Pre-trip routine

[HenDuck]

I would love to hear other people's pre-trip routines. How do you prepare for a trip? What things do you do the month, week, day, hours before your trip?

Thanks!

 

[bigsis1970]

Once we counted down a month ( that was a suprise trip for the kids ) by putting different disney stickers on teh calendar till it was trip day..

Once we counted out 100 strips of paper and divided it up equal among the trip takers and each wrote one word about Disney and made a paper chain and proceeded to rip off each day and posting it on the wall

I have a countdown timer here! but also have written in 10 day increments on my regular calendars

not sure what i will come up with this year for the kids to make for countdowns maybe a poster of their fave things in Disney to do starting at day 60 ?

 

[SnackyStacky]

My trip is in September. This far in advance, all I can do is obsess. Dreams Unlimited is doing all my planning, so I don't worry about that. I worry about budgeting, and figuring out what restaurants to ask for priority seatings for. I watch all of my Travel Channel videos, Disney World Planning video, and the 100 years of magic souvenir DVD I have. I read the unofficial guide, and passporter over and over and over again. I'm on these boards non stop. It's really quite sad. I also watch sales ads and things for those little things that I always take with me when I travel. (Film, batteries, toiletries....that kind of thing). I also look for good 'Florida clothes'.

About a month before, I start seperating the money for the trip so it's ready to go, and buying any last little doo-dads I might need.

About a week before, I start packing. I basically do the laundry so that anything I'll need is freshly laundered. I'll also do a thorough house cleaning so I don't even have to think about it when I get home.

The night before, I lay out the clothes I'll wear for the travel day. EVERYTHING we'll need for the airport (passes, money, ID...) is laid out on top of the suitcases.

 

[xAmarisx]

oh wow where do I begin?!

Lets see Im leaving in July for WDW and Right now im going crazy!

Right now Im finding the best prices for passes etc... and talking to you wonderful guys on the boards! As every day gets past me my anticipation grows more!!

This year My best friend is going with me and my family!!! and were Driving from New York to Orlando! Which is great! Guess Im one of the few who love to drive down to the famous sunshine state. I guess the day before I pack my little backpack with games,dvd's, candy and a pillow!! then its off to the backseat and knock myself out LOL

 

[dzneelvr]

We've got our routine down pretty pat and with the kids now teens, it makes packing so much easier for me than when they were little.

For our June/July trips here goes:

5-6 months out: confirm resort dates. confirm airline tickets. Confirm Ground Transportation to/from WDW.

90 days out: make all PSs. I make a PS for every meal we want. It's peak season when we go, so without one, we'd be sunk.
Re-check resort discounts. This year, my Disney Visa bought me a $400 discount to the original ressie made at ASMo. They just revised the ressie. DO NOT CANCEL AND RE RESERVE
Get on the disboards to see what's new; what's in rehab; etc.

30-60 days out: start asking the family if they need anything--swimsuits, new shorts, etc. Buy sunscreens, ponchos (A must for when we go), film, etc.
Everyone gets haircuts. Get photo IDs in order. Make sure everyone has an extra supply of contact lenses, eye glasses are in good order (get them adjusted now).

First Day: go to guest relations and get Annual Pass. There's no sense to us to get a voucher prior to this, I'd be afraid I'd lose it or something.

WERE HERE and we always have a perfect time!!!!!!!

WDW ON JUNE 24

 

[WhispyPixie]

Well..we are leaving June 2nd.....and this is how it has and is going...


I have already:
* made hotel reservations
* made priority meal reservations
* reserved transportation from airport to hotel
* confirmed ALL reservations
* contacted and recieved AAA trip tic for directions
* have ordered glo-in the dark sticks for my kids off ebay
* have made sure that EVERYONE has new comfy tennis shoes and sandals and that they are wearing them NOW so they get broken in
* have begun collecting NEW favorite outfits for the kids
* have begun working on having at LEAST 2 all matching shirts for the family
* have located our AP's so I know where they are
* have made ID tags for each of the children and have them ready as we require them to wear them anytime they are out of the room
* have gotten LIME GREEN Mickey heads and have cut them out and laminated them. We have them for fanny packs, back pack, stroller, camera straps and water bottles. Yeah we are DIS freaks.
* have picked up small trinket type things, small notebooks, pens, sharpies, bubbles, bubble gum, & chapstick and packed all of it in the fanny packs
* have reserved the kennel for the pets



One week before we leave:
* Will gather all clothes and pack in soft-sided luggage, this way, as we think of things that we forget, we just set it on top of each bag, then add them and the tolietries in the day we leave
* Will have the kids pack their "in the car" bags with at least one change of clothes and bathing suit
* Will purchase and pack in tupperware containers snacks & candy
* Will change all batteries and clear off memory cards for camera
* Pack extra batteries for any electronic things
* Confirm and pack all cords, cables etc, that might be needed to connect to internet, dump pictures to computer...etc
* pack the video box, letting each person pick a couple of movies
* purchase drinks with twist off tops only for the cooler
* confirm kennel for pets
* confirm hotel, dining, and transport reservations
* fax room controler with HOPEFUL and POLITE requests
* call and have mail stopped
* watch each child's favorite DISNEY movie throughout the week
* get car serviced before trip



Day Before we leave
* confirm ALL reservations!!
* fill up the tank...(at these rates ARG!!!!)
* have a special dinner with the family and let everyone share what are the few FAVORITE things that they want to make sure they do on this trip
* pack up all we can



THE DAY OF!!!
* PACK the car, double check EVERYTHING and get out of town!!

