What do you pack/buy on location when you fly?

[damaris13]

We will be flying cross-country in a couple weeks with a 2 year old. She is still in diapers and uses the Munchkin straw cups. I was figuring we would pack as many diapers as we needed for the entire vacation in the suitcases, and that would leave room on the way back for souvenirs. We will also need to get some small juice bottles, water bottles, snacks for the park (but we would probably need those for the flight, too, right? Which means I should buy them ahead of time).

What do you think? What items do you definitely pack to have with you the entire trip and what items do you buy once you get there? I'm afraid if I wait on some items, I will have a major shock when I see prices. To give you a feel for what I mean, gas here is $3.32. I'm expecting gas prices of over $4.

Help and advice is definitely welcomed! Thank you in advance!

 

[skiingfast]

It would depends on if I had a car or somewhere to walk to when I get there. If not, probably just some post nap snacks would go in the suitcase, maybe something for breakfast like cereal if I could get milk in the hotel.

Bascially since they are so heavy, not pack any liquids. Only liquid bought in the airport can be carried on, so those would be for that lunch or dinner.

Remember the 7eleven at Harbor and Katella will cover basic needs. It is not cheap but has cheerios, milk and grapes.

 

[damaris13]

I've already figured out where there is a Target on the way to our hotel. We'll be at the Anabella, so we won't need to go all the way to Harbor unless we want to. Because our trip extends past the 3 days we'll be spending at DLR, we'll have a rental car the whole time. I didn't think about the fact that they won't let us bring liquids on the plane. What about our drinks for her? Will we be able to bring her juice and milk and a little extra to refill those cups? We mix her juice with water, so we'll need to bring water for that. I don't want to have to buy that at the airport, but I guess I will if it's necessary.

 

[starshine514]

You'll want to double-check on your airlines website, but here's my personal experience. A few years ago (when my youngest was about 16 months old), we were flying back home from vacation and I hadn't gone through the diaper bag before departing. I tried to take it through security with a couple of brand-new 0.5 liter water bottles in it. They found them, of course, and asked if they were for formula for my little one. I said 'no' and they confiscated them. However, it made me think that they would have let me take them through if they had been for her.

When my kids were in the toddler/preschooler stages, they let me through with those little 4-oz juice boxes. I didn't put them in a ziploc or anything, just pulled them out and put them in the box with our other stuff. They never said anything.

Now that my girls are older, we just travel with empty filter water bottles and fill them up at the water fountain once we're through security.

 

[skiingfast]

I've already figured out where there is a Target on the way to our hotel. We'll be at the Anabella, so we won't need to go all the way to Harbor unless we want to. Because our trip extends past the 3 days we'll be spending at DLR, we'll have a rental car the whole time. I didn't think about the fact that they won't let us bring liquids on the plane. What about our drinks for her? Will we be able to bring her juice and milk and a little extra to refill those cups? We mix her juice with water, so we'll need to bring water for that. I don't want to have to buy that at the airport, but I guess I will if it's necessary.

I'd suggest going to a different store, East on Katella from the Annabella is a Food4Less grocery store, across the road that intersects Katella is a BigK. So unless that Target is on the way try these stores.

As far as liquids that you can take a plane, look at the TSA site below. Because exceptions will be made by the TSA agents not what you think is right. As an alternative once through security there will be some gift shops and vending machines to get bottled water, soda or gatorades from.

Like the diapers in the suitcase idea though.

http://www.tsa.gov/311/311-carry-ons.shtm