My (unhealthy?) Disney obsession

[sweetpee_1993]

Honestly, what you described sounds pretty unhealthy. It's normal for people to daydream about escaping the rat race. How many moms have visions of escaping the kiddies?? It's when you engage in risky behavior to act upon your urges that you cross a line into unhealthy territory. I know in my family we all tend to have addictive personalities where we get into something on big levels. I try to keep that in mind & keep myself in check. Once is one thing but if you find yourself risking your job, etc anymore to indulge the addiction (whatever it may be) you may want to seek some counseling. Oftentimes it's totally unrelated voids that push a person beyond the norm to fill those spaces with whatever feel-good tool they fixate on. Ya know?

 

[bethymouse]

I couldn't just "up and go", but if I was single and my job allowed a flexible schedule, I'd probably go more than once a year and consider moving to Orlando! I am a teacher, and have friends and family living in the Ocala area, but I have a stable job, happy kids, and my husband also is gainfully employed! It has crossed my mind to retire there, but I like my change of seasons. Not sure if I could handle "summer" all year round and some of those bugs! If you put your job in jeopardy, then you took a big risk! I'm not sure if WDW is all that worth it, unless you're capable of quickly getting a new job or being unemployed! Nowadays, I just don't think you can afford to do that! I love WDW as much as the next Disney fan, but it's not my life's number 1 priority! Do I think there's something wrong w/ you? No. But, just think twice before you just "up and go" again!

 

[ddbowdoin]

To those who say they love seasons... Really? Like maybe sitting by a fire drinking cocoa at Christmas while it snows outside but other than that, foughadaboutit ... 10 degree days and shoveling , I would NEVER miss that

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Well I suppose I'm a valued employee at work. They probably should have fired me, but there I still am. In the past I have usually alerted my supervisors and gotten the okay for a trip. It's never really an issue. This time, I just sort of...went. I mean, I was definitely kinda freaking out at some point along the honorable John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. I did pick up the phone at that point and make contact with people. I was totally confused.

I felt I just needed to be there and now was the time in my life. Not tomorrow. Not next week, month, year, or whatever. Now. I realized after getting there that I freaked some people out and what I did was NOT the right way to go about it. Still, though. It seemed to be what I wanted even if I didn't exactly do it right. It just seems I'm only happy when I'm down there.

So this last vacation turned out to be just that. It was a great time, but it only lasted a week or so. I like my job and I am successful there, but when I walk outside and I realize I'm in the same crummy place Harry and Lloyd were in Dumb and Dumber? Just...ugh. And yes, the portrayal of Providence, Rhode Island in that movie was spot on. I do not like it up here. I'm single, very self-centered, loaded and obsessed with going to the parks. Getting down there permanently is proving very difficult for me though. It's mostly leaving a stable and rewarding job, and finding anything similar within distance of WDW.

 

[rufio]

To those who say they love seasons... Really? Like maybe sitting by a fire drinking cocoa at Christmas while it snows outside but other than that, foughadaboutit ... 10 degree days and shoveling , I would NEVER miss that

AMEN!

I just moved to NC from Alaska last June, and while I miss the state like crazy, I have not missed a day of sliding through red lights, busting my butt in parking lots, and snot freezing in my nose.

 

[rufio]

Well I suppose I'm a valued employee at work. They probably should have fired me, but there I still am. In the past I have usually alerted my supervisors and gotten the okay for a trip. It's never really an issue. This time, I just sort of...went. I mean, I was definitely kinda freaking out at some point along the honorable John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. I did pick up the phone at that point and make contact with people. I was totally confused.

I felt I just needed to be there and now was the time in my life. Not tomorrow. Not next week, month, year, or whatever. Now. I realized after getting there that I freaked some people out and what I did was NOT the right way to go about it. Still, though. It seemed to be what I wanted even if I didn't exactly do it right. It just seems I'm only happy when I'm down there.

So this last vacation turned out to be just that. It was a great time, but it only lasted a week or so. I like my job and I am successful there, but when I walk outside and I realize I'm in the same crummy place Harry and Lloyd were in Dumb and Dumber? Just...ugh. And yes, the portrayal of Providence, Rhode Island in that movie was spot on. I do not like it up here. I'm single, very self-centered, loaded and obsessed with going to the parks. Getting down there permanently is proving very difficult for me though. It's mostly leaving a stable and rewarding job, and finding anything similar within distance of WDW.

In your OP didn't you say you didn't talk to anyone while you were there?

