Having a good time at DLR when you are sad?

[BensWife]

DH planned a getaway before our APs expire and also so we can see the 60th. We planned this about a month ago, and we get there this Saturday. We were soooo excited! I am a teacher, and boy has it been a long year. I am sooo tired of kids right now (sorry, but that is the truth for a teacher at the end of the school year) and I was so excited to go with DH (kids are staying with Grandma and Grandpa) to have some adult time. Yes, there will be tons of kids there, but I won't be responsible for them! Yea!!! Anyway, something terrible happened to us - our dog died yesterday. I am sooooo sad right now. She had been having problems, but over the weekend she started having seizures and just got worse. It was like a month of her going down hill, but I didn't think it would come to this. I want to have a lot of fun while we are at the Happiest Place on Earth, but at the same time, I am just so sad! Did you ever go to Disney after something bad happened in your life? Did it cheer you up? I sure hope it does for us. My dog was like my baby.

 

[TechGuy]

I am sorry to hear of your loss.

I feel the stresses of the world drop away from me while I am in DL. It's like I leave the real-world while I am there and enter this fantastic place filled with joy and love. DL mean so much to me and has so many great family memories.

I pray you can let go of the weight of of reality and remember the joy your friend brought you. I would say one last walk down Main Street with your pup by your side and inside your heart would be a wonderful tribute and memory. Walt and Mickey will greet you and your pup at the Hub's park.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

To answer your question, we have a few times and yes it has helped every time. The first time, we had just found out our 4th pregnancy was high risk without a lot of information/answers. Since my health was ok and there was a lot of time waiting for answers, we decided to do an impromptu trip to DL. It helped with so much of the stress (and in the end, everything was ok with the baby!)

The following year, we did a 4 generation trip. It was my Nana's first time back in 40 years or so and she fell in love all over. She decided the following Thanksgiving (the holiday we always spent with her) she was taking us all back. Unfortunately, she passed away 3 months before that trip was supposed to happen. While she was in the hospital she told us she still wanted us to take the trip, so we did. And while bittersweet to do it without her, it was healing in so many ways. That Dec, my grandfather passed away (who's birthday falls the week of Thanksgiving, if not on it) and after that my mom decided she didn't want to be home for that holiday, so we have spent every Thanksgiving in DL since.

It doens't mean the sadness is gone, but yes it possible to enjoy yourself even with grief.

 

[aristocat65]

Going to Disneyland will be the best thing for you.

We lost our 16 year old cat last summer, and I know the painful, horrible, gut wrenching loss you are feeling. It is like losing a member of the family. It is a lot harder being at home and noticing the absence constantly.

You will have a good time in Disneyland and it will be good for you to be somewhere where you would have been away from your dog anyway, and a great distraction.

 

[Angrose]

I'm so sorry to hear about your doggie. Pets are so special, it's like losing a best friend and family member. I have not been to Disneyland after a sad event, but it sounds like you could really use an "escape" from the real world. Teachers work so hard during the school year so you deserve a break away from the kiddos and time with your hubby. It will help to heal your sad heart.

 

[LizzyS]

I'm really sorry to hear about your dog. DLR should be good medicine for you about now, I think.

 

[kim3339]

So sorry about your dog! It does help, it will take a few days, but it will help.

The same thing happened to me last Nov; I was going to WDW for a long weekend and the night before I left, my dog died. Like you, she was my baby and was devestated. Thur and most of Fri were hard; it was all I could think about, but Fri night I started to get a little better. By Sun, I was almost back to normal. It definitely helped me being there, (even though it was WDW and not DL ) it gave me something to focus on and I wasn't at home dwelling on it. Especially w/ all the new things for the anniversary, there are tons of things you can focus on.

On the downside, coming home might be hard. Walking inside w/o her being there all excited and seeing her spot where she slept in my room was not fun, did start crying again. But at the same time I guess it would be hard if I came home from work the next few nights.

It will help you guys and slowly, time will heal.

 

[darcie2000]

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your Furbaby.

Last time we were at Disneyland, my sister and BIL got a phone call saying his Nonna had died. It was very upsetting for them, but they carried on with the belief that she would have wanted them to carry on and enjoy their holiday.

I think giving yourself permission to enjoy your holiday is a good start.

