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

[bagsmom]

Just got an e-mail today from CVS that Exedrin will be back in stores on 10/19/12. I loved the Exedrin Migraine. Seemed to get rid of both migraines and tension headaches.

The excedrin is a great alternative to one's coffee fix! And you don't have to stop at every restroom in the theme parks.

 

[bagsmom]

Oh geez! I just realized I already put this tip in here WAY back in the summer. Sorry for reposting it.!

 

[Lricksecker]

Luv this thread!

I, too am a bit of a germophob, but with a child on the Autistic Spectrum I quickly learned that using toxic cleaners made her worse, and as we all know it's generally bad for those of us that are "healthy" as well.

So instead I use an alternative that kills just as many germs as Lysol or Clorox, but one that is not toxic to my family or pets. They come as pop-up pre-moistened towels or in a spray bottle, so I can easily pack and wipe down a hotel room or let my kiddos clean away at will at home, without worrying about what is getting on their skin or they are inhaling.

This is especially important for port-a-cribs or other surfaces that babies may mouth while you're on vacation.

I use Melaleuca Tough & Tender Wipes (also comes as a spray). You can order it ahead of time here by contacting a Melaleua Rep....Do a search on "Tina Blease, Melaleuca" and you'll be connected to one of the best reps on the planet.

She also has lots of other products that I found did not trigger my Autistic child, so ask her about it!

If you prefer the "made at home" approach, vinegar has been shown to kill everything lysol and clorox does as well, and will also stop ants from invading your room (as I did in Hawaii) by putting full strength vinegar in a spray bottle and spraying the thresholds where they wanted to cross. With vinegar you know you aren't hurting your family or the environment for sure! Just keep away from carpets and curtains until you test a hidden spot for color fastness.

Last trip to Disneyland was in February, 2013 and what a we had!

 

[Dragontears]

I have allergies to most detergents. I use a cotton, lint free hanky (very cheap at discount stores) and dip them in liquid detergent and let them dry. I throw one in with the wash and it then goes straight into the dryer. It takes up almost no room in the suitcase (I do put them I a zip lock baggie). Hope this helps those with sensitive skin!

I know most folks think this is a minor thing, but when you have skin allergies you are really limited.

Thanks so much for the tip. I'm going to try it at home next laundry day for a test run.

 

[Dragontears]

Some say pre-1981 pennies are best for pressing, but we also soak them in vinegar overnight and really shine them up!

The reason you should try to find pre 1982 pennies is due to the metal content. In 1982 the mint started using a zink core covered with copper for pennies (zink is cheaper). When pressed, the zink bleeds through and can cause streaks.

We start checking our change about 3 months before the trip. That way we can pick out the cleanest to use. When the teller at my bank realized what we were doing, she sold us rolls of old pennies to go through and would buy them back when we were through picking them over. (We replaced any pennies we could use with newer ones.) Try asking at your bank.

Happy Pressing

 

[Dragontears]

If you forget your dish soap in a sponge, another alternative is to just use the shampoo & a washcloth to wash out the cups etc.

Polmolive sells a sheet that lathers up in water for washing dishes. It comes in a small tub about the same size as Olay face cleaning cloths. I usually just put a few in a zip lock bag. They are dry so they don't "leak" but I don't want the whole suitcase smelling like Polmolive.

Though, after reading all these great ideas, I just may pop one into the suitcase with the dirty clothes on the trip home.


Great Thread!!

 

[cmbpanda]

Love this thread. I haven't got all the way through yet. I thought the packing cubes sound like a fab idea, but my DH just scoffed & said he isn't spending £££ (we r from UK) on bags to go in the bags! He just said I should wrap all the kids stuff in plastic bags if I want to keep it separate

 

[refinnej]

The reason you should try to find pre 1982 pennies is due to the metal content. In 1982 the mint started using a zink core covered with copper for pennies (zink is cheaper). When pressed, the zink bleeds through and can cause streaks.

We start checking our change about 3 months before the trip. That way we can pick out the cleanest to use. When the teller at my bank realized what we were doing, she sold us rolls of old pennies to go through and would buy them back when we were through picking them over. (We replaced any pennies we could use with newer ones.) Try asking at your bank.

Happy Pressing

You can clean pennies as well by soaking them in ketchup! Doing this over the weekend with the kiddos so they can help get them ready. I need to be sure they don't lick their fingers! They are ketchup-fiends!

http://lesson-plans.theteacherscorner.net/science/experiments/ketchup.php

 

[missbossypants]

subscribing, can't possibly read it all in one sitting!

 

[xera12]

You can clean pennies as well by soaking them in ketchup! Doing this over the weekend with the kiddos so they can help get them ready. I need to be sure they don't lick their fingers! They are ketchup-fiends!

http://lesson-plans.theteacherscorner.net/science/experiments/ketchup.php

I just tried this, and it worked ok, however... The pennies kind of dull a bit and turn a weird sorta orangey color... And they smell bad... I mean, for kids its probably ok, but... Idk lol

 

[fanoftigger]

I just tried this, and it worked ok, however... The pennies kind of dull a bit and turn a weird sorta orangey color... And they smell bad... I mean, for kids its probably ok, but... Idk lol

Lol, I tried this trick this week too (from a pressed penny thread). But it said to shine them back up with a baking soda paste (just add a little water to make the paste). My old pennies came from a glass jug my dad forgot about in his storage bldg. they were nasty! The ketchup cleaned them up great and the baking soda paste helped get the shine back. Some are still dull, but I was getting lazy and tired.

I can't believe I'm admitting I put pennies in ketchup. Ha ha. It was kind of gross!

 

[disneyboundickes]

We are season pass holders and go often. My list is Getting smaller since I'm learning what is really needed and what is not.

