Who here loves Disneyland? Danielle from Busy Mom’s Helper is a huge fan and has been to the park many times with kids of all ages. Today she is sharing tips on how to pack light for Disneyland and sharing how to make Disneyland even MORE fun with an activity and autograph book.
Who likes packing a bunch of stuff and lugging a ton of suitcases in airports or hotels, or trying to shove it all into a packed car? I sure don’t! When traveling with kids, you can only skimp on so much – it’s not like you can leave the diapers at home – but there are some things you can do to make it a bit easier.
Tip #1: Do a Shopping Trip at Your Destination
You’ll probably need some snacks for the travel itself, but don’t try to pack a bunch for the whole vacation. Swing by a local grocery store (there’s a Walmart just about 3 miles from Disneyland) when you arrive to grab snacks, extra toiletries (we do this with diapers, just taking what we need for the first day or two then buying more there), and other things that can wait until you arrive.
Tip #2: Don’t Take Your Whole Wardrobe
Most hotels have laundry services, and there really isn’t anything wrong with wearing pants more than once if they aren’t really dirty. Pack less clothes and do a load of wash/dry during an afternoon nap or taking an evening rest from the parks.
Tip #3: Try Amazon
I’m sure there’s more places that offer shipping to hotels, but Amazon is the one I’ve personally used and it made life so much easier! I like buying most of our souvenirs ahead of time to save money, so often find good deals online – then I just schedule them to be delivered while we’re at the hotel. The kids thought it was ‘extra’ special!
Tip #4: Utilize the Hotel’s Amenities
I haven’t been to any hotel around Disneyland that hasn’t had shampoo, soap and even lotion for your use. No need to pack bulky bottles – and saves the risk of them leaking all over your bags during transport. Disneyland hotels provide pool towels for guests, so don't worry about packing that bulky towel.
Tip #5: Give Electronics a Second Thought
Especially since hubby and I both require laptops for our work, it’s really a challenge to leave them home. If we give it a second thought, though, we can decide if we will REALLY use them there – and also if we do need both, or can work it out with just one. Same with phone chargers – if you can share, that’s one less tangled cord to deal with in your bag.
Tip #6: Consider Dresses for Women and Girls
Dresses are absolutely my favorite thing to pack or to wear in regular life because you only have to put on one piece of clothing and you don't have to worry about matching your tops and bottoms. Bonus: Dresses are cool and comfortable in the Southern California heat.
Tip # 7: Bring Light Layers
Speaking of Southern California weather, it can be blazing hot in the afternoon and cool enough to need a light jacket by evening. Pack some layers that can be used for warmth for when the sun goes down. A denim button up over a tank top or T-shirt is a great choice to be comfortable throughout the day. Even better, wear your layers on the plane, so that they don't take up room in your suitcase.
One Thing You Don't Want to Forget….
Our ‘Unofficial’ Disneyland Activity & Autograph Book is (finally) ready and waiting for you to nab! There are 66 pages of games, jokes, mazes, and cleverly designed autograph pages. No more boring blank sheets! We’ve covered classics such as Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse, Rapunzel and Ariel – as well as Star Wars and Avengers. These are perfect for keeping kids happy while waiting in line for rides, stuck at the hotel or in the evenings when you want them to unwind a bit. We even tossed in some ‘memory’ pages where they can record their favorite moments from the trip! Offered as a pdf you can download and print (great if you have more than one kid) or avoid the hassle and get a fully printed and bound book with shiny cover.
So plan your next Disneyland/California Adventure trip, get ready to have less luggage to carry around, and grab your copy of our Disneyland Activity & Autograph Book today!
Good tips! Generally I am guilty of over packing! Good reminder that less can be more!