Your Favorite Packing Tip

[LeeLee'sMom]

Especially for my DD8 I am a roller and put them in ziplock bags. My usual packing strategy: Plan 2 outfits a day (we go in August when it is extremely hot and need to freshen up and change) I put each outfit (complete with undies) rolled in a ziploc and label the park ex: MK morn MK night, AK morn, EPCOT night etc. She assists picking out the outfits at home. When we are at Disney getting ready she asks where are we going and pulls the according bag have never had a problem with wrinkles when rolling, nothing that a little steam from the shower couldn't fix.

 

[Lanie]

E-BAGS!!!! We have used them for the past two years and they are FABULOUS! No more messy suitcases and our clothes stay pretty much wrinkle free.

What size do you use? I have been looking at them for about a year now, and the sizes kinda baffle me... And I think that buying one of each would not be good for my budget!

 

[ZoZo]

Those of you who roll clothes instead of folding them, how do you do it so clothes are less wrinkled? I always find my clothes are MORE wrinkled when I roll them so I must not be doing something right....

I haven't had too much trouble with wrinkling, but I think it might have something to do with what type of items you pack. I pack mostly cotton items, like t-shirts and shorts, maybe a pair of jeans. (I don't pack things like cotton button-down shirts or similar items that might wrinkle too easily.)

Knit items like T-shirts travel really well, but things like cotton shorts do wrinkle a bit. I might touch those up with an iron, if needed, but usually the wrinkles "shake out" pretty well.

I was amazed at how much space it saves to roll your clothes. I tested a couple of "travel space bags" a couple of trips ago. They're the kind that you squeeze the air out of. I did a "test pack" of rolling vs. space bags. I was surprised to find out that the space bags didn't really save me any more space than rolling!

 

[Lanie]

My tip is a little hard to do for a first timer, but it can be adapted... When we came back from the last trip, in the plane I wrote down on my phone what I should do for next time, and one of those was the number of sweaters/coats/shoes for each person. The kids and I used half of what I packed!

Can you tell I'm an overpacker?

 

[dizneedoll]

My tip is a little hard to do for a first timer, but it can be adapted... When we came back from the last trip, in the plane I wrote down on my phone what I should do for next time, and one of those was the number of sweaters/coats/shoes for each person. The kids and I used half of what I packed!

Can you tell I'm an overpacker?

I'm just the opposite. I don't pack enough and get there and wish I had brought more. It's really hard for me to plan ahead what I'm going to wear. I have trouble just getting dressed in the morning from my own closet let alone trying to figure out what I'm bringing for 7 days. I always stress over packing!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

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

This! Flight attendant do this. Even if you don't roll going, roll coming home and you'll get more souvenirs in your luggage!

 

[Shadowcat70]

It's probably not that much of a tip, but we tend to bring multiple pairs of shoes, so we put each in their own plastic grocery bag so the soles don't end up getting anything dirty in the suitcase.

 

[ruthies12]

Last trip I kept all dd's princess dresses on hangers, cut a small hole in a large garbage bag and put it over the dresses with the top of the hanger poking through and then tied the bottom of the bag. I did this to keep the extremely large quantities of glitter from getting all over everything else in the suitcase.
Worked very well.

 

[MarJose]

I've been using Dot&Dot travel accessories especially their packing cubes and folders. They also have a hanging toiletry bag and travel bottle set. I love using the packing cubes because I can bring more clothes and they don't get easily wrinkled especially when packed tight. They're available on Amazon.

 

[ccudmore]

We've mastered the art of packing carry-on only. We only take half the number of clothes we need for the trip but then bring a package of laundry sheets (they look just like dryer sheets but are laundry detergent). Since they're not liquid they're fine in carry-on. Then one night half-way through the trip we did a quick load of laundry and are good to go for the rest of the trip. If we're gone for a longer trip, we just pack more laundry sheets.

Getting through the airport is soooo much easier when everyone (two of us plus the 3 kids) each only have one backpack to carry and we don't have to wait at the baggage carousel.

Downside of this is when you look back at the pictures it's obvious you packed only 2 or 3 shirts.

 

[maxiesmom]

I want to give a shout out for the packing folders. Like this one:http://www.ebags.com/product/eagle-creek/pack-it-garment-folder-large/271296?productid=10296766

I have one, and every time I use it I am surprised by how much it holds. I do have a few small cubes, but I really love my packing folder.

