Yuck - my dear husband to be is insisting we do laundry

[DznyDreamz]

There is no better time or place then to do laundry in WDW. As others have said, we prefer to run a couple loads and it makes coming home so much easier not to have piles of dirty clothes. It also gives you a reason to spend time at your resort, which I get antsy about thinking I should be out and about. This way, my DD gets to swim and I can go back and forth to put in a load. It works out great in so many ways.

 

[yxe dad]

My DH always loves to do laundry mid-vacation for our family. He heads out one night after we have the kids bathed and all settled and rolls the suitcase down. He throws the laundry in and spends some quiet time at the bar watching some much needed sports and having a couple of cold 'drinks' I get my husband back a few hours later, very relaxed after some alone time mid-vacation and a suitcase full of clean clothes and i get some quiet time to work on my scrapbooking journal! It works very well for us!

That's my secret, and yes there usually 1 or 2 of us men who need a little laundry/alone time at the pool bar at night watching sports. I'm actually looking forward to the pool bar at the AKL in 35 days

 

[maraki527]

My dh had the same problem when we went to disney first and then to st. lucia for our honeymoon. since the parks close a little early i went in the evening, no one was down at the laundry room and i was able to three washers and get everything done at the same time.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

That's my secret, and yes there usually 1 or 2 of us men who need a little laundry/alone time at the pool bar at night watching sports. I'm actually looking forward to the pool bar at the AKL in 35 days

My DH very much looks forward to it too.. After 15 or so spins on Small World with our 4 & 5 year old, it is a very much needed break for him. He sports one of his dozen Red Sox T-shirts in the hopes of finding a Yankee fan doing laundry too. This year he is really looking forward to laundry night.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

We are going down for 11 days, I plan on washing shorts, underwear, socks (if any), & bathign suites. I will take enough shirts for each day but I have to stop thinking that a family of 4 only needs 2 suitcases! I am sending down a lot of stuff that I know we will not be bringing back, but I am still going to wash...I sure don't want to & if I was driving & had all the room I wanted I would bring enough that I didn't need to wash!!

 

[KarenMom]

You said that you are going on a cruise before WDW. If you are going on Disney Cruise Line they have laundry rooms on the ship or you can send it out to be done. We were on the 10 day Med cruise this summer and sent some laundry out 2 or 3 times. I was not about to spend my vacation in Europe doing laundry. On previous cruises I've used the laundry room and it wasn't too bad. Even if it's another cruise line you chould check and see if they have laundry facilities onboard then you'd be all set when you get to WDW.

 

[thunderbird1]

Good point about the cruise ship. Carnival has washing machines as well, and they were even a little cheaper than WDW, if I recall. Especially if you have a day at sea towards the end of the cruise, you'll probably have more down time there than at WDW.

 

[lustergirl]

we always do laundry while vacationing at DW- we do real early in the morning and sit by the pool while everyone is coming and going, getting ready to embark on their day's journey to one of the parks. To me it is quite relaxing. I always stop by a local laundromat here at home and pick up those little laundry soap boxes- very convenient to take on your trip, that with some extra quarters from home and you are all set.

 

[AKLRULZ]

Overpacker anonymous here - I usually bring more than my wife - I mean really, who wants to be seen in the same clothes over and over in the photos (that's a joke!). But we do pack at least one outfit for each day which means a lot of luggage for our family of 5.

Only have done laundry when staying in a DVC unit - which I loved because you could throw a load in at bedtime - that is a huge advantage of DVC. Otherwise we've never done laundry at Disney.

 

[Poly Pal]

All you "doing laundry" whiners make it sound like we are still pounding our clothes with a rock in a stream.....c'mon, you throw the clothes in the machine, putcher quarters in and push a button - the machine does the laundry, how hard can it be!! ......

Actually I did the laundry (and most of the ironing, too) when we were at the Polynesian last month. I am an early riser and went to the laundry room around 4:45 am. Had the place all to myself, got to watch whatever channel I wanted on the TV, had a nice cold drink from the vending machine, read my book and enjoyed some quality quiet time.

To the OP, since you are going on a cruise, keep in mind that there is not a ton of storage for clothes and luggage in a cabin on a ship. And airlines charge alot these days for overweight luggage (which doesn't have to be that heavy, either!) Have a great stay at the Polynesian

 

[goofy4tink]

I usually do laundry at WDW...just hate packing enough to get me through. But, to be fair, I usually have a w/d in my villa.
I was just on a two week vacation that included WDW at BWV, then a 4 night cruise, then 3 days in Tampa. I did laundry at each point. Twice at BWV, but it was in my room so not a big deal. Then on the ship..nothing I would recommend and then in Tampa.
On the ship...avoid the laundry room toward the end of the cruise at all costs. We disembarked on Thursday, I did laundry on Wed morning. There were only half the washing machines actually usuable, the others were broken. Some of the dryers were also down. Then there were the people that had to do a triple load and then complain that the clothes wouldn't dry, thereby taking up a dryer for more time than usual.
At the Polynesian, I would put a load in, then go sit by the quiet pool by Tokelau. Or just do it very early in the morning and read a book while it washes. That's what I did...so very peaceful.

