The day before you leave on your WDW vacation are you...

[DaisyNY]

Trying to sleep...but not able to because I'm too excited and we always book the first flight out in the morning!

 

[PSUGuy]

We almost always arrive at MCO on a Wed or Thurs having stayed at a Sleep 'n Fly hotel the night before. So, we're packed by Sun night, at our departure hotel by 7 pm or so the night before for a Happy Hour (or two), then it's a shuttle to the airport for a 7 am or earlier flight. Not much stress and once we're past security I consider the flight to be the first Disney Ride.

Bill From PA

 

[GillianP1301]

By the time I get to the day before departure I've likely already been packed for over a week with only my last minute toiletries to throw into the suitcase right before leaving.

I spend the day before checking, double checking and triple checking all of plans, documentation, itineraries. I'm not stressed, but I'm not relaxed either. Anxious would probably be the best work to describe it.

 

[luvmy2babies]

It’s a little of both. We’ve been 4 times and none of those days have been totally relaxed or totally crazy. It’s mainly been going over checklists and double checking that we are not forgetting anything. Packing suitcases is always done before that. The day before we’re usually picking up last minute items from the store, printing boarding passes (when we flew), and trying to rest.

First trip I did spend the evening finishing the shirts I made for the trip. I had printer issues that didn’t get solved until then and I think that was probably the craziest “Disney Eve” we had. I think that was also the best one. While I was doing the shirts, there was a double feature of Disney Princess movies on the Disney channel. Our flight wasn’t until 1pm the next day so I wasn’t worried about not setting the alarm right or something similar going wrong the next morning. It was a great evening.

I think our most relaxed one was the one time I drove, which was last year. I told the kids about the trip 3 days before we left. We packed that afternoon and we spent those 3 days doing whatever I hadn’t gotten done already. All I remember doing the day before after work was putting everything by the door.

Disney Eve this year was when I told them about the trip. That was crazy but the rest of the day was pretty calm. I had already packed so after our errands, dd and I just double checked the suitcases against the lists and packed the carry-ons. And she since she had just found out went she through hers to see if she wanted to switch out any of her clothes.

Hardest part was getting them out of the house that morning to do the few errands I had left. Once they were in the van I told them why we were doing errands. Of course they were more than willing then. That night I set 2 alarms in case I went back to sleep after the first one went off (yeah like that was going to happen).

 

[michsig]

Not crazy and panicked, but definitely getting my nails done, and packing any last-minute things!

 

[Ismo]

I can barely sleep starting 2-3 days before we leave. Partly because I'm too excited and partly because I'm terrified of flying. I fly a lot for work but I still never feel calm about it.

I am usually pretty organized though and never have to rush to get everything ready. I then spend the night before repacking our bags just to make sure we have everything we need...and to waste time because I'm too excited!

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I am always in a rush. I'm working to close out my work leading up to it, get all the last workouts in I can to get mermaid-body ready, and then the realization hits that housesitters will be coming. That means that EVERYTHING has to be clean, I even freaked out the day before and had to scrub every inch of the inside of my fridge. I mean, these people are my friends, I don't want to be embarassed! LOL So I clean and scrub toilets and showers, and vacuum and mop and change all the linens. That's my biggest freak out, since I will have already packed like a day or two before that.

But its SO worth it! These sitters have helped us 2 yrs in a row and I compensate them, but this time, my friend that came with me asked them to watch her 3 dogs too, so this young couple had 5 dogs and 2 cats to watch! so we both compensated them accordingly.

Anyway if I don't have house sitters, it's no big deal. Empty out yucky stuff in fridge, take the trash with you, make sure the dishes are down, that's it. People living in your house for 10 days is different. (plus we had to put up doggy gates cuz one of the 5 was a puppy.)

One great thing was when I got flew away, my work job had all been tied up and wrapped up, my lawn had been mowed, my fridge, bathrooms, linens, tons of laundry was done and put away (which meant getting ready for work the next day was a breeze since we didn't have to chase down laundry). Basically, I had done 2 weeks of house and work stuff and could totally relax. I knew my doggies were happy and safe, and I had complete peace of mind, AND a very clean house when I came back and had to scramble to readjust to real life!

We didn't finish til midnight, and then got up at 5:00 and were out the door at 5:30/45. But who can really sleep the night before anyway, am I right?

 

[Crystal824]

Definitely running in a panic, every single time...trying to get packed and finishing up last minute stuff for work.

 

[Disney Frenhines]

Disney Eve is usually spent driving to the airport, after taking the cats to the cattery, it's a 5-6 hour drive before a 9 hour flight so I prefer to stay overnight at the Yotel at Gatwick, I have toyed with the idea of driving overnight then catching some zeds on the plane, but, never actually done it yet. I'm always so tired after the driving I sleep like a baby at the hotel.

