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

[Judique]

Last summer, at Hilton Head, Disneyaholic showed me a great new gadget which I had to RUN to Bed Bath and Beyond to purchase! It is a pair of collapsible laundry hampers, one black, and one white. They take up a couple of inches of space in a suitcase as they fold to about a six inch round, and they make stashing laundry so much easier. They literally 'pop' open and will store as much as a regular hamper and fit nicely under the sink in a studio. They have a flat pocket on the side for a pack of soap tablets and a dryer sheet and you can carry them to the laundry room by the built on carrying strap. After I left HH we went on to Vero and I had to do laundry. Everyone that came in the laundry room that evening had to get all the details, how much, where to purchase, etc. These are marvelous!

 

[sheryl0521]

I saw someone using one of these at SSR - I didn't ask where she got it, but after the laundry was done, she was folding by the pool and putting it back in it to carry to her room. It looked great!

BB&B Pop up mesh hamper

 

[lsutigger2]

LIke the mesh laundry idea. Might have to go shopping !!!

We used the shoe organizer on the cruise. It really did help with organization! Someone had suggested taking them to WDW as well. They mentioned that it helped things not to be so cluttered. If there wasn't one space that had my DH's pile of "stuff" it wouldn't be home! LOL!

Thanks to all for the good ideas!

 

[slp87]

Since we usually stay in a studio, we bring those hard plastic ziploc bowls to eat cereal out of. We can also use them to store anything in the fridge and we can pack small breakables in them on the way home. I also pack my DD's light up toys. That saves us having to buy more and she likes having something a little different from everyone else.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I am with LisaR on the medications. Having gotten caught sick myself or with the kids being ill.... I always travel with what I may need just incase. While I agree there are Walgreens in Orlando It is really tough to get to a Walgreens if you have a child who is very ill. ( That has happened to me twice )

As for those pop up hampers... I love those!
Anyone who is from the Northeast Can get these from christams tree shops. I bought one for my December trip and loved it so much. I bought them for 5 other people. They were by the way, $1.99 each at Christmas Tree shops.

 

[TiggerFreak]

Whole coffee beans and a "bur" style coffee grinder. Extra filters. Lots of ziplock bags. If we are in a 1/2BR unit I also take a 10-inch chefs knife and a steel. Used to take a teflon fry pan, but now DVC has changed to those!

The collapsable hamper is a great idea. Our DD has one a college and loves it.

 

[sheryl0521]

Question: How do you get those knives through security at the airport?

 

[lsutigger2]

I think if you pack knives in your checked luggage, you'll be okay. I'm sure they would take 'em if you tried to carry them on! They took my DH's nail file when we came home from the cruise in April. We had forgotten to pack it in the checked luggage the night before.

 

[eileenfk]

Originally posted by RuthnPaul
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.

I bring gum, and I insure that I wrap it and throw it away properly.

I don't blame Disney for not allowing gum. I had to make a similar rule in my own house. I just wish that the mom (of the otherwise homeless family temporarily living with me) had not, by example, taught her kids that it is o.k. to not respect the rules.

I always pack thin rope (or thick string) of some sort.
This is good for
- Clothes line
- Tying a suitcase or pack shut, if a zipper breaks
- tying back drapes and such.

I am considering my own air purifier machine, but I may decide that it is too bulky to make worth the trouble to carry. Having one of these next to my bed really cuts down the amount of antihistamines and decongestants I need to take.

Eileen