Emotional check points

[KCheatle]

As I plan Disney Trips, I always have what I'd consider 'Emotional Check Points." It's the little or big feelings of relief/happiness/excitement I have as I go through my trip planning and actual trip that make me realize this is not a dream and that this is finally real. Here's my emotional check points:

(1) When I start to plan a trip that is actually going to get booked!
(2) When Disney releases hours at the parks so I can make as schedule for ADRs
(3) When I hit 180 days and can actually book ADRs!!!
(4) When I book my flights
(5) When I pay off my trip!!!! (finally happened yesterday)!
(6) When I save my spending money (happening in August)
(7) When I get my suitcases out of the basement
(8) When my alarm goes off the day of the trip
(9) When I land at MCO
(10) When I cross the doors, get the blast of AC in my face, and look up in the WL lobby when we finally arrive
(11) When I take the boat from WL to MK and see the castle for the first time
(12) When I walk through the tunnel and see the castle up close for the first time (I'm crying at this point)
(13) When I walk through Future world at Epcot and hear that music. Don't know why, but that music is like home to me.

All of these emotional check points make my trip and trip planning so enjoyable - what are your emotional check points?

 

[ExtinctJenn]

We drive down and it's about an 8+ hour drive so I have a lot of the same ones as you but without the airport stuff. I'd have to absolutely 100% agree with your #13... there's something about walking through the gates at Epcot and hearing the entrance music. Not sure what it is. Some others I can think of for me...

1) Being actually booked vs. just "playing with numbers"
2) Hitting I-4
3) Checking in at the resort and subsequently taking our bags to our room
4) The first bite of on-property food
5) The first step onto the monorail (and the smell of it... there's something about the smell of the monorail)
6) The moment my son has his first emotional check-point (usually he doesn't officially react until we're there in some way - sometimes it's at the resort, sometimes it's once we walk into a park)
7) The lights dimming and the opening 5 notes of Wishes beginning (this is usually when I find tears)
8) My son's reaction to a new ride experience (last trip it was Rock-n-Rollercoaster)
9) The first character greeting (be it restaurant or otherwise)
10) My son passing out in the car on the 5 minute drive back to the resort

Man my list could honestly go on and on but there's 10!

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

1) When my Countdown to Disney app on my phone reads "1 day to go!"
2) When the plane takes off for MCO
3) When the welcome video is playing on the Magical Express. Seeing the montages of the families suprising their kids with Disney trips gets me so choked up
4) Crossing under "the sign" into WDW!!
5) Walking into our resort for the first time and when we first enter our room
6) Seeing the Magic Kingdom sign above the parking booth
7) When the castle, Spaceship Earth, Tower of Terror and the Tree of Life come into view for the first time each trip
8) When I see the sign under the train station that says "Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy"
9) Hearing the park music in each of the parks
10) Watching Fesitval of the Lion King and the Beauty and the Beast show
11) If we happen to be near Dream Along with Mickey when he is telling Minnie to dance with the Princesses and he says "Minnie, you've always been a Princess to me" I absolutely lose it, every time!
12) Watching Wishes! I bawl my eyes out the whole time
13) Certain parts of Fantasmic (the beginning, when the Princesses come out, the finale)
14) The big music part near the end of Illuminations. That and the story being told is so powerful it makes me cry.
15) Walking down Main Street for the last time of the trip and taking in that last view of the castle
16) When we drive and take the monorail to the TTC, the part that says "If this concludes your visit to the Walt Disney World resort, we hope you've had a wonderful time and will return home safely" (my eyes actually watered as I wrote this cause I could hear the monorail narration in my head)
17) Boarding the DME and watching the farewell video. When they sing "Now it's time to say goodbye..." I lose it.

 

[Mukta]

Booking the trip.

Making my final daily schedule and printing it.

When the plane lands in MCO

When I get on DME

When I arrive at the Beach Club Resort.

When I walk out of the back of the resort and see the lake, and Boardwalk across the water.

Walking into EPCOT through the International Gateway and seeing the World Showcase.

Riding Spaceship Earth and knowing that I have arrived in WDW.

 

[JIMINYCR]

(1) When I start to plan a trip that is actually going to get booked!
(2) When Disney releases hours at the parks so I can make as schedule for ADRs
(3) When I hit 180 days and can actually book ADRs!!!
(4) When I book my flights
(5) When I pay off my trip!!!! (finally happened yesterday)!
(6) When I save my spending money (happening in August)
(7) When I get my suitcases out of the basement
(8) When my alarm goes off the day of the trip
(9) When I land at MCO
(10) When I cross the doors, get the blast of AC in my face, and look up in the WL lobby when we finally arrive
(11) When I take the boat from WL to MK and see the castle for the first time
(12) When I walk through the tunnel and see the castle up close for the first time (I'm crying at this point)
(13) When I walk through Future world at Epcot and hear that music. Don't know why, but that music is like home to me.