 

[dawnhaze]

Packing accessories like cubes, folders, sacks, etc that keep everything in its place are fantastic. I feel like these items practically doubled the amount of stuff I can fit into my standard luggage combo of a 21" rolling suitcase and a large laptop backpack. I cannot recommend these items enough. Eagle Creek makes tons of great stuff. eBags also has some less expensive options that are still made well. (eBags also has tons of color choices, excellent for families who want to keep organized! Color-code your kids!)

Most of the time on non-WDW trips, I travel on Amtrak and use a lot of public transit to get around. As a result, being able to handle all my luggage myself without assistance is fairly important to me, so being able to pack for almost any trip in that combination of bags is great.

WDW is actually a little harder because of the 'extra stuff' I don't take other places. All the hot-weather gear, the metric ton of sunscreen, the extra ponchos, the Mickey ears, the pin trading stuff... But since WDW trips are pretty much the only time I fly, I just check the suitcase (I fly JetBlue and occasionally Southwest so it's no cost to do it) and bring a tote bag full of the 'extra stuff' as my personal item.

I usually toss a few detergent pods into a Tupperware so they don't get crushed, and a few dryer sheets in a Ziploc baggie, so I have them just in case I need to do laundry. But unless I was going to WDW for longer than 7 days, or anywhere else longer than 10 days, it probably wouldn't be necessary.

 

[butterfly71076]

The one thing I always do is, when we get to our resort, I unpack everything and put it away. This way, when we are changing at night, to go to bed, a quick fold and dirty clothes go into the suitcase. No last minute rushing around to get everything packed.

Another thing I do is bring with an empty Disney bag to fill with everything we buy. Then, on the way home, I use it as my carry on and no worrying about whether my suitcase will be overweight.

 

[tinkerbella16]

Packing cubes have been the best things I've bought for traveling and packing. Love them and they save so much space. Easy when at the resort too... I just leave what is in each one and unzip them and open them up in the drawers so my stuff is still in each cube but layed out nicely.

 

[asmit4]

Yes, packing cubes! My son, myself and my husband each have a color. I bought the 3 pack per person (it contains 3 different sizes. My 2yo son only needs the 2 smaller versions for the entire trip).

These cubes hold so much and are perfect for packing and organizing.

 

[tlovesdis]

So many great ideas!!!

 

[Groomer Gal]

Carefully. Tshirts and shirts I fold and hand smooth out any rumples or wringles. Then I roll from the bottom up. Pants, skirts and shorts are also carefully folded in half lenth wise, smoothed and then rolled from the top down.

The secret though, I think, is to keep them from moving around once in the suitcase. That's what causes wrinkles. So all my tops are put in large ziplock bags- I can get a week's worth of tshirts and tank tops in one bag. Underwear in another. Even my shoes go into shoe bags. Press out as much air as possible to minimize shifting inside the bag. Clothes inside a very full suitcase will come out looking better than inside a half full one, just because they don't shift around in transit.

THIS!!!

Also...I never pack one persons clothes all in one suitcase. In other words...I pack for a family of four....I lay out the outfits/clothes...I then pack outfits for each person in one suitcase (socks underwear etc) so every suitcase has outfits for everyone in case something gets lost...no one goes naked.

I hit the dollar store...buy toothbrushes....hairbrushes...little travel size toothpastes (although recently I got a ton at our dentist so I'm good there) BUT I buy anything that I can just toss so I don't have to be packing it back up to come home again....AND on the flip side....I don't have to rush to UNPACK back at home to get a toothbrush etc.

 

[disneyoctober2014]

Great Ideas

 

[jamieann]

Downy Wrinkle Release Spray is my favorite travel hack. I don't worry too much about how wrinkled my clothes will get in a suitcase because I can just spritz them in the morning before I get ready and smooth out the wrinkles. No irons for me on vacation!

 

[disneyseniors]

I always take a large tote on the plane but I put my purse in it! That way, it is like a bigger purse, not two items. I put my travel papers in it with books, etc for the trip, but don't overpack the tote. Then on the trip back home, I put the breakable souveniers in it, wrapped really well, to keep them safe. I also put anything I can't fit into my checked suitcase. Works well for me. My tote that I use over and over is a loud,flowered tropical design, and it gets me into the vacation mode love the hints, some really good ones. I am a folder too and I pack tight so it works. I don't like to do laundry on vacation, so I always overpack at least 3 outfits, but it works with folding.