Everything in Carryon-esp liquids yikes! About This Page:

[Courtney892]

I love to pack! So today I pulled out the toiletry bags and kits that I keep packed to start preparing for our Disney trip next month. I'm nervous especially about liquids and keeping them all in one bag for several reasons: 1. I think I'll have to break up all my pre-made kits, and 2. I'm afraid what I want to bring will not fit!

My husband and I will each have a carryon and a personal bag, and we decided not to check any luggage as it is only a 5 day trip and we wanted to avoid the extra bag fee the airline charges.

I know a lot of ppl love packing with an eye to getting everything needed into the fewest possible bags (my SIL w/ 3 children being one), but for me the challenge is to get all the comforts of home into the bags. We have no children and an absolutely crazy-busy schedule so even on an overnight trip, we try to bring the romance--dress up clothes, way to fix my hair nicely, and basic makeup required. Generally we drive to US destinations because we have a blast road tripping, and I have a bag of things to do in the car--especially books as I read one every couple hours. I'm already a little freaked about no "activities bag" I'm giggling at how horrified some of you are looking right now, but it takes all kinds right? European travel is a challenge for me as an overpacker who enjoys overpacking for all the options it brings, but each trip I do better. I am slowly paring myself down.

So that is the starting point. I know I can cut things down to bare bones, but it doesn't feel like a vacation to me if I have to

Personal Bag-Tote bag for me containing: Travel purse, book, earplugs, sleep mask, comfy socks, travel documents, laptop in neoprene sleeve & charger, phone & charger

Personal Bag--Backpack for hubby containing: PSP & charger, phone & charger, camera w/ batteries and memory card & whatever doesn't fit elsewhere

I'm starting with the following pre-made kits:
shower bag (travel sizes of 2 specialty shampoos and conditioners, baby washcloth, travel sized shower gel in two scents, shower cap (I only wash hair every other day), razor
toiletry kit (travel toothbrush, paste, floss, mouthwash, 2 lotions to match shower gels, blister packets of cooling lotions for sore muscles, body glide, 3 piece face washing kit-cleaner, toner, moisturizer), Vitamin C facial sunscreen, eye makeup remover wipes, night creme-reg and eye
makeup kit (7x4x3 bag of all makeup needs),
beach/water park bag (beach towels, sunscreen, chapstick, underwater camera, waterproof container--all in a waterproof bag that you empty out and it becomes a blow up pillow),
foot/pedi kit (blow up foot bath, fizzies for foot bath, foot scrub, toe seperators, polish & remover wipes, nail clippers & buffer, orange sticks, etc)
Hair kitTravel blow dryer, Chi flat iron (pretty much required to have decent hair in humidity), travel styling product, travel smoothing serum, wide toothed comb, small toothed comb, round brush
Laundry kit Pop up hamper, several containers of Tide for sink washes, dry detergent

Husband generally uses the soaps and shampoos at the hotels/resorts, though for 5 days he prob will need a little of the fancy stuff to keep his hair and scalp happy, he will only use gel shaving creme & razor, cologne for fancy nights out, travel sized hair product (I know how it sounds but he has a ton of hair and even short it needs to be corralled!)

So that is what we have ready to go on vacation at all times. Obviously it is not all needed. I'm thinking I should pull all the liquids out of their various bags and when they don't all fit, remove duplicates first (like one of the scented lotions and shower gels), and then just consider things on a case by case basis?

Do liquid items in blister packs have to go in the 1 quart bag for liquids?
Do wipes with liquid on them (pre-sealed) have to go in the 1 quart bag for liquids?

Ok I am open to suggestions....be kind

[IdahoDisneyMom]

Hi!!
ALL liquids need to be put in a 1-quart bag. You and your DH EACH get a bag, so a total of 2. I like your idea of pulling them out and seeing what fits, then ditching duplicates. That makes the most sense. You do need to take liquids out of blister packs, but wipes don't count. Technically lipstick and mascara count too! Also, everything has to be 3 oz or smaller. On a recent trip to CA, our local airport took DD's toothpaste b/c it was 4.something oz. We bought her a replacement, and the CA airport didn't take it (slightly different pkg, but over the 3 oz, it just looked smaller ). I did hear of a woman getting her Bath and Body Works vanilla bean lotion confiscated though, so be careful!

Good luck!!!

[HiddenMickey]

I'd leave the pedi kit at home. You're only gone for five days...
I'd also leave out the laundry items. Also because you're gone so short a time. If you end up needing to do laundry, you can get detergent and dryer sheets in the laundrymat.
I think you'll have to cut back on your face cleanser items as well. There will be washcloths there, so you can leave that out.

I still don't know how you'll get all the liquid items to fit in a 1 quart bag! You might go to the drug store and pick up a bunch of the little empty travel bottles they sell and transfer your liquid items to those and mark them with a sharpie.

Good luck!

[belleandmaddysmom]

Stephanie gave you good advice. You have to be careful with your liquids. One quart sized bag and 3 oz or less. So you have to watch lotions, shampoos, makeup, etc...

