The Great Packing Experiment of 2014

Packing.  UGH.

I LOVE to vacation, that's no secret.  I get giddy as I mentally cross of the days in my mind until I am back in my happy place. I love nothing more than the anticipation and excitement that goes along with a trip. But packing is the pits.  Unfortunately, I typically wait until the night before I leave to pack, and then I end up forgetting things.  Grr.

Not to mention, I always get slightly annoyed when I check in for my flight and then have to pay for my checked bags.  It's lunacy to me that after paying $100s of dollars for a plane ticket, I have to shell out another $50-60 minimum to take more than the clothes on my back. Plus, we've all been in the delightful situation where we arrive before our bags do, and that's no fun at all.

So in light of both of these issues, today I undertook what I am calling "The Great Packing Experiment of 2014" - also known as "How I Packed for 1 Week at Disney World and on Disney Cruise Line in One Carry On Bag."

Those of you who know me personally are probably on the floor right now.  You've vacationed with me, and have been a witness to the sheer volume of (mostly) crap I bring with me when I go out of town.  But those days are gone, and the days of packing smarter, not harder, are upon me.

To get started, I went online and found articles and blogs from people who have packed all in a carry on.  Some people were packing for WEEKS in a carry on.  Now that is impressive; if they can do it, I have no excuse.

One thing that has SAVED me with packing are packing cubes.  You MUST get some, if you don't use them already.  They're a great way to consolidate your items and keep everything nice and cozy. I have 6 of them, in various sizes, and they have been a lifesaver.  I use them for clothes of course, but also for makeup, charging cables - anything that I want to consolidate and not having rolling around my luggage.

To get started, I laid out exactly what I was taking with me (exact shoes, outfits, etc).  I also got out my carry on suitcase, and the backpack I am using as my personal item. I started by laying out what would go in the carry on, and what would go in the backpack.

So you know what went in the carry on bag, here is what I packed:

* 5 tee shirts
* 5 pairs shorts
* 3 cardigans and 2 camisoles for dinners on cruise
* 1 pair capris
* 1 pair long dress pants
* 1 pair PJs
* Undergarments
* Swimsuit and coverup
* 3 pairs shoes (I am wearing one pair on the plane)
* Jewelry
* DCL hoodie sweatshirt (wearing this on the plane - they get chilly!!)
* Cruise items: Fish Extender, magnets for cruise door, docs, etc
* Two purses: my Vera Bradley Disney cross-body for the parks, and then a smaller purse for dinner on the cruise.  I like to have a smaller purse for the cruise, to carry my phone, room key, etc.

You'll notice I don't have a brush, or hairdryer, or even items like sunscreen.  Something that has saved my packing bacon is the Owners Locker - it's a purple plastic tote that you rent, and the OL folks store it for you in their warehouse in Orlando.  You simply let them know when you're arriving and when you're leaving, and they will drop off and pick up your tote from a large list of Disney (and non-Disney) resorts.  It's a wonderful option if you go to Orlando regularly, as you can use it to store items you want to have with you but don't want to pack every time.  I use mine to store shampoo and conditioner, my hair products, sunscreen, a small medicine kit, and more.  Check them out at www.ownerslocker.com - you'll be glad you did!

The remaining items (laptop, Kindle, toiletry bag, etc) go in my personal item, and I'm using a Disney Cruise Line book bag that I received as a Castaway Club gift a few years ago.

I started out by using two of the larger packing cubes, one for the cruise / dress clothes and another for the shorts and tees.  I then used another large cube for my PJs and swim suit + cover up, and then a medium sized one for the undergarments.

It's INCREDIBLE how much you can fit in those packing cubes!  All of the packing tips I read said to fold your luggage, but I would be you can save even MORE room by using the cubes.

I also have an awesome suitcase that has 2 compartments, so you can fit LOTS of items in this bag. I placed the two largest packing cubes on the bottom, and then on top of that placed my shoes and the purses.  I still have room to spare!  

Then, in the second compartment, I placed my undergarments packing cube, the bag with the computer / Kindle / phone, etc chargers and cables, my jewelry container and the other larger packing cube that holds my PJs and swimsuit.

In the clear zipper pocket went my cruise packet and paperwork, my Fish Extender and magnets for the Disney Cruise Line doors.  My FE gift is a bit heavy and I knew I couldn't place it in my suitcase, so I am mailing it to my Disney World hotel.  It'll all go in one of the "if it fits, it ships" USPS boxes and is cheaper than having to check a second suitcase.

Here are a few more pictures of the packing process:

I was then able to zip it up, WITH room to spare!  No sitting on it or praying for the zipper to work.  Everything fits great, and I am certainly not straining the bag at all.  I even have the two outside zipper pockets still available!  I will probably use the smaller one on top for my 3 oz or less toiletry bag, so that's easier to get to when going through airport security.  I might use the larger one for my sweater on the plane.

So there you have it!  A successful packing experiment.  After I took these pictures, I removed the clothes from the suitcase because A) I am going to wear some of them this week, and B) I didn't want them to wrinkle in the suitcase for 6 days.  However, having run through the packing, I will be able to pack "for real" very quickly on Friday night, and be ready to head to the airport on Saturday morning!

Thanks for coming along on this packing adventure!  Just a few more days, and I'll be headed down to Orlando - I can't wait!

Have a magical day!

The "Extras" I Pack for a Disney Cruise

Today we're going to take a break from the Pre-Trip report, and talk about the "extras" I pack for a Disney Cruise.  When I say "extra", I don't mean your clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc.  I mean little fun things that can make your Disney Cruise even more enjoyable.

