Ninja Mom's (un)timely packing list!!
Some of us (half the hotel apparently) are in need of some timely packing tips and Ninja Mom is here to help!
Are you taking your
phone charger??
It's surprising how many people forget this handy dandy item. if you are 'forgetfully' challenged and you have your phone charging the night before you leave,
rubber band the charger cord to your phone. The next morning when you are running around like a chicken without a head trying to leave, you will grab your phone and see that rubber banded cord and think oh yeah I have to take the cord! Remember that this won't work if you use the phone first thing and forget to grab that cord right away so the first time you touch the phone means you unplug the cord and take it immediately.
Take a
POWER STRIP to have a central charging station.
Having everything plugged in in the same area makes it easy to find and remember to take. It's a PITA to play treasure hunt around the plugs in your room in the morning before you run out and try and make rope drop.
Some sort of
insulated beverage container that you can take to the parks. Yeah sure you can spend close to $20 bucks on a tiny Disney refillable mug but it's a lot cheaper to bring your own from home. TAKE that drink container to the parks! You can fill it with your choice of beverage and keep it frosty cold as you hydrate in the killer Florida heat. The water that is dispensed in the soda machines is filtered water so you don't get as much of that yummy Florida tap water taste
.
IN the parks you can go up to many of the food service places and request a cup of free ice water or just plain ice.
a roll of quarters for the laundry machines, detergent pods and fabric softener sheets. Shelley F from Ohio may want to bring a whole jug of tide and a "Las Vegas" amount of quarters to handle her broken washer laundry needs
.
A Giant Shovel. Keep in mind we are talking a really big shovel because you might win an elephant in some contest and if you did then you would definitely need that shovel. I'd be remiss to point out that if you did not happen to win an elephant you could use your really big shovel to play on the beaches at the resort.
Rain ponchos. Walmart and Dick's sporting goods have the small, thin disposable ones that fit easily in a back back and can be ditched after unfolding. Disney has the ones that you have to take a mortgage out on to purchase but they last forever and are a bear (Carlton) to be refolded. You decide which one fits your touring style.
Mole skin, bandaids, crutches and a walker... because you will be doing close to 7 miles or more of walking a day and you got in shape before this trip by walking for at least a half an hour a day... right???
Sunglasses here is another item people forget in their rush to leave. Just drink heavily the night before you leave and then you will NEED to wear your sunglasses as soon as you open your eyes the next morning. You will definitely not forget them using this surefire method!
Pennies and quarters for the penny press machines. You know how it is, you walk into a gift shop thinking that you might find a delicious little something to buy and you end up staggering out with Disney sticker shock. The penny press machines, primarily located in the gift shops, are just the thing for
you BUT.... how many times have you hung around the machines with all the other 5 year olds, bummed out that you don't have a penny and two quarters? Turn that frown upside down and search the sofa cushions for your quarters and pennies NOW!
Tweezers There is something about the Florida humidity that causes women to suddenly sprout a unibrow to rival Bert from Sesame Street. Take advantage of that giant magnifying mirror in the bathroom and get those tweezers out to tame the Florida unibrow. Ladies, this would also be a good time to get your husband to take a gander in that giant magnifying mirror so he can finally see those eyebrow "man-tennas" you've been complaining about all these years. You better pack a weed wacker for them...
Your prescription meds If you don't take any prescription meds find some one else who does and ask to share. Hopefully they have some good ones!
Spare shoes Oops! You got caught in one of those Florida rain storms. You figured it would be ok to run around in it because it was only rain and you would dry off in no time.... but you forgot about the puddles and the fact that the rain would run down your legs and right into your sneakers. Don't be the guy that squishes and squashes around Disney for days while his only pair of foot wear takes days to dry out. Take a spare pair of foot wear!
Your Spouse! Every family has a person who does NOT want to go to Disney. Usually it's the spouse but it could easily be the teen. Use threats or whatever it will take to get them on the road. Promise them candy or liquor or what ever it takes. Once they are there they tend to forget about their problems and start to enjoy themselves. If they are still grumpy and they are not enjoying themselves then threaten to drop them off at the "Best Friends" pet kennel. That should do the trick.
The charging cords for all your electronic crap Pack this stuff ahead of time. Pack and and make sure it stays packed. If you need to charge it before you leave then use that rubber band trick from the phone charger tip.
So that's about it. You don't need to remember anything else. If you forget your underwear then Disney sells it but it will only fit if you are 5 years old and like princess underwear. For anything else you forgot there is Walmart. Nuff said!
~NM
Hoping Disney can work it's magic and that, along with meeting up with some great friends, will ease your troubles and soothe your soul 
Will note that on my check-in day info sheet.
