I fear post trip depression

[KimviG]

I'm already beginning to feel despair about my trip ending although it hasn't even begun yet. Last year when we came back I knew we would have the means to go back the following year so I began planning again keeping my mind occupied and having something to look forward to. After this trip it may be a while before I can go back. How will I cope?

[ANTSS2001]

I'm already beginning to feel despair about my trip ending although it hasn't even begun yet. Last year when we came back I knew we would have the means to go back the following year so I began planning again keeping my mind occupied and having something to look forward to. After this trip it may be a while before I can go back. How will I cope?

DIS nite and day !!!!:flower3:

[ANTSS2001]

I'm already beginning to feel despair about my trip ending although it hasn't even begun yet. Last year when we came back I knew we would have the means to go back the following year so I began planning again keeping my mind occupied and having something to look forward to. After this trip it may be a while before I can go back. How will I cope?

ok seriously.... pixiedust: I was able to survive with little day trips here and there with the family... we do Disney themed weekend with the nieces and nephews... some of my friends who went to WDW sent us postcards... and really... Disboard got me occupied...

I just realized that our ticker for April is closed we're going to be there April 14 to 21st what about you ??? When are you going to be there ????

[CanadianGuy]

I got back about 3 hours ago (seven days goes fast).. and have spent TOO much time on the Dis.. already thinkin about my next trip.

But oddly not depressed.. just tired. :)

J

[KStarfish82]

I know what you mean! I'm so happy that you brought this up. I get bummed about the end, but my mother gets hit really hard.

Before the end of every trip, we do some research about not only planning the next vacation, but even about more permanent accomodations. Now I know that for everyone this is not possible, but we have even went to look at Timeshare tours because it makes it seem as if out next trip is more definite and approacing sooner than we think. Unfortunately, there is no way to beat these blues, but just don't look back, look forward!

[KimviG]

ANTSS2001,
Yes our tickers are very close. I will be there April 16-26 and I'm staying at POR. How about you?

[ANTSS2001]

ANTSS2001,
Yes our tickers are very close. I will be there April 16-26 and I'm staying at POR. How about you?

SSR for the 1st time... I will be posting my ADRS as soon as it get finalize it would be nice to see a feloow Diser :)

[Marshay]

Several years ago after my then boyfriend and I were leaving WDW on Mears shuttle, I just broke down and cried. This was a first vacation to WDW as an adult and I had such a wonderful time.

The first day of each trip, I am just jumping up and down like a fool (DH just smiles now and has learned not to say anything). But I dread that last day...I can't help it...I get quiet and sad.

So I've tried doing some traditional stuff on that last day. My favorites are:
1) always ending the trip in or near MK to view the castle
2) buying a carmel-nut covered apple and eating it at home/work the next day.
and 3) try to plan another trip soon -- we just bought DVC so we always know the next trip is just around the corner!!

It's comforting to know I am not the only one to be depressed about leaving Disney.

:sad:

[Nala2007]

Okay great, it's good to know I'm not the only one who feels like a baby when they leave! I don't cry, atleast not yet anyway...but I definitely get depressed and get that sick to my stomach feeling...

[Clotho]

I have to wean myself off of Disney. I get the same way--depressed and longing for the next trip. So I continue to visit the boards, and write about my experience, and offer advice to others for a little while. I spend a little less time each day...each week...on the boards. I will them eventually take some time away from the boards, so I am not constantly longing for the next "fix".

As soon as we start talking seriously about the next trip, I slowly get back on my addiction. Start spending a little time each week surfing the pages, starting to get back in the swing. And then once I start booking details, I spend just about every day on the boards until the trip, and the cycle begins again.

Works well for me!

[PrincessBear]

I know how you feel! I was actually diagnosed with real depression and was treated for it and am fine now, but...one of the things I was taught to do is to have a bunch of different things to look forward to. Like not just another trip but Christmas, or summer time or dinner with friends. Just thinking about these things keeps you less sad and then before you know it you can start planning your next trip!

[KimviG]

Thanks everyone for the kind words and copping mechanisms. I knew I wasn't the only one who got that way when there was no trip on the horizon.

