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

[Duckkie]

We rented DVC points from an SSR owner so we got to book at 11months instead of 7 months. Good thing too because friends of ours were trying to book (cash) THV for the same week as us and it was already sold out!

I also remember seeing the treehouses when it was Disney Institute.. I can't wait to see the new ones in person next year!

Hi Lorianne- I just caught your message- How did you get Treehouse Villas already? That is so cool! I stayed at Disney Institute YEARS ago and remember driving past them. That's awesome. I was a Girl Scout until 8th grade. They are going to have so much fun!

 

[Wiloughby1]

Marshay- You may want to book the AT soon. We books at exactly 11 mos and got the only return family room at $231. Then they went up to $653! It's pricey coming back because of all the snowbirds returning at that time. You'll notice when you add hte room is does drop your ticket prices to the lowest fare. I also suggest using AAA. You'll save more than the cost of joining, if you don't already belong!

Oh- I forgot to update on our locales of choice- We couldn't get a big enough DVC room- only 1 br, so we booked another 3br at another condo resort. We're going to split the stay with POFQ. No more AKL to increase our onsite time.

I'll try to give more details Monday.

 

[Marshay]

Marshay- You may want to book the AT soon. We books at exactly 11 mos and got the only return family room at $231. Then they went up to $653! It's pricey coming back because of all the snowbirds returning at that time. You'll notice when you add hte room is does drop your ticket prices to the lowest fare. I also suggest using AAA. You'll save more than the cost of joining, if you don't already belong!

Oh- I forgot to update on our locales of choice- We couldn't get a big enough DVC room- only 1 br, so we booked another 3br at another condo resort. We're going to split the stay with POFQ. No more AKL to increase our onsite time.

I'll try to give more details Monday.

Yeah, when I looked at the May prices the family rooms were all $655. We won't be getting one...guess we'll do coach or just drive back this time.

Unfortunately I can't reserve our DVC until we get our points in Dec (yup, used them all up and then some!)

So, I'm not even sure that coach seats will be reasonable then...

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Hi joining in! We are going back in May 2011 as well! Not set on the dates yet but it's going to be the first or second week. I'd like to do the first week and be there over mother's day. I want to start up a PTR soon too. The planning is so much fun. I'm already thinking about ADRs as well.

We also want to take the train down. Not the AT though just the regular Amtrak. We're up too far north.

 

[Wiloughby1]

Welcome Everyone! I'm so glad you're all reading my PTR! I'm relatively new to actually posting on DIS and I wondered if I'd have any readers! I'll try to respond to every question I can, but being the absent-minded parent of a preschooler and a baby, please don't take it personally if I miss one. I appreciate all of you, and your tips and input!

So here's the big update summary:

My mom had the wrong week for her timeshare at Star Island. We already booked our train tickets and got such a great deal that it was cheaper to trade for the week we booked. We tried to get DVC, but a) even though the RCI chick said our week would get us another 2br at DVC, none were coming up when others with RCI Hawaii trades could see them available, and b) uncertainty drives me freakin crazy. I couldn't take it anymore.

We got a 3br at Grande Beach and it's a Friday arrival, so since we get in Saturday morning on the train, we can check right in...

AND...

I realized the kids really won't be old enough to appreciate AKL just yet...so...I booked 8 days at POFQ. It's cheaper, so I can get more days out of it and spend the big $$ in 2013 when we go back for MNSSHP. Why 8 days? Because our trip is Apr 30-May 8 in FL no matter what. We have to leave the condo on Fri and spend at least 2 days somewhere else. The prospect of DVC got me hooked on staying onsite, so I figured the following...

if 4+3 comes back, DH, DS, DD and I will just stay at POFQ ourselves for all 8 nights and my parents can just do 2

if Free Dining rolls around, we can do the minimum number of days to get the deal, usually 5, 2 days for my parents

if 40% room only rolls around, maybe we'll do 3 nights

if I get the monster pin, which I did last year and couldn't use, we'll GO CRAZY and upgrade back to AKL (yeah right)

Other developments: we decided not to plan for US/IOA because it will mean DD spend 2 days in her stroller and DS gets a barely discounted kids' ticket to ride 30% of what in the park. Big waste of $375 including parking for us, when the extra WDW days will cost $9/day. For Realz. My parents might do 2 days there without us. This will likely be a welcome break. After sharing a car last year, DH nearly jumped from the back of the van to kill my mom by the end of the trip. She really was that annoying. And DH and dad are both very picky eaters- but of course that hate totally different food so it was so hard to pick restaurants. I'll save that story for another day...

