Pre-WDW vacation blues…? Is there such a thing or am I just weird?

[johndoh]

So... It’s less than 2 weeks till our 10day WDW vacation and I’m getting the pre-WDW vacation blues. I don’t know if this is anxiety or the actual vacation blues. This trip has been 8 months in the making and it has been 8 years since our last trip to WDW. It wasn’t until the last couple of days that I started getting this weird feeling in my stomach as if I didn’t want our departure day to be here. For our big vacations, especially Disney vacations, the planning & build up has always been a big part ofC the actual vacation and maybe it’s because of the expectation and anticipation of this vacation that I’m worried something will go wrong and that something disastrous will happen (we’ve had hurricanes affect our last 2 trips to WDW). Maybe I’m worried that the trip is going to fly by and then we’ll be back home wondering how did 10days go by so quick? Maybe someone will get hurt or sick right before or during the vacation? Maybe it will rain the duration of our trip?

We’re 13days away and I should be excited and counting down the days but all I’m doing is worrying. I’ve never had this happen before. Am I just weird or has anybody else experience the same thing?

 

[Dznycrzy]

I would be happy to go for you!!!!!!!:animwink:

 

[DizMagic]

Keep in mind, this is a family vacation something will likely go wrong! Thats the nature of the beast. Having expectations of the perfect vacation is the surest way to ruin a vacation, especially at Disney. The number of family meltdowns that occur at Disney due to expectations of perfection is astounding. You should try to just relax, accept that something might go wrong and just enjoy the vacation and roll with the punches!

I have personally never had pre vacation anxiety but hopefully it goes away for you

 

[DizneyPryncess]

It probably is part of the fact that for a lot of people, planning is half the fun. When the planning stage is over, and it's actually time to leave, sometimes you're at a loss for what to do next. It's like the holiday season for me. I love shopping for people, decorating, baking, etc. For me, it's all better than the actual day! I love planning my Disney trips as much as I love going on them. So maybe you're having that happen to you.

Stress about vacations seems normal too. Most things can't be avoided, so try to just believe nothing will go wrong. I've been sick on Disney vacations, twice. But if something like that happens, you'll make the most of it. More than likely, everything will go off without a hitch. Have a great time!

 

[slappy magoo]

DizneyPryncess probably nailed it. Looking forward to the trip has probably been something you've done to greater or lesser degrees for these 8 months. When you needed a pick-me-up, had a moment to daydream, that may have been the oasis in the desert of your day. And even though you haven't taken the trip yet, the fact that you will soon be unable to look forward to your trip could create some sense of loss. Holidays are, indeed, like that for a lot of people, all that buildup and then even before it's over, you start getting the blues because you know the buildup is almost over. Same deal (sometimes, for some people) with weddings, childbirths, graduations, birthdays, anything "big" or momentous. I think that's why a lot of people here often start planning their next trip as soon as they return. And I'm pretty sure that's why WDW will occasionally give guests a PIN code for a very good discount on their next trip, provided they book before they go back home (or shortly thereafter), they're like drug dealers like that

 

[wdwcandice]

OMG, we could be the same person! I am usually already mourning the passing of the vacation the first minute it actually starts, already doing the "only 8 more days til it's over" thing...instead of the "I can't believe I'm at WDW for 10 days!" thing. It's a sickness, I tell you! I do the same thing for any event I have a great buildup for...Christmas, birthdays, family weddings, whatever. I put more energy into the planning and anticipation than I do the actual event which I am in a blur while actually experiencing. I'm guessing you do the same thing.

You stop that right now!!!!

The best thing to cure it....plan the next one while you're experiencing the existing one...plan that next trip while you're on this trip. :king:


I even try to go with my new mantra.... "no expectations equals no disappointments." I never have disappointments, per say, but regrets, oh yeah....

Besides my new mantra, I am trying to be more "in the now" more living in the moment to get over this pre and during vacation blues.

I get it, I really do....

Have a great time and hoping you can shake it and "be in the now." :wave:

 

[ParentsOf4]

Yeah, when we lived in New England and went "only" once or twice a year, I'd almost always feel the pre-vacation blues. As already posted, just knowing that I had a WDW vacation in 6 months (or 5 months, or 4 months, ...) was always a pick-me-up. Once I get within a couple of weeks, I started thinking that the pick-me-up was soon going to be gone. We solved the problem by moving to GA so we can drive to WDW for any long weekend. We'll be going to Orlando 4 or 5 times in the next 12 months!

 

[Susan Savia]

I just went thru that. Planning, planning, planning and then the day finally arrived. And it seemed like as soon as our travel day arrived the days literally flew on by and all I was thinking about was, how many days were left...to which my son told me to stop that! We did have a fantastic time and actually the 14 days we had were slow, carefree and wonderful. Yours will be fantastic too!

 

[Ariel484]

It probably is part of the fact that for a lot of people, planning is half the fun. When the planning stage is over, and it's actually time to leave, sometimes you're at a loss for what to do next. It's like the holiday season for me. I love shopping for people, decorating, baking, etc. For me, it's all better than the actual day! I love planning my Disney trips as much as I love going on them. So maybe you're having that happen to you.

I get this way (about Christmas too!). You nailed it. The planning and anticipation are half the fun.

 

[bgraham34]

I am still 6 months away and I still have the blues. I wish I had planned a trip in March this year but then I realize that the crowds will be really busy and then I am happy I booked Sept. But then I am sad again that I have to wait so long.

