What do you all do the day before you leave for WDW?

[Castillo Mom]

Just curious as to how you all spend the day before you leave for WDW? Do you do last minute packing? Do you run around like a chicken with your head cut off? Do you work the day before or take the day off? Do you have a going away party? Does your family sit around and watch Disney's trip planning video for the 100th time? Do you watch Disney movies to get in the mood? Do you hit the hay early to get a good night's sleep or are you too excited? I'm curious as to what everyone else does. I know our trip is a long way away but since I'm almost finished with most of my planning, I needed something new to talk about related to Disney. Plus maybe I'll hear some good ideas on what to do the day/night before we leave (that's if we're packed and ready to go).

Let's hear it everyone!

 

[Leigh123]

Castillo Mom,

I amjust like you, I plan over plan and plan so much that I am done planning 11 mons before the trip LOL...We leave one week from today and here is what I plan to do.

1) manicure and pedicure
2) make DH get a haircut
3) take the car to get detailed (why I dont know, it will just be sitting in the airport lot for a week)
4)take Chester the Pester (8 month old Dalmation MONSTER) to grandpaps (my dad and faithful dog sitter)
5)order pizza
6)throw away last day of the paper chain (used to countdown the days)
7) order pizza
8) go to bed


I have another week to go, and I cant stand the waiting LOL

 

[AirForceRocks]

Normally, we both take off work the day before we leave, just so that we can finish last minute stuff. But on our last trip, we had to take our promotion tests the day before we left.

Studying for the tests and trying to get ready for Disney at the same time? Not a good combo!!

 

[kaabost]

I know our trip is a long way away but since I'm almost finished with most of my planning, I needed something new to talk about related to Disney.

I like this....I know how you feel. BTW, this is a new/good question IMO.

I usually have to work or study or live my normal every day life the day before we go because I am undoubtably taking as much time off as possible to go to Disney. Packing is usually not an issue becuase I have usually done that 4 months in advance.......which remainds me, I had better start packing soon. I usually try to get to bed at a reasonable hour the night before but I never get to sleep until a rediculous hour because I am so excited. Luckily, the excitement remains the next day, preventing me from falling asleep at the wheel.

If I can (and I think that I will be able to do this on this upcoming trip because it will be right after New Years) I prefer to sleep really late the day before we leave and then start driving to Florida (which will be from NC) around midnight or soon after. That way, we drive without traffic, get to Florida around sun-up, have the option of stopping at a beach for a nap, and get to Disney ASAP (more bang for our buck). If the room is ready, we can take a nap (if not....nap by the pool) and then have the evening to do something fun (DD, resort hop, etc.). Additionally, we will be sleepy/lazy enough that we will come in early, ready to sleep, so that we will be well rested for our Commando Style park touring the next day.

OK. Sorry, I rambled too far. I love to talk about the beginning of a Disney trip. The first couple of days are always by far the most exciting!

 

[swankybeth]

Well, we leave two weeks from today and since the day before we leave is a Friday, this is what I plan to do:

-Go to work (and not concentrate at ALL because I'm too excited!)
-Get a manicure
-Buy any last minute items needed for the trip
-Try to sleep, but fail miserably, LOL!!!

 

[BriarRose59]

I am usually doing last minute laundry and then going over the packing lists with everyone to make sure they have packed what I told them to pack. My children always bring back packs with them that contain what they want to do on the plane. Now that they are older they mostly contain Game Boy Advance and books. I rarely sleep the night before because I am too excited. I also make sure I pack my info sheet with all my PS's on it, flight materials, confirmation numbers for the hotel, make sure a charge card is in my bag along with insurance cards and emergency phone numbers. I usually try to decide what parks we want to go to on what day before we leave. I check park hours on the Disney site and make sure if there are any EE days that I work them in. I love to plan. My family always knows when I get in Disney-mode they just need to listen and follow along. We always have fun no matter when we go.

 

[CamColt]

Last minute packing, errands, laundry

My nails

Clean my house spotless....I will go nuts if I have to come home to a messy house.

