Anyone else have to pack for the whole family alone?

[preshi]

How do you do it? Perhaps I'm too compulsive about things because in all reality we are still quite a ways out from our trip but I just got ahold of a good packing list and am making an excel spreadhseet for each of us. I am the packer in the family, I pack for all big trips but this... this is just nuts. How do you you pack for 2 kids, hubby AND yourself for 7 days! Is that like 5 suitcases? Does it sound like I'm on the right track even though I'm a little early? Or am I just completely crazy!

 

[MrsJackSparrow]

The kids each have their own rolling Disney case - from the Disney Store a few years ago - that I usually am able to pretty much fill with their clothes. All shirts and shorts are rolled, underwear stuffed in around the edges. One very large athletic duffel bag for DH and me. Has pockets on the outside for shoes. One more bag for odds and ends that didn't all fit in. Oh, and I usually bring kid sized coat hangers for the kids' stuff. And then there's the toiletries - they have their own case. So yeah, probably 5 bags!

 

[antree]

Try packing for 2 kids, hubby and yourself for 2 weeks, not sure how the weather was going to be because we were going in Jan. OMG I was crazy. 5 bags sound good. We always leave with 5 bags, a stroller and 3 carry-ons and 2 fold up bags for purchases. Don't you wonder what are families would do without us.

 

[Reese]

We were surprising the kids with a trip in Feb so I had to pack without them knowing. I worked until 11 at night and I couldn't pack during the day so I had to pack in the middle of the middle of the night and hide it. Packing five kids- six including DH in only as much luggage as I could stack under blankets in my closet was definately an experience not to be repeated.

Next time I'll tell them and they can pack themselves .

 

[disneymom3]

I pack for three kids, me and DH. I never do more than 2 suitcases and a carryon size bag (for the driving days.) I make sure to do a lot of mix and match clothes. Everyone has two pair of long pants, preferably jeans, one long sleeve shirt and a light jacket and generally four total summer outfits. Two swimsuits each, jammies and underclothes. I seem to regularly forget DHs socks. He is really happy if we get to our destination and he has socks!!!

We stay offsite at a villa with washer and dryer though so I know I can always wash if I need to. I often do one load during the week--which is why the mix and match is vital--and then do a load or two on our last day so I bring home all clean clothes.

 

[daisyduck123]

For our last trip, I had to pack for myself, DH, DD11, & DS8 for 9 days.

The clothing was easy because we had matching Disney shirts for each day. I just had to make sure all t-shirts were packed. I did have to buy 4 pairs of black shorts for us all & a few pair of blue shorts. (I wanted matching shirts & shorts & the family actually agrees to this every time!).

2 days before the trip, I almost had a breakdown when I couldn't find DS8's Tevas & some other things. I just sat down on the steps & almost started to cry....telling DH that I couldn't do all the packing by myself. Miracuously, the missing items turned up & then I was o.k.

The actual packing itself wasn't what was stressing me out. It was trying to keep track of everything I wanted to take....& I'd even kept a HUGE Rubbermaid (just for our Disney trip) in the master bedroom since our last trip.

I wish you lots of luck & a great trip!!

 

[pooh2001]

It's a Mom's world in my home. DH gets to pick a few shirts. The kids pack a few items for the plane. I check their bags before we leave.

We try for 3 suitcases for 9 days, 4 people. We do laundry after 4 days of our vacation at the resort. So, we do 5 outfits, 2 bathing suits, 2 extra t-shirts & 2 extra socks, 2 pairs of sneakers (wear 1 pair), flip-flops, 1 light jacket (worn on the plane). No jeans, no sweatshirts.

I also pack 1/2 used shampoo's & conditioners, plastic bags for camera's when it rains, a roll of paper towels. When we leave, we ditch most of our toiletry products.

We carry the film, camera's, our glasses/contacts, money, keys, ID's, tickets, etc... on us in carry on items.

I also pack some extra plastic hangers (from store bought items during the year) in the outside pockets of the suitcases. They are great to hang clothes in the closets, saving some drawer space. The plastic hangers are also left in the closet when we leave.

