We're Flying! A Few Dumb Questions...

[dudedisney]

I'm not an experienced flyer so I'm a little nervous about this.

Kids are excited of course but I have questions. There's me and hubby, son 11 and dau 6. Still being told by relative we need birth certs for kids although I've checked with Delta and our airport and of course you guys, all say no we don't so that's confusing.

Also, I'm not sure what to pack. I've read all the great tips here but haven't gotten luggage yet. How much luggage would we need for Oct? What do we check and what do we carry on? What luggage do you recommend? What do you do for a purse?

I'll probably have more questions but those are the main ones right now

 

[PlaneJoy1]

One thing to do after pack is to weigh your luggage. It can not exceed 50 pounds, or you'll be charged $$. A lot of people don't realize how much luggage weighs!

If you are going out of the country, you'll need birth certificates otherwise you'll be fine. You and your husband just need picture ID's.

As far as packing, I'm sure there are more experts than I on this board so I'll defer to them. DH and I usually get one roll-aboard bag a peice and the kids share their own large suitcase that we check. My oldest DD is getting big enough to have her own bag though, so our next trip both DD's will probably get their own roll-aboards. That will be a while though.

Have fun!

 

[PlaneJoy1]

One more thing..... there are no dumb questions! I work for an airline and appreciate those who do at least a little research before their trip. Some passengers can't believe that they aren't allowed 5 suitcases per passenger.

 

[dudedisney]

What about food? We had planned on driving first and I was going to pack snacks, water and our must-have peanut butter and Easy-Mac. Oh, and the kids favorites too Do I have a separate carry-on for that or put it in the checked baggage? And how the heck do you pack bottled water? The reset of the bunch are going to think I'm crazy if the first thing I do is hunt a Walmart to buy the stuff because every place I've ever gone, I've ended up at a Walmart!

 

[nliedel]

It is always better to have ID and, for kids, birth certificates work. I have been asked for my boys more than once.

 

[solotraveler]

As long as your flight is strictly domestic, you do not need birth certificates. If the airline said you don't need them, then you won't need them.

As for packing, I know there are people out there who do the carry-on only thing, but I find that just too hard. What I would do is pack only what you think you will need for the flight (a few games, books, something to pass the time, a few snacks), all your important travel docs, any valuables, prescription meds and one set of clean clothes per person, just in case your luggage does not travel with you right away.

As for food, I would be careful not to bring too much stuff, but things like peanut butter and EasyMac could be put in your checked luggage. Any thing breakable you should carry on. I recommend picking up bottled water when you get there. Any grocery store and most gas stations will have the case you need.

And I agree with PlaneJoy... there are no stupid questions. This way yuo'll have no suprises.

Solotraveler

 

[CarolA]

A few things to consider. On most airlines you are limited to 2 suitcases per ticket and each suitcase cannot weigh more then 50 lbs. (I know this is true on Delta) So when you are luggage shopping... don't buy the GIANT suitcase on clearance. The reason it's on clearance is that when you pack it, it probably weighs more the 50 lbs! (or it's just too big) Overweight luggage charges add up quick.

I don't recommend checking water, since it weighs a lot. Each bottle weighs a pound! Just find the WalMart if you rent a car... everyone does it!

Do not put valuables in your checked luggage. That means all cameras, money and jewerly goes into your carry on. If you use film cameras do not check the film. The xrays used on checked luggage are much stronger then those for carry on and will damage the film.

Check the TSA thread at the top of this board for more hints.

Have a good trip!

 

[malibuconlee]

Excellent advice you've been given. I'll second the packing medications in your carry on bag. Also a hearty second to packing at least one change of clothes per person in your carry on. Worked for me on our last trip to WDW when our luggage got to our resort the next afternoon.

I try to pack one complete day's worth of clothes along with a t-shirt and a pair of athletic pants which can be worn as pajamas or as regular clothing.

I also take gum in my carry on to help with my ears popping.

 

[TeresaMc]

As far as the purse thing...you are allowed one carry on bag plus one personal item (such as purse) with most airlines. I do not like to have the hassels of two bags while boardsing, so I put my purse in my checked bag except for my wallet and I put that into my carry on. I use a rolling breif case for my carry on...not the biggest but big enough for my laptop, a couple of magazines, my camera, a snack, and a clean change of clothes.

Also if I am not traveling alone(as I do for business frequently) I do not pack one case for each family member but mix everyones clothes throughout, then if one case gets lost you all still have some clothes.

 

[Tara]

Another thing -- if you are buying luggage and plan on carrying any of it on, make sure your carry-on pieces conform to Delta's limits. It is no fun to get on the plane and find that your bag will not fit in the overhead bin. (It isn't fun to be delayed because a passenger insists their bag will fit in the overhead bin if they just push a little harder...but that's another story. )

Also, when you are buying luggage that has a retractable handle, look inside -- in some cheaper luggage, the handle housing takes up a LOT of interior room in the suitcase.

