When do you start packing?

[laur05]

how long before your trip do you start packing?

 

[NYCANC]

I print some Disney packing lists from online and also take notes from postings here. I start to buy things I do not have a month or so out and make piles of things we need.
Actually packing- a week to a few days out. A lot of the kids clothes will still be worn at school the week before- so lots of laundry the day before we leave! Will finish packing our luggage the night before we leave

 

[maxiesmom]

As soon as I have a trip booked I gather together all of my travel sized stuff, and see if I need to replace or refill anything. About a month out I start grouping stuff together I don't use on a daily basis, but my real packing doesn't start until a few days before.

 

[nvsnot]

I haven't been in two years, but I normally start packing as soon as I book the trip. I don't pack our suitcases, but I do begin purchasing Disney themed shirts, ponchos, misting fans, etc. and store them in my "Disney bin". A week before I usually begin loading our suitcases with the items i've purchased just for the trip and continue packing until it's done. I hate packing at the last minute because this usually guarantees that I forget something. Since I spin so much on the trip and preparing for the trip my worst nightmare is getting all the way to Florida and realizing I don't have something I needed and intended to bring on the trip. Since I fly and rely solely on Disney transportation forgetting something would be a major inconvenience.

 

[MunchkinSweetPea]

We go in the off season so I pack the summer outfits before I re-organize the kids' closets for the cold weather here. Any long pants or sweaters go in the suitcase the week of departure.

 

[emsstacey]

A month or two in advance I will start gathering items that will be just for the trip and packing them separately. Once we are a week or two within the window, I will start packing our actual bags. I don't have to start that far in advance but it helps me deal with the excitement.

 

[luvmy2babies]

About 2 months out I make 4 lists. "Things to buy", "things to do", Things to pack (items under each person's name) and "things I cannot leave behind". I go over those, check items off as things are bought and done and make any changes or additions until about a week before and then pack. It took longer early on; but after a couple of trips we ended up with what I call our "Disney box" where I started keeping items so they didn't have to be purchased again (misting fans, lanyards, personal fans, autograph books (if it wasn't filled), Disney pens, summer hats, dd's miniature backpack, etc.).

For one trip we actually packed in 1 afternoon about 3 days before we left. But the children were helping and I already had everything in one area.

 

[North of Mouse]

Two to three days before

 

[myrtleturtle]

I start to buy things as I see them as soon as the trip is booked (dollar bin glow sticks, small things for the airplane). I also start working on shirts. A month out, I begin to gather everything into one location as I think about it. A week before I get out the suitcases and really start. I have my list divided into what goes into the carry-ons and what goes into the checked bags. I also have a list of things that I will need right up until the morning that we leave so that I don't forget those. Like my glasses, which I only use at night when I take out my contacts. Ugh, I hate when I forget those!

We are currently on a long TDY with the Air Force, and won't get back until two weeks before our October trip. I get hives if I think about it!

 

[ChasingLeslie]

Actual packing? 2-3 days in advance for short trips or 4-5 day for a longer trip.

However I've already bought Disney shirts for the kids for our trip next year! I have a bag in DS's closet and I put trip stuff there.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

just got out DD4's suitcase, our trip is about 6 weeks away, just open with her special new trip clothes, swim clothes and some of the baby's outfits. i need to gather things slowly so i don't forget anything

 

[BLAZEY]

If its an overseas trip, a couple of weeks out. If stay in Canada or USA just a couple of days before hand to actually put stuff in the suit cases. Lists are made a just before packing begins and I dedicate one shopping trip to buy any needed items This trip is a surprise for DD6 so DH & I will be doing most of the packing after she goes to bed the night before we leave. All Laundry will be done previous to packing. My DH is very good at packing his own bag, I have taught him well. Stuff that is only used for trips tends to stay in the the suitcase. I pack the liquids ziplock bags for each of us and am responsible for miscellaneous stuff (snacks, laundry supplies, sunblock etc.)

 

[diznymom]

DH says I can start packing 1 month from trip. However, I have a corner in my room that I "organize" and collect things for the trip.

 

[dylans mommy]

Once we book I have a corner in my room that I collect things for the trip. Then around 6 weeks out I get out a small suitcase and put everything in it that is for the trip. Like if we have special clothes or items for it. We have a Disney box in our closet that we have our misting fans, pins, ponchos and anything else we use on every trip. That box comes down the same time as the suitcase. I will start to pull clothes around 3 weeks out to organize and put in the right suitcase.

 

[ditsypixie]

We leave next Sunday so I will start pulling suitcases this week and as I wash outfits, I will throw them in. I also keep a "Disney" rubbermaid container that has our lanyards, extra glow sticks, pins, rain jackets, etc in it. We pulled it out today. I am dying to start packing!!!

 

[Pesky]

I leave in a year. I'm packing now.

Okay, okay, not really but I want to! Usually I get together a list of what I and the kids need (DH is on his own) about a month or two out. I pick up anything we will need (travel things, meds, etc.) and make sure the desired outfits are laundered and separated about a week before, at least 2 days before if it is something they need to wear right before leaving. I start really packing about a week before, usually just getting the suitcases out and putting what I can in a prep area so I can get an idea of what we are bringing and eyeball how I might pack it. I usually have it almost completely packed the day before departure and have to pack the last items the morning of departure (usually hair brushes, toiletries and such) but the morning packing doesn't take long.

 

[vettegirl]

I start packing 2-3 weeks out.

 

[kidneymomma]

The week of vacation usually. This trip I have x10 more stuff than normal to pack. I've been making notes of things I need to get like sample size laundry detergent, I don't usually use those dishwashing detergent pack things but plan to get some for our villa, already Pinteresting matching shirts, deciding what princess dresses to take for our daughter. Cinderella doesn't fit anymore....do I buy one now or there? We are going in February so it's a hard time to pack for until the date is closer.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Day before.

 

[Mousemommy1]

It depends on the time of the trip. If it's a summer trip, we can't really pack anything because we are all still wearing the clothes needed to go.

But, for our April trips, I can typically start packing about 45 days prior because we aren't using any summer clothes.