This is what DD thought of the idea:

and when I asked her if she was upset about not seeing the animals at AKL, she said this was all the zebra she needed:

I've learned a lot on DIS lately, for example, I can now make a ressie for DD's 1st haircut. I also learned about less crowded ways to view fireworks. In my dreams, they'll extend the WISHES Dessert Party for May. In my reality, the Pirates and Pals Boat Cruise might be for us.

I also learned that Touring Plans now has Per-Park crowd levels! With toddlers and preschoolers, this definitely trumps their "best park/worst park" since the lower the crowd the better. All these factors, and the reduced rush of fewer parks, has helped me create a spreadsheet to start laying out my ADRs.

Now a thought on meals: Since I am REALLY hoping for a longer on-site stay, I am booking meals as if we are on the DDP. This way, I can get what I want and since we have to make a final decision and pay for the trip 45 days out, we can cancel and make some other last-minute-planning-families very happy if we cancel any in March.

So this is our tentative plan (right now, not splurging for Parkhoppers, yet):

(Day 1 is Sat Apr 30)
1: MK late afternoon
2: Ep- Akershus breakfast, just to get in early. Will DD be ready for princesses? You tell me. I've never had an 18mos girl before!
3:AK-Tusker House Breakfast. I want this SOOO bad! We LOVED AK last year! We're real animal people. We didn't see a single show and spent the whole day!
4: MK- Crystal Palace breakfast of course. Last year DS put an Animal Cracker in Piglet's mouth! You should have seen the poor guy fishing it out with his pawed hand! We have it on video, but here's the best pic of it happening:

We'll probably do DD's haircut that day too.
5: AK round 2, hit Boma or Poly up for breakfast late, then head over, late lunch at Yak and Yeti. Spend the day seeing shows and meeting characters
6:Epcot round 2, La Hacienda (new Mexico locale?) late to catch Illuminations
7. MK late start. Liberty Tree for dinner, and wither WISHES dessert party or cruise. Somehow see parade? Don't know until a real schedule comes out...
8. HS- Get in, get out. The only reason we would consider a Park Hopper is to add to this afternoon. Although we didn't see any shows last time. I was so pregnant and hot I thought I would die...and i was only 16 weeks. Gasp. Boma or Jiko's for Dinner, date night, since only DH and I will like the food. We want to do date night when we are for sure staying onsite, so we can enjoy our drinks and get a free ride home!
9. MK early, since I like to leave with my favorite place in my mind. Get late check out at POFQ. Head over to DTD for last minute shopping, lunch at TRex since DS loooves dinosaurs. Wear out the kids for the train ride.

Whaddya think?

When I have another minute, I'll include some of the shopping my mom and I have been doing. The kids now have outfits for each day, and Disney luggage!

C-ya real soon!
Autumn

 

[Wiloughby1]

And then, the current plan...

4/29 Depart Lorton VA

4/30 Arrive Stanford
Epcot/Dinner ADR Garden Grill

5/1 Epcot, Dinner ADR La Hacienda? IDK yet. Prob book it, and decide later.

5/2 AK, Breakfast ADR Tusker House

5/3 MK, Breakfast ADR Crystal Palace

5/4 HS

5/5 MK, ADR for DD's 1st Haircut, should be a night time parade night?

5/6 AK, DTD in the evening

5/7 open for whatever we want to revisit, Jiko for DH and Me

5/8 open in the morning, Lunch ADR TRex, depart for home

More details tomorrow if my work schedule allows.

I'm so excited to get planning again!!!

 

[sabina720]

Sounds like a good plan!! 200 days to go for us, I can start making my ADRs on November 4th Keep us updated!

 

[pinkxray]

I'm joining in. I just joined the May 2011 forum and followed your link over here.

Now I am off to start planning our May 2011 trip.

Your kids are so cute!. I love the little zebra print shorts on your DD.

 

[Wiloughby1]

Sabina- 192 days until we depart! Starting to get antsy, or it could be the caffeine!

pinkxray- Welcome and Thanks!! I hope to have more plans in place as the real WDW calendar goes up. There will also be more tushie shots of DD for sure. She'll be 1 on Friday. She's been walking for about 2 mos, so it's harder to get her to stay in a picture these days! Do you have little ones?

