WDW vacations are like a bar of soap.

StoneCutter589

StoneCutter589

Active Member
Original Poster
...the tighter you hold on the more it seems to slip by. As I sit in my hotel room on Disney property, I think about how fast my time at Disney has come and gone. Today is Tuesday. I depart on Thursday. I have been here since August 16th, but it doesn’t seem like that long ago.

Maybe the old adage is true: Time flies when you’re having fun, or is there something more to it than that that is unique to Disney?

I’m not sure; all I know is that when I get here, I feel as if I’m on borrowed (vacation) time. I’m on a slippery slope, unable to slow time down. I find myself looking for ways to savor the moment more, but the more I try to do so, the more it seems to slip away,like that elusive bar of soap.

Maybe it’s because of the planning. 180 days for dining. 60 days for Fast Passes. It seems that we are constantly planning, and when the time comes to actually participate in what we’ve planned, it seems like a blur.

Now, as I rest my head on my pillow to go to sleep, I wonder where has my vacation gone? The tighter I try to hold on the more it slips away. I feel as though I have some type of inability to enjoy. Instead, I find myself counting the days, the hours, even the minutes.

Thoughts? Similar experiences?
 
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LauraRose

LauraRose

Well-Known Member
I get you. All our trips are for 14 nights and the first week really seems to last for a longer time. I remember being three days in and couldn’t believe it, felt like had been there for ages. As soon as I hit the halfway mark I start to dwell on the fact I’m coming home soon. We came back in May and had no intention on coming back for another 2 years or more. We were both so gloomy and I couldn’t see a Disney advert or look at my resort mug without a gloomy cloud coming over me. We ended up saying ‘f it’ and booked for next May. I’m already dreading coming home and having to go through it all over again!
 
DisneyFreak

DisneyFreak

Well-Known Member
This isn't just an age thing. I remember the trips when I was a teenager coming with my family. We would stay at the Poly 10 nights, arriving on a Monday and staying through to the next Thursday. The first five days seemed like an eternity and it was awesome! As soon as that weekend was over and we were on our 2nd Monday the days seemed to go by faster and we couldn't believe our trip was almost over and the two year wait for our return would start all over. One of the things that made it better is we would make our next reservation before we left so we knew for sure we were coming back.
 
Nottamus

Nottamus

Well-Known Member
The trick is, to have another vacation booked before you leave....as stated above!

We do 7 nights twice a year, and still the last few days seem a little depressing at times, knowing we have to leave.

We drive from NJ, so what we're doing this year, is to spend a few nights in St Augustine after Disney week....trying to cushion the blow
 
NickMaio

NickMaio

Well-Known Member
Totally get it. We just got back. We planned and booked for 2 weeks. For the first time in forever...... We extended our vacay 1 week. We were able to do so because my wife is currently on maternity leave and I am a teacher. We extended it on our last day...flights and all.
We said lets not go home and we peob wont get this chance again.

I get you though.....the first couple of days just linger lovingly....then all of a sudden they start to speed up big time.

We had our 10 month old little guy with us. He was amazing. We were up at 6 or 7 and packed as much in our day as he could handle. 3 weeks in Florida with the mouse were bliss.

Anyway try to have moments where you and your fam relax and are notting running A to B. This seems to work for us. Having a 2 or 3 hour lunch in Springs was great😀.

Oh and go to the parks for rope drop or 8am breakfast. Head back to the resort for a lunch nap and swim. This was the first time we did this. In the past we slammed 14 hour days in the parks. Down time really helped to stretch the days out. He's a great napper around 9 and 2 every day. Forces us to really slow down. It was great. We cant wait to go back.

Enjoy your time....have fun....relish the moments and take loks of pics.
 
CaptainAmerica

CaptainAmerica

Premium Member
StoneCutter589 said:
...the tighter you hold on the more it seems to slip by. As I sit in my hotel room on Disney property, I think about how fast my time at Disney has come and gone. Today is Tuesday. I depart on Thursday. I have been here since August 16th, but it doesn’t seem like that long ago.

Maybe the old adage is true: Time flies when you’re having fun, or is there something more to it than that that is unique to Disney?

I’m not sure; all I know is that when I get here, I feel as if I’m on borrowed (vacation) time. I’m on a slippery slope, unable to slow time down. I find myself looking for ways to savor the moment more, but the more I try to do so, the more it seems to slip away,like that elusive bar of soap.

Maybe it’s because of the planning. 180 days for dining. 60 days for Fast Passes. It seems that we are constantly planning, and when the time comes to actually participate in what we’ve planned, it seems like a blur.

Now, as I rest my head on my pillow to go to sleep, I wonder where has my vacation gone? The tighter I try to hold on the more it slips away. I feel as though I have some type of inability to enjoy. Instead, I find myself counting the days, the hours, even the minutes.

