When do you start packing for your trip?

[Goofy'slady]

My family of 4 is leaving for WDW in 25 days. We've been piling up new vacation clothes and other items needed on our vacation and we're starting to run out of room as to where to put these items. I was thinking of starting to pack this weekend but thought perhaps I was being a little premature in my haste; also for me part of the anticipation and fun is packing for our Disney trips.

When do many families begin to pack?

Do you keep a list of needed items and check them off so as not to leave anything behind? I hate needing something and realizing that I left it at home and having to purchase it for a much more expensive price while at the resorts.


T.

 

[Faldred]

I used checklists for our last trip, and it was a real plus for us -- I don't think we wound up having to go out and get anything we forgot to pack.

If your vacation gear isn't going to be used for anything else, go ahead and pack as soon as you are able to do so. (Or partially pack, as the case may be.) Saves time later when trying to get it all together.

 

[Lesley Mahler]

I'd start packing the little things you won't be using now, or even the new stuff including the new clothes for the trip. I did that for our last trip and as I'd pack it, I'd check it off of my check list. Made the last minute packing not so crazy. Plus, I loved walking into my living room and seeing the suitcases all laid out. Every week they'd get fuller and fuller until finally we were able to close them up and pack them to go!!! Have a great trip!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tinkerbell423]

I agree pack as soon as you don't need toe items. I pack at the end of summer for Jan or Feb. Instead of packing the clothes away I put them in outfit sets in a gallon zip lock bag and put them in the suitcase.
My friend is the same way. Our husbands joke about it. Whenever we plan a trip they start in on us saying OK do you have the gummie bears yet how about the granola bars...." LOL If you enjoy it then go ahead and pack. I packed last minute for our last trip and ended up forgetting my daughter's prized Lovie. Needless to say my mother had to run out and FedEx it to us. and she asked about it everyday all day untill it came.

Have a great trip!!

 

[AKBAFB]

I also used checklists and felt much more organized and prepared with them. I started compiling stuff that we wouldn't use until vacation about 3 weeks in advance and started shopping for travel stuff and anything else that we needed for the trip without being rushed about it. I actually started packing everything up about a week before hand to see how everything was fitting and to make sure that we weren't forgetting anything and see how our luggage was measuring up for the airline.

At first my husband thought I was loosing it when I started piling everything up in a corner of our room three weeks early, but it really worked well for me to actually see everything coming together, to go through my checklist several times, do any shopping, etc. I was happy to feel at ease about it rather rushing the night before to cram everything into our suitcases, inevitably having to run to Walmart or something at 1 am to get some essential item and then forgetting something else anyway!

Good luck!

 

[Goofy'slady]

Tinkerbell - it's so funny that you mention forgetting to pack your daughter's lovie because that sort of thing would happen to us and my 3.5 yr old would be just miserable without her "dolly" and the rest of us would be just miserable without her "dolly" if you know what I mean.

T.

 

[Goofy'slady]

I also used checklists and felt much more organized and prepared with them. I started compiling stuff that we wouldn't use until vacation about 3 weeks in advance and started shopping for travel stuff and anything else that we needed for the trip without being rushed about it. I actually started packing everything up about a week before hand to see how everything was fitting and to make sure that we weren't forgetting anything and see how our luggage was measuring up for the airline.

At first my husband thought I was loosing it when I started piling everything up in a corner of our room three weeks early, but it really worked well for me to actually see everything coming together, to go through my checklist several times, do any shopping, etc. I was happy to feel at ease about it rather rushing the night before to cram everything into our suitcases, inevitably having to run to Walmart or something at 1 am to get some essential item and then forgetting something else anyway!

Good luck!

I totally agree about the rushing part the night before. This year we're trying a different approach on our drive down from MD to WDW this year. We've decided to get an even earlier jump on the drive by leaving at 5am as apposed to leaving at 9am in hopes that while it's still dark outside it will encourage our girls to go back to sleep for a little while and perhaps we'll beat that weekend traffic around the DC/Virgina area. My husband says the only way he see us being able to do this is if everything is pack up and in the car the night before so that we just wake the girls up pile 'em in the van and get on the road.

I've got to be done with the packing before he goes to sleep. He does all of the driving since I don't have a license (I have a fear of driving) and he says he can't have me in our bedroom packing while he's sleeping. So I think lists and getting an early start on my packing will work better in the long run for us. And for those who visit us between now and then will have to step over our suitcases.

T.

 

[hockeymom3]

I'm also going in 25 days!!! and I am nowhere near ready to pack!!! I think I'll be doing GREAT if I have everything packed and ready to go 2 or 3 days beforehand. Next week I plan on making a list of things to take, see what fits the kids and what they need, the following week I'll buy anything I need and wash up the clothes. The last week I'll pack everything and write a few notes in a notebook to bring along with me.

I'd be worried if I packed too early that I'd forget too much (or second guess, did I pack that??) and it would be wrinkled - maybe not, but I thought it might.

 

[coolbeans]

We went last summer and packed about a week before we left and stacked all the suitcases on DS's train table in the living room. We did buy a bunch of new summer clothes to replace stuff we needed to replace anyway and I always buy new undies and socks for vacations anyway so we really didn't miss anything for that week.

