When to Pack

[momofkids]

I start collecting things for the trip as soon as we know we are going. I designate a box or bag and throw things in as I purchase them. Our last trip was a total surprise for the kids. I took the afternoon off the day before and packed in secret while they were in school. Then I hid the suitcases. It was good to have a bag of accumulated stuff like ponchos and sunscreen. That made packing go so much easier. Honestly, that is the most prepared we have ever been for a trip. So much less stress on travel day. I think I will try to pack early from now on. Organize everything except clothes a week ahead and make a list for clothes then too.

 

[PrincessMe]

We travel really light with no real special Disney only items and so usually do laundry and pack the night before.

I travel a lot and do have an always packed and refilled toiletries/make-up/first aid kit ready to go. All i really do is add clothes, ponchos, and shoes. I also have an all-purpose travel checklist that I use to make sure that I don't forget chargers and camera lenses and the like. The list also helps us make sure we got everything out of the hotel.

 

[momto2inKC]

We pack the day before leaving. That's for any trip, not just Disney.

 

[zshellmatt]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I think I am going to stick to the 30 days prior. We are so excited it will make me feel better because I will be doing something Disney related I have been picking up Disney items and stuff for the trip. Everything thing is in plastic bags though. Cant wait until June

 

[*blessedbyHim*]

Actually, it is the opposite for us. I start packing early because we have too much going on. I just do a tiny bit at a time and check it off on a list. If we tried to do it all at once, we would never be able to get it done and actually sleep the night before the trip.

We are also this way. We have to start packing and cleaning early because we have so much going on!

 

[agalati]

Something that I've found is really helpful for items like a toothbrush and other things that you will need the morning of your trip, is to have an extra to pack beforehand. This way it is less hectic and there is less chance that you will forget something important.

 

[tryplm]

I MAKE myself wait until 30 days out. It kills me! I want to pack now

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I'm trying my hardest to do this now!! We don't leave for another 58 days, and its killing me not to start!

 

[AuroraRora]

I plan to start packing about a week before, but in reality we have to leave for the airport at 3am and at 1am I'm frantically tossing things into suitcases *sigh* . I swear I'll get organised one of these days!

 

[aubriee]

We have a long drive to the airport, so we drive there the day before.

Our last trip all of our luggage was stolen on Friday night (DH's fault, he insisted on leaving everything in the car at the hotel). So we went to Kohl's and I managed to replace an entire weeks worth of clothes for four people in 15 minutes

OMG! I don't normally panic, but think I might have in that circumstance.

I have an extra bedroom that has a futon bunk bed in it. Two weekends before we leave, I usually lay the futon out, match up outfits, iron them, and hang them together in there on the upper bunk railing and then put everything else on the bottom bed. The weekend before we leave I go back in there and fold everything into packing folders or packing cubes and put everything in the suitcase. The last week I just have too much to do, to worry about packing. I work night shift and during the days that last week, I have to get my hair cut, manicure and pedicure, stop the mail, take the dogs to the sitter the day before we leave (which is 45 minutes away), clean house, make sure the lawn gets mowed, etc.

 

[juliebug1997]

DH packs the night before.

I start my list about a week before we leave along with packing things that I won't need before we go. I do lots of laundry and start wearing my worst clothes so that I can pack all the clean, nicer looking, clothes. That way, the morning that we leave, I just have to pack my toiletries and my power cords for my phone and iPad/Kindle (depending on which one I bring).

 

[Disneyhayes]

We'll be going in December so I will start my list soon. I will take things off and add them to the list over the next few months. Once we finalize our dining plans I will decide on clothes (ie. nice clothes for signature meals). As I pull out the summer clothes I will look at what Disney clothes we have and begin to decide on outfits for each day (we like to match). I will make a list of these and then change it as we get new clothes, clothes get ruined, etc. When we put the clothes away at the end of Summer I will put out the ones on my list and put them in a box/tub (I would put them directly in the suitcase but we travel some weekends in the fall).

I will start my packing into suitcases a month before. Between now and then I will start collecting things like sunscreen, toothbrushes, glo necklaces, etc and putting them in a small bin.

 

[Moonwolf]

I usually plan generally what I'm going to bring anywhere from a few weeks to a few months before any trip. But actual putting things in suitcases and such won't happen until anywhere from a week to a day or two before I leave. Most often the night before since I always end up needing to wash something before packing it.

 

[LaurenT]

LOL,
About three days before a trip I panic, throw a bunch of stuff into the suitcase, make a list and run to the store for anything I'm missing.
I will, however, make sure that I have the clothes we need for the trip....just not packed.

 

[Disneyhayes]

We went out and bought leash backpacks for our girls specifically before our 1st trip in Sept 2011 and then forgot them! We realized about 8 hours into the drive and tried to see if my MIL could ship them to us. I know plan way far ahead!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

I have my own version of an Owners Locker in my bedroom. It has all my various Disney travel stuff in it.....water bottles, lanyards, Disney shirts, travel sized detergent and toiletries, holiday hats, etc.
About a week prior to departure, I start staging things....piles of shirts, shorts, etc. Then, I put it all together, in my bags, the day before we leave. I used to pack early, but found that I tended to forget stuff, and had to go through what I had already packed to make sure it was in there!!!

 

[ktrask]

Most trips I start the week before we leave. I start a list and get to organizing, washing etc.

This is the longest vaca we have taken in quite a while, and I want to make it as stress free as possible. I have a bin of things for Disney that I can toss items in. When summer stuff is on clearance I'll get things a size up for DD and start tossing them in there. Nick nacks etc are also going in there.

I'll do the actual packing the week before like normal, but there is certainly more prep work for the packing this trip than others.

 

[jackieinJuneau]

My next trip is in Oct and I already have a packing list. My DH and I are going down to Seattle in May and will do a lot of clothing shopping for our Oct trip so I am planning that! Suitcases come out of storage a couple weeks before the trip but can't pack until a couple days before because the cats love the luggage and I don't want my clothing all hairy. The longer the suitcase is open the more likely we'll accidently pack a cat.

 

[Bob NC]

If I am leaving before 9 am I'll usually pack the night before. If leaving after 9 am, I'll pack that morning.

 

[Disney Sheri]

We leave June 1 and I have already started setting things aside and buying magazines for the plane-etc...Part of the fun for us! This time it will be me and DD15-turning 16 while we are there! So excited!

 

[amberpi]

First, its just me and DH.

We both travel for work (I've been on a plane every week this year - and I'm loving the inflight wifi I'm enjoying RIGHT NOW!) so we both have a suitcase with all our toiletries and I have a full set of work makeup; we both carry spare workout clothes and shoes which get immediately washed after each trip. When I run out of something on the road, or I'm about to, I send myself an email and immediately replace it. Knowing that toiletries are always under control it never takes me more than 20 minutes to pack. I just take out my spare tights (not gonna need them for personal travel) and add a few makeup items and sunscreen, clothes, which would be hanging pressed in the closet, shoes and bikinis - all set for WDW. If I didn't have the toiletries and makeup resolved, it would take much longer, or if I didn't have an organized closet.

However, I start buying new things for WDW about a month or so out - even further if I see a cute pair of flat sandals I know would be great for WDW and I rarely pass up a lightweight cotton dress with pockets

For me, the hardest part right before a personal trip is working in time for mani/pedi/hair, etc. all within a day or 2 of the trip...