When do you usually start packing? How much do you take?

[imjen]

Packing is on my mind now. We leave in 4 days! Aaacckk! I'm tempted to start packing today but don't know if I want our clothes sitting in suitcases that long (4 days to go). I may start packing incidentals and other things today though. I haven't even made my packing list yet. Definitely got to do that! LOL Tuesday is a crazy busy day for me so I need to have most of it done by Monday. How early do you start packing? How many pairs of clothes do you take? My dilemma is packing for 5 people enough clothes for the crazy weather next week. Supposed to be hot, enough for shorts I think, but we may also need pants, especially by the end of the week. Maybe I'll pack a couple shorts and a couple pants. Would you pack long sleeve tees or just short sleeve and a jacket? I don't want to take too many suitcases!

 

[jory29]

Remember to ROLL your clothes instead of folding. Far less wrinkles, and you can actually pack more that way, it seems. However, you should travel as lightly as possible. Check out websites (google search) such as one bag, etc. They will give you a nice checklist of what to pack, etc. I would only have one long sleeved shirt per person, as you will have jackets (coats) too, right? The rest can be T-shirts. I'd probably have 2 shorts, and 2 pants, per person. Maybe 3 T-shirts. Enough socks and underwear for the week.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[shoppingmom]

Large Zip Lock bags work great for packing the smaller kids outfits in. I packed our dd (6) entire outfits in seperate bags and that way in the morning I would just hand her a bag and everything was in it to wear that day. It saved on a lot of room in the suitcase. The other thing that helped was I forgot (ha my story and I am sticking to it) to pack most of my clothes so I could go shopping!

 

[teacups]

If I start packing now I will be steaking clothes out for school, I know it! So, for me... it's best to wait a little. We fly out next week as well.

 

[Master Mason]

for a trip of 3 days or less, I always bring a change of cloths for each day plus one extra, for longer than 3 days I bring 2 extra.... You just never know when you going to get a soda spilled on you or you decide that being soaked from a water ride at 5 wasn't such a great idea at 7 when the sun has gone down.... but that's just me

 

[Phalene]

I use ziplock bags also, it keeps a whole outfit together which makes it easy to dress in the morning, plus I get as much air out of it as possible so it packs very small.

An added bonus is that if my bag is seached they won't be touching my clothes directly.

 

[abby]

Since we have a guest room, I start by laying out what I plan to take on the bed there, I always over pack, so then I can try and sort out what I really need.
I'd take 2 shorts, 2 long pants, maybe a pair of capri's? short sleeved shirts, a sweat shirt and coat.

 

[Husker Mickey]

We leave on Wednesday of next week. We have already talked about what each of us is packing. The shirts for the days that we are in the park are already decided. We will be wearing matching shirts in our party of 9 - blue tie dyed, red Husker, dk blue w/ old Mickey design. When we went the last time, we only matched on two days and realized that it was a definate bonus to be able to pick each other out of the crowd. (Let alone that we were dreamed with pins - all 22 of us - we kinda stuck out We will be packing two pair of shorts, two pair of jeans, our t-shirts, and a jacket of some sort. (of course undies, socks, and jammies) For the unfortunate event that someone spills, which always happens, I take Shout wipes with me to the parks. I've helped other numerous people by "dreaming" them with a Shout wipe. They are always very grateful. Maybe we'll see you there. You know what shirts to look for, I have a LG Mickey on our bag with me siggie.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I always start packing at least 3 weeks before I leave. I usually don't pack very much for myself, it's DD that I always pack a TON of clothes for! She's still only 18 months.

 

[jenksdj]

I notice that you have 3 young girls. Although I know it will be worse when they're teenagers, I have a hard time keeping my DDs (5 and 7) from adding things to the suitcase. How many stuffed animals and blankies can one person need?! Then there are the princess costumes. How many of those do we NEED?! I think I'm going to pack for them this time, and not tell them we're going until it's too late to add anything to the suitcase (like maybe at the airport)!!

