Anyone wishing to join over-packers anonymous?

[Mickey'sGal]

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem, so even though I will be the founder of this thread I am sure no one will reply because like my husband, they will feel they are just being prepared for whatever may come. Its a sad day in this house hold!

 

[Saturn23]

I'll join. I always end up wearing only half of the stuff I bring with me. I can't help it though. I hate having to buy something I need that I already own and left at home.

 

[DisneyCapers]

I'm in.... I always think 'what if' when I'm packing which I have begun to do already because we drive to Halifax in 10 days and fly out to WDW in 11 days!!!!

 

[Tiggerlovinggrandma]

I'll join! Yes, I'll admit it, I am a "what if" packer too. Don't usually use or wear all that I end up packing but hate to think I "just might" need the item I choose to leave behind. So might as well shove it in the suitcase just in case. Better safe then sorry, right?

 

[bankgirl05]

LOL!!! Can I be the VP??? I went overnight to my sister's this week and had to take the pack and play, double stroller, fold up high chair, our duffle bag with clothes,the kids diaper bag, my large beach bag with towels, sunscreen swimmy diapers etc (went to a water park), a small cooler for drinks and a mesh shopping bag with snacks, baby food,formula, bottles for the 1 year old, and a backpack for my 3 yearold's toys,blankets,coloring books and crayons, my 14 year old DD and her gear. and then to boot, my son got car sick on the 3 hour ride up... and then again on the 3 hour ride home... how am I gonna prepare for 2 weeks in FL (8 days at Disney, 6 days on West Coast)????

 

[SalandJeff]

Queen of the over-packers here! No matter what speech I give myself, I always end up with too much stuff. I will say that when we go to WDW, I usually wear 2 outfits a day, so I do wear most of what I bring. It is too hot and soggy to wear things more than once, and after all day in a park, I want something clean and cool to wear in the evening. I should just pack less and do laundry mid-trip. And bring less shoes!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm in.

I'm better when we fly than when we drive somewhere, but I'm still not good.

The best packing advice I ever got was to figure out how much you think you need to bring, then pack "half the clothes and twice the money."

 

[DISNEYNV]

I overpack just to take the kids to the local pool!!! You know you have a problem when their are WAY more bags than we can carry, when the stroller tips over from shear overload as soon as the child jumps out of it, and half the stuff is not really needed anyway...why did I need that third pair of extra clothes for a few hours at the pool anyway?LOL!

Packing for a week at Disney requires a two week packing session

 

[Mickey'sGal]

Oh wow, great progress! My hubby saw my thread and said "I do not overpack!"... oh yes he does. Let me tell you a little story, on our first over night together when we were dating.. he took me on an over night in the city of Ann Arbor, one over night, he packed so much that we both were carrying two or more bags and my shoulder was bruised from the wieght. One overnight. Since then he claims he's doing better, but I disagree.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

I am in! We are leaving in just 2 weeks YAY and I started making my packing list and it keeps getting longer and longer...I was hoping to trim my overpacking by making a list but I think I am making it WORSE. Even on a couple day trip I come back with stuff I havent worn because of the classic "What If" syndrome. I must get it under control because we cant afford to pay a bizillion dollars in luggage fees due to overpacking!

 

[SpoiledDisFam]

I am also in! In fact, my DH should be too. He is even worse than I am. I overpacked for 10 days at WDW OKW w/ a washer & dryer in the room. But I do pack myself, my 9 yr old DD, and my 2 yr old DD in the same suitcase to go for weekend trips. Ok, the biggest one we have but there is 3 of us using it.
My goal is to have carry on only for an overnight to DLR in Sept.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I might be the Queen. First let me say that on our summer trips we stay for two weeks.

We usually fly and stay at the Hilton Philadelphia Airport the night before in order to do the park/fly. One year the shuttle driver asked DH if we were re-locating to Florida! 5 people - 11 suitcases and 5 carry ons!

DH loves to gripe about it but whenever someone needs something I usually have it!

 

[bankgirl05]

I might be the Queen. First let me say that on our summer trips we stay for two weeks.

We usually fly and stay at the Hilton Philadelphia Airport the night before in order to do the park/fly. One year the shuttle driver asked DH if we were re-locating to Florida! 5 people - 11 suitcases and 5 carry ons!

DH loves to gripe about it but whenever someone needs something I usually have it!

OH MY!!!! I thought I was bad, 11 suitcases? I was worried about all the stuff I have to travel with for the babies like diapers, wipes, meds etc., but then I realized that as I deplete these items I will be making room for souveniers!!! then I realized I might need another suitcase for souveniers

If the first step is Admitting it, what's the second one???

 

[happy.family.of.6]

I can't stop laughing at the 11 suitcases and 5 carry on's - good lord, how did you carry it all?!?! I am guilty though. I am a what if packer and though we have w/d in our room, I always end up packing one of those gigantic body bags per person, plus a carry on per person. There is 6 of us, my husband and i, a 4 yr old, 7 yr old, and two 9 yr olds! And that's for a week, so maybe im not that bad???

 

[Mommyrisa]

King and Queen of over packers here. We are leaving in 2 weeks for an 8 day stay at the world. I started packing 1 month ago. For my daughter I have packed 12 short outfits 9 dresses 3 swim suits and 5 pairs of shoes. For my self I have packed 14 tops 6 capris/shorts 2 skirts 4 dresses 3 swim suits and 4 pairs of shoes. And God only knows what my husband is packing...
My name is Larisa and I am a over packer I need help...

 

[*pixie*dust*]

"Hello, I'm Jen and I am an over-packer".

I always have a long lists of "what-if" running through my head when I pack.

My family calls me "Mary Poppins" when we go on trips because they always tease me that I could pull a lamp out of my bag (or anything else for that matter) at any given moment.

 

[Mickey'sGal]

I have to admit after hearing some of you, my hubby may not be the worst yet! LOL, but its just funny the lists, and the pre packing jargon that goes on for months around here. Every trip to Walmart is like, what can we pick up for our trip, that is four months away?! Its cute.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I can't stop laughing at the 11 suitcases and 5 carry on's - good lord, how did you carry it all?!?! I am guilty though. I am a what if packer and though we have w/d in our room, I always end up packing one of those gigantic body bags per person, plus a carry on per person. There is 6 of us, my husband and i, a 4 yr old, 7 yr old, and two 9 yr olds! And that's for a week, so maybe im not that bad???

We never really had to carry it, except to the car. We stayed at the Hilton Airport Hotel the night before our flight out of Philadelphia. The staff there put it on the shuttle, we used the curbside check in, and we used Magical Express!

In my defense we go in the summer when you need two outfits per day and we stay for two weeks!

 

[la79al]

I've started my packing lists already and we still have 4 months. DD already has one suitcase full of stuff here and 1 suitcase full at my moms house. In my defense, I will say that I am traveling with a toddler (who is known to be messy) in December (which is known to have crazy weather) and that half of her suitcase here is diapers (long story why they are packed already). In addition, she is a picky eater who is not on a real schedule so I am packing a ton of food for her in order to have non junk food she will actually eat and to have back up foods for when she sleeps through meals. I will admit that the first step in overcoming my overpacking is to stare at my list for 3 months and cross off as much as I can. I'm not holding my breath.....

 

[Starfish106]

my hubby always wonders where do I put it all. He told me once he thought our suitcase had a false bottom because I got so much stuff in it. I take things out of the original package if I can, I merge stuff you name it and it still doesn't make the bag heavy. He just wants to throw everything in the bag the day of. Not going to happen buddy, there is a method to the madness and it involves you not doing it.