Try to do good on my diet since I will be pigging out

Tell the kids a million times..."Were going to Disney World".

 

[Strings]

I will unload and reload my suitcases at least twice, because I'm sure I forgot something. On our honeymoon, DH forgot to pack underwear! Needless to say the first stop we made was shopping. I never forget a thing! I will also take a benedryl before bed. It helps me sleep, but I don't feel hung over the next day.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Leigh, I've been obsessed with this trip and I'm driving my husband nuts. I just had to think of a topic I hadn't seen lately. I'm hoping to be able to take the day off before our flight leaves. We actually leave the 13th of August and are staying in a hotel near the airport overnight before heading to our WDW resort. I thought maybe some of you Disney vets had traditions that you adhere to for the day or night before. Like I said, just needed another reason to talk about Disney.

Keep the posts comin'!

 

[MJwritestuff]

I do all the things I normally HATE doing. My reasoning is that I can't get any happier (I keep thinking "this time tomorrow...") so why not:

1. Dust underneath things, instead of just around them as usual as I tell myself no one looks anyway,
2. Clean the grout in the shower,
3. Count for real as I'm doing my exercises and not skip every fifth step,
4. Tuck in the sheets that face the wall, even though no one notices anyway,
5. Take those drawers out of the fridge and scrub them,
6. Organize my spices (just kidding - I've never done that in my life!)

and finally, just before I collapse and mentally repack everything, I clip my eight year old son's toenails, a job that needs military training and the olfactory senses of a dead person.

That's it! Then I tell myself I need to nap, and I grin the whole time in the dark as I count down the hours .....

We've got two months to go, think I'll make it?

MJ

 

[Pooh67_68]

Lets see:
Get up early and get husband off to work.
Pack the suitcase.
Visit with family.
Get home and double check everything one more time.
Start dinner about 15 min. befor husband gets home.
Have dinner, do dishes.
Watch some tv while wishing the rest of the night would just fly by.
Finally time for bed but can't sleep, to excited!!!
Yeah it's time to go!!

 

[kalidk]

ok here it goes....I am a WDW freak...I am going in Nov for Thanksgiving.. My husband, two sons (14 & 15) my Mom and Dad
My sister and her husband (his 1st time). No one will talk to me anymore because this is all I talk about is this trip. Ok so what am I doing? I am making books to give them on the plane...Yes thats right I am making books..I am putting menus in,and tips, info on the CBR where we are staying, Trivia and tons more stuff..I have learned soooo much about Disney its been great fun doing this. And I know they will love it..

The day before I will be absoulty beside myself.

 

[Blueberry]

OK..we leave saturday the 13th so our day before is this friday..

1. We take the day off work...even though it is just DH and I going we have things to do and getting home at 5:30pm when you have a very early mornng flight does not cut it....

2. Go get travelers cheques for the trip and get DH a haircut. My hair gets cut earlier in the week.

3. I will be packed but DH will pack, he is not an early packer

4. See all our grown children and grandkids during the day sometime and promise to bring back souvenirs...what kinda grandparents would we be if we did not bring them something back... Ok they have all been this year already, so they are not WDW deprived...

5. Pick up dinner, either subs or pizza as who wants to cook for dinner...

6. Try and go to bed early, but end up talking away for hours. We always talk over the trips we took when the kids were you and went with us and all the crazy things that happened and having some good laughs

 

[VickiVM]

