That last day feeling

[The MaD Hatter]

We used to visit annually (every December) when our daughter was younger. We thought it would be a tradition that we'd always do without a doubt. Then a few years ago, she got really sick during our trip and spent a week at the Florida Hospital. We then had to use the money for out next year's trip to pay off the hospital bills. After that life got in the way and a couple years went by without us getting to go back. It was awful for us. Finally, we decided to move to Orlando so we could go to WDW whenever we want. But guess what, even though we go every weekend now, I still get a little sad on our way home knowing I won't be back for a whole week. I can't imagine having to go a year or years between trips anymore.

 

[ddbowdoin]

It's not fun, that's for sure. Our last stay we were spoiled, and to be honest... spent beyond our means. I mean, it was our disneymoon so we wanted to make it a memorable one. It's not like we went out and spent a ton of money on dining or goods, it was more the 11 day stay and cost of the resort. We stayed at the Beach Club because we love that area, the ability to walk to two gates, the relative exclusivity of the bus to other gates, etc etc etc.

Since we've stayed at the BC our last two visits we've been ending our stay at Epcot... trying to always finish with ONE LAST ride on SSE. I miss it man, a lot!

It's kind of weird for a 27 year old male, recently married with no children to be feeling this way... but it's just how it is

 

[wsmith1978]

The last day is a mixture of emotions. I love my home, so I look forward to being there, but at the same time I do not, by any means, want to leave!! It's all about doing the absolute favorite things that day, taking it all in, listening to the music, absorbing the happy atmosphere.

As we leave the MK for the last time, we always ascend the stairs to the train station and look down Main St, toward the castle. We watch as people are just entering the park, just begining their vacations. This year, we actually cried. The parade was making its way around the circle, and "Time of your life" was playing. It was too much to handle.

 

[dopeylover]

The last day for me is "oh god, i have to be in the real world tomorrow."

The last WDW trip was especially bad, because we were staying off-property, and almost every channel on the hotel TV was broadcasting about the Casey Anthony trial. :| I don't think there is anything quite so disheartening as to go from hearing cast members wishing you a "Magical Disney Day!" to hearing a news report about
"the smell of chloroform and human decomposition in the trunk of the car".

There's no two ways about it....the real world just plain sucks.


I think if Disney ever decided to turn EPCOT into Walt's actual living Community of Tomorrow, I would live there in a heartbeat. Far away from the chaos and degradation of the real world.

We had the same experience. No matter what time of day you turned the TV on, the trial was on. I was also there years back when Elian Gonzalez thing was going on, and that was a very strange time as well.

I would live in EPCOT as well. I would love to move to Celebration, but I would probably have to sell an organ to be able to afford it!

 

[dopeylover]

Actually, I just looked at prices, and it's not that bad in Celebration...who's ready to move with us??!!!

 

[Epcot-Rules]

Last day is usually the perfect feeling of wanting to get back and sense of happiness with the whole experience. I have been to Disney for 2-day trips and always felt so mad about having to leave. I have been there for 10-day trips and couldn't wait to get home. I think each person has to find their perfect balance of the 2 feelings. For me it's the 5-6 day range. Just enough but makes me want to come back for more!

This is me, I have found that 4-5 days is just right because I got 2 or 3 times a year.

 

[Blueskyze]

The last day is rough! But I've found it's a lot easier if we already have our next trip booked, or at least have dates picked out to come back. When we were there last weekend, I realized on the last morning that my Countdown app showed "0" days until my vacation. That made me sad, since it was basically over. I quickly put in the date for our next trip (we put down a deposit a couple of weeks ago!). I think the saddest thing for me that day was heading over to get a Dole Whip and realizing that the line was ridiculously long and I wasn't going to get one. I hadn't had one all weekend, and now I have to wait 100 more days! I guess it'll just taste all the sweeter when I do finally get it!

 

[wdwmomof3]

Hey all. Just got back from WDW yesterday after an amazing 10 day trip (I'll start posting the trip report soon, once I'm done uploading the pictures). However, if there is one thing I hate about trips to Disney it is that "last day feeling". I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels it. It's kind of a combination of sadness (that this is the last time you'll look at everything you are looking at for the current trip and; that after a year of planning the trip that we were so looking forward to just weeks ago is now over), stress (that we only have one day left and want to see as much as possible) and uncertainty (when will our next trip be? We normally come each year but what if something happens within the next year that may delay our next trip).

What are your last day feelings?

You described my exact feelings perfectly. I try not to think about how many days we have left until the last couple of days begin to sneak up on me. Then I start to notice people checking in and it kind of makes me sad knowing that we will be leaving soon.