 

[may06orbust]

On our last visit, DH hauled the dirty laundry down in a rolling suitcase, and threw the laundry in the washer. They kids and I followed shortly thereafter to the pool. I made a pitstop at the bar for afternoon cocktails for DH & I, while the kids & DH swam. I brought my book. Laundry was done by 4:30-5pm.

 

[Daydreamer64]

Laundry times- some of my favorite times of the trip- We wash every third day - we tour 2 days then we take the third off to sleep in - kids can be bears if not properly rested! - or maybe go to DTD, BB or whatever- the point is we need that day off to rest- laundry isn't hard, just time consuming- and the kids go into swim suits if they must infringe on our "laundry time"- otherwise a quite slip out of the room at 6am, a hot tea and a good book are all that I need to be encouraged to do laundry! Pool chairs are great for a nice rest, and watching all of the excited families going to get breakfast smiling with anticipation of the day ahead- it's refreshing!

My last laundry time was very refreshing- I fell asleep by the pool- the temps were in the low 70's and it felt so nice to have some just me time- the next thing I knew, there stood Dh grinning at me,- he said no fair! He and the kids were making their way to breakfast at the resort, and he said that he saw me snoozing and let me sleep while they ate. I said I really appreciated it, he said he thought I needed the rest because I was cranky the day before- gee thanks- it all came out good in the end- I did need the rest and I felt refreshed the rest of the day!

Really, with three special needs kids, DH and I got into a fuss on our last trip because we both needed some "quite time" and both wanted to do "laundry" ! We roll it down in our suitcases, throw it in the washer, then go get something cool/warm to drink, depending on the time of year.

I love to shop at the gift shop without hearing, " Mommy, PLEASE, I just have to have this, how much money did you say I have left, could you please tally the last five days of spending and get me a number right away?, oh, I don't have enough $ left- I PROMISE I will work it off....please...please...

 

[jumoo044]

Do they still make those laundry detergent tablets? I got a free sample of those a few years ago. They look like big Sweetarts. I was thinking those would be convenient to pack.

 

[spiceycat]

Do they still make those laundry detergent tablets? I got a free sample of those a few years ago. They look like big Sweetarts. I was thinking those would be convenient to pack.

haven't found them lately. So if you find some - please post where and when.

to the op.

I also love do the laundry while swimming - had it times 35 for washer and 25 for the dryer (I think). there are twice as many dryer as washers so you are surpose to divide your clothes out.

Love doing laundry at the DVC - even in a studio, the laundry is FREE!!! i bring my own detergent and fabric softerner.

but the best is probably a 1-bedroom and up - just put the dirty clothes in the washer at night after returning from the parks - then later that night or early the next morning put them in the dryer.

speaking of - once at a moderate I went to check on the laundry after the parks were closed. BOY a bunch of people. So don't count on getting back from the parks after they close and during your laundry - too many other people think of the same the thing.

 

[dolly-dawne]

I spent 10 days at the Poly this August and did laundry twice.I hate bringing home dirty clothes. This year I would go early put my wash in then head over to captian cooks for a hot tea and maybe a pastry. I would then head back my clothes would be just finishing up in the wash.I would divide them into the dryers and take a leisurely walk around the resort. It was about 8am. (this may even be a bit roamantic with your new hubby)The resort is sooo quiet at this time and bunnies and ducks are all about. When I returned after about a half hour the clothes were dry. While folding I actually met someone from ontario and someone maine. The Ontario gentleman was a fellow disser
(hi stitchescousin) and we had actually exchanged posts on the Poly site before our trips. What a small world aftereall.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

I wish I could find the thread I read this on. Theres a laundry mat at a mall near a Steak n' Shake about 5-10 miles from disney. The poster remarked that they dropped off their laundry to be done and picked up the next day (or 2 days later) I can't remember and it was much cheaper then the resorts laundry service and they didn't have to do laundry. So if you have a rental car you could do this. Again I wish I could find the thread. I will keep looking!

ETA - can't find it w/search feature...maybe a local Floridian will chime in.

 

[Micca]

My DH always loves to do laundry mid-vacation for our family. He heads out one night after we have the kids bathed and all settled and rolls the suitcase down. He throws the laundry in and spends some quiet time at the bar watching some much needed sports and having a couple of cold 'drinks' I get my husband back a few hours later, very relaxed after some alone time mid-vacation and a suitcase full of clean clothes and i get some quiet time to work on my scrapbooking journal! It works very well for us!

BRILLIANT! As a guy, I would say I would be delighted to do laundry in exchange for some lounge & tube time. GREAT tip.

 

[Disneydenise]

Thank his mother for raising him right. Everyone wears clothes that must be washed eventually. Most everyone works now so doing an extra shift of domestic duties is a family responsibility. I married a dinosaur and I can tell you that if I had it to do over again this would not be. I was in the hospital for 10 days and the man didn't do one load of laundry for himself. I am still not 100% and I am having to tell him to bring his laundry down if he would like clean underwear and socks. The rest of his things get done at the dry cleaners. My son will not behave like that when he marries. I have been telling him since he was small everyone has to help with household chores. It is a family responsibility. I hope that the girl will appreciate this , I know I would have.

 

[rolshuk]

Do they iron your clothes if you send them to mousekeeping?
I dont mind doing the washing but dont want to iron on holiday