 

[katejc]

We had a big family trip last summer to DL when my sister's family lost their dog (who had been sick for a while). It was very sad. We got the news while watching Mickey and the Magical map and all started crying--the people around us thought we were so moved by the show and said, "we cry at this, too!". There were definitely some feelings, but I wouldn't say cancel your trip. It might be just the thing to get away from the real world and have some fun. I am a teacher, too, and know just how you feel this time of year! I hope you go and have a fun trip!

 

[lorijohnhill]

Disneyland was very healing for us. My dad died on Easter Sunday 2013. He had been planning to take us to Disneyland since our huge family trip Thanksgiving 2010. Unfortunately, he died before we could go. My husband and I took my daughter on a Pappy Memorial Trip this past January and it was very healing. We have also been unable to tolerate spending Easter at home, so we went to Disneyland for Easter as well (last year was Monterey, but Disney was so much better!). We had some special moments for my dad, and did all the things he loved. Again, it was very healing for all of us.

 

[Bubblegum1286]

We are in the middle of finalizing our youngest two children's adoption from foster care, which requires a TON of paperwork, legwork, and scrutiny, even though they've been in our home for TWO years now. It's so taxing and emotionally exhausting, I've been crying daily. The other night, I had so much anxiety about something going wrong and this whole adoption falling through, I put on my running shoes at 1 in the morning and ran until my chest hurt in the rain outside. I felt like if I didn't get out, I would BURST. It's been a VERY hard road for us, and we've dreamed about this trip to DLR for two years. I will be going with a heavy heart (we planned it for the 19th-26th thinking we would have finalized our adoption by then, but alas, still nothing is finalized). I am like you, I keep hoping that when we get there, it'll all melt away and I won't stress over adoption paperwork or home visits anymore. I'll just BE. And I haven't felt like I could just BE in a very long time.

I hope for both of us, that we experience some real joy and childlike wonder while we're there. I'm so sorry for the loss of your sweet puppy. Hugs.

 

[Gisele]

I am sorry about your dog. I know that our pets are like our family blood relatives, even closer compared to many relatives or other people.
It can be hard to deal with grief.
It isn't a situation though where the loss is a human one. At least there is that.
Almost 4 years ago, my boyfriend died from injuries due to a vehicular "accident."
The other driver was at fault.
Anyway, when I go to Disneyland, there will be times when I am just simply sad, and to the point to where if I don't snap out of somehow, it will literally make me sick.
Some people believe that grief shortens one's life. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. There are no simple answers or quick fixes, I sure do wish there was.

 

[VandVsmama]

My mom passed away before we could go to DL with her. So when we took our kids to DL for the first time, there were a few times that I got really emotional. It's ok to have moments where you feel really sad while at the parks. I had a moment in New Orleans Square where for some reason, I started crying. Bittersweet tears I think because my mom would have loved that particular moment at that particular spot. It's the same reason that I cry every time I see the fireworks.

I'm so sorry about your dog. It's so hard because pets are family, too.

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

Disney is a good place to go, I feel like it will help cheer you up or at least distract you for a bit. I know that when I get upset I think about things that make me happy, and Disney is one of them. I feel like when people go there its a nice get away, with all the activities that you can do there.

I am so sorry for your loss, one of my animals is very sick right now and I'm very worried for them . But planning out my Disney trip is keeping me distracted.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I am sorry about your loss. Mine isn't exactly the same as any ones here but my real dad, who died of cancer when I was younger. Told me before he died. To use the money I will get once a year for fun. Go some where and remember the good times we had. My first trip was with him, when he was told he had 6 months left. He ended up living 8 more years but still I always think of my dad when I am in Disney.

So when I get my check every other year or so I plan a trip. This year is an off year but the 60th changed that for us. Anyways now I take my son and try and keep my dads spirit alive while there and hoping to pass it on to my son.

Like I said its not the same but my dad died 4 days after our Bday (nov 30th I was born on his bday) so when we go in nov or dec and I celebrate my b-day i'm also celebrating his)

Disney in any way seems to help the sad times melt away. I am sure it is always going to be a healing place. Go and take it in you will be sad but slowly you will begin to have fun and let the sad thoughts melt away.

BTW our cats are old and they are having some trouble eating so we have to grind there dinner up. I hope we don't lose them for a long while but I understand how they are like your children.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Sorry about your dog. I went a few weeks after my grandmother passed away. She was a huge influence in my life and I lived with her for the first 12 years of my life. My entire family was upset, but Disneyland melted some of that sadness away. We felt like she was there with us, watching over us. