How far in advance do YOU start packing for your trip?

[croppincolburn]

I see I am in good company. I start collecting this as soon as I know we are going on a trip. I make a spread sheet listing anticipated activities (travel, formal, etc.) and then list clothes for the day. I can change clothes easily so that I have things that mix and match. Hopefully I take less that way. When I actually go to pack, usually the night before, I lay out the outfits on the bed and make sure I have proper underclothes and accessories for each. I have to pack Ds(6) too. He has his own area on the spreadsheet. Am I certifiable?

 

[Deb T.]

I see I am in good company. I start collecting this as soon as I know we are going on a trip. I make a spread sheet listing anticipated activities (travel, formal, etc.) and then list clothes for the day. I can change clothes easily so that I have things that mix and match. Hopefully I take less that way. When I actually go to pack, usually the night before, I lay out the outfits on the bed and make sure I have proper underclothes and accessories for each. I have to pack Ds(6) too. He has his own area on the spreadsheet. Am I certifiable?

If you're certifiable, then I am, too! I also do a clothing spreadsheet for our longer trips. And, I keep a Packing List saved on my computer that I just print out for each trip so I can just cross off each item as I pack. We take a lot of little trips throughout the year (1-2 a month that require flying!), so I always have one suitcase that's packed with everything but the clothes. For the longer trips, I like to be fully packed a week before departure. The last time that I waited until the day before our trip to pack, our neighbor went into early labor and we had to watch their other children until we could drop them off at daycare the next morning... two hours before our flight! It was way too difficult to concentrate on packing and keep several toddlers entertained at the same time. I vowed then and there to never again wait until the last minute to pack!

 

[AmandEm]

We don't have our exact cruise date yet all I know is Jan of 2011 and I've started "shopping" so to say. I'm trying to figure out what kind of clothing we'll need, since I plan on buying a few personalized outfits online for my kids. I am also putting together a checklist of must have items. Sounds crazy but I'm obsessive when it comes to being organized for a vacation.

 

[Maryrn11168]

Starting a few years ago, I have toiletry bag packed at all times. It contains all the basics that I leave in there and I replace the items that need to be before we leave. As for clothing....It depends on the season. Right now we are all wearing "winter clothes" so I can gather and pack the "summer wear" because no one is wearing it. We sail in 2 weeks and I have all the kids clothes laid out on the dining room table, to see what we need, what fits, what is ruined. My husband think's I'm nuts, I really just don't want to cook at big table meal for the next 2 weeks!! LOL!!!

As for getting the stuff into the suitcases...We usually fly out at the crack of dawn, so I pack the day before. DH is usually the night before. I like to have all the bags waiting at the front door, so when the car service gets there we are out the door!!

 

[Handbag Lady]

I pack the night before. i try to avoid the "I wanted to take that but it isn't clean" madness I used to put myself through. I'm better at packing, so I do one outfit per pay, plus shoes. Then, I try to cross-eliminate any duplicates.

I fly Southwest o I don't worry about baggage.

 

[disneylove69]

I have drawer in the guest room that I keep all my vacation ony stuff in. I then keep a suitcase out and throw stuff in a few months before and then do the double checking th e night before.

 

[iloverags2]

Let's see...the last cruise I started packing about 9 hours before we left the house. That was pretty good for me! Usually it's about 2 or 3 hours before we leave.

 

[Pinkgurlshubby]

We started packing about 18 months before the cruise. You always see reports with people saying they pack old clothes so they can toss them out on the ship. I can't do that! DW and I shopped for a year.
It feels good to go on holidays with a new wardrobe but downside is with growning kids, some of the new clothes and one pair of clogs were outgrown before we boarded the ship.

 

[mindy327]

Crazy here. Our next cruise is a year away and I already have a disney tote into which I am putting "things to take on the cruise" stuff. Not packing, really; more like collecting the necessaries. It makes me laugh at myself - sheesh!

I do this too! Dont feels silly by this at all.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I always pack the weekend before we leave. Working FT, weeknights are too hectic. I'm not one to be able to do a little here and there. If I do, I forget what I already packed and feel like I'm missing something.

I hang all the formal wear on the treadmill and don't put it in the garment bags until right before we leave for the airport.

I keep packing lists stored on my computer, one for cruising, one for visiting Orlando.

I also store 'contact info' lists of family members not coming with us for my neighbor who cat/house sits for us.

I also store/print a 'what to do before leaving' list such as:

1 week prior: notify school, reconfirm cat sitting w/neighbor, stock up on kitty litter, etc.
3 days prior: charge Nintendo DS, port dvd players, get pedicure, etc.
night before: charge cell phones then pack chargers (of course we all have different phones)
that morning: adjust thermostat, remove all trash, run dishwasher, turn off garage door opener, etc.

