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Traveling to Walt Disney World is not an excursion to Mount Everest, so when it comes to packing, less is more! Think back to your own travel experiences, to Orlando and elsewhere. Have you ever wished you packed more? One of the biggest time, money, and sanity-savers when preparing for a Disney vacation is to pack only what you need and can carry easily—preferably all in one bag.
Driving to Orlando provides more room and options for packing, but space becomes a big issue if you're flying. So if you're part of the mass of humanity passing through the Orlando International Airport on the way to see Mickey, this article provides tips on how to pack, what to take, and what to leave behind in order to save time and money.
Luggage
With the possible exception of those traveling with babies and toddlers, everything you and your family need on a trip to Walt Disney World should fit into one carry-on bag per person. With most airlines charging exorbitant fees for checked bags, the up-front financial benefits are obvious. Less obvious is the time and money you will save on waiting for and paying people to take care of your luggage during your trip—porters, skycaps, and cab drivers, to name a few. You’ll also have peace of mind knowing your luggage is in your hands and not delayed, re-routed, lost, or stolen.
There are different types of carry-ons, with pros and cons to each. Children should be able to handle their own luggage, although you’ll make friends by helping your kids bring their luggage on the plane and stow efficiently. Otherwise, if they can’t carry it, they can’t take it.
I recommend a wheeled carry-on for elementary-age children and a backpack style carry-on for older children and for adults with children. Wheels and handles create more bulk and reduce usable packing space, but are invaluable for younger children to handle in an airport. It’s easier for parents to wear a backpack and pull or carry a wheeled carry-on through an airplane aisle than it is to maneuver two or three wheeled carry-ons. Many wheeled carry-ons come with detachable or hidden shoulder straps to enable a quick switch to either style.
What to Pack
Traveling light requires smart planning. A packing list is crucial, and lists for Disney and non-Disney related trips can be found online through a simple search on “travel light” or similar. Tailor a list to your specific needs, which doesn’t mean “add to” so much as “modify.” For example, a general packing list may include dressy clothing, but unless you are planning dinner at Victoria and Albert’s or one of a small handful of other more formal restaurants, dressy clothing is never required when dining in Walt Disney World. Look for opportunities to pack items which can perform double-duty, such as capris substituting for shorts and slacks, or for men, a pair of swim trunks that can also be worn as shorts.
Pack items that layer easily and which dry quickly. Socks by Smartwool or that use Cool Max material, and synthetic, athletic-style shirts are lightweight and pack easily. Confirm the weather forecast a couple of days before your trip for last-minute adjustments. For a five-day trip, consider packing at most six outfits, which should be a maximum for any trip (experienced travelers who are willing to layer extensively and rinse/wash some of their garments more frequently, can go with as few as three outfits for their trip).
Darker clothes are better for hiding stains, but lighter clothes are necessary if traveling to Orlando in the brutal heat of summer. Neutral colored clothes offer the best of both worlds and provide options for outfits by mixing and matching.
Laundry facilities in Walt Disney World are generally convenient, inexpensive, and efficient. You can purchase laundry detergent at your resort or bring concentrated laundry detergent or a product like Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets in your carry-on, placing the detergent in the one quart zip-top re-sealable bag to go through airport security. If you plan to swim during your trip it’s even easier to get a load or two of laundry done as most resort facilities are near the pools. It may seem counterintuitive, but the down time doing laundry is more than made up for in the time savings of traveling more efficiently and having fewer things to keep track of.
What to Pack
The list doesn’t include essentials such as identification, tickets, confirmation numbers, emergency numbers, medicine, ATM and credit cards, and a cell phone, but these items are all on my personal list of what to pack:
- Lightweight, collapsible day pack
- Lightweight, collapsible tote bag – Many uses, including laundry, the pool, groceries, or souvenirs. Although you can get dual use with just the day pack, I really advocate for both—the day bag for touring the parks, and the tote primarily for laundry and pool trips, and as a back-up bag for the way home if necessary.
- Light, water-resistant windbreaker jacket with a hood – Plastic rain ponchos are too hot, and waterproof jackets can get expensive, so consider a jacket that can handle light rain, cool evenings, and air conditioning.
- Travel umbrella – Good for rain and sun, for every adult in your party. If I am traveling with one of my kids (they are 9, 11, and 12), we just carry one umbrella.
- Spot remover – The only ones I’ve ever tried are the Tide pen spot removers. You might not fret over stains with your kids, but adults, or at least folks like my parents and those who pack lightly, will probably use it a few times on a trip to avoid having to wash a garment when all it needs is a bit of spot cleaning.