:offtopic: (<--- Why is this face so mean?)

SSR for the 1st time... I will be posting my ADRS as soon as it get finalize it would be nice to see a feloow Diser


ANTSS2001,
Is there a thread for posting ADR's? I didn't opt for the Dining Plan so I only made a couple. Well here are mine anyway

April 16th Chef Mickey's 5:30pm
April 17th Ohana Breakfast 10:00am
April 19th La Cellier 1:20pm
April 21 Playhouse Disney Hollywood and Vine breakfast 9:35 am

I'm still thinking about doing Whispering Canyon but haven't decided yet.

[Unregistered]

Paxil

but other than that, start a project that you have really been wanting to get done at home before you go away. Then when you are leaving your trip, you can look forward to coming home to the completed project, or to finishing the project when you get home.

[la79al]

I'm planning on working on a baby when we get back but I really wouldn't recommend that for everyone. Since DH has already agreed to this trip with a promise of no more trips for at least 5 years, I am really hoping the baby thing can compete with WDW.

[snomofinn]

:scared: I know what you mean...Iam the same way, we leave in little over a week, and Iam already thinking about how depressed I'll be when we get back!:sad: but...then I think of next year..and maybe, just maybe going back around the holidays and hopefully I'll feel better and have something to look forward to.:cool1:

[rotlex]

God, I know EXACTLY what you mean! My wife and I have not been for 13 years....we are going with our daughter in April. I'm ALREADY having the "I don't wanna go home blues"!

My last memory of Disney is my wife and I standing infront of Spaceship Earth at Epcot, staring up at the big ball, and thinking "We don't want to leave"! How we managed to survive this many years without going is beyond me, but life, finances and other things simply did not allow us to go.

How am I handling the post trip blues before we are even leaving? Easy - we made the decision this year to start a real vacation fund. Who am I kidding - a Disney vacation fund, so we can start traveling their every 1-2 years at a minimum. :) Were already planning next years trip, and frankly it feels good!

[Marshay]

Since DH has already agreed to this trip with a promise of no more trips for at least 5 years,

5 Years!!! What are you, crazy??? :rotfl2:

You know in 5 years, your DD will have to pay the full adult price and your new baby will have to pay the child price, so really, you need to go back in 3 years!!

[becky_AK]

I know exactly how you are feeling. Whenever I am not at WDW I am constantly looking at pictures online & reading about WDW on the DIS website. I'm addicted to Disney, what can I say?? :)

[ziggybaby]

Hi there :wave2:

Make sure you enjoy every second you are AT WDW
then hopefully the memories will keep you going
untill your next visit

Have a great trip

[Katiebell]

How weird...I just posted in the "confess your sins" thread that the last two times I left DL, as we were walking out of the park I started crying. I couldn't help it, and I felt so stupid. My DS 15 noticed and got really concerned, saying, "Hey, Mom, what's wrong? Are you ok?" Embarrassed, I told him I was just so sad to be leaving, and he gave me a big hug to comfort me.

One way I deal with the post vacation blues is to get prints made of our pics ASAP (and we take a million pics!) and scrapbook them. I put a lot of paper mementos in my scrapbooks, too -- menu copies, postcards, tickets, certificates, stickers they give you to wear on your birthday or like the "I braved the TOT" one I earned (I peeled them carefully off my shirt and stuck them to scraps of paper to take them home), maps, etc. It is a lot of fun to make the pages, and when I go back and look at them, it's like re-living our trip.

[#1Disfann]

I know how you feel! I was actually diagnosed with real depression and was treated for it and am fine now, but...one of the things I was taught to do is to have a bunch of different things to look forward to. Like not just another trip but Christmas, or summer time or dinner with friends. Just thinking about these things keeps you less sad and then before you know it you can start planning your next trip!

