How soon do you start packing?

[johnsonet]

I start packing 5 days before we leave.

 

[kimsuenew]

In 2007, for our very first WDW trip, our suitcases/duffels/bags were all completely packed a full month before going! I was so excited!

All of my clothes (with the exception of a couple of pairs of capri's) were new and bought only for our September trip. DS & DH sleeveless T's and T-shirts were all new as well, although some of their shorts were not (but I even packed them away a month ahead too)!

When we arrived back home I did two things... go to the laundrymat so I could do all the clothes at once, and go to Walmart and buy two large tubs!

I washed and dried all clothing/undies/socks we had used, folded it very nicely, added some wonderful smelling fabric softner sheets, and packed it in the tubs!

With the exception of a few pairs of shorts each for DS & DH, swimsuits, and our jackets, all clothes are packed in those tubs for our 2008 WDW trip! I simply will need to transfer them into suitcases before we leave!

I have packed "WDW supplies" (bottle straps, lanyards, trading pins, park info, pennies/quarters for the pressed penny machines, penny machine location list and book to hold them, my Jansport Sling, collapsable hampers, ect... inside one suitcase so it is ready as well!

I absolutely LOVE bouncing back... I knew with certainty we were returning, so I was able to save/prepare all items we had for use the next year!

I figure, about August or so, I will pull the clothes from the tubs and pack them nicely in the suitcases/duffels!

I don't want to wish summer away or anything but man, oh man, I cannot wait until September!

 

[christa112]

I guess it depends on when you are going.

We are going in Sept, so I will pack the bathing suits early, because we won't need them here, about a week before we leave. I will pack, toothpaste, tooth brushes, suntan lotion early. Just so I won't forget them the morning we are leaving. We leave at 7 a.m., so need to be up at 4:30 a.m. to leave for airport. All of our bags will be in the car, including carry on bags the night before. We have 3 kids, so we need to be organized.

 

[Goofy'slady]

We're not leaving until May 3rd but I started packing this past Saturday but just our daughters suitcase. Their stuff is so small they can share one and that includes their sandals and flip-flops too. I'll start packing me and hubby's clothes tonight. We usually have busy weekends so I pack a little each night instead of waiting til a few days before the trip. The two nights before we leave are gonna be spent getting pedicures for me and my oldest daughter (9yrs old) and the day before I'll be at the salon getting eyebrows waxed and then later on me and oldest daughter have hair appointments and probably be home later in the evening and I don't want to run around trying to remember if I packed everything.

I love packing for our Disney trips-it gets me all excited.

T.

 

[Disneymomof3princess]

It seems I make list after list of everthing we need and as I think of things I add them. We have a desinated corner in our bedroom of all the stuff we are bringing. I start packing about a week before, I can't do it too early because it seems to make time slow down. So this weekend it is, we leave in 10 days.

 

[phisigprincess]

The day my parents told us we were going to Disney for the first time I started to pack. A year in advance.

All these years later, I start about a week out with toiletries and non-essentials. The clothes go in when the laundry is down for the week.

 

[thejollyfinn]

My DW and I booked our airfare way in advance (didn't get those $54 round trip AirTran tickets this year - dang!) and we have our ADR's ready before the 180 day window. Packing follows suit.

We either gather up or purchase all the oddities (travel toiletries, glow sticks for parades, in-room munchies, etc...) months in advance and store them in our spare bedroom closet. A few weeks before leaving, we set out our clothing and try stuff on (hey, I liked to eat! ) Then it's a couple of loads of laundry a day or two before. A repack and voilá!

It's starting to become an annual thing for us. Like Kimsuenew stated, we are finding that alot of stuff just goes back into the closet for the following Fall!

We are planning on keeping this one a secret from our 2 DD's. My DW will be strong, but I don't think I'm that strong. "We're going back kids!!!"

 

[disneychard]

Do you make a list, before you start shopping? Or do you pick up things on random? I am not not sure what things I should be picking up besides clothes.

 

[BamaFan121s]

Usually I start a week in advance. That is when I threaten family members not to wear anything they plan on taking with them unless they want to wear it dirty. I vow everytime to get a jump on everything so that I'm not up late, rushing around the night before--so far I have not been successful in those efforts.

 

[lmillercrew]

I start making a list about one to two months out on where I want to eat and what parks have EMH. I start putting snacks and clothes aside two weeks in advance. We aren't going back to WDW until June of 2009 and look at me, reading these boards every chance I get. PSYCHO