- Small flashlight – I prefer a small—not mini—flashlight that is easy enough to carry in a waist pack or day pack. You can use these for reading at night or for emergencies, or when you want to move around a darkened, unfamiliar hotel room when everybody else is already asleep.
- Good pair of walking shoes – Do not bring extra pairs of shoes for just one night out or because they look cute with one outfit.
- Small digital camera – You really don’t need a 200m lens or a separate carry-on just for your camera. If you have a smartphone with a built-in camera, you might consider going without a camera altogether. The main thing is to travel lightly; avoid carrying a separate camera bag with a huge lens, tripod, and so on.
- Ziploc plastic bags – Use a quart-sized version to pack your toiletries as your 3-1-1 kit for airport security, for separating items when packing, and to keep various small items together in one spot to avoid slowing you down while going through security. I usually pack two or three different sized baggies: quart, gallon, and snack-sized bags, and use them for storing snacks and leftovers.
- Small first aid kit – If you are in the parks, you can always go to the First Aid Center. Your own kit would be mostly for convenience.
What Not to Pack
Leave behind anything you want to bring “just in case.” Walt Disney World Resort hotels have well-stocked sundry stores in case you forget something. While buying sundries on Disney property might mean you pay 50 percent or more mark-up, you will wind up ahead by avoiding the time and money costs of checking bags.
My list of what to leave at home:
- Jeans – Too heavy and bulky. If you can’t part without a pair of jeans, you might consider taking just one pair, and wearing it on your flight.
- Cosmetics – If you’re willing to bare it all, consider leaving your makeup at home. The time savings of a make-up free vacation are significant. If you can’t part with some items, at least limit what you bring to just the basics.
- More than one magazine or small paperback – My downfall is packing too many books or magazines thinking I will catch up on vacation. Or if you want to take a lot, be willing to leave them at your destination. Better yet, consider an e-book reader like a Kindle or a Nook.
- Guidebooks – Cut out or copy the section/s you want or use smartphone apps.
- Towels – Disney hotels provide towels at pools or allow room towels.
- Heavy coat – This might be hard to leave at home if you’re traveling to Orlando in the winter, but you will not use it once you get to the resort.
- Electronic games – Many may consider sacrilege to omit, but engaging kids in conversation and teaching patience are great benefits of an unplugged vacation. If you are worried about how your kids will do on long flights or drives, consider taking some music CDs or audio books. You might be pleasantly surprised at how little your kids complain once you’re all on vacation.
- Laptops – If you are too wired to leave home without one, try substituting a less bulky tablet, netbook, or even a smartphone. Many hotels also have business centers where you can do things like check your email or check in for your flight home.
- Large quantities of toiletries – Greater than 3 ounces is not allowed and most hotels provide the basics free of charge.
- Travel alarm clock – Use your watch or cell phone. If you’re staying on property, don’t forget to set a wake-up call from Mickey Mouse (but make sure you have a back-up, especially if you have to get up at a certain time).
- Bad attitudes – Few things take up more time on a trip than dealing with a grump.
These lists are not exhaustive, but give you some basics packing tips to save you time, money and heartache on a trip to Walt Disney World. For more packing tips and in-depth packing lists, a simple web search will yield many well-known and respected websites devoted to packing light. Remember, your objective is Expedition Everest, not Mount Everest. One carry-on will set you free. Try it and lighten your load in more ways than one.
Margie Binder lives in Shoreview, Minnesota with her husband and three Disney-loving children. She has been a DVC member since 1995 and uses any excuse, including inviting herself along on relative's trips, to visit her Happy Place. She has been a helicopter pilot, special education teacher, stay-at-home mom, and corporate employee. Like many, she is either in Walt Disney World or planning her next trip. She still has her stuffed Pooh from her first visit in 1975.
Comments
While I may disagree with some of the advice*, I think the biggest thing for Orlando vacations that's a problem for me to get through the TSA check point, is sunscreen - especially if you're traveling with a family. Finding 3oz or smaller sunscreen is difficult in some brands/anything other than lotions, and for a family, I don't think just 3oz would be enough for as much as you're applying it to children.
I also wear a hat in the parks in general, but that (along with a sweatshirt) is worn on the flight, so it's not counting against my luggage bulk.
I'd add one important thing to the must pack list:
Refillable Water Bottle: TSA will let you bring any size water bottle on board so long as it is not filled at the time you are going through security. Given that bottles of water can cost upward of $2 per bottle, for a family of four you could conceivably be spending more than $20 per day on water, especially in warmer summer months. Or you can bring your own bottle and refill them an unlimited number of times at water fountains, or the night before, fill them with ice so you have ice water for the majority of the day.
