When do you start packing?

[mrslamb]

We are going in just under a month, and I am trying to figure out when I need to start tackling laundry for trip/packing/etc... we are going for 5 days with a barely-5 year old and a 20 month old.

 

[princesszelda]

I start packing early. If it is not something that is going to be wore between now and the trip I wash it and pack it. The more I can get done before we leave the easier. Less last minute things.

 

[Domchi002]

I like to pull out my luggage about 3 weeks ahead of time and start packing from there.
I know how you feel, I have 3 DS, ages 9,7 and 5.
I don't have alot of time so I start early and wash and pack whenever I can.
Plus, having all my traveling things out help to get us excited for the upcoming trip.
So like I said, start earlyand take your time...you'll get it done!!

 

[mrslamb]

Yeah, I was thinking about it and we are going to have to take SO. MUCH. CRAP. lol. And I am the one who does all the packing, for me, DH, and both kids... and with DD in Kindergarten/Soccer plus I am working...I know it's going to go fast.

I need to start making lists...!!!

 

[tzeitel]

It is already cold here so a couple of weeks ago - when I was putting our Summer clothes away - I started the suitcase. DD got so excited she started her travel backpack - she loves to travel!

Last week I went through our tolietries travel bag, restocked it and put it in the suitcase. We are driving so we will be taking snacks etc with us so this week I went through our pantry to see what we would take and what we needed. Have a big tote bag with snacks, paper towels etc etc etc I rather fly since when we drive anywhere I tend to overpack.

I also started the "don't forget" list - cameras, chargers, batteries, dvds, DD's video games, unplug everything, toothbrushes (one of us invariably forgets), tickets, sunglasses, sunblock....

 

[mydisneymoney]

My family consists of myself, DH and DS6. We usually each take a carry one suitcase and then check one large suitcase that I start to pack about a month or so out. I put in the food items like cereal and treats that we are planning on eating and also our fanny packs and refillable water bottles etc. I pack all of my liquids in the checked bag so it is one less thing we have to worry about going through security. I figure of the bag gets lost we can always go to Walmart and buy what we need. Then I pack close in our carry ons starting about a week out as things get washed and ironed. The checked bags really isn't too full and it get empty as we eat what is in it. Then that leaves room for souveniers we might buy.

 

[rentayenta]

Our pins and Hidden Mickey book are packed along with some surprise gifties from Tinkerbell. We're at 51 days!

 

[goofycathy]

We'll be there next friday and I havent packed ONE THING. procrastination? yep....

 

[wvnative]

I have my park backpack that never gets unpacked. lol I have already started putting the dry goods into a Disney bag. I've also already gone through the toiletries bag and replenished what I needed. I will need to pick up more contact solution though. I won't pack our clothes until the weekend before we leave when I do laundry. As it comes out of the dryer it gets folded and put in the suitcase. We're at 35 days I believe.

 

[GrandBob]

The night before, of course

Well, OK, maybe a couple of days...

-Bob

 

[LoveMyTwoPrincesses]

We leave in 8 days and our bags came out yesterday. I like to have several days to get the packing done. I like to think it is so I will be able to rest easy the night before we leave, but the truth is I will barely get any sleep because I will be too excited!

 

[cypressmom]

We leave very early Wednesday morning and have yet to start packing.

 

[mariezp]

I leave some things packed in our bag all year long. Then I toss things in the closet on top of the luggage throughout the year when I run across something we will need. We are down to 24 days and I am really itching to pull everything out so as soon as I can make some spare space I will probably give into the urge and start dragging suitcases out. Of course, the most important stuff gets tossed is right before we are heading out the door... along with everything I just almost forgot.

 

[Coconut36]

We leave early on the 14th and I would say I am 90% packed at this point

 

[geekypeach]

I usually start early, but here we are days away and I have nothing but half our toiletries and such packed. For me, that's the hard part. Eveything else is simple!

 

[RuthieT]

We leave early on the 17th for our 9 night stay! I have to pack for DD 7, DD 1 and DH and myself. I have thrown in a few things into the suitcases, but wont pack until end of next week or weekend.

 

[Susie63]

I never pack without a list. Everyone gets their own column or page and a toiletry/essentials page.I keep a copy upstairs and one downstairs,and when
I think of something I write it down right away.
A couple days before we fly,I pack the suitcases,checking off items as I go.
I have never forgotten anything using this method.

 

[wannabimagineer]

We leave in 6 days. I haven't started packing yet but I did start writing my checklist of things we need to take. I'll probably pull the luggage out sometime this weekend and get started.

 

[KateDrake]

I never pack until the night before, because I'm still doing laundry! It always seems like we need to take stuff we use regularly, so I do a couple of loads the night before and check off my list as I go. I can then easily add the last few things in the morning.
Even though I don't start packing, I DO start tracking down all those little things I know I"m going to need, and put them in an easy to find place. So we leave next Saturday, and I've starting finding our lanyards and pins, autograph books, stockings I need for my Halloween costume, etc.

 

[krispin41]

We leave next Friday.

I've made the things I can't forget list, and pulled out my toiletry bag, and picked up a few things to restock it, and will need to pick-up a few more items which I plan to do this Sunday.

The suitcases still need to be pulled out, we just got a new puppy, so I'm not sure how she will react to that.

We will still need to do a round of laundry, and I have some things set aside in my closet that I know I am going to wear.

I bought two sets of packing cubes from ebags.com to make it a bit easier for my DH and I to pack. We will be taking two suitcases, I will have my purse and camera bag, and a small carry-on for us to share.

Kristan in NorCal