Any other overpackers out there?

[Amirah95]

LOL! I was just told my DH that I'm one of the worst, compulsive over packers in the world. I have dropped down the number of outfits and "just in cases" over the years so I know I'm doing better. I told him that I'm not retracting my answer lol!

 

[SnowyPrincesses:)]

I don't know if you can put these items in suitcases anylonger but to keep us from overpacking when I was a child my mother would line our suitcases with cans of pop and pringles all around. This saved us money(usually at least $!.00 US per can of pop) and as we used them up we had room for things we had purchased.

 

[tomerin]

well needless to say even with extended planning of what to pack and the necessary things to bring of course we overpacked!!! besides making sure you never run out of essentials, like undies and socks, you sometimes just forget that spending just a few hours in the hot july sun everything you have worn is now soaked. so if you are staying for at least 8 days you really need to plan at least one morning to do laundry. but now since we are dvc members the overpacking issue wont be too much of a problem.

my wife literally packs evything we have in our medicine cabinet. so we are prepared for everything from bug bites to lactose pills to heat rashes etec. if you could have seen the sink at WL with everything spread out across the 2 sinks it was amazing.

vacstioning in the summer you really have to overpack just to be sure

 

[Lisa-K]

I too am an overpacker. I am also a list-maker and a researcher. Already I am driving my dh crazy with details and am preparing many lists. DD(13) is just like me (poor baby) and is list-making right along with me! My motto: It's better to have too much than to have too little.

 

[KK Cat]

I don't find that it's the clothes themselves that are so bad, it's the other extras. Shoes!! Toiletries etc. Shoes really take up a lot of space. Being Irish I have to bring teabags, couldn't do without my cuppa (sad isn't it). I like to change shoes a bit, keeps feet from getting too tired, I bring runners (sneakers?), sandals, a pair of neat shoes (for shows, meals etc). I try keep aside half empty bottles of shower gel, shampoo etc so that I can toss them coming home and fill up the case with pressies. Hopefully I can restrain myself a little with the rest of the packing. At least the good thing with Florida in May is that I won't have to pack for several different types of weather, unlike anywhere near home!!!

 

[erinstar]

I don't find that it's the clothes themselves that are so bad, it's the other extras. Shoes!! Toiletries etc. Shoes really take up a lot of space. Being Irish I have to bring teabags, couldn't do without my cuppa (sad isn't it). I like to change shoes a bit, keeps feet from getting too tired, I bring runners (sneakers?), sandals, a pair of neat shoes (for shows, meals etc). I try keep aside half empty bottles of shower gel, shampoo etc so that I can toss them coming home and fill up the case with pressies. Hopefully I can restrain myself a little with the rest of the packing. At least the good thing with Florida in May is that I won't have to pack for several different types of weather, unlike anywhere near home!!!

Thats true actually about the extras. I'm always done packing my clothes and think "Great I've done well, half the case is empty", then I put all the other stuff in and its practically full!!!

Erin

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Try as I may, not to be- I'm an overpacker. Our last trip was 12 days and I PLANNED on washing clothes (and did) yet we still brought 12 pieces of luggage/carryons with us (plus stroller) for a family of 5. Ridiculous I know. I washed clothes while we were there and yes about half our stuff wasn't worn or used. I'm the "what if" queen of packing stuff. ugh
I've been known to buy more luggage instead of taking less things. I can't help myself- I worry we'll need this or that so I pack them- and then ofcourse only wear half the clothes, use half the items I've packed, etc. It's a sickness I tell ya.

I have been working on it and plan on packing basically bare necessities (and only the "what if" items that would cost a fortune if I had to buy them while there- or couldn't be bought onsite since we'll be dependent on Disney transportation)- but man.... I'm afraid of how much I'll actually pack for our cruise June 2006. It's not the same! We'll need dressy clothes PLUS regular clothes- and all that goes along with dressy clothes (shoes, accessories, etc.)

 

[wdwpirates]

I think I am the worst packer in the world! My husband and I go to WDW for 2 weeks every May and it never fails that I cram the suit cases so full that I have to buy another suitcase to come baack home, just for the souveniers!!! I guess it's all about options!!

 

[suzywindy]

What a great thread....I swear I thought I was the only freak. Last time our driver actually made fun of us. We never get the trunk closed and he uses a bungee cord so that the luggage does not spill out and we all have one carry on with us in the car.

I thought I was doing pretty good - we had 3 pieces plus one carry on for 2 people for 7 days. But the 3 pieces were the BIGGEST pieces of luggage you can buy 30". I start out well, but end up wanting all of my comfortable stuff. I did cut back on shoes - only one extra pair of sneakers in case of rain and one pair of slip ons. No slippers, no sandals, etc. But it was still a disgrace. Then we always pack an extra flat suitcase to bring stuff back.

I always figure - - - I might want to wear two different things a day since when we go it could start off freezing - but then turn warm....so I bring shorts, tees and sweatshirts....but I know I should be able to do it with just 2 suitcases as I am ridiculous. It is not like someone runs up to me to state HEY I SAW YOU WEARING THOSE SAME BLACK PANTS THE OTHER DAY????

GREAT THREAD - made me feel normal.

 

[SaraMc]

I always pack too much too. I even go back in to my suitcase before I go and take stuff out, I even plan out my weeks wardrobe and then add things because what If on that day I dont want to wear that or what if I spill something all down the front of me.

 

[shatzjsl]

I put one outfit a day in a 2-gallon Ziploc bag (shirt, shorts, undies, 2 pr socks). I figure I can always do laundry if I need to. I hate packing so I get it over with as quickly as possible at the last minute possible.

 

[minkydog]

Reformed over-packer. Once I started toting my own luggage, that fixed me quick. Now I pack stuff in one suitcase, plus meds in my train case. I take two small baggies of laundry detergent and quarters and I'm off. I rinse things out and if I absolutely must, I will go to a nearby Walmart for extra supplies. My kids have been taught to pack this way and any of us can be packed and out the door in under 1 hour.

 

[Grand Canyon]

This thread makes me feel so much better about myself. Now I won't need therapy.
My DH always asks me where the kitchen sink is. One of these days I'm going to hand him one.
We do pack for over a month. And we drive from the Grand Canyon - stopping to see family along the way.
This year DD will be 2.5 months old so we get to take all the extras that go with that.
In the past I let the DSs pick out what they wanted to bring. Then I added what I wanted them to wear. They ended up with, like, 20 outfits each. Then, just like at home, they want to wear the same things over and over again. I'm fixing the problem, though. As they've been growing out of clothes, I've been refusing to buy new ones. I'm going to get them down to 10 shirts and a few 'specialty' items. Let's see me overpack then!
My MIL once told me you should take along your old underwear/socks and throw them out while on vacation and get new ones when you get home. I guess that would work if I could plan on having 'old' underclothes at the right time.
Since there are so many of us with this 'problem', has any one tried those vacuum bags that are always advertised on TV for saving space?

 

[NYPOOH]

I am a horrible over packer. My next trip is coming up in less than 3 weeks and I don't know what I'm going to do. My boyfriend told me carry on only (we're only going for a long weekend). I told my mom and she was like oh yea, how are you going to fit all your shoes lol. At least I know now I'm not the only one. Doesn't anyone understand we just like to have options? And they will be jealous when we are prepared for anything and they're not lol.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We need a suitcase just for my dd's shoes!!! I do the ziploc bag thing for the kids clothes though and it's a lifesaver. I pack their outfit, underwear, socks and the girls hair accessories all in one large ziplog bag. That way they're not rummaging through the drawers and we don't have to worry about matching.