Your Favorite Packing Tip

[jhaig]

As we start making final preparations for our WDW trip, I was hoping to get everyone's tips and tricks regarding packing your belongings and maximizing space in your luggage. Here's one that works for us:

Bring your grubbiest underwear and socks, wear them during your trip, then throw them out before you pack to leave. This way you get rid of stuff you would throw out anyway and you have more room in your suitcases for souvenirs.

 

[Sam1Cohen]

Space bags make ones just for traveling that you put your itmes in, then you roll out the air (no vacum needed), these are GREAT for getting large amounts of clothes into one bag since they all lay flat.
And since you don't need the vacum you can actually repack the same way at the end.

 

[Aliceacc]

I pack one complete outfit for each person, from the skin out, and put it into a ziplock bag.... then put it into someone ELSE's suitcase. We've never had a lost suitcase, but if one did get misplaced this would buy us a day.

 

[Jennasis]

Roll, don't fold! Rolling clothes makes for more room in your luggage.

 

[amandals2007]

that is all great tips, but also a tip is remember that if you go over the weight limit they make you pay at the airport if you fly. we packed one suitcase so well once when they started limiting the amount of bags that it was over the weight limit, we had to sit in the airport and unpack things and get everything into other bags for the weight lol

 

[ratlenhum]

As we start making final preparations for our WDW trip, I was hoping to get everyone's tips and tricks regarding packing your belongings and maximizing space in your luggage. Here's one that works for us: Bring your grubbiest underwear and socks, wear them during your trip, then throw them out before you pack to leave. This way you get rid of stuff you would throw out anyway and you have more room in your suitcases for souvenirs.

We do that too. We also bring old stained or ripped tshirts for sleeping in. Toss them for more room too!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I pack one complete outfit for each person, from the skin out, and put it into a ziplock bag.... then put it into someone ELSE's suitcase. We've never had a lost suitcase, but if one did get misplaced this would buy us a day.

Great idea!!!

Almost sounds like a teacher idea.

 

[Kalea]

Every trip we take has a spreadsheet on Google drive. One tab is itinerary; one tab is addresses for hotels/restaurants/etc along with confirmation numbers; one tab is packing. When I remember to do it I add a final tab with the total cost of the trip.

So when I go to make a packing list for WDW this year, I start by opening up the one for last year. Makes it super easy.

We additionally keep travel stuff stored in suitcases. Everyone has travel toiletries, for example. I don't worry about remembering toothbrushes for the kids because they have travel toothbrushes and toothpaste packed already.

 

[LaurenT]

Zip lock anything that is liquid! Liquid foundation? Shampoo? Sunscreen? make sure they are all in a zip lock bag. I don't know what is it about flying, if it's the altitude - or laying sideways, but half the time something will leak. When it does, at least it's only leaking onto the inside of the zip lock bag.

 

[Aliceacc]

Great idea!!!

Almost sounds like a teacher idea.

One time I chaperoned a trip to London and Paris with 45 girls (at the time I was teaching in an all girl school.) One of the suitcases made an unexpected trip through Europe and missed the first 3 days of our trip. Fortunately its owner had a wide variety of friends from whom to borrow!!!

Now if that were to happen to anyone in my family, we would HAVE to go shopping. I wouldn't mind that as much as the time lost from the parks.

 

[abmitch01]

this will be our first trip trying packing cubes from ebags. I'll let you know how they work.

 

[Bertnie20]

One tip I've heard and plan to use is for the little guys, put their whole outfit in a freezer bag (or some kind of bag) with socks and any other things you need for that day only, so u just grab a bag and go. Then you don't have to worry about what's clean or dirty, and can start packing up for the trip home

 

[jhaig]

That also works when the airport loses your bag and it comes back to you soaking wet. Your clothes are protected from water damage. Unfortunately, the suitcase is toast.

 

[ArwenMarie]

2.5 gallon Hefty zipper storage bags!

