I'm out of things to plan. Packing???

We pack a few days before, so that on the day of, we just grab and go lol.

Lets see. Things I pack in my park bag.

1) a good sunscreen
2) a good poncho
3) good bandaids for blisters :C
4) hand sani
5) motrin for feet pain
6) socks. cuz it rains
7) and a camera

oh i forget... power bank, chargers, batteries, and extra SD cards too.
 
I usually pack the night before, but when I'm dying to plan something I'll write out a packing list. This time, though, I'll have to pack sooner because I work the two nights before I leave (I'm a nurse who works 12 hour night shifts).
 
I pull my suitcase out about a month before I leave and start piling things in it that I know I won't need before I leave. Then the night before I go, I pull the mess back out of the suitcase and re-pack it neatly. I also have a checklist so I don't forget anything. Then the morning I leave, I pack the essentials (toothbrush, toothpaste, makeup, brush, deodorant).

My park bag contains: hand sanitizer, small hairbrush, portable charger for my phone, matte powder to keep my oily face in line, sunblock, tissues, cell phone (which is in a case that also contains my ID and debit card), eye drops (I wear contacts and have dry-eye), a pen, bandaids, ibuprofen, dramamine, and a poncho. It sounds like a lot, but it's all small stuff, so I can usually get away with a small crossbody bag.
 
I've started putting stuff aside that I know I'll need to pack. Phone charges, extra USB cords, AA batteries, mini-fan... things that I know I won't need between now and when I leave.

The bulk of the packing generally happens about a week before we depart.
 


Here's my method for packing...when it's too early to be packing yet!
Go on Pinterest and look up "Disney World Packing Lists"...find a cute one that you like, or a few for comparison, and print it out. Go through and cross off the things you definitely don't want or need to bring with you. As your trip gets closer, if you're anything like me, you will find more and more things that you can live without...so that when it's time to actually pack, your list is nice and streamlined!
 
I have an annual pass, so I get down there a few times a year and as such, I have a bag set aside with the things that I only use at Disney and it is packed all the time. Things like the cooling towels, handheld mister fans, glowsticks, my magic bands, travel toiletries, etc are in there full time. As for clothes, it depends on the length of my trip... If it's a quick weekend trip, I pack the night before I leave. If it's a longer trip, I'll start packing about 2 weeks before I go, just to make sure that I have all that I want to wear with me.
 


I leave at 6am in the morning. It's currently 12:48pm. I haven't even started packing yet lol. In fact, I'm about to go off to Walmart to buy socks, tshirts, and a few other things so I can just pack and go (washing first of course). I have a couple pairs of jeans, slacks for the signature dinners, a couple long sleeve button downs, and three pair of comfy shoes. Oh and gym shorts. I'm a horrible procrastinator btw. Thankfully my mom got my toiletries for me lol.
 
We are officially a month from our trip and I am just itching to start packing! :yay:But my DH thinks I'm crazy. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm so short and scared of heights, I would have already pulled down the attic stairs and gotten the suitcases out anyway. But I can reach my park bag so I'm starting with that in hopes to appease myself.

When do you start packing? Any tips for what to take in your park bag? I need something to do!!!!!

About 30 days+ I keep my suitcase in my bedroom and throw in items as I think about them. I usually start packing clothing about 2 weeks before because I'm the type of person who sits on my bed and stares at my suitcase and closet for hours at a time, then I'll fold one outfit to take. I worry so much about forgetting something that it takes me days to pack. Unlike my sister, who can pack about an hour before she goes to bed the night before. She always reminds me that they have stores in Florida. But we're taking a cruise first this year and that just increases my anxiety because their stores are limited. Yes, I know I'm obsessive, but I empathize with your wanting to start packing. Just remind your husband that all people are different and like different things, that's why they have menus at restaurants, and to please get your suitcase down so you can start packing. His packing can wait, and that's okay. But in the meantime, start a list, search the internet for packing lists for Disney World and you'll find a ton. I'm a list maker, and in the end, it is my list that eases my packing anxiety. So, start packing when you want to!!! Everyone is different, and that's okay. Good luck!
 
About a month out I start packing. I have a spreadsheet that breaks out what we need by family member. I then print out each person's name on a piece of paper and begin assembling what they need a bit at a time (starting with stuff we really only use on vacation). It's both fun for me and reduces stress leading up to travel day.
 
