Do you feel like you overpack?

[DVC Jen]

While I am actually packing I feel like "how am I ever going to get all this in two large suitcases"? There are four of us and I do manage just two suitcases, a cosmetic bag a cooler (we drive from the dallas area) and a few grocery bags with food. We also have a backpack for each one of our daughters to store their stuff in so they have things to do during the drive. Then I have another bag with books, maps quick snacks (hard candies) that I keep in the front seat with me.

I don't really think I overpack because we are usually gone about 2 and a half weeks with driving time, but man that pile starts looking intimidating the closer to the day we leave.

 

[hockey mom]

Two suitcases for 4 of you is quite good. My DH tends to pack way to much, which I nag about every trip.

 

[golfgal]

I usually do ok when we go somewhere where the weather is predictable, like somewhere cold in the winter or warm in the summer. I know I don't need to bring a few pairs of pants, just in case it gets cold (for summer places). When we go somewhere where it might be 80 one day and 50 another, I run into trouble there. We travel enough that I have gotten pretty good about not taking a lot of extra stuff because I figure if I really need it and I didn't bring it, I can always buy it there.

 

[mking624]

Ever since our honeymoon trip to WDW at the end of June a few years back, I've learned to pack extra stuff. It rained all day, every day the week we were there...the only time we saw the sun was the morning we left. I'm not kidding you...it would start around 10 or 11am...and end around 9 or 10pm with maybe a 5 minute break here and there. It left the evenings very cold and we wound up having to put out a lot of money trying to get some warmer clothes (as we spotted other guests doing as well). I would have thought the weather to be more "predictable" since it was summer. We DID know that it was bound to rain since that's Florida weather for you, but not like it did. CMs every day were saying "wow, we haven't had rain like this in ages!" and even the Weather Channel was making comments about the unusual amount of rain and cooler temps. Ever since then, I pack extra.

 

[rascalmom]

I feel really good when I keep it to one suitcase per person - so if you are managing with just 2 bags for 4 people YOU ARE DOING GREAT!

MY dh says I am the queen of the overpackers. But then, by the time he packs all of his electronic gadgets, chargers & munchies - I think we are pretty even.

It's pretty bad when the 2 teen daughters pack less than the parents!

 

[aquidneck]

Last year I had 10 bags for 6 people 11 days. We're going back in August for 17 days. I'm hoping to down size this year. We stay at the Vistana with a washer and dryer in the room. It's very convenient with four children.

 

[wendy1974]

Uh Yeah I overpack I usually pack a medicine chest with me too, just in case. I pack every kind of medicine you can imagine, I figure the time I don't have it is when I will really need it. It's better to be safe than sorry I usually load my Jeep down with a large suitcase, a duffle bag, a hanging bag, an ice chest, a box of food for the road etc. etc. etc That is for 4 people by the way...although 90% of the stuff in there is mine

 

[DVC Jen]

For those of you who said two bags for four people was doing good... you haven't seen the size of my bags. I can't lift them when I am done. Thank goodness I have a strong hubby.

 

[DonnaSue]

My husband says I pack way too much!!! Of course, I think I don't - LOL!!! I tend to think of every possible senario and what that might require! I really struggle with packing!! Plus, we drive down, so I usually justify bringing stuff because we don't have to "check it" like we would have to if we were to fly!

Donna

 

[DVC Jen]

Donna.. I totally understand. If it fits in the car, you haven't overpacked.

 

[fam4jc]

I way, way overpack. and sometimes I don't have the things I need! I'm just a terrible packer, even with lists and such. Can someone come over to my house during the Thanksgiving weekend and pack for the four of us?
One time I accidently packed my swim shorts (I already had my suite) instead of my dh's swim trunks! They are both black....

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

I am such an overpacker. But, we never seem to forget anything. There are five of us and I can't get by less than one four suitcases and one for snacks. I think you are doing a great job with only 2 bags for four people. Keep up the good work.

 

[wendy1974]

For those of you who said two bags for four people was doing good... you haven't seen the size of my bags. I can't lift them when I am done. Thank goodness I have a strong hubby.

Well one of my suitcases has been referred to as a refrigerator because if it's size...so ditto on being happy to have someone else there to lift it

 

[missypie]

DH always says I overpack...but jeez, we're a family of 5, and the kids' clothes aren't tiny anymore. DH complains, yet the family expects me to have brought whatever it is that they want when they're there. DH is so cheap he'd just die if we had to do something like buy tylenol at one of the hotel shops. Also, no way can any of us wear the same clothes twice in the Florida heat...and if "we" do laundry, who is going to be actually doing it? You guessed it! So yes, clothes for 5 people for 10 days, plus incidentals, will take up a lot of room. But I just keep a lot of bills handy for tips and all works out okay.

 

[golfgal]

Weigh your suitcases before you go or you might be in for a surprise at the airport. They are charging for heavy bags, really cracking down, so if you are over 50 lbs for your bag, expect to pay $50+/bag extra!

 

[ccgegg]

Weigh your suitcases before you go or you might be in for a surprise at the airport. They are charging for heavy bags, really cracking down, so if you are over 50 lbs for your bag, expect to pay $50+/bag extra!

They sure are! We were even over the 75 lb limit on the way home because DW thought it was essential to bring home the extra dishwasher detergent. I quickly tossed the $2 worth of soap into the trash and saved us lots of money.

That weight limit burns me up though. We bought a big suitcase because it's so much more convenient to lug that around while toting DD4 and DS1 around. But now we'd be better off financially with 3 small suitcases.

 

[kpm76]

DH and I pack really light....no kids yet though so it might change in the future. Our trips are usually 4-5 days so we each pack a carry on and a travel bag that we store under our seats. We hate waiting for luggage when we arrive...lol. My sister and her fiance are traveling with us in June and we said if they traveled with us that had to abide by our "only carry ons rule."

 

[Mellie0119]

Add me to the group of over-packers. I have packing lists that I try to follow, but when it comes down to putting the stuff in the bags, it's everything but the kitchen sink time. DH travles for work and is able to fit a weeks worth of clothes in his 22 inch suitcase (carry on), but when the kids and I are coming we break out "the big green monster"- a GIANT duffle bag that could hold 3 small children! We have a higher weight limit on the bags because DH is a member of the Continental Elite program, I think he's gold now, and Elite members get to have heavier bags at no charge. One good thing about him flying so much, now if we could just use those miles!

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

DH and I pack really light....no kids yet though so it might change in the future. Our trips are usually 4-5 days so we each pack a carry on and a travel bag that we store under our seats. We hate waiting for luggage when we arrive...lol.

My DH would LOVE for me to follow your carry-on only rule, but I'm a notorious overpacker! I'm really working on cutting back, but I always end up packing at least 2 or 3 items of clothing that I never wear during the trip. I'm very impressed with your restraint in packing - another goal for me to aspire to!

 

[SpecialK]

I packed to 28 inch suitcases to the limit for four of us last June and I still had to do laundry. Forgot to figure in the two outfits a day we went through in the heat. We're driving this August and I'm taking more. In fact, I just found my notes from last June. I forgot to bring allergy/sinus meds, Pepcid and Immodium. I had also made a note to bring flannel pants for the kids to sleep and hang out in. They were cold with the AC cranked. I'd rather have what I need when I need it than have to go searching for it.