 

[harryk]

We plan the next visit while we are there.
I always get a little anxious prior to the trip - mainly because I know the time will fly by - but the planning of future visits always gets me through it.
The vacation is my escape time - Disney to me is my non-reality trip (except for the Animal Kingdom) and permits me to unwind from the prior months.
Look forward to future visits and possibly incorporate one of the many park tours into the vacation and you will have much more fun and no time to have the anxious times linger on.

238 days to VWL:sohappy::sohappy:

 

[UPbeekeeper]

I don't think your feelings are weird or out of the ordinary for any WDW lover. Like others have said, the build up and planning are a big part of the excitement, and that is over now. Then there is that nagging feeling that as soon as the trip actually starts, it will be over so fast and you will be left empty. Try to let go of those feelings and think of the fun your family will have and make every moment count. WDW is always going to be there, waiting for you to come back. You can start planning your next trip when you get back from this one.

My trip isn't going to be until 2014, so I am planning/daydreaming every aspect of it now. To me, it's an extension of the escape from everyday stress that WDW brings. Some days it brings me so much joy, other days it makes me sad that I have so long to wait.

Have fun! Enjoy your trip!

 

[johndoh]

Wow! Seriously, I didn’t expect to have so many warm words of encouragements. Thank you all for your thoughts! I haven’t said anything even to my wife because I didn’t want her to worry because that’s exactly what she’d do. Honestly, I feel like everybody’s response touched a part of something that’s been in my head for the past week or so.

...Having expectations of the perfect vacation is the surest way to ruin a vacation, especially at Disney. ...

You’re right.. Maybe I’m setting myself up to fail by expecting (subconsciously or unsubconsciously) to have the perfect vacation.

When the planning stage is over, and it's actually time to leave, sometimes you're at a loss for what to do next.

That is definitely one of the things that is in my head right now!

...the fact that you will soon be unable to look forward to your trip could create some sense of loss.

That sense of loss feels exactly like when you leave your wallet or cellphone at home. You know it’s not the end of the world but a constant nagging feeling that something that’s part of you is missing.

OMG, we could be the same person! I am usually already mourning the passing of the vacation the first minute it actually starts, already doing the "only 8 more days til it's over" thing...instead of the "I can't believe I'm at WDW for 10 days!" thing. It's a sickness, I tell you!

Maybe you and I need to start a WDW pre-vacation blues/ anxiety helpline! :ROFLOL:

We solved the problem by moving to GA so we can drive to WDW for any long weekend. We'll be going to Orlando 4 or 5 times in the next 12 months!

Living that close to WDW could seriously get me in BIG trouble. I can’t even imagine going to WDW more than once a year.

I just went thru that. Planning, planning, planning and then the day finally arrived. And it seemed like as soon as our travel day arrived the days literally flew on by and all I was thinking about was, how many days were left...

I think the challenge is that we have something to look forward to every day, whether it’s an ADR we’ve been looking forward to forever or a day at Discovery Cove, etc… I just have to make sure to set my expectations to not to set myself up for fail…

I am still 6 months away and I still have the blues.

OK. So, I guess there is at least one other person that’s worst than me..

Look forward to future visits and possibly incorporate one of the many park tours into the vacation and you will have much more fun and no time to have the anxious times linger on.

Perhaps I’ll look into a park-tour for us right in the middle of our vacation. We did the Keys to the Kingdom Tour last time and it was a great way to slow things down (especially if days are going too fast), take a step back and allowed us to really enjoy and appreciate WDW.

Then there is that nagging feeling that as soon as the trip actually starts, it will be over so fast and you will be left empty. Try to let go of those feelings and think of the fun your family will have and make every moment count.

Thank you.. I know that once I'm at WDW, any of the anxiety that I may still have will be gone. I just need to keep reminding myself that we're here for a family vacation and to enjoy every moment of the day.

 

[SMS55]

I know what you mean. I get something similar to it too. I get very excited and part of the excitement and build up is the anticipation. When you are a few months away it feels as if it will never get here, then you realize it's around the corner. Part of you wants to go already, but another part knows that it will go by faster than you want it to. I know it happens to me. I go a few times a year and I still get excited and have such a build up. Then it gets here and it seems to fly by.

 

[SMS55]

Living that close to WDW could seriously get me in BIG trouble. I can’t even imagine going to WDW more than once a year.

It's not that bad. We do the same. We go for long weekends 4-5 times a year with our seasonal pass. You learn the short cuts. You skip certain things that aren't worth the wait time and you learn to do things on the cheap. We drive so we eat offsite and save alot of money. Puts money into the next trip. We are more about the rides and shows. The on site restaurants aren't that big a deal to us. We'll do one every now and then, but it's not a big deal. The wife and I prefer to have a beer or two at EPCOT instead.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I usually refer to it as the "Evolution of the Post Wedding Blues." So, basically anything positive that requires a heap of planning as well as lots of anticipation and excitement. I get it with vacations, big bday parties, Christmas, etc. I am hatching a plan though to make it less of an issue with WDW trips...basically, trying to tell myself "I've planned enough" - at least a few weeks to a couple of months out so I can just get excited and not be all sad about the planning being over and over plan to the point where I get that neurotic fear that I haven't planned enough. Hey, it worked with Christmas! By Dec 15th I told myself I have planned enough and now I'm just going to enjoy the handful of days I got off with my girls doing fun things like going to the movies and making cookies. Hey- it's progress!