What I wish I would have known BEFORE getting to WDW!

[princessstacy]

Sorry I am new to this and thought I did the quote thing but didn't do it right. The above first statement was from Brighteyes.

 

[brighteyes]

Sorry I am new to this and thought I did the quote thing but didn't do it right. The above first statement was from Brighteyes.

That's alright, I knew what you meant...glad I am not the only one with a grumpy child at disney. The first three days were the worst, after that his mood was a little better he just was more exhausted by then.


When we went shopping at Downtown Disney, my son was miserable cause it was raining, and it was our 2nd last night there and he just wanted to watch tv in the room. Of course, I said no we have to go get our gifts. Well as I was picking out my Mickey hoodie, he promptly picked the one with Grumpy written on the front with a big picture of him on the back. He said I will get this because I am grumpy so I bought it. After that he was in a better mood.

Oh well, at least I was at Disney.

Stephanie

 

[carimekarma]

These tips are so helpful! Our family is going to WDW in November and I'm getting great ideas on how to make the most of our trip.

 

[momminnie]

We always bring a little travel pack of the Clorox disinfecting wipes (we find them in the travel section at Target) and wipe down every surface in the hotel room the second we step in the door. You'd be amazed how much dirt (and presumably, germs) come off onto those things.

We also never travel without our "bags". Ours are Eagle Creek ones that aren't made anymore, They fit more stuff than a fanny pack including a spot for your water bottle (but way better than a backpack), look way better, and don't get in the way of ride restraints because they hang across your body. Best. Thing. Ever.

What is REI? I would like to check out the bags.

 

[latrischler]

we get to Disney Sunday - but have started our trip with pre-days in FL. We just spent 12 hours in the car with the kids (9 and 7) and we set some rules up front. Any time they say they "can't, won't don't, or otherwise talk back or act grouchy --- we are taking $1 from their Disney dollar fund. So far... it has been working like a charm!!!!

 

[danicaw]

I haven't caught up yet, but I have a couple things I always take with me.... well a ton actually anyway.

A basic antenna ball. Not a Disney one (gasp...I know) but one from local gas station or something. One that is bright and unlikely to get taken.
There are a ton of rental cars at WDW (most of them white) and it helps to have easy to spot antenna ball to find your car among the masses.

And one of those pop up cubes. They have them at Target, Lowes and I am sure a bunch of other places. They fold flat and are easy to pack. And make a easy place to put dirty close or the things you want to remember to take to the park each day. Or make it easy to carry things to and from the car.

oh, this is a new one....for little kids
Spill-proof water bottle spout.
Gerber makes them, and I have seen them other places to.
They are listed as "Gerber Graduates" product and are just a cap that snaps on to any basic water bottle/soda bottle size bottle and allow the youngsters who don't have the art of drinking from a regular bottle down to enjoy an easy drink. Our grocery store has them for about 1.70 each. I try to alway keep one in the car and one in our suitcase. But for WDW I think I will pack a couple.

Thanks for starting this, I have added a bunch of stuff to my packing list.
I am already wondering how I got through our previous trips without all these things

 

[princessstacy]

we get to Disney Sunday - but have started our trip with pre-days in FL. We just spent 12 hours in the car with the kids (9 and 7) and we set some rules up front. Any time they say they "can't, won't don't, or otherwise talk back or act grouchy --- we are taking $1 from their Disney dollar fund. So far... it has been working like a charm!!!!

Thats a great idea. I'll have to try that next time. When we went last year there was a shirt that had Grumpy on it and it said I'm Grumpy cause your Dopey. Still wish I had bought it!

 

[twoeeyy]

I wish we remembered the tolls on the way back to MCO. We did not have any change at all , we had bills but they were all bigger than a 50 and the tolls will not take 50 dollar bills so they were going to give us a ticket since we could not pay the tolls After much pleading and explaining that we did not know they would not accept 50 dollar bills ( an an ever growing line behind us ) the toll attendant finally let us thru.

