At What Point Do You Switch Into "Vacation Mode?"

[poeticdiabetic]

This is a piggy-back from a thread regarding gathering and packing for your trip. I normally wax nostalgic around this time (90 Days Before The WDW Trip) and I would like to drudge up an age-old question:

At what point do you switch into Vacation Mode?

I asked my wife this question before I started to type this out. It was funny to notice that we had two totally different answers. And I've asked my sons and they had different answers, but they were the same. And it changes by role.

For instance, my wife is our resident packer. She washes and packs the clothes. We don't really pack. At least I get to approve which clothes I'm going to wear (a benefit that my teenaged sons don't have!)

So when I asked her as to when she switches into Vacation Mode, her answer was "Sometime between packing and zipping up bags." It makes perfect sense.

My boys? They don't pack. They don't put the bags in the car (my job.) They don't get snacks. When it's almost time to go, they sit on the couch and watch cartoons and ask "Are we about to go yet?" (Spoiled boys. That will change this year!)

So you know when they switch into Vacation Mode? When they see me lugging bags downstairs. That's when they perk up a little bit.

And as for me- I'm the Driver of the trip. We always drive to WDW (or cruises, etc.) So I reach Vacation Mode the earliest of ALL of my family. Here's why:

We don't drive our cars long distances, like on vacation. They are older (and paid for), and we like not having a car payment. So we always rent a car. From the Enterprise up the street from the house. At around 9AM the morning before the trip.

So I enter Vacation Mode at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Right when I get the keys and slip into the drivers' seat. While I'm checking the car out, adjusting the mirrors, making sure that the amenities work well, checking the backseat for leg room and reviewing the trunk space; I slip into Vacation Mode. I know that I will soon be on the road, searching for my exits, paying for gas and tolls, and seeking the Disney gates.

That's when it starts for me. When do you switch into Vacation Mode?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

When I schedule my vacation days

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

The night before the trip!!!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

We usually fly so I enter vacation mode when I sit down in the airport terminal once we have gotten thru security. Before then I'm busy packing, planning and running around trying to make sure we get to the airport on time.

When we drive it's as soon as we pass over the bridge on the interstate in downtown Jacksonville, to me that's almost home. On a 12 hour drive being that close it's a no turning back point to me. I probably tend to press the pedal a little lower to floor at that point too.

 

[PoohsFan1]

For me it is about 2 days before we leave. Our bags are already packed, but for some reason I haven't quite gotten into the "Vacation Mode" yet, I think it is because I really don't like to pack and I get so stressed out doing it (trying to make sure everyone has everything they need, have our important paperwork, etc...). My DH does help, and is very good at it, but I still get stressed. 2 days before our trip I am getting the house ready, washing up the clothes, finalizing everything at home (making sure that our dog sitter knows the ins and outs, making sure we have a ride to the airport, making sure the mail is going to be taken care of, etc...). However, when DH pulls out our annual packing list (a check list that we mark off once we have everything in our bags...it helps just in case we forgot to pack something) and our last minute things to do around the house list, this is when I know we are going to be heading out very soon to our favorite vacation destination....I get the biggest smile on my face and just count down the hours/minutes til we leave.

 

[JennyWren]

I think it varies depending on the vacation. Last year DH and I went to WDW without the kids eek:, I know....shame on us) and I was in vacation mode the minute we pulled out of the driveway. However, WDW with the family doesn't really sink in for me until we actually ride the ME under the Walt Disney World entrance.

 

[skier_pete]

I have two levels of "vacation mode" - the first happens when I am driving out of work for the last time before a trip. This "level 1" mode means I am happy and not thinking about day-to-day issues of work and life. However, I find that I cannot totally leave behind being stressed about things. So the first few days I am on vacation, I still don't feel totally at ease. The stress of travel and getting where we need to go compounds this. This is not just at Disney, but most places. However, it actually works to a bit of advantage at Disney as it helps to be organized and on the bus for rope drop. However, I can still be snippy at this stage with my family and easily annoyed. After about 3-4 days of actually being "on vacation" is usually when "level 2 vacation mode" hits. I become much more laid back and relaxed. It again works at Disney well, because after hitting rope drop and structured touring our first round of park days, the touring strategies start to loosen up.

It's also why I prefer my vacations to be 7-9 days. If we take a long weekend somewhere, I never truly reach "vacation mode". (I should state that I am on-call for my job 24-7, which makes the body/mind take longer to de-tox from work.)

 

[Silver Queen]

As we pull out of the driveway, head toward the airport and listen to "I'm Walking Right Down the Middle of Main Street" on the CD player!

 

[Annadesu]

I switch into "vacation mode" when I leave work the last day, and think: "Hey, I don't have to be here for a week!"

However, recently, I've gotten into "Vacation Preparation Mode". I got my trip paid off, the maps came in the mail, we're double-checking the tickets, making lists of things we need to get for the trip... etc. I guess there's many modes involved.

 

[cluvsdisney]

The second I walk out of my office building on my last work day before we leave.

 

[mel&me]

When I get on the plane.

 

[BadgerFive]

When i hear the music on the bus as we arrive at Magic Kingdom. Doesn't feel as real until I am actually there. After that, I am all in....

 

[mkoerner]

For me, it's when we pull out of the driveway to wherever we are going. If I'm leaving right from work, then it's when I walk out the door and think, "Yay!"

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

The second I walk out of my office building on my last work day before we leave.

This one for me too

 

[dchronister]

When I worked, it was when I walked out the door on my way home and I knew that I would not be back for 9 days. Now that I don't work, it usually happens while I am shuffling around the house packing everything up and printing off all the confirmations and boarding passes and all the little last minute things. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am in vacation mode when I go to bed and lay there and lay there and lay there and finally dose off about 30 minutes before time to get up, and then I have that excited, but I'm so tired feeling that I will have for several days.

 

[bigjrfan88]

I never switch off!

 

[ChloroFiend]

Once we clear TSA "security" and start looking for a pre-flight beverage. It's all downhill from there.

 

[wendiloveswalt]

I'm similar to pp who said they had levels of vacation mode. Right now, I'm at level one because we're two days from departure and I'm still throwing together the last of the packing supplies, tying up loose ends, etc. On Friday when we pull out of the driveway I'll be at level 2. When we check into our midway hotel I'll be at level 3. When we pull on to Disney property I'll reach level 4, full on vacation mode Wow, I'm complicated.

 

[poeticdiabetic]

I'm similar to pp who said they had levels of vacation mode. Right now, I'm at level one because we're two days from departure and I'm still throwing together the last of the packing supplies, tying up loose ends, etc. On Friday when we pull out of the driveway I'll be at level 2. When we check into our midway hotel I'll be at level 3. When we pull on to Disney property I'll reach level 4, full on vacation mode Wow, I'm complicated.

So are your modes created by the Department of Homeland Security?

 

[eranwolf]

Yeah so ummm... I am in vacation mode and have been this whole week. I should be working but instead I can't wait to leave tomorrow!!!!