How Soon Do you

[sm4987]

start packing for your family? I have a family of 4 and this is the first time we have flown in 4 years. My little girl was only an infant when we flew and she is so excited now. Last year we drove to Disney, so forgetting anything didn't matter to me. I was just wondering how soon do you start packing to leave on your trip and do you ever wonder, "Am I forgetting something"???

 

[Baloo]

With that many to pack for I'd start a week ahead.When Erich was in the stroller/diaper age that's what I'd do.Now I'm usually scurrying around the day before and I have my step son Jon to pack for too!They wear the same size so if I forget something,well the can trade around!

I have a list that I've had for years with many different colors of check marks on it that I use for every trip so I won't forget anything! You might want to type one up on the computer and print it out.I don't know WHY I haven't done that yet!!!

 

[dahess]

We have 29 days to go. When ever I buy something special for our trip, I throw it in one of our suit cases, example: spray on sun block - we will not need it until our trip, Disney coloring & sticker books - these are special for the plane trip down to Orlando.

I also have been buying travel sizes of thing such as deoderant, hair gel, lotion, hand sanitizer & place them in the suit case as well. Also when I think of something that is not on my original list, I will run & put in the bag, cause I usually end up forgetting it.

I just recently bought 10 rolls of film & placed them in the cam corder/camera bag.

I am anal about forgetting stuff, cause I hate spending the extra money at WDW to buy things so I pack as much as my suit cases will take!

Have a great trip!!

Angie

 

[Memaw2Wm]

Last year I typed up a packing list AND I had a "Disney" box that I was storing stuff in ... film, shampoo, unopened liquid soap, hand lotion, sunblock, hair do-dads and so forth.

Hmmmm ... need to find that list on my 'puter and get another Disney box going.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

We are going in Dec. and I have already started picking up those little things like the small tubes of tooth paste etc. When they go on sale. I will get the suitcases out about 2 weeks before and the week-end before the trip, pack anything that we will not need such as shorts. The rest I do as I wash during the week before. I pack most things right from the dryer. Everything except those last minutes things like make up and toothbrushes will be done at least a day ahead. My sister, however has been know to pack everything for a week at WDW the morning of the trip!! I agree to make a list early and then just keep checking it off.


Jordan's mom

 

[MelissaS]

We have five short weeks to go. Just the other night I brought the suitcases up from the basement and found the carry on bag I want to bring and put them on the floor in the spare bedroom.

I have already started to put things in that I know we won't need such as the kids coloring stuff and stickers for the plane, and all the suntan lotion.



I am totally responsible for packing all four of us. I have to start early, or I will forget something!



Have a great trip!

 

[sm4987]

MelissaS- I have already packed all the children's things. I am trying to work on mine and DH's things and misc. so that I won't forget anything.

 

[laceemouse]

Remember, anything you forget can be bought there if necessary. Onsite everything is pricey, but if you rent a car there is always Target or Walmart. Try not to worry to much about forgetting things. On one of our trips we stayed at an offsite timeshare. Our older girls were 4 and 2 and our boy was 5 months old. They had brought a port-a-crib into the condo for him. It had sheets but no real blanket. Our DD4 had brought a "lovey" blanket but would not let us use it to cover the baby! The first night I covered him with a bath towel! Of course, he did not complain! The next day we bought a crib sized blanket at Walmart. My son is 8 now and still has it!!! Have a great trip, Lacee

 

[heart4dis]

make a list of what you've already purchased and what you need. I found on past vacations I'd end up with doubles of things because I bought stuff so far ahead I forgot I had it!

 

[jel0511]

Always the night before, never earlier. DH and I have gotten pretty good at packing now, since we usually take the kids away 2 - 3 times per year. I just pull things out of their drawers, and grab all the other pertinent items and off we go. It usually takes us about an hour to pack up the 4 of us (me, DH, DD 5 and DS 2). DS is still in diapers, and the only thing I do in prep, is bring an unopened pack of diapers. That give us room for souviners on the way home.

 

[sm4987]

Thank everyone. I am now 7 days away. I'm packing in earnest. I'm so excited WL here we come!!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I usually pack the night before- sometimes a little earlier but not much. Mainly because I wash every stitch of clothing for every person in my household- then decide which clothes we'll be taking. I'm also responsible for packing all suitcases- except DH packs his and then I check to make sure he's taken everything he needs or that I want him to. LOL

I don't put things in the suitcases way before like some mentioned- but only because I don't want suitcases sitting around inside the house. We keep them in the garage or storage building. But I do start a list pretty early- and everytime I think of something, no matter how unimportant it seems or how it might seem important enough that no way I'd forget it- I run and add it to the list posthaste. So my list is sorta like the "throw in the suitcase" if you think about it- just not exactly the same. Then I check and double check that list when packing that night before.

 

[NomadFamily]

For me, it depends on the trip and the weather. For us, on this trip, we are still in cool weather clothing at home (Philadelphia) and need to get out the summer stuff for the trip....this means washing everything before we leave and buying lots of new stuff since my 5 y/o had a growth spurt during the winter. I'll start packing little by little this week (less than 3 weeks to go)...figuring out what we need and making lists.