What do you have to do before you leave for WDW?

[LadyLuc361]

I just got my airline tickets via UPS, which has made me very excited even thought our trip isn't until Aug 21st - 28th. I have made my ADRs and my agenda for the week. I have booked the Segway tour too.

The things I still have to do are call WDW and give them my Magical Express info, make a final decision on trip insurance (we have it as of now) and maybe make one more ADR. I can't start packing for a while, but I guess I could make a list of must see attractions.

So what do you have to do before you head to WDW?

 

[Tishke]

I still have to pack, find DS a tray or something that he can use on the trip down (by car) to color on, pick up one of those portable DVD holders that lets you attach it to the seat in front of you, and clean the house. Now how I am going to get all of that done in two weeks when the boss is going to be out of town and it is my last two weeks of the quarter with school, I have no idea I'll do anything to go to Disney, so I will have to kick it into high gear this weekend.

 

[jswalker1981]

I live like an hour and a half away so I can go quite often. Normally I go down to orlando the night before we go so we can be there when it opens. We(my girlfriend and I) stay at a friend's house, so we stay for two nights, this way we can stay till it closes. My girlfriend loves MK, so that is where we go most of the time. So normally after packing for two nights, I make sure I have my Disney CDs, the greatest hits ones. We listen to them all the way down, it helps to set the mood.

 

[Amirah95]

I just needed to get my touring plans together. Also, wrote up a list of what I was packing in my lugguage. I'm a planner by nature and I over do it. I leave nothing unplanned. Name it and I plan it! I don't think that was good advice, just something to make you crazy. LOL!

 

[Mickey and Me]

We leave in 9 days and I have everything done, even down to the CD's packed for the portable DVD in the car. What can I say, when it comes to Disney, I find the time to get it done. Have a wonderful trip everyone!

 

[poochie]

I leave in two day's still have tons to do though!!

 

[PamNC]

Don't get me started now...I get a little panicky about all the things I have to do before our trips. We're 3 weeks and 2 days out. Right now I'm fine, but when the final week rolls around, I start to panic a little.

So far, here's what I've done. Obviously I have my resort reservations and I've paid my deposit. I've made all my ADR's. I'm researching the room location situation at the Beach Club so I can determine what type of room request we're going to make.

We have a houseful and farmyard full of pets. 4 horses, 2 dogs, 4 inside cats, 5 outside "barn" cats, 3 chickens. So, needless to say it's not a simple thing for us to leave. We do have a wonderful sitter that comes and stays at our farm. I have her scheduled for the trip, so that is taken care of.

Luckily, I don't need any clothes or shoes for the trip. All set there. I'll have to, of course, make sure I get my hair done because I won't go to Disney with any gray strands in my hair. I know that's silly....but I just can't. I always manipulate my monthly hair coloring appointments so that I go really close to the trip. That way my hair will be a beautiful dark brown color all over while I'm there. I know you're all laughing now and that's okay. Laugh with me not at me.

The week of the trip: NOW I panic. I feel like I have to really clean the house, why I don't know but I scrub and clean and make sure it's perfect before we leave. Another obsession of mine. Luckily my DH is very helpful, in fact, you might say he does more of the work than I do. (but I work longer hours). We've got it all worked out. I have to make sure I have plenty of food for the animals, litter for the kitties, and I check the fences in the pastures to see if anything is going on...like trees or limbs down. Two to three days prior to the trip, we fax a room request to our resort. The day before the trip we pack, I write up instructions for the sitter, and then I don't get a bit of sleep the night before because I'm too excited.

What a ritual - but it's worth it!

PamNC

 

[BellyDaisy]

I have to get married. Only 3 weeks, 2 days left to go!!

We haven't purchased our tickets yet, either. We probably won't do that until after the wedding, anyway. We gave ourselves two weeks in between the wedding and our Disneymoon, which I am SO glad about right now! There's no way I'd have been able to plan an entire Disney trip AND this silly wedding!!

 

[LadyLuc361]

PamNC - thanks for reminding me! I have to decide whether to take the pup to my Dad's or have him stay at a Kennel. We found a nice kennel, but we have never left him before so I am worried!

 

[milmore104]

I have to get married. Only 3 weeks, 2 days left to go!!

Congrats! on your upcoming wedding!

As for getting ready I have to pack for everyone so getting that done and making sure everyone has what they need gives me a little bit of a headache. At least my DH is understanding. His motto is if you didn't bring it buy it. Seeing as on our last trip I packed really well for everyone else and forgot to pack for myself!!!OOPS!
I have to make ressies for the hotle near the airport as we live about 3 1/2 hours from the nearest one.
I have to arrange for my DD dogs, cat,fishies,& turtle are cared for
Always make sure my bills are in order
And lastly I always have a big family dinner for both sides the night before leaving so everyone can say bye to our DD.

