Would you try it? Packing

[jennylyn_b]

You are right!! My boys do get sweaty at night I feel so maybe I can just pack half the amount of PJS and undies and wash half way through for all of us! How much is it to do a load of laundry?? Anyone know off hand?

I believe it's $2 each but you may need to use the dryer twice. Bring your own soap like laundry pods or you will have to buy that too

 

[SEA333]

Of course you can! We are flyinig Spirit in Nov (Me, DH, DS13, DD10, and DS7), and we are only bringing one 60" rolling suitcase that we are checking ($20 each way for a total of $40), and we are each carrying a 16"x14"x12" personal bag/backpack on the plane. I plan to pack two full outfits each in the personal bags, we are going to wear layers since we are flying from Chicago in the early morning and I'm pretty sure it will be cold by November, so our one "just-in-case it's cold-in-Florida" pants long sleeve shirt, and sweatshirt/hoodie will be worn and not packed. Everyone will also carry a pair of flip-flops/sandals, a snack for the plane, a book or other activity, and probably bathing suits. We will see what fits. ty of room left in the checked suitcase for an additional 2 outfits each and sunscreen/toiletries. We are also renting a car down there, so I really plan on packing really light, and stopping at Target or Walmart on the way to the resort to buy small bottles of shampoo/conditioner/toothpaste/etc to use while we are there, and just throwing away the rest of what we do not use.

DD and I flew Spirit to Minneapolis last year, and we were really careful about the size of the personal bag, but when we got on plane, we saw bags much bigger than ours. Most people carried on a decent sized (high school sized) backpack. As long as it fit under the seat, there wasn't a problem. I brought a messenger-style bag about the size of a large laptop case, and I had tons of room under the seat.

 

[luvmy3]

We have a 7 night trip planned in 10 days (well 11 but today is almost over right?!) I am in packing mode and was wondering what you all think. We are a family of 4 DH and I and two little boys 5 and 2.5. We are flying Spirit Airline (have flown them before) and have to pay for each piece of checked luggage. Is it crazy to consider trying to pack my family to two suitcases? I am thinking that it would be worth the 60.00 to wash a load half way through the trip allowing me half the PJ's and undies and shorts. We each get a personal item free of charge so I am carrying on a small duffel, two backpacks and a childs backpack (all within the regulation size). Do you think its worth it to try and fit our stuff in 2?? 60.00 can buy a lot of Mickey bars and Dole Whips!! Actually it would pay for 1/2 of our tips! That is a big deal.

I have always done laundry on all my trips (not just WDW) but last week was the first time ever I didn't. I thought about packing so that we would have enough clothes for midweek and then I'd do laundry. After thinking about it, I decided that I didn't want to do anything on vacation that I have to do at home so I made sure everyone packed enough for all of our days, plus some.
To me, $60 is totally worth it to not do laundry on vacation

 

[diamondpixienc]

You should be okay with that. I have packed our entire family of 5 in one suit case and have only done laundry maybe 3 times total at the World so it can be done.

 

[maplevale]

We only own 2 larger sized suitcases. Our last Disney trip (myself, DH, DD4 and DD9 months) and we packed just fine for going down. We even had formula, diapers and baby food! I packed 2 outfits each day for the girls and then I pack so I can rewear stuff for myself (6 day trip =4 bottoms and about 8 shirts)......we never do laundry!

Coming home we actually had to check an extra bag. We didn't buy that much but dirty clothes seem to take up more space!

 

[ninafeliz]

OMG, you guys amaze me! It's me, DH, DS3 1/2, and DS6 months, and we're taking 4 checked bags plus our max allotment of carryons! Awesome for all of you, but I like to have STUFF on vacation. I also hate to do laundry on vacation, although sometimes I'll still end up doing a load. I read the threads on what to pack and take it all, I take multiple pairs of shoes, we take gluten free snacks for my DH and DS, and for the past couple of years we take Halloween Costumes for MNSSHP for all of us. This year we have Jessie, Woody, and 2 little Buzz Costumes to take (I'm trying to figure out the best way to take cowboy boots and hats!). Just a few of the bigger things I can think of. We usually mail a package down ahead of time, but this year for the first time we're using DME and won't have to handle our luggage, so we're just paying an extra $35 and one of us is checking a second bag. That's about the same price as 2 flat rate priority boxes, and bigger and easier. Then on the way home it will take souvenirs instead of the food. I know my DH always says I need to pack light, but I just don't really want to and even he sometimes appreciates what I bring with us! I guess to me it's totally worth the money to have what I want. Maybe sometime I'll give light packing a try - but I've said that before and it never lasts.