 

[jenbarnwell]

Just dropping by to say HI! We are also going in May 2011, but we are going at the end of the month!

 

[Wiloughby1]

Welcome Jen! I need to get some updates going. Apparently I am only updating in my head!

 

[Wiloughby1]

So yesterday, at the end of a very boring workday, I went to Touring Plans to double check my park selections n preparation for ADR day.

I was SHOCKED!

With the latest May 2011 calendar (released to the industry, not the public, so Touring Plans had updated) my days were all wrong!! Both of my AK mornings were now EMH and it messed up my whole plan! If I moved those days, I gave up the quietest day at HS. When I moved that? MK was busy. Gah. Not the smooth plan I had before. It also turns out that we have to do each of our 2-day parks back to back. I like to alternate and not do a park 2 days in a row. With preschoolers and toddlers, though, crowd avoidance is very important.

So I'm pretty bummed.

But we'll still have fun. The big reveal of our new plan and ADRs should be Monday!

Stay tuned!

 

[Wiloughby1]

We're leaving in 100 days! I haven't updated in months! What's a girl to do?

Measured DS last night. 39 inches with 3 months to go! I'm not feeling like he'll make the cut for TT. DH says we should buy him some tall shoes. That's where "For Realz" comes in. Seriously? Did he just say that? He's the one with the short genes anyway.

I've been prepping lots of printed items for the kids. RustManFan Marion made us some souvenir Auto Train tix for DS, and I also picked other various tickets that DS can keep in his "wallet." I'm still working on invites to character meals, etc. Ideas are welcome, especially if they include links!

I've also been working steadily on my "vacation box" finding odds and ends to add to the trip. Travel items, surprises, clothes. The kids now have Disney suitcases and Disney clothes for each day. DD might have this as an option:

It was COLD on Halloween, hence DS's "shiver face."

Here's our current POA (plan of attack)

Saturday Apr 30- Check in at condo, head to Epcot, ADR Garden Grill Dinner
Sunday May 1- Studios, ADR Hollywood & Vine Breakfast
Monday May 2- Epcot
Tuesday May 3- MK, ADR CP breakfast
Wednesday May 4- MK, Harmony 2 Haircuts
Thursday May 5- AK, TH breakfast
Friday May6- switch to POFQ, Richard Petty for Dad, ADR TRex, Ep date night-Morocco
Sat- Either AK or MK, ADR date at Jiko's OR MAYBE- EE Challenge with DH?
Sun- AK or MK

So there we are. Maybe I can get on the update bandwagon?

 

[lbuzz52]

followed you over from the may thread. when we last went my nephew was on the cusp of 40 inches also. he wore thick soled tennis shoes and was only measured once- at kali river. hopefully you'll have the same luck. we are also doing the first haircut this time.

 

[Wiloughby1]

I'm hoping that too, lbuzz. We've only been measuring barefoot to reduce the chance of disappointment. He'll likely wear Keens the whole time, and crocs on Kali- which won't matter since it's only 38"

I should do an update. Right now perhaps?

 

[Wiloughby1]

So I'm cross posting from something I started on the Disney Tips board-

I'm crazy about packing. I keep my Disney Rubbermaid open year round for things I find. I'm extremely systematic. Taking the auto train this year affords me greater opportunity to sort my packing since I am not limited to a few suitcases. So here's how I organize what I take in the park-

I see a lot of packing lists and questions around here so I wanted to share my system. It’s more than “what to pack” but also “how to pack” as well. Over a few posts, I’ll share my lists and strategies for everything I need and use on Disney trips (and maybe a few other trips). I welcome your insight, too! DH calls it neurosis, but I call it “strategically compartmentalizing”- and it works REALLY well. I’m never hunting, digging, scrounging, or otherwise wasting my valuable vacation time or money.

I tried to organize this post to make it easier to follow. There are Tips in bold and Tools in red. Mini-Kits are green.

For me it’s both an art and a science. After reading all the tips and tricks on DIS, we had a perfectly streamlined trip with our then 20m/o in 2009. We’re going back in (GASP) 30 days, with our now nearly 4 y/o and 18 m/o.
My strategy is simple, but takes some planning.

Tip #1: group all the items you need for a given situation together, in their own smaller package.

Tip #3: Then put the packages in a larger bag for portability.

Tip #2: I recommend clear packaging when possible. You can use ziplocs, but I prefer to save the clear vinyl zipper bags that come with bedding and kids’ toys. I keep them in a Rubbermaid in the basement and grab the smallest size that fits all the items in the package.

