Family Vacation List?

[DaystarPearl]

What is on your traveling list? How far in advance do you make a list and start purchasing the items you need? We are driving from New York and staying for a week in Disney. Last time I over packed and we flew. I have a family of four myself, husband, son(17) and daughter(7). Just trying to get some ideas.

 

[ELSA711]

We are driving for the first time, going late Oct and I started packing. Really just putting a few things aside.
My list will be easier this year then years prior when we flew.
I feel so much more relaxed packing not worrying about airline rules and weights of luggage etc.
We bring things like
'Pop up hamper' thank you prior Dis poster!!
Water
Cereal
Pump Hand Soap
Detergent
Whiskey!!! (This was my must have, since we r driving)

 

[DaystarPearl]

I didn't even think of a hamper or hand soap good ideas, thanks.

 

[2Gma]

When we go on big road trips I start making a list several weeks/months in advance and leave on fridge (or other handy place) to write down things/ideas/needs for trip as I think of them or I forget. So when it comes time to start packing, I am not left wondering "what do I need?! I must be forgetting something?!" Also it helps build the excitement and helps me keep an eye out for sales on items I know are on the list.

I've found plastic stackable bins in different sizes to be really helpful to keep organized, then inside place "like" items together. For instance, all the items for cooking one meal, a days worth of snacks, toiletries for each person separated, clothes for one day, etc. So you don't have to pull out all the bags for each person each time.

 

[Thing 1]

I like to have an over the door shoe holder to put on the back of the bathroom door. There are like 20 clear pockets and you can store tooth paste, meds, hair products etc and grab easily. I also pack a virus kit. Paper towels, wipes, trash bags, extra kids PJs, re-hydration drinks, crackers, etc. We take breakfast foods and a few snacks. Two pairs of shoes for each person. We try really hard to not over pack clothes. We almost always travel winter and hats and gloves and lots of layer items are a must. Any prescriptions and over the counter meds we might need. Charging cords and depending on the resort, charging docks. Until recently we took a few room toys for DS. Pretty much an ipod is enough now. We take a bit of cash, and a very small cross body bag to carry our must have in the park items. Mostly epi pens. We have a lot of WDW only clothes so we can pack early. I have started weeks ahead of time, and the night before and both trips were successful!

 

[blackpearl77]

pump hand soap! That is awesome! I am writing that one down.

 

[EPCOTgrl1]

It depends on how long my trip is. Since we go so often my DH and I know what we need so there is no big list. With adding in a baby I have been working on a list for her because this is our first time traveling with her. We leave next month and I started the list in August.
As for purchasing we will place our Amazon order the week before our trip. Also if we plan on packing any food we will go shopping a week before. There are a few odds and ends that I will be getting for this trip that I haven't need before and I will get them when I go out to the store, so I will not be making a special trip for said items.