I don't pack by outfit, but these work perfectly to sort by type/person (socks, tees, etc)

Then you can use them for dirty stuff if you need to on the way back, shoes, whatever.

They are pretty durable so I do end up reusing a lot of them as well, but I can always toss them.

Love them!

 

[quakechicago]

that is all great tips, but also a tip is remember that if you go over the weight limit they make you pay at the airport if you fly. we packed one suitcase so well once when they started limiting the amount of bags that it was over the weight limit, we had to sit in the airport and unpack things and get everything into other bags for the weight lol

I'm that chick at the airport shifting things between suitcases. I used to get embarrassed but now I expect it. Sigh.

We have a scale but airport scales can be off.

So I bring an extra suitcase and it all ends well.

My best Disney packing tip is to hit the dollar store, target's dollar area, party city, etc and load up on inexpensive fun Disney treasures and prizes. We brought lots from a Minnie stuffed animal/ change purse (great for souvenir pennies), to glow in the dark bracelets, .35 tiaras, coloring books, etc. Great fun from plane to hotel room and a lot of money saved. Also great to save some new stuff for the inevitable sad plane ride home/Disney fever after.

 

[nkereina]

that is all great tips, but also a tip is remember that if you go over the weight limit they make you pay at the airport if you fly. we packed one suitcase so well once when they started limiting the amount of bags that it was over the weight limit, we had to sit in the airport and unpack things and get everything into other bags for the weight lol

In order to avoid this, we bought a travel scale. We bought ours at our local AAA office, but I'm sure they sell them in the travel section of most department stores. It's pretty small - just has a dial and hook. You stand your suitcase up, loop the hook through the handle and lift up. Then set it down and pull the scale away to look at it - the dial stops at whatever weight the bag is so you don't have to try to lift and look at the same time. We always do the "rearranging" in the room before check-out and so far at the airport, the scale has been spot on. Saved us some money in extra fees - and annoyances!

 

[dssdevl]

If you are staying at a resort or hotel with a fitness center, most have a scale you can weigh your baggage to see if those souvenirs took you overweight

 

[Lacoccinelle]

I only do this for Disney.
I pack all of my kid's clothes and our shirts on hangers. This way I just put them right into the closet. Unpacking is so easy at the hotel. It works out well because we do not go over the 50lb weight limit and when coming home, we can leave the hangers if need be and have room for souvenirs. With all other trips, I aim to fit it all I two suit cases, but with curb side at the airport and magical express, I do not mind taking extra luggage to Disney.

 

[sookie]

As we start making final preparations for our WDW trip, I was hoping to get everyone's tips and tricks regarding packing your belongings and maximizing space in your luggage. Here's one that works for us:

Bring your grubbiest underwear and socks, wear them during your trip, then throw them out before you pack to leave. This way you get rid of stuff you would throw out anyway and you have more room in your suitcases for souvenirs.

No offense, but that is kind of gross. I throw them out at home if they are grubby and need to be thrown away.

 

[sookie]

I'm that chick at the airport shifting things between suitcases. I used to get embarrassed but now I expect it. Sigh.

We have a scale but airport scales can be off.

So I bring an extra suitcase and it all ends well.

My best Disney packing tip is to hit the dollar store, target's dollar area, party city, etc and load up on inexpensive fun Disney treasures and prizes. We brought lots from a Minnie stuffed animal/ change purse (great for souvenir pennies), to glow in the dark bracelets, .35 tiaras, coloring books, etc. Great fun from plane to hotel room and a lot of money saved. Also great to save some new stuff for the inevitable sad plane ride home/Disney fever after.

Hi! I was able to find a really accurate scale at Target for weighing luggage. You basically put a strap around the suitcase handle and lift - and that is it!

http://www.target.com/p/taylor-digi...209475#prodSlot=medium_1_5&term=luggage+scale

This is the one I use and it has never been more than 1/2 lb off the airport scale - it is almost always exactly right on. And it is the cheapest one they carry online. If you wanted this one, you could get it shipped with your Red card for free.