This last one is esp good when we have a tight schedule and keeps dh from standing around once the car is loaded saying, 'Why haven't we left yet?'

 

[lilosurf11]

I always pack the week before I leave my apartment. My parents however, always pack the night before. But all it all, it all comes together!

 

[disneychard]

What kind of things do people gather for their trip? I heard so many people say they have a box they put things in for their up coming trip. Suggestions?

 

[croppincolburn]

collected so far, pirate t-skirts on clearance after halloween, travel air freshener I found on sale, things to keep ds busy in the plane.

I'll probably buy sun screen this summer for our Jan trip since there is a better supply. If you want extension cords, over-the-door shoe holder, highlighter for Navigator scheduling, etc. Spend enough time on this forum and you will start thinking of things.

 

[Sukie]

Crazy here. Our next cruise is a year away and I already have a disney tote into which I am putting "things to take on the cruise" stuff. Not packing, really; more like collecting the necessaries. It makes me laugh at myself - sheesh!

Hi there. I am doing the same thing. I just purchased a travel alarm clock with luminated hands. We are doing a mother (54) and daughter (39) cruise. We are not going until 2012 . Dreaming about the "DREAM".

 

[poeticdiabetic]

Our cruise isn't until Sept. 19th. So we're not packing anything yet. As a matter of fact, we will be going to Orlando to US/IOA in May. We have to do that trip first.

But here's what we're doing: We're looking around for possible things that we want to bring along for the trip. We're also looking to see where the closest Wal-Mart is to Port Canaveral. We're learning from others on Disboards in order to see what they did right and what they did wrong. And we are coming up with a game plan.

And yes... we will be heading up to make a dry run to Port Canaveral in May.

 

[shaylahc1]

What kind of things do people gather for their trip? I heard so many people say they have a box they put things in for their up coming trip. Suggestions?

I have a master list going....everything from number of items of clothing to things like what kind of OTC meds to bring. I have lupus and asthma so I have a lot of prescription meds to bring too.

Here is my master list. Now you know why I'm



(Keep in mind I am going to be on a boat for 25 days...)

2 bathings suits
8-10 undies, bras & socks
4-5 PJs
flip flops
8-10 outfits or 9 tops, 5 bottoms
hoodie/jacket
kids soap, shampoo, deoderant, razors
hairbrush
hair spray, hair gel, pigtails
lotion, chapstick, powder
2 pump soaps
anti bacterial gel
sunscreen
neosporin, bandaids, advil adults kids, allergy meds
thermometer, tylenol, asthma inhaler
nebulizer, saline meds, peak flow meter
books and toys kids
travel documents
rental car info, hotel info
passports
drivers license, atm & credit cards
bag to carry (or backpack)
camera and flash cards, flash batteries, cord
beach towels
metal hangers
clothespins
highlighters, pens
lysol wipes
trashbags, ziploc bags
ponchos, umbrellas
nail clippers
glasses case and cleaner, cloth
travel guides and maps
laptop
cell phone
cords to charge camera, cell and laptop
suitcase lock & keys, tags
watch & alarm clock
laundry detergent
dryer sheets

Tell me I'm not the only one that travels with half their house I feel like after having 4 kids, I need to be prepared for the unexpected

 

[Tinkerkell123]

Cruising in January 2011. Already have a packing list going, thinking about FE's. Won't start packing until 2 weeks or so prior...

I do have a big storage box that I keep all the stuff we ALWAYS take to WDW or DCL...

 

[Jennifer in MI]

I pack early too. Well, I gather stuff early. About two months before we travel, I gather clothes to see what the kids have outgrown and I shop. Usually, we travel in the winter when we're in pants/long sleeves here and we need shorts/polo shirts for the cruise. So, I just stick those things into the suitcases in our guest room.

Our next cruise is the WBTA in 2011. I've already started thinking about how to pack everything we need. But, my pirate stuff, FE, extension cord, etc are all packed!!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

About 2 hours before we leave for the airport. The entire ordeal is hysterical. I have not checked luggage for 10 years so......we only do 1 carry on each. Somehow, we do just fine (I do wash).

OMG! I bet it is hysterical!!!

 

[Blanche_Neige]

we sail in March 2011, I started packing 5 min after I booked
Just kidding, sorta off... I did start a packing list and made a couple of purchases (hanging shoe organizer for bathroom) for the cruise

Yes I am well aware that i'm nuts but I'm just so excited

I usually have my and the kids suitcases ready 2 weeks before, with last minutes thing to put in the night before.