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

[Ed J]

Airport, on the way as I sip my 3erd cocktail

 

[Taja]

For WDW holidays, I usually reach vacation mode about 2 or 3 days after arriving at WDW! That's why I usually book 12-night holidays! *LOL*

In addition to all of the vacation prep, I typically work 12 to 16 hour days, nonstop for two weeks prior to going on vacation. That means I'm exhausted when I reach WDW--and have to deal with the time change. It's only three hours, but I'm accustomed to going to bed around 11 p.m. or midnight. That translates to 2:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m. at WDW!

After the initial few days at WDW, I'm in serious vacation mode!

On the other hand, my BFF enters vacation mode a couple of days before departing for WDW. Although she has tons to do at home before departing for WDW (her DH is not a park fan--unless it's a baseball park!), she does take a day or two off work to pack and be sure everything is ship shape for her DH. Other than the flight(s) (she doesn't like to fly), she's relaxed and ready for her holiday by the time she leaves MCO for the resort!

 

[indimom]

While I'm packed and ready about a week before any trip, it's not REAL until I'm finished with work on the last day before we leave.

 

[MsLeFever]

When we get to the airport, really early and stop for breakfast! It is the first meal of "I don't care what this costs"!

 

[LaurenT]

When I'm unpacked at the resort!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I do the majority of the packing, dealing with boarding the pets, even picking out the hotels so it doesn't hit me until the bags are packed, loaded in the car, family in the car and we are on our way.

If I go solo, it's when I'm in the car heading to the airport. Yay for vacations!

 

[PSUGuy]

When my butt hits the airplane seat, until then there are too many things, beyond my control, that can go wrong. I treat the plane ride as the first Disney attraction, if it's not a morning flight, we have a Happy Hour in the airport first.

Bill From PA

 

[pumpkin7]

on the way to the airport, definately.

 

[jpolak]

As soon as I drive through the "Welcome to Disney" sign.

 

[Huskerkelsey]

For me it's when I'm at the airport after I've gone through security and everything as I'm waiting to board my plane and I finally have a minute to sit and relax and breathe and take it allllll in and just get ready for Disney

 

[disneyjunkie]

The moment we step out of the cab at the airport. Prior to that I worry about getting a cab or getting stuck in traffic on the Jackie Robinson. Once we're standing outside of JFK or LGA, I know we're good to go.

 

[nooneshome]

Since our man-child governor declared war on LA state workers, I am in permanent vacation mode from 6:45AM to 3:45PM M-F!!! I think Disney should supplement my paycheck seeing as my office is a billboard for Disney.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

When we get to the airport, really early and stop for breakfast! It is the first meal of "I don't care what this costs"!

Isn't that just a great feeling? If leaving in the morning we almost always stop and get a sack of biscuits, which is something we don't do often IRL. That's definitely a "vacation" moment fur us too.

 

[scrapper2k]

For me, it's on the way to the airport. Not before although I enjoy the planning and packing.

 

[VikingInMouseEars]

When I am on the train going to the terminal at DIA.

 

[DizDaD7]

The real answer is : I don't ever switch off...My mind is constently spinning w/ the up coming trips, & the next one & so on, soon...LoL But truthfully when I relax is when I touch dwon and wait for the ME bus.

 

[MickeysBFF]

Right about now

 

[wuzzy6]

Like many others, I also have various stages of vacation mode.

Right now, we're 5 1/2 months out, and I'm neck-deep in the planning stage. The trip is booked and ADRs are set. The only thing I have left to do is book the hotel at the airport and buy the train tickets. (We're taking the Downeaster to Boston and staying the night to catch an early flight the next morning!) I'm completely obsessed with reading others' trip reports and various tips/experiences others have shared here on the DIS. I'm having a blast thinking about all of the little things I want to get before we go - an autograph book for DD, lanyards for everyone, new jammies for the kids, etc... Even though departure day is a long way off, there is plenty to do to keep me busy and excited! Of course, I'll be completely stoked when I make that last payment, too!

I figure the next stage of my vacation mode will kick in when we get our ME tags and documentation in the mail. I've never used ME before, but I'm pretty confident that getting those things in the mail will create major excitement i this house!

I know, without a doubt, the last week before the trip will be insane - oldest DD will be going back to college early for pre-season volleyball, oldest DS will be in the middle of two-a-days for his Senior year in high school, and the two youngest will be getting ready to start a new year in middle school. I will be plowing through work, trying to get as much done as I can before I leave for a week, but make no mistake, I will be mostly focused on thinking of what I need to do to get everything organized, packed up and ready to go!

The REAL vacation mode will kick in the moment I log off my computer at work for the last time on Friday afternoon. At that point, I will be 100% immersed in everything Disney vacation! I will be in a great mood - super excited, although a little stressed, too. I'm the lone packer in our house - not because others are incapable, but because this is the one thing I feel like I have to do by myself. I make a checklist of everything that needs to be packed and mark it off when I pack it - this is a one-person job if I want to avoid forgetting something. You know... because I never forget anything!

I have flying anxiety, so while I'm really happy and excited, my fear sadly overtakes some of that. Obviously, once we land, I'm 100% happy and cheerful and completely relaxed!!!