Also a couple of pieces of advice: know what you might want to buy souveneir wise. If you think you might buy a sweatshirt at Disney, don't pack one. Instead buy one there and use that to wear around the parks. And be sure to make room for it in the luggage. There's nothing worse than trying to jam everything into your bag on the way back.
I would also not recommend getting the wheeled carry-ons that convert into backpacks. The extra weight of the wheels can make the backpack extremely uncomfortable, as well as the frame that the wheels require. The wheels will make the pack more rigid in shape and therefore more likely to jab into you.
One piece of carry on luggage each only? No cosmetics? One pair of walking shoes? You have got to be kidding!
We did not take coats for our December visit to WDW, left them in the car in the UK. Worst decision of the trip. We froze for 5 days.
Wow, I'd give pretty much the exact opposite advice to anyone going to WDW -- aside from the "packing light" aspect. Some of the advice in this column is downright BAD advice.
First, I'd say to check everything and only carry on a small personal item like a purse or backpack. There are a HUGE number of reasons that this is beneficial:
1) You get rid of almost everything as soon as you arrive at the airport. When staying on-property, you won't have to deal with your luggage again until you get to your hotel room, because Disney's Magical Express will take your bags from the airport to your room.
2) It saves time and trouble at security. When you only have a small bag with an iPad or book, some snacks and your camera, you breeze through security.
3) When you leave WDW, you can check your luggage at your resort. You don't even have to take it back to the airport. The morning you check out, you can take your luggage to the airline check-in at your resort, and then you're free to do whatever you want to do until you have to head to the airport. We always spend half a day in one of the parks on our departure day, and we never have to deal with luggage, because it's already dealt with and we don't see it again until we arrive at our home airport.
4) You can get into a situation if you buy anything and don't have room to pack it for the trip home. We went to WDW a few years back with relatives who only had carry-on luggage, and they ended up having to buy a suitcase and check it for the return trip, because their purchases just wouldn't fit into their small carry-ons. They ended up with a Disney-themed suitcase that cost way too much and that they didn't need.
5) It's just good karma to carry as little as possible onto the plane. Your fellow travelers will think more kindly of you.
Second, spot remover and a flashlight? Really? I've been to WDW dozens of times, and I've never once felt the need for either. And why pack a water-resistant windbreaker with a hood, especially in summer? If it rains, use an umbrella. They're much smaller and easier to carry in a backpack or other small pack. If it's not raining, you definitely won't ever use a windbreaker.
Third, if paying $35 to check a bag is too expensive for you, why not fly an airline that doesn't charge luggage fees? Southwest is our airline of choice, always.
Finally, you say:
"Less obvious is the time and money you will save on waiting for and paying people to take care of your luggage during your trip—porters, skycaps, and cab drivers, to name a few."
Why are you concerned about airline fees for checking luggage, but mentioning cab drivers in the article? Why on earth would you ever take a taxi to WDW? Disney will transport you there for free. If you're not staying on property, there are good shuttle services that cost half as much as taxis. And bringing a checked bag should never require the need for a skycap, a porter, or anyone else to handle your luggage. Again, if you're staying on property, you'll never wait for your luggage, because Disney takes it to your resort.
Anyone planning a trip to WDW would do well to not follow the advice in this column.
I found this article rather spot-on actually....I do think it comes down to whether or not someone wants to travel light or not. Or perhaps whether or not they are "higher maintenance" than another person. A lot of folks will say they do, but aren't willing to forgo packing those "just in case" items that never end up getting used. I used to be like that. I'd come home from a trip only to unpack a bag where 1/2 of my clothes went unworn because I had overpacked. I'd drag along all my makeup, and never put it on. It was amazing what I'd bring along that I was sure we'd need but never did.
That being said...I'm the gal who can and will happily do without the makeup now, and who doesn't think my kids will go into a nuclear meltdown if they have to do without a electronic device!
I'll say this - there is nothing better than arriving at MCO (or any other destination), walking off the plane and heading down to transportation, bypassing the luggage pick up!
My family of four is traveling to a destination that could be considered slightly remote for 10 days in July. I'm already fretting over over packing. I'd love to do that trip with carry-ons, but I don't know if we can do it or not. I'll try though!
The older I get, the more I subscribe to the Less is More theory. For what it's worth I thought this article offered some good points on packing light, it doesn't have to be difficult, if you want to travel with carry-ons. But that is just it - you have to ask yourself, do you want to? For some folks, they feel more comfortable bringing along everything but the kitchen sink. As long as I don't have to schlep those bags to each his own!
