How far in advance do you start packing?

[peedeejones]

I may be weird but my trip is just under 3 months away and I have already started to gather items and putting them in my suitcase. I purchased a beach cover-up yesterday and bathing suit that I know I will not use before we leave and packed them away. I am also keeping my eye out for deals on shorts, toothbrushes and things like that.

This is our 7th trip as a family to WDW. I remember our first trip, I purchased almost all new clothes for all of us and had them packed away and waiting for us two months before we left. To this day when my husband is out of underwear or socks, he thinks I have them hidden away in the suitcase!

So my question is: How far in advance do you start packing and what do you pack early?

 

[pepe of ohio]

I'm an early packer. Can't pack before leaving because I get into a funky, I rather not go mood. I pack 2 months out. I have a list and mostly everything on the list is strictly just for vacations. Shorts, shirts etc, toiletries are replenished upon return of a trip and ready for another so its just how long a trip as to what goes in the bag. Lay it all out, check my list twice and load it in and zip it closed. When travel week rolls around, no guessing on my part, I'm packed and locked and ready.

 

[kitty44]

We are leaving on August 13th, and I just dragged the suitcases down this weekend. DH had a good time laughing at me. He packs for trips the night before he leaves. I'll start collecting things and throwing them in the suitcase as I get them. I got too excited to wait anymore!

 

[abie]

I drug out the suitcases today to start packing clothes. I also brought out a box and started gathering the things Ive purchased (ponchos,mister fans, room decorations etc..) I am making a final inventory today of what I need to pick up this week.

By next Sunday I want to be fully packed. We work all the next week so I dont want to save anything for last minute.

Abie

 

[disneynutt1225]

I pack the night before we leave. I like my clothes to be freshly laundered, so I wash them right before I pack them. I also make a packing list, and if I pack too far in advance, I always wind up forgetting something or packing multiples of one thing. It can get a little ugly.

 

[newholidayx2]

Seems with every WDW vacation I pack later and later.
We leave 4wks from this coming Sat. Years ago I would have already started packing! I havent yet for this August (means I would have to finish unpacking from our NH vacation - we got back Wed)
Ya I know some of the items will be staying out anyways - going from 1 vacation to another

 

[helenm29]

We don't leave until October but I've been gathering stuff for the last 4 or 5 months! Also, since summer items are now going on sale I figure it's good to buy some clothes for warmer weather. We probably won't actually get our suitcases out 'till about a week before we leave.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Oh definately months, maybe about 4-5 months i'll start gathering stuff to pack, It makes me feel like my trip is getting close!! OOOOOhhh i can't wait till I can start packing.

 

[Mousema]

I've started gathering stuff for our September trip already and I have my lists made. We leave on a Friday and by Wednesday that week I will be completely packed.

 

[disneynutt1225]

I'm curious for those of you that pack months in advance...

Are you buying clothes to wear exclusively on your trip? Don't your things smell when you take them out of your luggage when you arrive? How do you keep track of what you've packed and what hasn't been packed yet?

 

[Andrea]

i start about a week in advance lol and i thought i started way early

 

[suezb]

My bags have been packed and put in the trailer, but I'm not going until August 28th. However, this is only because my parents are doing a tour of the US in the 5th wheeler, and I'm flying down to Orlando to meet them there. I decided I didn't want to take carry on luggage, so I sent it down with them!

 

[peedeejones]

Well, I have in the past bought clothes specifically for my vacation and packed them as I got them. I never had a problem with any of my clothes being smelly since they are usually brand new when I pack them far in advance. I mean, my suitcase is in my bedroom not in the basement or anyplace that would be musty, moldy or dirty.

 

[babynurse1]

I start packing the week before only because the kids bug me to death if I do it any earlier. (when are we leaving, what are you packing etc. etc. )

 

[Harmony272]

Hi, my name is Harmony272 and I'm a procrastinator.
I wait until the last minute to pack. Then I turn a movie on, pack and do laundry at the same time. It takes me like 4 hours to pack for 2 people.

 

[suezb]

You're washing them before you pack them, right?!
Did you know that all clothing, before it comes into the US, has to be fumigated? So when you buy new clothes, it's really important to wash them first, to get that fumigation stuff off of them. Ever since finding that out, it just grosses me out to even touch new clothes hehe

 

[peedeejones]

Well, maybe the fumigating will help keep those bedbugs away.

 

[marconat]

I pack early on too... I'm going on Dec 30th, and here it is winter, so I will pack my bags in middle of Oct... instead of putting my summer clothes away for the winter, I'll put them into my suitcase (the ones that I will bring) and it will be ready for when I leave... I also put fabric softener sheets in my suitcase, so my clothes smell good I also buy new, toothpast, toothbrushes, shampoo, deodorant and put them in rigth away, because I tend to forget them at home...

GOOD PACKING

 

[kimis]

I also start months in advanced. I find things I know we will need and I put them in a box or suitcase. I look for things on clearance or sale. I stock up on things like ponchos at the dollar store. I put our swimming things in the box. I also throw whatever jacket I think we will need. Actually I tend to put everything in the suitcase and than I go through right before the final packing and take some items out. I like to have room for the goodies I buy for the grandchildren. Enjoy!

 

[bevtoy]

I have a Rubbermaid crate in the corner and as we buy stuff I put it in there for our trip, so I guess we start (technically) 15 months before our trip, stuff like snorkels, mole skin etc I purchase a few things each month so we don't have to shop for and buy it all in the week or so before our trip. HHmmm....theres glow necklaces and bracelets from the Dollar Store, waterproof camer bag and fanny pack.....well I guess you get the idea.