Since we only go to AK once I really take it all in. The last time we were there I remember turning to the kids as we walked out and telling them "say goodbye to Animal Kingdom" with a lump in my throat. I hate feeling that way because it's so bitter sweet. We have multiple days in the other parks so by the time we get ready to leave I normally feel pretty confident that we have seen and done everything that we set out to do, but I still hate leaving.

On one trip a few years ago we decided to go back to MK one last time before the drive home. I remember leaving after lunch and as we rode the boat back to the TTC, I was fighting back the tears all the way across the lagoon. It was to hard so we have just gotten up, packed the car and left since then. I really hate coming back to reality.

 

[NX2I85]

On the last day of a WDW vacation I want to crack open the day and suck the marrow out of it. Hit the parks early and stay late. Find all the fun I can and appreciate every glorious moment of it.
I used to be a bit gloomy and wistful on a last day, but now that we have been several times and plan to continue our visits I am not that way anymore.

 

[gwhb75]

It's not fun, that's for sure. Our last stay we were spoiled, and to be honest... spent beyond our means. I mean, it was our disneymoon so we wanted to make it a memorable one. It's not like we went out and spent a ton of money on dining or goods, it was more the 11 day stay and cost of the resort. We stayed at the Beach Club because we love that area, the ability to walk to two gates, the relative exclusivity of the bus to other gates, etc etc etc.

Since we've stayed at the BC our last two visits we've been ending our stay at Epcot... trying to always finish with ONE LAST ride on SSE. I miss it man, a lot!

It's kind of weird for a 27 year old male, recently married with no children to be feeling this way... but it's just how it is

Nothing weird about it. I feel the exact same way when I leave, and I'm 37.

 

[gwhb75]

Actually, I just looked at prices, and it's not that bad in Celebration...who's ready to move with us??!!!

Let's all chip in and we can all live there

 

[scheat]

Agree with most everyone here. Definitely helps tremendously to have another date in mind for return as you are leaving, but when the video stops on DME when you are arriving back at the airport it hits pretty hard.

 

[SulleyanBoo]

it's always been depressing to me. But, I do just try to think of our next trip that we are already planning on the car ride back home

 

[EOD K9]

I make myself feel better by hitting Earl of Sandwich and getting "The Original" followed by the brownie with the cream in the middle. It puts me into a sugar induced headspinning diabetic shock....but who cares? Its my last day....for a few months anyway.

 

[SuprDav]

I love a good trip to WDW. With that said, by the last day I'm ready for home sweet home. If you love DW more than where you hang your hat, that's just sad. Why be happy for 1 week every year or two when you can be happy all the time?

 

[Graham9]

Knowing it's your last full day at WDW is bad enough, but finally leaving MK by walking under the railroad arches and looking back at MK for the very last time is always bad. But then we get in the car and drive to the airport and our vacation is 'officially' over when we pass the "Welcome to WDW" arch on the road out to I4. From that point, we are just going home and everything is over.

 

[Britt]

Honestly, by the time it's time to go, Im usually ready to get back to my own house, my own bed, my furry babies and get that plane ride OVER. Im a super anxious flyer and hate airports and everything that comes with them. lol

 

[bethymouse]

We wave good-bye. This time we said Aloha! The last day is always at MK, and the fireworks on the beach. I cry a bit. We had the Spirit of Aloha Show the last night there, and I cried at the end. But, hopefully we'll "See ya real soon!".

 

[gwhb75]

I love a good trip to WDW. With that said, by the last day I'm ready for home sweet home. If you love DW more than where you hang your hat, that's just sad. Why be happy for 1 week every year or two when you can be happy all the time?

It's not that I love WDW more than home, but you can't deny that WDW let's you escape reality for a short time. During that time there are no deadlines, no pressures, no stress, just family and fun. It's definately hard getting back into the "real world" after that.

 

[gwhb75]

Honestly, by the time it's time to go, Im usually ready to get back to my own house, my own bed, my furry babies and get that plane ride OVER. Im a super anxious flyer and hate airports and everything that comes with them. lol

I completly understand how you feel (the being ready to come home thing, not the flying thing (I'm a very relaxed flyer, but I know that my wife isn't)). There is definately a part of me that is ready to come home (I'm usually exhausted by the end of the trip; I look forward to seeing our two cats, my co-workers, etc), but there is a part of me that would love to stay just a little bit longer (however, as I told my kids on the last day, it wouldn't matter how many days we stayed, when it came time to leave you would always wish you could stay just a little bit longer).