Packing, The DVC Way!

Packing for a trip to Disney World can be a daunting task! Whether for a family of 5 or for a solo trip it can be a stressful thing!

Googling WDW packing list will lead you to numerous sites that have packing lists and even something titled “the ultimate WDW packing list.” This baby is 3 pages, 4 columns each , and 59,000 items (ok, that might be an exaggeration ;))

Well, this past weekend with 3 kiddos who are VERY excited about their upcoming trip to WDW, I started the task of packing. I started packing 13 days out from the trip. This is unusual for me! Usually I would have started organizing months ago. This time I had nothing organized at all!

Several years ago, in excited preparation for upcoming WDW trips I started putting things in a large drawer in my dresser that I named the Disney Drawer! I would start months ahead of time putting things in this drawer that I knew we would need, clothes that I really wanted to take and not have them get ruined before the trip, etc. As the kiddos grew I found that I would run out of room in the Disney Drawer! Drat!

So, the Disney Drawer moved to a Disney Container! We all have these container, you buy them at Target or Walmart and use them for storage. My Disney Container tended to be the largest one they make and would be full to the brim when the time came to actually put the stuff in the suitcase!

This time there was no drawer, no container! Part of me thinks my lack of pre-packing preparation has to do with my relaxed, laided-back approach to the trip. Part of me wants to think that it is because my OCD has somehow miraculously been cured! But, really I suppose it’s because of a very busy, hectic summer and the craziness that comes with the start of a new school year!

With shorts and tee shirts washed and new sock and undies purchased at Target on sale I sent DH into the attic to get the suitcase and grabbed my big box of gallon size Ziploc bags!

Ziploc bags? Yup, that’s how I know my OCD isn’t cured! I have, for quite sometime, packed the kiddos stuff for each day in individual gallon sized Ziploc bags and labeled them! OCD, yes I know!

With the kids clothes neatly laid out on my bed, giant suitcase open wide and Ziploc bags in hand I had a revelation!! I believe Oprah called them light bulb moments!

I’m not packing for an 8 day trip! I’m not taking a suitcase that could very likely fit one of my kids if I folded them the right way, shoving it full of 24 ziploc bags full clothes and assorted other stuff. I not taking said suitcase to the airport and praying that it isn’t over 50 lbs before we even get to WDW and buy souvenirs!

Nope! I’m not! I’m going to pack the DVC way!

One of the best things about being a DVC member, at least to the mom of 3 and wife of one very messy husband, is the washer and dryer in a one or two bedroom villa or a grand villa!

So, this genius mom packed 4 days of clothes! Honestly, I have thought very briefly about this concept in the past. But, I hate doing laundry at home, why would I want to do it on vacation?!

But, with several DVC trips under our belts the ability to do laundry in the room has become increasingly handy and effective! Throw the clothes in the morning before we leave for the park, out them in the dryer when we come back later! Simple, easy!! LOVE IT! CAN’T GO WRONG!

Cutting the amount of clothes to pack in half may just be one of the smartest things I’ve ever done!

Another thing that make my packing easier is Owner’s Locker! What could be more convenient then having a container, or in our case 2 containers, with all stuff that takes up room and adds weight to your suitcase?!

Owner’s Locker is “The Purple Place to Store Your Vacation Stuff!” It’s totally worth the cost, at least to me! There is a one time Membership Fee to join of $75.00 (which includes your Locker and your initial delivery/pickup) and a yearly storage/delivery plan which you choose. The Standard Annual Plan costs $99.00 per year and includes storage in their climate-controlled facility and one free Visit per year. Additional Visits are $25.00 each. The Premium Annual Plan costs $179.00 per year and includes storage in their climate-controlled warehouse and unlimited visits per year.

This handy dandy, purple box of fun holds all sorts of stuff!! Full sized toiletries like shampoo and conditioner, all sorts of over the counter medications that we may need, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving needs, real coffee mugs (the mugs in DVC villas are a bit on the small side) coffee filters, sugar packets etc, a brita water filter, reusable water bottles, all sorts of beauty needs, laundry detergent etc. Our second locker has an air mattress and 5 beach towels in it!

There are people who store Keurig’s their locker, there are people who use their locker’s as liquor cabinets!

For the frequent WDW visitor Owner’s Locker is FABULOUS!!

My light bulb moment really made a difference! Packing DVC way, taking into consideration the ability to do laundry in the room and use of Owner’s Locker, can make packing for a WDW vacation much less daunting, much less stressful! NO suitcase full of clothes for 8 days for a family of 5, no bags full of toiletries to add weight to suitcases!

I guess sometimes lack of preparation can be a good thing! Can’t go wrong with that! Woo hoo!!