What "unusual" things do you pack for a trip?

[Disneyaholic]

Originally posted by Zurg
i take a water filter that screws onto the kitchen sink - that swamp water they have tastes bad.

Do you really think the filter makes the water taste better? I have tried a Brita pitcher before and still didn't like the taste of the coffee. I just buy gallon bottles of drinking water at the grocery store and always keep one cold in the fridge.

 

[jennymouse]

I'm taking three extention cords for the three ECV's we'll have this trip.

Here's one thing that I read about over on the Tips Board that I've started doing. I bought one of those clear plastic hang on the back of the door thingies with all the pockets that's supposed to be for shoes. I put all of those meds, first aid stuff, sewing kit, stock of wet ones, (you know, little things that you might need) in the pockets before I go and get it all organized. Then I roll it up (they've got little flaps that go over each pocket) and wrap it with a beach towel and stick it in the big suitcase.

When I get to the villa, all I have to do is take it out and hang it on the back of one of the many doors in the bathroom area. Everything is right there, you can see everything, kids can see everything so they're not "where's the ___?" plus I don't have to dig around trying to find stuff in the deep "Mary Poppins" bag anymore. When it's time to go home, I roll it back up and stick it back in the suitcase where it stays until right before I go on another trip. It always make the trip feel real when I get it out and hang it on a door, go through it and throw away any outdated meds, and make a list to replenish what got used the last time. Restock it and back in the suitcase and ready to go.

Gee, that was long....

 

[RuthnPaul]

Originally posted by connie7185
chewing gum they don't sell it at any of the parks

Connie, I remember reading that Disney does not sell gum because they don't want to have to clean up the mess when people don't dispose of it properly! Believe policy prohibits the park employees from chewing gum while working.

As far as our "odd" items, pre-DVC we always took additional clothes hangers -- now that we will be able to do laundry at the resorts, we HOPE to pack much less, requiring fewer hangers!

I use Splenda sweetener and take a zip-lock bag of packets along because I find that many places only have Equal or Sweet n Low.

 

[NMW]

Originally posted by jennymouse
I'm taking three extention cords for the three ECV's we'll have this trip.

Here's one thing that I read about over on the Tips Board that I've started doing. I bought one of those clear plastic hang on the back of the door thingies with all the pockets that's supposed to be for shoes. I put all of those meds, first aid stuff, sewing kit, stock of wet ones, (you know, little things that you might need) in the pockets before I go and get it all organized. Then I roll it up (they've got little flaps that go over each pocket) and wrap it with a beach towel and stick it in the big suitcase.

When I get to the villa, all I have to do is take it out and hang it on the back of one of the many doors in the bathroom area. Everything is right there, you can see everything, kids can see everything so they're not "where's the ___?" plus I don't have to dig around trying to find stuff in the deep "Mary Poppins" bag anymore. When it's time to go home, I roll it back up and stick it back in the suitcase where it stays until right before I go on another trip. It always make the trip feel real when I get it out and hang it on a door, go through it and throw away any outdated meds, and make a list to replenish what got used the last time. Restock it and back in the suitcase and ready to go.

Gee, that was long....

That is one of the best tips I have ever read. With 3 kids I have tons of medicine and other odds and ends that get shoved deep into a huge bag never to be seen again (until I get home and unpack all of it ). I always end up saying something like "I DID bring so and so with us" Then I am annoyed that I bought a duplicate in Disney for no reason. I am really going to try this, thanks!

 

[Lora]

I bring a mini-cassette recorder. I know - I'm weird. I wear it in my fanny pack and record what we're doing. The kids talk into it occasionally. I use it later to write a detailed trip report. I love reading our old reports when I'm planning the next trip and this is a great tool to aid my feeble memory.

I also have a very cool bag for all of our toiletries with clear pouches that rolls open and hangs from a door or hook. I bought it several years ago. It's call "The Freedom Bag" and it's one of my best luggage/storage purchases.

 

[jjpenguin]

WOW! now I know what's in all those HUGE suitcases I see.

We always try to travel light... I usually can pack a small suitcase and put it in a larger one leaving a whole suitcase for souveniers

So my unusual thing is ... old socks, t-shirts & underwear. The stuff that you can still "make do" with. I bring it all on holiday and then when I've worn it it can be thrown away, leaving more room for new stuff.

jjpenguin
(hoping to be able to make do with cabin luggage only for my 1 week solo trip )

 

[Figment2]

Halloween decorations! Some lights, clings for the windows and garland for the doors!