This year will be very different than others. Previously, I would try to have everything packed except for the toiletry bag. But of course, you always find other odds and ends you think you need (never on any of our trips did we need a single band aid much less the whole dang box) and I wind up unpacking and repacking. And then of course I have to wash every stitch of dirty laundry in the house including all the sheets because the best part of coming back home is sleeping in your own bed and I want everyone to sleep in a nice clean bed on our first night home. And then you realize that you're out of those bandaids that is on that "What To Pack" list that floats around on the DIS boards, so you have to make a trip to Walgreens at 11:30pm. And while you're at Walgreens you suddenly remember that they don't sell gum at WDW and you're out so I make an event out of buying gum and bandaids. And while you're standing in the check out lane you see the end cap of an aisle that has sun products. Hmmm, I say to myself. I have sunscreen, but I didn't get that after-sun balm that Coppertone makes and maybe I need that too, in case the SPF 325 dosn't work and we all fry at the pool. And since I'm already out of the checkout line, I may as well get another package of razors, kleenex, bag of jellybeans for the car trip, feminine stuff, a second box of wipes just to keep in the car, Dexatrim (like that will curb my appetite at WDW-HAH), and a package of Gardetto's for my husband since he is driving.

So finally at 2am, I go to bed - laundry done, fresh sheets on all the beds, re-packed toiletry bag (with all my newly purchased must-have products) and a forgotten white plastic Walgreen's bag on the kitchen island with...the box of bandaids.

I have no clue how the heck I am going to manage in a few months since we depart the day the kids get out for their Christmas break. Holiday has just added a whole new dimension to "The Day Before Vacation Starts".

Wish me luck and offer any tips!!

 

[Joyciemc]

We don't exactly have traditions, because this was the first time we went together. Before we left for our trip in May, we saw a movie in the afternoon, went out for dinner and came home to pack. The Weather Channel was on the TV the whole time, and we obsesively checked the weather online as well.
We put the suitcases in the car and amazingly we were able to go to sleep. I set every alarm I could find (including the one on my cell phone) because I was petrified of oversleeping. Once we get to go more often, I'm sure we'll be more laid back about it. I must say that last day before leaving was great- nothing like saying 'we're going to Disney World tomorrow!!'

 

[BCVOwner2002]

Great thread!

I usually do not take the day before we leave off from work since I am trying to get a lot done so there is nothing "old" waiting for me when I return.

I am anal so I already have the lists and most stuff done: stop mail, stop milk delivery, stop newspaper, pick up travelers checks, purchase film, passes, etc.

DH on the other hand: cuts and waters the lawn, cleans the fishpond filters, takes trash to the dump, makes sure light timers are set to go on and off as they are supposed to.

But the night before I clean the kitty litter and make sure she has fresh water. Bring the house key and list with telephone numbers, alarm codes and other pertinent information to our neighbor who is taking care of cat and fishpond. Order and pick up pizza. Water the plants. Do final load of dishes in dishwasher. Just before bed I check my list to make sure everything is packed that can be.

In the morning, I pack the last of the toiletries, make the beds, and wipe up the bathrooms. Afterall, the neighbor will be in the house to feed the cat!

Annmarie

 

[Emy'sMom]

We are leaving on Saturday, October 18 .... the day before we leave DH has to work and DD has to go to school, however, I took the day off. YEAH!

I'll probably clean up the house, finish packing, get all my paperwork together .... oh, and dance around the house singing "I'm going to Disney World tomorrow!!!!" And, hmmmm.....seems like lots of people get their nails done. Maybe I should do that too - even though I have little stubs since I have the bad habit of biting my nails!!

Debbie

 

[RussH]

My next WDW trip in Dec is my long one and a solo. I pack on Thursday and preset everything in the garage. On Friday work a half day come home and go right to sleep. Lucky my work for 20+ years required a lot of travel I can sleep anyhwere anytime. Up around midnight shower load out the truck and on the road by 1 am.
RussH

 

[Castillo Mom]

Hmmm. I pictured myself possibly working the day before our flight leaves but I think I may reconsider. You all sure are busy bees the day before. I figured with my over planning nature, I'd be packed six months ahead, I already have the itinerary pretty much done with the exception of some minor details, all the reservations will have been made and paid for, PSs would have been made 90 days prior, haircuts, manicure/pedicure will be done several days before, all travel documents will be together and in my carry on, the house will be cleaned from top to bottom the weekend before. So what I thought, what else would be left to do but tap my nails on the table and twiddle my thumbs? Now that I see what you all do, I'm definitely not going in to work the day before.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Oops, duplicate post.