Best way to come back after a bad WDW trip?

[TikiWiki33]

(Mods: please move this if there's a better place for this question!)

I went to WDW in Jan for what was supposed to be the be-all-end-all, multi-family, blow out trip. Midway through the vacation I missed a step and broke my ankle (Weber C, for those who know). The cast members were lovely and helpful, but I was totally unprepared for the physical/mental/emotional demands of navigating with one good leg. It was humbling, demoralizing and even embarrassing at times. Needless to say, I have some mixed feelings about that trip!

Now, my immediate family has the opportunity to go back next year. Therapists of Dis (lol) do I attempt to recreate the previous trip? (Same schedule, resturants, resort) Or do I throw everything out and plan something new/fresh?

Let me know how you bounced back from a disappointing trip!

 

[bdrex28]

(Mods: please move this if there's a better place for this question!)

I went to WDW in Jan for what was supposed to be the be-all-end-all, multi-family, blow out trip. Midway through the vacation I missed a step and broke my ankle (Weber C, for those who know). The cast members were lovely and helpful, but I was totally unprepared for the physical/mental/emotional demands of navigating with one good leg. It was humbling, demoralizing and even embarrassing at times. Needless to say, I have some mixed feelings about that trip!

Now, my immediate family has the opportunity to go back next year. Therapists of Dis (lol) do I attempt to recreate the previous trip? (Same schedule, resturants, resort) Or do I throw everything out and plan something new/fresh?

Let me know how you bounced back from a disappointing trip!

Well, first of all I'm sorry that happened to you!!!

Secondly, it's most likely a freak thing and not likely to be replicated. Did everyone else have a great time? If so, then plan again and try again. Lightning "usually" only strikes once right?

 

[jdb in AZ]

Do your family members want to try different restaurants or other activities you might have missed out on because of your ankle? WDW has so many resorts, it's fun to try something different each time.

Is your ankle ready for long days of walking? If you have any pain, it's o.k. to rent a scooter -- it can make all the difference.

 

[eandt]

(Mods: please move this if there's a better place for this question!)

I went to WDW in Jan for what was supposed to be the be-all-end-all, multi-family, blow out trip. Midway through the vacation I missed a step and broke my ankle (Weber C, for those who know). The cast members were lovely and helpful, but I was totally unprepared for the physical/mental/emotional demands of navigating with one good leg. It was humbling, demoralizing and even embarrassing at times. Needless to say, I have some mixed feelings about that trip!

Now, my immediate family has the opportunity to go back next year. Therapists of Dis (lol) do I attempt to recreate the previous trip? (Same schedule, resturants, resort) Or do I throw everything out and plan something new/fresh?

Let me know how you bounced back from a disappointing trip!

Go new

 

[dizneegirl]

Trying to recreate it can only lead to disappointment, I think. Chalk it up to a freak accident, and plan a new trip.

 

[fla4fun]

I would go for a combo. If there were specific things that you and your family were really disappointed that you missed, whether attractions, restaurants, shows, or whatever, make sure to include those on your do-over trip. However, I would also include new items as well, whether things that are new since that trip, or things you couldn’t fit into your itinerary. If you try to recreate the bad trip in detail, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and for those bad memories to be front and center for the trip. Focus on simply having a great vacation and leave the past in the past.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Awww this stinks. Many years ago we had a bad trip with 2 other families and one mom insisted on being such a buzzkill she ruined everything. My DH felt bad so he took us back again later that year and it fixed everything Go for it and manage it in whatever way will make you happiest!

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

New trip! And I'm sorry to hear this happened to you on your last trip!

 

[Brian Noble]

Every trip is its own thing. Even if you tried to replicate it, it would be different, because all of you are different.

So, do neither, or more accurately both. If there was a restaurant y'all were looking forward to but some/all of you missed, put it on the agenda. Otherwise, just plan like it's a new trip.

Because it is.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Absolutely not. You cannot relive the past, it already happened and everyone you love already lived it. You need to square with the fact you missed it.

New trip time!!

 

[Genie+]

I say start fresh. If there are some important things you missed out on last time, by all means try to do them. Other than that just plan around what tickles your fancy today and what is available the week you go.

Which everybody else seems to have said the same before me repeating it once more

 

[mgarbowski]

Heraclitus figured it out 2500 years ago: No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.

 

[TikiWiki33]

Do your family members want to try different restaurants or other activities you might have missed out on because of your ankle? WDW has so many resorts, it's fun to try something different each time.

Is your ankle ready for long days of walking? If you have any pain, it's o.k. to rent a scooter -- it can make all the difference.