I do agree that one should pack lightly as opposed to over packing, but it is a mistake to under pack. One should not bring too little or you will end up buying or going without necessary clothing or accessories. It is also a mistake to have the children handle their own luggage. My preference is the kids pack their stuff with other kids or adults in a medium sized luggage (2 persons per bag and under 25 pounds to save money). A large luggage wouldn't work since it will be too heavy and not easy to handle. Check the bag. You can forget about it while in the terminal. The problem with carry on suitcases is it is big hassle to watch them in the terminal and getting them on and off the airplane. Hey, you only have two hands. One hand is holding the child's hand. The other with your purse or bag. Do you have another hand on the carry-on suitcase? Remember to under pack to allow for souvenirs on the return trip. Most important, you need to carry food onto the airplanes these days. They don't serve much food and the kids need their snacks.
I bought a windbreaker on the advice of other columns like this. I never used it. Windbreakers are unsuitable for Florida climate. Humidity and polyester makes for an unpleasantly hot and sticky situation. Wear a light weight breathable jacket. Don't worry if it gets wet. Bring an extra cotton long sleeved shirt. If it rains, the umbrella works, but again, its a hassle when you have children. Duck in the shade temporarily or go to an indoor ride.
You do need the full ensemble. Jacket, pants, shoes, sandals, shorts, shirts, swim suit. I do recommend staying at a place that has self-service laundry facilities. Bring half or a third of the clothing. Wash every 2 or 3 days. No need to worry about stains with frequent washings. You do need to wear light clothing or you will bake in the sun. You need more shirts and shorts (at least 3 pairs) than jackets and pants (1 each).
Bring toys and electronic gadgets for the kids, but only one per person. These days, one toy can hold music and games. It is necessary for long trips at the airport and for kids during their time off. Believe me, kids need to be entertained 24 hours even though you're tired after 8 hours.
My phone has an alarm, games, calendar, reading material. Download all the apps you need prior to your vacation. Get Mousewait.
As for bad attitudes, take frequent breaks. Not everyone can handle visiting the parks on consecutive days. Give everyone a chance to decide the day's activities.
Hmm. I consider myself the queen of traveling light for a two-three day trip and I rarely take extra clothes anywhere but if I'm going somewhere for a week or two, I'm going to be checking my bag. It's not a huge bag and it's fairly new, so it's lightweight and it holds a ton.
It's not going to be full of extra pairs of shoes or coats but it will have the comforts of home. My pillow case; my tea and a mug that actually keeps water hot; lavender water; clips to ensure curtains stay closed; a tiny (cheap) night light for midnight trips to strange bathrooms; all my travel medicines; my eye mask; my ear plugs; ALL my toiletries (in the world's tiniest containers). You name it, I have it.
I know baggage fees add up, especially when you have kids but we don't regret paying ours. I hate schlepping stuff around, especially through the dreaded Orlando TSA line.
About all I buy at my destination is water and sunscreen.
Say, do you work for Spirit Airlines? ;-) (they charge travelers who want to CARRY-ON their bags!)
I think the bottom line is that whether a person does just a carry-on or checks in luggage is a very personal decision. That said, saying that that's bad advice... is in itself bad advice.
- Bag is likely too big for me to easily hop on the city bus or train to get to the airport (I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I could ride BART to SFO for $11 one way). This means I either catch a cab (very expensive), find someone to give me a ride to the airport, take a Super Shuttle (expensive, since I'm an hour away from the airport), or drive to the airport and either park at the long-term lot for $35 a day, or deal with the hassles of parking off-property for $15 a day and deal with the hassles of carrying my check-in on the free shuttle to the airport.
- Unless I have premium status with my airline, I'm probably going to have to pay $20-$40 for my check-in bag. If I'm traveling with a companion or I have a couple of children and everybody has a suitcase, I'm now looking at $200 or more just to check our bags.
- If we have check-in bags, I'm tipping everybody. I tip the cab driver, I tip if I want to check my bag in at curbside.
- When I land, I have to WAIT FOR MY BAGS TO ARRIVE. Personally, this is a HUGE downer for me because I love to just be able to hit the ground when I land. Oh, times two. I'd have to do the same when I get home from the trip.
One one of our travels, a member of the party had a check-in bag that got accidentally rerouted to another destination. We had to wait while this person went to the airline's baggage handling counter and filed a missing check-in report. Fortunately, the bag turned up relatively quickly (the same day), but it was still hours of worry over something that was not at all the person's fault (plus, let's not even talk about TSA agents and baggage handlers stealing contents from check-in luggage). I have friends whose luggage didn't even show up while they're on their trip. We've even had this happen, believe it or not, with Disney's Magical Express somehow shuttling bags to the wrong resort! It means a lot of hassle trying to get the CMs to take care of your problem.