 

[newholidayx2]

Before DS13 & I leave for our 2wk WDW vacation Aug 13-27 we have to:
Spend 5days camping in Maine July 1-5
and spend 7days at the NH beaches July 21-27

 

[gracey712]

This will be my first time going to wdw, we're not going til Oct and I'm already freaking out.
I will be the person who freakishly cleans the house before going so when I come home I won't have to bother with it.
I will also do a "practice pack" for myself and the kids to see what size luggage we'll need and how much room will be left in the truck for coolers and games and dvd players, as we are driving down.
I'll have to make sure all my bills are paid for the month as I know I will have nothing left upon our return home.
And aside from the animals and house checking that's about it to my list. But I know I'll be freaking out the week before....I'm already too excited!!

 

[matt&jakesmom]

We leave it 16 days and I am getting frazzled. I had a list started of things to remember to pack and now I cannot find it so I have to start all over again. I do have a bag that has batteries for headphones and camera, but have to buy more. I have the waterproof camera and throw away cameras for the kids and the sunscreen. So I have started a bit. I think a lot of the packing will be the day before.

We are getting so excited to go.

 

[milmore104]

Is there anyone out there like me that starts to pack about a month before hand? My DH thinks I'm nuts but about a month before we go I turn one of the spare rooms into Disney Packing Central. We always go when it's cold at home so instead of putting our summer clothes away for the winter I pack what we need to go ie. swimsuits, these go in first because they seem to get miss placed the most, shorts, shirts.
He really thinks I'm nuts because I rewash everything the night before and iron it all. I also take the iron w/ us and re-iron it when we get there! Please tell me I'm not alone!

 

[lauran cameron]

A list of what to pack/bring...

 

[Amirah95]

Is there anyone out there like me that starts to pack about a month before hand?

Yes! I get crazy. I get hit with the bug about a month before and DH gets bitten by the bug after the pre-trip oil change. he he It is usually the slowest month of the year for us.

 

[loriandmatt]

Warning: Compuslive planner about to give way more info that you probably wanted!

After ressies, PS's that need to be made way in advance and tickets are taken care of......

two to three months out: print packing check list (this list is everything OTHER than clothes that must be packed) review and start shopping for items that i do not have on hand. start buying travel snacks and bottled water for parks as i food shop. put them away for trip. desingnate a part(room or area in basement) for packing so it isn't in the way of everyday life until you leave.

one month out: start packing items from above list. check driving directions. get car serviced. make arrangements for dog (kennel or sitter?) ask neighbor to collect mail/papers. arrange for neighbor kid to water plants while gone. put together travel binder that has driving directions,all park hours, show/parade/fireworks dates/times, PS conf numbers, EMH dates and times for each park, any other activities that we want to do during visit, coupons or directions to other orlando attractions, AP discount spreadsheet (so i don't miss an opertunity to save some dough) and DDE details (new to this, so i want these details with me to look at before we decide to eat someplace.)

two weeks out: call to confirm ressies. print driving directions (including any construction delays planned) start clothes packing. be sure to pack a small bag with swim suits, one change of clothes each (3 for baby) and personal items for over night stay half way down. - no need to drag out the big suitcases or go digging for stuff.) check weather websites to see what i can expect in that area.

one week out: clean house (no one likes to come home to a dirty house) and make a few meals ahead and put in the freezer (no one likes to cook when they get home from vacation either) make sure all passes and travel funds are accounted for. wash car inside and out (no one likes to travel in a messy car - it may look like a mess when we get done with it, but it looks showroom new when we pull out of the drive.)

day before: THIS IS A BUSY ONE! start packing car. take dog to kennel. give the plants a final soak. put one of those daily release feeding things in the fish tank. take down any hanging baskets, flag poles or breakable outdoor decorations incase a strong wind comes that would break stuff. mow grass one final time, (so it dosen't look like a jungle when we come back) resist the urge to feel like i am forgetting something critical. remember that if i did forgot anything we can stop and buy it.

YEA - I KNOW IT IS OFF THE HOOK, BUT IT WORKS FOR ME AND WE ALWAYS HAVE THINGS GO SMOOTHLY BECAUSE I SPENT SO MUCH TIME ORGANIZING IT BEFORE HAND. I CHILL OUT ONCE WE ARE ON THE ROAD, I PROMISE!

- lori

 

[LadyLuc361]

Lori - You are too funny! Want to plan my vacation!? I am going to remember some of your tips. Thanks for posting. We are flying though so we don't have to print out directions/ect. Hope everything goes smoothly on your trip and have a great time!

 

[samsmom05]

We have had no choice but to plan and pack early. First, I am an over planner as well. I think I have been looking at sites and books for over a year (1st trip). We are going the end of Sept. Here the summer stuff disappears from the shelves about the middle of August to make room for back-to-school and the start of Christmas stuff any more. Warm weather clothing, sunscreen, bathing suits, etc. need to be purchased now or there will be none later. As I find tips I make a list of things I want to pick up. I have a couple of small bags (ready to start the 3rd) of items for the trip. Of course, my mom wants to make a trip to the Disney store this weekend so after I may be up to my 5th bag.

 

[PamNC]

PamNC - thanks for reminding me! I have to decide whether to take the pup to my Dad's or have him stay at a Kennel. We found a nice kennel, but we have never left him before so I am worried!

Your Pup is sooo cute.


PamNC