Disney: The Unhappy Aftermath

[Disney Lover JJ]

I am starting a new thread, as I couldn't find the original thread regarding sad times after a trip to Disney ends. Throughout my life, Disney trips have been double-edged swords, filled with anticipation, excitement, sometimes disappointment (very few), but also filled with one sure thing at the end of the trip: painful reality check. I've vacationed to many places around the world, and I'm always sad when vacations end, but when a Disney trip ends...it's the saddest of all. As a kid, I would always cry when we returned home after our Disney vacation....and I agree with a fellow dis board member, the toughest part is when one checks out of the hotel and new families start rolling in, with amazing smiles, lots of bags and faces full of anticipation. It's tough to realize these are the poeple that will be checking in to your room with a full week ahead of them. Then, to add fuel to the fire, the MCO is FULL of Disney stores and worst of all, incoming passagers jumping up and down trying to decide which park to visit first. I thought that I wouldn't encounter such tough times once I grew up and started experiencing Disney as an adult....that I thought until my latest Disney vacation last October. After spending an entire week at WDW with my wife, sister in law, cousing and father and mother in law, I had to stay behind in Orlando due to some business meetings I would have in Miami. My family flew back home, and I rented a car and drove to Miami only to spend a night in a hotel without power and water due to the last Hurricane (forgot the name). After spending one miserable night, I decided to drive up to Orlando, spend the night, cancel my Miami meetings, and continue my business trip to Cincinnati. So after making it to one of the airport hotels, I "stupidly"
decided to head out to Downtown Disney to have a bite and find something to do. That was the biggest mistake of all. I decided to eat at Wolfang Puck Express, as my sister in law claimed she had eaten the greatest mashed potatoes of her life there two days ago....I saw, I ordered, I ate and I agreed with her..AMAZING...anyways, there I found myself again..in Downtown Disney, people watching, everyone so happy...and then it hit me..my vacation is over, back to work, back to reality, and I am sitting alone at WDW wondering when I will return...my wife is not by my side...and I suddenly remember all my trips to Disney as a kid...and I do what I always did at the end of my WDW vacation...I cry.

 

[lynn71092]

So true....
Welcome to the Disboards!!

 

[OhMari]

Aww,

Welcome to the DISBoards.

You just summed up the feelings people have that "Get it".

Maybe we should make your post a sticky on the board and let people know that we all have these let down feelings after a vacation.

 

[kidsister]

Most people here on the DIS help chase away the blues by IMMEDIATELY planning their next trip to Disney.

But I do understand how you feel. And actually, last trip, which was a very satisfying 5 nights, I remember looking at the people coming in and actually being a bit jealous!!!!! (not like me, so it kinda surprised me)

Here's a few things I did to help make the Disney transition to reality a little easier:
I always tried to add a few days at Disney before or after every Caribbean vaction/cruise. The 'just a taste' of 2 or 3 nights were lagniappe.

Another thing (and I don't know if you could do this but I am on my first year of it) is that I bought an AP. That way, I KNOW that I can just stop in anytime I'm in Florida!!!!! It feels more like home. I also bought DVC which is another way to feel like you are going home and that home will always be waiting for you.

While I don't have the Disblues as severely as you....I had the cruise blues when we booked 7 day cruises. I couldn't help but feel that by the time I finally knew my way around the ship, that the cruise was over half over.
So now I just take longer cruises...my last an 18 nighter and the saying's true, that you can never go back!!!!!

 

[cherokeemamma]

I agree. I was so extremely sad after my last Disney vacation, which was my first with my family. It was so incredible so much fun and filled with many happy memories but we were all so bummed out when we returned home. I didn't have anything to plan and we all kept talking about ...remember this time last week we were eating at___ or we were riding____ or whatever. You are right, it makes you just want to cry!!! The only cure I know of is to get all of your pictures printed and make a scrap book, perhaps write a trip report and of course you can always plan another trip. That is what I did...we are heading back to the world in 53 days!!! woohoo
My only fear is that it won't seem as magical as the first time but somehow I think it may even be better.

 

[Disney Lover JJ]

You bring about a good point in the DVC. I am considering this as one of possible solutions to my disblues, however, I'm having trouble making it pay out when I calculate the annual dues into it. How has teh DVC worked for you? Also, can I buy at any home resort, or only the latest Saratoga Springs?

 

[tink2007]

I'm so glad I'm not alone! I get addicited to planning. Then I get such a let down when it's over.

 

[MinnieFan]

Disney Lover JJ - You can buy at one of the "sold out" DVC resorts in one of 2 ways:

1) You can buy directly from Disney if they have points available. (They usually have at least some points at the sold out resorts.) Our first DVC contract was 270 points at the Wilderness Lodge Villas, which were sold out at the time. We have since added on points at both Saratoga Springs and the Boardwalk (another sold out resort). One advantage of buying through Disney Vacation Club is that you can finance your purchase, if you buy at least 50 points.

2) You can buy a resale, and points are usually available in varying size contracts at all of the DVC resorts. You would have to either pay cash or have your own financing available to buy a resale.

I would suggest that you check out the DVC forums on this board - you will find a lot of information and many helpful people who are willing to share their love of DVC.

Just so you know, we bought DVC to cure our post-trip sadness, and it worked!

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

Welcome to the club...the only bad part of a WDW vacation is that it ends.

 

[Disney Lover JJ]

MinnieFan - Thanks so much for the info. Will definitely look into it.

 

[airhead]

Its awful! It took me a while to not be bummed that all my planning,anticipation,and trip was over. But,only until the next trip!!!

 

[jmskinner]

I felt and feel the same way. All that planning, anticipation, and then finally getting to enjoy our first trip!!! Then you return home and realize it is over.

My DH leaves for Iraq in 3 weeks, that is why we finally made it to Disney. His mother, brother and daughter were able to make the trip. We were saying goodbye at the ME and of course we are all crying. As I was getting on the bus, I turned to my DH and said, "you know, everyone on this bus probably thinks we are crying because we are leaving Disney." A little of those tears were for Disney because we had such a good time.

The DH wants to go for 10 days sometime. I want to get started planning, but when he comes back in a year, we will be moving. Considering he won't get back until sometime in late August of 07, I feel like next Summer is out. Christmas is an idea, but I know he will probably wantand needs to spend it with his family. We sort of want a trip with just us, hopefully his daughter could join us though. I am hoping that we get to move to Florida. I hate the idea of hurricanes, but man, we could go to Disney every month!

Having these boards and all of you great Disers really has helped with my Post Vacation Blues!

 

[utahkennedys]

Owning DVC and the DIS boards help me get over my sadness...We haven't even gone to Orlando this year yet (until Sept. ) and I am already planning our NEXT trip and how I will use my DVC points, etc! That is the fun of it for me, but I agree, it is always a huge, huge let down to get home from Disney World. Other places we go I am glad to get home sometimes, but not from WDW!!! Check out DVC, and if you have specific questions, try the DVC forums. We bought a small OKW contract for very little and it has been just awesome for us!!!