Okay,fess up ,when do you start to pack?

[Tantor]

Well, I'm at the 38 day day mark and I'm already throwing stuff on a small table in our spare bedroom. I find when I think of something I get it right away and put it there. That way I don't forget.
I also make a list of clothes to take.
How bad is this?

 

[powellrj]

since we are usually still wearing the clothes we are taking, I am usually packing about 12 hours before we leave. I pack as I am doing the last of the laundry. I travel for work, so I always have a "personal items" case packed. DH just adds his razor and the kids add their toothbrushes.

We travel lite so a few times we have only taken carry-ons with us.

Many years ago we would drag several suitcases and take lots of extras and I would spend weeks packing. Those days are gone and we just take the bare minimum.

 

[dkal95]

I started in March for our trip in October. LOL

I start buying things we won't need until then like ponchos, swim masks, new swimsuits for the kids, new pajamas for the kids, travel toiletries... stuff like that. We're about 33 days out now and I have everything packed except mine and my husbands clothing. The girls are all packed and ready to go!
I'm just a wee bit excited.

 

[Pinnie]

I pack the night before! LOL

pinnie

 

[rt2dz]

We leave in the afternoon and I pack 1/2 the night before and 1/2 the morning of. I just don't understand packing way in advance. Of course, I don't buy new clothes for a vacation or bring along things that we aren't using regularly, with the exception of panchos, pins, lanyards.

 

[PolyAddict]

I usually set up an area to collect stuff. I find with each trip I bring less and less. You find out alot of the stuff you thought you needed is just a waste of space. I love to pack, though.

 

[MyGoofy26]

We leave in about a week and a half, and I started getting a few things together yesterday. I have a big box where I throw all free samples I get in the mail (a lot) so I dumped the box in the middle of the living room floor yesterday to start pulling out what I need. So I have toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and laundry detergent ready to go and it'll free up a little space on the way back since we don't have full bottles of things to pack pack up to bring home.

Haven't even started thinking about clothes yet though.

 

[Kahana-ri]

We bring up the suitcases three days before we leave. Laundry and the 'list' is in full swing. I try to avoid doing any running around for last minute items the night before we leave. Its a great feel to be able to relax the night before we fly out.

 

[woodchuck]

I pack the night before! LOL

pinnie

I'm happy to see that we are not the only ones who wait until the night before. LOL

 

[miamimama]

i pack the night before or the day we leave but i kinda do wat u do putting stuff in a pile

 

[isla bonita]

OK this is our story. We are leaving the 29th of this Sept. yup in 12 days. When we return I will rearrange the luggage and store it pack because we are going down in Feb. we will not need any of the cloths because we live in NE so I will be packed in Oct. for our Feb trip.

I will continue to add to our bags as I see what we need to stock our rental home. We generally bring 15 pcs. of luggage every time we head down.

South West love to see me coming.

 

[badblackpug]

I am leaving Nov. 3rd. As I wear uniforms to work and have been working a lot of over time I have not been wearing most of my street clothes. So I have started packing NOW! I am putting my capris and t-shirts into the suitcases. The kids wear uniforms too, so I putting most of their stuff in suitcases, too!

 

[daisyduck123]

I begin packing for our next trip, the day we return home from a WDW trip. I have 2 large Rubbermaid containers that I keep in the spare room that are just for our Disney trips. When we return from a Disney trip, anything that I need for the next trip (that I won't be using before then, like my WDW messenger bag, CBR visor etc.,) goes right into the Disney bin so I'll know where to find them for the next trip.

Right now in my Disney bins are:

Mickey messenger bag
about 9 sets of Matching Disney t-shirts
our matching Disney sweatshirts
black shorts for all of us
glowsticks
Dollar store ponchos
some empty lanyards
new flip-flops I just bought on clearance
Spray n Wash Stain Stick
Ziploc bags
Disney visors
extra Epcot passport we haven't used yet

I can't think of anything else. But planning ahead this way keeps me from freaking out when our trip dates gets closer.

**When our trip date does finally arrive, I don't have to worry about packing clean clothes....my family wears matching Disney shirts & shorts on each day of our 8 or 9 day trips. The shirts & shorts are already in the bins.

 

[kldmom2000]

Before we had kids, I'd pack a few hours before Now with kids, I generally make my list about 2 weeks prior and pick up any essentials we'll need (more sunblock, shampoo, etc) and just leave them in a bag in the basement..... Since I'll be doing the clothing "switch" here in New England probably before we go, I'll leave out the shorts/swimsuits/etc... and put them aside for the trip rather than stowing them away in Rubbermaid containers. We took the suitcases out of the attic last week to "air" them out since they've been sitting up there for 2 yrs since our last trip to Disney I'll start the actual "packing" 2 days or so before we go since the night before we leave, my parents are coming up to take us out to dinner for my younger DD's 4th bday since we'll be in Disney for her actual bday (And we leave the house @ 4:30 AM the next morning)

 

[Tiffer]

I already started preparing the master packing list. I print out the ultimate packing list I found the link for her on the DIS boards. Then I tweek it according to our needs.


Tha actual pack starts about a week before. I work and DD has a busy schedule too, so getign everything washed etc. This way I have a better chanve on not forgetting things.

 

[Tantor]

I can't think of anything else. But planning ahead this way keeps me from freaking out when our trip dates gets closer.

I can totally relate to that statement

 

[misshilda1]

We leave in 2 weeks for our annual WDW trip. I will be packing things here and there up till the moment we leave but I have had a suitcase for my DH and I and one for our DD10 packed for almost 2 months. I went and bought us all new comfortable shorts and tees and things when the summer stuff started going on clearance and packed it immediatley. Each suitcase has the clothing basics,toothpaste,and general grooming needs along with our Disney beach towels and other neccesities....I know that's a little extreme but hey I put up with crap all year long and knowing the time to go to WDW is near is all that keeps me sane......

 

[daisyduck123]

I know that's a little extreme but hey I put up with crap all year long and knowing the time to go to WDW is near is all that keeps me sane......

This just cracked me up!!! So true for me too!!

 

[js]

Well, I'm at the 38 day day mark and I'm already throwing stuff on a small table in our spare bedroom. I find when I think of something I get it right away and put it there. That way I don't forget.
I also make a list of clothes to take.
How bad is this?

Me too! We leave in 34 days

I ALWAYS am fully packed for our family of 4 at least a week before we leave. Well, my husband packs his clothes himself and that is usually about 3-5 days before we leave. I have also been known to pack two weeks prior to a trip.

I like to have all packing done and enjoy the week prior to our trip knowing that I do not have any last minute running around to do and can relax.
I have been putting things on a table in my room and when the kids are in school tomorrow, I plan on brining a box down from the attic that has their pins and some other stuff in it that I have been saving since our last trip.

Packing the day or night before would make me want to jump out the window and my poor family would want to follow with the stress I would feel having to do it all a few hours beforehand

 

[Tiggerlover48]

We are leaving Saturday and I've been putting stuff on our spare bed. And to my amazment my DH said tonight he too is going to start the packing process!! I can't wait to go.