In the past we have over packed - never wore some clothes, did not need the items. We do not over buy on WDW trinkets. We get Goofy taffy, the new beach towel designs,....our DS wants to get some CD's in the music store in DTD, our DD wants to buy some earrings. We collect a few popcorn tubs during our week. We clean out the popcorn containers, fill up with socks, and pack them back into the suitcase.

Summer clothes take up much less space than winter clothes.
And if my teen DD packed - she would take up 3 suit cases of her own - I have to limit the queen of wardrobe to 5 favorite outfits (I do allow one sun dress and maybe 3 bathing suits for her).

So for our famly - 3 suitcases as checked luggage. DS & DD each have a small bag as carry on. I (DW), have a fanny pack and carry on (I have the sunglasses, hats,essentials) and DH has his camera bag as carryon.

 

[PA Princess]

I do the packing for me and the kids...dh basically does his own stuff. I prefer to pack the kids myself since I know what we need and want to pack. Last trip I packed for me, ds9, ds 8, dd4, and dd 6 months for a week. I made lists, and I also started putting things in the suitcases that I bought ahead and as we used them for the last time at home. I wasn't fanatical about that...didn't even matter if it was the right case at the time, as long as it was tucked in a case for future official packing

I had a list of what I wanted with each person's suitcase of what was to go in that particular case...as specific as I could get, and then i checked it off as I packed. It sounds like more work than it really was. We had one suitcase for each person and each person had a carry on (all cases relative to person's size . I have to say that packing for a week at Disney is a breeze compared to packing for a week at the beach! Now that is some serious packing LOL

 

[Mom to Jordan]

When DH and I went on our honeymoon, he packed ONE shirt for the week! No clue what he was thinking. I have been doing the packing ever since. Our first trip to WDW I way over packed as it was January and I had no clue to the weather. After a few trips I have learned not to over do. There is nothing that you can not get at WDW if needed. I pack two bags for all of us. WE always go winter. I pack a couple pair of jeans, a couple pairs of shorts, enough t-shirts for each day (often matching disney ones), underwear, two sweat shirts, gloves and a hat. We sometimes need to wash out a t-shirt or under wear but never do real laundry. I start a week or so before and pack all the off season stuff then do laundry the day before and pack right from the dryer. It is really not something I freak out over. I figure the less you take the more you can buy there!!!!!!

 

[sara74]

Not only did I have to pack us all, but I even had to shop for DH for new summer clothes! Most of what he had was jean shorts that were so old you could see the outline of his wallet in them when they were fresh out of the dryer! So, I took DD4 and DS2 to the stores with me, bought shorts and shirts, brought them home to DH at night and showed them to him so he he veto power and then returned his rejects! All this, I have a career of my own and I was PG too! Then I packed it all for all of them! Not one little bit of help!

PS I way over packed! But I'd rather have too much than too little!

 

[lyzziesmom]

When DH and I went on our honeymoon, he packed ONE shirt for the week! No clue what he was thinking. I have been doing the packing ever since.

You just answered your own question: He was thinking that if he screwed it up royally just once, he would never have to do it again!!

 

[brettgirl]

SURE, Pack and UNpack and do all of the laundry!!!! for a family of 4. Sent along snacks, packed carryons, birthday presents, planned the whole itinerary and vacation---everyone did get to breathe on their own though!

 

[glass slipper girl]

Packing is always such a joy here before a trip. I pack the clothes for myself and the kids, all the toiletries and park bag essentials, make all travel arrangements etc. and DH tosses some clothes (which I have of course washed and folded for him) into a bag in about 5 minutes total and then gripes about how he doesn't understand why it takes me forever and I get so stressed about it. Maybe b/c the kids are trying to "help" me and their idea of "help" means removing what I have packed and hiding it around the house. That's a fun game for Mommy, ya know! We usually have the kids and I's stuff in the BIG suitcase, DH using a smaller one, one carry on with stuff we need in case the bags get delayed (which gets checked on the way home) and our carry ons.