Cyn

 

[sheryl0521]

We saw a lot of Halloween decor last year. Jack-o-lanterns on the balconys and even lighted garland. I thought it was so cute.

 

[LisaR]

Originally posted by jjpenguin
WOW! now I know what's in all those HUGE suitcases I see.

We always try to travel light... I usually can pack a small suitcase and put it in a larger one leaving a whole suitcase for souveniers

So my unusual thing is ... old socks, t-shirts & underwear. The stuff that you can still "make do" with. I bring it all on holiday and then when I've worn it it can be thrown away, leaving more room for new stuff.

jjpenguin
(hoping to be able to make do with cabin luggage only for my 1 week solo trip )

Are you one of those people that goes to the park with NOTHING?? I admire those people and I am envious but I could never do it. I see some people enter the parks without a backpack, purse, waist pack or anything. I always wonder how they do it and I assume they are naturally light packers to begin with. My husband always feared the plane wouldn't be able to get up in the air due to ALL the junk I bring! lol

Lisa

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by jjpenguin
WOW! now I know what's in all those HUGE suitcases I see.

We always try to travel light... I usually can pack a small suitcase and put it in a larger one leaving a whole suitcase for souveniers

So my unusual thing is ... old socks, t-shirts & underwear. The stuff that you can still "make do" with. I bring it all on holiday and then when I've worn it it can be thrown away, leaving more room for new stuff.

jjpenguin
(hoping to be able to make do with cabin luggage only for my 1 week solo trip )

I'm like you. After backpacking around Europe for a summer, I can go anywhere for a week in a carryon. Kids did change that though, I now require one large suitcase for four people - but even my makeup bag is trimmed down to mascara and lip gloss.

But I love reading what people pack - and am considering investing in a plastic tote for DVC stuff. Salt and Pepper. Coffee filters, enough detergent for a few loads - those things we do pack now, or buy in the grocery store at a stop. I'd be shocked if I ever pack Christmas lights or Halloween decorations - not in my nature. But I'm glad others do. I find the fact that anyone would have enough bathroom goodies to require organizing in an shoe holder facinating! But maybe when my kids hit their teenage years, it will be a great tip.

 

[LisaR]

Originally posted by crisi
Kids did change that though, I now require one large suitcase for four people

WOW! I am impressed. I would also be embarressed to tell you how many suitcases I take for four people! Do you find you have everything you need when you arrive or do you end up having to buy a bunch of things when you get there? I traveled with a friend a few years ago who had two toddlers in diapers. When we hit the store, she had to buy everything: diapers, formula, laundry soap, etc. Then she left behind a lot of stuff because she didn't use it all up but didn't have room for it in her one suitcase she brought.

Lisa

 

[sheryl0521]

When we hit the store, she had to buy everything: diapers, formula, laundry soap, etc.

We did that when my youngest was small. Although we tried to buy just enought to get us through our visit. We didn't leave anything behind.

Now that a grocery stop is part of our inbound ride to WDW, we pack accordingly to purchase what is hard to pack (bulky diapers). Now that he is potty trained (YEA) that is one less item we need to worry about!

 

[crisi]

When my two were in diapers, we made a grocery run for diapers. Diapers aren't any more expensive in Orlando than at home. Kids clothes are tiny and don't take much room. The kids were long off the bottle by the first trip.

When I travel with only adults, we often go into the park carrying only our room key and drivers license. I used to not even worry about rain. Now we go with more - jackets for the kids, water, juice, fruit snacks, wipes. Children have turned me into a pack mule.

And we do end up with more than one large suitcase. My husband brings a bag - because he likes to and as long as we need to check luggage, he might as well. I can fit it in mine, but its easier. The kids each "pack" a carryon - stuffed animals, I think - I'm afraid to look. I'm going to have to watch my son next trip though - his kindergarten bookbag had nearly the entire contents of my junk drawer "just in case." When you are five or six, you never know when a really pretty rock might come in handy. My husband hauls his laptop for work. I bring a carryon for the plane with stuff for the kids and books for me.

We don't find we are missing much. I've bought sun lotion, but because I forgot it, not because it wouldn't fit. I bring a little bottle of Advil for the grown ups, a few cold pills, some children's Motrin and a few children's cold tablets - but that takes up almost no room. Travel bottle of shampoo - we don't bother with anything but shampoo on vacation - no hair gel or hairspray gets packed, no curling irons.

