What do you need to bring to a rental home?

[Ali]

OK, I read each of the 8 pages in this forum searching for an answer, but didn't find a post that recommended things to bring to a rental home. On the resorts board there are posts about "what did you wish you brought to your room" and "I wish I remembered to bring ..." type posts. Need help! Going to Mouse Manor at WH tomorow and want to have what we need.

So, you know what I need to know, so please share.

Thanks
a

 

[marciemi]

Ooh, great question! We leave in 11 days, so I'll be glad to hear anyone's suggestions. So far I have:

Laundry tablets (don't want to haul liquid)
Dishwasher tablets
Bars of soap
Shampoo/conditioner
Regular toiletries like you'd take to a hotel (contact solution, mouthwash, toothbrush/paste, etc.)
Garbage bags
Pool floats
Nightlights

I was told the house comes with a starter amount of everything, but since we'll be there 15 nights, we'll probably need extras of what I listed above. I also plan to buy extra toilet paper and some paper towels on our first trip to Walmart, but if you have space you could bring them. Also, if you're picky you might want to bring a pillow and pillowcase (I always bring my own pillow anywhere).

I know I'm missing a ton, so please help us out!

 

[#1 Minnie Lover]

Just got back from a TH at Windsor Hills that was managed by Global and there was not one washcloth and only 1 hand towel.

I bought some and left them there, doubt the cleaning crew left them behind for the next renter.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

Toilet Paper and Paper Towels. We always stop at Walmart or Publix to pic things up.

 

[KayR]

We always make a stop at Walmart on our way in. I have been there at 2am after a late flight landing

Rather than carry everything, you could make a list and purchase most of what you need.

Ziploc bags - always great for snacks / leftovers.
Coffee filters?
Groceries
saran wrap and foil - but you may be lucky and have some left in the home from previous guests.

You may want to bring some DVDs to watch if the home you are staying in has a DVD player - there are no rental stores conveniently placed.

Dish soap (Dawn / Joy etc) for hand washing dishes.

I always pick up a couple bottles of liquid hand soap too. (Much prefer them over the hotel soaps)

As I have a 2yo I have started making sure that we have a coast guard approved life jacket for her for when she is in the pool. (too many v. sad stories recently - this is not to replace our supervision, but to help us ensure her safety). We take that with us or pick one up at Walmart if we have forgotten.

Small first aid kit (band aids etc)

Sun block and insect repellent

Waterproof ponchos (for those tropical summertime rains) - you can purchase them cheaply in Walmart/Walgreens or more expensively in Disney/Universal.

If you (like me) are not good in the hot weather, I like those small portable fans.

I am sure there is more that I could add to this list, but that's it for now.

-Kay

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We like to bring a small collapsible cooler so we can freeze some bottled water & box juices and bring into the parks. They stay cold for a long time and cuts down on $ spent on drinks.
I also bring from home:
-tea bags (great to make a pitcher of iced tea "at home")
-fabric softener sheets
-microwave popcorn packets
-instant oatmeal packets
-sugar packets (from restaurants or work) for my morning coffee. Publix usually sells only large containers and it's such a waste.
-coupons for stuff I know I will buy in Publix.

Most stuff I can buy on sale at my leisure rather than paying the reg. price at Publix.
We also copy some cd's and leave the originals home so we can listen in the house and car and not worry if we leave them behind, which we've done!

I'm sure I could tell you more but I'm at work and my packing list is home.
I will try to add more later.

 

[marciemi]

Yeah, I forgot DVD's. Another is video game if the house you're renting has a system. The house we're renting has XBox and PS2, so I've picked up a few games when Burger King had them, and gotten a few more for a couple dollars at garage sales and used ones at GameStop. With 3 boys 12-15, I'm sure we'll get some use out of them, and will just leave them at the house since we don't have those consoles at home. We don't plan to have them spend a lot of time playing video games, but for relaxing in the evenings, and just in case someone gets sick, I want to be prepared!

Some of you mention Publix. Is Walmart cheaper and easier to get to from Emerald Island? That's what I was planning on. Would Publix be more for quick runs?

 

[deejay-55]

Just got back from a TH at Windsor Hills and there was not one washcloth and only 1 hand towel.QUOTE]

If you have any issues like this, call the management company on arrival and most will fix it straight away.

 

[mbb]

Yeah, I forgot DVD's. Another is video game if the house you're renting has a system. The house we're renting has XBox and PS2, so I've picked up a few games when Burger King had them, and gotten a few more for a couple dollars at garage sales and used ones at GameStop. With 3 boys 12-15, I'm sure we'll get some use out of them, and will just leave them at the house since we don't have those consoles at home. We don't plan to have them spend a lot of time playing video games, but for relaxing in the evenings, and just in case someone gets sick, I want to be prepared!

Some of you mention Publix. Is Walmart cheaper and easier to get to from Emerald Island? That's what I was planning on. Would Publix be more for quick runs?

From EI, your quickest grocery store stop is going to be the "Marketplace" at the Formosa Gardens shopping Center...

...and I know it doesn't have the best reputation as far as fresh produce and pricing go...but sooooo much easier to stop right there on our way "home"

And if you have to run out in the evening to grab something, you don't have to go out onto the 192, through the lights, and the mile or 2 to Publix..

