What things did you forget to pack?

[Disneylandfan1]

With everyone going around with Lysol and Clorox, there's no wonder they're all sick - no-one builds up any resistance to germs any more. I never worry about wiping down the plane, rides, TV remotes or anything else...never had any problems.

My kids have acquired colds during 2 of our recent trips, and I think it was from the rides in the park. There are just so many bodies getting on and off the rides, the handle bars must be completely germ infested. I just don't know what to do about it. We always wash our hands before we eat, and whenever we can. We bring anti-bacterial WetOnes in the park but I don't think it helps. It's really just hit or miss with the exposure I guess.

 

[larina]

I would bring my own sheets if I felt it was necessary, but I can't imagine that it is good to sleep in Lysol. I'm not a big fan of anti-bacterial sprays and hand stuff anyhow, but that just seems extreme. I have however traveled with sheets on more than one occasion. I also travel with Clorox wipes, just in case something in a room needs extra cleaning (my hope is always that I won't need them).

My short list of things I have forgotten and been really irritated about:
lip stuff
bandaids
Day/Night Quill pills
scented candle (if allowed, check w/your hotel)
night light/s
my own soap and shampoo
brush

 

[isisisme]

Last time, I forgot to bring a big toothpaste. We only had our travel size in our carryon, and they were not enough.
In the past, we had to buy advil in the park because I forgot it. Now, I carry a big Costco bottle.

I feel bad for everyone that gets ill from their trip. We have never had anything more than slight stomach upset (we love the food there, but are not used to such richness all the time). But of course, we do not have any kids to travel with either.

 

[pookie10]

With everyone going around with Lysol and Clorox, there's no wonder they're all sick - no-one builds up any resistance to germs any more. I never worry about wiping down the plane, rides, TV remotes or anything else...never had any problems.

I totally agree. I mean you dont go around your childrens class rooms at school lysoling everything. Kids get sick, thats life. I understand you dont want them to get sick ON vacation but exposure to too much lysol and such is just as bad for you. I am a teacher and my kids go to public schools and we hardly ever get sick because we are exposed to so much we developed a resiliance.

 

[VandVsmama]

Just wanted to reply and say thanks to the person who started this thread because it's helping me w/my packing list for our June trip.

Everyone's mileage may vary. For the poster who described the disinfecting that she does to her family's motel room, that is what works well for her. And if my family had gotten a staph infection from a motel room, I'd probably be doing something similar. Plus, some families may have family members who are immune suppressed for various reasons. The telephone and TV remote are the 2 most germ-infested items in a motel room, so doing a wipe-down of them with some sort of disinfecting wipes is an excellent idea.

Same thing for all of the surfaces, door handles, etc.

I hadn't included anything like a small container of disinfecting wipes, but now I'm going to do that.

As for me, I'm going to include some melaleuca oil (tea tree oil) in my suitcase. It's a good antifungal and antibacterial (I've actually used it to treat bad diaper rash in a pinch). You can put 4-6 drops of it in a room humidifier and it has the same effect as those Vicks plug-in things do. You can use the melaleuca oil instead of Neosporin on a cut. Comes in handy sometimes.

 

[DizMe]

I think you can drive everyone nuts if you plan for every possible contingency. There are some conveniences that are nice to bring along (ziplocs, ponchos) but you can survive without them.

That said, the one thing I did end up buying twice when there was bandaids. The shoes that feel so comfortable at home don't necessarily stand up to the rigors of resort walking.

As long as you cover the basics, it shouldn't be a big deal if you forget something you hadn't thought of ahead of time. And I wouldn't stress too much about germs. They are the same germs you'll find everywhere else.

 

[Brady's Mom]

My short list:

Cell phones/chargers
lip balm
night light - bathrooms are super dark in the hotel rooms
power strip
cushion-y bandaids
sunscreen - I need super high spf


On a recent trip to San Francisco, DH put away the bag that had all of the electronic chords and stuff in it - before our trip! So we didn't have cell phone chargers, camera battery chargers and mp3 chargers - it was a pain trying to find a t-mobile store to buy the right kind of phone charger!

 

[Madhatter7]

We stayed at the Gch and we did forget our disney merch in our room, they found it and for a fee, they did mail it to us. Dont remember the fee tho, it was back in 2008. So i do know if u do leave items behind, you can get them back.