We did bring a lot more than that to cruise. With WDW we throw on shorts (we wear the same pair for two days) and a tshirt and go - so for four people we have 12-15 pairs of shorts (wear jeans on the plane), 28 tshirts, 4 sets of "jammies", 28 pairs of underwear, four swimsuits, a bunch of socks, sandals, wear tennis shoes on the plane. With the cruise we had at least two outfits for every day, three pairs of shoes, and needed a few swimsuits. Now that we have a washer in the room, we probably will be able to pack even less!

Here is a question for you, do you use everything you bring? For me, the off chance I need to buy an expensive bottle of Pepto Bismol in the gift shop is worth not having to drag more through the airport than I need.

 

[sheryl0521]

I am in the process of trying to change hubby to only bring what he will use. He feels that if we are there for 6 nights, he needs to bring 6 collared shirts!! I have to remind him that we have the laundry and he only needs 2 and then I will wash them I had him down to 4 last trip, and that was a studio. Since we are in a 1-bed next week, I plan on getting him down to 3 at the most!

I pack for the 2 boys and me, so I bring about 3-6 changes of clothing for each of us and will be doing laundry by day 3. No biggie - that is why it is there & I bring the laundry tablets!

I'm right there with having to purchase those items that we may possibly need. I don't want to haul around a bottle of Pepto if we don't need it!

 

[OurDogCisco]

Originally posted by sheryl0521
I have to remind him that we have the laundry and he only needs 2 and then I will wash them

LOL, as a scrapbooker, we can't have this. Could you imagine the same shirt in every other picture....

Seriously, we have to take less because of the lugguge weight limit. Our suitcase already weighs a ton so we are limited to less. I usually just bring like one adult pain reliever and one kid like pain reliever. If I really need something I just buy it.

 

[kathyseb]

We have made a ton of trips to DW over the years, but two weeks ago, heard "Welcome Home" for the first time.

What we did was buy one of those suitacses with wheels. It is the kitchen suitcase. We will keep it packed at all times. That way, it is always ready to go.

In it I have zip lock bags, a griddle for breakfast, flavored coffee, wine opener, dishes (it is just the two of us and don't really need anything larger than a studio. We did not want to eat breakfast off of paper plates) and ponchos.

Being our first trip, there were a lot of items that we took that were provided, dish towel, dish soap, coffee mugs, glasses, can opener.

We took a cooler with five pounds of frozen ham and frozen hash brown patties. By the time we got to OKW, the stuff was not totally thawed, we popped it in the frig and by the following morning, the ham was totally thawed.

The strangest thing we take, of course, it is not strange to us, is my husband and I collect teddy bears. We normally take a minimum of four of them with us.

When we got home, I took "inventory" of the suitcase and left the list in the bag.
On it, I indiacted what needed to be added. Wine and coffee.

 

[jennymouse]

Originally posted by crisi
I find the fact that anyone would have enough bathroom goodies to require organizing in an shoe holder facinating! But maybe when my kids hit their teenage years, it will be a great tip.

Yeah, who would've thunk it? But they're not all bathroom things, just little things we might need..... I started packing all sorts of meds when my DGD got bit by a spider or something and had to pay $6 for Benadryl in the giftshop and another trip landed me with a cold and had to spend high dollar prices for meds. I like having them handy and I like not having to stand on my head digging for stuff out of my suitcase.

 

[DisneyAngel12]

I bring my own fiber optic Christmas Tree with Mickey and Minnie holiday stockings to hang so we can enjoy having our very own special Christmas. We love going at Christmas time.

 

[LisaR]

Originally posted by crisi
[B
Here is a question for you, do you use everything you bring? For me, the off chance I need to buy an expensive bottle of Pepto Bismol in the gift shop is worth not having to drag more through the airport than I need. [/B]

No, we don't use 3/4 of the things I bring. However I am one of those that wants to be prepared. My dh thinks I must have been a boy scout in my first life. I just can't see running out to the gift store or Walgreens to grab band-aids and antibiotic ointment because someone fell and I didn't pack anything to take care of it. I do admit that I have a problem with overpacking. That is the first step in a cure, isn't it? lol My dh always reminds me that we are going to WDW not the Amazon. There are Walgreens on every corner.

Lisa

 

[timC]

Playstation2. It's a 15 hour drive from Houston, so the PS2 is a life saver.