Actually, I practice BOTH methods mentioned above.
I cannot pack things I will wear until the night before, mostly because I, like others above, change my mind too often. Besides, my silly weight fluctuates so that I could be 5# more or less by departure day. The good side - we always allow time for laundry on our trips so I have far less deciding to do!
Then there are the OTHER things we (I) take including park pack & neck hanging pouch, lanyard, pins, glow bracklets, visor, small carry-along battery fan (a must for me), sunblock, lip gloss, etc.
But we also include Nite-Lites, small electric skillet w/spatula & seasonings (I have eggbeaters every morning - Garden Grocers delivers a few refrigerator items), shakable blender (for protien drinks), real metal forks/spoons, one cup coffeemaker w/filters & pre-measured coffee, individual 3/8 oz wet-packs of French Vanilla coffeemate, extra cell phone & labtop charges so we don't have those to carry, various other items we need depending on the season we travel.
HOWEVER - we do not take these on the flight. Instead, they go into a SEND-AHEAD box. All heavier or lg liquid items, along with things not needed until 1st park day, go in and are sent to our arrival resort by FedEx Ground (UPS works too) generally taking 3-5 days to arrive. I print 3 8x10 sheets of paper for the boxes taped securely to 3 sides - address label on 4th. Each sheet shows:
HOLD FOR "NAME" FAMILY
"Reservation #"
Arriving: "DATE"
We have done this every trip for YEARS. It costs from $25 to $40 (long trip w/6 people total included toys for granddaughter), but for us it is well worth the cost. I have difficult dietary issues and DH is fussy about morning coffee.
Over the years we've fine tuned what we send so it's down to an art now. I also pre-print return address label tucking it in the box along with packing tape and small scissors so we can repack & send the box back home. Guest Services (usually concierge desk) is helpful getting a pick-up scheduled. Only once have we had to pay extra to get a box home, but still worth it to keep luggage weight down & have less to drag around. Also helps me get all those 'little things' I might forget. Also, it's a good way to get those things we "have to buy" in the parks home.