 

[katt789]

I'm usually bored and watching the clock tick by ever so slowly

Kinda all depends on what day of the week it is and if I'm working the day before leaving! I'll usually leave an errand or 2 for the last day if I have to work & go out anyways, so there's usually some form of running around.

This past trip though we left Wed morning, I had Mon/Tues off so it was a whole lot of boring "let's watch movies & try to not fall asleep in the mid afternoon so we can sleep tonight" kinda thing

 

[wcurry66]

we'll be fully backed and car loaded on Disney eve

The pet care note will be on the counter (we reuse this, as a reminder to our pet sitter, so no need to write a new one)

The big stress this time if making sure everyone i up and out of the house at 5am (not horrific until you consider this is the ONE EMH hours night at MK during our trip and the kids THINK they will be staying up until 1am; which is a mere 20 hours after we leave the house)

 

[baylie666]

The day before we tend to be at work! Then home for last minute packing and getting clothes and carry on bags ready for the flight.
We have take out pizza so we can dump the boxes in the recycling outside.

Last thing before we leave the house the next morning is bleach the loo and wash up coffee cups from breakfast.

Not stressed at all, just well planned out.

 

[scholastica]

The only somewhat stressful part of the night before any vacation is the inevitable argument I will have with DH about his insane need to overpack. It goes like this EVERY SINGLE YEAR:

Me: Why are you bringing 3 extra shirts?
DH: I might spill something on myself.
Me: You can bring 1 extra shirt. If you spill that much, we'll start putting a bib on you.

Me: Who needs 12 pair of underwear for a 5 day trip?
DH: Just in case.
Me: When was the last time you crapped your pants?
DH: <looks at me in defeat>
Me: You can bring 1 extra pair. If you have some weird pants crapping episode, we'll go to the store and buy you more.

This goes on and on with similar discussions over his shoes, pants and socks. It's really more comical than stressful. I just don't get the need to pack like he's going to be gone for a month when we will be gone for a week.

This, every.single.time we go anywhere. I try to pack smart and he just keeps throwing random stuff in. Plus he wears a size 13, so he never anticipates how much room more than one pair will take up.


As to the original topic, I am fairly relaxed about packing and picking up last minute things. Luckily we only have a betta fish so I drop her off, clean up the house, take out the trash, do dishes and then try to sleep. So a bit of both.

My husband just tries to shove tons of stuff in the suitcase and relaxes and fall asleep at a decent hour. Next trip I am going to make sure it is all done ahead of time and then do a movie night cause that sounds like so much fun!

 

[rmm7e]

stressed...SO STRESSED. It is very tricky to go away. We own a farm and it takes a lot of prep and orchestration to make sure everything will be taken care of while we're gone.

Same here! Sooooo much to pre-arrange. I get major stress up until the minute I leave. Once I'm out the door on the way to the airport, I'm OK. But I'm miserable about 10 days before leaving, no matter where I'm going.

 

[dfherrera]

We drive down from NJ so we pack quite early the day before. (we are already packing and we still have 16 days to go before we leave). By noon, I like to have the bags packed and sitting near the front door.

I take the Jeep out and gas it up and fill any other fluids that need filling and back it into the driveway. By 5 or 6 pm, I like to have the Jeep packed with everything but our drinks and snacks.

We leave at 4 am the next day and finish those few last minute items that include the tickets and money for the trip.

We are usually pretty relaxed because we have done this for several years this way. Only issue is trying to fall asleep at an early enough time to get some quality hours of sleep in before we leave.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

DW will be running around like a chicken with her head cut off for a week leading up to any trip. I usually spend 5 minutes packing the night before.

 

[SueDonym3]

I am surprised and inspired by all the calm people...I am never calm on Disney eve...usually swept up in last minute packing, staying up way too late and even if I went to bed at a reasonable hour-no way I could sleep!

 

[pixiemama91]

Usually pretty relaxed. We tend to just go out to dinner that night as the start to our vacation so there is no clean up. I check the fridge one more time and see if there is anything in there that I need to get rid of before we go. We watch some tv and I double check the suitcases. After my DD goes to bed I usually get the carry ons packed since I like to tuck a few new surprises/toys in here carry on so she has something new to keep her entertained while in the airport and on the airplane. Then its early to bed since we tend to fly out early in the morning and need to be up 3-4am to get out the door on time.

 

[FancyNancy]

Usually I am finishing up my packing and going to the bank to get tip $$$. This year we are flying in the night before we check in to our Disney resort and spending the night at the Hyatt in MCO. That way we can just get up in the morning and board the Magical Express

 

[Luvscrappin]

I am going to try very hard to be more organized this year. We leave in 2 weeks!!! On vacation next week so my plan is to start getting things together in the spare bedroom. I have to work a 12 hr shift the day before we leave so I will be exhausted the night before we leave. We have drove the last few years but are flying this year so I need to be a little more conservative with the packing. I can't wait! Want the night before to be relaxing but plan on it being stressful, lol