What is your not so normal item to pack, which is helpful while at WDW ?

[maxiesmom]

Seriously??? You really need to get off your soap box.

Seriously! Paper straws are banned from the Animal Kingdom for a very good reason! People need to stop being so selfish and follow the rules that are in place for each park. Or would you think it ok to bring other banned substances into the parks? Alcohol? Glass containers?

I would think that most people would try and be careful. I don't think most people go around throwing trash all over the parks. But apparently it is a big enough problem that Disney chose to ban plastic straws from the Animal Kingdom. Even if one poster is careful, others would not be.

Be respectful of the place you are going to. It is not like using a paper straw will kill you, but a plastic one may very well harm the animals you are going to see. Put you need for a plastic straw on the back burner for a day.

I have found a lot of posts on this thread to be very helpful. Can't we keep it to tips that are just that, and are not meant to get around Disney's policies? The posting of which is against Disboard rules anyways.

 

[DadtoPrinceNoah]

Seriously! Paper straws are banned from the Animal Kingdom for a very good reason! People need to stop being so selfish and follow the rules that are in place for each park. Or would you think it ok to bring other banned substances into the parks? Alcohol? Glass containers?

I would think that most people would try and be careful. I don't think most people go around throwing trash all over the parks. But apparently it is a big enough problem that Disney chose to ban plastic straws from the Animal Kingdom. Even if one poster is careful, others would not be.

Be respectful of the place you are going to. It is not like using a paper straw will kill you, but a plastic one may very well harm the animals you are going to see. Put you need for a plastic straw on the back burner for a day.

I have found a lot of posts on this thread to be very helpful. Can't we keep it to tips that are just that, and are not meant to get around Disney's policies? The posting of which is against Disboard rules anyways.

Agreed.

Another tip that I can't take credit for since I read that someone else did it...But bringing baby monitors. That way if your hotel room is multiple rooms or you want to step out onto your balcony while your children sleep, you can still monitor them.

 

[jkc0325]

I haven't been to Disney in 6 years but one thing I did back then that was very helpful was to get Disney t-shirts ahead of time. That way I could buy them on sale and save some money. Plus, since I knew my kids would want to wear a different one each day, I already had them and buying them at the park didn't add extra luggage for the trip home.

For this trip, I doubt my daughters 11,9,7 will want to wear one every day, but I still plan to get a couple ahead of time.

This thread has been SO helpful. Thanks to everyone for all the great ideas!

 

[leebee]

We love to freeze washcloths the night before and pack them in Ziploc bags to take into the parks the next day. When it gets really hot, we put the cold cloths on the back of our necks- so refreshing! We also like to pack a couple of hand towels from the hotel room to dry off after the water rides. No one likes a soggy shirt!
This year, we took a couple of plastic containers so we could take leftover desserts from our meals and eat them later at the hotel. This way, we could actually enjoy them instead of stuffing it in!
We've also discovered something wonderful called the Bobble. It's a water bottle with a filter built-in. As you drink, it purifies the water. This way, we don't have to bring water bottles or buy water in the park. It makes yucky Florida water taste just fine! Once we drink all our water, we just stop at a sink or a drinking fountain and refill. They're great!

 

[disneydotlee]

I have allergies so I take a snack size ziploc bag full of the detergent I can use. Small and can pack in corners.

 

[nettii]

I always bring a caribeiner.........hook it to the stroller for maps, cups etc. hook it to your back pack........ i like to bring as little as possible!

 

[Minnie&Tink]

Wow so many great ideas! I'm making a list for our July trip

 

[MiamiMere]

Just marking my place, thanks for all the great tips. I have a long list going.

 

[G'sWatersprite]

Have been furiously taking notes. My first trip as a parent is in 6 months and it's very different than the countless times I went as an adult/kid! Thanks for all the tips and I hope to have some of my own when I get back!

 

[mwatson011]

Seriously! Paper straws are banned from the Animal Kingdom for a very good reason! People need to stop being so selfish and follow the rules that are in place for each park. Or would you think it ok to bring other banned substances into the parks? Alcohol? Glass containers?

I would think that most people would try and be careful. I don't think most people go around throwing trash all over the parks. But apparently it is a big enough problem that Disney chose to ban plastic straws from the Animal Kingdom. Even if one poster is careful, others would not be.

Be respectful of the place you are going to. It is not like using a paper straw will kill you, but a plastic one may very well harm the animals you are going to see. Put you need for a plastic straw on the back burner for a day.

I have found a lot of posts on this thread to be very helpful. Can't we keep it to tips that are just that, and are not meant to get around Disney's policies? The posting of which is against Disboard rules anyways.

Not to beat a dead horse here, but even if you bring a plastic straw and dispose of it in the trash recepticle, there is no guarantee that after you throw the straw away it doesn't get somehow lost in the park anyway...(think busted trash bag, wind, etc). The paper straws are not that terrible in your mouth when you think of the alternative...a plastic straw in an animal's throat!

 

[sahm2two]

A couple of things that we used to bring when DS was little was a container of bath confetti and some colored bath tablets. After we had run his bath, we'd drop a colored tablet in the water then sprinkle a handful of the soap confetti on top. When he came in the bathroom to bathe, we'd tell him that Tinkerbell must have visited his bath! He loved it.

.

Love it! That is adorable... definitely doing this for my little girl when we go this summer. She'll be almost 3 and will. LOVE it!

The tip about the lids for popsicles is genius. We save our cups from chili's, etc to use at home and I actually save the lids too, so I'll just bring 2 of those!

 

[Mel6197]

I take a stack of lids from take-out drinks. If you turn it upside down and insert a popsicle or mickey bar through the straw x-cut, then the lid will catch any drips!

Pure genius. Issue we have every aug trip. Never thought of this.