Target sells some nice inexpensive luggage (their Eddie Bauer pieces are nice) and you can sometimes get good deals on sets from Sam's Club or Costco, but make sure that you really need all the pieces included -- usually they include 1 or 2 really useful bags and 1 or 2 "fillers" or useless bags.

 

[MAH4546]

Anybody under 18 needs no ID. Simply say they are a minor (which should be obvious if you are under 14). If they "insist", they are doing nothing more than going on a powertrip. No ID is needed under 18.

 

[tlbwriter]

I had a fanny pack to use in WDW and I just carried that as my purse. DD has her own rolling bag, and then DH and I shared a larger bag. We each carried one carry-on bag (DH's had one change of clothes for everyone, mine had toiletries, and DD's had her in-flight entertainment) and checked the rest. We also carried DD's backless booster as a carry-on, since we were using a van with seatbelts to get to WDW.

 

[Debbie Jean]

We always seem to have more coming home than going so I pack a soft collapsible zip bag in my luggage for the return flight. I usually wind up stuffing it with dirty clothes ... that way, I have room in my good luggage for the "extras" I'm bringing home (souvenirs, etc.) and when I get there I can just dump the "laundry" by the machine ready to go in!

 

[Chicago526]

First, if you are traveling within the US, under 18 do not need i.d., period. If it makes you feel better, you can bring the certs, but you won't be asked for them and it's one more thing to keep track of.

I hate to check bags, myself. I hate having to wait for the bags to come off the plane, I just want to get to WDW ASAP. But with a family of four I can understand needing to. If you choose to check bags, do the following:

Carry-on bag(s)

All medication
All electronics (cameras, game boys, etc)
All jewelry (actually you should just leave it home if you can)
All trip related documents (park tickets, hotel/car confirmations etc.)
Anything else you ever want to see again. If you or the kids will be heartbroken if the item gets lost, then carry it on the plane.

And 1 change of clothes per person, p.j.'s, and swim suits (swim suits dont' take up much space, and if your bags do get lost, then you'll still be able to go to the pool). If you still have room, I also like to pack the toiletries. I hate using hotel shampoo and soap.

For checked bags, you are allowed two checked pieces per person, each bag must not weigh more than 50 pounds. Weigh them on the bathroom scale if you're not sure.

If you think you'll be doing a lot of shopping, then try to bring along an empty duffle bag or back pack. It's nice to have a little extra space for those special item you just "had to have". This little trick has save me from shipping stuff home on more than one vacation, and not just to WDW!

I wouldn't pack water or other drinks, too much hassle. You can stop at Wal-Mart or a grocery store if you have a rental car or if you've scheduled a towncar you can arrange to stop (most will stop for free, up to 20 minutes). You can also buy your snacks at the same time, freeing up more luggage space.

If you do want to pack snacks, think about the "smush" factor. Some foods hold up better than others under presure. If you check bags with food, they are more likely to be opened and searched by TSA, food can set off the bomb sniffing machines. It isn't a big deal to most, but there are a few people who can't stand the idea of someone going through their belongings.

A lot of people tend to over pack. While packing your clothes, look at each item and think about if you are really going to be able to wear it. This is easier if you've been to WDW before, if you haven't, then try to stick to the types of clothes you'd wear to a local amusment park, zoo, or other outdoor event. I personaly pack the number of tops I need, then add two for back up. So if I need 5 days of tops, I pack 7. Pants and shorts can be re-worn once (unless stained), so if I need 5 days worth of clothes, I'll pack 3 pairs of bottoms. Unless you are eating at Vicotria and Albert's, leave the fancy stuff at home. If you have a special night planed, then pack your nicest clothes that can also be worn to one of the parks. Trust me, you won't be under-dressed.

You may want to bring some laundry soap just in case you want to run a load of laundry. All WDW resorts have coin operated laundry rooms (and they sell soap if you need it). I take one scoop of powder and put it in a zip lock bag (then double bag it in case of leaks) and then make as many bags as I want loads to run. In a separate bag I'll put the dryer sheets and money for the machines (they do have change machines for bills if you don't want to pack quarters). Doing laundry is a great way to cut down on the clothes you need to bring.

Shoes tend to take up the most space (at least for me!) so limit the number of pairs you bring. Idealy, you can wear just sneakers or sandals the whole time and you won't need to pack any, they'll be on your feet already. If that's not possible, then try to limit it to one packed pair per person, and wear the "bulkiest" pair on the flight.

As for the purse, I don't even carry one on vacation. I have a small and thin man's wallet and I just carry it in my pocket for the whole trip. It's one less bag to worry about. On the odd business trip where I've needed a purse, I just shove it in my carry on bag. That way I have easy access to it without being over my carry-on limit. In the parks, I have a small leather Winnie the Pooh back pack I use for my cell phone, sun screen, camera, water bottle, and any other odds and ends (this is the same backpack I use as my carry on bag, another great tip is to have bags that can serve multiple uses!).

