Going to WDW next week and not excited...

[LOL!]

I'm trying really hard to understand how anyone could think traveling hundreds or thousands of miles to spend thousands of dollars at a vacation destination doesn't matter if you aren't enjoying yourself when you get there? OP, it's easy for me to understand how you could be questioning the ramifications of two large financial expenditures, one anticipated and one not. You were forced by a court to spend money and had no control over what you got for it; it's only natural that you begin to wonder if the decision you do have control over is a good one.

Not being able to do some of the things you would like to do or expect to do while at WDW just plain sucks but that would be true with or without a dispute with your neighbor over property lines. Personally, I hope you can re-focus on the reasons you decided to plan a trip to WDW and enjoy yourself.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Reminds me of a quote from the great philosopher Phil Dunphy:

The most amazing things that can happen to a human being will happen to you, if you just lower your expectations.

Well yes. When it comes to 7D, that is probably a good idea, to lower them. Lol

But I'm not saying to lower Disney's expectations for a vacation. (After all, my expectations were so high, we sold out, even at a bit of a loss- and got down here as quick as we could and don't regret it for a minute! And cuz one more winter and I am convinced I would have died!!)

But sometimes people put pressure ON THEMSELVES and their wallet and now what should be fun family time becomes stressful, burdensome, perhaps a financial strain. In that case, maybe the expectations should at least be realistic.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

@LOL! It DOES matter. That's why we all want OP to enjoy themselves with it! But again, all we are saying is if the planning and expense outweigh the joys, take a step back and take a breather, take some of the pressure off. Plan what you can afford and what you can plan, and enjoy the rest.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Well yes. When it comes to 7D, that is probably a good idea, to lower them. Lol

But I'm not saying to lower Disney's expectations for a vacation. (After all, my expectations were so high, we sold out, even at a bit of a loss- and got down here as quick as we could and don't regret it for a minute! And cuz one more winter and I am convinced I would have died!!)

But sometimes people put pressure ON THEMSELVES and their wallet and now what should be fun family time becomes stressful, burdensome, perhaps a financial strain. In that case, maybe the expectations should at least be realistic.

I'll agree to some of this and I think it's the Disney experience that drives people to feel the need to overspend. The key is knowing what's good for you and this comes with experience. It's hard to tell someone on their first trip that they'll ensure its also their last if they buy into the hype and want the dream vacation that's promoted. I'd guess that it's probably around trip 3 or 4 that people hit a stride on what's right for them and even then what's right for them isn't right for everyone. Some people like Deluxe and some people like offsite, some people like TS meals and some are cool with Pot Roast Mac'n'cheese and keeping on trucking, some like doing a lot of things and others are happy with the 3 their allotted.

I think buyers remorse is very common on vacations but not a reason to bailout.

 

[Aurora0427]

We had MANY 14 hr drives each way.... Flying in itself was a luxury we were willing to give up even for 3 Disney days. I've been there many times, in that car. For most of my life, it was 21 hrs each way. I've only stayed on property ONCE in my whole life and it was alright but not worth a single penny more than a villa we would always rent as a family the rest of the time. (It was a timeshare trade, we didn't pay more than $99 for the whole week, so that WAS worth it!).

For PP, We NEVER spent $4000 ever, not even on European cruises with Airfare, not even Hawaii! Come to think of it, maybe that is why we got to travel and didn't have the pressure so many feel. We got more trips at a budget and we were DEFINITELY not planners lol and never ate a sit down meal at Disney, never. (altho we did have HoopDDoo growing up. I remember that.) If someone chooses to spend $4000 , that is of course their choice, but I sure hope they felt like it was a choice! When you take the freedom of choice out, that's where resentment comes in!

That's great if 14-21 hour drives work for you. That does not work for our family.

Disney is not a bargain vacation. A four day ticket minus park hoppers including a free day from Undercover Tourist will run a family with 2 adults and 2 children over $1200. That's not a cheap vacation. You'll never convince me otherwise.

 

[socrateze]

Really, it seems everyone here has definitely been more than once. I haven't heard of many "disser" who only took a once in a life time trip.

That's very true, but if you and your family are only visiting annually or less frequently it's a lot different than knowing you will be back next week, isn't it?
If I were a local, I could easily dismiss my inability to get a FP+ reservation because I would be returning in the near future.

 

[socrateze]

I don't think anyone on these boards expects perfection. Everyone is aiming for a fun vacation, where you feel that it was money well spent.

