Does anyone "test" pack?

[gracey712]

We're leaving in 30 days and we're driving, me, dh, dd's 10,7,7 and dg&g. I was going to "test" my packing skills before actually having to pack. See how much I can fit in what. Am I crazy or just over excited? Do the ziploc bags for clothes really save on space? Doesn't everything get wrinkled?

 

[MelodyMack]

I use the ziplock trick for my DD4's clothes only. I put EVERYTHING she will need for the day in the bag including bows for her hair. I find that this worked well, saved space, and made it very easy for my daughter (also because the outfit is already put together, we have less fighting over what shirt matched what pants, etc.).

I have never used bags for my DH or myself. I pack outfits together and then when we get to the hotel I put them in the drawers/closet together.
I have found rolling clothes saves space and works especially well for bulky items like sweaters and jeans.

And no, I have never "test" packed before. But I do recognize the symptons of another Type A personality!

HTH!
Mel

 

[NY Disney fan]

I leave in 8 days and I packed my whole bag last night. Pathetic!! LOL

 

[got2lovedisney]

Since I've always driven to WDW it hasn't been a problem because wheatever didn't fit in my bag was just thrown into another bag. I'm in the pre-pre planning stages of a Disneyland trip next year and for that I WILL "test" pack since I'll be limited to my carry-on (don't want to check any bags).

 

[Mousemom]

Oh my gosh!! I thought I was the only one that did this. I lay in bed at night thinking about what and how to take certain items. Then about a week before we leave I get the bags out and pack, (just mine and my younger son's stuff, we share a bag) to see how it all fits. Now we have been to WDW 9 times, but being an over organizer I love to do this anyway.

 

[PixiePop]

I thought I had a "problem". I always test pack to make sure everything fits. It's good to hear that I am not the only one.

 

[gracey712]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one....thanks guys!

 

[jenelope]

On my 1999 trip I packed for my trip the first time in February. My trip was in July. I packed again in June. Then I really packed two days before I left. The method to my madness: the Feb. packing was to see if I could pack for five days in one carry-on bag, and to see gaps in my wardrobe between what I had and what I needed; the June packing was to make sure that the things I bought still fit in the bag.

For this trip, I'm leaving in 23 days and I've already packed twice. The first trial run led to buying a new bag, so I had to test it, right?

 

[ncbyrne]

I always do a test pack! After I have our daily itinerary in place, I spend one day trying on clothes and finding just the right outfits for each day/event so I don't overpack. DH does too, but it only takes him an hour or so. I make a list of all the outfits and other necessary items I will need to pack. Then the next day I test pack to make sure I'm using the smallest suitcase I can. (We have a plethora of luggage stored in the attic...one of DHs obsessions...LOL)

 

[mas6010]

Maybe I am the crazy one, but you people have WAY toooo much time on your hands.

 

[MN Dis Fans]

I use the ziplock trick for my DD4's clothes only. I put EVERYTHING she will need for the day in the bag including bows for her hair. I find that this worked well, saved space, and made it very easy for my daughter (also because the outfit is already put together, we have less fighting over what shirt matched what pants, etc.).


I love this idea! The men in my family have severe clothing color-pattern-style matching problems. I can try this on the DSs at least!

 

[annie1995]

My husband thinks I'm nuts for doing this. I pack and make sure everything is going to fit the way I want it to in the bags that way I am not stressing at the last minute! Works for me!!


8 days, 12 hours until we get to POP!!

 

[bscs]

Listen to this I am only going in 5 months but since we will be putting all the summer clothes away soon for the winter I was thinking of packing our clothes as I take out the winter clothes, will it wrinkle being packed for 5 months? Probably but when I'm on vacation I won't care about wrinkles.

 

[jenelope]

Maybe I am the crazy one, but you people have WAY toooo much time on your hands.

That may be true, but since I've been practice packing, I've never forgotten anything, never had shampoo spill in my bag, and never had get a cart because I had too much luggage. And yet, I'm prepared for pretty much anything. As a kid, I forgot something on every single family vacation, from a toothbrush to socks to underwear. So practice packing is actually a really big deal to me.

 

[ncbyrne]

Listen to this I am only going in 5 months but since we will be putting all the summer clothes away soon for the winter I was thinking of packing our clothes as I take out the winter clothes, will it wrinkle being packed for 5 months? Probably but when I'm on vacation I won't care about wrinkles.

I did this last year and it worked out perfectly. Got two jobs done at once.

 

[kimbac3]

we leave in 75 days (!!!!woohoo!!! ) and I was outside today measuring the back of my pickup! It has a cover so I needed to see how much space I had to work with! Then I came in and packed up most of the stuff so I could figure out what bags I needed to bring and if they'd fit.
Yeah - I'm a compulsive organizer...I've got lists for everything too!!
Kimba

 

[can'twait]

You know, we leave in 21 days and I'm going to spend tomorrow doing this! I want to avoid checking bags, so I want to jockey things around to see if we can fit everything in carry ons and backpacks. Wish me luck!

 

[samsmom05]

One year we were driving for vacation and we packed my husbands BIG suitcase. We had traded our minivan in for a smaller car that year. The gut-buster suitcase would not fit in the trunk unless it was lying flat. That meant that nothing else would fit. So very early in the morning I was pulling everything out of that case and packing into smaller cases. Not a relaxing start. Today I am going to test pack myself and DD. Need to make sure that we can fit everything into what is planned and DD can handle her bag.

 

[can'twait]

DH thought I was nuts when I suggested this yesterday.

I started, but didn't get too far. Measured our bags to make sure we can carry them on, and started tossing toiletries in, along with ponchos, etc.

 

[PrincessPatty]

I do like to make sure I have everything, so I will start a few days before, and just keep adding (which is a REALLY bad idea, I keep adding things and adding things, and, well, you get the idea)

A little OT, but does anyone have the link to the ultimate packing list??