When do you start shopping for WDW?

[FloridaKelly]

Our trip is just over eight months away. We are a large group going for nine days and staying at a Disney resort. I anticipate needing lots of toiletries, first aid, beauty products and some new clothing. I know my trip is far, far away, but I am just so excited! I get to book dining in two months - but I NEED to do something else. So I am asking, when do you guys start making the trips to Target, Walmart, Sam's Club etc. to pick up non-perishables for your Disney vacation? And what do you buy that won't spoil or expire? Please, give me SOMETHING more I can do for my far, far away trip NOW!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Our trip is just over eight months away. We are a large group going for nine days and staying at a Disney resort. I anticipate needing lots of toiletries, first aid, beauty products and some new clothing. I know my trip is far, far away, but I am just so excited! I get to book dining in two months - but I NEED to do something else. So I am asking, when do you guys start making the trips to Target, Walmart, Sam's Club etc. to pick up non-perishables for your Disney vacation? And what do you buy that won't spoil or expire? Please, give me SOMETHING more I can do for my far, far away trip NOW!

I have been buying stuff since October for our trips in Oct and Dec. I have been purchasing clothes mostly, but also picked up Disney Halloween & Christmas window clings on clearance after the holidays, also some new
t shirts here and there on the Disney Shopping site. Probably wont buy toiletries and such until a month or so out from the trip dates. We dont bring groceries, so I dont worry about those.

 

[FloridaKelly]

We'll be picking up groceries on the ride up. Fruit and milk and such to keep in the room, but since they spoil, they'll be a last minute Publix stop before we arrive.

GREAT idea about the decorations! We'll be there close to Halloween and I didn't even think about getting some decorations for the room! Great advice, THANKS!!!

 

[FloridaKelly]

I guess I'm the only NUT who wants to shop for her Disney vacay eight months and a few weeks before she arrives at Disney World

 

[DizDaD7]

Hmmm, the question shouldnt be when do you shop, but rather when dont you shop. LoL. We're constantly seeing something that we end up getting.

 

[DanaLTK]

I agree that it is fun to start the magic far ahead of time. I pick up one thing with my regular grocery trip every week: Conditioner, dyer sheets, drink mix, gum. Of course this far out it won't be milk or produce, but planning ahead also helps diffuse the cost.
HAVE FUN!

 

[KNovacovschi]

I guess I'm the only NUT who wants to shop for her Disney vacay eight months and a few weeks before she arrives at Disney World

Trust me your not. My DH won't let me. We are going in October to and I am restless not doing anything for the trip. Need to shop.

 

[Cinderella909]

Our trip is just over eight months away. We are a large group going for nine days and staying at a Disney resort. I anticipate needing lots of toiletries, first aid, beauty products and some new clothing. I know my trip is far, far away, but I am just so excited! I get to book dining in two months - but I NEED to do something else. So I am asking, when do you guys start making the trips to Target, Walmart, Sam's Club etc. to pick up non-perishables for your Disney vacation? And what do you buy that won't spoil or expire? Please, give me SOMETHING more I can do for my far, far away trip NOW!

While out and about, if I see anything that I think would be good for our holiday, I pick it up. I keep it in my 'Disney Box'. It makes it easier to do through out the year. Course, I like to do this for my all my holiday shopping. The only problem is making sure I can find everything or don't forget where I put something.

Karen

 

[Jill in Chicago]

Beauty Products I buy as needed. So this is not something I shop for before vacation.

Toiletries I use the same stuff from home. Maybe you could look for little containers to put your shampoo in...

Clothes. I love looking for Disney clothes on Ebay.

Stuff for the boys. We never bought these ahead, just a few things at the parks.

Lists. I channeled a lot of my energy into making lists, and planning our days.

Reading. Do you have the Unofficial Guidebook? You can read that for DAYS!

Budget Cooking. I know so not Disney fun, but if you save money now you can shop more at Disney later!

 

[ZPT1022]

I don't do anything specific that far out but as others have mentioned, we have a "vacation box" where we put stuff that we don't really use at home but want to keep for our trips, like the water misting fans, glow sticks, maybe some little toys for the kids on the plane or car ride, stuff like that. As we come across things we buy them and put them in the box. If you have a Disney store near you and you see any special character clothes or anything, that might be nice to pick some things up on clearance, whether you want to try to pass it off as souvenirs or just for the kids to have to wear while you're there

 

[Amandaka78]

Ha! I thought I was crazy. I'm almost done putting together our bathroom bags. Target has had a bulk items section right now and I've stocked up on toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo and bodywashes. Also when I see sales on deoderants and razors or have coupons I've been stocking up. I've gotten a lot but the first place the stuff goes is in the Disney travel bags that way we don't have to spend the money right before the trip.

