How early do you start to pack?

[RC Fan]

I find it is easiest for me to remember the small items by pciking them up as I think of them. I have been doing that I suppose since I got back from my last trip. I guess I don't have anything packed yet per se, but I do have my summer clothes that I would like to take set aside, since I certainly don't need them now.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I'll start packing about a month before, although I'll probably take everything out and iron it again about a week before. I admire those that can pack the night before. I couldn't do it...it would drive me nuts worrying that I forgot something.

 

[muguet27]

We're more last minute packers. If we are leaving early in the morning, we're pretty much packing up until we go to bed the night before. If we leave in the afternoon, we pack in the morning. I have a really bad memory and if I packed a little at a time I'd have to pull everything out anyway to remember what I put in there. I'd be really scared that I forgot something if I didn't do it all at once. I do start a list a bit before - a few weeks or so - just so I know what needs to be laundered before we leave. Our next trip is going to be for our honeymoon. It's going to be for a whole week, our longest trip yet, but I'm definately saving the packing until after the wedding...that gives me a week to settle down and get focused on how much Disney fun we'll soon be having.

 

[sue1013]

The day before I do all laundry and pack. I don't want to look at suitcases a month before. Also have a bag with toiletries always packed when I use something up on a trip I replace it then so its always ready. As to being afraid you'll forget something not a big deal (unless its something life threatening) they have stores everywhere. I know some people thrive on planning every detail packing way ahead if it makes you feel more in control do it. Overplanning makes me crazy!

 

[calena]

I am starting today and we leave in about 10 days. I have so much on the go before we leave, so I need to get my act together or we won't have our summer stuff out. I pack for myself usually about a week before we go and help the kids. I also make a list of what we need to take - 5 shirts, 3 pants, 2 sweaters etc. (I find staying at a timeshare helps cuz I can do laundry). Hubby throws his stuff in the night before!

 

[SeeDisney]

I was so excited about our Disney trip last month, that I fully packed (and my kids) everything five days before.

Also, I discovered that I had too many blacks, browns, and dreary winter Northeast colors. I didn't want to wear those colors in Florida.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I'll start packing about a month before, although I'll probably take everything out and iron it again about a week before. I admire those that can pack the night before. I couldn't do it...it would drive me nuts worrying that I forgot something.

Making a list as you go and packing last minute is the same as packing as you go (in advance). There's the same risk/chance of forgetting something- exactly the same.

 

[lenshanem]

I HATE PACKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I usually procrastinate and then stress the last couple days before we leave.

For our April trip I think I'm gonna go ahead and start gathering clothes up for each person in the house every week. Say one week for my oldest, second week my youngest, etc.

This should be easier since I'll be packing summer clothes and we won't be wearing them until our trip. I also need to figure out if I need to buy them anything...

 

[henrylovespooh]

We leave in two weeks, and about 10 days ago, I pulled out our big suitcase and started putting clothes for me and my 2 and 3 year old kids in them. I always start packing early and then I go through everything the night before to make sure I've got everything. I can't help it - I get so excited!

 

[ashjohnson80]

I usually pack the day before, but this year I have such a busy schedule with two full time jobs and going back to college that I think that I probably need to start getting our stuff together like tomorrow. I know I have no idea where any of our swimsuits are (probably in the abyss of the smelly laundry closet) so I need to try to dig them out and start washing this stuff. Its so funny thinking about going swimming in less than a month when it is only 35 degrees outside right now. But when we left for WDW last year there was ice and snow on the ground and we went swimming when we got there too. I love Florida. If all of my family wasn't here and I didn't want to leave them I would move there. Oh but about packing, yeah I'm going to start soon. Seems like we have a lot of DIS'ers going to be there the week of March 5 yay!

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I pack the night before and finish up the morning of. I'm a procastinator extraordinaire.

 

[Beherenow]

I've got packing block right now. Everything is being piled up in one spot, but I just haven't gotten around to putting it in a suitcase yet.

 

[chrisn]

I start packing the last weekend before our trip which just happens to be this weekend! Until then, there is just a jumungus growing pile of "stuff" in the corner of my bedroom leading up to that.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I use to pack the night before and that worked well for me until my last trip when I forgot a whole bunch of things including my extra camera battery and charger I ended up having to buy a new one and having it sent by express courier to the hotel. Not fun or cheap ... The next time I will start packing a couple of days before

 

[pepe of ohio]

Packing, I work out my whole trip on paper, as to items and quanitity about 30 days before hand. Changes with amount of days at Disney. About 3 weeks before actually leaving, I lay out what I have drawn up, look at the stuff for a week, best way to leave stuff home thats not going to be used and get it into the bag about 2 weeks before its time to go. If I wait till the end, I'll never remember all needed items, like binoculars, corkscrew etc, and there is nothing worse than coming home with a bunch of clothes that weren't worn, that I have to drag around with me. Arriving home after our trip, I go through my suitcase and see what I didn't use, list items on paper so I don't make that mistake again. Remember, you always take way more than you need and who wants to handle all that extra weight, and if I forgot something, its a good excuse to purchase it at Disney. Last trip I used those space bags for suitcases that roll up to purge the air out, and my usual bag looked half full, really works and more room for souviners.