I also hadn't realized you up and left for an entire week! Where do you work that you can just leave your job with no regard for whether it's still there when you go back and spend that kind of money at WDW for a week? I would be fired on the spot when I got back and I'd be broke! I'm glad you can afford this kind of spontaneity, but like I said, that's just not reality. The real world is more important than your havetohaveitrightnow trip to WDW.

I'm glad you had fun, but I really might go talk to someone if I were you. That and thank your boss for not firing you.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I didn't make contact until the evening the day I left. I let my boss know I was having this crisis after a friend of mine told me to call. People were freaking out calling the cops and local hospitals, which I did feel quite bad about. I talked to a few while there, but I told no one that I was going that afternoon. It didn't even occur to me. I just went.

 

[Nemo14]

To those who say they love seasons... Really? Like maybe sitting by a fire drinking cocoa at Christmas while it snows outside but other than that, foughadaboutit ... 10 degree days and shoveling , I would NEVER miss that

^THIS! It's pretty to have a dusting of snow at Christmas, but I want it gone by December 26. And don't even get me started about the icy, filthy snowbanks that last well into spring....

 

[ddbowdoin]

^THIS! It's pretty to have a dusting of snow at Christmas, but I want it gone by December 26. And don't even get me started about the icy, filthy snowbanks that last well into spring....

it's downright depressing... at least in Spring and Summer we have longer days and nice weather, it helps keep my mind off the world.

 

[Jeff456]

Well I suppose I'm a valued employee at work. They probably should have fired me, but there I still am. In the past I have usually alerted my supervisors and gotten the okay for a trip. It's never really an issue. This time, I just sort of...went. I mean, I was definitely kinda freaking out at some point along the honorable John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. I did pick up the phone at that point and make contact with people. I was totally confused.

I felt I just needed to be there and now was the time in my life. Not tomorrow. Not next week, month, year, or whatever. Now. I realized after getting there that I freaked some people out and what I did was NOT the right way to go about it. Still, though. It seemed to be what I wanted even if I didn't exactly do it right. It just seems I'm only happy when I'm down there.

So this last vacation turned out to be just that. It was a great time, but it only lasted a week or so. I like my job and I am successful there, but when I walk outside and I realize I'm in the same crummy place Harry and Lloyd were in Dumb and Dumber? Just...ugh. And yes, the portrayal of Providence, Rhode Island in that movie was spot on. I do not like it up here. I'm single, very self-centered, loaded and obsessed with going to the parks. Getting down there permanently is proving very difficult for me though. It's mostly leaving a stable and rewarding job, and finding anything similar within distance of WDW.

Wow can't say I would do the same (if it was possible, the Atlantic makes it rather difficult anyway), I would be far too worried about losing my job and creating chaos (with regards to then being a missing person) to even enjoy the trip. It is some story but I definitely don't think you should repeat it, it's ok to really like WDW but if you really felt compelled to do what you did and you ever feel that way again, you might need to talk to someone about it.

 

[ptdreher]

My wife and I are in the double tuition years and fear we we may do a trip like this because it will be a few years where we can legitimately plan one. We will be living vicariously through our post college children using our DVC points over the next few years. At least Fantasyland will be done.

 

[Thunderstruck]

I can understand what you're going through. I am not going to chastise you, but I would recommend following the advice of other posters and seeking some counseling. Disney obsession, addiction is okay up to the point it starts to affect your daily life negatively. This time it seems to have done so. It's not that there is something wrong with you per se, but impulse decisions like this can ruin your life and sometimes medical and professional help can assist in working through these decisions with more clarity in the future. Best of luck my friend, I wish you health and happiness.

 

[alissafalco]

Here's my deal. Weeks ago, I go on lunch break, right? I never came back. Didn't say anything. Just got in my truck, picked up my things and drove. The next evening, I arrived at the World. Something happened to me. I was just compelled to go. Arranging vacation time wouldn't have been an issue, but I just didn't care. Like Jake Blues, I had seen the light and there I was suddenly hauling butt to my Cook County Assessor's Office on a mission from God.

You guys know the drill: had to marathon ride Haunted Mansion and Spaceship Earth, Fastpass Peter Pan, sit down front at Muppet Vision to watch the penguins, acquire Pecos Bill's cheeseburger and subsequently create a killer salad via the toppings bar, and of course swig that Florida swamp water!

Now, I am still employed, even though I just shut everyone out during this religious pilgrimage. A recurring thing for me. I have an obsession. Everyone who knows me knows that. I may value Walt Disney World more than my relationships with them. I am only truly happy when I'm there. When you can wake up, jump on a bus and go to the Magic Kingdom? It's heaven on Earth.

