When to Pack

[sab53085]

I'm really bad! I wait until two days before. I only have to pack for myself so it's not too bad...as long as I know what I'm bringing and everything is clean!

 

[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...

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

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.

I suppose that does make sense, too. It is better than being a "last minute Lucy" and leaving stuff at home. And no matter what time I go to bed, I NEVER sleep the night before.

 

[SweetMissy]

LOL....we leave in 18 days and I haven't even thought about it. I'm one to pack the day before. I think it's silly to pack early...what if you need something that you've packed? I don't have 18 pairs of shorts, lol.

 

[amberpi]

Please remove duplicate post! and I apologize, wifi on planes is AWESOME, but not reliable

 

[Comeundone87]

I will start gathering items after Easter. Too much going on before then, even tho I'd really like to start now. I have a big tub that I throw the travel sized things in and the "new" surprises for the kids. I try to spread out my shopping over a couple months so I don't have to go and spend $$$ on things we will need the week before we leave. I don't actually put things in the suitcases until 1-2 days before we leave. This year I'm working the day before we leave so I will pack the suitcases probably 2 days before hand.

 

[maurene]

This is an interesting thread!

I have a habit of doing most/all of the packing the night before we leave. I will try to do laundry the day before. But, that usually results in me being up until quite late. Packing is not part of the vacation fun for me and its always a chore to get everything together. So this time I'm trying to start earlier.

We leave on Friday and I started doing laundry a week prior. I've been dong some house cleaning the past 2 weeks. This weekend, I packed up the travel carseats/boosters. Last night (4 days prior), I pulled out the suitcases and started gathering some stuff. I'm going to aim for being 90% packed 2 days prior - but it will take some discipline. I have to pack for the 4 of us.

I stocked up on sunscreen about a month ago but now I haven't a clue as to where I put it. Procrastinator and Unorganized - thats me.

 

[Hollymom1229]

I write my packing list about two months out, then over the next couple of months I put things on the desk in the guest room (tickets, sunscreen, lanyards, etc.). At about 30 days out as I do laundry and something I want for the trip is cleaned I toss that in the pile too. My work clothes and my Disney clothes are vastly different so it's not a big deal to take them out of the rotation while prepping for a trip. About a week before the trip I start putting stuff in the suitcase and checking things off the packing list. I usually finish packing the night before we leave.

 

[Lynne M]

I don't pack any earlier than the day before for any trip. I just don't take that much stuff.

Having a good packing list makes that possible. I've traveled enough that I know what I need on a trip, and I have a standard packing list that I keep on the iPad. It's really just clothes, pjs, cosmetics, meds, and my iPad, sometimes my laptop. I'll also usually switch to a small purse. So, the day before, I run down my checklist and put stuff in the bags. Only takes an hour or so for a typical Disney trip. I never check bags, so everything has to fit in a carry-on suitcase and a small backpack.

I think that the more you travel, the less you take.

 

[katt789]

It's never too early! I usually keep the "disney stuff" (pin trading stuff, mouse ears, autograph books, smaller wallet, park bag] packed up all the time, or in one space.

Around a month or so before, or whenever I'm bored, I'll pack everything up into a suitcase to see if it's enough room and such, and then I usually end up taking out some clothes, figuring I don't need them. I then usually leave stuff like the "Disney stuff", sunscreen, toiletries I don't need at home,etc, in the luggage, and will live normally til a week before the trip, everything gets packed but the phone chargers and carry on stuff!

 

[Princess Katherine]

You're probably going to think I am silly. I pack one week before. Then I have a lot of time to think of extra things I forgot to pack.

 

[stindall]

I have my list made but realistically can't really pack anything until maybe 2 weeks out. Of course there are things like lanyards, water bottles, ponchos etc that can be packed but the majority of my toiletries and clothes go in about 2 days before. Of course I'm usually still packing the night before I leave! Make a list and put it in your bag, check it off as you gather things.

 

[stindall]

You're probably going to think I am silly. I pack one week before. Then I have a lot of time to think of extra things I forgot to pack.

 

[growinupdisney]

As soon as I book a trip I start putting things in my Disney bin. I have things like ponchos, backpacks, shampoo, toothpaste, ziplocks, stroller cover etc. always in there. Today picked up new sunscreen, last few weeks have been putting snacks and breakfast items in bin. My dd5 has her own "bin" that she has been putting her stuff for the car ride, looked in there the other day and she had packed all her Disney underwear in there no clothes just underwear

I pack for everyone:
I have all my dd5 clothes together for the trip in extra bedroom on bed waiting to be packed she got all new clothes,(has grown out of all summer clothes from last year) but she has all new Disney custom outfits, she is excited about.

