How soon do you start packing??

[Dismom55]

I started packing before I made my reservation last August/September. As things have gone on sale or clearance thru the year I get them and throw them in the suitcase or what I call my Disney box. Then for Christmas I filled stockings with sample size of this and that, shampoo and other nessasary items. Then for birthdays, I went to the local grocery store and bought Disney gift cards for the kids spending money while at Disney, along with some other gifts that will eventually end up packed for Disney.


I have already packed my prescription meds, socks and underthings. Our Disney Box is always packed, first aid items, emergency ponchos, sample size laundry soap etc. All I do is inventory it upon our return, make a list of the items needed to replentish or taken out to be used as expiration dates are close. Log it into the computer with my other lists of things needed for Disney, then about 6 months out I start buying those items I have not already purchased.


Our trip is not until Sep 20, by the way. In short, I guess you could say I start packing at least 12 months out, but will get to the heavy packing about 6 weeks out and final packing at least 2 weeks out.

 

[delaneyc52]

I actually "think" about packing about two weeks in advance.....but the packing itself usually occurs one to two nights before leaving. I think I have this all down to a science.....although it did take about 30 plus years of WDW.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I started packing before I made my reservation last August/September. As things have gone on sale or clearance thru the year I get them and throw them in the suitcase or what I call my Disney box. Then for Christmas I filled stockings with sample size of this and that, shampoo and other nessasary items. Then for birthdays, I went to the local grocery store and bought Disney gift cards for the kids spending money while at Disney, along with some other gifts that will eventually end up packed for Disney.


I have already packed my prescription meds, socks and underthings. Our Disney Box is always packed, first aid items, emergency ponchos, sample size laundry soap etc. All I do is inventory it upon our return, make a list of the items needed to replentish or taken out to be used as expiration dates are close. Log it into the computer with my other lists of things needed for Disney, then about 6 months out I start buying those items I have not already purchased.


Our trip is not until Sep 20, by the way. In short, I guess you could say I start packing at least 12 months out, but will get to the heavy packing about 6 weeks out and final packing at least 2 weeks out.

We would get along great! My husband thinks I am crazy.

 

[calderli]

I am so glad to see that I am not alone on this. We are going at the end of August and I have been packing for the last 2 mths. DH thinks that I am insane, but he will be the one that forgets something and I will be able to whip it out of my bag for him I haven't packed any clothes yet, but I have a bow that I am keeping the things that I have picked up in. I have test packed my days bags, just to make sure that everything fits and to make sure that they are not too heavy. I have to wait to get my new luggage to start packing it, look out once I get it though.....
It feels so good to know that there are others like me.

 

[liznboys]

Next trip I'll start to pack supplies a few days out. I don't pack clothes until the day before.

I do have a suitcase that remains somewhat packed with our travel supplies stuff all the time though. There's no reason to empty it if it's only used for travel.

 

[Aloha65]

We will be leaving in a little less than 4 weeks. We have a general idea which clothes we are bringing. We have purchased all that we need (except maybe pool shoes for BB) as well as some extras for the room and travel size toiletries. We will throw it all in our suitcases the week before and add the last few things that morning before we leave for the airport. I like to keep the anticipation going as long as possible!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Next trip I'll start to pack supplies a few days out. I don't pack clothes until the day before.

I do have a suitcase that remains somewhat packed with our travel supplies stuff all the time though. There's no reason to empty it if it's only used for travel.

I wish I could do this. I keep our luggage in the attic and not sure what affect the extreme heat would have on lotions, soaps, shaving cream can, etc.
I once had a can of pepper spray explode in my car while parked during the summer and my Christmas candles often melt.

 

[Dismom55]

My habit of keeping a suitcase packed started when hubby was in the Air Force, never knew when one of our parents would get sick. So I have had a spot in my closet for one suitcase, that suitcase has always held a zip bag with sample toothpaste/toobrush/toiletries 2 changes of underclothes and PJ for each member of our family. Then all we would have to do would be throw in a change or two of clothes and hit the road.

Basically I still do the same, just now it is for any planned trips. I also have space in my closet for the box with all the decorations that heat would ruin if they were to go into the attic. Learned that one the hard way!!!

 

[tami82]

That reminds me that i do always have my medicine case about 50% packed so the basic things are always already in there. I do go away a few time a year on local mini trips and makes it easier not to pack all the time those things. My suitcase is always outside of my closet behind the door. I dont know why i never put it away.

 

[chithanh119]

I often start packing about 5 weeks ahead of time

 

[I<3stitch626]

last minute packer here
we usually pack maybe 2 days before and finish the day of our flight haha
thing is most stuff we bring we need...tolietrees (spelling? ) and what not
but that's just the physical packing part...we do start buying needed vaca things i'd say about up to 3 weeks in advance and i'm ALWAYS thinking about stuff i'm going to want to bring...and i'm not leaving for 98 days haha
so yeah i'd say it's never to early to plan but in my case we can't really start physically packing to far ahead...maybe because i'm so picky with my clothes

 

[charming23]

I will start packing the weekend before we leave since the weekend before that we will be out of town with family.

I have started making lists and gathering items in a box so that when I do pack I know right where they are.

 

[Dismom55]

Part of why I can pack so early is I purchase new underthings ie socks, under pants, maybe even a bra or two. So once purchased (I buy them a little at a time) I throw them in the suitcase, then once I have them all purchased, I throw them all in the washer/dryer for a good once over. Then pack they go.

I am allergic to bleach and other clothing chemicals, so I can not wear straight out of the packet like some can.

