Packing

While I wouldn't say I've traveled all my life, I have been fortunate enough to do quit a bit of traveling these past few years. Between packing for college, study abroad, a few trips to Chicago, Boston and now Florida you would think I would've mastered how to pack, but I haven't. My friends will be the first to say that packing is not my speciality. I usually pack too much, but for some reason never pack enough pairs of underwear (weird, I know!).

While preparing to go pack for Disney I searched high and low for a list of exactly what people packed. I found the generic "business clothes, shorts, jeans, etc." but I needed a list of how many of each item people brought. I figured I couldn't be the only one looking for this type of list so here is my packing list for future Disney hopefuls to see. I am flying (one suitcase, a carry-on and a backpack), so I will have three main lists of what I'm packing, what I will ask my parents to ship to me and what I will buy when I'm down there.

I decided to go into Disney housing blind so I have no idea who my roommates are or what they are bringing, so my list isn't as precise as it could be.

PACK
Clothes
-Swim
 -Three bathing suit bottoms and four tops
 -Bathing suit cover up
-Hats
 -2 baseball caps
 -1 floppy hat
-Pants
 -Jeans: 1 blue, 1 black and 1 white pair of carpis
 -Shorts: 2 jeans (1 high-waisted), 1 black, 1 patterned, 4 work out
 -Comfy: 2 full length leggings, 1 capri length leggings, 1 pair of yoga pants, 1 capri length  sweatpants, 1 pair of patterned pants, 1 pair of work out capris, 3 pajama shorts
-Tops
 -Tank tops: 5 'fun', 5 basic camis (1 black, 1 grey, 1 beige and 2 white), 3 plain tank tops (1 black, 2 grey, 1 white)
 -Shirts: 8 'normal' shirts, 4 nicer ones, 1 flannel, 1 jean button up
 -Sweaters: 2.... It does get cold in Florida!
 -2 zip-up sweatshirts
 -1 grey cardigan and one black cardigan
-Other
 -3 dresses
 -2 skirts (1 skater skirt and 1 plain black one)
 -Socks, underwear, bras (pack as many as you think necessary)
 -Coats (1 rain jacket, 1 jean jacket)
-1 business outfit, consisting of shorts, white top and a blazer

*The numbers on clothing items may not be exact, but if they aren't they will only be one or two numbers off... I had to leave stuff behind to fit it all in my suitcase.

Shoes
-Sneakers (With inserts! Long days of standing on my feet... This is also what I wore on the plane)
-Black flip flops (for beach and pool)
-Sandals
-Flats

Toiletries
-Toothbrush
-Dental floss
-Face wash
-Face lotion
-Razor/Shaving gel
-Tampons/pads (Sorry boys.... It happens)

*Some of these items I will just be packing travel size of, depending on what I can fit in my suitcase. I'll buy bigger items once I'm down there.

Miscellaneous
-EMPLOYMENT DOCUMENTATION!!! (Passport, drivers license, social security card... Whatever you decide to bring)
-Camera
-Tripod
-Chargers (Phone, laptop, portable phone charger, Kindle charger)
-Kindle (I know I may not have a lot of time for reading, but when I do I like that I can get a book quick)
-Batteries (Just a few.... I'll buy a bigger case of batteries once I'm down there)
-Blanket
-Mattress pad
-Sheets
-Nail polish (Four "Disney Look" colors and three fun colors)
-One beach towels
-Bathroom towel
-Lock (You get a locker in your closet at Disney housing)
-DVDs (Put them in a travel CD case so you save a lot of space)
-Pictures from home
-Umbrella
-Water bottle
-Pillow Pet (As a carry on... Using it as a pillow until my real one gets shipped to me)
-Lunch box
-A bag of popcorn (Since I'll be a hotel for a night I want to be prepared in case I get hungry! I'm hoping to find something or breakfast the next morning once I get to Orlando so I can eat before check-in)

SHIP
-French press/coffee grinder
-Tea kettle
-Pillow
-Blanket
-Combat boots (For the colder months)
-Rain boots
-1 hoodie

BUY
-FOOD
-Bathroom items that I only brought in travel size
-Storage containers
-Lotion (Body, aloe and sunblock)
-Hair dryer (Mine wasn't going to last much longer, so to save space I left it at home)
-One beach towel
-Nail polish remover
-Toothpaste (Had to throw mine away at security at the airport)

TIPS:
-Drive if you can! It will make packing a little easier
-SPACE BAGS!!! They are a lifesaver and really do save space (even though I didn't believe it... Thanks for making it all fit, Mum!)
-If you don't have space bags, roll your clothes
-If you're flying, ask your parents to ship some things down to you