Are you a "vacationzilla"?

[sk!mom]

After reading so many posts about Disney vacations that weren't quite magical enough, it struck me that some people are kind of "Bridezillaish" about there vacations- so vacationzillas.

You've all read the- "the CM was cranky", "my kid wore a birthday button and got zero special treatment", "I'm disappointed" posts. Some people seem overly disappointed when the tiniest details go wrong.

I think that we find a lot of vacationzillas here because we have a lot of uberplanners here and no one likes it when carefully laid plans don't work out
but do you freak out or go with the flow?

I realize that this thread may die because no one will admit to being a vacationzilla but I thought it would be interesting.

I'll go first, I'm a reformed vacationzilla who must frequently beat that part of my personality into submission.

I love to plan and love it more when plans work out perfectly but I don't want to ruin a trip or my Dh's day by going crazy if things don't work out. I have to say that I have gotten much better over the last say 15 years. In our early years DH and I were struggling to pay off his school debt and get a start in life so when we vacationed it was with hard earned cash and there was no telling when we might vacation again so glitches to my plans were pretty disappointing. For the past 15 or so years we are more established, have a regular vacation budget and it's much easier to have a laid back attitude because no vacation feels like it could be our last.

 

[meandtheguys2]

I'm with you. When we first started taking vacations after the kids were born, I was desperate for things to go well. Partly because you do have to plan extra when you have wee ones.

Now that we take longer and more relaxed trips, I have a much more peaceful attitude about the whole process. Although I do still have to watcho out for vacationzilla behavior!

 

[HLAuburn]

"we have a lot of uberplanners"

I think I am a self-proclaimed "uberplanner" and yes I will probably be a little irked when things don't go just as planned. Of course, I have planned SO MUCH that there's no way everything will go as planned! We will still have a great time, and I am not going to be one who comes back and complains about silly little details, but I do need to lighten up, I guess!

My biggest worry as an "uberplanner" is that is won't feel real when we acually are there. Like I've dreamed and imagined it for so long that it will see like...well, a dream, and I don't want that to happen.

Thanks for your post! It made me laugh and realize I need to CHILL!

 

[mericletwins]

No vactionzilla here...we are go with the flow kind of people. In fact, actually having to plan out ADR's was a big step for me. It's too rigid and planned for me. And that was only one ADR a day for dinner. I did not in any way what so ever take into account what park I would be in for the ADRs. We plan what park the night before or in the a.m. when we get up.

 

[1stluvispooh]

Ok I admit it I love planning vacations. I have planned vacations that I know that I will never take. It cheers me up believe it or not! That said I am a go with the flow kinda of person. Personally I think having a special needs kid has forced me to be that way. I remember several years ago when we rented a beach house with my sister and I was all worried that my husband wasn't having any fun. I was trying to get him to go Kayaking. Finally he just turned to me and said "Stop worrying if I'm having a good time any day away from work is great" That said I stopped. When we go to the beach with my sister I longer worry about him feeling like he is left with the kids all the time when we go shopping. At WDW we go with the flow. Have our ADR's and which park we are going to hit which day but outside of that I don't worry about what we do or see or don't do or see.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Like a PP said, even ADR's were a big step for me. Our May trip was the first one that I had made more than 1 and had a semi-plan. I wouldn't even get the dining plan because even if it would have saved me money, it was too much of a commitment for me.

Unfortunately I think a lot of the vacation-zilla's set themselves up for disappointment...Posting here about needing to have the "best" waiter and "best" table at the "best" restautant on the "best" night, etc. etc. Then when they get there and it doesn't happen, meltdowns ensue. From adults. It's a little silly. There's a thread somewhere about popcorn almost ruining a trip, and I remember one old thread about someone who was sooooo upset because the fireworks she saw was Hallowishes and not regular Wishes. Seriously people.

I realize that we are all spending a LOT of money on Disney trips, and a good amount of time planning. And I realize that a marketing department somewhere dubbed Disney as "The most magical place on earth" and clearly people don't go on vacation expecting things to be bad, but REALITY CHECK...It's an amusement park in Florida. It's not Utopia. Real life may actually happen while you are there.
I for one think that the Disney Corporation does a great job treating people well and making their vacations special. Better than any other company. But to go there expecting perfect weather, no lines, no rude people, perfect shows, the birds and butterflies from the princess movies fluttering around your heads, extra special attention at every turn is...well...a little pathetic for lack of a better word.

 

[Andi]

No Vactionzilla in me.

It's vacation - all is good.

 

[Ebil Insanity]

No vacationzilla here. Considering my first one in eight years is in a week.......and it's just to Arizona.

 

[ksumn1]

Now, we've only been to WDW twice. Once for 5 days again for 10 days. After the first trip, end of August DH, DD 3, and myself, totally commando style. About 2 days in, I decided 5 days was not enough. I think the vacationzilla moments on this trip were because we toured commando style, it was hot, and we wanted to do it all in 5 days.

If I remember right we only had 2 moments...one when DH lost the camera and the other when it poured rain on our EPCOT night. That one actually turned out well. I took a deep breath, told myself "You're at WDW, be happy" and we skipped our way out of the park splashing in every fountain and puddle we could find along the way.

So next trip, I involved everyone in the planning, made a daily must do list and once those were done....we could stay in the park or go back to the resort and we would all be satisfied. I also planned on half days at the parks and leisurely dinners. I tend to be a bit obsessive compulsive so this is a tendancy I have to battle constantly, not just on vacation.

