Just curious does anyone else pack 1 to 2 weeks before their trip ? Please tell me im not alone ?

[LISAMWDW]

I usually pack day before but start preparing a month ahead. Shopping, pileing things up in a corner of my room.

 

[nono]

We travel in the fall after the weather has changed so I just pack when I'm starting to switch over to fall/winter clothing.

Yes, if we're going in the fall/winter, I can be packed several *months* in advance. But for our end-of-summer trips, it's just do laundry and throw it all in the bag.

 

[BookGirl305]

q

 

[Disneytam]

More like one to two months! We go in the winter months to Disney so when I start putting summer clothes away in Sept. I start thinking about and setting aside the summer clothes that we are taking to Disney with us. My mother in-law bought me a small hand held scale that hooks onto your luggage and it goes up to 50 lbs. Oh my god this thing is a life saver, or at least an embarrassment saver! I will never again be the person holding up the line because my luggage weighed 52 lbs. and I'm trying to put things into another suitcase. I have used it three times and so far it has always said the same as the scale at the airport. I was really pushing it on our last trip at 49.4 lbs. but no problem. I think every hotel should have one for guests to use.

 

[kaybird]

Jus like the FBI, I have a Go-bag. Always packed. Always ready. Just in case.

 

[KristiKat]

I haven't started packing yet but I started making lists a couple months ago. We have 84 days to go. I have a packing list and a list of everything I need to buy before the trip. My shopping list is getting much shorter. I have boxes set aside marked for Disney with clothing and toiletry items in other boxes. Just one of my steps before I actually get the suitcases out. It's been a little harder to get ready for this trip because we aren't able to tell the kids about the trip due to my step-son's mother. She likes to interfere with these things when she finds out about them. I have to hide anything having to do with the trip and make sure I don't slip up and say anything to give it away. It's hard to do because I love all things Disney and planning a trip is so exciting.

 

[Eandbmom]

I have a tote bag filled with things we will pack, we will actually pack the day before...17 days to go

 

[anniemae]

We make a "Disney" spot on our guest bed months before the trip lol
We put things like sunscreen, paper products for breakfast in the hotel, ponchos etc there. Since we drive I don't worry about consolidating, the night before I just throw half my dresser in our bags

this is what we do. I kind of put things aside as I think of them so it's not a mad rush at the end.

 

[Jonas_Swe]

Hi Everyone !

Our trip is a little over a month away (18 days) and I have already started to sort out what I am taking. I set up a large table crack up some dis tunes have a drink and start the long but fun process. Like many have said on here I have clothes just for Disney US and SW. As long as colors match im happy specially our monster inc shirts everyone we meet loves them. Plus we always get picked at least once during the laugh floor show which is always so much fun. Then I always get new sneakers which work best for me along with new socks that breath etc. Finally there is all my led lights and gizmos I wear so much I look like a Christmas tree at night lol. I get so many compliments and surprised looks I just love it plus I give some away to the kids makes their night and mine. Most important I always weigh my suitcase a couple times make sure it all good (40lbs) before I get to the airport. I have heard their scales add at least 5 lbs so I don’t want to go over unload things and waste valuable time. Sorry for rambling on if you read it all I do appreciate it and gold star for you

Have a Magical Day

Hi!

I pack well in advance too, especially for Disney! Other trips I've been known to just throw my stuff in a pack pack and leave the same morning.

But Disney Vacations are different, of course.

To Walt Disney World i make sure to pack my Disneyland Resort Paris tees and caps, and for Disneyland Resort Paris I pack my Walt Disney World clothes.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Hi I usually don't - which unfortunately leads to me having to pull an "all nighter' the day before just to pack. In my defense I am packing for me and my two kids -my DH packs himself and is always done quickly- very annoying

This year I plan on starting at least a week before, staying up so late to pack always throws me off the first day of my trip.

Yep, I also weigh my luggage, but I use this one which has never failed me - using this I am able to pack knowing what my suitcase weighs to the ounce. I've never had a problem with a difference with an airport scale.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A8SXGKA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is me. I laugh at everyone on the boards leading up that start packing 30 days before, even a week before. Then 2 days before I start realizing that I have way too much other stuff to do, now don't have time to pack. I also pack both kids and myself, and DH packs in 1 hour the night before and asks why I'm not done I told myself I will start 5 days before this year.

 

[Jennasis]

Also we have our own version of an Owner's locker that we call our "Disney Box". It's a big tote with wheels that has things we use every trip and never gets unpacked. ..shampoo, toiletries, pool towels, otc meds, sunscreen and so on. We drive so it's no big deal to toss it in the car.

 

[missymouse]

Well since my daughter arrives late on Monday from UK and we fly out to Disney on Thursday she can't pack early unless she packs her stuff for Disney in carry on and the rest of her stuff in her checked bag. I will start packing probably weekend before departure for myself. The "boys" are all on their own with me checking night before for things they may have forgotten. Trying to get everyone to pack lightly since we will have washer and dryer in the villa.

 

[Roccosmom]

Oh you are definitely NOT alone! I make a list a couple months ahead of time so I can determine what I need to buy (camera battery, hand sanitizer, travel sized stuff) and as I do I put it in a box. A couple weeks out I start to pack with a goal of having everything done and packed (except airplane snacks) a week ahead of time.

