20 Days Before...what are YOU doing?

[dismom22]

We leave in twenty days (19 days technically with hotel stay before flight) and while I can't wait to get there, I am suddenly stressed about what all I need to be doing these last couple weeks before we leave! I have lists and have collected somethings but I'm still overwhelmed! What's the last few weeks of your trip preparation look like??

(Staying POP 9/12-9/17 with DH, DD3, Brother & Mom)

 

[sb682]

We are leaving in 22 days!

I think it becomes overwhelming because you don't want to forget anything, and on top of that, I know I get just really excited about going and that makes me feel like I've got so much to do. All I really have to do is:

- Go to Dollar Tree and pick up glow bracelets/wands/etc, as well as some snacks for the car, Wet Ones, etc. I will probably hit the grocery store for snacks when we get there instead of buying them in advance like I usually do. Last time, I seriously packed a carry-on-sized suitcase full of food and I hated how it took up space in the trunk. On the plus side, I put dirty laundry in it on the way home and had room for souvenirs in the other bag.
- Get out my backpack and start putting in things like ponchos, sunscreen, autograph books, lanyards, light-up toys and other park essentials.
- Pack the suitcases. This is the best packing list I've found: http://wdwprepschool.com/the-ultimate-disney-world-packing-list/
- Things around the house (stop the mail, pack up the dog's things, make sure the lawn is mowed, etc.)
- Figure out how I'm going to surprise my son! We are going to celebrate his birthday at Disney. We'll have cupcakes with family the night before we leave. Right now, we're planning on letting him have one present "early". I am thinking of filling a box with some helium balloons and a picture of Cinderella Castle, as well as a Mickey-themed birthday shirt and/or a trick-or-treat bag for MNSSHP.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[jameyh]

We leave in 26 days!!! So excited but so much to do. I started picking up random items a couple weeks ago and have started a list but with 2 boys (7&1) and a surprise trip it's crazy here. On top of all the disney packing & planning, I'm also trying to get a room of items ready for a consignment sale that starts in 23 days! All of this while being a stay at home mom to an active 1 year old!!!

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

We are leaving in less than a week and I've been trying to get everything organized and ready.

I took the backpack out we use for the parks and start storing things in it like:
Camera and charger
Wet ones wipes
Ponchos
Sunscreen
Folder with printed conf numbers and coupons we will use
My vacation wallet
Sunglasses

Box with our snacks and drinks

Paying all our Sept bills now

 

[Julie711]

We leave in 26 days!!! So excited but so much to do. I started picking up random items a couple weeks ago and have started a list but with 2 boys (7&1) and a surprise trip it's crazy here. On top of all the disney packing & planning, I'm also trying to get a room of items ready for a consignment sale that starts in 23 days! All of this while being a stay at home mom to an active 1 year old!!!

We leave in 27 days & I to have a kids sale coming up in 18 days, lol
See you on Disney!!!

 

[camimh]

We're going at the same time but we're moving at the same time (From GA to TX) so my stress level of checklists is through the roof right now lol

 

[jameyh]

We're going at the same time but we're moving at the same time (From GA to TX) so my stress level of checklists is through the roof right now lol

Oh my gosh!!! You are a brave woman!!

 

[camimh]

Oh my gosh!!! You are a brave woman!!

When the Army says move, we move lol. Packers come on Monday which means I need to pack this weekend for 1) the trip to disney and 2) what we need to survive for the 2 weeks BEFORE Disney AND the few weeks AFTER Disney where all our stuff will be in transit (as will we since we'll be visiting friends and family).

Oh and the girls don't know about Disney, which should be interesting to try and hide things when we have no stuff in the house lol

 

[jel0511]

To be honest nothing. I pack the night before any trip usually or day of its an afternoon or evening departure. I look at it this way WDW isn't the middle of the Amazon and anything I happen to forget can be found around there....

 

[Aunt Bee]

I'm making those lists and checking them twice.... and three times.

Sounds like fun, dismom22; enjoy!

 

[mommadebbied]

When the Army says move, we move lol. Packers come on Monday which means I need to pack this weekend for 1) the trip to disney and 2) what we need to survive for the 2 weeks BEFORE Disney AND the few weeks AFTER Disney where all our stuff will be in transit (as will we since we'll be visiting friends and family).

Oh and the girls don't know about Disney, which should be interesting to try and hide things when we have no stuff in the house lol

Oh Camimh! I feel your pain, we did that 2 years ago (moved and Disney trip in the same time frame) on our way here to Fort Drum. This trip is much easier! Good luck with everything.

 

[camimh]

Oh Camimh! I feel your pain, we did that 2 years ago (moved and Disney trip in the same time frame) on our way here to Fort Drum. This trip is much easier! Good luck with everything.

Ya know, it seemed like a good idea at the time. lol A nice vacation during PCS leave before reporting in... lol

Ah well, it'll still be magical and awesome. And, as mentioned, it's not as if we're going somewhere without stores if we forget something. As long as the movers don't pack something important, we're alll good.

 

[VirataMama4]

When the Army says move, we move lol. Packers come on Monday which means I need to pack this weekend for 1) the trip to disney and 2) what we need to survive for the 2 weeks BEFORE Disney AND the few weeks AFTER Disney where all our stuff will be in transit (as will we since we'll be visiting friends and family).

Oh and the girls don't know about Disney, which should be interesting to try and hide things when we have no stuff in the house lol

We're a Navy family, and we hit Disney every time we PCS! It has become our "Must Do"

OP we're 20 days out today! I normally would have the suitcases out, and would have started packing the summer clothes into them... But since we now live in Louisiana, we're all still wearing our summer clothes, so it's a little hard to pack early here! Lol

 

[texasroni75]

We are about 20 days out too - since we are driving we are leaving 2 days before check-in. Normally I'd be starting to pack more, but with back-to-school in 2 days, I'm a little sidetracked. In addition to one in elementary school and one in middle school, oldest DD is starting college on Monday too so we've got a LOT on our minds and a lot of other checklists to go through. Not to mention a crazy daily drop-off and pick-up schedule.