What I take to the parks using Tips 1-3 (and 4):
Sometime last year, I found a big, clear plastic backpack. Most of this stuff fits in there and that streamlines loading the car and getting through security.

Tip #4: Everything else goes into a big blue IKEA bag until I put it in the stroller. This is also very useful to whip out when you need to fold your stroller on trams, trains, and busses. I load the stroller basket by how often I need stuff and its shape. Sometimes we use a double, sometimes 2 singles, but the strategy works either way.

I have several mini-bags for the parks. Attached to my stroller I have a Skip-Hop Saddle Bag and a small parent organizer, and a shade-extender for DD. Here are the packing lists for each:

Diaper Kit (Skip-Hop Pronto Change-o)- Diapers, Wipes, Changing Pad, foldable potty seat for DS, post-it notes for self-flushing toilets

Change of clothes kit- smallest packable outfits for each kid, plus a pull-up for DS, even though he is potty trained*, ziplocs.

Rain kit- ponchos for all, stroller covers, one small umbrella, small hand towel, ziplocs

Water play kit (now just for Epcot splash pads, but was great for Donald’s boat)- kids swimwear, travel chamois style towel, swim diapers, spray sunscreen*, last year’s outgrown crocs*

Side Saddle (most accessible)- sunscreen, chapstick with sunscreen, first aid kit, moleskin roll w/mini scissors*, sunglasses, Ziploc w/autograph book and markers(and Epcot passport) , drink lids for popsicles, menu book, hand sanitizer, pack of Wet Ones, pressed penny coin tubes

Soft Sided Cooler- Bobbles*, frozen juice boxes, snacks, Misty mates

General backpack-(everything else) hats, glow sticks and light-up toys for parades, layers that we remove

Small Baggalini (on me)- tix in a Ziploc for easy FP runner usage, ID, CC, cash, Flip Camera, small point and shoot camera, cell phone (with my touring plans and ADRs stored), index card with ADRs just in case, and a big Ziploc to store the whole bag on wet rides and in rain.

Camera case (DH carries)- better camera, extra batteries for all cams*

*Notes of clarification on selections:
-Why an extra pull up? Because with a recently potty trained, excited at a park kid, I can only carry so many pairs of underwear. If we use 2 back up pairs, I’m not fighting. He’ll wear a pull-up.
-Spray sunscreen- I know this is controversial. I typically use mineral sunscreen and only on parts not covered by clothes, but I’ll spray to get good coverage fast.
-Outgrown crocs are stretchy and good in a pinch to protect feet during water play or for a shoe-soaking rainstorm
-Moleskin roll- O prefer the roll because I can cut to fit and it’s far better in price/unit than precut circles
-Bobbles- I HATE FL water! These are a lifesaver so we don’t have to tote tons of bottles or pay out the you-know-what in the park.
-Camera tips- don’t bring your bulky bag with all of the cords and whatnot. Only take the small items you can actually use in the park. If it connects to the computer or an outlet, you won’t use it! Leave it in the hotel!

 

[lbuzz52]

Love your packing tips! I may have to borrow some if those pack ideas. You said there is a good packing thread you are part of?

 

[hollybearsmom]

great packing tips

 

[Wiloughby1]

Welcome! I double posted here but no one was interested in it on the tips board. Maybe the real planners are on this board? I'll be continuing tomorrow with how I plan toiletries and medicine for a whole family. Now I'm in my "do something Disney every day" mode!

I should put up some pictures of what I have already packed, too. I just got a new camera for the trip and we are going now to buy a case for it.

TTFN!

 

[Wiloughby1]

I caught the packing bug during high school, preparing for a school trip to France/Spain/Switzerland. It was a break from AP classes, cheerleading, and everything else, and I was completely hooked. I’ve read a ton of books and been on a few trips and study abroad adventures since to hone my skills. With kids, things have changed too! We often take relatively spontaneous weekend breaks, especially in the winter to go snowboarding. My spontaneous life led me to Tip #5 “Ever-Ready Toiletry Kit,” and recently the Tip #6“Family Medicine Kit”.

The theory behind these is that duplicates mean never having to say “You forgot my toothbrush???” or worse “The baby has hives and we’re in rural Vermont during a blizzard with no Benadryl” (yes, been there)...