Personally, the main thing that slows me down after a security screening is my need to put my watch back on, put my phone back in my pocket, and put my shoes back on. Unless you're actually cutting in line at the security checkpoint, you are only going to go as fast through security as everyone else. The only inconvenience you're saving is your not having to place a carryon on the belt. Plus, if you have an iPad or some snacks/camera with you, you still have to grab a plastic bin for yourself. In my opinion, that's no different than what *I* go through. Except that I also have a bag.
Oh, and if you REALLY want some convenience, take your carryon to one of the monorail/deluxe resorts and have them hold it for you there. No bellhop will turn you away because you stayed at a cheaper resort.
Finally, one thing I usually take with me, is a packable tote bag. Go take a look at my blog post from this evening (http://www.travelite.org/?p=493) and take a look at the stuff I'm putting in my carryon bag. I've got an Eagle Creek Packable Tote in there. That thing folds out to be about the size of a grocery sack, with long enough handles that I can carry it like a ladies' tote bag... meaning I will be able to take both the tote bag AND my carryon onto the aircraft. Problem solved.
I hope you never decide to go on a Europe Through the Back Door through Rick Steves company, then. He asks his travelers to go with just a carry-on, and spends a full chapter in all his European travel guides going over how to do it.
I also hope that misfortune doesn't ever befall you, such that your big trunk going to Orlando doesn't accidentally get shipped to Karachi, and it takes them 5 days to get it back to you. Oh, but at least you'll have your iPad. So you'll be able to post on MousePad while you're waiting for all your stuff to arrive! Yay!
What really got me towards traveling light (not always just a carry on, like for cruises, or longer winter trips) was when my sister and I arrived at our island vacation a day late (started with mechanical issues on our first airplane), and our luggage was three days late. We both had to buy swimsuits, I had to buy shorts, my sister had to buy flip flops - and gift shops at resorts aren't known for being inexpensive for those items (we QUICKLY ate through the allowance we got because we'd booked a land/air package). After that, my carry on got bigger, and then shortly after that it became my only bag.
And I totally agree about the 'ship it home' on the bigger souvenirs. I think there's some ways to keep your receipts and consolidate shipping of all items from the gift shop in your WDW resort -- I just don't know the details on it.
The problem with giving advice is it suggests there is only one way to go. If David prefers to have checked in baggage, it isn't wrong. It isn't wrong if you want to have only carry-on luggage. I've done both. I had bad experiences both ways.
In one case where I had carry-on luggage, a small connecting plane was used. The airline said all carry-on luggage must be checked in. Marvelous. There goes my plan. I still had to go to baggage claim to get my carry-on.
In another case, I had checked-in luggage. I had to transfer airplanes. My bag didn't go to my destination on the same connecting flight that I was on. The airline said I can wait 2 hours for the next flight to arrive so I can get it. Since I had time and didn't want to wait longer to get my bag at the hotel, I waited for it.
To prevent bad experiences with luggage, try direct flights and fly in a plane in the size of a Boeing 737 and larger. Only have clothing in it. No valuables should be packed. In case you do lose your bag, you should have a contingency plan.
Unlike what the author claims, it is a mistake for children to handle luggage. Unless you have patience to ensure your kid won't have problems getting their luggage on the plane and off, you're better off using check-in luggage. You should see all the folks in the plane getting their frustrations out on a kid when it time to deplane.
"Pack items that layer easily and which dry quickly. Socks by Smartwool or that use Cool Max material, and synthetic, athletic-style shirts are lightweight and pack easily."
This advice is weird. So we should dress like we are at a gym or marathon? Gym clothes are not comfortable for the full day. They are usually a polyester blend that stick to your skin. They tend to warm you up when you're out in the sun. When you're in the shade, they cool you down, a bit too much. They do help to repel and expel water and sweat; however, you're still wet and sticky.
After you spend the full day at the park, you come back to your room and shower. You will want to wear a nice clean cotton shirt and shorts. Don't put your gym clothes back on or your skin will itch.
I have to defending the tipping of service workers. Yes, do tip and do it generously. These service workers work very hard for little pay. I am always happy to pay for their service if they service me especially when I'm on vacation. I will pay a bell boy to bring my luggage to my room. I will tip the shuttle driver if he helps me load and unload my luggage. These conveniences should not be overlooked. Even if everyone in a party is capable of handling their own carry-on, people always end up with lots more stuff than you can imagine. For my family of 3, we can end up with 2 medium sized luggage, 2 carry-on backpacks, 1 purse, and 1 food bag. That's 6 separate items to bring and account for.
I never can understand poor/no tippers....