So far I've got a small tote with snacks I've been setting aside (juice boxes, granola bars, etc.), and I'm planning to add more to it this week.

I've got a bin with our GPS (charged and with destinations already input), backup written directions, cameras and batteries, etc. The kids are still using their tablets daily so those are going in at the last minute. DVDs for the road trip are already set aside in a holder, and iPod playlists are pretty much done. Chargers for all that stuff is all in one bin in the hall closet. But I will be doing a last-minute inventory the day before we go to make sure the kids weren't "shopping" in there!

Clothes will have to wait until a few days before we go since it's still 90-100 degrees here and the kids are still wearing all their summer stuff. We did just buy new sneakers for everyone - so we have 3 weeks to break them in.

Oldest DD is dog-sitting so thankfully I don't have to worry about boarding. The house - I'm cleaning it top-to-bottom before we go so I can come home to peace and order. Even under the fridge and behind the washer/dryer LOL. Mowing the lawn the day before we go. We don't get much rain here this time of year so it should be good for the duration of the trip.

I had a lot of toiletries in a bin in my closet for the trip, but the kids and DH have picked through it here and there over the last few weeks, so I have to go through it all again and buy some replacement items.

I also have a bin of most of the kids' "Disney" themed toys. They get to pick one or two to take along for the trip. It's too bad we're not going Christmas time since we have the cutest Mickey-ear Santa hats! Oh well, next trip

As I look at my post, I see that although I've been planning and setting stuff aside WAY ahead of time, I still have a LOT to do in the remaining days. The good thing is, I actually ENJOY doing this. Lists, packing, re-packing - I love it

 

[dismom22]

As I look at my post, I see that although I've been planning and setting stuff aside WAY ahead of time, I still have a LOT to do in the remaining days. The good thing is, I actually ENJOY doing this. Lists, packing, re-packing - I love it

This!! Now we're even closer...I'm trying to decide when I get everything in their designated bags! It's difficult, especially when we're still wearing some of the clothes and use toiletries, etc!

 

[squirrel]

I've got something nobody has mentioned.

Clear all the old photos off the memory cards, charge cameras/camcorders, any other rechargeable batteries. Take photo of your name, e-mail, phone # on each memory card.

 

[glamfish500]

I always set out a suitcase in the spare room and start dropping things in that we will take but don't need between now and then. Usually ponchos, travel toiletries, books, paperwork, park bag… anything I'm taking and don't need. Like the PP said I clear off the camera, gather the batteries, make sure everything is working okay. I also work on lists for the day I do all the packing. I have a list of specific clothes and gear all ready for pack day so there is no question on if I'm missing something.

 

[QueenQueso]

I am 18 day out and I feel like there is sooo much to do! There's not, really, I'm just a panicker. Lol!

I have been throwing random stuff aside for months (some glowstick stuff leftover from the 4th of July, a Mickey notebook I saw at the dollar tree one day, a tshirt that was on the clearance rack at walmart that would fit my LO when it's time to go, etc) and officially started packing on the 20 day mark. We are flying down with two kids (7 1/2 and almost-2) and my grandma and we are attempting to not check any bags at all. So I hope to pack and re-pack several times to get it to fit nicely into three carry-on size bags. Maybe four... Grandma's on her own.

I'm also an over-planner, so I have some excel sheets to print out that has my adr's and my park plans and I have to assemble (and reprint a messed up page) my boys epcot passports from the DISign board.

SO is being very good natured about the whole thing so far.

 

[sb682]

I've got something nobody has mentioned.

Clear all the old photos off the memory cards, charge cameras/camcorders, any other rechargeable batteries. Take photo of your name, e-mail, phone # on each memory card.

Great reminder! I need to do that.

I also did something last night that I will do from now on: I got together with DH and my sister and we discussed the recommended parks and agreed on where to go each day, and then we all talked about our must-dos. DH is not a fan of planning way in advance, so this is the first time I heard he wanted to drink around World Showcase or have a TS meal there! I was able to make an ADR today for Chefs de France, so I'm glad I got him to speak up before we left, when I could actually do something about it. I really recommend having a "meeting" with your family before your trip if you haven't been talking about it much all along.

 

[dismom22]

I am 18 day out and I feel like there is sooo much to do! There's not, really, I'm just a panicker. Lol!

I have been throwing random stuff aside for months (some glowstick stuff leftover from the 4th of July, a Mickey notebook I saw at the dollar tree one day, a tshirt that was on the clearance rack at walmart that would fit my LO when it's time to go, etc) and officially started packing on the 20 day mark. We are flying down with two kids (7 1/2 and almost-2) and my grandma and we are attempting to not check any bags at all. So I hope to pack and re-pack several times to get it to fit nicely into three carry-on size bags. Maybe four... Grandma's on her own.

I'm also an over-planner, so I have some excel sheets to print out that has my adr's and my park plans and I have to assemble (and reprint a messed up page) my boys epcot passports from the DISign board.

SO is being very good natured about the whole thing so far.

Yes, that's what I've been collecting and getting together: random stuff! It's the important stuff I've started to freak out about lol. I plan on working on it all this weekend...it's going to be ungodly hot with a chance of rain here in central Illinois so I don't think I'll be spending much time outside!

What Epcot passes are you talking about? Is this just a basic printable or special/custom order type thing? DD3.5 would love this! She really is 3.5 and the .5 has really made a difference in maturity and intelligence. I swear we have a little genius on our hands! Lol