 

[LJSquishy]

I also have a Disney Box. It is just a photo box from Michael's Crafts but I store all of my DW supplies in there. This will be my 1st trip so I was really excited and wanted to slowly purchase items to give me something to do! I started collecting in September for our February trip, so 5 months.

I bought:
Ponchos from Dollar Tree (4 for each of us for a 7-night stay)
Hand sanitizer
Clorox Wipes travel-size package
Downy Wrinkle Releaser travel-size spray
Shower loofahs travel-size
Band aids in various sizes including the blister ones
Moleskin for any hot spots from shoes
Shout wipes in travel package
Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets (will bring 2-4 along in case I need to do laundry)
1 sponge, soaked in dish soap and air-dried, then will cut into 6 pieces (good for washing out mugs at night)
Oatmeal packets for quick light breakfast in the morning (use hot water from coffee maker)
2 Ziplock plastic storage containers for eating oatmeal
2 plastic spoons (will wash and reuse)
Dramamine, probably won't need it but you never know!

I think that is about it...I will be bringing my allergy medicine & Tylenol rapid-release meds also.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

I start purchasing things about 1 year out (except gift cards, those I go out about 18 months. So far in my Disney box I have:
Lands end over the door holder for toiletries
Toothbrushes (I never re-use ones that were taken to a hotel)
Toothpaste (Watch the expiration date)
Single use laundry detergent
Box of baggies (for desserts that weren't eaten, holding napkins, etc).
S2 months mall tissues for purse
Hand sanitizer
Quarters for laundry
Pop-up hamper for laundry
I set aside garbage bags for brining clean laundry back from dryer
Mickey paint samples from home depot/room decorations
Clorox wipes
Park maps
Coffee filters
Aspirin
Body wash/shampoo
Paper plates/napkins (I get utensils at the resort)
I have Mousekeeping envelopes decorated and filled with tips already.

Once I get about two months out I will start picking up non-perishable items.

Have fun planning-There are lots of things you can get together at this point!!

 

[stephgles]

We are going in September and starting buying things in December. Tinkerbell normally comes the night before with a new tshirt and items for the plane and Cinderella comes our first night with a good bag. Those items I pick up when I see them. I have one issue though, I forgot where I put one of my mystery bags. LOL

 

[Happy Mom2]

I agree that it is fun to start the magic far ahead of time. I pick up one thing with my regular grocery trip every week: Conditioner, dyer sheets, drink mix, gum. Of course this far out it won't be milk or produce, but planning ahead also helps diffuse the cost.
HAVE FUN!

I have a Disney box. As I buy stuff, I just throw it in there. I've got everything from gum to clothes to toys in it. The family knows they are not allowed to go into the box.

 

[rock_doctor]

Always. I keep a running list of what we need each trip and when i find anything on the list i get it. We have a specific spot in the house that is the Disney spot. The pile just accumulates over the 6mo between visits. If you keep an eye out all of the time you can watch for sales.

 

[goofgal31]

Wow thank you all for letting me know I am not the only one!!!
My family thinks I am nuts with all the time I have spent planning this vacation. It helps to know I'm not alone.

 

[FloridaKelly]

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO REPLIED!!!!!

You have ALL helped so much and given me such wonderful ideas!!!! And as soon as you started to mention DISNEY BOX my mind started spinning. I know EXACTLY the box I'll use! And I'm going to start shopping ASAP.

Great idea about keeping an eye out for sales too! A small benefit to booking months and months out and having to wait

 

[jenjifer]

I hear you. We don't go until next spring (too early to even book a package yet) , so I'm trying so hard to pass the time until then.

Soon I'll start picking up a gift card every now and then to throw into "The Box". I put mostly the same stuff everyone else has mentioned... That, and I read the boards here obsessively.

 

[milmore104]

As soon as I hit the Book It key on my computer! It's NEVER to early to plan, shop, or pack in my opinion. But be careful you may end up booking another trip that's closer...like us!