I agree, and we're generous with our tips. I think the point Margie was making is that if you travel a certain way, you avoid needing the services of some types of workers, thereby making the need (or occasion) to tip less frequent.
I know a lot of people aren't comfortable traveling with just their carry-on bag, especially if it's a new concept for them (although if folks are interested, there are a lot of sites, like "1 Bag 1 World," Onebag.com, etc.), but I think most people could agree that it's generally a good idea to be efficient and lighter with their packing.
I still remember going to visit my former in-laws for Christmas years ago. My former sister-in-law, who very rarely ever left her home town (population 300), was flying (flying!!). She was visiting for 7 days. She arrived with two huge suitcases; one of them, it turned out, was full of nothing but Christmas sweaters. For herself. She wanted to make sure she had a different thick wool Christmas sweater for each day of her visit.
I have to disagree with you on this point - I think children should be encouraged to handle their own luggage. Obviously, depending on the kid, their size & the size of their bags. Of course you are not going to have a 4 year old hauling 40 lbs. of wheeled luggage around the airport...and of course no decent person would have their kid clog up the aisle of the airplane with their stuff when the adult can quickly grab it & stow it. My youngest was 3 on his first international trip. Guess who carried his little bag? Him! And he was damn proud to be doing it, too. He's 14, going on 15 now. Guess who carries his bag(s) now? Him! Why - you haven't lived till you've watched a skinny 10 year wrestle his fishing pole shipping container thru customs! And yes, we waited so we were last in line so we didn't hold anyone up...and if that isn't shocking enough for you, we've started having the kids fill out their own customs forms, check in at ticketing gates when needed, and go thru security on their own (chill out, we were there, watching - in a different line). It's how they learn to be decent travelers. Our 16 & 14 yr old boys will both be traveling independent of each other and us this year - flying. I'm comfortable with it cause we've been teaching them all along how to do it, how to deal in airports and all that.
I went to Onebag.com. It is an interesting site. If the idea is not to overpack, his checklist doesn't do the trick. He does say it should be tailored by you, but I can go down the list and eliminate entire categories.
I don't need small notebook, gluestick, envelopes, stamps, personal address book, reading material. Hey, few are sending letters and postcards anymore. This list is a throwback. I definitely do not write a journal, but if I want to take notes, I put it in my cellphone. My photos are my actual journal. Do carry a pen.
Toilet paper, water squirt bottle, antibacterial wipes, water purifier, infection treatment, insect repellent, malaria tablets, tweezers, vitamins, collapsible bottle and cup, lens cleaning. This is a bit extreme. You should be prepared if you're going to Africa, but for everywhere else, you don't need it. I do recommend bringing earplugs (noisy a/c or neighbors or traffic), medications, prophylactic (if you really need it), bandages, sunscreen, lip balm, diarrhea and toilet paper if visiting Europe and Asia, and an analgesic (Aspirin, acetaminophen, etc).
Other miscellaneous, Jump Rope?, Calculator? (not a separate unit, use your phone with calculator function), No tools or repairs (If you don't use it now, you won't use it on vacation. Set it aside, buy a replacement). Only bring the toiletries that you intend to use. Laundry supplies? Get a place that have self-service laundry. Why not use the hangers instead of clothline?
The descriptions in his list should show conditions that disqualify their use. Instead, he makes it seem like you need them all in most cases. If you're going to a theme park for 5 to 6 days on a dining plan, it is unlikely you will ever need a sewing kit. The list is most useful for a 3 week European vacation.
I think there are good tips to this, but you do have to tailor them to your own needs. I have never been to WDW, but I do like to go down to DL/DCA at least once a year. Nowadays I go for at least 3 days, not counting any time I spend visiting friends and family throughout SoCal. With that in mind, it's tricky to pack only a carry-on, but it is possible. It's just necessary to be smarter about your carry-ons. Most airlines allow one carry-on plus one small bag, like a purse. However, many airlines don't think much of that small second bag if it's a backpack. It just has to fit in the space by your feet. If you are taking up two spots in the overhead bins, you risk having your bag gate-checked, which may require a fee. So I can manage a backpack with my essentials, and my carry-on suitcase crammed with my clothes. I have a Kindle, but I also have the Kindle App, so I may not even need to bring the actual Kindle. I am a writer, so I am always working on my latest stories. Before I leave home, I upload my latest chapter(s) to Google docs so that if I want to keep working on them, or if the muse calls, I can do so through my phone. This way I can avoid having to cart my laptop around and all I need to bring are my charger and my ear buds. I do have an extra memory card in case I go photo-happy and don't have a chance to unload the memory card before I go home. I also don't want to pack anything I can get there. I pack compact makeup (foundation/powder in one, plus an eye shadow stick, an eyeliner pencil, and a mascara. My only lipstick is a tinted lip conditioner. I borrow hair dryers from friends and family, but I do bring my big round brush to get the effect I want. I will pack a small flat iron for touch-ups so that I don't have to wash my hair more than once or twice, tops. And I borrow shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, lotion, etc. from my friends. If I am travelling with friends, we share products so we don't each have to pack our own. I have one small hairbrush in my purse, which is the only one I take aside from my styling brush. The handle of that brush is loaded with hair ties. If it's not on that handle, I didn't need it anyway. I don't need clips, bows, headbands, etc. I take one pair of earrings, which is usually my silver hoops, and maybe one bracelet, which I wore on the plane. I don't need a case of jewelry. If I have a lot of Disneyland time expected on my trip, I will bring a resistance band for a little workout in my hotel room or family's backyard. It's amazing how taxing a day spent mostly standing around can feel on a body that has not been warmed up.
