How far in advance....

[abbylukesmom]

do you start packing? I have my packing lists, all but 3 items puchased that we need...but have not packed anything yet.....we leave in 4 DAYS!! Am I behind, or is this normal???

 

[KathyFP]

I pack the day before. Although I always say I am going to start early , I am usually too busy. This year I was done just as we left to drive to the airport.

 

[MinnieFan]

I usually pack one or two days before we leave. However, this trip the two days before we leave are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - not days that I want to spend doing laundry and packing. So we're all packed for our trip in 5 days. The holiday was a good incentive for me to be much more organized than usual!

Have a great trip!

 

[Gymbomom]

Does anyone have links to packing lists??

 

[jeancbpugh]

do you start packing? I have my packing lists, all but 3 items puchased that we need...but have not packed anything yet.....we leave in 4 DAYS!! Am I behind, or is this normal???

A week or so ahead of a trip I assemble specialized items, such as a fanny pack, ponchos, Mickey water bottle strap.

Most of our stuff gets packed the day before we leave, unless we are leaving late in the day, in which case I pack the day we leave.

 

[jeancbpugh]

Does anyone have links to packing lists??

 Stop mail
 Stop newspaper
 Cancel milk
 Lock doors, turn down heat & H2O
 Tell neighbor


Backpack
o meds: epipens, antihist, paperwk
o Tylenol & Sudafed
o res #s, cards
o directions & maps
o addresses & stamps for postcards, t/u cards
o sunglasses, cases & strings
o sharpie
o destination key
o hostess gift

o fanny pack
o Cameras, extra battery & charger
o Cell & charger
o Laptop
o Dvd player & dvds

Clothing
o Underthings
o socks
o T-shirts
o Shorts & capris
o Oxford shirts (for sun, bugs, dress!)
o Pants
o Walk shoes / dinner shoes
o pjs
o swimsuit cover up
o sweater
o jacket or anorak
o Toiletries
o coats, gloves, hats
o snow boots

SWIMBAG:
o 2 Swimsuits each
o swim goggles
o swim wallet
o water sandals/shoes each
o sunhat each
o wet suit
o sunscreen & bug spray

If travel by car:
o pillows
o aerobed
o sleeping bag
o National Pk /Lighthouse passports
o headphones
o books on CD
o cards, dice, & poker chips
o binoculars & bird book
o winter: shovel

 

[mamacatnv]

My Dh was giving me a hard time last night as with the exception of the carry ons and the toiletries, we are all packed.

I guess he didn't like the memo I gave him and the kids when I completed all the laundry in the house on Monday night. The memo stated they were all to wear the same clothes until we leave, the instructions were specific to shower with their underwear on and hang over the shower rod to re-use in the morning

The duffles are lined up on the dining room table. We leave Christmas day and since we are having 15 people over on Christmas Eve, I wanted everything done and out of the way so I could enjoy the time with my family and friends.

One of my DH's co-workers even called to give me a hard time yesterday, said I was making them all look bad, cause even though DH gives me a hassle he has been bragging to his co-workers about all the research and plans I have in place and how organized I am that he "didn't have to do anything" . Of course I did it all, today I sent him to Costco to pick up 2 pies, thats it, 2 pies, after 3 phone calls to me from himself while at Costco (couldn't find the pies), he finally left with the 2 pies!

So tonight I will knock off the final items that need to be picked up, get my toes done and then I can stack the duffles in the garage for transport to the airport, set the table for Christmas Eve dinner and voila, I am done!

 

[byoung]

Have a great trip.

 

[MinnieM21]

I always pack on the day that I'm leaving. I mean to pack early but I get so busy with other things that I forget.

 

[dyna]

Some of us never totally unpacks, the tolietries we use at disney are refilled ready to go all I got to do is pull the bag they in out. Shoes we only wear at disney stays in the bag etc.

3 days before we leave I do laundry. I inform DH and DD not to wear anything they want taken to disney. 2 days out I pack car is usually loaded that same night. The day before we leave I clean the house really well and do all the laundry that has gotten dirty in the last 3 days. I do have some last minute packing to do gathering up all our meds that we take daily those goes in a insulated lunch box and are kept handy for the drive to disney as we need in there couple times a day. I might throw in another pair or 2 of underwear for each of us at the last minute or that favorite shirt that DD could not go for 2 days without wearing.

Just don't pack everything you own. I always make sure everyone has a couple changes of clothes for when we get back so that I don't immeditaly have to start laundry the minute we walk in the door. Usually that doesn't happen for at least a day.

 

[MariDisney]

You are SO SO SO behind. LOL I'd be totally packed for our 1/8 trip except that my DD6 won't know about it until Santa comes. So, I'll start on the 26th. The list is ready to go and everything is purchased that I needed...expect a swimsuit for her, which I can't find...and she's outgrown all the ones from the summer. Ut Oh!

 

[jjan]

Does anyone have links to packing lists??

This is the one that we use, but of course we don't pack everything that they suggest, but it usually covers everything and makes me think of anything else that we want to bring.... http://www.mousesavers.com/UltimatePackingList.doc

 

[Gymbomom]

This is the one that we use, but of course we don't pack everything that they suggest, but it usually covers everything and makes me think of anything else that we want to bring.... http://www.mousesavers.com/UltimatePackingList.doc

That is EXACTLY what I wanted!!!!!
Thanks!!!!!!!!

 

[ZoZo]

I don't "officially" pack until about a week before the trip. But for a month or two beforehand, I start tossing things into a rubbermaid storage box that I know I'll need (so I won't have to search for them frantically later). This was a great way to do my trip in October; as I was putting away my summer clothes, I decided what to bring and put them into the Disney box.

I know I'm a bit obsessive (I have a real tendency to overpack!), but I do a test-pack a week before the trip. Gives me an idea of what to cut back on.

About two days before, I finalize everything.

A tip from an obsessive over-packer: bring half of the stuff you think you "have to have," and do laundry mid-week. I could have brought much, much less because it was so easy to do laundry.

 

[JodyTG]

I don't "officially" pack until about a week before the trip. But for a month or two beforehand, I start tossing things into a rubbermaid storage box that I know I'll need (so I won't have to search for them frantically later). This was a great way to do my trip in October; as I was putting away my summer clothes, I decided what to bring and put them into the Disney box.

I know I'm a bit obsessive (I have a real tendency to overpack!), but I do a test-pack a week before the trip. Gives me an idea of what to cut back on.

About two days before, I finalize everything.

A tip from an obsessive over-packer: bring half of the stuff you think you "have to have," and do laundry mid-week. I could have brought much, much less because it was so easy to do laundry.

This is basically what I do as well. We're leaving early Friday afternoon to go to WDW and I began actual packing Monday. It was finished last night. All I have to do now is take the last minute stuff...and I have a list for that!

 

[luvdmouse]

We are going in March, but I also purchased a few bigger sized outfits at the end of last summer and put them into a suitcase in our basement. Then on a cold, snowy day when I am stuck inside with the kids, I'll make them try on and choose what they are packing. It makes my life a little easier as we get closer to vacation time. My craziness is beginning to influence my kids. My DD (age 9) was packing in her backpack everything she wants to take on the plane this week. She only has 80 more days to wait!

 

[allenp]

I start packing about a week in advance.