When do you start packing??

[bamamom]

I was wondering when most of you start packing for your trip to WDW? Do you have certain things you pack early and then the stuff you use most pack at the end? Or do you wait to the day before to pack? We go to the beach for a week each summer and to the mountains in the fall but I always wait to the night before to pack I am wanting to start packing sooner for this trip and we will be driving (12hrs) It will be myself, DH, DS9 and DD7. How many outfits do you take per day you are there for? Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.




Allstar Music Oct 2005
MNSSHP Oct 6 2005
Destin Beach Oct 2005 (on way home from WDW)

 

[Mousemom]

I like to put a box in my closet and about 3 months before we go I start putting those things I think I might forget in there. I pack everything else the day before we leave. Even with this planned organization we seem to always foreget something, especially my kids. One forgot shorts once, the other forgot extra shoes once.

 

[Amyg]

On any trip we go on I always have a packing list a few months in advance and add as I think of things. A couple of weeks before leaving, I purchase anything on the list that I don't already have (camera batteries, snacks, etc). We usually fly out on a weekday evening so I normally take off from work in the afternoon of that day. It takes me about 3 hours to pack (me and son, my Dh packs his own) so I might start putting stuff in suitcase the day before and complete packing the day of. This has always worked for me as long as I make my check list.

About sets of clothing...for any trip I take 5 sets of clothing, so this will mean washing cloths on day 4 of our trip.

 

[canada_ang]

I leave in 9 days - yay! I've got a packing list done, but won't start until tonight to set things aside. Planning my trip to Walmart for tonight to get last minute stuff. Clothes likely won't be packed until 2 or 3 days before (but laundry will be done by then!)

 

[smilie]

We leave in 10 days and I haven't packed a thing yet. I JUST got the suitcase out. I do have a packing list and I'm using this weekend to get last minute things at Walmart and do the bulk of the laundry. The hardest thing is deciding what to wear and I haven't even started to think about that. I guess I need to get started huh?

 

[Diznenut]

Even though this is our first disney trip together, I know my family enough that we have to start getting ready to pack way in advance.

I have a list of everything I want to take in my passporter. Everytime I read a tip here that I like, I add that to the list. I take my passporter with me shopping and read over the list before going in. Then if I come across anything discounted on the list, I buy it. When I get home, everything designated Disney gets put in a large rubbermaid storage bin with a lid. I write what I just put in there on a list on the lid.

I'm gonna have to get a second tub soon. Way too many things on my list isnt crossed off and the tub is almost full.

Having said that - I'm pretty sure theres gonna be a lot left - no matter how hard I try to force this crew to be organized.

 

[Lynn4Mel]

As soon as I booked our trip in Feb I began picking up stuff here and there as I went along. We leave in 37 days and I have one suitcase all set with non perishable snacks, laundry soap, rain ponchos, etc. Have enough video tapes for my camcorder, the H&BA bag is all packed. Now I am begining to put together a carry on bag for the plane and what ever I need to add in last minute is on a piece of paper attached to the bag. The week we leave I will get all the clothes packed.

 

[heathriel]

It really depends, actually.

For this October trip, there are certain things we started packing way back in February.

It's a Halloween Party trip, so whenever we get bits of our costumes together, we stick them in a "Disney Bag". We've got our Brita Bottle and filters in the bag, as well as all our passes and reservation papers.

I just picked up new travel toothbrushes the other day (we always get the electric kind, I found some that are rechargeable on clearance for $4 each) so into the bag went they.

We always have a toiletry bag packed with shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant etc, so don't have to worry about that, except of course on the few times when we forget to put the bag itself into the suitcase.

Around 10 days out, I'll start doing laundry and pick out the week's worth of clothing, then pack the suitcases and be done with it. Whatever clothing is packed is off limits before we leave.

So anyway, I'd say that 10 days is really when we "pack", but the majority of our "last minute stuff" is together way before that.

As for how many outfits, generally one per day is enough (if you dress the way we do, which is "neat.") I've seen some people dress REALLY sloppy and I certainly would not want to sit next to them in a restaurant, and I'm sure that's why Disney put that new clothing policy into effect. I'm only 28 but, man, I don't know where these people got their habits from. Yeah, I wear belly shirts and hip jeans sometimes, but nothing that exposes my private bits and I would certainly never wear them to a restaurant. (And don't even let me get started on the whole "anyone who has a belly shouldn't wear a belly shirt" argument.)

If you like to wear hotpants and wifebeaters though, I'd say bring day clothes and a different outfit for dinner each day.

Also, if you're going to go to the water parks or on rides that potentially will get you wet, make sure you bring extra sets of clothes (including underwear) for those days. Kali River Rapids catches people by surprise.

And always pack a sweater or a jacket. People don't think of this, but Florida nights can get chilly. And the air conditioning can get FREEZING in the restaurants.

 

[MScott1851]

I've been washing clothes today, and have set aside seven pairs of shorts and nine teeshirts, seven pairs of socks and underwear. I've gotten all my travel size toiletries in my overnight bag, but I won't actually pack until Saturday morning.

I used to start a week out, and I'd always have to get things out of the suitcase...

I have vowed to pack LIGHT this year, last year we had 10 bags between the two of us (two big suitcases, two small suitcases, two carryons, DH briefcase, me HUGE shoulderbag that had two smaller bags full inside it.)

I take a park outfit, and a teeshirt/gymshorts for each day. I take three swimsuits, and I usually pack three or four dressy outfits for going out in downtown Orlando (dressy top, nice jeans, high heels).