I also recommend switching to a purse that has credit card slots and can go over your shoulder so that you don't have to carry a wallet. If not, get down to a small credit card holder that is just enough for your ID and the 2 or 3 cards (plus room key) that you'll actually need. I do that when I go to the Renaissance Faire and need to keep keys, camera, money, and cards in my small hip pouch. This purse is small enough to not be overwhelmed by stuff that isn't necessary, yet big enough to keep me from having to go back to the locker too often. The backpack that I carried on is in the locker with my sweater, my rubber slippers (to wear on Splash Mountain or Grizzly River Run so that my regular shoes do not get soaked and ruined for the rest of the day for me; and they're very easy to pack), the sunscreen, snacks, and anything I may have decided to purchase. If I decide to make a bigger, unexpected purchase, I ask my friends to hang onto them and ship them home for me. I give them cash for the shipment and tell them it's okay to ship it by carrier pigeon if it's cheaper.
Packing enough to carry on only is doable, but it really depends on when you go, how long you go for, and if you have other concrete plans. I don't need my fancy dress and heels for Disneyland, but I certainly do for Vegas.
GoofyMomInMn is Margie Binder
Thank you all for the comments and the passion you each bring to this topic. I knew I was opening a can of worms with some of the suggestions, but they are just that…my suggestions. In the interest of space, there was no way to include all of the items I thought important to consider on a trip to Walt Disney World, nor explain in great detail why I chose some items.
My light travel epiphany came about four years ago after schlepping two large suitcases and assorted other bags on a trip to Walt Disney World with my then-8 year old son. Since then I have always traveled with only a carry-on, and my children (now 9, 11, and 12) have done the same. It has worked very well for us, but I recognize that packing is a very personal thing, and my article was not intended to be all-inclusive. The main point was in line with the “Time is Money” theme in that one way to save a lot of time (IMHO) is to pack light. This saves time (and money) moving from your home to your resort in just amount any manner you get there.
Obviously, the passionate among you have each found what works for you, although I’d like to think even the most veteran traveler is open to new ideas or new ways of thinking about things. Each person’s unique situation, including who you are traveling with, what airline you are flying on, where you are staying, the time of year you are going, and your personal preferences, will dictate what you bring on your trip to Walt Disney World.
I’ll follow with some responses to individual comments, but thank you all again for the great discussion!
Re: Comments by Drince88 on Tue, 15 May 2012 05:57:54 -0700
Thanks for your questions, Cathy. You have listed some of items I could have done a better job explaining.
• Umbrella and light jacket- I have found both very useful. I appreciate a light jacket that I can stow away in my day bag even in the summer. When moving from hot, sticky outside temps to a freezing air conditioned restaurant sometimes that change feels wonderful; at other times I appreciate not being chilled. The light jacket is also helpful for layering over a sweatshirt or fleece jacket during colder times of year. I have come to appreciate the umbrella for heavier rains when I need to move around the parks. Ponchos are too dang hot most times of the year, and awkward to get off and store. I have found umbrellas easy to carry and effective for most situations. One exception is moving in a crowd. My solution has been just to wait until the crowd thins, and I also carry a smaller (one or two person) umbrella that doesn’t have the circumference to get in people’s way.
• Shoes- I did not mean to imply that only one pair of shoes should be brought on the trip, but instead to emphasize the importance of bringing (or wearing) one very nice pair of broken in walking shoes. I also bring flip flops or sandals for the very reason you mention-- pool or water park, or just moving around the resort.
• Extra tote bag- I agree with your alternatives. My personal preference is the versatility of a fold away tote bag as I try to store my luggage out of the way as soon as I arrive and unpack. The tote takes up less space. I have used shopping bags for laundry as well, but just find the tote sturdier and it can also serve double duty if I need a larger personal bag on the plane (I can stow my small shoulder bag within the tote).