 

[aubriee]

I hate checking bags, so try to do carry on only. This past May my husband, my mom, and me did carry on only for eleven days. We stayed at Wyndham Bonnet Creek so had a washer/dryer in the condo, but still packed enough for one outfit a day. Big mistake! Several outfits we never even wore. I'll be back at Bonnet Creek one week from today and will be doing carry on only again. This time though I am wearing one outfit and packing just four outfits for a nine day trip, plus a sundress or two for dinners. Every pair of shorts will be in a neutral color that will match every top, so mixing and matching will be easy. I'll wear one pair of flip flops and pack another pair. I use packing folders and packing cubes to organize things and pack tightly. I'll also have a white noise machine, small lap top with router, Kindle, MP3 player, two pair of sunglasses, medications, a few toiletries, one tankini skirt with two tankini tops that match the bottom (so two swimsuits in the space of 1 1/2), one nightie, four panties and four bras and will just drop laundry in when I leave the condo in the morning and then put it in the dryer when I come in that evening, so everything will pretty much stay clean. Everything will easily fit in a 22" spinner carry on in the overhead bin and a Vera Bradley Weekender that will fit under the airline seat. I love not having to check bags.

Then again I'm one that uses cargo shorts in the parks, to keep from having to carry a bag. I love going bagless.

 

[basketlacey]

OMG, you guys amaze me! It's me, DH, DS3 1/2, and DS6 months, and we're taking 4 checked bags plus our max allotment of carryons! Awesome for all of you, but I like to have STUFF on vacation. I also hate to do laundry on vacation, although sometimes I'll still end up doing a load. I read the threads on what to pack and take it all, I take multiple pairs of shoes, we take gluten free snacks for my DH and DS, and for the past couple of years we take Halloween Costumes for MNSSHP for all of us. This year we have Jessie, Woody, and 2 little Buzz Costumes to take (I'm trying to figure out the best way to take cowboy boots and hats!). Just a few of the bigger things I can think of. We usually mail a package down ahead of time, but this year for the first time we're using DME and won't have to handle our luggage, so we're just paying an extra $35 and one of us is checking a second bag. That's about the same price as 2 flat rate priority boxes, and bigger and easier. Then on the way home it will take souvenirs instead of the food. I know my DH always says I need to pack light, but I just don't really want to and even he sometimes appreciates what I bring with us! I guess to me it's totally worth the money to have what I want. Maybe sometime I'll give light packing a try - but I've said that before and it never lasts.

I'm with you! I just can't seem to pack light even if I start with that intention. I always bring way too many shoes but I like having options. I always bring enough clothes for everyday plus some. Last trip I still ended doing some laundry midweek. I think someone ran out of socks. But i always bring home clothes that weren't worn! I also agree with the poster that said dirty clothes take up more room!

I will second the recommendation of YouTube for packing videos. There are some great ones that will help you get more into your luggage. Op - I have no doubt you can do it! Definitely take the laundry pods and some dryer sheets!

 

[henry72]

I just packed myself and my two preschoolers stuff into one large suitcase. My husband's stuff will all go into a carry on. I also have a backpack for my carry on. Packing each days clothing into a ziplock bag and squeezing the air out really helped everything fit!

We did the ziplock bag trick and I packed my clothes and the kids (ages 4 and 7) in one big suitcase. That left the little suitcase for snacks. We didn't do laundry on our trip at all.