 

[jgates]

Just as a follow-up to several pages ago regarding shipping your items down and then how to get them back. If you are not taking travel size items and you do want to get them back to your home again, you can preprint the Priority Mail return label with Postage and tape it on the flat PM box. Pack this in your luggage. When you check out, pack the items you need to send home and mail them back to yourself.

Not really sure what items you might want to actually send back to yourself, but you never know! Maybe too many souveniers???......Get them all home in that flat rate box!!!!!

And a note on the pop-up hampers & why I am so hooked on them - we actually leave ours right inside of the big suitcase all the time. One experience on a two week vacation in D.C. in 105 degree heat with a bunch of clothes that literally stunk because they wouldn't dry out & no laundry at hotels - hamper was the first thing we bought next trip!!! Weighs about 2 ounces and lays totally flat. I think they are about $4 to $6 at WM or Target. And it was one of the first things my college bound kid ASKED for when he left.

If you have a laptop on the trip & have access to hi-speed internet, sign up for one of the online photo services also before you go. kodak, sonyimagestation, walmart (??), etc. UPLOAD your photos some night or every night while you are showering, getting kids ready for bed, etc. So much less danger of losing all ones memories if the camera is stolen, laptop is damaged, etc on the way home.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I have a few suggestions.. but they are from general travel that I had to do and situatins that I had to deal with while traveling (I also used them when I went to DL and WDW)

The first is along the lines of "security" I don't mean to barracade myself in a hotel room. but I found tht most hotel curtain's do not fully close. espically if there is a room cool/heater below the window. In my shave kit, and later in my suitcase. I simply up three or four of the metal binder clips (super paper clips) that you can find in any office. Very cheap, made of metal. I clip one or two on the curtin at night to make sure it is closed to prying eyes. especially if we are staying in a ground floor or second floor room. In the morning it will prevent unwanted sunlight hitting your eyes at dawn if you have a room facing that way! So as to not forget them, I always "crack open" the curtiains a small crack when I leave for the day.

Another thing that I am "addicted" to for packing is the space bags, and the packing cubes from various sources. they come in many sizes. Since I had to frequently travel for a week without being in a hotel for more than one night for work, I found that I could get a weeks worth of clothing, socks underwear etc. in a small carry-on. (it helps to color-coordinate slacks and shirts!!) I would always take a couple of "empty ones that were (sharpie) labeled "dirty clothing" if I ran out of space, I would use one of the empty ones, then wipe it out when I got home.

AS an example, I flew from California to Washington, D.C. in winter, wearing a sport coat on the plane. when I got my bag, I opened the outer compartment and pulled out my Lands' end parka, that I had "air squeezed" into one of the larger size bags. Good to GO!! it is amazing how much you can reduce the size. WARNING: just because the air is gone, DOSN"T mean they are lighter. CHECK YOUR BAG WEIGHT! as it would be easy to go over the airlines maximum, and they are getting more exacting about charging for overweight bags!!

Pirate Translation:
Arrhhh arrgghh. I be packi'n me seabag and gettin rid O'ta airrrr 'wat be a blowi'n thru 'ta spinniker. Me wench done think I be a right smart lad, A' trapesin to and frow on the Silver Birrrd crossin'n the land. I be us'in me plan when me travel to the World O' the Mouse, and parrrtake of merrement and glee, with cabin and tucker and grog!! Arrrhhh Arrrggghhh!!

 

[ZoZo]

This may have already been posted, but for "newbies," I'd recommend making some dining reservations in advance. You can make reservations at table-service restaurants 90+ days before you arrive -- if you don't make ADRs early, you might not be able to get into the restaurants you want (I know Le Cellier books up very, very early, especially during free dining). You can always cancel your reservations if you decide you don't want to use them, but if you wait until you arrive (or, heaven forbid, try to do a walk-up at a popular restaurant!), you probably won't be able to get in.

