’s all I’ve got!)
1 sundress for date night
1 pr flip flops
1 pr Tevas (wear Keens on train)
1 pr nicer sandals
2 swim suits
1 cover up
1 sun hat
3 pr pjs
eye shade- i never know how dark the room will be!
accessories for date night

DH
10 t-shirts
5 shorts
1 pr jeans
4 swim trunks
10 pr socks
2 hooded sweatshirts
flip flops (wears sneakers on train and in parks)
2 prs sleepwear
10 pr underwear
1 baseball style cap

In our suitcases we add any surprises for the kids. DHs bag also holds the toiletry kit.

I hope this gives you a good idea of quantities for an 8-night trip. In my next post, I’ll cover baby gear (including my take on the stroller debate), toys, and other “stuff”. After that I’ll move onto packing for transportation!

Until next time...