I was thinking yesterday about how my packing style has changed dramatically over the years while going to Walt Disney World. When I first started going I was young enough that my mother would pack for me! Somedays I sure do wish I had someone to pack for me now! But once I got to my second trip to WDW at 16, I was in charge of packing my own suitcase for my trip. I remember I would be packed weeks in advance, with my bags waiting at the window, and every time I looked at them I’d smile a little knowing where I was going soon.
Shortly after that trip I took my first vacation to Walt Disney World alone, as an “adult”. I was 17 years old, almost 18, and going to the Orlando theme park was my high school graduation gift. I remember my parents paid from some of the trip and I paid for some so I felt like I had “paid my own way” and was so grown up. During that trip I again packed weeks in advance only this time I recall I bought all new makeup (fancy stuff from the department store, not the drug store)! I also back then would buy all new toiletries and sometimes even all new clothes. I remember buying a new stick of “Teen Spirit” deodorant and from that point on, if I ever smelled that certain type, it took me back to my Disney trip (unfortunately, that brand has been discontinued now). I don’t know how I afforded all this “brand new” stuff honestly at 17… yes, I was working, but my parents must have pitched in too. 
teen Spirit (Yes, where Kurt got the name of the song from)
Now that I’m married, and a mom, packing is completely different. Not only am I packing for myself, I’m packing for a 19 month old and all the stuff that goes with it. I remember our first Disney trip this past February with the little one. Pshew, it was like having to take a whole house with us! Do we have enough diapers for the flight? What about wipes? Don’t forget the stroller. We’ll need toys for the plane and a portable DVD player to keep him entertained. Bottles! Can’t forget those and how do we get through security with them?? Ugh!
Don’t forget the baby!
With all that planning and thinking about the baby, I’m lucky I remembered to bring anything for myself. Thankfully I leave my husband to pack his bags for himself, and he does, usually the day before the trip though. LOL. I try to stay relaxed about it all and just remember that if we forgot something we can always buy it while on vacation, at vacation prices!
So my upcoming trip to WDW by myself is less than 30 days away now and I’m starting to get into “packing mode” into my head. I guess you could say all the different packing techniques that I’ve used throughout the years are now all rolled up together and that’s how I’m dealing with this trip. Yes, I’m buying myself some new products. I bought a small, sample sized deodorant just for fun and I’m planning on buying some new makeup that I don’t really NEED at this point but it will be fun to buy it for the trip (and eventually I’ll need it when my current stuff runs out). I bought travel sized containers to fill with face wash, shampoo, conditioner, etc since I’ll be doing all carry on’s on the plane, my first time ever doing that! I’m also planning on going out the weekend before my trip and having a shopping day to myself in which I will get the obligatory vacation pedicure (that’s something I do before every trip) and will hopefully find an outfit or two to bring along so I’ll feel pretty in new clothes. At the same time though, since I’m so busy day-to-day with the baby, I’m not packed up at all at the moment. I’ll probably physically pack my suitcase 2-3 days before the trip itself.
So what about you? What’s your packing style? Are you ultra organized and neat? Do you do carry on or check your luggage? Do you buy new items before your trip or wing it and throw stuff in a bag and hope you have what you need?
Leave me some comments below and let me know! As always, thanks again for reading! I know I’m not as prompt with these blog entries as I should be, but I really do love blogging and talking about Disney and travel with you and I hope to continue for a long time!
I am lucky because for our family trips Rachel comes up with a list of what we need. I assemble the items and she packs.
that sounds like a pretty good way to break it down Ray. I’m wondering who has more work to do though.. you or her?!
Great blog Marci! I used to pack really early… I think it was the anticipation of it all, part of the experience, you know? Now, I feel like a pro, lol. I don’t pack until the week or so before, and I rarely forget really important items anymore. I also used to go out and buy lots of new things including bathroom stuff etc. and especially clothes … sometimes I do, this time not so much. We are checking luggage since our trip is so long, but probably only will have one carry-on between the two of us. Your reminiscing brought back memories of how I used to pack… being 3 weeks out tomorrow, I would usually already have the suitcases out!! It’s crazy how much things can change.
I wonder why people feel the need to buy all new stuff. I mean, I have makeup and clothes already. I think it just makes it feel more like “vacation” in new “vacation clothes” you know?
I would normally check my bags and use magical express but since this is such a short trip I wanted to make every minute count and am renting a car. I figured if we carry everything on that’s less time waiting for the luggage carousel and the ME bus!
It’s all new for me for this trip! I’ve been posting like a crazy person on the Tour Guide Mike forums (where the super experts hang out) asking for advice about what to pack for the plane, for the parks, etc. I think I’m getting there!
I think I’m just going to pack a week’s worth of clothes for each of us, and do laundry once or twice when there. We also plan to do some shopping, so that’s where all my new make-up and toiletries will come from – as well as a full wardrobe of clothes age 18-24 months, 2-3 years and 3-4 years! I don’t want to have to buy anything at horrible British prices and I don’t know when I’ll be back!