Good luck with your packing!

 

[imjen]

I notice that you have 3 young girls. Although I know it will be worse when they're teenagers, I have a hard time keeping my DDs (5 and 7) from adding things to the suitcase. How many stuffed animals and blankies can one person need?! Then there are the princess costumes. How many of those do we NEED?! I think I'm going to pack for them this time, and not tell them we're going until it's too late to add anything to the suitcase (like maybe at the airport)!!

Good luck with your packing!

ROFLOL Ain't that the truth?! They love to help me pack. I try to do it while they're at school. You're right, it will only get worse as they get older and "need" more clothes, make-up, hair products, etc. Aaaccck! I think at that point I'll require that they haul whatever they bring so if it's a huge, heavy suitcase they have to deal with it.

 

[RuthieT]

I'll probably start packing about a week ahead of time.... I will starting setting aside certain outfits for my DD that is 3.5 first off just in case I change my mind about it a few times haha.. As for myself and DH It will probably be just a few days before. I will need to find a list of what you cant take on the airplanes anymore since it has been over 6 years since we last flew.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I do most of the packing the day before we leave. Pretty much has to do with clothes. If I do it too early there will be clothes that we will need to wear still.

I actually like doing most of it the day before, makes that day go by faster!

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

I pack by rolling or layering the clothes then folding over - less wrinkles but it takes up more space than just rolling, that's just for 1 or 2 nites of travel.

So! I pack 2 outfits a day, 3 for the kids. We go back to the hotel after lunch & rest & shower before going back for dinner & night time activities so it may seem like a lot - but it works for us. Plus kids are prone to accidents so I always being extra.

I layer: So in January (HOPEFULLY it's cool enuf!) Jeans, tee, sweatshirt, jacket. HOPE I need jeans & HOPE I need just a sweatshirt.....so I'm secretly praying for 65 degree weather - LOL! I'd rather be cold than hot...just not wet. No rain please.

I start making my packing lists about 2 wks ahead & add/subtract & pack 2 days before & add last minute things right before we leave....not sure HOW to do that if we're surprising the kids.....

 

[BecBennett]

My BIL is going to Japan at the end of October and he did a mock pack this weekend. That way he knows that what he needs to take fits and how heavy everything will be.

I think that's a great idea. The only problem is knowing me I'll probably do one every fortnight until it's time to go

Another thing that I just know I'll do is wear half the clothes that I am planning on taking within the week of going, so I'll have to do a mad wash and hope it's all dry in time.

 

[samkj]

OK, it depends, some things that I know we won't need I throw into the suitcase up to 3 WEEKS in advance! I just can't help it! I already have the rain ponchos folded up and in ziploc bags, in the suitcase. I will usually pick up new socks and underwear for the kids (why are socks and underwear no where to be found at packing time??) and throw the new packages into the cases too. The kids are each allowed 1 stuffed animals and they have those planned out too. (from my 7 year old, "well, my bear cae to Disneyland last time, so I HAVE to take the unicorn to be fair") Since we are driving this time I know I will overpack since I don't have to worry about airline luggage restrictions. I love travelling and just seeing the suitcases laid out for a few weeks just adds to the excitment!

 

[momshadow]

I know where you are coming from with the undees and socks! Why is it they all disappear? We had to go shopping for all of us this week for those little dandys.

 

[drag n' fly]

About 5 days before as I need to know what the weather will be like. OMG that is in 19 days WOOOHOOO!!!!

 

[pixiewings71]

Well, we leave Thursday night so we all packed yesterday. LOL Well except for DBF, he hasn't packed yet. Said something about "I need to get a bag or something". LOL I started because I was doing laundry yesterday (after 2 weeks I was about out of clothes) and I was just pulling out my clothes and putting them in the bag.

Normally I pack about 5-7 days in advance, that way I'm thinking about it and if I remember something (rain ponchos for this trip) I can make a note to add it to my bag. Or my girls' bags whichever is necessary. Call me crazy but I don't forget much.