from the real thing after last years trip. The only person I said that to was DH because I thought everyone else would just think I was silly! I did not want to do ANYTHING! I could not even drag myself to the DIS! I saw something on TV years ago...can't even remember where...that was about a certain type of personality that is just really not happy and/or healthy if they are not planning something special/enjoyable for their future. I never forget that because it seemed to describe me to a "T". After last August's trip I really thought that we would not be able to go this year so I was miserable! As soon as I thought we might be able to, I talked it over with DH and was actually prepared to go solo if I had to, but he was up for it!:lovestruc I'm pretty sure that as long as I have something booked, even if it had to be 2 or 3 years out, that I would feel much better! That is what I plan to do when we return...start planning another trip! I love to plan!:cloud9: I'm pretty sure that with some good planning I can make it happen! I can get VERY frugal if it means I can go to WDW the following year!:rotfl2: Anyway, I just wanted to say your advice I quoted above sounds perfect!!

[Mari annie]

We go for 2 weeks in Feb, been home now one week, and already BLUES............:upsidedow :sad1: purples...........sad..............
I love FL..........
going back for April break for two weeks leaving the 10th for another two weeks........but I am SAD, MAD...........but being here I am happy......
kinda.........disboards and the posts help me to get my FL FIX!
Thanks everyone!!!

Look at the Orlando/FL 10 day extended weather forecasts, too!!!!
:thumbsup2

:hourglass counting the days..........................:drive: pixiedust: :beach:

[Scot-n-Michelle]

we just returned home sunday night and i have major withdrawls. i did cry on our last night on the bus as my two kids were cuddled up to me sleeping. it was a very magical time that i loved and can't wait to do it again!!!

[ANTSS2001]

we just returned home sunday night and i have major withdrawls. i did cry on our last night on the bus as my two kids were cuddled up to me sleeping. it was a very magical time that i loved and can't wait to do it again!!!

:grouphug: :idea:

[clownchk]

well, first you hav eto organize all your receipt by day and make your totals to help you budget for your next trip.

THen you get to look at all the pix you took while writing your trip reports.

THen you can pour over your pix and trip report while doing your scrapbooks of your vacation. THen LIFE happens and you actually have to feed the kids and send them to school, get your house in order, pay some bills, have a holiday meal now and then, etc etc etc.

THEN its time to start planning your next trip!

THat means you ahve sto start all over, with your reciept and trip report and pix from last trip then figure out a time frame when you can "feasibly" go back. Now you can plan your budgets! OH and NOW you need to check park hours and scheduled refurbishments! Great! NOW you have to plan your meals! SO you can get your ADRS in 180 days out regardless of you having flights or a place to sleep yet!

THEN you have to start your packing lists! Your Spread sheets! Your lists of coin presses complete with all the ones you acquired last trip! OH now that you have your plan in place, you ahve to figure out the fastest wat to get from point A to point B and have alternate routes listed too. THEN the SHOPPING begins! YOu have to find the perfect thing to wear to each of your event! Oh and shoes! WHich shoes for those outfits and wehre can oyu get the best prices! How much do they need to be worn so you do not get blisterss, but htey still have that "new" feeling at the parks?

Wait, you didn't make your ticker! ANd you need to feed your kids again!

*sigh* I guess for me the fun is in the planning! LOL! Even when you just get back, you always have the NEXT trip to look forward to! IN the meantime, read the Dis:thumbsup2

[Marshay]

Hey, Clownchk -- that sounds like me too. I love the planning.

Our next trip isn't until September but I already have schedules of events, places to eat (next week I can make my ADRs), and started my packing list, besides checking into the DIS board every day!

[drag n' fly]

I'm already beginning to feel despair about my trip ending although it hasn't even begun yet. Last year when we came back I knew we would have the means to go back the following year so I began planning again keeping my mind occupied and having something to look forward to. After this trip it may be a while before I can go back. How will I cope?

