Disney is my calling

[JERME81]

Deleting per instructions from moderator.....

 

[ADP]

After returning from my recent trip I feel I must do something with my life that has to do with Walt Disney World. I am tired of the same 8-5 job in customer service, I'm only 28 and know that this is not what I want to do in life. Each time I get back from Disney I am already planning how I'm going to get back there. I find I'm the happiest when I'm either at Disney, or talking Disney with people. Am I crazy to feel this way or do I just have the "just got back from vacation blues"? I live in Illinois and cannot wait until the day when I can live close enough to Disney to just go there anytime I please. I guess I'm just sad that I had to come home and back to reality.

Sounds like a case of Disney Depression. Places like the DIS are great for passing the time until your next trip. I've heard a lot of stories about individuals, couples, and even families moving to Central Florida to be closer to the Magic. If life's circumstances are in your favor it makes a move to Central florida much easier.

Other ways you can pass the time until your next trip is writing a trip report, start planning your next trip, or keep posting right here on the DIS.

 

[Micky's biggest fan!]

...so to answer your question, NO you do not have post vacation blues. Due to some extremly hard times, I havenot been to WDW in 3 years and in those three years, I have thought about moving to FLA, and getting a job in Disney at least once a day. You would think the time spent away would make those thoughts or dreams fade, but nope....it has just made the realization even more clear. It is where I belong.
With that said, this October we are finally going back. I have a day planned to look at the prospect of what it would mean to pick up and move to the area. I have done some house hunting online, but it's not the same as being there. My Husband is self employeed, so there are many possibilities...and frankly, I would sell balloons on Main Street if it meant just getting my foot in the door
So follow your dreams!!!! Perhaps Customer Service in Disney is where you should be!

 

[JERME81]

Deleting per moderator

 

[DSNY4ever]

Ditto! I totally understand. I wish I could find a way to do something that really inspired me. I am still trying to figure out how to do that. I am always inspired by all the stories of the Dis and the podcast and how all they all came to work for the DIS/Dreams.

It would be so amazing to work for a company like the DIS or Give Kids the World or Make a Wish- that would be awesome! I am sure it is hard, but amazingly rewarding. Someday I hope to find my niche- I hope you do too!

 

[VeroBeach]

What about becoming a travel consultant that specializes in selling Disney Destinations? You then live vicariously through planning others trips.

 

[elizflynn]

After returning from my recent trip I feel I must do something with my life that has to do with Walt Disney World. I am tired of the same 8-5 job in customer service, I'm only 28 and know that this is not what I want to do in life. Each time I get back from Disney I am already planning how I'm going to get back there. I find I'm the happiest when I'm either at Disney, or talking Disney with people. Am I crazy to feel this way or do I just have the "just got back from vacation blues"? I live in Illinois and cannot wait until the day when I can live close enough to Disney to just go there anytime I please. I guess I'm just sad that I had to come home and back to reality.

Don't worry, you are clearly not alone in this thinking pattern! I've tried to explain to family and friends that disney is the only place where I feel completely stress free! (and that even sounds funny for those who are commando planners!) I basically cry on the ME home each time just thinking that it's time to go back to reality. I am young like you, 22 yrs old and in some dead end job until I complete my degree online in a year and disney is my only way to escape all that! I have tons of family in florida and try to make visits with them as much as possible so that i can get a fix, but money has been tight these last few months and the next best thing I can get is planning a surprise mother/daughter trip for my mom's birthday for 2011....

 

[alaskanmommy]

I feel just the same as you. If I'm not planning a trip I am trying to talk my hubby, who's not that into Disney, into going to visit the mouse again!!

I really want to work for Dreams but I realize that's a long shot. I live in AK and I would LOVE to plan Disney trips for a living. My husband has even suggested it. However, I have never worked in the travel industry, except for obsessively planning mine and friend's and family's vacations.

I have thought alot about trying to get experience with local travel agency and then opening up my own business or going to work for a travel agancy that specializes in Disney. I live in Alaska so there really aren't agencies that specialize in the mouse that I've heard of.

Anyway just wanted to put my two-cents in and sympathize with your desire to make a living out of Disney planning as I feel the exact same way!! good luck in finding your next Disney adventure/obsession!!!

 

[dansyr2514]

Being a disney specialized travel agent would be my dream job....unfortunately there is not a huge calling for it hear in PA and haven't convinced dbf to move to Florida yet!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Being a disney specialized travel agent would be my dream job....unfortunately there is not a huge calling for it hear in PA and haven't convinced dbf to move to Florida yet!

Me too! I really don't have a desire to work in the parks, so this would be my dream job. Before the economy went south I was seriously thinking of trying it. I didn't actually book vacations, but I can't tell you how many plans and itineraries I've planned for people and every single one came back and told me I made their whole trip and that I should start a business and charge for my services.

