what am I likely to forget???

[Lollipop Mom]

We are now in the process of getting together a last minute trip to WDW with our sons, ages 3½ and almost 2. My parents just bought an RV to travel in for their retirement and they need to go to Orlando to have some extra feature put on it. As a Christmas gift they are covering the cost of getting there and all our meals. We were planning a trip for the 2nd week in May and were going to get APs for that anyway so we're getting them a little early now!

I hadn't even started thinking about what stuff I would need to bring thinking our trip was still 6 months out, now we are only 18 days from leaving and I have to figure it all out on top of doing all the Christmas stuff!

What am I likely to forget that I'll be sorry for once we are there? We know we'll do 2 umbrella strollers rather than a big double since we'll have 4 adults to push them and I have my list of basics like diapers, wipes, sunscreen, snack stuff, kids tylenol, antibacterial wipes, table topper placemats. This will be our first trip with kids, heck, it's a first for DH and I together! Last time we were there was the same week in the early 90s when we were both in the UGA band and UGA was playing in the Citrus bowl...funny how now we go back and they are in the Capital One Bowl again (same bowl...different name!).

So what are the lifesaver things to have for the kids? Any tips and tricks?

Thanks so much!!!

 

[Ellester]

Even though I am a Yellow Jacket, I thought I'd reply! Don't forget any kind of favorite toy/stuffed animals. We've almost forgotten dd5's panda a few times and disaster was narrowly averted! I really like those disposable sippy cups too, you can toss them and its not a big deal. My dd2 still has trouble with regular cups and straws, I like to keep an empty sippy in the bag for her drinks. I also have sport bottles for both kids, the kind with built in straws. They are great for water, cheaper and less spill prone than bottled. We arrive at Disney on 1/1 for our Christmas gift from my parents, looks like we'll both have a Disney New Year!

~Ellen

 

[pjlla]

I mentally go through a normal day at home and jot down everything I would use and would need to bring along.... example.... Out of bed in the morning, use potty, brush teeth, wash face (need toothbrush, paste, soap, washcloth, towels, toilet paper or diapers and wipes)....

have bkfast (need cereal, bowls, spoons, milk, juice, sippy cups, paper napkins)...

get dressed (need coat, pants, top, sox, undies, for each day and sneakers)...

etc....until bed time... (need jammies, slippers, robe, blankie, pillow, stuffed animal).

Also, don't forget the following, nightlights (even good for adults staying in unfamiliar places), moleskin (for blisters), small flashlights, rain ponchos, fanny packs, cameras and extra digital media or film, quarters/pennies for pressed pennies, sunglasses for everyone (maybe even two pairs), extra prescription medication, one pair of spare shoes per person, water shoes or flipflops if you plan to use the water parks.....that is all I can think of for now.........P

 

[disneyfan551]

Don't forget walkie talkies, and extra batteries for them, as well as for your camera! Also, you can never take too much film, you can always use it later!

Another thing I wouldn't do without since our trip last week, would be ziploc baggies. We packed with them and they came in very handy many times!

Make SURE you take coats, mittens, hats & medicine! We froze to death most of the time!

Have fun!

 

[Kevenswife2]

A small flashlight. We used ours to navigate in the hotel room without waking others and at the parks to read the map. It gets dark earlier this time of year. Very handy during the Christmas Party!

Glowing necklaces from the Dollar Store.

Some kind of name tag for on each child.

All the meds for colds, vomiting, diarehha, constipation, hives, sinus problems, vitamins, birth control pills, etc., etc., etc.

Prescriptions and the phone numbers for each doc who prescribed them.

Lots and lots of money!! Or your plastic.

E-mail addresses for anyone you might want to send a pic from Epcot to. We made a silly pic of us and really wanted to mail it to my sister but couldn't remember her e-address.

Chapstick.

Did I mention money?

 

[Pembo]

I used Ziploc baggies for everything from clothes to food.

I didn't bring enough film! Bring more than you think you will need. I ended up buying some at the hotel gift shop. $16.99! I can get twice as many rolls at Bj's for that price. But what are you going to do?!

Big pens for the autograph books, if you're going to do that. Snacks for the kids. My boys got a sucker whenever they started to get cranky.

Have a great time!

 

[bethnburke]

We are going with DS(3) and DD(10 months) in January and are going through the same exercise.

One thing that I know that we will be bringing is books to read at night - part of our bedtime ritual. Also blankey (trip would be hell if we forgot that!)

For the most part you can buy whatever you forgot. They important stuff is the special things that you cant replace - for us its specific books, blankey, special pjs and clothes, and probably some of DS's christmas presents.

We are trying to pare down the things we bring to the ones we cant do without. We are planning on renting a car from the airport and dropping it off at WDW the following day so we can go to Walmart and pick up all the things we didnt want to drag on the plane with us - diapers, formula, wipes, meds, etc.

 

[MinnesotaChill]

It might be too late, or maybe you knew this already, but FL Tours will allow you one 30 minute grocery stop after they pick you up at the airport. For us, a family of five, they are actually cheaper than Mears, and might be cheaper than a rental car. I know they can be expensive at WDW and are a hassle to rent and return.

 

[jsjohnso]

We're used to packing stuff from the diaper station so what we would find missing would usually be from the kitchen: Child-size utensils, unbreakable tableware, knife to cut fruit into bite-size pieces, etc. I get up to check on DS at night so a good night light(not the flouresent kind) to see him by, insect repellent, hats on top of sunscreen, and toys for any type of waiting, some Happy Meal toys are perfect because they're small and you can put several in your diaper bag and take one out at a time to stretch their use.
We're going in the first week of May with our then 4-yo, I hope it wouldn't be cold then. I'll be double checking my list with this webpage:

http://allearsnet.com/pl/forgot.htm

Judy

 

[jsjohnso]

And I'm jotting down notes from this forum. Judy

 

[bethnburke]

>It might be too late, or maybe you knew this already, but FL >Tours will allow you one 30 minute grocery stop after they pick >you up at the airport. For us, a family of five, they are actually >cheaper than Mears, and might be cheaper than a rental car. I >know they can be expensive at WDW and are a hassle to rent >and return.


Actually the rental car is costing us $19 for the day. We are picking it up at National at the airport and returning it the next day at the car care center.

 

[2minny]

wet wipes to clean hands before eating at parks, sunblock, sunvisor, sunglasses for all, gum or candies to satisfy kids when you can't get to food or during long lines.

 

[sullins5]

Thought I'd remind you not to forget film (it get's expensive), a fanny pack (its great to hold cards, cash, quick camera, even a water bottle).

We always take a little lunchbox or suitcase for the kids filled with surprises. (Like a Disney dollar to spend, new coloring books, stickers, treats for snacking). Then the "When are we gonna get there blues" go away when they can pull out a treat from the box or suitcase.

We also take cell phones and walkie talkies. Though everyone uses one in the park (Walkie/talkies) they are nice to have in case...

Hope ya'll have a great time!!!!!!!!!!