 

[duckwife]

Our last trip in November we learned a valuable packing lesson. I packed all of our toiletry items in one bag and left it open so we could put the last minute things in it in the morning before we headed out. We left the house very early and when we got to the airport we realized we had forgotten that one bag. After a few moments of panic I went through my mental checklist and determined that there was not anything in there that we could not replace or do without, or so I thought!
Once got to Anaheim, we took the bus to Target and picked up the toiletry items we needed. I then realized that the only thing we could not replace was DS's contact lenses but hoped that would not be a problem as they are weeklies and should last....but sure enough, he ripped his contact the next morning and did not have a backup pair or glasses. Fortunately he has a pretty low prescription and was able to survive but had a blurry trip.
Our big lesson learned was that we all should take extra glasses and contacts and have them in our carry on. Probably common sense to most but something I never really thought about before that!
(Also do a bag check before leaving the house!!)

 

[BNM]

I usually bring some disinfecting wipes along as well as Purell. We have kids, and I agree that some extra vigilance is needed with respect to germs when traveling. When we went to Mexico I packed a stack of fragrance free wipes in a ziplock. Then moistened with 10% bleach in water. This creates a disinfecting wipe that is safe to use on food surfaces, hands, high chairs and restaurant tables, etc. and kills viruses and bacteria. Those Lysol wipes don't do a good job killing viruses unless the surface is actually soaked in the solution for 30 min. Also, they leave a sticky film on stuff and the container is bulky. I use them all the time at home, though.

I need to stock up on moleskin!

 

[valee]

We're flying out Friday, so this thread is just in time.
Great tip about getting a picture of your anme and address on each memory card, and taking a shot of your luggage. I usually try to take a few photos of my rental car when I first arrive, showing the front, back, and license plate. it's been useful to have those reference photos jogging our memories for what we're looking for in the parking lot at the end of a long day, and it's nice to have that shot of the license plate when I'm checking in the hotel and need it for registration. yes, i could write it down, but the snapshot's easier than writing it down.
I always put address labels on the inside of the ziplock with my shampoo and other liquids. It's visible from the outside, but less likely to fall off going through the Xray at the airport.
And I'll be stopping by my local library this week to pick up some recent magazines and paperbacks for 25 cents to read during the trip. When I'm through with each magazine or book, I just leave them in the gate seating area or the hotel lobby for the next traveler.

 

[Madhatter7]

duckwife i too wear contacts, i did forget my glasses but i remembered my solution,but no container,so i slept with them in like usual

 

[jemimabean]

In regards to Clorox, etc., I think that it depends on your family's situation; if we had two healthy kids, we'd probably go the "eh, let their immune systems figure it out" route (though they would still be washing their hands regularly throughout the day). But our daughter has chronic lung disease and can easily end up hospitalized from a common cold, so for our family, it's a priority to do whatever we can to keep her healthy. She picks up PLENTY of illnesses (probably about 5-10 times what a healthy kid does), so her immune system gets plenty of exercise.

In terms of packing, I will say that for our first few Disney trips, we seriously over-packed, and to me that's way more miserable than having to go into one of the mini-marts attached to the hotels and buying whatever it is that we need. I would rather pay the higher price than drag everything along with me from home. Our mantra when packing is, "we can buy a toothbrush/underwear/etc. anywhere".

We try to travel pretty light - I think that with each trip we have a clearer understanding of what we need and what ends up never being used. To me the most important thing is making sure that the important daily medications and cell phone charger are both packed in carry ons, just in case the checked baggage goes missing.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I think the big ones that I tend to forget are band aides and ibuprophen. I may pack them, but I will forget them back at the hotel--and then I will need them in the parks. If you already have a blister forming or a head ache, the last thing you want to do leave the park and go all the way back to your room--so what you end up doing instead is buying them in the park for way too much money.

One thing I learned a few trips ago is that if I am close to the nurses station (on Mainstreet in DL, by the now-closed tortilla factory in CA) and ask for band aides and pain reliever, they will give it to you.

As far as the getting sick issue--we have gone to Disneyland so many times now, and I don't think we have ever gotten sick from it. If you are getting sick from it a lot, it may have to do with the hotel you are staying at, so you may want to try some place else. Sometimes with a lower cost motel they try to cut corners however they can--and that includes cleaning and paying their cleaning staff. Of course you can find poor service anywhere--but if it is a better hotel, they will do their best to fix the situation if you find it unclean.