Packing for 8 yr old son and 14 yr old daughter - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I'm sorry if I'm asking a question that's already been asked. I've looked...but can't find.
Much like others - I have a tendency to overpack. I'm not so much worried about packing for myself and hubby. I'm really wondering how/what I should pack for the kids.
We are going to be on the 6 night Western Caribbean Holiday cruise (23-30 Dec).
Are you planning to do laundry? I think that would really figure into it. For our last cruise (which was a surprise we sprung on our kids) I packed and outfit for each day including underware and socks into a gallon (or 2 gallon) ziplock bag. I also included a couple of bathing suits and a dinner outfit for each night (for your longer cruise you might want to see if you can mix and match some of these pieces so you can pack fewer). The think I liked about the bags, is that they layed flat in the suitcase, but gave them a place to put the dirty laundry and keep all the pieces together. That way you don't lose socks and undies. It can also help contain the smell if they have gotten sweaty.
Chronic overpacker here! I find that I pack too many "day" clothes for our cruises since we wind up spending so much time in our bathing suits. So I have learned to pack more bathing suits and less shorts for my son!
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We are soon to be first time cruisers and I have the same questions about how to pack for our 3 night Bahamas cruise next week. I found this website: Weather Forecast & Reports - Long Range & Local | Wunderground : Weather Underground where you can type in the name of the port city and when it brings up the week's forecast click on "View Calendar". The calendar shows the historical high and low for each day as well as the record high and low. While it isn't a perfect weather forecast (when is it ever?) it will give you a better idea of how to pack.
When we sailed to the Mexican Riviera in March, I found that we actually wore just what we would wear on the weekends - so 7 days of 'casual wear' was definitely needed! Plus bathing suits, underthings, jammies, evening wear and a couple extra changes of clothes. I don't normally overpack, so I felt the amount that I brought was just right.
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Saturday, October 9, 2014 - Kaitlyn and I before the Happy Haunted 5K at ESPN Wide World of Sports
frommers.com has an article this week about packing for a family. I haven't checked it out yet but it might provide some tips. I always take a couple of bottoms for both day and evening with 3/4 tops to mix and match. For you and your daughter, looks can be changed up a bit with accessories/jewelry. I'm also a fan of rotating items and reusing/re-wearing. For the most part, your clothes aren't going to get that dirty and who cares if you're seen in something twice. Laundry on board is an option but for me laundry and vacation are 2 words that just don't mix.
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Last edited by modisney; 11-16-2011 at 08:29 AM..
Reason: forgot a word
Chronic overpacker here! I find that I pack too many "day" clothes for our cruises since we wind up spending so much time in our bathing suits. So I have learned to pack more bathing suits and less shorts for my son!
Ditto.
My 14 dd has discovered that she just wears an outfit for dinner and then her shorts and t-shirts for Vibe right after dinner, so her dinner outfits are on for about 2-3 hours. For longer cruises, she has started just packing a couple pairs of pants and some different tops and mixes them around each night for dinner. She does similar for the shorts and t-shirts, as they don't really get dirty in the 4 hours or so she has them on. the rest of the time is in bathing suits.
Similar for the 8 year old. a few outfits comfortable to wear for play in the kids area.
I have learned I don't need near as many day clothes. Just bathing suits and few items to wear at night for dinner/show.
I dont know if you have seen this on the website, but here is the dining dress code for 7 days and I am just assuming you have one less formal or cruise casual dinner!
On 7-night cruises:
First night: cruise casual—no shorts, swimwear or tank tops
Three additional "cruise casual" nights—no shorts, swimwear or tank tops
One pirate or tropical night (deck party)
One formal and one semi-formal night—formal wear for men: tuxedo or suit; for women: gown or dress; semi-formal wear for men: suit/jacket; for women: dress or pantsuit.
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Disney Magic - 3 day '00, 14 day Med. '11, New Years '11
Disney Wonder - 4 day '04, 4 day '05
Disney Dream - 2 night Boys & Girls Club pre-inaugural
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DisneyWorld - WAY TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT!
also living in orlando, it can get chilly once the sun goes down so jeans and sweaters are a must! i would def check the weather right before you come down here. the weather can be very unpredictable. one day it can be mid 60s in december but then in the low 40s the next.
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Disney Magic - 3 day '00, 14 day Med. '11, New Years '11
Disney Wonder - 4 day '04, 4 day '05
Disney Dream - 2 night Boys & Girls Club pre-inaugural
Disneyland - Thanksgiving 2010
DisneyWorld - WAY TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT!
For day time : One casual outfit for each day. Plus 2 or 3 swimsuits and a cover up.
For Dinner: For my girls, I will bring 5 dinner outfits (usually dresses). For my boys, usually 3 dress pants and 5 shirts & one tie for formal or semi formal night.
I try to only bring 3 pairs of shoes (dress shoes, causal sandels & some flip flops). for each child.
Thanks again! I'm probably crazy, but we are about 2 weeks from leaving and I'm getting ready to start laying out suitcases, making lists, and packing. I figure that will give me plenty of time to pack, unpack and re-pack.
How do I find out if my 6 night cruise has a "semi formal" or "formal" night? I haven't seen anything in any of the literature or cruise documents that mention it. (Showing my newbie cruiser status here!!)
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How do I find out if my 6 night cruise has a "semi formal" or "formal" night? I haven't seen anything in any of the literature or cruise documents that mention it. (Showing my newbie cruiser status here!!)
Don't worry, newbie or not, this is a challenging question, since there are no other 6-night holiday itineraries on the historical record, and DCL normally does not mention formal/semi-formal/dress-up nights in the cruise docs.
To be sure, contact the cruise line. I can make some predictions, though. At the least, there will be a "dress-up night," a term they use on the shorter itineraries - I guess they don't want people to stress-out about formalwear. Since the six-nighter is a special holiday cruise, I do expect there will be at least one gala dinner - whether it's the evening you board (Christmas Eve), or on Christmas Day... Tough call. Normally, they don't do dress-up/formal nights first night of the cruise, because folks are just settling in and there's not much time to dress/prepare for a 6:00pm Main dinner seating. I suspect they'll do a semi-formal/dress-up Christmas Night, and mark Christmas Eve with something other than a meal - probably a show of some sort.
Will there be a second formal/semi-formal/dress-up night? Harder question. You have one fewer night than the typical seven-night itinerary. Will they eliminate one of the two dress-up occasions, or eliminate one of the casual occasions? I lean towards having two dress-up evenings, as it's a holiday cruise. That would normally be the Captain's Gala, next-to-last night of the cruise.
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Thanks Dave!! I will give them a call. I'm sitting here making my packing lists for the WDW part of the trip and then the cruise...good thing we are driving that way I can pack one set of suitcases for WDW (little bit warmer clothes for the unpredictable weather) and then one set of suitcases for the cruise!!!
Found out that night 1, 5, and 6 are cruise casual. Night 2 (Christmas) is Formal night. Night 3 is Pirate Night. Night 7 is Semi-Formal. Whew - glad I called them!!
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I find that I pack too many "day" clothes for our cruises since we wind up spending so much time in our bathing suits. So I have learned to pack more bathing suits and less shorts for my son!
Plus bathing suits, underthings, jammies, evening wear and a couple extra changes of clothes. I don't normally overpack, so I felt the amount that I brought was just right. 
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