How do you prepare for your trip with a few weeks to go?

[StLDisFan]

Just curious how people handle/prepare for the weeks leading up to their trip? i.e. - What do you still have to get done? What do you like to do to get into the vacation mindset? Is there something special that you do/your family does?

I guess I'm a procrastinator because the night before I leave I am usually up until the early morning hours doing laundry, packing and cleaning (who can honestly sleep the night before when you are THAT excited?). I justify it with the previous weeks being filled with days and nights doing more practical things, like: listening to Disney parks background music, catching up on Disney movies and those classic Disney park specials, and going through personal photos and those old WDW photobooks to get inspiration for photography during the trip. Looking for any and every way that I can 'relate' more to the parks when I get there.

In short, I guess I mostly just day dream and do a lot of "research" and try not to get bogged down with itinerary specifics (that's what the previous several months were for). I say let the chaos come in those early morning hours as I re-create the scene from Home Alone.

How about other people? I'd love to hear how other people handle it!

 

[cjbcam]

Just curious how people handle/prepare for the weeks leading up to their trip? i.e. - What do you still have to get done? What do you like to do to get into the vacation mindset? Is there something special that you do/your family does? I guess I'm a procrastinator because the night before I leave I am usually up until the early morning hours doing laundry, packing and cleaning (who can honestly sleep the night before when you are THAT excited?). I justify it with the previous weeks being filled with days and nights doing more practical things, like: listening to Disney parks background music, catching up on Disney movies and those classic Disney park specials, and going through personal photos and those old WDW photobooks to get inspiration for photography during the trip. Looking for any and every way that I can 'relate' more to the parks when I get there. In short, I guess I mostly just day dream and do a lot of "research" and try not to get bogged down with itinerary specifics (that's what the previous several months were for). I say let the chaos come in those early morning hours as I re-create the scene from Home Alone. How about other people? I'd love to hear how other people handle it!

I usually make sure things like visa and our bank knows we are going out of country. We watch lots of Disney movies and listen to Disney music. My kids and I go through pictures of where we are staying. We watch videos of the rides. I also obsessively check what the weather is going to be like. I double check we have everything planned and reserved that we want.
My DH does not do any of the planning and has no real interest in picking things out so it's all left to me. I actually thought he hated going because our last visit he seemed so miserable. He surprised me this week when he asked me when I was planning our next trip. Turns out he was upset because of the weather (it rained everyday we were there).

 

[snowweisz]

In short, I guess I mostly just day dream and do a lot of "research" and try not to get bogged down with itinerary specifics (that's what the previous several months were for). I say let the chaos come in those early morning hours as I re-create the scene from Home Alone.

BUT THIS IS SO HAAAARD!


Especially if I'm trying not to day dream while at work hahaha

So what I did was I made myself a weekly to-do list for my last 5 weeks. I'm making our petticoats and fascinators for Dapper Day. I wrote down how many I'm making every week and when I hope to complete them.

I'm also making my own Dapper Day dress so I timed what week I'm cutting it and putting it together.
I added when I'm making final shopping, when I'm giving myself a facial and a wax haha
I tried to give myself some stuff every week so it'd keep me busy.


But I still day dream at work lol

 

[StLDisFan]

I usually make sure things like visa and our bank knows we are going out of country. We watch lots of Disney movies and listen to Disney music. My kids and I go through pictures of where we are staying. We watch videos of the rides. I also obsessively check what the weather is going to be like. I double check we have everything planned and reserved that we want.
My DH does not do any of the planning and has no real interest in picking things out so it's all left to me. I actually thought he hated going because our last visit he seemed so miserable. He surprised me this week when he asked me when I was planning our next trip. Turns out he was upset because of the weather (it rained everyday we were there).

I think if I was traveling international with a family I would be the same way. I took a group of teens to Brazil last summer and it was many nights of prepping and rethinking/overthinking the details. Totally understand!

As for that FL weather, it really can alter a mood (even at WDW). It rained for practically 3 days straight the last time I was down there, and even I was Mr. Grumpy after having to deal with it. haha

And thanks for the reminder about the bank. I have forgotten to do this in the past without issue, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[StLDisFan]

BUT THIS IS SO HAAAARD!


Especially if I'm trying not to day dream while at work hahaha

So what I did was I made myself a weekly to-do list for my last 5 weeks. I'm making our petticoats and fascinators for Dapper Day. I wrote down how many I'm making every week and when I hope to complete them.

I'm also making my own Dapper Day dress so I timed what week I'm cutting it and putting it together.
I added when I'm making final shopping, when I'm giving myself a facial and a wax haha
I tried to give myself some stuff every week so it'd keep me busy.


But I still day dream at work lol

Love it! I remember I was at DHS last year and everywhere I looked people were in just the coolest outfits. I thought it was some kind of CM tradition they did on their day off until I finally asked someone what was going on. Up to that point, I had no clue what the Dapper Day was, but it really was cool to witness.

Like you I have a weekly to-do list, but mine just has Disney movies I want to brush up on before I leave and then the day before just has PACK!!! written on it. Hahah. Perhaps I need to give just a little more thought to it. Usually I just check my camera gear and then throw some shorts, polos, flip flops and my toothbrush in a suitcase and head out. Although this year I have a little work to do on my Mr. Smee costume for MNSSHP, but I think for the moment I will just go back to dreaming of the event itself, it's easier than working on the outfit