(1.) When my wife says... yeah go ahead and book the trip. We can do it.
(2.) When I start scanning all the Disney sites knowing I'm going and I start gathering planning information for real.
(3.) When I open up the Disney menu sites online and start thinking about where the ADR's will be made and what I will be ordering
(4.) No airlines this year... no security checks, bags to haul, waiting at gates, uncomfortable seats, crying babies, obnoxious passengers 2 seats down. BUT I will miss taxiing into MCO to see the first palm tree and catching the DME bus.
(5.) Friday we will be paying off the last payment of our trip. Then everything else I can scrounge from pennies to dollars will be for meeee.
(6.) I've been hoarding money like a miser since I got back from the last trip.
(7) Suitcases are at this moment sitting at the top of my staircase waiting for me to start packing. But I have a bag already 1/4 full of odds and ends that I have already started gathering together of things to bring.
(8.) I have 3... yes 3 alarms set just so I dont oversleep... that is if I get any sleep.
(9.) This year we will be driving so I will be driving my own vehicle under the welcoming Disney World arch for the first time.
(10.) When the CM at the POFQ check in desk says... Welcome back!! And hands me the resort packet and room number.
(11.) Taking the boat to DTD from POFQ that first afternoon. Won't be going to MK til the next morning to start off the park fun.
(12.) Exactly the same here.
(13.) When I get on Splash Mountain and hear the Zip A Dee Doo song... Now I'm home.

 

[Much-Pixie-Dust]

I love trip planning! Here are my emotional checkpoints prior to arriving:

1. Booking room,flights, and ADRs
2. Buying Disney shirts for the trip
3. Using any extra money from the weekly budget to buy Disney Gift Cards *This is my favorite because I feel like it's extra money for the trip, since it was originally earmarked for other things.
4. Stalking the car rental website until I get the best possible deal
5. Looking at the 10 day weather forecast each day til I leave for my trip *This either fills me with happiness or dread.
6. Watching a Disney movie with my family each night for a week leading up to our departure
7. Getting the reminder from the airline that I can check-in for my flight

 

[JillC LI]

Knowing we have actually chosen and set aside dates to travel to WDW.
Release of park hours for our stay.
Booking ADRs at 180 days.
Booking airline tickets.
Paying balance.
Packing.
Leaving for airport.
Pulling up at our resort.
About to ride Soarin' for the first time of the trip.

 

[jw24]

1) Knowing I have enough money to spend a WDW trip and all its caveats in the first place.
2) Examining all the hotels, dining options, etc.
3) Booking the vacation package, transportation etc and paying for it.
4) Packing my bags.
5) Checking the weather a few days before my trip.
6) Arriving at the resort and getting the Welcome Home greeting
7) Checking in
8) Walking into the hotel room with the Mickey towels and everything!
9) Boarding the first bus to DTD (Keep in mind, I always visit DTD on my arrival day. Not quite ready for the parks just yet!)
10) Basking in the DTD nighttime environment!
11) Boarding the bus to the parks (Can applied to all!)
12) Arriving at the park and going through the turnstiles. (Again applies to all!)
13) Riding my favorite rides
14) The moment where it's my turn to meet a character I want!
15) Seeing Wishes and/or Illuminations

I could write more but I'll stick with 15!

 

[Susan Savia]

Calling and booking our room.
Counting down the weeks (each Friday)
Suitcases down from the attic - 6 weeks out.
Going to Walmart to get snacks for trip.
Packing the car the night before.
Pulling out of the driveway and saying we're finally on our way!
Stopping over in SC at the same motel each year.
Second day - stopping at the Florida Welcome Center.
Then stopping at Daytona Beach to dip our toes into the ocean (for a rest break)
Unpacking in our room and getting back in the car to go to Epcot and knowing
we got two weeks ahead of us!
Walking thru the turnstiles of Epcot and going directly to SE for the first ride.
My son saying to me, "We're here!" like he does every year.

 

[SMS55]

1. When I can do online check in (used to be 10 days out so I know we were close. Haven't done it yet even though we are at 33)
2. When I stop at Ft Pierce rest area (We drive up from Miami) and I see the Mickey statue at the rest area.
3. Getting off at exit 244 or 249 (depends if we are checking in first or eating something first, or the wife needs a Starbucks fix). Once I am off the Turnpike, there is a sense of relief. Almost where I can relax a little because I am leaving the real world behind.
4. Going under the "Walt Disney World" sign
5. Checking in and seeing all the people and cast members in the lobby.

 

[foreverbelle]

Oh where to begin...

1. when I am able to book and realize I am going back, even if I know I will, having an actual date is pretty emotional!
2. when I put in for time off and no one says they object to it.
3. The 180 day mark because making ADRs is fabulous=knowing I am 6 months out is even more so.
4. The one month to go. Because by this point its all real.
5. Walking out of work that last day, knowing where I am heading.
6. Heading under the WDW sign, because I am home.
7. I do not breath until they hand us our packet, I always have a fear they will somehow lose my reservation and then what would we do??

