I miss WDW...depressed after returning home...

[DisneyGigi]

I was really hooked by this topic title when I saw it today. I've been having an awful time since we returned from our 8 days at The World almost a week ago. We had a wonderful time with our 2 adult sons and their DGFs, although the rain and the MNSSHP wash-out did put a little damper on the experience. I've been having "a dose of Disney depression" all week, and on top of that, the credit card bill came today!

While living in Gainesville, FL, DH and I first went to WDW in 1972, the year after we married, and returned a few times before we had our first baby and moved to NC in 1975. We took our 2 young sons in 1981, 1982, and 1983, staying at the Poly and having a magical experience each time. Well, then life got busy, and we didn't return until 2004, with our now grown sons - 21 years later! I don't know how we stayed away so long, because we are hooked again, and so are the sons.

The worst thing is that we have no plans for a return trip. My DH and I have been there 6 times in the past 3 years, 3 of those with the sons and their girls. As much as I love WDW, since we both just retired this year, I want to travel to some other parts of the larger world (like UK, other parts of the US, etc.). Budget doesn't allow for unlimited traveling on this scale, but I want to do both. How do ya'll reconcile these conflicts, or do you spend all of your discretionary travel funds on Disney?

We skipped 7 years in between trips from 2000 to 2007 and ended up going twice in 2007, I was surprised at how the kids had grown with Disney and we made it work budget wise,take a vote, maybe, that is what we do, on where we go, and how often?? Maybe :shrug:

 

[DAKSafariAlum]

If you really want to get a bout with "depression", Join the college program, work there for 6 months, and come back home.

That's the one thing they don't tell you. You will miss Disney immensely when you are done working there and you fall into a depression of sorts. The only thing you can do is visit the disney store like a crack addict and "kill the pain", at least for a little while.

I was a CP back in '98, and I still miss it. I went back three years in a row to keep my employee status, but wasn't able to go back the 4th year.

I still remember my record of 18 tours in a row on the Kilimanjaro safari's the opening year at the animal kingdom. heh heh. I have what is probably the first picture of the lion on his hill (pride rock)......I took it about 2 weeks before opening day at about 6:30 in the morning as we were bringing the trucks onstage.

Oh well, I will return one day...............

 

[smk]

Maybe all of us "grown ups" could go back to college and join the CP? Six months at the World sounds really good to me, get paid for having fun! I could always drop out of school once the CP was done. Some may think I am joking but...:drevil:

 

[Fluxuated]

I'm over 1,000 days to go, so don't feel so bad. I went 3 years in a row, kids had as much fun as I did, now we are waiting until my son's 10'th Birthday to go back. (We went last year for my Daughters 10'th and it was amazing)

at around $5,000 a trip, I can't afford to go every year

 

[WEDisney]

I have been home about 12 hours and I am already thinking when to go again. The problem is we are pregnant with our first child (due around Jan 4th) so it may be some time before I can make it back there . My wife insists that if she can carry the baby inside her at 6 months pregnant through the parks then the child in a stroller will be a breeze LOL. I am still up in the air if and when we should go but I will know more after our visitor makes his/her appearance

 

[oldshovelhead]

Us Too...

Us too Tink...been there, done that...know just how you feel. That's the reason we bought into the DVC. We were there in January and can't go back until May 08. We're also going to do October 08 for the Food and Wine Fest.

I go to LIVE365 and listen to one of many stations that play soundtracks from WDW all day long while I'm at my desk. I also vist sites like this one and the DVC web site to plan other trips. Daydreaming is a big part of the fun...:wave:

 

[Now Is The Time]

Boy my wife can really relate to this post. We got back 2 days ago and she was depressed the moment we came home. We're already talking about our next trip though... :sohappy:

 

[wdwmomof3]

We got back a week ago and I was fine until this week. I'm not sure when we will return to the world. DH is wanting to try something new like a cruise so we may do that. Of course the Disney cruise came to mind, but it would be very expensive. I guess I will research it soon but for now I am still in full Disney mode. My sister & her family leave for Disney in a couple of weeks. They are getting excited and I am for them. I just wish I was going back too.

 

[RussJT]

I almost started crying when we left the MK on our last night at WDW.
I did the same thing...I kept reminding myself that we would be back next year.
It helped a little that we visited Epcot on our last day.
The MK always gets me a little more emotional.
It's like leaving a good friend behind & waiting an entire year to see them again.

We always visit MK on our first day and our last. Walking in in the first day, making it onto Main Street and seeing the castle is such a great feeling. We always know that we have a great week ahead of us. Our tradition is to start with an 8:05 breakfast at Crystal Palace... so when we enter MK on the first day, we have a few minutes on Main Street / in front of the castle by ourselves before we eneter the Crystal Palace. We usually finish breakfast before the park officially opens, so we have a chance to take some unobstructed pics of the castle, etc. We are then ready to move toward ceratin rides before the crowd makes it through the front gate.

Leaving on our last day, looking back after we exit the park, seeing Mickey waving to the departing guests is a depressing feeling. The last time we were there, my son and I started planning the next trip while we walking to our bus stop. I don't know if that helps make it any easier... but I guess for a few minutes it keeps our mind off of the sadness of leaving.

We go back in 6 months (March 29th to be exact). We now have the excitement of getting all of our priority seating arrangements made. Then each month we discuss the "in exactly ___ number of months we will be at ________ park or eating at _______ restaurant." With about 2 months to go... we break it down into weeks instead of months. It seems to help the waiting go by a little bit quicker.

 

[bradg84]

I agree with you, DAKSafariAlum...

I was a CP for 8 months. It was seriously, without a doubt, the best experience of my life. I am not exaggerating when I say how hard it was to go back to the real world after working and making magic every day.

Going back to "regular life" was the saddest, hardest, and most overwhelming thing I had to do. Somedays, right after my program ended, I didn't want to get out of bed, and I would just listen to my park soundtracks and watch slideshows of my thousands of pics for hours.

I have been back to WDW 2 times and once to DLR since my college program. Every time I have a harder time leaving!

Thank god for this site, and mousebits, without both... I'd be so lost all the time.

At least we can always look forward to our next trips. As someone said up above, Disney isn't going anywhere!

 

[sandicinderelli]

I agree with you, DAKSafariAlum...

I was a CP for 8 months. It was seriously, without a doubt, the best experience of my life.

I had an excellent experience at Disney as well. This past spring, I worked at MK on Main Street and had a blast. Plus, it was my first time at WDW, and I loved it! I applied for a professional internship, so hopefully next spring, I'll be back.

I listen to Disney music all the time. It keeps me sane and relaxed. My favorite site is Subsonic Radio, where they play music from the parks as well as soundtracks. It's a great site: www.subsonicradio.com. If you don't already have a favorite station, check this one out!

Next June, we are supposed to have our family reunion in Tampa, so it will be exciting planning a trip to WDW, even if it's for a day.

 

[mouselvrmom]

I know how you feel, Tink! It's always hard to leave a place you love so much! We are still in the counting down stage until our next trip, but our next trip after that will be 10 months away, so we should have a little shorter time to feel bummed!

So are you going to be posting some of your scrapbook pages in our scrapbook forum to help the rest of us pass the time?