Where the OP doesn't want to work 8-5 in customer service, I'd be happy to if it were Disney customer service. And hopefully I'd be able to give people the right answers.

 

[dansyr2514]

My dbf says the same thing. He'll come home from work and tell me ...so and so said they are going to disney on vacation. By the next day I will have found them the latest discount, and printed out several quotes from disney for them.
He tells me I should find a way to make money at it. Maybe someday.....

 

[slapwhitey]

I think you've probably described 98% of the people who frequent these boards. I would love nothing more than moving down to Orlando to be closer to the magic. I would love to work with something that has to do with WDW. I'd trade my job in a second.....guess that's why they call it a job and not a hobby.

At least I get to visit a few times a year. That will have to do for now.

 

[earthfaries]

You are not crazy!!!
I felt the same way a little over a year ago so we decided to have the most fun we could possibly have and move to be near Disney!!
Yep that's right!!
We moved all the way from Asheville, NC just to be close to Disney World and are only 14 miles from driveway to MK parking lot!!!
We visit multiple times per week ~ go to Disney for the day or evening with our new friends ~~ get the kid's hair cut at the MK and hear the fireworks every night in our living room.
It's truly heaven on earth
It's been a little over a year now and the magic has not faded. I say go for it!!!!! We did and it's been THE best and most fun year we've EVER had

 

[WaltD4Me]

My dbf says the same thing. He'll come home from work and tell me ...so and so said they are going to disney on vacation. By the next day I will have found them the latest discount, and printed out several quotes from disney for them.
He tells me I should find a way to make money at it. Maybe someday.....

This is so me. Sounds like we should go into business together!

 

[mrzrich]

Add me to the list. I need to find my niche in the WDW business.

 

[Mlacks]

I not only want to work for Disney......I want to live in an apartment over a shop on mainstreet!!! I've said that since my first visit as a sophmore in high school and I truly mean it!! Crowds and all, I don't care. Dream job, really, Disney travel consultant. I have a cousin that works in the travel business in Gulf Shores and I fantasize about asking her to help me get in the business but I dread seeing that "are you serious??" look I always get when I mention the idea to my Mom or friends. They think I'm nuts. It's like I said "I'm gonna run for President of the United States" or something. Is it really that far fetched??? Come on people!!! Sorry....had to vent!!! I haven't been in 9yrs and I still know when I step foot on Mainstreet it will be like "I'm HOME!!!"

 

[onestepcloser]

After returning from my recent trip I feel I must do something with my life that has to do with Walt Disney World. I am tired of the same 8-5 job in customer service, I'm only 28 and know that this is not what I want to do in life. Each time I get back from Disney I am already planning how I'm going to get back there. I find I'm the happiest when I'm either at Disney, or talking Disney with people. Am I crazy to feel this way or do I just have the "just got back from vacation blues"? I live in Illinois and cannot wait until the day when I can live close enough to Disney to just go there anytime I please. I guess I'm just sad that I had to come home and back to reality.

I HEAR YOU. I'm 27, working a 9-6 office job, and I just can't do it anymore. I've just starting making some life-changing decisions to get myself on track -- going back to college to get my degree, doing the college program (hopefully!) even though I'm older, and afterwards settling in the Orlando area to finish school and, with a little luck, eventually start a career with Disney (in a less front-line role than working in the parks.)

If you don't want to work directly FOR Disney, maybe you should start researching different careers you're interested in that would involve the company without actually being part of it. There's no reason you can't turn your dream into a reality! All it takes is preparation and hard work. Good luck!

 

[disneydad78]

I feel you, I will be a RN in 2 yrs, my wife already a RN. We wanted to move to Orlando but they dont pay a RN nothing. We was so wanting to move...I feel ya,,if you can go for it. If we could get the same pay we do here we would go, she makes $42.00 and HR PRN/PLUS . She made $113,000 last yr and FL pays no where near that,, so sad. So I will get a job in this boring town and we will just go down there 2 times a year.

 

[jewjubean]

I too have realized that i'm ment to be in FL working for Disney. And thats what I've done for the last 9 months. It has been the most rewarding thing that I have done in my life. I dont know much about you but have you looked into any internship programs or maybe even going seasonal. Being seasonal you pretty much work 40 hours a year, that's what I'm going to do till I can move down here full time. Its a hard job working for Disney because the standards are set so high, BUT you get soo much more out of it than working somewhere else. Maybe try for the cruise lines...they do have a new ship opening up .

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Be careful about working for a cruise line. You might not know it, but in general it is a HARD job. I spoke with many employees of my last Norweigan Cruise Line cruise to Alaska and those people are working many many hours and rarely get a day off. They can work for 9 months straight and then get a month or 6 weeks off. They are always traveling and almost never get to see their friends and/or families. I don't know about you, but I couldn't do that. So just beware