So in essence I am only packing slacks at the last minute as I have already gathered all the Disney T-shirts and have them folded and ready to go, also shoes are ready to go.

From past experience I know I will take everything out of the suitcase, take inventory, put is all back and do it all over again several times before we hit the road.

I also have started a box for those things we will need in the car ie portable cd/dvd player, dvds, cds, my handicap plaque for the rental car, umbrella sample pks tp for restrooms.... You get the idea. I have a list of all those things, where they need to be in the car (actually renting a van this time) for easy retrieval. I also need to pack one suitcase that will be an overnight case for everyone as we will be stopping in a hotel en route. That in itself is another list.

You know sometimes I feel like the pioneers and I need a conastoga wagon for my trips to Disney.

OK, I am a planner gone amuck!!!!

 

[LovesTimone]

We leave Sept.30 for an all girls trip.
I will be making the main list for supplies, but most of us have starting buying and setting aside things for this trip.

I will start grouping things together in the guest room closet so that everything is in one place. That way I can see what I need to buy or not. Okay...I confess ... I have started putting thing in the closet already

But I will not put anything in a suitcase until a day or two before. Because I have to iron everything. I know weird but I have OCD about certain things and packing is one of them.

 

[MonkersMama]

I have a bag of "surprises" for the kids that I start packing as soon as we decide our trip. I also have a big bag of toiletries/medicines etc. that is always packed (we also take this bag to our cottage).

But as for clothes - last time we went in the fall, so while I was packing away the summer clothes at the end of summer, I put them into the suitcase.

This time, we're 4 weeks from departure today, and I haven't even thought about it.

 

[Ice Madrox]

I actually don't start to pack my suitcase until the night before, but I only have to pack for myself.. I can understand fully why some mothers who pack for children start so early!
But yeah... I generally start thinking about what to pack as soon as the trip is definite. About a month before, I start a list of what I really need to remember to pack- simple stuff, like extra chargers, specific books, just very specific things. Around a week before we leave, I make another list of EVERYTHING I will pack. Right down to which tops and bottoms, how many pairs of socks, toiletries, card games, specific credit cards, id, etc. If it has to go with, I have to put it on the grand list- I have a fear of forgetting minuscule trivial stuff after having forgot a contact lens case for vacation when I first started wearing them! lol
I begin to pack my suitcase the night before, but I can't pack everything in there... I have to pack a smaller bag because we drive, so we stop overnight on the way down. So some of the stuff from the grand list has to wait to get packed into an overnight bag. When I get showered/dressed/ready on the morning we leave, anything I use to do so (deodorant, perfume of choice that day, hair brush, cosmetics, etc.) gets packed into the overnight bag, along with a pair of pj's and a change of clothes for the next day. Then it sits up front with me in the car. Everybody else just takes their suitcase out when we stay over, and then end up re-packing it... without fail, I stand there like no thanks!!! And then as they curse while re-packing.
But yeah.... no major packing until the night before, and finish on the morning we leave.

My older sister on the other hand.... she starts her packing list a little over a month ahead of leaving... and she doesn't pack until the morning of!!

Works for her, though... lol

 

[DaughteroftheKing]

I haven't packed yet--too far out. But I have started making lists of what I'll want to take, and thinking through what I'll need/want in our carryon bag and what can be checked/ME, etc.

As I get things (ponchos, LGMH) , I'm throwing them in a suitcase, just so all DISNEY stuff is together. Later it will get organized where it needs to be for sure.

 

[tami82]

Yes with the kids you have to start early with packing. I like the feeling of getting the bulk of it done way beforehand and then just doing the last minute bits & pieces the days before leaving on the trip. I hate to be stressed out and if i waited i would be totally stressed. The past few trips have packed early and it worked out great as i was pretty calm before leaving. The week before we leave i just start loading up the hallway with things that can be crossed off my list for packing.

 

[ZoZo]

I start tossing stuff into my "Disney Box" a few months before my trip. We usually go in October, so I pick up certain things only available during summer (misting fans, visor, etc.) when they're on sale.

[Side note: I just found a new little purse (a Baggalini "Teeny" purse, I think it's called) at Marshall's for $5.99; it sems like a great place for park pass, lip gloss, money, and other things I access all day long. I do carry a backpack, but it's such a pain to have to take it off and on all day just to access my park pass.]

Since we go in October and live in a cooler climate, I also toss in the shorts, tank tops, and other summer gear that I want to pack for my WDW trip, as I'm putting my summer stuff away in September. Then I don't have to dig it all out again before my trip.

Then I do my "final" packing about a week before my trip.

 

[Mama to Three]

Let's see...

-We decided on this trip 10 months ago...
- about 6 months ago I started my Disney (or Green Light: Mine and dh's code word since this is a surprise trip ) box in my closet and would drop things into as I came across them.

- about 5 month ago I created an extensive packing list and catagorized it into things to buy, things we have, reminders all in a time line form

- about 3 month ago I organized all my stuff into a binder

- continued to add to the Green Light box, shopping list, check things off, etc.

- about a week ago I packed all the kids clothes for the trip. My oldest is visiting family for two weeks so I took care of that while nosey was away.

- Also during that week I packed various storage bins and labeled them with our stuff. (condo supplies, etc)

- Once my computer is out of the shop I will finally be able to print out my touring plans and finish my binder.

- I should be completely packed and done with my lists next week. (The trip is in 2 weeks)

- The night before I will load it in the van and we will be off around 5am the next morning with very sleepy and confused kids.

We *might* tell them on the way, but will probably wait until we get there!