Disney is something that is so special to me, and I absolutely loved the look on my daughter’s face the first time she saw the castle! That moment was so magical, and I cannot wait to take her again. Although it is extremely fun, Disney can also be SUPER STRESSFUL with everything you have to plan and pack. I have come up with a list of things you can do ahead of time to make YOUR Disney trip much more fun and relaxing. Here are my top tops for preparing for Disney.
Make a packing list BY PERSON weeks before your trip – You want to do this WELL IN ADVANCE, so you can think with a clear mind. If you wait until right before your trip, there will be too many distractions and you might accidentally miss something. I say to do this by person, because children can require MUCH DIFFERENT items than adults (especially if they are still in diapers, eat a particular type of food, etc). Put it all down on paper, and then see where you can combine common items (shampoo, sunscreen, water bottles, etc). This will also help you identify any gaps that you may have and let you know what you need to buy.
I am a strong believer in USING WHAT YOU ALREADY OWN FIRST. Going to Disney does not mean that you need to immediately run to the store and buy a bunch of items. Make sure to check your own closets and cabinets FIRST to see if you received something for the holidays or as a gift that you could use on your trip.
Start packing EARLY – I cannot stress this point enough! If you wait until the last minute to pack, then you are going to add a TON of unnecessary stress to the start of your trip. Give yourself PLENTY of time to pack, so you can stay calm during the whole process. There is so much stuff you will need, including park clothing, walking shoes, pool accessories, travel supplies and normal clothing. It will be MUCH EASIER to get everything together when you have a clear head and time to think.
One way to enable packing ahead is OWNING DOUBLES of basic travel items. This would include things such as extra pajamas, bathroom supplies, etc. This will allow you to go ahead and pack without having to “rob” your bag of things you need during your typical weekly routine. Now, I am not suggesting buying doubles of everything just for this one trip. However, if you do travel frequently, then you may want to consider having doubles so you too can pack early. Identify any items that you use on a day to day basis, and put them on your birthday or Christmas wish lists. I actually have a travel bag that always contains a razor, deodorant, face wash and my basic shower items. This allows me to just throw it in my suitcase and go each time I have a trip planned. I strongly suggest you have something like this in your own home, because it really does alleviate a ton of packing stress!
Figure out family logistics EARLY, so you are not caught in a panic at the last minute – Do you have pets? If so, then go ahead and make reservations for them to be boarded. Do you need someone to house sit? Make sure you have someone booked in advance. Think of other things too, such as having a friend pick up your mail or helping you take out your trash. Whatever your situation is, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT ALL ARRANGED with plenty of time to spare.
Save money by eating out of your pantry and fridge leading up to your trip – There is nothing I hate more than throwing food away that didn’t get eaten. You don’t want things going bad in your fridge while you are away, so eat at home versus going out to a restaurant. This will also help you save a little bit of money before your trip. Disney is wonderful, but it is also SUPER expensive. Try to offset these costs by minimizing what you spend the week before your trip. Your pantry and your wallet will thank you – lol!
How do you prepare for a trip to Disney? Please leave a comment below, because I would LOVE to hear your thoughts! Thank you so much for stopping by, and have a great day!
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