 

[dyna]

I never totally unpack tolietries are refilled before I pack them away so they are always ready to go. DD had some undies she decided she didn't like I put them in my luggage for traveling (not what I would normally wear but fine for disney and traveling) The socks I wear at disney I only wear at disney. Got 2 pairs of comfy shoes that I don't wear at home that stays packed for disney. The raingear stays packed.

 

[justplaingoofy]

We always keep a toiletries kit bag packed. Between going away for weekend to see family. Plus, I would forget something if I always had to look for each item of makeup, girlie stuff, etc.

I start pulling clothes about 2 wks in advance, then a few days later take another look at them and cut it down by 1/2. Throw them in the laundry about 3 days prior to leaving and actually pack the day before. (We usually have to leave our house at 4am).

We vacation a couple times and year and started a few years ago trying the "cut the outfits by 1/2) and its worked... Still some extra's.

9 days and a wakeup (can't count the wakeup as a day, leaving at that hour)

 

[gt0163c]

For any trip I do I generally put a laundry basket in the corner of my bedroom a few weeks before the trip (sometimes right after the last trip, if I have two that are pretty close together). When I come across things specifically for the trip that I won't use again prior to the trip, I put them in the basket. This also happens with clothing. When I'm folding laundry if there's something I'll be taking on the trip that I don't plan on wearing before then, I fold it and put it in the basket. The weekend before the trip I make sure my shower kit is restocked for the trip (I restock my kit after each trip but make sure to double check it before moving it to the trip basket in case I've forgotten that I've raided it for soap or toothpaste or something). I try to make sure that everything that goes in the basket is ready to go directly into my travel duffle bag. That usually involves special folding or putting stuff in bags. Normally I pack the day before the trip, although depending on my schedule, it can be two or three days before. By that point I generally have at least half of my gear assembled, folded, bagged, etc. There will be things that I use regularly which will be put in at the last minute (eye glasses, Ipod, water bottle, etc).

I generally have a pretty good mental idea of what I want to pack prior to the trip but I have been known to make lists (often when meetings get boring in the weeks leading up to the trip). But, most of my gear is my standard travel gear which I take on most trips. So, there's not a lot of extra decision making for me.

 

[mickeymousemom]

We leave 2 weeks from tomorrow and I just sat down this morning to make a list of things I need to buy and pack. I have a few things together and will probably actually pack a few things tonight. 2 weeks ahead of time is pretty normal for me. I have my toddler DD's costumes(Cinderella and JoJo) ready to go and will probably start getting shorts and warm weather clothes together in the next few days since we aren't wearing them much around here now. I never prepack shampoo and stuff like that because I just take what we have here. I have a list of Dollar Tree stuff to buy and will do that this weekend. I love doing this so I'll spread it out over the course of 2 weeks just to enjoy myself!

 

[frannn]

I buy on a whim that I think will be good for a WDW trip. This year, though, I am way behind. We leave in 3 weeks and I have stuff tossed in a few bags that I have to look through. I am usually almost fully packed a month or two before the trip. The reason for this is that I have to pack for 3 people, DD2, DD12, and myself, so I can only do a decent amount of packing on Sat's, and even then it's a challenge. We usually go around my youngest DD's birthday, so I am also planning a party at home for the week before each trip. I think the problem is that we all have too much clothing, so I have too many choices, LOL! Also, we have so many matching outfits that its hard to locate everyone's piece (shirt, or dress), and coordinate when we will be wearing which. There is also so mutch stuff to bring for DD2, that I am constantly trying to organize and consolidate. I still need to finalize our dining plans, as I have a PS for PSB that DH is iffy about (still trying to convince him). OK, I am making myself neurotic now...

 

[Jack Splat]

I always start packing for trips (whether it's to the Islands, Europe, or domestically) about an hour to an hour and a half before I have to leave to the airport or car. Some things I can't pack until the morning of anyway, like clean clothes out of the dryer and toiletries. I'm always amazed at how long it takes people to pack, and unpack. My ex-girlfriend would start packing for a simple and short 3-day weekend trip 2 weeks before leaving. That's nuts! I don't know, maybe serving my time in the military taught me to pack quick, which we did, but still, 2 weeks is borderline insane.

 

[my3princes]

I've picke up a few things here and there over the last 6 months. I made matching T-shirts last month and made sure we all have shorts to go with the shorts. Today at 28 days out I started pulling everything together and setting them aside. We live in VT so not much need for summer clothes here now. A few pair of short here will do us so everything else is packable.

Deb

 

[CherCrazy]

Pack? Well, that would mean I'd have to unpack first!

We actually don't take too much in the way of clothes...no, we're not nudists I just always do a couple loads of laundry while we're away. It's so easy with our DVC membership! (do I sound like a commercial??) I get mad at myself if I pack too much, then don't end up wearing it.

 

[Debi]

I usually pull the suitcase down from the attic about a month in advance. I'll put in all the things I'll know I forget first (sunscreen, bandaids, etc.), and slowly but surely everything else gets packed.

Have fun!!

 

[poohguys]

My husband packs the night before we leave right before we go to bed. I will probaly pack the day before, only because we are still wearing most of the clothes we are bringing. We will be at Disney two weeks from today! I will go some time this week to Walmart or Target and get toiletries that we need-we are almost out of sunscreen. We only bring carryons so we just take the bare minimum that we need. You can always do laundry while there.

 

[psiprez]

I make my list a month out, start putting items and clothing aside, and then get out the suitcases two weeks before.

I usually set up a whole packing station in my family room, which then become the un-packing station.

I admit, though, I have already started a mental list for my Jan. trip!