When do you pack?

[AmyM]

I posted this on our January 3rd Cruise Meet thread, but I thought it might be fun for everyone.

When do you pack for your Disney trip? I have to admit I am a last minute packer. We leave in four days and the suitcases are still in storage. I did however take the first step today by picking out which swimsuits I will take. In all honesty we are not leaving the house until 10:30am on Wednesday. I could see myself packing then

 

[ThreeCircles]

We have the poor habit of packing (everything) the night before we leave. It's not a pleasant event...

 

[AnnMorin]

I never seem to get arond to it until the night before.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

we pack most of our clothes the week before we leave. from the time we book the cruise til we leave for the cruise we are slowly getting the things we need. so you can say we pack all year long. like i said, over all we pack the weekend before the cruise. just to be safe

 

[QueenTrident]

This will be our first cruise, but we generally start packing for vacations 1 - 2 weeks before we leave, with the final night being the big push. I don't expect this trip to be any different.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

QueenTrident

i how ypu enjoy the cruise. last july was our first cruise and now we wont go on any other cruise line. so eat sun and relax

 

[Jeanny]

hey Amy~
I'M ALMOST DONE PACKING!!!
I've had my summer clothes IN my suitcase since September... (shorts, tank tops, capri's). I just finished picking out the rest of my clothes today, and will put the shampoo, etc. in Thursday night, Friday morning. I just have to rearrange things and put them into the plastic ziplock bags...
I have to get some plastic zip ties to secure our luggage today..
My daughter, Jacqui, is just going up in the attic to get her luggage down.. One for her clothes, one for her shoes!!! She's almost as bad as MJ's girls == remember that picture??

I have my list for my carry on bag (not much, just the essentials)... after all, I have to carry it for a few hours!!

Yeah, my friends all think I'm a little crazy

 

[wide awake]

We had to leave the house at 10 a.m., and I started packing about 8 a.m., pulled all the clothes out of the closet and then left my DH to put them in suitcases while I went for a pedicure. It worked great...it is sort of like moving...you know it is going to be horrible, everything disorganized and not in the proper place, so no point in prolonging the agony. The only thing I forgot was my contact lens case, and I used a glass in the hotel that night and bought another case on the ship.

 

[kcashner]

Well, I store my summer clothes in my suitcase during the winter....so when I pack for DIS, I get them out, decide which to take, and put them back in!

In the best of all worlds, I pack a week or so ahead as that gives me time to toss in "forgotten" items. However, on our record fast trip, we booked 48 hours in advance, and I had a 16 hour drive to the port....so I booked Thurs morning and left early Fri morning. IT worked, but I wouldn't choose to do it again.....hee hee.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I usually pack at the last minute- either the day before or the night before our trip. The reason being that the majority of the items (clothing/toiletries/etc.) that would be packed are being USED... and I can't pack a week beforehand and then not use those items for a week. LOL
I usually start a week or so before- as I wash clothes I also start sorting them for things I want to take on the trip and make sure we don't wear those so I won't have to wash/dry/fold them all again! I also start buying anything we need to buy to pack to take with us.
But the actual packing takes place the last day or last night (or both LOL). The last few things (like toiletries/etc.) that are used the day of our "leaving" (either driving or flying) are packed last minute after being used for the last time.

I'd love to pack earlier- but I can't see how to do that really... it's much like moving. I can only pack things we don't use on a daily or weekly basis- the rest has to be packed last minute when moving. LOL

 

[tigger53]

i'm usually so excited about going i begin confiscating clothes about a month before we go. my kids joke that they have to go out in the same clothes till we go cause everything is "packed". i line up the suitecases and put things in as i see them, then i repack to make sure i got everything, i know, i'm nuts, but it makes me feel closer to going if i pre-pack

 

[Scratch42]

won't feak out on me!LOL

Luckily I have found a great Kennel for him so I know that he is taken care of!

Also, he likes to sleep in the suitcases, therefore, have to wait until just before so that I don't bring the cat hair with me!

Scratch


PS I also have a Bamboo trunk that I keep my cruise wear in so it's easy just to throw into the suitcase!

 

[AmyM]

LOL...Scratch42, do you think our cats may be related? That is also a reason that I wait until the LAST minute. My kitty is 13 years old and my dear companion. My husband traveled 3 weeks a month when we were first married so I insisted on a companion. Hence my sweet kitty of 13 years She is quite independent, I have an automatic feeder and waterer, so for the most part she is non-maintenance but I still worry. My SIL will be looking after her at our house I would love a dog, but cats are so much more low-maintenance!!!

 

[mcgrawfan]

I pack the day before. I do up all of the laundry and pack as I am putting it away. I also agree that it is hard to pack too early because most of the stuff is being used. I do make a packing list months in advance to make sure we have everything we need. I also always have to clean the house before we leave. It is nice to come home to a clean house.

 

[Scratch42]

I used to have my Super look after our cat until our last Easter Trip!LOL It was not a pretty site! Put it this way, I had to buy new furniture when DD and I returned!LOL He was not a happy camper!

Luckily, my vet recommend a great kennel and last trip he seemed to enjoy himself! He never ventured from the apartment but now goes looking for his lost friends!LOL

But still not willing to bring out those suitcases until last minute! You never know what "Surprises" he might leave me!

Scratch

 

[AmyM]

Oh my

I keep thinking my cat is too old to create such a ruckus (borrowed from Twas The Night Before Christmas), but you never know. I own a cleaning/disaster restoration company, you would think I know better I guess kitty cat will get another chance this trip and if all goes well she will be around for many cruises to come We shall all know shortly!

 

[ChattyKathy]

Roughly two weeks before we leave on vacations, when I am doing laundry...and folding - I confiscate the clothes that I think I am going to take or need and put them on the bed in the spare bedroom...along with all the other junk I think I want to take along...I just start tossing stuff on that bed along an unopened suitcase or two....and then about two days before we leave, I go in there and start to put it together....
I try to stay pretty organized, I like to beable to pull out an outfit and it be all put together....I roll it in a roll with everything I need for that day. My kids' outfits are always put together , when they take it out , they have one whole outfit matched for that day, including underwear and socks.
May sound weird, but it saves for me when we do go away= to take the extra time to match stuff or iron for them. It works great for me.


Kathy

 

[Scratch42]

for the kennel, I can only handle so much of foil on the new furntiure, etc.

Apprerantly, (sp) the kennel has been around that we used to use them for my childhood kitty!LOL It's cheaper than buying new furniture each trip!

Scratch

 

[MarkLem]

We are packing right now and are leaving tomorrow!

 

[Buckleybunch]

I'm just a little over a year out for our cruise and I want to start packing now.. lol
This is generally how I pack for a Dec vacation. As soon as the short season is over with, I"ll pack the kids's short & summer outfits thta I want to take with us in a suitcase. THen a month prior I'll have them try them on to make sure they still fit. If not I start shopping on ebay..
Then about 2 weeks before I start the real packing. According to my DH that is how come I over pack.