 

[mansionfan]

Confirm reservations it seems like 3-4 times prior to our departure. then we will hit Wal-Mart about 3 days prior and stock up on snacks, drinks, etc.....everything we'll need for the trip. About 2 days prior I will start going through my disney shirts, hats, etc...picking out the ones I will were at WDW. Have the kids pack their own clothes and any disney toys they want to bring on the trip. Night before, we will pack the car and park it in the garage, so that when the alarm clock goes off, we spend little time before we are in the car driving to the MAGIC!!!

 

[MagicalMom]

We are preparing for our July trip. Lately I have been picking up film (lots of it!), sun block, paper plates & plastic cups.

I bought little denim bags & puffy paint. I had the kids paint them the other day & they will be their goodie bags. I have been buying road games, candy and puzzle books to fill the bags. I even found a whole set of pooh & friends figurines at the dollar store & packed those for my 2 yr old.

Next week I should probably call to confirm all of our ressies.

We have also been rolling our change & tweaking our budget.

I have already packed my "road bag". It will ride at my feet in the van. In it is my camera, folder including all of the reservation I have printed off of the internet, maps, passporter, flashlight. It will be filled with special goodies just for me before we leave!

I have bought new bathing suits & summer outfits for the children. I will be buying these pump airblowing thingies I found at walmart. You fill it with water & pump it a few times & cool mist blows out.

Gosh, I even enjoy buying the little things! Pathetic huh?

 

[zippehsmom]

Well we are going in July and so far I have Confirmed Hotel ressies, Made PS's , tweaking itinerary (over and over), purchased airfare, made rental car reservations (just checking for lower prices now), ordered park passes, Food vouchers and I'm beginning to get my money envelopes together. We get a few travelers checks every week. I also have finished collecting all my $1's for valet tips, housekeeping & luggage.

I forgot about film. THis is why I love these boards. I know that if I forgot something, someone else will remember it. I guess I'll add picking up a pack of film a week until we go.

We are going to Williamsburg, VA 6/19-25. I know I should get ready for that trip first, but I haven't done nearly as much for that trip as I've done for WDW. I know this may sound crazy , but I don't even want to pack our new summer clothes for this trip. I want to save them for WDW.

Anyways, that's pretty much what I've done so far. One week prior I will be reconfirming all reservations, packing and waiting anxiously.

zippehsmom

 

[Castillo Mom]

Oh my goodness, where do I even begin? Well, we leave August 13th and I just finished paying off WDW (we have the 5 + 7 pkg. for 8 nights). I started buying summer clothes several months ago and DH just finished buying his last week. We have 3 sons and tomorrow I'm taking the 11 year old clothes shopping, they youngest has almost everything he needs and I still need to go shopping with the eldest which I'll do in 2 weeks. I still need to get luggage for DH. I've started buying some of necessities like Ziplock bags, sunblock, etc. I'm finishing up the itinerary tonight and tomorrow I'm up bright and early at 3:30 a.m. to get up in time to make our first PS. I need PS for 8/14 at Cape May for dinner and I don't want to take the chance that I won't get the time we need; will also be reserving Illuminations Cruise. Van reservation is made that will take us to the airport and we're booked with FL Tours for limo transport to the BC. Most everything has been paid off, so all that's left is to keep watching the boards for any schedule changes and park hours for August. I can't believe all the details that have to be taken care of for a trip to WDW!

 

[dougsmom98]

We decided to take our June trip in April. In those first 2-3 weeks after we made our decision, we spent hours searching for inexpensive hotel and car rentals. After we found them, we booked the hotel, car rental and air.

Since those first few weeks, I have spent coutless hours on these boards researching and have read the UG book twice. I have been making lists upons lists of things to remember.

In the last two weeks, I have been typing up a detailed touring plan and itinerary.

Yesterday with 32 days left, I bought our park hopper tickets at the Disney Store. I also started to buy essentials for our trip such as sun screen and toiletries. I will chip away at this list over the next 30 days.

With one week to go, I will start doing loads of laundry and officially packing the suitcases. I will check our packing lists over and over to make sure I don't need to buy anything else. I will also confirm all reservations.

The day before, I will cancel our mail and newspaper delivery. Buy sandwiches and lunchables for the kids to eat on the plane, pack our carry on bags, load up the car with as much as we can, clean the house, and check those lists again. I will also confirm our flight times.

The day we leave, we will check the lists one last time and hit the road to the airport. I am sure I will be awake hours before the alarm because I am so excited!
-Amy