• Purex 3 in 1- This was just poor writing on my part. I meant that if you bring liquid detergent, the detergent needs to go in the 3-1-1 bag to go through security, which you obviously won’t need to do if you bring the Purex sheets.
How DO you deal with sunscreen, though? I'm really looking for decent alternatives to paying 'resort prices' at the WDW hotels.
Cathy,
I pick it up at Publix during my "free" grocery stop that's included with our car service pickup.
Somehow I think that isn't the answer you're looking for though.
With TSA limitations and the amount of sunscreen we need in Orlando or other warm weaather vacations, I just bite the bullet on this item. I do have some emergency sunscreen towelettes that the TSA doesn't seem bothered by in my bag, but honestly, the sunscreen is not as comfortable as my regular brand.
I agree with you on these three points, with the addition of also bringing along single packs of powdered drink mix. My kids enjoy picking one or two favorites out before our trip, and the small packages fit easily into our carry-ons. Although we know the water is perfectly safe, we find the Central Florida aftertaste difficult to swallow (so to speak).
Thanks for throwing in your two cents.
Really! It is certainly more difficult for someone coming from the UK, but if we can do it a la Rick Steves crossing the pond the other direction, I know it can be done.
By the way, I've loved your trip reports, and I remember that December (2010) trip you are talking about. My daughter (then 8) and I were in Walt Disney World just before you were, and even coming from Minnesota, we were cold! When we travel during the winter we leave our winter coats, along with boots and often ski pants, in our car in satelite parking. Sometimes we take our hats and gloves on the trip, depending on the Orlando forecast, otherwise they are also left in the car. The shuttle pulls right up to our vehicle, so there is very little suffering in the cold to speak of. If my husband drives us to the airport, I just make sure those same items are left in his car for the return trip. During the December 2010 trip my daughter and I layered one or two fleece jackets and a light jacket, and we also adjusted our schedule a bit and did less at night, much like needing to adjust a trip for a week of thunderstorms. Not much fun, but we all deal with it.
Thanks so much for writing!
My solution the last few times has been to have my sister bring it with her, since she's more inclined to check a bag! We travel from different airports, so her checking a bag doesn't affect my time
I DID ask one TSA agent if my doctor told me to wear sunscreen, if that made it medically necessary. They told me it had to be prescription sunscreen to meet that requirement, but I haven't tested that or asked anyone else.
Why on earth would you assume I'm opposed to traveling light? You don't seem to grasp the concept of "traveling light" -- carrying everything you own in a carry-on is NOT the definition of traveling light. I bet I carry less to WDW than you do, even though I pack my stuff in a bag that gets checked.
We were at WDW two weeks ago. We stayed for eight days. I brought four changes of clothes. No jacket. No extra shoes (I wore my good walking shoes on the plane). An umbrella. Laundry detergent and sunscreen. I wore jeans on the plane and had my shorts in my luggage. The bag I checked was probably the same size that most people carry on. No tipping of drivers was involved. The bag was also 2/3 empty. It was not empty for the return, as I bought some t-shirts for myself and a number of gifts for other people.
What did I carry on the plane? My backpack. Inside were important medications, my iPad, my camera, and some snacks.
How does this qualify as not "traveling light"?
We did laundry on day four -- yes, we had a washer and dryer in our Vacation Club Villa, so it was easy, but it's something almost anyone can do.
And once I got to the airport here at home, I never touched my checked suitcase again until I unpacked it in my room at the Bay Lake Tower. I didn't have to wait for it at baggage claim. I didn't have to carry it to the Magical Express bus. And when we left Florida, I took it to the airline check-in at the Contemporary, where I didn't see it again until I got it back at my home airport. How on earth is this more difficult than toting everything myself, carrying it all around the airports, lugging it on the plane, trying to find a place in the overhead compartment, etc.?
I travel very light. I don't pay baggage fees. I've traveled all over the world, including about 20 trips to Walt Disney World, and I've never had my luggage lost. (I've had luggage delayed by a couple of hours, but I've always had it delivered to me within the same day.) And I stopped overloading myself with carry-ons years ago, because I came to the realization that it's just so much better to let the airline deal with my stuff.
So don't tell me I'm opposed to "traveling light."
wow...I've seen a lot on these mouseplanet boards, but this is getting beyond reason.
Surely there is room for more than one idea/opinion on traveling light? Just because it doesn't work for you is it really necessary to be so combative towards
others with different views and suggestions/recommendations?
Thank you
We are trying to aim for 3 instead of 4 huge checked suitcases this summer, so some progress