Your Vacation Box

[DisneyDorkORama]

This is an AWESOME idea! What size box does everyone use and how early do you start stocking it? We're booked for the end of Sept 2011. TIA

I have a big plastic tote. I start stocking it as soon as I start planning our trip. A good tip is to hit clearance sales at the end of summer.

 

[seadd67]

Well I am starting a box for our Oct trip and frist things I put in there are my Halloween plush chacters. They look so lonley, they need friends.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

I took everything we didn't use in October and put it right into a carry-on bag. There were several travel size items we never opened b/c I had no concept of what we would use, it being our first vacation in our 13 year marriage! We are headed back in May, and my travel size items are ready to go. Another thing I did b/c I wasn't sure when we were going to go was to put all the summer clothes in our suitcases. We don't have space for all the summer and winter clothes to be out b/c there are 7 of us, so when I did the seasonal changeover, I decided I didn't want to be digging through boxes when it came time for Disney. So...we are already well on our way to being packed! I don't like taking lots of extra stuff on vacation, so we kept it light with everyone using their carry-on suitcase and a bag only. It was still a grand total of 14 bags plus my hubby's C-pap!

I am going to start hitting the dollar store for glow items though. Never thought to do that. I never go to the dollar store b/c I am a couponer, and I get things for free or really cheap all the time. I just sent my hubby today to grab 10 Colgate toothbrushes for free, 10 Colgate toothpastes for free, and 6 boxes of Snuggle fabric softener for $ .50 each. That was a small haul, but super cheap! My cousin laughed hysterically when she found out I was going to Disney the first time. She said I was going to go into shock b/c I couldn't use a coupon there! I survived! When the seasons changed last year I loaded up on end of the season clothes, and all five kids have new wardrobes to wear to Disney, and they were SO cheap! So, all in all, while I don't have a box I put things into, I sort of do the same thing in a roundabout way. Most of it is just in suitcases, and I absolutely shop the deals throughout the year to make it less stressful when we do spend a lot at Disney!

 

[jacksmom]

I have 2 drawers in the guest room chest of drawers that I use! I have collected samples of laundry detergent, toothpaste, shampo and conditioners along with ponchos, glowsticks and batteries! Just wondering what else to add?

 

[nkereina]

Someone in an earlier post asked if the Downy Wrinkle Releaser really works. The answer is YES! It's amazing! You can buy a big bottle of it near the laundry detergent section of any store, or they have travel size bottles in the travel sections of Target or any store like it. Just spray it on your clothes while holding them tight, and then you literally pull out the wrinkles! Magic! It has a fresh smell too. Only thing is you may need to wait a few mins for the clothes to dry, so I do it as soon as I hang them up. I never iron so I heavily rely on this stuff!

 

[tjmj9801]

Wow! These are all great ideas! I have a small-sized yellow legal pad obession. For our trip in October, for just the 4 of us, I filled 5 pages within an hour of sitting down to make my list.

This trip is a surprise for the girls so it's been so much harder to keep all of my stuff in one place. I do have a small stack of stuff that hasn't seemed to draw their attention yet. It has paper towels, kleenex and a Publix bag with a few snacks in it.

 

[tjmj9801]

Question for character autographs:

Do they prefer large-tipped Sharpies, fine-tipped Sharpies or the chunky pens? (And don't put it past me to get a colorful pack of both types of Sharpies to take with me, plus a silver large-tip )

I know "fuzzy" characters prefer chunky whatever-it-is you hand them so they can grip it, but what about the "people" characters?

 

[lindap1]

I took everything we didn't use in October and put it right into a carry-on bag. There were several travel size items we never opened b/c I had no concept of what we would use, it being our first vacation in our 13 year marriage! We are headed back in May, and my travel size items are ready to go. Another thing I did b/c I wasn't sure when we were going to go was to put all the summer clothes in our suitcases. We don't have space for all the summer and winter clothes to be out b/c there are 7 of us, so when I did the seasonal changeover, I decided I didn't want to be digging through boxes when it came time for Disney. So...we are already well on our way to being packed! I don't like taking lots of extra stuff on vacation, so we kept it light with everyone using their carry-on suitcase and a bag only. It was still a grand total of 14 bags plus my hubby's C-pap!

I am going to start hitting the dollar store for glow items though. Never thought to do that. I never go to the dollar store b/c I am a couponer, and I get things for free or really cheap all the time. I just sent my hubby today to grab 10 Colgate toothbrushes for free, 10 Colgate toothpastes for free, and 6 boxes of Snuggle fabric softener for $ .50 each. That was a small haul, but super cheap! My cousin laughed hysterically when she found out I was going to Disney the first time. She said I was going to go into shock b/c I couldn't use a coupon there! I survived! When the seasons changed last year I loaded up on end of the season clothes, and all five kids have new wardrobes to wear to Disney, and they were SO cheap! So, all in all, while I don't have a box I put things into, I sort of do the same thing in a roundabout way. Most of it is just in suitcases, and I absolutely shop the deals throughout the year to make it less stressful when we do spend a lot at Disney!