 

[punjabi]

Is there a check-list or something that can help me pack for our upcoming trip?

 

[CrazyaboutCinderella]

My sisters and I go on websites such as Walmart.com or even the products websites themselves and get free trial size samples of things like shampoos, toothpaste, soap, or anything we might think we could use on our trips. We have almost gotten enough samples for our trip that is coming up in 60 short days. It's so exciting everytime we go there. I usually start packing and making my lists about 2 weeks before hand, because if I don't, I usually forget something.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I know you said "packing" but our trip is late summer and know what, I already start buying the things I need....especially if on sale. I am one of those that does NOT like to bring things back and forth, toothbrushes, past, shampoo, etc We bring it, use it and discard so I buy my Mascara now too and then ditch it on trip ...We always come home with less

I like to start my "disney bag" of stuff early and then just add stuff up until the week before. I pack atleast 2-3 days before because invariably my Dh has to add, remove, change and annoy me about something in that bag..... I have SO CUT down on the stuff I bring personally and it is so simple!

 

[jgazda]

We leave 4 weeks from today and I have myself and my daughter completely packed. My husband thinks I'm nuts but I'm a planner and I like to be prepared. It makes me feel like the trip is closer knowing I'm ready to get on that plane.

 

[tzolkin]

Last year we went on our first trip mid-May and I packed in January.

This year I waited until late February.


I made up a very lengthy packing list. I bought all new for the toiletries and things, so I could pack those as soon as I bought them. And it's still snowing here right now, so I knew I wouldn't miss all the sundresses and bathing suits. I pack each child's clothes in ziplock baggies and then they each have their own suitcase. I even have the things we need for the drive.

My DH also thought I was nuts last year. But he was so happy when all he had to do was load the van the night before. He was also amazed that whenever someone mentioned, "We should have brought ___" that I was just able to pull out the item. He has not said one word this year about my planning other than thank you.

 

[mommymeg]

We leave on May 6, and I'd say that I'm about 1/2 packed... Most of the kids clothes are packed in ziplocs...(we don't need summer clothes in PA yet..) I'll just have to throw in socks, underwear, shoes and pj's. Hubby and I are about the same...most clothes done... I've also got two boxes started with soaps, shampoos and breakfast items. For the last few weeks if I found something on sale, I'd pick up one for us at home, and one to take to Disney. Not only does this eliminate a last minute hectic pack-up...but it spreads the cost of things out over a few weeks, rather than one big order. Works well for us and we do this for every vacation!

 

[mischief32]

Boy am I glad to hear that I am not the only one packing already. We leave in about 4 weeks and I have had my clothes setting on the ironing board for weeks now. I have a bag with my travel bathroom items filling up. I have been getting a little here and there so the expense is spread out. I have been ordering new Disney T-shirts. This will be my DD first trip(2y old almost3) and we have not been in 20yrs. I am ready to put clothes in the suitcase but have put that off so as to not appear to far out to my husband but I think I will this weekend. The weeks have been flying by and it will be time before we know it.

 

[bigolive9]

I have a "staging area"- we have an extra bedroom. I have all the things that I know I will not need until our trip on the bed. right now, it is mostly snacks, just in case we need any of the summer clothes before we leave. I will probably add the clothes the week before we leave.

I have a list, but I won't actually use it until I start putting things in the suitcases, which will be as soon as DH brings them in from the garage.

 

[crazelion]

I still have not took out the suitcases yet our early June trip. I need clean off the bed in the guest room before I bring out suitcases. I will need my summer clothes quickly we got spring to summer and a hurry. Live in the south. I shorts and t-shirts most of the year.

 

[Peanut&Piglet'sMom]

Is April too early to pack for an August trip?

Acutally, I do have a small bag set aside with the fun little things I've picked up for the kids and a few different t-shirts and so on. I'll begin my real packing after July 4th!

 

[MyPeanut&Bug]

I have a "staging area"- we have an extra bedroom. I have all the things that I know I will not need until our trip on the bed. right now, it is mostly snacks, just in case we need any of the summer clothes before we leave. I will probably add the clothes the week before we leave.

I have a list, but I won't actually use it until I start putting things in the suitcases, which will be as soon as DH brings them in from the garage.

Yep, I've got a "staging area" (lol, love it!) going on too and have for quite awhile. DD's bedroom is the largest and she is still co-sleeping with us so I've been accumulating all our stuff in her room. I have yet to actually start packing anything yet because it felt too early, right now it's just piles of stuff to do in the car, stacks of clothes, snacks/food we're bringing, etc. I think I do have to start packing it though because it's taking over her room! But it's so exciting to walk in there and see all our stuff! I know DH thinks I'm a little nutty but it's helped spread costs out, like other people have said - for months now I've been picking up a few extra things with each grocery trip - snacks, glow necklaces, swim diapers, travel size stuff, etc. and just throwing them in DD's room to avoid some massively expensive trip to the store a week before we leave.

I do need to get a good checklist going - I am so paranoid about forgetting something! (not that we couldn't likely just buy anything we forgot, I just hate that feeling of forgetting something as soon as you leave for vacation!)