In no particular order, here are some things I make sure to bring with me on every Disney Cruise:

* Dollar bills for tips. I don't carry a lot of cash (I use my debit or credit card for 99% of my purchases) and so before I cruise I make sure and get between $15-20 in dollar bills.  They are handy for tipping the porters who handle your bags at the port, as well as for room service.  Room service is free but it's still a nice thing to tip the cast member who brings it to you.  I typically tip about $1-2 for each room service call for one person.

* A Tervis cup (or any cup with a lid). There are self-serve soda, coffee, tea and hot chocolate stations on the upper decks of the ship, near the pools and Cabanas.  They do have cups there for your use but they are very small.  I like to bring my own Tervis cup from home (or buy one as a souvenir on the ship!) and then fill that up, so I need to make fewer trips to the drink station.  They do ask that you still use one of the paper cups to fill yours, rather than place your cup right up to the dispenser.

It's also nice to bring your own cup if you've brought your own beverages (wine, alcohol, etc) onboard and want to enjoy a glass in your stateroom.

* Magnets to decorate my door.  As I posted on my Pre-Trip report a few days ago, I like to decorate my cabin door as soon as I get access to my room.  I make sure to pack the magnets in my carry on bag, so I can personalize my door!  It's not only a cute way to personalize your room, it's also a practical way of remembering which room is yours - all those stateroom doors like the same after a while!

Some I buy on Etsy, and others I make myself.  Just be sure to use magnets, and not tape, glue or anything that will stick to the door.  Otherwise, you'l have a nasty charge on your onboard account to repair the door!

Share with the class - what are your favorite extra items to bring on a cruise?

I'm Going to Disney World! Now What Do I Pack?

You've booked your trip, paid the final deposit and you're crossing off the last of the Mickey Heads on your "How Many Days Until Vacation?" countdown.  Now you're thinking about what to pack and take with you to Orlando....what do you take, and what do you leave behind?

Just think, after all the packing, you'll be driving through these gates!

Here are my suggestions for what should take up your valuable suitcase space, and what you can leave at home.

What to Take:

* Weather-appropriate clothes: Before you start packing, check a weather site such as weather.com for the current temperature, as well as the projected temps while you're in Orlando.  Yes, it's Florida but that doesn't mean every day is sunny and 90 degrees.  I'm leaving in a few weeks to be there in late December / early January and am planning on packing a pair of long pants, and a sweatshirt or light jacket.  A little pre-planning beats having to hit up the stores and spend all your souvenir budget on a jacket because all you packed were shorts and tank tops.

* Comfortable footwear: This is a MUST.  In 2003, I went to Disney World with my cousin and because I was trying to be all cute and fashionable, I packed a pair of cheap colored flip-flops to coordinate with each of my outfits (that was back in the day when I cared about such things ).  About 1/2 way through the first day, I had had enough, gave up on my dream of color-coordinated footwear and bought a pair of Mickey Mouse Keds and some socks.  You will walk a LOT at Disney - even if you're not trying to see and do it all, you'll walk at least 3-4 miles per day so please pack shoes that allow you to walk that distance comfortably.

* The chargers you'll need for your phone, iPad, etc:  There are many things that you can buy at the resort or even get at the front desk if you forgot things at home (like a toothbrush) but it would be a giant pain in the you-know-where to have to take time out of your vacation to go and locate those items, especially if you don't have a car.  I found inexpensive iPhone and iPad chargers and cables at my local Walgreens store, near the checkout.  I bought an extra charger, and have it in my vacation supplies so I don't have to worry about forgetting mine at home.

* A small bag with a few bandaids, Tylenol, etc: Each time I travel anywhere, but especially at Disney, I always pack a small first-aid kit.  In case someone scrapes a knee, gets a blister, a headache, you have those supplies ready.   You can buy these items on property but of course you'll pay a premium, so a little planning ahead here goes a long way.   (If you have devices with you that take batteries, pack a few extra of those as well - batteries are pretty expensive when bought on property).

* Sunscreen and aloe vera:  The sun is no joke, and it's no fun to get a sunburn on your vacation.  Be sure you apply sunscreen every few hours, even when it's cloudy.  Bring some aloe vera lotion with you just in case you get a sunburn; I burn pretty easily, and I find this provides relief.  If you have a fridge in your room, store the aloe in there so it's cool when you apply it.

What to Leave at Home:

* Every piece of clothing and every shoe you own: I understand the compulsion, believe me.  I like to have options when I go on vacation; I'm not good at saying "On Monday I'll wear this, on Tuesday I'll wear this", etc.  But I have learned that in packing clothes and shoes, less is definitely more.  Make your packing piles, then edit those down.  My general rule of thumb is 1 outfit per day, with 2 extra outfits just in case.  I also usually bring two pairs of shoes; one pair of sandals and a pair of tennis shoes.

* Dress clothes:  The atmosphere at Disney is very casual; at the parks and 99% of the restaurants, the dress code is "vacation casual." There are a few signature restaurants where a dress code is in place, such as Victoria and Alberts at the Grand Floridian, but if you're not eating there, leave the suit coats, dresses and heels at home.

* Lots of toys and "things to do" for the kids: By all means let them bring their special stuffed animal they sleep with, or their "lovey" that they like to have with them.  But I bet you'll be so busy having fun at the parks, going in the pool and hanging out together that you won't be spending time in your room and needing toys for the kids to play with.  (I do sometimes bring a deck of cards to play with if we have downtime in the evening.)

What items do you take on vacation, and what do you leave at home?