 

[alc571]

OMG, you guys amaze me! It's me, DH, DS3 1/2, and DS6 months, and we're taking 4 checked bags plus our max allotment of carryons! Awesome for all of you, but I like to have STUFF on vacation. I also hate to do laundry on vacation, although sometimes I'll still end up doing a load. I read the threads on what to pack and take it all, I take multiple pairs of shoes, we take gluten free snacks for my DH and DS, and for the past couple of years we take Halloween Costumes for MNSSHP for all of us. This year we have Jessie, Woody, and 2 little Buzz Costumes to take (I'm trying to figure out the best way to take cowboy boots and hats!). Just a few of the bigger things I can think of. We usually mail a package down ahead of time, but this year for the first time we're using DME and won't have to handle our luggage, so we're just paying an extra $35 and one of us is checking a second bag. That's about the same price as 2 flat rate priority boxes, and bigger and easier. Then on the way home it will take souvenirs instead of the food. I know my DH always says I need to pack light, but I just don't really want to and even he sometimes appreciates what I bring with us! I guess to me it's totally worth the money to have what I want. Maybe sometime I'll give light packing a try - but I've said that before and it never lasts.

I think if we packed every piece of clothing we own, I still wouldn't have this many bags! LOL! I can't imagine lugging it all through two airports either!

 

[AndreaA]

I packed for four into two suitcases and two carry-on bags last year and our boys were still in diapers AND pack-n-plays so I packed a full box of diapers, their chamois crib sheets and their big pillow pets! AND I had clothes that didn't even get worn!

It can definitely be done, and without leaving anything behind.

 

[TwistGrl101]

I believe spirit charges a hefty fee for any bag over 40 pounds, and you will want to leave room for souvenirs.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

We do one carry-on per person and never check bags. I would rather have some read by the pool time while the laundry runs than wrestle bags through the airport. YMMV.

I would suggest thinking about shipping toiletries/diapers/extra snacks/consumables directly to the resort if you're short on space or heavy on weight. That stuff can weigh a lot.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We have a 7 night trip planned in 10 days (well 11 but today is almost over right?!) I am in packing mode and was wondering what you all think. We are a family of 4 DH and I and two little boys 5 and 2.5. We are flying Spirit Airline (have flown them before) and have to pay for each piece of checked luggage. Is it crazy to consider trying to pack my family to two suitcases? I am thinking that it would be worth the 60.00 to wash a load half way through the trip allowing me half the PJ's and undies and shorts. We each get a personal item free of charge so I am carrying on a small duffel, two backpacks and a childs backpack (all within the regulation size). Do you think its worth it to try and fit our stuff in 2?? 60.00 can buy a lot of Mickey bars and Dole Whips!! Actually it would pay for 1/2 of our tips! That is a big deal.

I'm the opposite. I think carry-ons are a pain. I'd rather check my bags when we get to the airport and not have to worry about them again until we get to our destination.

The cost of checking is worth it , not to constantly have to pull luggage through the airport, lug it on the plane, then find a place to store it. If there isnt enough room, then the suitcases are all over the airplane.

We usually check 3-4 bags for the 4 of us because I refuse to do laundry on vacation.
Each kid takes a small carryon for Ipods and snacks.
I take my large purse and DH takes himself.

 

[cheshireqt]

Don't forget to roll the shirts and shorts. I also put each outfit into a ziplock bag with socks and underwear. Makes it so easy to get dressed each day.

I did this for the first time on our first WDW trip, when my kids were younger. It was really nice for several reasons. I could squeeze air out of the bags to get them nice and tight. Each bag had socks and underwear and even hairbows for DD. Putting them in the drawer felt a little less icky as well. Plus I could pull out their baggies of clothes each morning and go take my shower. DH did not have to guess what went with what to help them dress. Something he always fails at for some reason.

If you do laundry to stretch the outfits you need to pack, just pack things that mix and match and make new outfit combos if possible. You probably won't want to appear in your pictures wearing the exact same outfit on day 6 as day 3.

 

[Sugar Jones]

We are a family of 5 and we are doing one checked bag and 4 backpacks. I am the queen of over packing so if I can do it you can to!

 

[RebeccaB]

We each have a carryon, one for me, dh and dd. I carry a big arsed LL Bean backpack and dd usually has her own backpack as well. Never a problem of not enough stuff.