Don’t forget your plastic bag to put the toiletries in…
How long will you be in WDW? Doing laundry while on longer vacations is SUCH a great idea really. It forces you to take a day out of your vacation to relax at the resort and you can swim or nap between loads and you don’t have to pack as much.
so since you purchase a lot of stuff while in Florida, do you bring an extra empty bag for taking it all home with you?
btw Becca.. we’ll have to share “travelling with baby” stories when we see each other! You have much farther to go though than I did!
We’re there for two weeks altogether… A nice, slow-paced trip! I think we’ll bring our two hard suitcases on the way out, and three squishy sports bags packed within them. We are allowed five 50lb bags between us, plus Barney’s car seat, which is utter bliss!
I was shocked to learn that airlines registered in the US do not have to provide a seat belt for babies if they are on their parents laps! I’m not sure I’d fly if he weren’t properly attached to me! What happens if you fall asleep and there’s turbulence? Crazy.
On our last trip to Texas I brought along a harness device that I bought for Benicio to wear and I hate to admit this, but we didn’t use it. He cried and fussed so much it was just easier to let him sit in the chair without it. I did, however, buy him his own seat which really helped so I could sit him down with a book and reach to get his snacks or things.
Yes, flights only have regular seat belts on the seats for adults or kids over 2.
I had to just make sure to stay awake on the flight and when he fell asleep hold him (which wasn’t easy on my back!).
I am a last-minute packer even though I always tell myself I’ll do better.
But, since we go often for short trips I have the system down to a science. I’ve cleared out an entire drawer for my Disney “stuff” (shirts/ears/hats/etc) so I just grab what I need from there and add what’s missing. I definitely like to buy new travel size stuff each trip though, that’s part of the fun! And I always buy a themed hand soap pump for the resort. During Sept/Oct trips it’s usually a glow-in-the dark Halloween themed one from Target.
You mean to tell me you keep your Mickey ears and bring them back to the park with you on each trip?!? Wow Michelle, that’s awesome! I really should do that but instead I just buy more new ones when I’m there and end up with a lot of them at home! I love the idea of a “vacation drawer” though!
Also, Halloween soap?!? OH MY GOODNESS! I might have to steal that idea for future trips. Especially as Benicio gets older, how much fun woudl that be for kids to have themed soaps and decorations in the room?
Thanks for the great tips Michelle! Can’t wait to see you real soon!
Yep, all the ears I’ve ever bought are piled in the drawere. Not saying I don’t buy new ones too – lol. Yep, having a few little themed items is fun too. Sometimes I’ll bring muffins for breakfast and buy halloween themed plates/napkins for the room too. Love the fall themed stuff! Oh, and we always bring fall/halloween clings to put on our windows.
those clings are a great idea and probably easy to pack. That’s the good thing about living so close or driving, you can bring extras like plates and napkins!
I love the soap idea Michelle! I always hate how its only bar soap. I have been trying to come up with ideas of things I could buy to get ready for our trip without spending a lot of money (I am just too good of a consumer I guess!!) Great ideas
Yes, I hate the bar soap that gets nasty. Been doing the pump soap for a while now and it makes a big difference. Fun/easy way to add a little fun to the room. =)
Ahhhh.. Packing for an upcoming trip… It’s one of the things I look forward to about a trip.. I guess because it makes everything seem so real. My style of packing varies depending on my mood and the actual trip… I usually start thinking about it about a month away and tell myself that I WILL be packed and ready ahead of time, but yet every time seem to be doing it last minute the night before and running around frantically trying to remember not to forget anything! And this is just for myself! Lol.. My youngest is almost 15 so she has been packing for herself for quite some time now.. I’m about 3 weeks out from my next solo Disney trip and I’m about to start getting things together this coming weekend- I will start with a packing list- I have a small tub that I will start putting items in (my suitcase is too big to get out until 1 week prior).. As things come along I will put them in the tub and then the weekend before I will transfer my items to my suitcase.. In general, I like to get something new for each trip.. I went to my local Disney outlet a few weeks ago and purchased a new Mickey beach towel and found a really cool Pirates of The Caribbean Tshirt to take on my trip. I find that doing this, especially for my Disney trips, seems to cut down on my spending while at Disney.. Especially on clothing items that I really don’t need- I can get them much cheaper here at home! I love your blog and keep up the great work! Can’t wait to finally meet you at The Happiest Place On Earth!
that’s a great tip about shopping before hand at an outlet to save money. Thanks. Though I do have to admit there is something a little thrilling about shopping at WDW, right? lol
Yes.. there is something to be said for shopping at Disneyworld!.. I always get an ornament and a magnet.. I plan on doing that this time and since its Halloween time, I plan on getting something Halloweenish to add to my Disney Halloween decorations. I have a set dollar limit though for WDW spending, but Im hoping to find a few “special” momentos to bring home!
thanks for reminding me about ornaments Betty! I try to buy one on each trip as well!