How late do you leave packing?

[Domo]

Usually I start packing 3-4 days before jetting off anywhere, but this time I've been naughty and haven't started... I leave on the eighth and I'm working today 'til late!

 

[Klayfish]

We pack the night before. Seriously. Takes us about 30 minutes, maybe 45. We're simple folk.

 

[L&Lfan]

The above. I pack about 2-3 hours before I leave for the airport. If I forget something, I'll buy it there, but I rarely forget something. I never stress over packing.

 

[dclpluto]

The day before

 

[NHdisneylover]

if we leave really early, then I pack the night before. Otherwise, an hour or two before I head off somewhere, like most of the PPs

 

[Klayfish]

The above. I pack about 2-3 hours before I leave for the airport. If I forget something, I'll buy it there, but I rarely forget something. I never stress over packing.

Yep. The very first trip we did to WDW after we had kids was when they were 4, 1, 1. I generally have a very, very poor memory, but I distinctly remember starting to pack a few days early and drastically overpacking. DW and I finally came to our senses and realized we were being silly. We were going to the most popular tourist destination in the country, not on an African safari in the middle of nowhere. There are grocery stores, drug stores, clothing stores everywhere. If we forget something, we'll just go get it. So now, even our 2+ week long summer trips are packed relatively light. The clothes for all 5 of us will fit in one large suitcase. A large cooler bag for food we want to bring (we need the bag anyway, since we bring our own food into the parks), one bag for toiletries for all 5 of us and we're set. The kids each have a school backpack with their own personal stuff...phone, pins, etc...

 

[Meriweather]

we left on the third, I was completely packed on 11- 29th.
I get the suitcases out a week before and start throwing the toiletries, etc, in....then the clothes and food.

 

[aprilchem]

A couple of hours before. We don't have a ton of clothes, and so I don't have enough to pack 3-4 days in advance. I only own about 7 outfits total.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I guess I should add, that when I had growing kids, if we were travelling out of season and they had not worn that seaons's clothes in a few months (like flying to the tropics in April), i did pull out the warm weather clothes I expected to pack them a week or two ahead of time to have htem try things on and have some time to find replacements in a bigger size if needed.
These days we all pack for ourselves and no one is growing (up at least) so same day it is

 

[ronandannette]

We’ll lay the suitcases out and start filling them sometimes even weeks in advance but end up lucky to have them zipped up in time to shove them in the car. We also grossly over-pack but yet always end up forgetting things.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Depends very much on where I’m going. I’ll start packing anywhere from a week plus before to the night before/morning of departure.

 

[GreatLakes]

If it is for work usually the night before so I can double check I have everything I need. For vacation I only pack the night before if we leave really early. Otherwise I may lay out some stuff but actually pack the morning we leave. We always pack the baby's stuff the night before.

 

[RedAngie]

I'll start packing 2 or 3 days in advance and like to finish up the night before departure. DH waits until the last minute.

 

[amberpi]

Varies dramatically. For work, it's quick and easy, and takes about 15 minutes or less - toiletries and makeup live in a suitcase - just suits, shoes, pjs, done. Even if its a couple of weeks, its adding more of those things and some regular lounge/casual clothes.

Other trips can take much, much longer. I started typing out all the stuff I need for WDW, and it's a lot. I can usually get it in a carry-on, but sundresses, sandals, and swimsuits don't take up much space.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

For a full-on vacation, the night before. For an overnighter or weekend, right before I leave.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I usually pack the day before, but I always pack from very detailed lists that I start a week or so before.

In the summer we go to the beach for 2 weeks and take a ton of stuff since we cook in the condo many days. For these trips I usually put out my big 31 Utility Totes about 3 weeks before and start throwing kitchen/food things in.

 

[dish rag]

Right before we head out the door. We mostly travel between three places and have belongings at each. So it's mostly passports, phones, wallet and pocket book.

 

[soccerdad72]

Depends on the trip. Short trip, night before. Something longer or to somewhere with a different climate from where we're at, maybe a couple days ahead. Our last trip, we had to plan for ski gear (snow pants, etc.) so we planned a couple days ahead to make sure we had space for everything. Our cruise this summer (12 nights in Europe) we will probably also pack a few days in advance, at least the bulk of stuff.

 

[RangerPooh]

One of my daughters will have her bag packed about a week before the trip. The rest of us will be packing the night before or even day that we leave.

 

[powellrj]

When I use to travel for work, I always kept a bag of my hbc products packed. The night before I would just throw that in a bag with a few outfits.

For vacation if we were leaving after work we would pack the night before if not we would pack right before we left.