 

[Figments Friend]

Fun thread.
I can relate to some of other posters' check points. Lots of them we all share in common it seems!

Here is my list:

1. Officially booking a room On Property

2. Finding a decent airfare and booking a flight to MCO.

3. Buying a couple of Disney Gift Cards and loading some money onto them for the visit.

4. Receiving travel papers in the mail

5. Packing my carry on bag and trying not to forget anything. Hotel window decor always a plus.

6. Leaving the house at the absolute butt-crack of dawn to take the bus into the city ( a nice ride actually )

7. Arriving at the local airport early, and just hanging out for a couple of hours.

8. Boarding the plane and smelling those tarmac fumes

9. Take off ( a real rush...yeah i geek out inside..)

10. Landing at MCO ( another geek-out inside moment ...i love planes. )

11. Taking the terminal monorail to the main concourse at MCO, and hearing the audio recording on the tram say * Wether here on business, returning home, or visiting one of our world class theme parks, WELCOME to Central Florida! * I used to live here, and hearing this still geeks me out.
I would say this happening is one of the high points. Now you know you are there and it IS happening.

12. Transport to Property, either with local friends or DME. Seeing the palm trees and greenery is always a good feeling.

13. Crossing the gated 'Property Line'....yeah, i still have not overcome that feeling.

14. Arriving at your Resort. Home sweet home...for however long this trip entails...

15. That first refill of your re-useable mug that you smuggled back to the Resort .....uh..oh wait, we can't do this anymore now. Du'oh !

16. Decorating the hotel room window. A tradition for me, always a nice way to get settled in.

17. Next day, your journey and entrance into The Magic Kingdom via boat

18. Your first Dole Whip since arriving. Yum.

19. That evening, your journey and entrance into EPCOT via monorail

20. First ride of the visit on SSE

 

[Jessica Meier]

Well, I have only been there 3 times but this is my list:

1. The excitement of doing all the research of what resort will be "home" to us and choosing what time of year to experience.

2. Actually calling and booking.

3. The planning. God I love the planning.

4. The pre-trip shopping. Planning outfits. Etc.

5. Booking ADRs. Food glorious food.

6. Any mail we may get from Disney about our trip.

7.on line check in

8. Packing. Girly squeal!

9. The drive down. We love car trips. So much fun as anticipation builds.

10. Driving under the Disney World sign.

11. Driving into the resort.

12. Being given your Keys now Magic band!

13. Holy Mickey! Getting to your room. The walk or sprint down those corridors is awesome!

14. Stepping foot into a park. Any park. Means I am home.

15. First character meal.

16. First sight of the castle. Tears.

17. Hearing wishes

18. leaving MK

19. Exiting the bubble. I promptly fall asleep so I don't have to think about it anymore.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

1. Figuring out when the next trip will be.
2. Developing the scheme so I can convince DH to go along with my crazy plan
3. Deciding where to stay.
4. Booking our trip.
5. Sitting down with the calendar and planning out our days/ADRs.
6. Booking ADRs on day 180.
7. Rebooking for whatever discount we happen to get - and possibly changing resorts based on this...sometimes multiple times...our 90 day vacay booking at work often opens up around this time.
8. Booking air or planning the road trip.
9. Shopping for clothes, shoes, and other goodies.
10. Fine tuning any surprises.
11. Finalizing cake sketches.
12. Paying off the trip if I've got a package.
13. Going through the cake ordering process.
14. Packing...getting the dog to boarding...mail hold...house prep...laundry.
15. TRAVEL! (at this point, it just all gets lumped together for me)

I'm sure there's more, but this is all I can think of.

 

[KCheatle]

11. Finalizing cake sketches.
13. Going through the cake ordering process.

Tell me more about this...Do you design a cake for your trip?

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Tell me more about this...Do you design a cake for your trip?

We've done cakes the last couple of trips and I plan on having two for our September trip. I usually come up with a theme, work up a design idea, then a sketch or two ... and as we get closer to trip time, I'll start hashing out the details with the selected WDW bakery before putting in my official order (usually about 2 weeks out...but they can take orders as little as 48 hrs out).

 

[ShookieJones]

Even after all this time it's still comforting to know you guys are just as nuts as I am.

I think everyone has most of them covered now.
I may have missed a couple but in case:
The "monorail" ride at MCO from gate to main terminal \ baggage claim area
Dinner at Ohana

I was going to hope we didn't get to the "down" emotional check points that we also face..
but @Jessica Meier already went there with her Number 18 and 19!

But we all know how to fix that don't we?

Start at the top of the list again!

 

[mousefreak]

Fun thread! Ditto what everyone else said.