Thoughts? Similar experiences?
Click to expand...
Do you have kids? Entire years go by like what you're describing.
 
belledream

belledream

Well-Known Member
You put these feelings into words so much better than I could ever do that I feel like I have a better understanding of my own emotions now! I'm definitely a 'halfway point' counter, hyper-aware of what has already passed and what is to come. However, over the years, I think I've gotten better at looking forward to each day with excitement of another full Disney day instead of dread. Maybe the change has occurred since I became a working adult and realized how hard I actually had to work to get here...so you bet I'm gonna enjoy myself! Still, savoring every moment, attraction, dining experience, and all the sights and sounds on the walks in between, the days are winding down before you know it, and I dread opening the door in the morning to see that DME eviction notice and knowing it will be one of the last times we will be walking through these doors.

Til next time at least. Dreaming of our next adventure is my substitute for coffee.
 
geekza

geekza

Well-Known Member
I started going to WDW as a very young child back in the 1970's. Each subsequent trip has had more years between them. I grew up, had adult responsibilities and, to be honest, found myself less and less able to afford to go. My last trip was in 2006. I've planned trips twice since that time and, both times, had to cancel them because of not being able to save up enough money and being unwilling to go into debt on a vacation. The only reason we're going this November is because my mother passed away and left me enough money that I was able to pay for a trip. It will be my wife's first time there and, no kidding, the first trip we've been able to take without the kids in the six years we've been together. The last time I went, with my first wife and my young son, I made an effort to absorb every moment of it. It was amazing getting to experience the place through the eyes of my son. This time when I go, I sense that it will be the last time. Not because I think that WDW is no longer amazing (although I definitely have issues with a lot of the things that have happened and are happening), but because I'm 46, my wife and I both work full-time in jobs that should pay more, but just keep our heads above water, and I realistically don't think I'll ever be able to afford to go again. I know that when I get down there, that week will go far-too-quickly. I plan on savoring every moment, recalling the wonderful experiences I've had in my life with people I love and trying to let the stresses of everyday life fall by the wayside for at least a little while. Even with all of the crazy planning that is a necessity for a modern WDW trip, I know that all of it will be worth it once I get down there and can walk up Main Street with the castle in front of me.
 
I'mwatchinguWizowski

I'mwatchinguWizowski

Active Member
Nottamus said:
The trick is, to have another vacation booked before you leave....as stated above!

We do 7 nights twice a year, and still the last few days seem a little depressing at times, knowing we have to leave.

We drive from NJ, so what we're doing this year, is to spend a few nights in St Augustine after Disney week....trying to cushion the blow
Click to expand...

We are booked for 10 days at Christmas but even that is to long!!! Lol
 
JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
Its the same with us. We countdown for so long getting more and more excited as WDW check in day arrives. On the day we arrive I look at my calendar of planned things to do and it looks like its a long time, I have 14 days of fun!!! The first week is great. Then as I head into the second week that thought in the back of my mind keeps saying... thats another day gone and another day closer to the end. The last couple of days are the very worst with the realization that theres only 48 hours left. The last day is absolute murder knowing its full of last rides, last dining, last snacks, last fireworks, last shows and last WDW until who knows when.
 
JennSmith

JennSmith

Well-Known Member
We always leave to drive home at like 6 or 7am because it's an 11+ hour drive and we want to make it home in enough time to pick up our pooch before the kennel closes. Every trip where we've spent that last full day before we check out at a park it is heart wrenching. Just like many of you, each ride, snack, stroll, etc. is met with the realization that this is the last one. The last few trips however we used that last full day as an off day...mini golf, a breakfast and dinner ADR, pool time, last minute gift shopping at the resort, packing time (gross). Ever since we started that it seems to have helped eliminate the heart ache a bit. I have no clue why, but I guess it plays with our minds a little.
 
MickeyMan36

MickeyMan36

Active Member
Nottamus said:
The trick is, to have another vacation booked before you leave....as stated above!

We do 7 nights twice a year, and still the last few days seem a little depressing at times, knowing we have to leave.

We drive from NJ, so what we're doing this year, is to spend a few nights in St Augustine after Disney week....trying to cushion the blow
Click to expand...
This is what I do. I always have a trip planned or preplanned before the current one is over. That way, I can always keep it on my mind.
 
BraveGirl

BraveGirl

Well-Known Member
Yes, same. We also always have our next trip planned before we leave to soften the blow. So, I spend the time in between going through my photos and making albums, coming here to talk Disney, and then planning the next trip!
 
L

LUVofDIS

Well-Known Member
I bet Iger is messing with the space time continuum. That Bas....

Joking aside, we get that feeling on every vacation we do. Since forever it feels like the time just slipped away, almost like a dream. I am kind of sad now, excuse me while I shed a tear. Don't worry, they are happy tears, even though the time slips away, there are always fond memories of what was and also what will be as we book the next one. That is until the last one..... Now I am scared.
 

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