When do you start gathering things for WDW?

[candykisses]

I gather things from one trip to the next. I can't imagine waiting to buy at the last minute. DH is just as bad. We'll be somewhere and he'll find something for "the trip".

 

[disneymomjcs]

I used to wonder why my in-laws always had their suitcases out and were laying out clothes etc weeks before a trip.

I have turned into them.

We, I mean I am always putting things away for our trips. I have a container that I put things into as I buy them and have a kit in the hall closet with a first aid kit, Johnson's Foot Soak , mole skin, qtips the cutest little bottle of tide that I found at Target that does 4 loads of wash a hair dryer and curling iron all just waiting to be packed again.

It okay to be organized and be a planner.

 

[Candikayne]

Did you ever pack so early that u have to go back into the bags to use stuff before you even leave?

I hate that!

I do that all time....so afraid I might forget something!

 

[IcePrincess467]

I have been picking things up for my trip in July since September or October. I am a super planner, so it all seems normal to me

 

[maxiesmom]

As soon as I book the resort, I start keeping my eye out for stuff that I need for the trip. We only booked our trip 6 weeks out this time, so I immediately started buying things.

My challenge this time is that our flight arrives late, 11:09 pm. We are not going to pick up our luggage, so I need enough stuff to get thru my first day at the parks in my carry-on. I have been throwing stuff in seperate paper bags--one for carry-on, one for checked, plus I have been putting small liquids right into the quart-sized baggie. Kind of pre-packing I guess.

 

[sunnyday123]

I haven't flown since the whole "you cant bring liquids on the flight" deal started. ( which I am totally fine with. I rather be inconveinienced than blown up) Can I put anything in my carryon or does it all have to be packed? I really hate to fly, btw.

 

[disneychard]

good question?

 

[IcePrincess467]

You are allowed a small ziplock baggie for travel sized toothpaste, brush etc...everything has to be travel size!! Most stuff I usually pack, although I like to carry the small ziplock baggie and an extra set of clothiing. If you check the airline info it'll let you know what you are allowed to carry onto the plane. Something tells me that you can carry on the travel size stuff minus mouth wash....I know I proably babbled on a little here..my mind seems to be going in every direction tonight!!

 

[sasha's goofy]

The quart size ziploc is for liquids and paste. This includes contact solution, toothpaste, deoderant, shampoo, makeup etc. and they cannot be over 3oz in size if I remember correctly. Also partial bottles of large containers don't work- example a 6oz bottle of sunscreen that is half full does not count. the container needs to be 3oz or less. Hope this helps some. Have fun!

 

[dogodisney]

Our trip is in September but I have been getting things together for a couple of months now.

 

[mickeystoontown]

We go every year so I pick things up all the time. Like a previous poster said, it never begins and it never ends. I have a Disney box in the top of the closet. It always has stuff in it. We drive so I need things to keep the kids busy during the 14 to 16 hour drive.

I also pick up little things like mesh laundry bags for dirty clothes. Extra hangers that I just leave in the room when we check out. Ziplock bags 'cause you can't have too many. Found some Disney straws at the Dollar Tree and I used to bring those along for drinks in the Animal Kingdom. Now that they have straws I won't bring those this year.

We have family members going with us to WDW this year. They went last year but didn't have a clue what was going on so this is really their first time. I've started picking up little hand held games for them so they can keep busy while waiting in line.

I've bought a bunch of glow sticks so that the kids can have them during the parade and fireworks at night.

I don't actually pack until about 2 or three days before the trip. I end up staying up until Midnight the day before we leave checking and double checking myself.

These boards aren't just for helping others plan but they are like therapy for those of us who are Disney philes!

 

[princess jackie]

I start packing for my next trip the minute I come home. And sometimes I make lists while we are there. If I decide that it would be nice to have something there that we don't I'll write it down for next year and put in my Disney box. We decorate our windows at the resort so I make sure that the lights that I have in the Disney box work along with my extension cord. I also buy glow sticks after Halloween when they are clearenced out and stock up. Even if we don't take our kids we like to take some glow sticks and hand them out to random kids. We also like to make shirts (with the help of the great DISigners) This year I'm holding a shirt making party for everyone who is going along in January.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I start packing for my next trip the minute I come home. And sometimes I make lists while we are there. If I decide that it would be nice to have something there that we don't I'll write it down for next year and put in my Disney box. We decorate our windows at the resort so I make sure that the lights that I have in the Disney box work along with my extension cord. I also buy glow sticks after Halloween when they are clearenced out and stock up. Even if we don't take our kids we like to take some glow sticks and hand them out to random kids. We also like to make shirts (with the help of the great DISigners) This year I'm holding a shirt making party for everyone who is going along in January.

You so sound like me. We drive to WDW every year and our drive is 14 to 16 hours depending on the weather. We, literally, plan our next trip on our drive home. I, too, have lists of things I wished I had brought but won't forget to bring next year, etc.etc. Our local dollar store has the slim glow sticks in a package of ten. Just $1.00!

This year, another family is coming along with us and they have children too. I will be putting together a basket for all three kids. We are driving and they are flying so I will have the room for their baskets in the car. They are going to be sooo surprised.

 

[disneychard]

bump

 

[jimmalru80]

Usually a month or two before.

 

[ONdisney]

As soon as the trip is booked I will start gathering little things. At the end of summer I may keep some summer stuff handy for packing. I am not a good last minute packer. I love lists and ticking it off.

 

[kelmor98]

No, you are not crazy for wanting to buy things now. I was so excited when I found out that I was going to Disney World that I couldn't wait to start buying things either!! I found a company that makes personalized Mickey CDs and Princess CDs. I bought the Mickey Mouse CD and by the time my 4 year old got to Disney World, she knew the words to most of the songs they play in the park. The coolest thing is that her name is in the song! The website is

giftittogether.com

if you want to see it. Have fun planning your trip!

 

[LookingGlassGirl]

We are going agai in three months. We just ordered some trading pins and misty mates off of e-bay today! It's never too early to prepare for your happy time (vacation). It totally keeps me sane.

 

[TSMAMI]

We were about 120 days away when I purchased a huge bin at Wal-marts. We painted it and put stickers on it. It's the offical Disney Bin now and we have been stocking things away in it to take on the trip. Its a lot of fun.

 

[VMK_Mouse]

I start doing it as soon as I decide to go to WDW. I begin buying trial-size items and then it just grows from there.