DS16 has gone through his clothes last week to make sure he can wear everything he just had a b-day so he got some shoes and clothes then so he and DH will be packed probably by next Tues of next week (less than a week before we go) I have a busy week next week so I need everything done by Tues. so we can enjoy Easter.

I have been picking up some new things for the trip for myself the last 2 weeks and just putting aside. I will probably finish up this weekend on myself and pack everything in suitcases on Tues. we are doing a split stay so I will have to plan accordingly. Everyone got new shoes a few weeks ago and we are breaking them in. Nothing really else left to buy except fruit and will do the day we leave.

 

[powellrj]

I have been known to pack 1/2 hour before we walk out the door! I will be taking things out of the washing machine and folding and packing! Last trip I think I packed an hour before we left. I am usually someone who is always early, except when it comes to packing!

 

[ttintagel]

As soon as I know I'm going I start a Disney Box for things I know I'm taking but will not need in the meantime. Despite my best efforts, I usually end up packing the night before.

 

[blakrose9999]

I have a packing list that I just slightly modify for each trip and will do that a few months out. About two months out I pull the suitcases and stuff only used for vacation out of the attic. I will then pull our boxes of travel toiletries out and go through everything with my list to see what we have run out of needs to be replaced. I just don't like running around the week before I go. As for clothes I usually start to pack the weekend before, I'll do laundry and pack my clothes (my work and vacation wardrobe are different). The night before I will double check my list and make sure everything is set.

I packed the night before one time do to being sick all week before leaving and that was the one time I forgot stuff

 

[wdw71]

I have a packing list that I just slightly modify for each trip and will do that a few months out. About two months out I pull the suitcases and stuff only used for vacation out of the attic. I will then pull our boxes of travel toiletries out and go through everything with my list to see what we have run out of needs to be replaced. I just don't like running around the week before I go. As for clothes I usually start to pack the weekend before, I'll do laundry and pack my clothes (my work and vacation wardrobe are different). The night before I will double check my list and make sure everything is set.

I packed the night before one time do to being sick all week before leaving and that was the one time I forgot stuff

I do the list thing too. I have a shopping list app and one of my lists is for WDW at 17 days out almost all my items are checked off

 

[All Things Simba]

My brother-in-law always packs late, on the night before the trip and probably gets no sleep! Don't do that.

I tend to make a "pile" of things I want to take and notes on things to do shortly after I book the trip. Sometimes that is a year ahead! Things like reading material, binoculars (cruise), neck pillow for the plane, a trading pin, notes on what I must see and do, etc.

For clothes, I have my outfits planned out a few months ahead and on hangers in a separate section of my closet. Then the day before I can just pull them out and pack them with the right amount of under garments. I make a list of what I'm wearing on what day and list any jewelry too. *list maker here!*

We have a toiletry bag that I restock with our favorite items a few weeks before. I also have a jewelry bag to bring a few pairs of earrings / necklaces. We mostly cruise so planning out our outfits is a must, due to the formal and semi-formal nights in the dining rooms.

One of our pieces of luggage has a garment bag section so that gets packed last so things don't get wrinkled. But it you have all of your clothes separated already that's a snap!

Being prepared a few weeks ahead of time will avoid the inevitable "wears my bathing suit?" ... or "hey, this doesn't fit" problems !!

So, it's never too soon to start packing. The more organized you are, the less likely you are to forget something and the more likely you will add some really great items to your luggage.

I also make a list of things to do before we leave the house on vacation.... like lock the windows, draw the shades a bit, turn down the heat/air, tell the neighbors, stop the mail, set timers on the lights, etc.

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

I keep a reusable Minnie tote in the closet and I drop things in it as I think of them - ponchos, ears, my Mickey hat that goes on every trip. My cosmetic case stays stocked and packed with travel sized essentials of most everything - moisturizer with sunscreen, water proof mascara, makeup wipes small blusher and blush brush, travel toothpaste and toothbrush, small round hairbrush, hairspray etc. However I now have about 8 bottles of travel sized contact lens solution because I can never remember if I have it and kept buying more and more.

I'm also one who uses coupons and depending on how much I save weekly on my groceries I pick up a $25 or $50 Disney Gift card on my weekly grocery run and drop them in the bag so I have a painless little cash stash for the trip. Last trip I was able to pay off the balance of our KTTW card with gift cards the night before we checked out. I also found $45 in unused cards in my bag when I pulled it out to pack so that was a nice bonus!
I usually start packing in earnest the weekend before we leave and add things as I think of them for the next few days.

Btw, my favorite packing item are collapsible storage cubes from the dollar store. They fold flat in the bottom of the suit case and everyone gets at least one in the drawer to corral small items and I keep one on the shelf in the closet for medications, one for snacks, and one on the TV stand for KTTW cards, sunglasses, other misc crud that gets left out that makes me crazy when it's strewn all over the place.