What are peoples preference.. Checking bags or carryon?

[tinksgilrs251520]

I am leaving in a month to WDW and I am wondering what are peoples preference... Should I check my bags in or try to do everything carry on ? which is less a hassle?

 

[malibuconlee]

We always check. I guess my husband will do a carryon if he goes out of town for a day or two for work. But as a family we always check.

Couldn't imagine managing all those pieces with our toddler! Plus we usually go for a week when we go anywhere.

ETA: Can you really get a 17 year old girl down to one carryon and a personal bag? LOL

 

[dancin Disney style]

We go with carry on. I prefer to get off the plane and go....not have to wait for luggage which can take 30 minutes or more.

 

[Tara]

Depends...these days I can go carry-on to Disney if I want thanks to my Owner's Lockers. Usually I don't - I bring a bag with the essentials to carry on and check everything else because I want to feel unencumbered as I go through the airports. We fly Southwest to Orlando, so we don't pay additional fees for checking bags.

I find Orlando to be very fast in terms of delivery time of baggage. In June we waited about 8 minutes for our bags. Usually it's less than 15 minutes.

For other travel, I'll often go carry-on because I'm making tight connections or just gone for a short trip or I'm worried about weather and being stranded without my bag.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Too much stuff to ever hope to get it in a carry-on and then have to try and stuff it into an overhead bin.
We always check our bags and we're not in that much of a hurry after we land--so the wait to get the bags isn't that bothersome.

 

[sydneysmom]

personally, I prefer carry on if I'm by myself or w/ my DH. But, when we go to Disney w/ our DD4, we're going to check our bags. I think going through the airport, lugging bags and our DD is going to be WAY too much. So we're doing Magical Express, bringing a carry on for airplane stuff (and swim suits) and letting Magical Express pick up our luggage and bring it to the hotel.

SOOOOO much less stressful. We were going to gate check the stroller but our layover is not very long and I'm afraid we'll miss our connecting flight. So unfortunately, we're going to have to check the stroller too. That's a bummer.

But if you're doing Magical Express, why not check your bags and let them deliver them to your room ? And going home, you can bring your luggage to RAC and they'll get your luggage to the airport for you ? Then you won't have to deal w/ baggage claim or dragging it through the airport ?

 

[trvlgirlmq]

We are a carry on only family. I refuse to pay another $150 or more to the airlines to check my family of 5 bags only to have them possibly lose one. We have traveled all over the US, Hawaii and to Europe this way. The kids are great about it and it has taught them that you don't need to bring the kitchen sink with you on vacation.

 

[goofy4tink]

Depends...I've traveled with just carryon many times. But, I do hate lugging bags around the airport with me...nothing worse than having to use the ladies room with baggage in tow.
I know that the three of us (myself, dh and 16 y/o dd) usually check two bags between the three of us. Then, we have carryons with any valuable stuff (electronices, meds) and a change of clothes for our arrival.

It's up to each family to decide how they want to handle it. I figure that I usually fly airlines that allow me one bag free, so that works for us. Otherwise, it's just the cost of doing business.

 

[sam_gordon]

Depends on how long you're staying and how many people. If I'm just doing a night or two and by myself, carryon all the way. If it's a weeks vacation and the entire family, then we've got to check.

 

[Alexander]

I HATE carry ons! If it doesn't fit in one small tote bag, it gets checked. There is nothing worse the schlepping bags through the airport. JMHO

My family of 4 can get away with one checked bag. All we bring are clothes, everything else is in our OL. We also bring enough outfits for 1/2 of the days we'll be there and throw in a load of wash everyday.

 

[Danibelle]

We don't have to fly anymore to WDW but when we lived in CA we always checked bags. When I fly anywhere, even for 3-4 days, I check one bag. I have flown since 1965 and have never lost a bag. (I have had bags delayed, but they were always sent to my home or hotel location). I haven't had a bag delay since 1998. I have used roller bags only. And I do carry a backpack as my carryon.

 

[taylor3297]

I always check my bag whether it is an overnight trip or a longer trip. I hate having to haul stuff through the airport and I hate wondering if there is going to be room for my carry on bag in the overhead compartment. If I carry anything on other than my purse, it has to be small enough for it to fit underneath the seat in front of me.

 

[Taja]

If flying SWA, I'll usually check one bag and carry-on a small bag with a change of clothes, contact lens stuff & eyeglasses, and some basic toiletries. And my laptop--I usually work a couple of hours each day while at WDW.

Also, we visit WDW in December, and the weather is variable. That means layers--I don't really own winter clothing. Just a couple of waffle knit tops and sweatshirts that I layer under my jacket if it gets below about 60 degrees. That's cold to me! *LOL*

If it's a short trip almost anywhere--four nights or less, I'll usually take a slightly larger carry-on (my carry-on is my laptop case if I'm checking a bag) with everything in it.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

We've done it both ways but now that there is a fee we are going to try to manage only 1 checked bag with the over 3oz shampoo, lotions, sunscreens, toothpaste, etc. & we'll be away longer than the carry on portions will last.

I carefully measured our luggage & our 2 small pieces are under the carry on limit so we're going to take those as carry on. These pieces are on rollers so it's not that much trouble pulling them in the airport & we're flying nonstop. We haven't flown in 2 years so I hope we won't find there to not be any room overhead!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I always carry-on. I have taken 10 day trips internationally with a carry-on and a purse. Most people pack far too many things.

 

[drew64]

Always checked, unless overnight trip.

Wish airlines would eliminate carry-ons other than personal item.

Lot more on time flights and quicker boarding if we didn't have to wait for all those people trying to cram oversized, over stuffed bags in the overheards.

 

[nytimez]

Carry on all the way. If I can't fit everything, I ship my essentials down ahead of time at the UPS Store.

 

[Lintasare]

We always check our bags. I hate having to schlepp a ton of stuff through a busy terminal. If it doesn't fit under the seat in front of me it doesn't get carried on. On my upcoming trip I will check my suitcase and carry on my laptop and purse. That is it. Heck if I decide not to take the laptop then it's just my purse.

 

[SDSorority]

We've done both. It depends on how long we're staying and if we have a rental car or not. If we have a car, I am fine with just carryon bags because I can go get groceries. If we don't have a car, I pack a TON of snacks and water in my checked luggage.

 

[LoveKermit]

Always checked, unless overnight trip.

Wish airlines would eliminate carry-ons other than personal item.

Lot more on time flights and quicker boarding if we didn't have to wait for all those people trying to cram oversized, over stuffed bags in the overheards.