 

[mousefan73]

[GALLERY=][/GALLERY]

Where did you find them?

I live in Germany. Found them at a discounter like Aldi. "Dollar" stores have them too. The cool thing is you can reuse them just a standard thin glow stick bent and stuck in holes. [GALLERY=][/GALLERY]

 

[mousefan73]

I would post a pic but cant figure how to upload iphone picture???

 

[oceanmarina]

Take this with a grain of salt, because I'm a "bit" OCD.

Vacation Booked: The new items list gets started on my computer. This includes things we've never brought before, but discovered we (I) absolutely need for this trip. That list will continually evolve as we get closer to the trip. (For instance, I found these great little strobing LED keychain lights that I plan on attaching to the children for easy identification and location at night)

D-30 Days: Dust off the Disney spreadsheet. I have a dedicated packing spreadsheet for every type of vacation or business trip (At last count, there were seven). I'll add the new items from the above list, remove those that didn't make the cut, and begin shopping for the items we don't yet have.

D-14 Days: Start the collection and sorting process. We're not ready to pack yet, but I begin gathering everything and sorting it into piles, checking it off against the spreadsheet as I go.

D-3 Days: Let the packing commence. Time to start putting it in bags, checking the items against the list again, and making sure the bags make their weight.

D-1 Day: Carry-on suitcase packing. (Refer back to the well-used spreadsheet)

Of course, this year is a bit different since I'll be in Orlando for board meetings five days before my wife has the unenviable task of flying down with the two little ones. I'll do my best to have her all packed up and ready before I go, but she's not quite as "structured" as myself, so she'll inevitably roll her eyes at my antics and I'll inevitably have to pack some extras that I'm sure she'll forget.

BoatDriver I like your plan, I'm going to try a modified version of it for my upcoming trip;

Here's my "no more packing all nighters" Disney packing game plan:

D - 3 weeks - get the suitcases ready in the guest room

D- 2 weeks - Pack my toiletries in my gallon Ziploc bags - packing the toiletries and little things for me and the kids is what usually takes up the majority of my time

D - 1 week - Pack the clothes for me and the munchkins

D - 3 days charge all the electronics, make sure memory cards in camera are blank (backed up and deleted to make room for all the pictures I want to take). Pack my carry on and my kids carry on.

D - 2 days finish packing

D - 1 day - get a good night's rest as you are all packed - for once!! - Let's hope!!

 

[oceanmarina]

This is me. I laugh at everyone on the boards leading up that start packing 30 days before, even a week before. Then 2 days before I start realizing that I have way too much other stuff to do, now don't have time to pack. I also pack both kids and myself, and DH packs in 1 hour the night before and asks why I'm not done I told myself I will start 5 days before this year.

Yes, my husband and I are always guaranteed to have 2 arguments every time we travel ; Argument #1 - Why it takes me so damn long to pack....why didn't I start packing earlier since historically it takes me so long to pack... and now that he's done packing (in one hour), my staying up all night packing is throwing him off and making a stressful start of our trip

Argument # 2 - (now since discontinued since I got my amazing luggage scale from amazon;

https://www.amazon.com/Luggage-Temperature-Function-Backlight-Traveler/dp/B00A8SXGKA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468098308&sr=8-1&keywords=camry-110-lbs-50-kg-luggage-scale-with-temperature-sensor-and-tare/

Argument #2 took place at the airport where we found out - as DH angrily predicted - that my suitcases were over. So yes, we were the fools on line doing the suitcase shuffle - moving stuff from one suitcase to another. Also, staying in a 1 bedroom villa has helped since they have a washer/drier in room, so I don't have to pack quite so much.... in theory anyway.

wdw4rfam congrats on your stay at the Poly, you guys are going to love it!! According to your ticker, you should start packing on Thursday 7/14 to get a 5 day slowpoke packer's head start. Let's both make a pact this trip to start earlier - from one packer procrastinator to another

 

[snayak]

yes and no. We travel enough that we've found its easier to have 2 sets of toothbrushes, etc - so the 3-1-1 toiletry kit is generally always packed.

I have a checklist of all items I'd need and just X-out the ones I won't need (winter jacket in the summer, for example) and those too are generally always packed away for travel (power strip, phone charger, spare memory cards, etc).

Since I wear the same clothes at home as on vacation, I don't start packing them till about a week before - whenever the load of laundry is done, its all just folded and put in packing cubes as opposed to in the dresser.

We try really hard to go (everywhere!) carry on only, and keep it to <10kg (22lbs) each so we usually do laundry on vacation, depending on the length of the trip since we only pack about 5 days of clothes.

 

[awalker1015]

I do the same thing! Start 2 weeks out. Usually we fly but this year we are driving and extending the trip so I am sure that will extend my packing window!

 

[Amysita]

I'd be panic stricken if I waiting that long before starting to pack! I've had a list 6 months in advance that I've been working on...and I started packing today...2 months out. Funny thing is, I haven't even booked my room, and I'm already packing. I am (not so) patiently waiting for discounts to be released for DLR...which I'm hoping will happen within the next 2 weeks.

I'm only on the WDW boards because I'm starting my research for my 2018...yup you read that correctly '18' WDW vacay.