So my must have is child shampoo

We didn't bring tear free shampoo on our first trip last year and it was the worst mistake... My DD got soap in her eyes and she still
Has a fear over getting her hair washed. If you don't want to bring extra shampoo, let them wear their goggles...

Love all the ideas.
On our way now

 

[pktbMouse]

If you forget your dish soap in a sponge, another alternative is to just use the shampoo & a washcloth to wash out the cups etc.

I have been bringing the power strip for years. Actually, I used to bring a power strip, now I bring a power squid. I found that with some of the chargers, the plug-in part was big, so it would block the next set of holes on the strip. With the power squid, the "arms" dangle off the end of the thing, so that no matter how big the plug is, it doesn't interfere with any of the other plug holes.

Wow where did you get your power squid from?? this is the first year I will be travelling with a Cpap machine and this would be perfect for me as the kids always want to plug in other electronic things too, the Cpap plug is on the chunky side so the squid would be perfect. I really didnt want to travel with 2 power strips if needed. thanks. Oh and any other tips on travelling with a Cpap would be most welcome, first time flying with it also. Thanks.

 

[Disney Doll]

Wow where did you get your power squid from?? this is the first year I will be travelling with a Cpap machine and this would be perfect for me as the kids always want to plug in other electronic things too, the Cpap plug is on the chunky side so the squid would be perfect. I really didnt want to travel with 2 power strips if needed. thanks. Oh and any other tips on travelling with a Cpap would be most welcome, first time flying with it also. Thanks.

I got mine at either Staples or Office Max office supply store, near the computer stuff. I think I have seen them in Bed, Bath & Beyond too. I just googled "Power Squid" and came up with a lot of hits for them....Wal-Mart etc. I imagine even Home Depot or a hardware store might have them near the electrical stuff. I really like the power squid because then al plug-in stuff is in one spot and not in 5 plugs all around the room, so I feel like there's less of a chance of me forgetting one of the various chargers we have to bring.

CPAP travel- DH has had one for 5 years. It came with a case that's all padded to protect it for travel. If you don't have one I would recommend you google "CPAP travel case" and get one. We always carry it on. We NEVER put it in checked luggage. We always bring an extension cord because sometimes the outlet in a hotel room is not necessarily close to the bed. We also bring one of those over-the-door hooks because DH likes his tubing to go up and over the head board and if the headboard in a hotel room doesn't allow for getting behind it (some are bolted to the wall) then he hooks the hook on the head board and drapes the tubing over it.

When you go through security you have to open up the case and take out the motor part of it. They sometimes swab it for explosives or whatever they're looking for when they do that thing with the swab, but it hasn't been a huge issue. As time goes on, the TSA people are becoming more familiar with them. When DH first got it, invariably we'd get pulled out of line so they could go over it carefully. Now a lot of the time they just let it go through the x-ray machine and don't take a closer look, swab it or whatever...

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

Gold Bond powder. Always slap some on in the grundle area before heading into the parks. Helps stop the chaffing and keeps the entire area cool for an hour or so.

Hmmm...never heard it called "the grundle area" before!

 

[DVCJones]

Hmmm...never heard it called "the grundle area" before!

Lol. We refer to it as the 'grundle' too.

 

[BiancaBernard&Penny]

When I used an umbrella stroller (MacLaren) I found that it would tip over backwards if DD got out while I had a bag hanging on the back. To counter act that weight I got a 5lb (I think... It was the lightest) soft ankle weight wrap and put it on the foot rest. It was enough weight to prevent the tipping but not too much weight to carry onto buses or up the flight of stairs to our room. I always kept it on. When I got home, I found it still came in handy.

 

[tjmj9801]

When I used an umbrella stroller (MacLaren) I found that it would tip over backwards if DD got out while I had a bag hanging on the back. To counter act that weight I got a 5lb (I think... It was the lightest) soft ankle weight wrap and put it on the foot rest. It was enough weight to prevent the tipping but not too much weight to carry onto buses or up the flight of stairs to our room. I always kept it on. When I got home, I found it still came in handy.

This is genius!!!! We've ways had this problem. Solved! Thank you!!

 

[pktbMouse]

CPAP travel- DH has had one for 5 years. It came with a case that's all padded to protect it for travel. If you don't have one I would recommend you google "CPAP travel case" and get one. We always carry it on. We NEVER put it in checked luggage. We always bring an extension cord because sometimes the outlet in a hotel room is not necessarily close to the bed. We also bring one of those over-the-door hooks because DH likes his tubing to go up and over the head board and if the headboard in a hotel room doesn't allow for getting behind it (some are bolted to the wall) then he hooks the hook on the head board and drapes the tubing over it.

When you go through security you have to open up the case and take out the motor part of it. They sometimes swab it for explosives or whatever they're looking for when they do that thing with the swab, but it hasn't been a huge issue. As time goes on, the TSA people are becoming more familiar with them. When DH first got it, invariably we'd get pulled out of line so they could go over it carefully. Now a lot of the time they just let it go through the x-ray machine and don't take a closer look, swab it or whatever...[/QUOTE]

Thank you...can I just put it under the seat in front of me on the plane? also can I put the whole thing in a big ziplock bag? I dont like the idea of other people touching it. It did come in a black travel bag. ( its a resmed S9 autoset) I have only had it for 5 months so all still new to me. Would it be a good idea to take it all apart for travelling?

 

[jenniy122]

Thank you...can I just put it under the seat in front of me on the plane? also can I put the whole thing in a big ziplock bag? I dont like the idea of other people touching it. It did come in a black travel bag. ( its a resmed S9 autoset) I have only had it for 5 months so all still new to me. Would it be a good idea to take it all apart for travelling?[/QUOTE]

Under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin, same as any carryon. If the TSA needs to touch/swab it they'll be wearing gloves.