This is how I cope. My Grandmother always said "be thankful for the things you do have not pining for the things you dont". Their is way more going on in this big ol' world than Disney and I find volunteering in my community gives me that same feeling of joy!:goodvibes

[I Love Pluto]

We go to Disney each July. I DIS from July to the next July. It gets me through. :goodvibes

[mamaprincess]

It's part of the whole trip cycle much like having a child.
First the planning (for some ehem) filled with tons of research,:teacher:
then the conception,:love:
then the waiting,:hourglass Filled with preparation:laundy:
then it's finally here!:banana:
Then the depression.:sad2:

It's a natural part of the whole cycle of WDW trips. You get over it eventually. You got a lot of good advice on how to handle it.:thumbsup2

[em-o-so'smom]

We started planning the day we gt home last month...Tonight I'm taking my 2 oldest to disney princess on Ice and hope they're not too disappointed to not actually meet the princesses like they did in WDW:upsidedow I feel like our next trip is so far away:sad1: and we haven't actually confirmed our dates I almost feel like a fraud being on the DIS:confused3 We've already been to the Disney store (and spent way too much-but there were sales:yay: ) we look through our photos and the kids want to watch the video a lot...we just can't get enough! I guess the best part is planning on how I can make the next time better!

[Marshay]

I feel like our next trip is so far away:sad1: and we haven't actually confirmed our dates I almost feel like a fraud being on the DIS:

Hey, this is exactly WHY you need to be on the DIS...to help you plan and narrow down your choices!! :goodvibes

[nluvwithmickey]

So glad to read that many of us feel the same. It's such a weird feeling trying to get over this feeling of Disney blues...And really difficult to overcome too! We have decided that we will not be going to WDW in 2008 so this year we have to trips planned, I'm doing great but I'm really scared of how I will deal with not planning anything for 2008.

I do however count myself lucky, many people never even get the chance to visit WDW, I was lucky enough to go back again and again.

[ransom]

Before our first trip, I kept reading posts from people talking about post-trip depression, and I thought they were exaggerating.

Then I got back from my trip. :sad1:

It felt awful to be back in the real world. It made me question my whole life up to that point. How could I be so depressed, unless my life was completely unfulfilling?

So I quit my job and moved to Orlando, where I now go door to door offering to paint addresses on the curb for $5 per digit.

It's really a great job, because when people open their doors it gives me a chance to look inside their homes and see if there's anything worth stealing. When there is, I come back later, and do a quick smash 'n' grab. But I've learned not to take anything that's too far away from the door. It's just too risky.

By selling all that stuff at pawn shops, I've been able to buy an AP for myself. And by eating out of Disney garbage cans (you'd be surprised how much really good food ends up in there!) and sleeping in the Hall of Presidents, I've been able to lower my cost of living dramatically.

I know what you're thinking - how do you stay so clean? Well, the secret is liquid hand soap and Kali River Rapids. I just go to the rest room, loather up my whole body and my hair with the liquid hand soap, then go over to Kali and get rinsed off. Sometimes it takes a couple of times through to get it all out, but it's worth it. After all, no one's going to open their door for a stinky home address painter!

I'd go into more detail, but the librarian is giving me the hairy eyeball for using the public computer for so long. I just wanted to let everyone know that a cure for Disney depression does exist. You don't have to live with it - you can do something about it! I did, and my life is better than ever.


---
Note: The above is NOT true and was written for fun, to share a laugh with my fellow DISers. Please don't report this post and try to get me banned for having a sense of humor. Thanks.

[Marshay]

I'll report your post for being funny! Thanks for laughing WITH us and not AT us!

I love the "fantasy" world that WDW creates...but if I thought about it long enough and had to live there day in, day out...I'm sure I'd get sick and tired of it....eventuallly....like maybe after 10 -20 years!! :rotfl2:

.

[Scrappy Tink]

My Dis Family experienced depression when we came home from sunny fun Fla. to snow in Ohio! It actually took us about a month to recover! We kept saying I just want to go back to Disney. Think about it you eat like Kings and Queens ( first year we did meal plan and oomg will never go without it) I didnt have to clean, For the most part the kids DS8 DS4 were happy, It is a get away from everything. We had a really stressfull year and it was such a nice escape. When we came home to make matters worse more family problems came up. I wanted to click my heals and GO BACK to Disney! But never fear just start planning for your next trip and of course scapbook all the great memories for generations to enjoy!

[the Fidge]

Well first suggestion bring along a pad and pen for your trip, write down the little pricesless one liners you hear as you can use them in your scrapbook! IF you take enough pictures and take back enough stuff scrapping will keep you in the "WDW" spirit.

