When do you start packing??

[Lglchick]

For those of us flying, does anyone weigh their packed suitcases? If so, how/where do you weigh them?
I thought of this because I noticed people at the airport with bags over the weight limit having to pull things out and repack them in their carry-on. I don't want to be that family.

 

[Dawson's Mom]

We do fly from Detroit, we end up weighing the bag before we pack, and then after too on just a plain old scale, of couse it usually needs to be dusted off Another way is to weigh yourself and then add the bag, it usually is close. With the airlines being so strict, we really limit what we take now- usually means more laundry for me! We are going next Thursday-Jan28th and have already started packing!! yeah I'm glad I'm not the only early packer

 

[chia92]

I am 5 days from leaving and I have not packed a thing!! I plan on doing it this weekend. Hopefully I will get it all done. . .

 

[nightshaderose]

I start with the lists about 3 months out, but don't really get to putting things in bags until the week or so before leaving. Mind, a lot of the things that only get used at WDW (water shoes, pack towels, etc.) stay together in the intervening time in a bag in the back of my closet so they're easy to find. I'm leaving for this next trip on Sunday night ( ), and I'm pretty much ready to go, save for a few things that I need to use between now and then.

 

[disneylovin24]

I had my packing list out yesterday and I was so tempted to start packing, but I won't let myself untill it's less then two weeks out. Probably next weekend I'll be doing most of the packing.

 

[Nancy F]

I make what I call my Disney monument. I try to get at least one thing a month that I'm going to bring on my trip. ( I have a spot on my dresser I use for just these things) Such as extra contacts and toiletries. Then at the two month mark.. I buy a small jar of Hellmans mayo (the only kind I like) to take with us. And at the one month mark, my hubby gets out our suitcases. ( I start packing what I can then) Then a week before, he puts the tags on. That's when I really start to get excited. LOL

Nancy

 

[wdwdasiy]

I pack along and along all year as well. I have fun picking up rain ponchos here...baby wipes there. Sometime just something fun that I put away for the kids to have on the trip or open in the car on the drive down. I reorganize the bag I take to the parks when we get back so I just need to pull it out when we are a few weeks out. I pack the clothes and food durning the week before we leave and we pack the car the night before. Planning and packing during the year are part of the fun....DD loves doing it with me. DH and DS are Disney crazy as well but hate the planning. Fine with me...I wouldn't want to share that anyway

 

[Nancy F]

The planning and anticipation are half the fun. I'm glad the Hubby leaves it all up to me. I told him all he has to do is the heavy lifting (and the paying of course.) LOL. But come to think of it... seeing as we both work for the money... I'm doing more than just the planning. We always spend the night before our trip at The Marriott at the Philly airport so we can get an early plane and not have to worry about the morning traffic. So my Disney trip starts as soon as I get room service.

Nancy

 

[disneychard]

I am glad there is so many people like me, I enjoy the planning, gathering items for the vacation and the packing.

 

[DisneyShannon]

I am going May 3rd to the 8th and I have been putting a few things back here and there for about two months. Today I orderd a robe and some underware for my trip. I also am so excited to have booked and made my hotel deposit. I am working right up until the day I go so that will help get my mind off things.

 

[Nancy F]

This will be the first time we are staying at BLT with our new vacation club. One of the things that had me bummed about not staying at the GF anymore was that I always looked forward to the robes they have in the rooms. I don't use a robe at home and it always felt like a special treat to put the robe on. And I liked it because it wasn't real heavy. On my last trip I tried to find the same robes in the stores. But no go. The robes are all more plush. So I took a chance and asked our concierge if I could buy a robe from Mousekeeping. (I was even willing to purchase the one I was using even though it wasn't new.) Well... both the lady at the desk and the woman from Mousekeeping went out of their way to hunt me down a new robe. And it is the first thing I'm going to pack. I haven't used it so it will still be something to look forward to whenever I go to disney.

Nancy

 

[ChrisKsAngel]

I am planner. So I really pick things up all year long. For example, last month I was in TJ Maxx and found a wonderful purse that would be great to carry in the parks, so of course I bought it. I am always on the look out for things that I can use on vacation.

We just booked our trip for July this week. So now I will start picking up a few things each paycheck. I keep them all in one of my Disney tote bags so when July finally rolls around I have a good bit of stuff already stocked up.

 

[fireman1]

It makes me feel like its closer than it really is if I start packing little things here and there like a month before..But, I get real serious about it usually a week beforehand.

 

[Dani C]

I started planning (and setting aside items) for my June holiday as soon as I returned from the one over Christmas. I even went shopping and picked up a few things that I didn't want to be without on the next trip.

During our last visit, we learned the hard way that not all resorts have First Aid stations and the gift shops have very little to offer unless a standard adhesive bandage will do. Needless to say, I have already purchased new boxes/tubes of (though hope not to need) telfa pads, neosporin plus, etc. and have it safely tucked away.

About a month before we leave, I experiment with travel size items/bottles to know how much I really need of certain items (such as shampoo and conditioner) so that I don't run out too soon but also don't waste room in the luggage that is becoming more costly to take each trip. The goal is to only have enough for an extra day or two.

Additionally, we are taking one of my daughter's friends along on this trip and as she has never been to the world before, I must have a complete list created so that she doesn't end up with the wrong items (such as a bikini rather than a one piece swimsuit for the water park).

 

[Disneylvr]

For our mid-March trip I will probably start packing in about 3 weeks or so since I will pack mostly spring/summer type clothes that we won't yet be wearing at home. Swim suits though will be the last things we pack though since we have been enjoying at indoor water park at the new Rec Plex we joined here at home. Normally I start packing about a week or so before our trips.

 

[mickeymouse108]

I am not leaving until july but I am already thinking about what I will need and if I already own it i have been putting it in a bag that will be going to disney and as things come out in stores for the summer season like sunscreen and chapstick with spf I will buy things as I go and put them in the bag.

 

[RockinDisney]

What you don't keep a bag packed and ready I don't even have my next trip plan and I randomly pick stuff up and have a list of tips I have picked up so I know what things to grab. I have a little tub and currently it has purex 3-1 for washing, dollar store ponchos for rain (my dollar store some time has them sometimes does not so I am taking no chances) my Disney Beach towel, and a few other odds and ends...I think i might be going over the edge

 

[CLR4321]

I get the packing list together a week before, and pack the bags the day before leaving. This time we are driving though, so if we happen to forget something, we can go pick it up if needed.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

Packing and preparing and planning in advance is half the fun as you count down the days till you leave... ...plus, it helps cut down costs if you buy things in advance along the way. One thing I did for our last trip was buy some pins on ebay in advance b/c my kids like to do pin trading. I got 10 pins for about $6.00 and they each had some to trade. It saves $$$ bc pin trading packs at WDW are $25 for 4 or 5 pins.

 

[disneychard]

WoW! I am not the only gets excited about packing and planning