Random/Useful/Unique Packing Items?

[beantrees]

We are leaving in 15 days! I'm starting to gather things to pack. I downloaded the list from wdwprepschool.com, which is very helpful and thorough.

What unique or special things do you pack? Whether it is fun things for the parks or thing to make your stay easier.

So far I have this:
Pop up laundry hamper
Glowsticks (fun at night, plus to wrap around the stroller to find in the dark)
External battery charger for in the park
Window clings to decorate the resort room

I will also pack the boys' clothes per outit in a quart size ziploc bag and write the day on it. I did this last time and it worked very well. It's so nice in the morning to just grab a bag out of the drawer and get them fully dressed.

Last time I had an Amazon pantry delivery to the hotel, but we will have the DDP this time, so I don't think we will need as much. I'm planning on packing snacks/pantry breakfast items in a suitcase. I have two slender containers that will work perfect for this.

Any other travel tips or tricks you've learned?

[georgeglass]

We take a power strip for the in-room charging.

If you're taking a bag into the park, get one without many zippers or pockets to ease security (or, if you prefer zippers and pockets, make sure to have them ALL opened and ready).

[countthestars]

Stroller fan
Nightlights
Water bottles (camelback, contigo)
Fun surprises for in the room (I'm bringing dresses so I don't get suckered into park prices)
Kenny the Pirate character locator if you care about characters

[beantrees]

Dec 31, 2016 23:50:09 GMT -5 countthestars said:

Kenny the Pirate character locator if you care about characters

I subscribed to this a couple weeks ago. I'm excited to see how helpful it is in real life. It seems awesome so far!

[countthestars]

Jan 1, 2017 1:33:49 GMT -5 beantrees said:

Dec 31, 2016 23:50:09 GMT -5 countthestars said:

Kenny the Pirate character locator if you care about characters

I subscribed to this a couple weeks ago. I'm excited to see how helpful it is in real life. It seems awesome so far!

I haven't tried it yet either! We are there 1/14-1/23 at old key west. You?

[L From The D]

You mentioned most of my musts:
- pop up hamper
- Ziploc bags
- glow sticks/wands
- cell phone battery charger
- snacks

For us, it was important that everyone had a second pair of shoes/sandals/flip flops. It's such a relief to your feet to change it up at the end of the day, even if it's just to walk to the pool or food court!

[beantrees]

Jan 1, 2017 7:59:50 GMT -5 countthestars said:

Jan 1, 2017 1:33:49 GMT -5 beantrees said:

I subscribed to this a couple weeks ago. I'm excited to see how helpful it is in real life. It seems awesome so far!

I haven't tried it yet either! We are there 1/14-1/23 at old key west. You?

So funny! We are staying at Pop 1/15-1/22.

Both of my kids (7 & 3) love meeting characters so I really think the app will help. We are going to try and meet as many as possible. To be honest, my husband and I like meeting characters too!

[dcrunnergirl52]

Definitely the portable battery charger.

With a young toddler, we found a roll of duct tape to be helpful for the room. We duct taped over outlets, a few drawers shut in the BLT kitchen, the stove shut, etc. It made hanging out in the hotel room with my then young toddler much easier b/c at least he couldn't open a drawer and take out all the knives.

[prosecco]

If your kids might want to trade pins try to stock up on some and lanyards before you go. I have had luck getting pins for $1-2 at the Disney outlet and also have gotten some on eBay from well reviewed sellers so hopefully they were real. You can also get lanyards cheaply on amazon.

A hang up organizer for toiletries is great to have.

I also make little zip locks of laundry pods and a dryer sheet and put them in a Rubbermaid continued so nothing gets leaky.

If your kids are going to use sippy cups or anything, a little dish soap and sponge in a container can also be useful.

I also do the 99cent play packs with the little coloring book and stickers for restaurants or waiting in line and do a few tinker bell surprises for the room.

[stephm0188]

A travel pack of Wet Ones for wiping sticky hands after eating Mickey ice cream.

We do pressed pennies, so I have an M&Ms mini's tube with quarters and pennies. I print off a current list of penny machine before we go and rubber band it around the tube. I highlight the pennies we don't have yet before our trip so we don't wind up with duplicates.

Autograph book goes inside a ziploc with a retractable Sharpie. Easier for characters to hold than a pen, and there's no cap to fumble with.

Bodyglide and Advil go in the park bag.

Dishsoap and sponge for the refillable mugs. The mug wash stations are nice, but I like being able to clean them out a little more thoroughly.

[TamiTaylor]

Jan 1, 2017 21:33:23 GMT -5 stephm0188 said:

A travel pack of Wet Ones for wiping sticky hands after eating Mickey ice cream.

We do pressed pennies, so I have an M&Ms mini's tube with quarters and pennies. I print off a current list of penny machine before we go and rubber band it around the tube. I highlight the pennies we don't have yet before our trip so we don't wind up with duplicates.

Autograph book goes inside a ziploc with a retractable Sharpie. Easier for characters to hold than a pen, and there's no cap to fumble with.

Bodyglide and Advil go in the park bag.

Dishsoap and sponge for the refillable mugs. The mug wash stations are nice, but I like being able to clean them out a little more thoroughly.

We do pressed pennies too. Where can you print off a list for the parks?

[stephm0188]

Jan 2, 2017 10:52:24 GMT -5 TamiTaylor said:

Jan 1, 2017 21:33:23 GMT -5 stephm0188 said:

A travel pack of Wet Ones for wiping sticky hands after eating Mickey ice cream.

We do pressed pennies, so I have an M&Ms mini's tube with quarters and pennies. I print off a current list of penny machine before we go and rubber band it around the tube. I highlight the pennies we don't have yet before our trip so we don't wind up with duplicates.

Autograph book goes inside a ziploc with a retractable Sharpie. Easier for characters to hold than a pen, and there's no cap to fumble with.

Bodyglide and Advil go in the park bag.

Dishsoap and sponge for the refillable mugs. The mug wash stations are nice, but I like being able to clean them out a little more thoroughly.

We do pressed pennies too. Where can you print off a list for the parks?

I use the lists from presscoins.com. They update frequently and I've never had an issue with something not being where they say it'll be. Before we leave, I compare my new list to my old and hightlight anything we don't have. 

The Mouse For Less also does checklists, and theirs can be folded into little pocket guides separated by park. 

[beantrees]

Thanks so much for the pressed penny info. I have never heard of pressedcoins.com. we do them as well.

[lurknomore]

Dec 31, 2016 15:22:27 GMT -5 georgeglass said:

We take a power strip for the in-room charging.

If you're taking a bag into the park, get one without many zippers or pockets to ease security (or, if you prefer zippers and pockets, make sure to have them ALL opened and ready).

We took a clear NFL stadium tote and it was amazing.  I had sooo many security guards commenting and thanking me for making their jobs so easy and we flew right through the bag check every time.  It isn't big, so I kept stuff we didn't need frequently (diapers, sweatshirts, snacks, etc) in it underneath the stroller and then had a small backpack for more important stuff.  I'd highly recommend if you have a stroller or other place to stash it most of the time.