Also, write down the things you don't want to forget to do next time! THat way you are already in your next trip mode!

Go to Disney store and pick up dollars here adn there to keep the nect trip mode going as well as picking up things for your next scrapbook!

Then have the list of things you pakced you did not need! See its all about planning the next great get a way in my little world!!!!

[bytheblood]

I don't mean this jokingly or to be ugly, but maybe you should get some help for that.

[ryantab02]

We are lucky enough to have two Disney trips within 4 months of each other! We planned an adults only trip (which we took last week and loved!) and then we found out that we were going to move up our wedding date to August. So, guess what our wedding gifts are going to be? Disney Registry and money! :lmao: Because, you know....we two poor college students in love :flower3: and we want to go to Disney World on our honeymoon!

So, I'm sure the depression will set in after our honeymoon. We have to survive Ryan's pharmacy school for 4 years until we can go again!

[ANTSS2001]

We are lucky enough to have two Disney trips within 4 months of each other! We planned an adults only trip (which we took last week and loved!) and then we found out that we were going to move up our wedding date to August. So, guess what our wedding gifts are going to be? Disney Registry and money! :lmao: Because, you know....we two poor college students in love :flower3: and we want to go to Disney World on our honeymoon!

So, I'm sure the depression will set in after our honeymoon. We have to survive Ryan's pharmacy school for 4 years until we can go again!

http://ak.imgag.com/imgag/product/full/ap/3056763/graphic1.jpg

~timmy

[PrincessBear]

Noooo! I just got back and was sure since it was such a quick trip I wouldn't be sad! But the thing is we put so much time into planning everything and the 6 days we were there went by SO fast! I think I went on the DIS everyday until the trip, and now reading about other people getting excited to go makes me jealous! My parents are going in two weeks and I wish it were me...I want to start planning next year's trip for March but I don't even know which dates I can go, etc. because of a new job starting in August! Good thing baseball season starts soon and I can get my mind off of Disney - for a while at least!

[Katiebell]

So I quit my job and moved to Orlando, where I now go door to door offering to paint addresses on the curb for $5 per digit.


Yep, I was thinking a couple of weeks ago...ok, do I have time to find a job in Orlando, buy a house there, sell our house here, and quit my job before we leave on our trip? :scratchin

Post Disney depression isn't all that uncommon...post vacation depression, in general, but Disney especially for those of us who are total Disney freaks...

I read on a website a couple of years ago on how to help your kids come down easy after your trip -- because leaving all that magic can be really hard for little ones. One of the suggestions I read was to secretly buy postcards with pics of their favorite characters -- get them autographed on the sly if you are really slick -- but if not just write a short message, like, "It was nice meeting you! Looking forward to your next visit! Love, Cinderella" or Mickey or whoever. Then mail them from Orlando before you leave, so your kids have a little surprise when they get home :)

[tinklvr64]

My oldest son (now 15) used to come back from Disney with such sadness it really broke my heart because I felt the same way--he would collect all of the bags we got in WDW, saved Mickey pretzels, saved the pass from our rental car, our valet tags, and all of his souvinears and make a mini shrine in his room...Now he just looks over all of his pins he collected and is not so bad EXCEPT now my younger son 12 had it really bad from our trip in Nov...we really had a good time with my mom and dad(it was her birthday too) and he started to break down in the airport trying not to let me see he was crying, but on the plane home was super sad:sad1: --my mom said to him she would treat next year and sure enough we are going back in Sept.:cool1:
The next day home we used our refillable mugs, made some Mickey's hot chocolate and talked about our great trip..that seemed to do the trick.
It sure is hard for kids and even adults not to be sad leaving the happiest place in the world!:smickey: :tink:

[Heluvsme]

I'm brand new here and after reading just this first thread, I know I'm at home!! LOL!!

I also get down just thinking about the trip ending. Planning it and organizing everything is just as much fun for me practically, we're leaving in about 9 weeks and I'm planning stuff DAILY!

[byoung]

Never want to leave when it's time to go home. But at least I know I will have the DIS, when getting home.