Before our trip last December my youngest announced he was packing his own stuff. He came back into my room pulling his rolling suitcase and announcing he was ready to go. I checked the suitcase and he seemed to feel that for a 9 day trip to WDW he needed 4 pairs of underwear, a blanket sleeper, swim goggles, 2 tee shirts, 3 socks, 1 water wing, his Tigger slippers, 1 sandal, his favorite stuffed elephant, about 10 different Thomas the Tank Engine trains, his brother's toothbrush and of course the most important item...my credit card he had removed from my purse as he was packing.

 

[sameyeyam]

I let my family pack for themselves. I give them a couple minute rundown or checklist on what they need and then let them go do it for theirself.

However, when they are done, I go inspect their suitcases to make sure they have everything they need. It's much easier to look through their suitcase for a spot check, then to pack everything myself!

If they forget something, oh well! It's amazing how much stuff you don't need on vacation. I really pity some of those families that have about 20 suitcases piled up, it looks like they are moving! We each have 1 small suitcase and manage just fine. I also take along 1 large suitcase with extra food, we eat the food, then we have an empty suitcase for souvenirs.

 

[ryanally]

SURE, Pack and UNpack and do all of the laundry!!!! for a family of 4. Sent along snacks, packed carryons, birthday presents, planned the whole itinerary and vacation---everyone did get to breathe on their own though!

That's me too. I wouldn't have it any other way. Too much of a Disney control freak. Because we are blessed to be at the World at least once a year, I keep the Disney vacation things like ponchos, lanyards, water bottle holders in our "traveling" box in the basement. Then we go anywhere the travel items are all together. This helps take some of the stress away.

 

[Hannathy]

First my husband is an adult he can pack himself. If he has to wear the same shorts three days - he'll learn. Same for my DD who is 14. I'll remind her and ask did you put in this but otherwise she's on her own. I will pack for my DS who is 7. I agree with the "it's amazing what you can live without" We each take 1 medium suitcase and I'll throw in an empty bag for bringing junk back and the kids take their backpacks and DH takes his camera bag and I take a small carry-on.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Brettgirl- you sound like me. LOL
Ofcourse I usually pack for everyone and did so the before our last trip (including cruise) except for letting DH pack his stuff with "direction" from me. That was my mistake. In other words I was like make sure you have your brown shoes, black shoes, crocs and sandals in there, etc.
Well you guessed it- he didn't pack his undershirts (needed for white shirt & tie for formal nights on the cruise!) and he didn't pack his brown shoes so he ended up wearing his sandals with his clothes for dinner on the cruise...

Next time back to me packing everything. LOL It's just better that way.

 

[idreamofdisney24/7]

I have had our suitcases in our living room for over a week and we don't leave till the 15th! I started organizing this afternoon too.. I have to pack for my husband, and kids (11,8,2,8 weeks). I also have been shopping for everyone..with kids, clothes from last year don't fit so it's a whole new wardrobe for everyone. Plus, I just had a baby and had to buy myself a whole wardrobe too. I printed up a packing list which is great! But, I'll still forget something! I put all my husband's stuff in his suitcase and he will double check it. I tell him I am not responsible for anything left out if he doesn't look into it!! It always happens! It's so stressful packing for the family!

 

[mskani]

I usually pack alone, but I play my Classic Disney CD's which makes the job go faster and more fun.

 

[Cinderella2006]

I am dreading packing for this trip! I have not only got to worry about packing for myself, my step son 8 and my son 2, there is my fiancé who thinks he only needs one outfit because he plans on buying everything when he is out there! Now come on, this happens every trip, I have to sneak clothes in. As soon as we land he wants to shop when the boys and me just want to hit the parks!

Preshi - you are not mad, every trip I write a list on excel but I still manage to forget something!

This trip in October will be the worst, we will be getting married this trip so we will not only need all the 'usual stuff' but wedding dress, suits for kids, fiancé and well just everything you need for a wedding!
I think i will start packing two weeks in advance.