Coming back to this cold reality where you're sitting in traffic (notice the Disney antenna toppers decorating other driver's vehicles as well) en route to some job far, far away from central Florida unable to even take regular weekend trips...you try to convince yourself it's okay. You count it down to the next trip. You come to places like this on the internet. You play the EPCOT entrance medleys and other music from the parks every day while driving or working, or at your so-called home. Everything will be alright!

In less than a year, I have traveled to Orlando four times. Three trips to Disney, one to Universal (which even included a totally ill-conceived job interview). I am back in Rhode Island and terribly far away from Walt Disney World. I am seriously considering moving to Florida to be happy again. But I am also considering whether or not there could be something wrong with me. Whether this Disney obsession is a bad thing.

Any thoughts/advice?

I don't think anything is wrong with that at all! I am very surprised that you still have your job though....If moving to Florida would make you much happier and you're able to do it, Then do it!! Life is too short...go for it!

 

[alissafalco]

Well I suppose I'm a valued employee at work. They probably should have fired me, but there I still am. In the past I have usually alerted my supervisors and gotten the okay for a trip. It's never really an issue. This time, I just sort of...went. I mean, I was definitely kinda freaking out at some point along the honorable John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. I did pick up the phone at that point and make contact with people. I was totally confused.

I felt I just needed to be there and now was the time in my life. Not tomorrow. Not next week, month, year, or whatever. Now. I realized after getting there that I freaked some people out and what I did was NOT the right way to go about it. Still, though. It seemed to be what I wanted even if I didn't exactly do it right. It just seems I'm only happy when I'm down there.

So this last vacation turned out to be just that. It was a great time, but it only lasted a week or so. I like my job and I am successful there, but when I walk outside and I realize I'm in the same crummy place Harry and Lloyd were in Dumb and Dumber? Just...ugh. And yes, the portrayal of Providence, Rhode Island in that movie was spot on. I do not like it up here. I'm single, very self-centered, loaded and obsessed with going to the parks. Getting down there permanently is proving very difficult for me though. It's mostly leaving a stable and rewarding job, and finding anything similar within distance of WDW.

Keep Job hunting and make your dreams come true. Many people move and re-locate to live a happier life. Nothing is wrong with that. You are young and single, NOW is the time to do something like this. Once you are invloved with a significant other/kids/mortgage it will be much harder to do...GO FOR IT!!

 

[Maerj]

Does you current job have an office in Florida anywhere? Maybe you could transfer? Any family or friends down that way at all? They *could* help, too.

Maybe you have some skills that could be used here:

http://wdw.disneycareers.com/en/default/

 

[wiigirl]

I am not so poetic.....Get a grip dude! We all love Disney....thats why we are here. But reality has a special way of slapping the magic right out of you if you are not careful.

Everything in moderation.....moderation.

 

[bubbles1812]

I'd echo other peoples' comments and say get some counseling and in the mean time keep job searching. That you were spurred to do something this big (and scaring people who care about you in the process) may mean there is something more going on.

This statement is one I find alarming:

I may value Walt Disney World more than my relationships with them. I am only truly happy when I'm there.

You say you have a fulfilling job and yet it seems you are very unhappy there and in the location your in. Have you been feeling depressed? That you only feel happy when you are at Disney World is something I would honestly be concerned about. That you place more importance on it than your relationships with people sets off alarm bells in my head...people, relationships, are what makes a life, not objects. WDW is a really great object, it is, but it is still a thing. As much as everyone loves Disney here, i don't think that is the only thing that gives them happiness. I don't think it is healthy that it is the only thing that gives you happiness. I wish you luck, health, and happiness.

 

[EpcoTim]

You're fine. So what, you went and did what you wanted, on your time and under your own will power. Isn't that what life is about?

Sure, lots of people will tell you that a job is important and that you shouldn't just up and leave your responsibilities behind or let family members worry about you. But you're not married (I'm guessing) so you're not committed to anyone, so you really don't have to answer to them. Your job is just a job. They could lay you off tomorrow and send you packing, with nary a hearty pat on the back, so why not beat them to the proverbial punch?

Live on your own terms. You don't answer to others. The only responsibility of a job that you need to worry about is that your kept happy, to some that might mean house and car and above ground pool in the backyard, but to you its something different. Run with what you like, just make sure you provide enough for yourself to do what you want. You only live once, live how you want.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

If my company were to relocate to Florida, I'd be a heck of a lot happier.

 

[Contrast]

Sounds very unhealthy and I am surprised you weren't fired. You obviously must have a very lenient boss, I'd count yourself lucky. I think we would all love to just make a spur of the moment trip to Disney World when we felt like it but the reality of it is that we just can't, it's not plausible. I think it would take away some of the magic too in a way. I hope that you can get some help.