Have you ever left early?

[3Gsandme]

We've already had a full non-park day, pls a couple afternoons

I see. I'm not sure what I'd do. I'd hate to lose the money, but if everyone is miserable it becomes pointless.

My dd on the spectrum is a serious home body and all the fun in the world sometimes isn't enough to keep her from wanting to go home. She doesn't have meltdowns in the traditional sense, she just becomes less able to cope as the days pass.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We stay ONE NIGHT each trip until closing, only to see fireworks, then leave.
. . . one vacation for MK
. . . the next vacation for Epcot
2) We do stay long enough for darkness to fall, since the nighttime lighting effects are so nice.
3) But, that is the extent of it for us.

 

[cakebaker]

We've never left WDW early, but on our very first visit years ago we had planned to leave WDW and stay off site in Orlando for a couple of days doing other things. We dropped the off site portion and went straight home after WDW. My girls weren't used to being away from home and they missed it. They were ok until the last day, but if we were leaving WDW, there wasn't anywhere else they wanted to go but home....so we did.

Only you can decide, but if you or your kids are ready to go- That's what I'd do.

 

[HM]

We left a day early once. The kids had had enough, we'd been to all the parks. We cancelled our last night and went home.

 

[JimmyBean42]

We always schedule a pool / lounge day for at least one day on our trips. And if we find during any particular day (we are rope drop people) that the kids are melting down or just want to go back and rest, we do go do that. It sounds like you've already had a pretty lengthy trip at WDW and have seen a lot, so there is nothing to regret packing it up early. Maybe try and off day or limited park day and see how it goes.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

DH and I left on an earlier flight home one trip. We had been down 9 days (6 of which were his convention), missing our 2.5 DS, who was with my parents, and I suffered a miscarriage while there. It was time to go home.

We couldn't afford to change flights, but if we flew home same-day stand-by we didn't have to pay. So, instead of our 7:00 p.m. flight, we did stand-by on the 6:30 a.m. flight. Fought bad weather, had to rent a car in St. Louis because our flights home from there were all delayed, so we drove home in a blinding snow storm. It wasn't good, but we made it home before we ever would have left MCO.

 

[RustManFan]

I also have never left early from any vacation. How about a visit to FW via boat? It is so relaxing to be out on the water for a little while.

Visit the horse barn near Pioneer Hall.

And by all means hang around the resort for hours! (if you are staying at a resort)

Of course we have never planned as many parks days as some people do.... 5 or 6 day tickets are our max

 

[Pembo]

Yes, we've left a vacation early. Everyone was just done and we had a 20 hour drive home. Do what is best for you and your family. Sounds like you've had a good trip!

 

[mom2rtk]

Now sure how many are in your group, but it might be nice if one of you took the others to the park (if they want to go) and the other had a quiet one on one day with your DD.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

Not due to emergency, but by choice?

We are having a great time, we have 6 park days under our belt, with 3 more days in Florida, but... DD is really starting to lose it. She's only 5, with ASD, and while she has done phenomenal on this trip, I can tell she's nearing the end of her rope. We've been gone from home 11 days now, longer than ever before. And, we have a 3 day drive home when we leave here. I admit, that I'm considering pulling out early. In a way it makes me sad, but at least we've gotten a visit in to all the parks (three to MK!). And I feel like I'd rather leave now before she is completely shot, than pushing her for 3 more days and starting the drive home with her a wreck.

To add to it, I'm developing pain in my right leg, not sure if it's muscle or vein pain, but... I know by yesterday, walking around was really starting to get to me. It's not horrible pain, but a burning feeling, and I don't want to drive home 28 hours in misery.

Anyone else ever left vacation a bit early?

No but almost did once. It was December of 2012. Let me give a little background. I have kidney disease. At that point I wasn't on dialysis yet but was close. I couldn't walk 50 feet without being out of breathe. Also I stayed off-site on International Drive at the Monumental Movieland Resort. Not much of a resort, I witnessed a drug deal in the dark parking lot in back where my room was. Additionally, I am from Newtown, CT. Friday, December 14 I was on my way to Jupiter, FL where I used to live and heard about a school shooting in my town. Sandy Hook Elementary to be exact. As more details came in the more horrified I was. I still had 2 more days on my vaction, flying back Monday. Stayed but I really wanted to return home. Not a great trip despite where I was. Didn't even go in 2013 as I normally do.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

It sounds like you've tried dialing it back already, with a break day and early departures from the park. With a 3 day drive to face, I'd probably just cut my losses and leave.

The calf thing is sorta concerning...maybe a trip to an urgent care facility today to have it looked at would be a good idea.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Yeah, that's a long trip with a long drive ahead of you. I say head out tomorrow if that's what you feel is best.

Why isn't your husband sleeping because of the heat? Is the AC working properly?

I agree with trying to get in to see someone about your leg first though if it is really bothering you and doesn't seem to be helped by Advil.

 

[itchin2go]

I agree with trying to get in to see someone about your leg first though if it is really bothering you and doesn't seem to be helped by Advil.