That's all I can think of. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[dizkidz2]

You'll be going in Oct. the weather still is very nice, but may want to pack a pair of jeans for the evening and a possible sweatshirt/light jacket. You may or maynot need it. It's better to have it and not use it, then not have it and have to buy it for everyone.
DH usually carries the carry-on with tolietries, DD 17 & DS 13 carry their backpacks with whatever they want to carry, and I usually carry my purse in a carry-on with a fresh shirt/blouse for each and some snacks for on the plane, or to and from the airport.
I would definately buy pieces of luggage that have rollers on them, no matter what size they are. It makes thing alot easier. And I wouldn't buy very expensive pieces either. Luggage gets very beaten up. We have had slashes in our pieces and lost wheels.

 

[dudedisney]

Thanks a lot, that's really what I'm needing to hear, how many of this or that. I am an overpacker, for sure but since this time is on a plane, I definitely have to curb the impulse to pack the sink!

K-Mart has a sale on their American Tourister and I thought I would look at that since the only luggage has busted zippers now.

Should I let the kids have their own backpack/carry-on or will that be too much to take care of? Maybe let DD use her little backpack and DS have a small roller one? I have to have my Mary Poppins bag because I am 'Mother' and get stuck with keys, wallet, frog, four leaf clover, etc. Just have to find something waterproof for the park, I guess...good thing I'm already hump shouldered.

 

[imwithgoofy]

Hey Chicago529,

Wow! You really covered so much that I even took a few notes.
Hey everyone, if you have cable channel A&E check out Southwest Airlines show
"Airline" ...it is too funny. You'll learn a lot about what not to do or bring to the airport. One important thing to remember is if you need it/gotta have it/can't live without it/could die w/o it BRING IT WITH YOU ON THE PLANE!!!

So many passengers have their medicine in their luggage and it didn't arrive or they can't fly at the last minute.

 

[aubriee]

Be sure to start a packing list now. When it gets finalized, make a copy. Use the first copy to pack with, marking off each item as you go. Put the other copy in an accordian type file in your carry on and use it to pack when you return so you know you haven't forgotten something. I make copies of all my paperwork (resort conf #, ADR#, itinerary, airline ticket e-mail receipts, DME stuff, packing list, etc), place them in two accordian type files, and place one in my checked luggage and the other in the carry on. Dont forget to add your last minute stuff (contact lens case, makeup bag, etc).

Pack as light as possible as most people have a tendency to overpack. In their travel section Target has a small bottle of liquid Tide, with a measuring cup on it that does four loads for .99. I put one of those, along with some dryer sheets, and a roll of quarters into a gallon zip lock bag. I have also bought one of those cheap laundry bags at WalMart's which I hang in the closet and put our dirty clothes in as we take them off. I hate to come home to dirty laundry and since I'm a very early riser, I do laundry a day or two before I come home. It doesn't take long and I love getting up early and walking around the resort while I'm waiting for my clothes to get done.

As far as packing, again pack as light as possible. I love jewelry, but when I travel I usually pick one set of plain sterling silver that will match everything and then just wear it for the whole trip. Also buy travel size toiletries whenever possible. I always make a trip to Bath & Body works just for their little travel size bubble baths, shower gels, lotions, and sprays they sell at the front of the store. Buy a scent you don't normally buy and when you use it after the trip, it will remind you of your WDW trip. Pack your stuff in zip lock bags, squeeze the air out and more will fit in your suitcases. It also makes it easy to get ready in the morning if all you have to do is pull one bag out and you know everything is in there (underwear, shorts, shirt, hair scrunchy, etc). Also be sure to pack anything that might leak in zip lock bags, i.e. sunscreens, sun burn relief gel, toothpaste, bug spray, bath products, etc. Wear your bulkiest pair of shoes and a jacket if you plan to carry one in order to save room in the suitcase, but I would carry at least one extra pair of shoes in case the pair you're wearing gets wet. Personally I like Teva sandals and flip flops as they are lightweight, take up very little space, and dry quickly. Also be sure to carry any extras you might need, like an extra pair of contacts . Just be careful to weigh your bags before you leave, as it is VERY easy to get over the 50lb weight limit.

One more thing, if your 6 y/o has a certain toy she must have, be sure to warn her it will have to go through the exray machine. I took my GD to San Antonio last summer and as I put her carry on bag on the belt, she screamed, 'Bunny's in there' and almost climbed onto the belt with her bag. Once we got both her and her bag through, she insisted on checking to make sure her bunny was OK. When I took her to WDW in January she was expecting it, so was fine. That machine can be pretty scary for a little kid. Also warn your kids that they will have to go through security and make sure they have as little metal on as possible. Same thing for you and your husband, (no belts, no light up shoes, no metal on shoes, no underwire bras, be sure to empty all change out of pockets, etc). You don't want to get hung upwith security.

Make your lists so you don't forget anything at the last minute and have a great trip.