Welcome to our Tuesday Tea in Wonderland friends! I hope you all thoroughly enjoyed your weekend. Did you explore the underground pathways of the Queen's castle, or did you find a pixie to take you to Neverland? No matter where you went, I'm sure you had a great time. Instead of our traditional Tea Time Treats segment today (Bank of Hearts still low on funds), I thought I could share some important packing advice with you. Please help yourself to some fresh Purpleberry Pasties and some Tiger Tea!
"Good advice. If I listened earlier, I wouldn't be here. But that's just
the trouble with me. I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom
follow it."-Alice
Some often overlooked parts of packing for a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth are the contents of your carry-on (assuming you are flying for the sake of this conversation). Most airlines allow you to bring a bag onto the plane with you free of charge, which is excellent, but can be a bit confusing as to what you should pack. For your arrival day and even day to day, the contents of your carry-on will definitely change. In order to maximize the functionality of your carry-on, I would recommend utilizing a backpack. By using a backpack, you can turn your airline carry-on into your bag to carry with you in the parks!
Packing for Disney brings up a lot of questions, especially the dreaded "What if" questions. I find that the more "What if" questions I think of, the more I tend to over pack. Depending on your arrival time to Disney, you may need to pack different things in your carry-on. Also, depending if you are traveling with children, your needs may change. However, every kind of situation pretty much shares the same "Staple items". The following recommendations are made to help you deal with PMS, or Packing Made Simple (All the Princes just sighed because they thought I was giving advice on Women lol)
If you are planning on arriving late and just plan on checking into the hotel and not doing a park, I would recommend the following items. These items will allow you to keep your carry on light and will allow you to have easy access to everything. Trying to fiddle with a crowded carry on in tight quarters is a less than pleasant experience that I can do without. Items 1-4 on this list should be considered ESSENTIAL on every list mentioned here today so we don't have to keep listing them on each list.
1) Reservation information- containing your flight numbers and confirmation, hotel/dining reservation numbers, and any travel documentation you may need (some apps are available on smart devices to help you organize this, or you could use a folder, or the back pages of your Disney Travel Book)
2)Condensed Wallet-Just the essentials while traveling. License, insurance cards, credit/debit card you intend to use on the trip (maybe another one also just as a backup), cash (for tipping/emergencies)
3)Cell Phone AND charger- Most people have the phone in their pocket at all times, but including this AND the charger on the check list should ensure you remember it
4)Snack-just some quick pick me ups such as granola bars and fruit snacks
5)Clean set of Pajamas/Loungewear- For emergency/freshening up post flight in your hotel room
6)Modified first aid kit-any medication you may need while waiting for flight/when on flight/en route to hotel, band aids, neosporin
7)Some form of inflight entertainment.-Depending on the length of your flight and your attention span, these could vary. Personally I like to carry 2 forms (iPad and a book) since my flight is only 3 hours
If you are planning on arriving early/midday and plan on checking into the hotel then headed straight to the park, the items you need are similar with some slight substitutions/additions which of course are optional.
Original items 1-4 with the additions/substitutions of
5) Poncho and/or sweater-For wet weather/rides and cool evenings
6) Modified first aid kit (although you can sometimes find these items in the park, but why spend money when you can bring your own?)
7)Pins or other park items you purchased previously that you may want to have (autograph books/pens)-Since it may take DME up to 3 hours to get your bags in the room, it may be handy to keep these items on you for easy access.
8)Camera AND batteries-you would be surprised at how many people actually forget theirs
Seems pretty basic when you actually see everything listed instead of trying to think off the top of your head what you need. Once you have fully arrived and have completed your first day of activities, the backpack will get lighter/heavier depending on what you deem necessary to have in it. While at the parks, you may want to put any souvenirs you buy in your bag, and may want to wear your pins around your neck. Basically, it is all personal preference.
When preparing your backpack/carry on to depart, try to hold back the tears so you can read your check list for what you need to pack. The arrival and departure items in the bag should be almost identical. However, I don't think you will be needing a change of clothes since you are heading home, but you never know what will happen and may just as well want to keep them in there. You also may want to pack one of those soft stuffed animals I know you couldn't resist buying to snuggle up with on the plane.
Of course, talking of packing before you do it is easy. Even though everything is laid out on a list, you and I both know you will be running around like the Queen is after your head trying to get things done. Just take a breath, relax, and remember that this trip is supposed to be FUN! Don't let packing overshadow your magic.
Those are my Personal Perfect Packing Pointers prepared just for you. Do you pack different things for your magical journey? Perhaps you have suggestions on making packing the carry on even easier! I would LOVE to hear from all of my guests on this topic since many of us have gone through the frustrations of packing. That's all the time we have for now friends, I can hear some ruckus in the red forest! TweedleDee and TweedleDum must be bouncing our way! Grab your tea and run before you get caught up in their nonsense of the day! Have a magical day and remember, Wonderland is but a Daydream away!
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