Trial/Travel Size Items, Packing Checklist & First-Aid Kit Items - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Getting prepared to pack! Your first step may need to be those handy trial size containers and samples, and here's are some great websites for finding free or low cost "minis" perfect for traveling:
So many of us are in a hurry when packing that we forget to pack some important items, so here is a good list to help create your own packing list (and not forget all those minis just you just got for the trip!):
PACKING CHECKLIST
Latest copy of the PassPorter Guide Book
Don’t forget to let the Postal Service know to hold your mail!
Photo Identification
List of any advance reservations you may have with confirmation numbers
Leave a list of contact phone numbers & itinerary with someone at home (emergency)
Travel papers
Phone cards
Cell phone & charger
Ear Plugs, Ear-Planes
Young Kids favorite blankie or tote-about item
Credit card(s) & phone number listing in case misplaced or stolen
Turn down or off your HOT WATER HEATER
Check list for things to do before closing that door before you leave on your vacation
Make a list of items that are in your suitcase(s) in case they are lost
Ziploc Bags to store your “possible leak” items such as shampoo, mouthwash, lotions, etc. (also good for wet swimsuits, packing small items, clothing, snacks etc.)
Larger plastic bags for dirty laundry
Water shoes, sandals, extra pair of shoes (in case of rain), flip-flops
11x17 envelope with 2 card board pieces for park photos (for travel)
Hair care items
Hair clips/ties for putting hair up
Dental Floss, Toothpicks
Razors & shaving cream
Tooth paste & brush
Gum (you won’t see this sold in the parks)
Wet Wipes (for those oops moment & just general clean-up)
Soap wipes, Oxi-Clean wipes
Purell or other hand sanitizers
Powder or baby powder, Foot Spray
Sun block lotions
Insect Repellent
Mister Fan
Scissors (make sure you don’t put these in your carry on luggage)
Tape
Mini flashlight
Glow in the Dark necklaces or sticks
Camera, batteries, charger
Mini tripod
Calculator if you keep track of expenses or just need for general use
Air Freshener such as Febreeze
Spray & wash stain stick
Laundry Soap (if doing wash there)
Dryer sheets
Sports bottle, Britta Bottle
Roll of shiny new pennies for the Coin Machines (roll of quarters too!)
Small sewing kit for emergencies
Rain ponchos
Snacks, non-perishable food items if trying to cut back expenses
Fanny packs
Empty duffle bag or flat packing luggage for bringing back souvenirs
Stamps for postcards or letters
Pre-addressed labels
If traveling by car, you may want to take paper plates, utensils, paper towels, etc.
Eye Glass Repair kit
Eyewear Retainers (good when on rides and water parks)
Heating pad
First aid kit (see below) Prescription copy if on any meds
Other web sites with good packing lists include (in no particular order):
PassPorter's Club which has several customizable packing lists and packing worksheets available for printing.
There are a lot out there so if you have a favorite one, please post it!
It’s always good to carry a first aid kit of some sort when traveling. Here are some item ideas that fellow PassPorter travelers carry with them:
FIRST-AID KITS (WHAT TO PACK)
Prescription medications
Dramamine, Bonnie Tabs, or other motion sickness aid
Benadryl (especially for those with allergies)
Vitamin E
Aloe Vera for sunburns
Pepto-Bismol, Zantac, Tums, Antacid etc.
Immodium
Saline nasal spray
Eye Saline
Band-aids
Neosporin, Bacitracin, or other antiseptic ointment (Betadine Oint)
Pain meds (Excederin, Tylenol, etc.) or PM meds for sleep
Antiseptic wipes
Moleskin, blister bandage
Dermoplast
Powder, baby powder
Scissors
Tweezers
Nail clippers
Nail file
Iodine pad
Lip Sunscreen
Small Flash light
Insect repellent
Cotton swabs
Sudafed (or other allergy med if needed)
Baggies (sm)
Ice pack
Lactaid pills
Tissues
Anti-fungal cream
If you have something different in your first-aid kit that you think would be helpful to other travelers, please post!
Also another good idea for park travel would be to take a small baggie and put inside a few Band-aids, piece of mole skin, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment and any medication that will be needed (pain relief & antacids is always a plus) and keep this handy in your pocketbook, backpack or fanny pack.
Happy Packing!
Last edited by aliceinwdw; 06-15-2017 at 01:58 PM..
Reason: Updated links
you are a woman after my own heart! i spent the last 4 days online with my own "master packing list" coordinating it so i have everything covered. These links are fantastic! thank you.
Since my kids pick up splinters where ever we go, I've got a splinter kit that includes Ora-jel. I put the Ora-jel on the splintered area for a few minutes. Then, when I start extracting the splinter with tweezers or the dreaded needle, the child bearly feels what I'm doing. It has been a wonderful addition to our first-aid kit.
Since my kids pick up splinters where ever we go, I've got a splinter kit that includes Ora-jel. I put the Ora-jel on the splintered area for a few minutes. Then, when I start extracting the splinter with tweezers or the dreaded needle, the child bearly feels what I'm doing. It has been a wonderful addition to our first-aid kit.
Sweets
Awesome tip! Good to know for when this also happens at home.