When do you start packing?

[CoachBagFanatic]

Hey!!! yes, I truly couldn't decide between the two, so we're going with both, 5 nights at each! I am very excited!!!

You know you have the best of both worlds with the Poly and the BC.

We usually put the suitcases out a week in advance and start filling them as we go. Usually there is a kitty or two that end up sleeping in them overnight some nights. They are not zipped and totally full until the night before. It is nice to see a few cat hairs on your clothes when you are away. It makes you miss home and the four legged kids that love you.

I thought that I was the only one who felt this way. I miss my Shiba babies so much when we are away. That's the only negative about going away is having to leave them but knowing that my mom is taking care of them for me is priceless.

 

[Ilivetogo]

Since my DD18 is away at college, I have her bed to use as a suitcase filling station! Makes it easier when I can just leave them open and put things in gradually as I think of them. I'm a little more organized that way. Otherwise, I usually start several days ahead.

This year, I'm not wearing shorts or swimsuits or flip flops here yet, so those things can be packed early. Don't need 'em right now anyway.

GOSH I'm so excited ...
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[glocon]

I make lists starting a month or so beforehand, both because it is helpful for this forgetful mind, and because it drags out the fun and anticipation.

Can't really pack much early because we don't have enough clothes for that- we have to wear them all along, so we have laundry and clothes going in the suitcases up to the night before we leave.

I start a binder though months in advance, with our reservations for all hotels and resorts, tickets, maps, plans and itineraries. Have a page for phone numbers and addresses, places to stop on our drive down from the Nashville area (where to eat and spend the night). Pages for tips and secrets at parks, and directions for drive from WDW to UO.

The anticipation of the trip is a large part of the fun for me, so looking at these boards and my trip ticker makes it stretch and last longer.

 

[Ilivetogo]

You know you have the best of both worlds with the Poly and the BC.

I thought that I was the only one who felt this way. I miss my Shiba babies so much when we are away. That's the only negative about going away is having to leave them but knowing that my mom is taking care of them for me is priceless.

Your Shiba babies are so beautiful!!

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[cluvsdisney]

We'll do a quick inventory a couple of weeks prior to see if we need anything - clothing or personal items but the actual packing is a day or two before.

 

[disneydiva1313]

I am always excited to go to Disney World...but I never pack until the day before...I always want to pack earlier, but it never seems to happen.

 

[elaw]

I make sure I'm completely done packing the weekend before the trip .... in my case, that will be 1 day before we leave.

 

[JessiMommy]

Well, I can't pack for a long time yet, but reading about some of you packing now makes me excited for you and gives me something to do while I wait...

 

[goofyredraider]

I also wanted to add that there are a few reasons I pack early...
1) I pack everything for the 5 of us. No one else can do it (DH works long hours and seriously would pack 3 pairs of shorts for 13 days if I let him) and the kids aren't at that point yet.

2) It kills time! Seriously, I feel like if I do a little bit a day, it helps tick away the time on the calendar.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I usually start packing the weekend before we leave on a Tuesday night. It's easier for me to have my suitcase done because I work in a law firm and don't get much wear out of my shorts and t-shirts prior to the trip. My husband and son are a different story because they can wear their vacation clothes to school and work.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

A week to 10 days out. I make sure that the things I need/want to bring are clean and put them into the luggage. This way I'm not doing last minute laundry and/or forgetting something.

 

[aubriee]

I make my list a few weeks ahead but the actual packing is done the night before the trip since our dog gets freaked out if he sees suitcases laying around. So I have learned to leave the packing until he has been safely delivered to the puppy hotel.

It's funny how our little fur babies know we're getting ready to leave. As an AP holder I go to WDW 4-6 times a year, so you'd think they'd get used to it. I have a little 13 lb shih tzu and a 90+lb akita. I always pack the weekend before I leave. As soon as I get the bags out, both dogs start whining. My akita lays on the floor beside my bed and continuously lets out these huge pitiful sighs, like his heart is breaking. My shih tzu jumps on the bed and every time I step into the closet or bathroom to get something, she jumps into my checked bag, like she thinks she can get packed and go with me. Every time I lift her out of the bag and back onto the bed, she sighs almost as loud as the akita and gives me a pitiful look like I'm betraying her, but then as soon as my back is turned she jumps right back into the bag again. After the bags are packed, I always put them in the computer room out of the way and for that whole week, every time I'm in that room, my shih tzu thinks she has to be on my lap and just gazes at those bags, then looks up at me as if her heart is broke.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Your Shiba babies are so beautiful!!

Thank you so much. Have a wonderful trip.

It's funny how our little fur babies know we're getting ready to leave. As an AP holder I go to WDW 4-6 times a year, so you'd think they'd get used to it. I have a little 13 lb shih tzu and a 90+lb akita. I always pack the weekend before I leave. As soon as I get the bags out, both dogs start whining. My akita lays on the floor beside my bed and continuously lets out these huge pitiful sighs, like his heart is breaking. My shih tzu jumps on the bed and every time I step into the closet or bathroom to get something, she jumps into my checked bag, like she thinks she can get packed and go with me. Every time I lift her out of the bag and back onto the bed, she sighs almost as loud as the akita and gives me a pitiful look like I'm betraying her, but then as soon as my back is turned she jumps right back into the bag again. After the bags are packed, I always put them in the computer room out of the way and for that whole week, every time I'm in that room, my shih tzu thinks she has to be on my lap and just gazes at those bags, then looks up at me as if her heart is broke.

Ok this had me laughing as my babies do the same thing. Your Akita is the bigger version of my Shiba's and as you said, boy do they have some pitiful sighs especially my male.

 

[DisneyDetective]

We are 7 days out. we feel we don't wear the stuff we take like shorts and scandals (because its freezing in Scotand summer ). We leave toiletries till maybe day or 2 before.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Well, let's see ... we're 6 months out and I've already started putting stuff on the guest bed

I have a good reason, though! I found camelback backpacks at Costco the other day for a good price, and DH and I decided we wouldn't go without them this year. I also picked up a couple of travel-size items and some ponchos that were in a clearance bin (SCORE!).

I've made up my preliminary packing lists (number of clothing items, meds, gifts for nieces I want to pick up). Yes, I am kind of AR.

As for actual packing, I will start about 2 weeks before. I will see just how much I can cram into the space bags while still being within the bag weight limit , then take a few outfits out at the last second.

 

[disneychard]

I usually start packing a week before, My biggest problem is that I always over pack. We are a family of 3, I always have 5 large pieces of luggage and have three carry ons.

 

[FancyNancy]

I started packing two days ago and I'm leaving this Saturday. It's just my daughter and I so I am taking one big suitcase and we will each have a carry on.

 

[Butterbunkins]

It depends on when I give in to myself. I get excited and I want to start a month before, but I usually start 1-2 weeks before. I make my list way ahead of time. We almost always go well after summer here so I don't have to worry about needing my summer items before we leave.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Normally I do the bathroom stuff a month or two before the trip and the clothes the weekend before.

I'm behind on this trip. I just got back from California (brrrr, it was cold there in the evening and mornings) so I'll be packing pretty much everything except electronics this upcoming weekend.

 

[DebbieB]

I'm leaving on Saturday. I started picking my clothes yesterday and washed them. I don't put them in the suitcase until right before I leave. Underwear - day or two before. Most of my toiletries stay permanently packed because I travel for business. I need to go through them and refill anything necessary.