We leave in about 20 days for a 2 week stay. I use packing cubes to keep us organized. Toiletries are packed, swimsuits ready, medical needs, swim toys and small blankets for the flight. I will keep a tote in the corner of my bedroom and start putting things in it as needed. We'll have a washer and dryer so we won't take a lot of clothes. I'll start printing our reservations for flights, car, rooms and get them packed soon.
 
We always stay in a condo, and I have a small bin of condo stuff that stays packed (small cooking supplies, salt/pepper, etc). I can just review it a week or so ahead of time and replenish anything.

My park bag just stays packed, but I check for expired / used up items each time we go. I use it for marching band competitions and local amusement parks, and not much else. It's fairly small and has: mini sunscreen; tiny body glide; snack size ziptop bag of band aids/moleskin; small medicine tube with acetaminophen, ibuprofen & headache medicine (refill from small bottles in carryon as needed); small glasses spray and microfiber cleaning cloth; very small wipes package (makeup remover wipes come in the smallest travel size); lip balm; glasses repair kit; croakies; hair elastics; phone; id; 1 emergency feminine pad. I have a tiny hairbrush and hand sanitizer attached with carabiners.

Actual packing, I start a mental list of things to check on about 6-8 wks out. Does everyone have convertible hiking pants, Keens that fit, dri-fit shirts & undies, anything specific to the current destination? I start to lay out things that won't be worn / used until vacation about 2 weeks in advance. The rest gets packed the 48 hrs before. I have been known to take off from work early the day of/before we leave to pack if I'm behind on packing. For Disney, we normally leave sometime Friday after lunch, drive to Valdosta, and arrive Orlando before lunch. So I may need to leave work early on Friday if we're not completely ready to go Thur night.
 
Our first trip was in mid/late May and I started packing in JANUARY!

I will admit, I was a bit obsessed back then and bought a lot of stuff just for the trip that were recommended here (strollers, bags, etc). We had a spare room, so I kept lots of checklists and put items in there as I purchased them. We also lived somewhere that was extremely cold (snow in May was not unheard of) so I even packed most of our clothing since we weren't going to wear it anyway.

10 years later, I have relaxed a bit and we definitely don't bring as much stuff. But, we have a trip coming up next month and I have already started thinking about the packing and writing lists of what we will need (ex. each person will need two pairs of jeans, one hoodie, etc, etc). But we probably won't be able to pack the actual clothing until a few days before since it's what we are wearing now.
 
We're a bit over 3 weeks out. I have started gathering things that I don't want worn (by DH or the littles) in a pile in the corner of our room. We still haven't told the kids, so I'm sneaking around trying to plan. I will get the kids 100% packed the weekend before we leave, and DH & I will be 75% packed.
This trip is a little tricky because we will go straight from the park to a 3 day business meeting. So we have to pack multiple styles of clothing and shoes.
 
I'm with you, OP. I'm 36 days out and itching to pack, but I have told myself that I shouldn't start until after my Magic Bands arrive. I do have a pile of stuff started on my dresser of a few little things I've picked up for the trip, but I'm trying to behave. It's a girls trip and my hubby thinks I'm ridiculous. Ha! :fish:

Regarding my park bag - I use a Baggalini cross-body which isn't too big and I like that I can't fit "the kitchen sink" in it because then I don't bring a bunch of stuff I don't need. I actually usually have extra room in it for souvenirs. Here's what I bring:

- Hydroflask water bottle (holds ice for at least 12 hours!)
- ID, debit/credit card, some cash (which I rarely use, but just in case Magic Band machines are down)
- Chapstick
- small sunscreen (although most of the time I forget to reapply unless it's screaming hot outside)
- tissues
- small brush or comb
- a small baggie with meds (minimal amount), a few bandaids, and moleskin
- portable phone charger
- empty Ziploc for my phone and charger (for water rides like Kali River Rapids or Splash Mountain)
- small hand-held fan and/or cooling towel if it's really hot
- a sweatshirt or rain jacket (if the weather warrants) that is easily rolled up (I love Columbia stuff because it's not bulky and it doesn't wrinkle)

I make sure my sunglasses and Magic Band are on and my phone is in my pocket (I use that as my camera, too), and I'm good to go!
 
If it's going to be hot, when you get to your hotel soak washcloths and then put them in baggies and into the freezer. When you go to the park put them in your bag and throughout the day they will stay cold and you can use them to stay cool. My family and I do this and my dad always carries the backpack and he never wants to give it up because he packs the washcloths on the outside to keep him cool while he walks. You'll thank yourself.
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Latest posts


Top