When do you start packing?

[GATORinaZ28]

A few hours before I leave.

 

[gtpoohbear]

I never pack until the day before we leave... sometimes the morning of if we are leaving later in the day. I don't see how I could pack any sooner. I guess because we don't really bring any "specialized" stuff, everything I pack is stuff we need and use on at least a weekly if not daily basis. I mean, I guess I could pack the MBs early, but that's about it, loL! The rest is all just our normal clothes and toiletries, and of course things like the iPads and cameras, but we use those almost everyday even at home. I wouldn't even want to have our rain jackets packed away where we couldn't easily access them.

 

[TeeterTots]

I must be really insane! My suitcase was never put away from the last trip in Nov 2014. As soon as I booked this upcoming trip in January, I opened the suitcase and have been putting things in it ever since... buying a little at a time. I now have most of my clothes packed and travel essentials too! So I started packing months ago, but I just can't help it!

Me too! I don't think I've unpacked completely from April! Now, with 45 days to go I have piles ready to go!

 

[ashmsnow]

I use a 3-1-1 bag in my gym bag so I'll pull that out the night before we go.

I'm leaving in 29 days and I made a list today. I pack with specific outfits in mind to avoid over-over-over packing. I'll probably put aside my bathing suit and a couple Disney-specific outfits soon but the major packing will probably be done the nights before. No kiddos yet; I'm sure when that day comes I'll be even more neurotic (about everything )

 

[Mikie]

I'm in the "staging area" club. Mine is a suitcase I won't be needing beforehand or a storage tub in the corner of my bedroom. Basically, as soon as I know a trip us on the horizon (6-8 months) my bin may slowly start accumulating Disney-specific items (autograph books, pressed penny coins, special Disney Ts, Magic bands) & travel needs (travel documents/confirmations, night light, power strip, travel size toiletries, mini first aid kit, ponchos) and I make a ridiculously thorough packing list, broken down by person and checked vs carry on bags. We actually get everything out of the staging area the day or 2 before & each person lays out their items on their own bed, then I check before its all put into suitcases (except DH, who is expected to be capable of fending for himself )

Making the list, making our autograph book, making or buying a couple special Disney Ts, reading DIS, double-checking park hours and show schedules all help me get my fix while waiting that last 50ish days! Starting at about 14 days seems to be when the family finally clues in and gets interested in talking about what's coming up. All my planning talk since 180+10 ADR picking has been an irritating buzz to them until about 2 weeks out.

 

[walker0829]

We started packing Friday night, had a family reunion all day the Saturday before we left and then finished packing Saturday night. Left on Sunday. We told ourselves we were going to be packed a week in advance but kept saying "we'll do it tomorrow".

 

[alc571]

We leave Friday night... I will pack Friday morning... lol. I have all the "extra" stuff packed (window decor, bathing suits, water shoes, etc.) - stuff we don't need. But I'll be doing laundry on Thursday night/Friday morning to get the rest of the stuff packed. If it wasn't so darn hot out in Ontario, I'd have all our summer stuff packed too!

 

[yeheyprincex2]

I start packing a few days before we leave. As soon as I know we are going to Disney I will start searching for Disney themed outfits and cute for my family and start a bag of plane busy activities, in room necessities. Ill place an order with a grocery delivery service. I enjoy this part of the trip planning.

 

[DisneyOma]

I have one of those ziploc storage bags that I use for my 'Disney shirts', and so that's always already packed Well, it's not in the suitcase, but at last count there were a dozen shirts in there that I only wear at Disney. I'm doing that with some other specific clothing too, like certain sweatshirts and shorts, and along with my travel kit (that is always ready to go) I could be out the door in 10 minutes. So, I guess I'm prepacked?

 

[jacksgirl]

I'm at 48 days now, and have one more out of town weekend trip to make the first weekend in October before Disney in early November. I've started putting swim clothes/summer clothes that I was going to pack away for the winter in a big suitcase, but will probably wait until I get back from the weekend trip before I start serious packing.

 

[jmccoy18]

I have a box in my closet that I use to store stuff as I get it in advance (ponchos, gift cards, glow sticks, minnie ears, etc) but I don't start to orgainize/actually pack until a week out. I make a list for each person and carry on bag and then highlight items as they get packed so I don't forget anything.

 

[romitaz]

Having a staging area for all the gear certainly helps me. I'm seriously OCD about packing and leaving anything behind that I need is not an option. We have been buying and collecting things for about 6 months now. That said, we "officially" packed last night. The bags are ready, the animals get dropped off at their second home tonight. We leave in to morning for the first part of our trip. We are staying on The Dark Side for 3 days first. That required a whole different suit case as we wont be even opening our big cases until we get to WDW on Friday.

 

[Spoiledraf]

We are leaving in 15 hours. Still need to do laundry and haven't packed a thing. Just booked last night. This is a real spur of the moment trip!

 

[ashmsnow]

We are leaving in 15 hours. Still need to do laundry and haven't packed a thing. Just booked last night. This is a real spur of the moment trip!

Good luck and have fun!

 

[ttintagel]

I take a plastic tote and make it into a "Disney Box" as soon as the reservations are made. Anything for the trip goes into the box as soon as possible. As I collect things I'll need (dollar-store ponchos, travel-size toiletries, resort window decorations, etc.) they go into the box. So, by the time I pack the day before departure, basically everything except my clothes and medications are in the box and just need to be transferred into the suitcase. (Even some of my clothes may be in the box by then, if it's stuff I'm not going to wear at home in the interim.)

Even so, I'm always up all night the night before, last-minute packing!