I know...it's only a mile...but the Publix shooping centre doesn't have a Dairy Queen...which FG Marketplace does- after I pick up the few groceries I "need" - has waffle cone sundaes.





There's a WalMart out on the 27 - a 15-20 minute drive at most - and another one, a little closer to EI - or so I've read - down the 545...

Hopefully someone will clarify

 

[Ali]

Thanks for the suggestions. Does anyone know of any Natural food/health food stores near Disney? I haven't found any when searching online.

I'll miss having my organic frozen yogurt before bed because I don't think it will survive in the cooler.

 

[Mainebound]

Persnally, I don't want to pack all of those things, so we drive to the Publix our first day with a list. (We don't like the grocery in Formosa Gardens, although it will do in a pinch). It helps to go to the house first and get a sense of what is or is not there.

 

[isla bonita]

I personally pre order from Sams club but we stay with a large group for 10-17 days.

I would just do a run to publix with a list.
This is what we tell our guests.


For your information, although our properties are completely furnished, we do not provide the following items:

-Laundry Detergent -Cleaning Supplies
-Food Supplies -Sponges
-Trash Bags -Paper Products ex. toilet paper, paper towels, tissue, napkins

I also do not go without tin foil I hate cleanup. We use the grill for almost everything.

 

[KayR]

Thanks for the suggestions. Does anyone know of any Natural food/health food stores near Disney? I haven't found any when searching online.

I'll miss having my organic frozen yogurt before bed because I don't think it will survive in the cooler.

The publix (I think) has a small selection of organic produce - it seems that more and more stores are stocking organic items.

The nearest health/natural food store I know if is:
Chamberlain’s Natural Foods
1114 N. John Young Pkway
Kissimmee 34741 407-846-7454

Whole foods is great, but further away

Whole Foods Market 19
1989 Aloma Avenue
Winter Park 32792 407-673-8788

-Kay

 

[#1 Minnie Lover]

Just got back from a TH at Windsor Hills and there was not one washcloth and only 1 hand towel.QUOTE]

If you have any issues like this, call the management company on arrival and most will fix it straight away.

Sure did call them! Had a couple of issues, they were no help. I called the owner.

 

[disneygirlatheart]

Our rental home was furnished with just about everything including pool toys, laundry detergent, dish soap, etc. The only thing we had to buy was toilet tissue, paper towels, and garbage bags. We brought our shampoo and stuff from home.

 

[tednvon]

Please don't forget the good quality arm floaties for any child who is not a good swimmer! And insist they use them.
Check the ice maker, sometimes it gets shut off and that 1st Gin and Tonic will be be pretty dull warm!

Enjoy...Ted

 

[rrobin3051]

Our house came with soap, 1 roll of tp in each bathroom, dishwashing soap for the dishwasher, plenty of towels and washrags, but no kitchen rags. I would use super walmart for groceries and not publix. Superwalmart was so much cheaper in the long run. I bought laundry detergent and all the other house items after I arrived. I was flying and didnt want to lug all the extras.
1. groceries
2. toilet paper
3. soap and shampoo
4. garbage bags
5. paper towels
6. pool toys (dollar general) the house had some there too
7. salt and pepper shakers
8. foil and baggies

 

[Ali]

I'm here at WH and the one thing I forgot to buy/bring is salt and pepper! So I'll pick some up tomorrow because I am a salt-a-holic! I'm lucky I had some from Burger King in my bag.

This house has pretty much everything, except ziplocks and stuff like the paper products.

I'm surprised the main pool area is so small for how big this place is. If it was fully rented out thte pool would be overwhelmed.

I'm cooking dinner and DS is watching a DVD. HE has aleady played game cube, been in the pool, and discovered he has a bathroom in his room!

Bye ya'll!

 

[carrie6466]

We bought paper towels, napkins, coffee filters, coffee, tea, trash bags. We brought body wash, shampoo, extra towels, dishwasher tablets, Tide, ziploc bags. We also bought a case of water, and being so hot, we'd freeze some bottles the night before, put them in plastic bags and bring them to the parks. By mid morning they were partially defrosted and nice and cold. We'd then get water to refill them with. The ice part lasted a long time without a cooler, even in the heat.

 

[5mins2disney]

I'm here at WH and the one thing I forgot to buy/bring is salt and pepper! So I'll pick some up tomorrow because I am a salt-a-holic! I'm lucky I had some from Burger King in my bag.

This house has pretty much everything, except ziplocks and stuff like the paper products.

I'm surprised the main pool area is so small for how big this place is. If it was fully rented out thte pool would be overwhelmed.

I'm cooking dinner and DS is watching a DVD. HE has aleady played game cube, been in the pool, and discovered he has a bathroom in his room!

Bye ya'll!

Hehe...it IS fully rented out right now! I think their logic is two fold....one...most all of the homes and townhomes already have pools...just the condos don't. Secondly, most families are off at Disney or the theme parks most of the time, so not everyone is around every day. This second point is true, if you drive around the resort in the daytime it seems empty (no cars in front of most of the homes), but drive around the same block at night, and you'll see cars parked in front of almost every single home!