Good point! I had 6 months of PT after the surgery to fix it, and while I'm on my feet at work I never walk as much as in a park day, lol. Having a scooter option sounds good

 

[gottalovepluto]

Good point! I had 6 months of PT after the surgery to fix it, and while I'm on my feet at work I never walk as much as in a park day, lol. Having a scooter option sounds good

I might wait a bit. The ecv could just bring back the memories you’re hoping to avoid. They are great tools but you are driving below crowd level, stared at by everyone every time you load onto a bus (and sometimes your party has to wait for another bus if it’s scooter full), find parking & no rideshares. Normally I’m Team ECV but in this specific instance I would wait until I was fairly confident I could walk it.

 

[VandVsmama]

Add me to the "new trip" group of voters. sure, you could stay at the same resort. But don't expect the entire trip (and don't try) to redo/remake the previous trip exactly as is.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Every trip has always been different, there's usually different rides, refurbs, restaurants, festivals, time of year, weather and more. Why even try to recreate a trip? Even if it was the best trip as opposed to the worst trip? Take the opportunity to make new memories by experiencing new stuff.

Next year you're going to have certain rides that are down for refurb compared to your January trip this year so take a look at those so you can prepare yourself (maybe even shift the trip depending on when you're going).

As far as your injury if you had that much PT I would hazard a guess to say it's still going to be affecting you even if you went late last year. I only say that to mean if you were a park commando the first half of your trip you may need to adjust that expectation for the future. I have an old ankle injury from 2008 or 2009 can't remember but in any case that ankle is weaker than the other one and it never healed quite right but I was in college, had to work and so on. I can still walk 20-30+K steps a day day after day but I am aware of it when it comes to uneven surfaces and I was unable to ski because I kept thinking about it.

One thing I did find in 2022 to help with blisters (as I get prone to those when walking at Disney) is using kinesiology tape. If I use it to begin with it acts like a preventative aid, it helps reduce friction in the key spots and also provides a little bit of added stability for the ankle (I do use it on both feet/ankles as needed though). If I have a blister it was the best for actually keeping the band-aid or blister patch attached to the spot. You could ask your PT person if you're still in contact with them if that could be of help for you.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I might wait a bit. The ecv could just bring back the memories you’re hoping to avoid. They are great tools but you are driving below crowd level, stared at by everyone every time you load onto a bus (and sometimes your party has to wait for another bus if it’s scooter full), find parking & no rideshares. Normally I’m Team ECV but in this specific instance I would wait until I was fairly confident I could walk it.

Well that was great uplifting advice, I mean the OP already felt demoralized and embarrassed on their last trip so I guess let's just add more

I think the advice a PP gave was just to provide a reassuring tip that if you need an ECV go for it, too many people already have issues with their own self consciousness surrounding ECV or a wheelchair but if something can realistically work for a person (either they used it on their past trip or really think it could help) they should at least consider it as an option. OP didn't say when their trip is but between all the walking aids out there at least knowing options can be good. FWIW rude people stare, not everyone.

 

[fly girl]

(Mods: please move this if there's a better place for this question!)

I went to WDW in Jan for what was supposed to be the be-all-end-all, multi-family, blow out trip. Midway through the vacation I missed a step and broke my ankle (Weber C, for those who know). The cast members were lovely and helpful, but I was totally unprepared for the physical/mental/emotional demands of navigating with one good leg. It was humbling, demoralizing and even embarrassing at times. Needless to say, I have some mixed feelings about that trip!

Now, my immediate family has the opportunity to go back next year. Therapists of Dis (lol) do I attempt to recreate the previous trip? (Same schedule, resturants, resort) Or do I throw everything out and plan something new/fresh?

Let me know how you bounced back from a disappointing trip!

We have had disappointing trips, but not nearly as disappointing as breaking an ankle. OUCH! What a bummer.

As everyone on here has said, it would never be the same trip anyway so just plan a new one. Of course, include the resort, restaurants, and activities you love and those will absolutely be repeats. However, don't get bogged down with an attempt to recreate what could have been because it will leave you disappointed, again. Can't go back.

I would absolutely love to go back to a 2013 visit ... but we, and WDW, just aren't the same anymore. WDW has changed since your visit in January! There may be a new restaurant or refurbished resort you want to check out.

 

[jimmymc]

I would 100% start fresh. Maybe try to plan a few experiences you couldn't fully enjoy with the injury, but I would try a new hotel and restaurants.

 

[Disneylover99]

Never try to recreate a previous trip. We tried that once and it was a bust.

I’d try a new resort and then mix in some favourite restaurants with some new ones.