Now, for our next trip (hopefuly 2008 or 2009 depending on how my job search turns out) I'm trying to convince DH to do at least 14 days. That way we can really relax and still do alot!!

 

[Echo queen]

Reformed, our first disney vacation I ended up in the emergency room do to stress of staying on schedule for the trip. It was a 15 day road trip from TX, to Pensicola, WDW, GA, NC, Atlanta. 7 days at WDW after the 4th comando day at Disney it started. So the 1 pool day became 2 pool days and then I was fine for the rest of our travels.

My motto: RRR relax,relate,release

 

[autumnbaby9]

I love to plan our vacations down to the smallest detail. I even made vacation planning books for WDW and DL that I have had bound so I can look back at them for future trips or lend to other people who are going.

However I don't freak out if the plans don't work out perfectly. A cranky CM/other guest may catch me off guard and make me frown for a minute but I tend to forget it rather quickly and move on.

I think the only thing that could ruin a disney vacation for me would be for myself or DD to get majorly hurt or deathly ill.

 

[eeyoregon]

I vote for "no vacationzilla" in me BUT there are factors that can/will make my head spin, my blood pressure spike and warrant an occasional "out loud voice" comment.

Those factors usualy involve:
1.) The folks that have no business pushing a stroller. Hit my ankles again and you are gonna get it!

2.) The folks that walk thru the parks like they are the only person on this earth!

3.) Parents that force their terrifed children onto a ride because they "paid big money for this trip."

4.) Last minute parade pusher hogs...excuse me but do you think you are gonna push your tourist butt in front of me 1 minute before parade time when I have been sitting in the freaking hot sun for over an hour?!

5.) People that can not respect my personal bubble in a queue! BACK OFF an inch already! Getting close enough to count my nose hairs is NOT going to get you on the attraction any quicker!

6.) The folks that get in the counter service line and have no flipping idea what they are gonna order and feel the need to converse with the other family members for 20 minutes.

Hmmmm....think that's about it for now

 

[Doc CW]

We are former vacationzilla's but with an infant its kind of hard to be but I think I like it better without vacationzillaing. (if thats a word)

 

[donac]

We are not vacationzilla since our moto is we can come back another time,.

Our friend on the last trip was a vactionzilla and ran her kids ragged. After the first full day we started going off by ourselves because she was driving us crazy.


We are planning to go back next year and we don't want her to know because she would want to come. The boys are under orders to say we are going to KeY West (which dh and I are but then off to DW)

 

[ToInfinity]

My first trip to Disney with the kids was filled with stress since previous trips had been so magical for me that I wanted the exact same feeling with my kids. But then reality set in and there were time of crankiness, dissatisfaction, disappointment and it made me feel angry with my kids because they weren't 'feeling the magic' ALL THE TIME.

It took me a while to step back and realize that, first of all, they were young and of course there were going to be issues. And secondly, I didn't have to run my family around to make sure that they got to experience all the fun things that I wanted/needed them to experience.

With a little help from my husband, I calmed down and let the kids enjoy Disney the way that they wanted to and at the pace they 'needed' to. After that epiphany, the rest of the trip was not what I expected........ it was even better!!

 

[Candikayne]

I vote for "no vacationzilla" in me BUT there are factors that can/will make my head spin, my blood pressure spike and warrant an occasional "out loud voice" comment.

Those factors usualy involve:
1.) The folks that have no business pushing a stroller. Hit my ankles again and you are gonna get it!

2.) The folks that walk thru the parks like they are the only person on this earth!

3.) Parents that force their terrifed children onto a ride because they "paid big money for this trip."

4.) Last minute parade pusher hogs...excuse me but do you think you are gonna push your tourist butt in front of me 1 minute before parade time when I have been sitting in the freaking hot sun for over an hour?!

5.) People that can not respect my personal bubble in a queue! BACK OFF an inch already! Getting close enough to count my nose hairs is NOT going to get you on the attraction any quicker!

6.) The folks that get in the counter service line and have no flipping idea what they are gonna order and feel the need to converse with the other family members for 20 minutes.

Hmmmm....think that's about it for now

You hit the nail on the head!!! Especially number 5. I can stand tailgaiters!!! ....

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

We are kind of go with the flow type people. Yes, we do plan a lot of our vacations (Disney and otherwise) out, but nobody gets flippy or bent out of shape if things don't go according to the game plan. Especially where Disney is concerned-maybe it is because we know we will be back soon, so we don't sweat it. As far as rude people, well, they are everywhere and they don't change just because they are in Disney...not much you can do but blow them off and move forward.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I vote for "no vacationzilla" in me BUT there are factors that can/will make my head spin, my blood pressure spike and warrant an occasional "out loud voice" comment.

5.) People that can not respect my personal bubble in a queue! BACK OFF an inch already! Getting close enough to count my nose hairs is NOT going to get you on the attraction any quicker!

Glad I'm not the only one. Last time I had a guy get way too close for comfort (hey, only my DH should be touching my butt), I turned around and introduced myself and when he looked all puzzled I told him that when someone gets that close I make it a requirement to know their name and be taken out to dinner. You'd be amazed how well that works. And yes, it works with women too.

 

[rwrocksme]

I'n not a 'zilla. I think I would be, but most of my vacations end with me in some kind of medical facility struggling to breathe, so I don't expect much. Disney makes me freak a little beforehand, but I've never had any big dissapointments there. I am good at going with the flowing.

Hakuna Matatta!

 

[FancyBrat]

I Love to Plan as I do that for a Living. But as long as I have an outline of my day's then from there it's just go with the flow.