Bring things like sunscreen, sunglasses, batteries, disposable rain ponchos, mister fan, OTC meds, etc. from home. They're sooooo much more expensive to buy on site.

Don't forget your cell phone charger and digital camera battery charger.

 

[kimnkel]

Most of mine aren't things to pack, just my tips:

Instead of the autograph books, on day 1 we let each kid pick out a hat for all the characters to sign (make sure to bring sharpies!). This way they have their sun hat, souvenier, and autographs all in one. I suggested we pre-buy our hats at the Dis store this time around to save money and was told by DD11 that they wouldn't have any magic in them if we didn't buy them in the park!

Don't forget to download your pics to your laptop (if you bring it) each evening.

We collected the pressed pennies and then glued them to a picture frame that we put our AK family photo in.

What I really wish I'd known before Fantasmic!: during the show, the CMs round up all the strollers--even if you have your personal stuff still in them! We had brought my DDs special Bug's Life cup and luckily someone found it and set it on top of a trash can, where we spotted it from waaaay down the street.


Wish I knew last time...that at counter service, you can get a double burger, order an extra bun for less than $1, and have 2 burgers at a bargain (well, by WDW standards anyway)! I read that on the dis somewhere & my DH cracked up at how excited I was. See, I'm figuring we're splitting the burgers anyway w/ each kid getting 1/2, so now we can feed 4 people from 1 burger. (can you say "mommy's a cheapskate?")

These are all really good tips, but girl, I had to at the burger idea! You must be related to my husband, the world's most frugal guy. If he could figure out a way to water down water, he'd surely do it! We (the kids and I) give him a hard time, but the truth is we appreciate his efforts.

Usually.

 

[ashleypmo]

These are all really good tips, but girl, I had to at the burger idea! You must be related to my husband, the world's most frugal guy. If he could figure out a way to water down water, he'd surely do it! We (the kids and I) give him a hard time, but the truth is we appreciate his efforts.

Usually.

Water down water--

I'm always trying to do our travel food on the cheap, but this time travelling w/ 7 people and needing 2 rooms has got me kind of ! Plus, we always like to eat our way around the World Showcase in Epcot, and this time I'm thinking of treating us to a couple of TS dinners, so I'm trying to justify it by making everyone suffer --I mean being extra frugal the rest of the time!

 

[dmja716]

Can anyone tell me how to get to the Dis Shop???
Thank you

 

[DisneyMom14]

Pirate Translation:
Arrhhh arrgghh. I be packi'n me seabag and gettin rid O'ta airrrr 'wat be a blowi'n thru 'ta spinniker. Me wench done think I be a right smart lad, A' trapesin to and frow on the Silver Birrrd crossin'n the land. I be us'in me plan when me travel to the World O' the Mouse, and parrrtake of merrement and glee, with cabin and tucker and grog!! Arrrhhh Arrrggghhh!!

You are too funny! Thanks for the tips.

 

[Mom2m&k]

What great ideas! I can't wait for our next trip!!!

 

[kitty'sAuntie]

Can anyone tell me how to get to the Dis Shop???
Thank you

Is this what you were looking for?
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2jwdj/disstuffblowout/index.html

 

[Sunshein]

Why baggies for water rides?For your feet?

 

[Julianna07]

Why baggies for water rides?For your feet?

I think they meant to put items in when you go on water rides.
For example, your wallet, your ADR list, Your plans, cell phone, etc...

I usually bring a ziplock baggie with a few different sizes inside. You never know when you are going to need them. I used a few of them last year. One for a dessert that Dh didn't want after dinner, so we took it back with us. When we went to Blizzard Beach we put our wet suits in one each til we got back to the hotel to hang them up.

 

[Figment's Girl]

oh wow i didnt know that they would give you a free glass of water, that would be awsome

They have to otherwise they leave themself open to a lawsuit. Even with the water fountains, if they did not offer water and someone became dehydrated and said it was due to the fact that they couldn't afford something to drink, they could sue.