They will not make exceptions and you will have to leave your items behind.
I don't know where you are staying, but most resorts have a blow dryer. You could leave that at home. Might give you a little more room.

I thought for most airlines the first checked bag was free. Maybe you could consider checking one bag? I know I am going on a trip this weekend for 4 days, and I will check one bag for sure. I am not a light packer!

You have to keep in mind that you will bring home more than you started with.
Good luck!

[Courtney892]

Technically lipstick and mascara count too!

Holy crap these ppl are killing me!

I'd leave the pedi kit at home. You're only gone for five days...
I'd also leave out the laundry items.

Not bad ideas. I will no doubt get a pedi or do one at home before I go, so I was thinking all that stuff could stay. I do love a nice foot soak at the end of a Disney day though

You might go to the drug store and pick up a bunch of the little empty travel bottles they sell and transfer your liquid items

These are all travel sized items already, but you are right I am trying to take way too many of them I fear

most resorts have a blow dryer.

We are at AS Music and I believe they have blow dryers. I go around and around in my mind on this issue. For a regular Disney trip I would just use theirs. The problem is that I have *difficult* hair that is almost impossible to make look decent if you do not use a blow dryer with a directional nozzle. Because we're doing family portraits this trip, I really hate to not have mine. It is a very nice type that folds up and has dual voltage so it travels to Europe with us Leaving it is could be a possibility, but I think I'll have carryon room with clothing and such--wishful thinking perhaps?? Just not in my liquids bag.

I thought for most airlines the first checked bag was free.

ME TOO! We are flying Allegiant for the first time, and they charge $10 for the first checked bag, $20 for second, and I think something more outrageous for anything over that. Course someone who could need to check 3 might be a worse overpacker than me

Also, since we didn't claim we'd be checking one bag when I booked the tickets, my current understanding is that we'd have to pay $20 for even the first bag! I think I'd ship items down before I'd give them the satisfaction

[elisa1006]

You sound so organized!!!!!!!!!!! You also sound like me, wanting to take everything possible. But I know for me personally, 99% of the time I will bring most of the same items, but NEVER use them! So I think you could leave home the pedi kit (maybe just the polish for touch ups if needed. Only take one scent of gel/lotion. I do understand about the hair, and being as its compact I say take the blow dryer and squeeze it in there. haha.

Good luck and have fun!

[elisa1006]

Sounds like you are very organized. I do the same, try to take everything I think I might need. But for me, 99% of the time, I never use the stuff. I think you could leave home the pedi kit, but bring the nail polish incase of touchups. Also, could leave one scent of gel/lotion. I understand about the hair, and since your dryer is compact, I say stuff it in. Good luck on getting 5 days worth of clothes for 2 ppl into one bag. I know that would be hard task for me!

Have a great trip!

[JoanneS]

Wow! I guess I really AM low maintainance! All I bring is one toiletry bag for everyone, but of course we pack that in our checked luggage; shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, a comb for each person, shaving stuff for DH, emery board, deodorant, sunscreen, ibuprofen, and bandaids. That's about it, give or take an item or two. (Maybe I've lived in the wilds of NH for too long!)

[belleandmaddysmom]

[quote=Courtney892;2236269]
For a regular Disney trip I would just use theirs. The problem is that I have *difficult* hair that is almost impossible to make look decent if you do not use a blow dryer with a directional nozzle. Because we're doing family portraits this trip, I really hate to not have mine.

Then Courtney, I believe you should definitely bring your own blow dryer! I was hoping to find you some extra space in your suitcase!

[HiddenMickey]

I'd also look into using some of the space in your personal bag for some of your things. Seems like there will be more room in both of your personal bags to put more things than what you've mentioned. Any overflow from the carry-on goes in the personal bag.....

[IdahoDisneyMom]

Originally Posted by Courtney892

Holy crap these ppl are killing me!

my soda almost came out my nose!!

[janicelovesmickey]

I know the feeling of using your own hair dryer and flat iron!!
I have to bring mine, I cant use their stuff
I had a chi hair dryer and it committed suicide on its last disney trip
now I have a t-3 and have to bring it.

but sounds like your organized, I overpack all the time
my luggage coming back from LA WAS 4lbs overweight, he let me go thank GOD!!
I think I would just suck up the 10.00 fee and not have to worry about it.
its way better than 25.00 on most airlines

[minemoz1]

If I am only carrying on and cannot fit all the liquids in the quart ziploc, I usually will purchase what I can at a drug store when I arrive (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, mouthwash etc.). I then can usually fit the harder to buy travel sizes, salon hair products, specialty lotion or facial cleanser in the ziploc. Don't know if you are renting a car or not, but you could stop and get the essentials and free up some space.

[Courtney892]

Don't know if you are renting a car or not, but you could stop and get the essentials and free up some space.

We are renting a car and that is a great idea!! I've filled up my 1 quart bag w/only 1 of everything and there is definitely more to go, but it is possible it can go into hubby's.

[njsmama]

You could ship it to your resort, but that might cost more than checking a bag with the airline.