When do you start packing?

[jenniferkeala808]

I have 2 months flat until we go!! I haven't started packing yet but I'm pretty much done buying everything we need! My boyfriend thinks i'm crazy that I'm already buying things but I hate waiting until last minute!! I think by the 1 month mark I will be pretty much packed! Just helps a little with the excitement!!

 

[Mamu]

Seeing It's still winter here, I've been going through containers for a few weeks, washing cloths and getting them ready. I will put them in the luggage the day before. Right now their folded up in piles on my dining room table.

 

[2manypets]

I usually pack the night before any trip. It just adds to the exitement for me. If I start too early I'll pack too much stuff.

 

[minniemee]

I will start packing 1 week out, but I've been stashing lots of "Disney items" in my closet where they won't be found by DH or DS7!!
Let's just say that the day I planned the trip I started setting things aside for the trip!!!!

 

[chimo2u]

I usually "set aside" things for my trip for many months before. I have already bought new suitcases, sunscreen, gathered things from my last trips that I am taking again...ie) ponchos, so when it gets closer I will just add clothes!

BTW, I tried finding your post about your resort crisis with your mom/brother and for some reason it is gone! I can't for the life of me find it again...did you erase it???
I was interested to see how things work out for you!

 

[mrskchris]

I will start setting things aside now. I will be heading to Walmart and the Disney Store to buy sale items to stuff in our bags. I should probably start looking for new suitcases. I love having a reason to shop.

 

[DisGirl23]

We came home from the World on October 2nd last year. I started packing for our Sept '10 trip on October 3rd '09! Topped off the toiletry bottles and packed them back away, filled up the laundry box with detergent drops and dryer sheets. Bottle straps, park bag, etc.
I have a packing app on my iPod that has a special Disney list I created. On it is a shopping list of stuff I need to pick up. Throughout the year when I'm out and about I can check the list and pick up a few things here and there. Then I pack them as soon as I get home. Then check them off on the app.
Makes me smile every time I toss something else into the bags! Makes me feel like the trip is coming up quicker.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

Gee, I thought my DH would think I am crazy if I started a week out but now I think I will anyway. I just have to watch out for the cat, whenever he sees luggage he tries to "go" on it in protest. I usually do it the night before or the morning of. I make the list about a week or so ahead incase I need to buy anything. It takes me about 4 hrs. We leave in 7 days.

 

[Sadie22]

Today I found my packing list from the last trip still in the folder I took on the trip. What is more there was a folder with the packing list from the previous trip in the same box....I'll see whether I wrote any comments about anything I wished I'd brought or what I could have done without.

I have to start packing now because there will be things I need to buy and I want to be sure to be able to take advantage of sales.

 

[daughter2minnymouse]

We are leaving in august and i haven't even started thinking about packing LoL!

 

[northcoast_momma]

Start packing? Who unpacks?....The good news is we're heading back in November this year so we'll be able to grab end of season deals on anything we'll need for this trip (versus spring break and the beginning of summer clothes season). But many other things (like ponchos, door organizer, bags, etc) are alread bagged and ready to go. I start making piles of clothes about 1 month in advance. I pack and unpack and repack the suitcases about 2-3 times before I'm satisfied I've not forgotten anything.

One learning - anything you've forgotten - is replaceable....you'll get it if you need it!!

 

[tink713]

I start packing about 3 months out, we leave in 40 days and I am almost completely packed.

 

[MickeysFans]

I have started setting things aside now (late June trip), I use a bin to keep track. I am not normally this organized, but Disney is special!!!!

 

[arielrocks]

I start gathering things a
few months before but pack properly about 3 days before

 

[JennMouse32]

ugh i cant even start to think about packing..​

 

[photographymom517]

I usually start with a list on my computer...things to go in the Carry-On bag, then things for each suitcase. Mostly I do it because I have a toddler & its so easy to get caught up in regular day-to-day stuff & completely forget something important (and some people say I have OCD! lol) The lists really help & I put a mark beside each item that can't be packed until the last minute (i.e. hairdryer, toothbrush, hairbrush, makeup, etc) so I will remember to throw it into my bag either the night before or day of our trip.

I usually throw things in the suitcases as I think of them (usually this starts about 2-3 months before our trip) and then 3-4 days before the trip, I take my list & lock myself into a room by myself (so I am not disturbed by munchkins unpacking as I pack my suitcases!) At that time (3-4 days prior) I make sure everything is in the suitcases. I also photograph what I am putting into the suitcases in case of a mishap with the airlines losing luggage. (I figure they can't argue value of items with me if I have both a list & a photograph!) Everyone who sees my lists things I'm half nuts...but its DISNEY...my lists are also broken into sections (already have, need to buy, will use everyday, take just in case, etc.) My lists may be a little overkill, but I do suggest having them especially if you pack waaay ahead of time. This way, you can look at the list & see whats already checked off...then you know you already packed those items or don't need to purchase them!

I just realized how OCD I sound...

Anyway, we aren't going on our trip until late November this year & I already have a carry-on bag half packed! I just pick things up when I see them or if I have some extra $$$ so I don't have to spend a lot all at once. Since we're going in Nov/Dec, I will be hitting the end of summer sales to get some things for our trip as well!

 

[PoohsFan1]

We are exactly 3 weeks out from from our trip. I have piles and piles of things on the floor in my room. However, I will probably not start packing until about 1 week out. I need to check and recheck things before they go into the suit case because once it is in there, it is not coming out....unless we are in Disney . We are still trying to decide how we are going to pack this trip, we are seriously considering to more carryon bags and just have one check-in bag just for our vanity and for the extra room to bring home souvies, I guess that is another reason why I haven't packed yet.

 

[Ashbiez]

We're just over a month away from our trip, and I started pulling stuff together last week! Luckily we had an extra cubby-hole in our closet to store things in!
Partially because I needed to see what still fit from last summer so I know how much I'll need to buy. haha. Luckily, most of my shorts still fit - phew!

We're doing a 3 night cruise (not Disney, sadly) for a friends' wedding before heading to WDW, so we really need to pack for two completely different trips. I also like to have too many clothes in case I'm having a "fat day" or I spill something all over myself

I usually save sunscreen and all the other hygiene/toiletries until the week before.

ohmigosh I'm so exciteddddd

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

I'd like to start packing a couple weeks in advance. Then about a week before, I'll throw clothes in suitcases as I do the laundry (folding clothes, decide we should take such and such shirt and throw it in the suitcase). HOWEVER, we'll be there in 11 days and I have packed NOTHING. Main reason is that I'm not sure what sort of clothes to take! Thought we'd be taking shorts and t-shirts again (last went in August and September when it was HOT) but so far it looks like highs are going to be in the upper 60's, MAYBE low 70's with lows in the 50's! So now I'm waiting until we get a little closer to get a better idea of what the weather will be like and then will pack. I will start packing non-clothes that aren't needed at home very soon. I will probably just buy everyone new toothbrushes, etc., so we don't have to pack what we're using now.

 

[MassFamily]

Darn, I was looking here for justification to start packing now.