Along those lines, we had to go the Walgreens clinic on the last day of our last trip because my husband had bronchitis. The practitioner said we caught it right before it went to pneumonia. Needless to say, he skipped the park that day, and my daughter and I just went to Epcot for lunch.

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

Not sure what is up with my leg. It's on my right calf, on the edge of the muscle. If you push on it, it hurts in the same way that a bruise does, but there's no bruise (no swelling or discoloration of any kind). It doesn't hurt generally though unless I touch it or walk. I've run my fingers all along the vein and it doesn't seem to be the vein, but the muscle that's next to it. Blah.

Sounds like you might have pulled the muscle. I have recently done this due to suddenly doing lots more exercise than my calfs are used to and being stretched. Do some stretches for your calfs, it might help a bit. But dont push past the pain too hard!

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

I would consider that along the lines of a personal emergency. You do what you need to do for your family. If it is time to pull the plug, then pull it.

Maybe a compromise--hang around the resort for a day and then decide.

That is what I was thinking as well.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

We left semi early last year when we went. My DS8 also has ASD but last year at Disney he got incredibly sick and it was really tough with him being sick and taking care of his 8 month old brother at the time it was just too much. On the day we were checking out we had an ADR for CRT and we made a group decision and called and canceled it bc my son was still not feeling well and we were all exhausted by this point so we left early that morning instead of late morning. When we went this year no one got sick but my DS8 who also has ASD was really feeling it. His feet hurt from all the walking and it was hot and the only things I heard from this trip was "my feet hurt" or "its too hot" or the infamous "when are we eating". It was super annoying and I had over planned our days a bit too much I think. The only time we had to go swimming in our pool was from 8-9 at night. Grant it my son thought it was awesome swimming when it was night time but still, lol. We are skipping 2016 but when we go back in 2017 I think I am going to plan a relax day. Just a day to visit downtown disney and see some of the other resorts and hang by the pool. I think if I had that built into our schedule this year there would of been less complaining, lol

 

[Happyinwonerland]

no, but we don't take trips that long. I think our longest has been 9 days, but that includes a driving day down and one back. I don't think I could do 2 week trip plus 6 days of driving. I would be miserable and homesick.

 

[LoveThatMouse!]

On our most recent trip, DD and I forfeited the final day of our 6-day park hopper ticket to hit the road early. The heat and exhaustion had gotten the best of us.

I'm sorry that you're having to consider leaving early but it is admirable that you are considering the needs of everyone in your family. Could your leg pain be from shin splints...?

The only thought that I had about your 3 days of travel is that tomorrow begins the VAST amount of folks getting on the roads for the 4th of July. The news is predicting higher than normal amounts folks on the road which also means more accidents. I would hate for your already long travel time to increase because of the traffic. Might be better to spend your final days relaxing by the pool rather than not-relaxing in a traffic jam. We always encounter TRAFFIC TRAFFIC TRAFFIC when traveling down south during any holiday.

Best of luck with your decision. Hope everyone feels better soon.

 

[Julylady]

Not us! We normally fly Delta and couldn't change our flights without a fee. I guess we've been fortunate that our kids have never had issues with being away from home. As long as they are with their family, its all good. They don't even seem to miss their pets that much! Most of our stays have been DVC villas which I think are more "homey." I know my girls tire of eating out meals and much prefer to eat in the room. We also allow them to take their favorite stuffed animals and blankets along on each trip which might help. For our trip later this month, we are staying 6 nights in a studio then moving to a cabin at Ft. Wilderness. We have intentionally frontloaded the trip with park days and activities. I am really hoping that we spend the last 4 days really relaxing.

It's been interesting reading this thread to see another perspective. I've always equated "homesick" with missing your family and your routines rather than missing the house itself.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Sorry your trip isn't going as you'd hoped.

One challenging trip, I thought about it! For me, it was my utterly thankless and uncooperative extended family. Truly, I'm not one to dictate plans, but I DID hunt discounts, coordinated $, ADR's they'd requested, and put it all on a nice itinerary with park hours, show times, etc. The rest of the family didn't even bother printing it! They just complained non-stop. In retrospect, I'm surprised I ever agreed another trip AFTER that one!

To make matters worse, it was Thanksgiving week! The irony!

You don't say how many days you planned, but our personal happy limit is about 7 days. After that, lines for even the bathroom really grow old. For us, WDW is best in small(er) doses.

One thing we discovered was shorter trips make us happier, especially if we add a little luxury. Adding a rental car (or taxi) eliminates bus waits, because bus waits = stress. Though less ADR's also = less stress. Sometimes adding a little $, and cutting a day really = a better vacation. We also discovered we enjoy seeing OTHER parts of FL too! FL has stunningly beautiful outdoor areas! A day at the beach is super relaxing. And though it is a bit of a drive, the Everglades are stunning- though best in winter. It might also help next time to pick a cooler month than June.

Last, well, shhh.. but US offers a wonderful perk to onsite deluxe guests: FotLA! We also don't need to plan meals half a year in advance. The lobby courtyard of RPC is beautiful, relaxing, and peaceful. A super way to start our day!