I few weeks ago I did the same with the toothpaste and toothbrushes (12 free tubes of toothpaste, 14 free toothbrushes, 5 free boxes of hamburger helper, and 5 free bottles of dish liquid) Should not have watched that show on TLC! lol

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

I few weeks ago I did the same with the toothpaste and toothbrushes (12 free tubes of toothpaste, 14 free toothbrushes, 5 free boxes of hamburger helper, and 5 free bottles of dish liquid) Should not have watched that show on TLC! lol

Haha! Feels good though, doesn't it? I've been doing it for almost a year now, and I had a chance to watch the show too. I don't believe in hoarding the items I get. I have turned it into a nice little business. Helps me pay for Disney! I've gotten probably 200 free toothpastes, 40 free oatmeals, 20 free dishsoaps, etc... and that's just in the last couple weeks. Anyway, it's super fun, and glad you are on board with it! My kids are learning valuable lessons with it! Here's to hoping Colgate is on sale this week so my coupons don't expire!!!!

 

[tjmj9801]

I few weeks ago I did the same with the toothpaste and toothbrushes (12 free tubes of toothpaste, 14 free toothbrushes, 5 free boxes of hamburger helper, and 5 free bottles of dish liquid) Should not have watched that show on TLC! lol

Hey, nothing wrong with extreme couponing! Especially when money saved goes towards Disney!

 

[seadd67]

Putting your summer clouthes Into our vacation box, I just remeber walmart has these rubber maid boxs for like 4.00, I am going to pick one of those up for my new vacation box.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Putting your summer clouthes Into our vacation box, I just remeber walmart has these rubber maid boxs for like 4.00, I am going to pick one of those up for my new vacation box.

I put the clothes we're not taking into boxes, and the ones we will take right into the suitcases! Saves me time and lots of effort!

Hey, nothing wrong with extreme couponing! Especially when money saved goes towards Disney!

I love it!!!! I just don't quite agree with the idea of hoarding the items just b/c it "feels" good to have that much stuff. I keep no more than what my family can use in 6 months to a year depending on what expires and what doesn't. The rest I sell, donate, or help out family with!

 

[dvc2themax]

Question for character autographs:

Do they prefer large-tipped Sharpies, fine-tipped Sharpies or the chunky pens? (And don't put it past me to get a colorful pack of both types of Sharpies to take with me, plus a silver large-tip )

I know "fuzzy" characters prefer chunky whatever-it-is you hand them so they can grip it, but what about the "people" characters?

One year, we took a pillow case, the round ring used for needlepoint, colored sharpies and inside the pillowcase was a double layer of cardboard to allow LOTS of room for the character to sign their name. As it gets filled up, you move the fabric inside the ring. We got wonderful comments from both the CMS and the characters.

 

[seadd67]

I was just thinking, I can ultimally ship my vacation box home!!, silly me I mean to WDW with some of our stuff and then have someting to ship all of our goddies back

 

[girlieeee]

I started a box for gifts but have been also throwing travel stuff (ponchos, surge protector, etc) in it. As it gets closer it will be all travel stuff. We are shipping down a big box of food & other disposable items.

 

[jpkkld]

Love all the ideas! Dh, dd, and I like to have everything we need, AND we like to travel light... I know - a challenging task! So I have some suggestions for multi-use items and lighter-weight substitutions:

1 - I'm sure if you've used BodyGlide you'll never go back, but I for one will not make a special trip to a store I never go to (and is 30 minutes away). I use unscented stick deoderant/antipersperant for chafing - the same stuff I use under my arms. I bring 2 sample-size tubes, and usually only use 1. I do have to reapply on super hot days or after swimming, but it works great!

2 - My dd6 takes showers now, so a bath mat isn't necessary. BUT if I was considering one, I would actually use some of our leftover kitchen cabinet liner. It's the lightweight foam mesh stuff sold with the contact papers. I imagine it would last all of 1 week being used daily in a tub. I would test it at home though!

3 - For warm rainy days, we don't bring extra socks. We just bring flipflops or kayak sandals. We do have to be careful about blisters, but that's true of wet socks too.

4 - Last trip we used Garden Grocer to buy breakfast items, snacks, decent coffee, beer, water, paper plates, styrofoam bowls (for cereal), plastic utensils, paper napkins, paper towels, and a few toilletries. It was GREAT knowing we didn't have to save room in our bags for any of this stuff, even if we did fly SW and could bring 2 bags each. You still have to manoeuver all those bags and unpack them!

5 - Last trip, the Disney Princesses left a present for dd each night. The hardest part was packing, unpacking, and getting thru security without dd seeing any of the hidden items (can't wrap ahead of time). Then, of course, I had to stay up late the 1st night wrapping (as quietly as possible!). This year, I'm using others advice and I'll ship a box ahead of time - with everything fully wrapped.

And things I always bring with no particular purpose:
carabiners (the cheap ones)
binder clips
rubber bands (used with carabiners, these have a million uses!)
ziplocs in all sizes
individually-wrapped wipes (for tables, child's face, bathroom, etc.)
safety pins

Thanks to everyone for your great ideas! This year I'll add some collapsible cloth boxes to contain the clutter in the room, and a power strip with all the cords plugged in and labelled. Love this thread!

 

[92DVC]

Tide To Go instant stain remover. I always carry it with me. Someone always uses it.

 

[disneycrazy2004]

This is awesome thread! I love all the ideas. I am starting my box tomorrow - we are not going till August, but I am so excited!

 

[klm7926]

I have our trip "bag" started.....4 ponchos, body glide, pack of glow sticks, 2 mister fans, clickable sharpie. Also have our baggallini, backpack cooler for DH, new Keen sandals for our boys and 4 new Bobble water bottles to bring with us!

 

[nvsnot]

So far, in my vacation box there is:
Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets (2 travel size packs -- 2 loads per pack)
Toothebrush caps
1 travel bottle; 2 travel containers (for hair product)
Dominoes