Packing.  There is so much emotion wrapped up in packing. It can be joyful because it means a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort is imminent! It can be stressful trying to figure out how to get EVERYTHING into a few bags. And it can be dreaded as it means a trip is coming to a close.

Packing varies, depending on whether travel is by car or plane.  Obviously there is a bit more room with a car.  It also varies by length of stay and ages of the travel party.  There is no rule for packing, but I do have some tips.

1. Divide your list up by category: resort stay, clothing, electronics, etc (see graphic below).
2. Put as much clothing as possible into gallon zip lock bags.  Press the air out and you will save a lot of room.  This works best with baby/toddler/preschooler clothing, along with socks, undies, pjs and bathing suits for adults.
3. If traveling with little ones (baby/toddler) put a full day’s outfit into one zip lock bag including: pjs, diaper/undies, socks, shirt and shorts.  This makes it super easy to get dressed each day and, if you color coordinate for photos, to remember which outfits go which day. I mark each bag with the day of the week and the child’s name.
4. If you are driving, consider bringing breakfast and/or lunch food, along with snacks and beverages.  It may take up more room on the way down, but you will save a great deal.  For those flying or traveling a long distance, you can order from a grocery delivery service like Garden Grocer.
5. I pack an extra pair of undies and shorts for my preschooler, into a quart-sized ziplock bag, and keep it in our park bag. It is inevitable that there will be at least one accident (too much excitement!)
6. Along with the usual items to pack for a Florida vacation (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses) I also bring the following things for our Walt Disney World Resort stay:
   • Clothes pins: for hanging wet bathing suits and to close the gap in the curtains
   • A pop-up hamper.  This way you can sort out the dirty clothes and either launder them before departure (laundry rooms, for a fee, are at each WDW resort hotel) or put them all in the same suitcase to clean at home.
   • Lysol cleaning wipes, hand sanitizer and diaper wipes.  Yup, you guessed it, I’m a germaphobe. Let’s face it, how often do you think Mousekeeping is sanitizing the remote controls?  They are amazing, don’t get me wrong, but still.
   • A pair of pants and a sweater or light jacket.  But we are going to Florida!  Yes, however, the indoor spaces are air conditioned and it can be a bit of a shock.  Also, the nights can be cool depending on the time of year.
   • Dish soap and a sponge–or a sponge cut into pieces, soaked in dish detergent.  This is especially necessary if you have a baby/toddler and need to clean bottles.

Packing can be fun.  I view it as a challenge and a sense of accomplishment if I do indeed get everything into the finite space allowed.

For the uber planners, we have a list.  And we have a backup list.  Then there is the backup-backup list.  Some of us start a month in advanced, either because we are neurotic, or simply so excited that maybe, just maybe, it will make the trip seem closer.  Others wait until the last minute, either super nonchalant, or panicked by the mere thought of tackling the task at hand. Take a look at the list below.  Let me know, in the comment section below, if I missed anything that you always bring with you to a Walt Disney World Resort vacation.