I keep the stocked kits in my front coat closet on a shelf near my Emergency Evacuation Kit (another day) because I can always toss them in my IKEA bag and head to the car. This is new, after all the recent worldwide evacuation situations. I also have a big bin of sample sizes, hotel bottles, anything that would go in the kit in a rubbermaid in the linen closet. AFTER a trip I restock, rather than BEFORE, unless I need a specific item unique to the trip.

So here’s what I include-

The Ever-Ready Toiletry Kit:
-Sturdy Bag lots of clear pockets, opens and has a hook to hang in the bathroom
-Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash/shower cap
-Kids Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash
-Shaving supplies (DH and I each have a razor exclusively for the bag and add blades)
-Toothbrushes/toothpaste for everyone
-Hair brush/hair product/pony tails/barrettes
-deodorant/perfumed lotion (rather than a glass bottle of perfume)
-regular lotion/face lotion with SPF
-Sunscreen and aloe (for FL trips I pack extra bottles of sunscreen, but I always have SOME)
-feminine supplies

Toiletry Kit Notes:
-I use very little makeup, but I only live by what can fit in a tiny pouch that goes inside my bigger bag. I’d survive if I didn’t have it.
-Likewise I have a cinch bag that can hold my flat iron, travel hair dryer, and round brush, but I never bother with those in the FL humidity
-I also have a mini-to-go kit for DH. When I met him, he would throw whatever into a grocery bag and always forgot half of what he needs. Now I have a spare toothbrush, paste, deodorant, disposable razor and cream, and body wash in a mini-bag for trips he takes without me.

Family Medicine Kit
-acetaminophen/ibuprofen infant/kids/adults
-benadryl kids/adults
-cold medicine and cough drops
-immodium and pepto
-eye drops
-neosporin
-band-aids
-Tums, Pepcid
-store bought First-Aid kit
-Thermometer and tushie thermometer for baby (with Vaseline)
-Copies of Rxs
-Chapstick

Notes:
-We don’t use any Rxs daily, but if we did I would try to have a week’s worth in the bag. With PRN Rxs, I just have a few of each.

Tip #7 A Plan for Pools and Waterparks
In the summer, we have a pool membership so I keep pool bags packed in the front closet (in case you haven’t guessed, we have a HUGE front closet, unlike the rest of our closets unfortunately) I clean it out at the end of the summer and refresh it to use for a Spring WDW trip. It will then be used again this summer. When we flew, I took a little less and packed it, pre filled into our suitcase. Since we are taking the Auto Train this year, it will go in a big laundry basket in the car with the park gear.


The Pool Bag-

Pool Bag Contents
-4 Beach Towels
-Spray sunscreen (as noted in OP, I use the mineral cream, but I like to recoat with spray)
-Infant swim vest
-take-and-toss style sippy cups
-inflatable pool toys (they pack the smallest!)
-other small water toys
-Glad ware
-swim diapers
-Wet ones
-drink lids for popsicles
-water proof disposable camera
-small zippered pouch for a little cash and room key
I add when we head out
-a few snacks in Glad Ware
-juice boxes
-my diaper kit that I take to the park
-Bobbles


Notes:
-I have name stickers from Mabel’s Labels (I’m a Buzzmama) on all my toys and towels. With toys especially, we feel extra comfortable sharing with other kids because it’s so easy to get our stuff back.
-We wear cover ups (tshirt for the boys and flip flops or crocs, sunglasses and hats. We're REALLY REALLY white.
-I only bring cash and a key to the pool. Thieves are everywhere, and I will survive if I lost $20, instead of a wallet!
-The disposable waterproof camera is great because I don't have to worry about theft, and it is great at the pool and water parks.
-If we are going to a water park, I'll add underwear and shorts for DS and DH, underwear and a sundress for myself, and DD will have her coverup and a diaper for the ride back to the hotel. I'll also add out reusable mug and pay for a new barcode sticker. I don't need a million mugs at home. I may also bring a cooler bag for the kid drinks and snacks. Plus ziplocs for wet clothes.

Tip #8 Make laminated lists for each mini-kit or bag. That way, you can have DH check to see if you have everything before you go. I first did this with diaper bags, as he would often forget bottles or other items that can't "live" in the bag when it's being stored. I just ask him (or my parents or a babysitter) Is everything on the list in the bag? Then they are instantly helpful!

Next up...Clothes: What, How Much, Why, and How! (And why I DON’T pack outfits in ziplocs!)