How far in advance do you start packing?

[MrPTato]

Honestly...usually packing at 11p the night before for our 6a flight. Last minute!

 

[BigAlsGal]

The night before or the day of. Every time I've tried to pack early I inevitably need something I've packed.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

A few days before we leave, I'll drag all our suitcases to the driveway and "pack" the trunk to determine which bags to use & which to leave at home. I'll then drag those into the Living Room and instruct DW that "these are the bags we're using. Do NOT put anything in ANY additional bags". 2 days before we leave, I lay out my clothes for the trip. The day before, DW packs all the bags. That night, I will arrive home from work to find she's used bags not on my "approved" list, and those will need to be undone (We have a compact car. It really is important we use the bags that FIT). Everything but the cooler, toiletry bag, and electronics bag go in the car the night before we leave.

 

[Dismama2boys]

I start making my lists a few weeks (months??) in advance. Non-clothes items start getting put into piles about a week before, and clothes about 2 days before, once the weather reports seem more reliable.

 

[CrystalPalace76]

I start about a week in advance because I have to pack for myself and my two daughters plus the cosmetics which is usually last minute. My DH does his own packing.

 

[njpyro]

Depending on the time of our flight, we pack the night before or the morning of...

 

[dledger]

It kind of depends on what time of year it is... But, when we go in September I start about 2 weeks early for things like sunscreen, toiletries, snacks, etc and a few days for clothes... Mostly so I can continue to wear my summer clothes that I pack for Florida. But, when we went to Jamaica last year in March i packed all my clothes two weeks in advanced because I was able to put all my summer clothes in a suitcase and not worry about it.

 

[kaybird]

I have 2 Disney bags packed all the time. Matching shirts, swim, suits, magic bands, first aid kit, room deodorizer, and soft toilet paper. All I have to do when there is a trip afoot is add seasonal pants/shorts, and underwear and off we go!

 

[NewbieMouse]

I normally pack either the day before or that morning. Anything further than a few days out and you can't get a good feel for the weather.

Same here.

 

[ols386]

The night before we leave.

 

[Barnabas T Bullion]

Honestly I will get the suitcases out about 3-4 weeks in advance and put them on the bed in the spare bedroom and start putting things in them (eventually will repack before we go) as they pop into my head.

Planning and packing and making sure we don't forget anything is almost as good as the actual vacation there.

 

[niffer5150]

i start gathering small consumables into a specific suitcase and constructing a detailed list of the suitcase contents and locations of those contents months in advance. big stuff like jeans and final shirt selection doesn't happen till within 5-7 days before leaving so i can take the weather into account. i know it seems overkill but really, i'm saving myself a ton of work for the time i'm on vacation.

 

[MataHari22]

I usually bring the suitcase out about 4 weeks before. Start setting stuff in it. I don't like waiting until the last minute. I am usually almost all done two days before. Only things that go in last minute are the phone and chargers.

 

[ZoZo]

Because I usually go to WDW long after I've packed away my summer clothes, I usually set aside what I think I want to bring on my trip well in advance (when I switch from summer to winter clothes at home). I also have a "Disney box" with things I use pretty much only on my Disney trips, things like mister fans, ponchoes, etc.

When it comes down to actual packing, I usually get a laundry basket and start tossing things in about two weeks before my trip. That gives me plenty of time to purchase things that I'll need. Actually packing the suitcase? A couple of days beforehand.

 

[kam1011]

The day of. We usually leave around 4 or so, so there is plenty of time to pack for the six of us and load the car.

 

[loves to dive]

About 10 pm the night before, I finish up the morning we leave. We drive so I like to get the big bag in the car the night before while I still have hubby to do it. He doesn't do Disney so he's usually either asleep or just woke up when I head out in the morning.

 

[Mark P.]

Three weeks or so for us, and wouldn't ya' know it? And like some others here...We're three weeks out, too!!
Actually just under, but who's counting, right?

My Grandfather lives in Florida, and occasionally I need to fly down to visit and lend a hand if need be, so I do keep a "go bag" handy with toiletries, etc. and a quick reference packing list if I need to leave in short notice.
Happy Planning, all
-Mark

 

[budcollector]

the day before, right after i charge up the batteries

 

[North of Mouse]

We have 3 weeks to go and I'm already getting antsy to start packing! Just curious when everyone else starts packing so I know if I'm totally crazy or not

Guess it takes some longer than others to get it together - we just got back from 8 nights, started packing late Sun. eve. left at 7:45AM Mon.
Guess we have been packing so many times, for so may different trips, that the list stays in my head.
Granted, all the clothes were washed, so nothing last minute there.

 

[han22735]

It depends on the time of year we are going. When we know it will be hot the entire time its easier to pack in advance. We usually get stuff ready a few weeks in advance on stuff we won't need in the mean time. This past trip in January we had to wait till a day or 2 before due to the ever changing weather this time of year.