 

[Monknmom]

Not to beat a dead horse here, but even if you bring a plastic straw and dispose of it in the trash recepticle, there is no guarantee that after you throw the straw away it doesn't get somehow lost in the park anyway...(think busted trash bag, wind, etc). The paper straws are not that terrible in your mouth when you think of the alternative...a plastic straw in an animal's throat!

To stop that maybe just all agree what the other person posted using stainless steel straws ($8.99/4 at amazon) and if you buy the bobbles too you'll get over the hump for free shipping! I am doing that because my son is on meds and needs a straw to sip, but does chew and paper wouldn't be a good thing to swallow!
*On an up note thank you for all of the ideas! I can't WAIT for Disney in December (I know so far away, but I think that I am more excited about being able to finally take my son there after hearing him ask for so long!)! Keep them up! I am sure my hubby won't be happy with it, but I will!

 

[jbuey22]

I spent a good 2 hours reading through this thread. I dont have any brilliant ideas like the great list of ideas that has compiled. But!!.. What we do bring that has not been listed so far is:
We print character photos from trips past, Princess photos with the kids, Mickey and the kids or family...etc. Then we put them in a folder and take them with us to the parks. Usually 5x7's are the best they fit into the quart size ziplocks too. Then when we run into a character that we have a photo with, we have him or her autograph it. Then!! and most importantly we get another photo with that character while we hold up the signed photo. (basically proves that an actual character was the signer) cause anybody can sign their own character photos. Not done yet. When we get home we print the second picture and take bot of the to Michael's and have the matted and framed and usually add other items to the framing as well, as well as a little plaque that say stuff like "Family with Mickey at the Magic Kingdom 03/19/2011" This turns out to be a much better soulvenier then a music box or figurine that alot of people put in their curio cabinets. And much cheaper too. The only cost is the framing. I get mine done professionally, but you can buy pre-made frames and matting. Just our stupid little thing we do. I had a great picture of one of the trains at the MK blowing its whitsle with the white smoke and Space Mountain behind it. We rode right up front on the train when I brought it and asked the Engineer to autoghraph it before we took off. He did more than that he made us Co-Conductors and gave us little certificate cards, plus we got a photo with him too. The whole package was framed, fortunately I brought an 8x10 of that one cause I loved it so much, and it turned out to look like a professional piece that would cost somebodt a couple hundred bucks. Cost me $41.00. But like I said you can do it much cheaper.

 

[LSchrow]

A handy hint from someone who has worn glasses for 41 years...if youlose the screw thatholds the "arm" of the glass to the front of the glasses, a safety pin through the hinge thing holds it together until you can repair it better.

apparently, WDW resort front deskshave eyeglass repair kits....at least the BW does. DH lost the screw on his glasses, and asked at the FD where the closest eyeglass place would be.
the CM took out a repair kit, put the screw in, and gave us the rest of the kit (with mini-screwdriver, extra screws, pads, etc) to keep

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Rubber bands and memo clips = to close bags of chips and such. Memo clips are also good for holding curtains shut, hanging up items to dry.
My own washclothe. After finding someone elses you know what hair, on a unused washclothe in our DVC room, I bring my own!

 

[Mom&RN]

I always bring some benadryl (generic brand). This med is good for SOOO many things. It works for:

• allergy attacks
• bug bites
• rashes
• general itchiness
• insomnia
• motion sickness
• nausea

This is a great drug with almost no adverse side effects except for sleepiness (which is a good thing if you are having insomnia). I don't take any trip without taking a dozen or so benadryl caps along. We often don't need them but they have been life savers in the past.

 

[Disneynat]

...it's not a super practical item, but we take battery powered candles with us whenever we travel. They create a nice ambiance on the balcony table while watching fireworks/having a glass of wine/etc after a long day of vacationing. And, the battery powered candles mean that you don't have to worry about any accidental spills.

 

[janischa]

what we are planning to take with us (i still need to find/buy these products though) and has not yet been mentionned on this list are
* a mini and light droodle pad to keep our little one entertained (for flight and wait time at rides)
* some dough (flour mixed with water) in a small plastic bag to keep it soft (for flight; in case our girl sticks it in her mouth, no need to panic)
* a mini note pad to scribble memorable things my DD says or does and back home to stick it in her dairy (i keep a dairy for her as i notice it's so easy to forget the cute things they did or said when they were small; let alone answer future questions they may ask like 'what sort of baby/toddler etc was I ?')
* books to leave behind; i don't know if they do it in the disney hotel, but in asian hotels sometimes you find traveller's book exchange, where travellers leave behind books they've read and/or take away books other travellers left behind; so for those that read fast/ a lot, they have to lug less books along

 

[BoardwalkSuzy]

1) Brita pitcher & filter for water
2) Some Ziploc bags for left overs or to protect things from rain/water rides
3) Small flashlights
4) Several reusable small tupperwares for leftovers
5) Peets Coffee & filters for early morning coffee in-suite
6) 3oz Sunscreen, hats, and mini rain ponchos - one for everyone
7) Reusable ice packs
8) Neoprene water bottles one for everyone
9) Metal travel coffee mug - 1 to share with spouse
10) Reusable shopping bags (most of ours are Disney themed & we never ever accept a one-time use plastic bag from a store!)
11) Markers & crayons + 30 pages of blank paper in Gallon Ziplock for kids to draw while we are at Signature restaurants to prevent boredom.
12) Black Sharpie marker
13) Ziploc with wipes
14) Advil in travel case
15) First aid kit - Neosporin, bandaids, nail clippers & tweezer - always have in backpack.
16) iPad for me, book for spouse, and Nintendo DS Lites for kids
17) all those charger cords & adapters

We fly in, never check luggage, and all this plus our clothes goes in carry-ons in the overhead compartment or under seat in front.