IMO, "whimsical fun" is just about as plentiful as spontaneity, thanks to FP+.

 

[cornflkgrl]

I'm sorry you are going through tough legal issues. I do not think that you will necessarily magically feel better just passing through the gates of Disney. You might. But you might not. Can you give yourself permission to feel whatever feelings you are going to feel either way? If not, maybe you should postpone your trip until you are ready. I think you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself to feel a certain way based on where you are going. I think when we have planned so much and spent so much we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to have a "magical time."

I am personally struggling with on and off not feeling excited about my upcoming trip due to clinical depression and anxiety, but I have told myself that I will feel those feelings whether at home or at Disney World, so I might as well be somewhere awesome like Disney World feeling them and dealing with them. I am very realistic though and I don't expect Disney World to make me happy again.

I hope you can manage to accept and work through your feelings so you can make the best of your vacation. Maybe FOR YOU going under the gates WILL make you feel better in that you will be separated from the legal issues that are going on at home.

 

[12disneybee]

a Debbie downer thread................

 

[larryz]

Part of the reason we're going, is to provide a temporary escape from the stress and reality of life, so I"m trying to focus on that break, but it still sounds like an overwhelming hassle and I almost (not totally) wish we weren't going.

Everybody has a laughing place, a laughing place, to go "ho! ho!"
Lose that frown, 'cause you're going down, to DisneyWorld we know-oh-oh...

 

[larryz]

I saw this on a cartoon but I was struck by it's coolness:
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift, that is why it is called the present."

Very cool quote.

I also like this one: "No matter where you go, there you are."

 

[momof2cuties]

a Debbie downer thread................

So why did you read it ... it was pretty evident from her title, what the post was going to be about.

It is an overwhelming vacation. Fun, but expensive and when you add little kids in to the mix, along with the cost...easy to have second thoughts. I did and now I'm in post Disney depression and just want to be back. The escape from reality was really nice for me and I'm sure the OP will have a great time too.

 

[momof2cuties]

iggypolka..few days to go. I hope you are getting excited. I know for me, I just wanted to be there. Couldnt wait to be done with the hassle of packing and traveling. It was nice when we were finally there and had our room and could start on the fun.
Have a wonderful time!

 

[socrateze]

So why did you read it ... it was pretty evident from her title, what the post was going to be about.

This is what always amazes me. I pick and choose threads based on the title. But I don't post on a thread to complain about the subject. What's the point?

 

[ChimCher-ee]

OK, I've only read the first half of these posts, but I'm going to add my two cents now. I am fortunate enough to have two big vacations this year, one Disney (already done in July) and one road trip. I'm on the road trip now, from Seattle to San Diego in 17 days, and I have to say this trip--while it's the trip of a lifetime and one for the books--has caused me more anxiety than most other things I've experienced. There were nights in June when I'd wake up and think, I don't know what I'm getting us into! What if road conditions, weather conditions, any other conditions are unsafe? What if one of us gets sick, or hurt? What's it like, to be 3,000 miles from home?

Even with extensive preplanning, like cross-referencing all the hotels, planning out meal stops and snack supplies so we're not in the middle of nowhere missing two meals in a row, and sketching out enough activities so we're getting the feel of all the unique areas down the coast, even with hours spent each night now, taking written notes off Google Maps so when the signal goes out the next day, I still know how many miles to civilization--even with all that, there is still the anxiety of the unknown. And no one but me to make it right when things go pear shaped.

So, if you're not excited, OP, maybe try to remember that feeling that, once you're in the hands of Disney, you can (to a certain extent) just let it take over. And enjoy knowing that the entire staff is there to make it right, if they can. True, It's a lot of money, and you still have to manage kids' schedules and expectations--I'm not saying Disney isn't stressful--but It's a place where the unexpected often can be "pixie dust" instead of road dust!

Plus, if you skipped the hassle and stayed home, August 28th will arrive anyway, without you having a break from your troubles. Yes, you might be less tired, but would you be rejuvenated? You might come back more ready to face the day-to-day.

 

[12disneybee]

 

[socrateze]

thanks for continuing to bump this thread to the first page. I love it!

 

[larryz]

We forwent more time in the parks...

Good Scrabble word.

 

[larryz]

IMO, "whimsical fun" is just about as plentiful as spontaneity, thanks to FP+.

If you do your planning right, your spontaneity will just happen like magic...

 

[socrateze]

If you do your planning right, your spontaneity will just happen like magic...

That's right,I forgot the new term is "Planned Spontanteity"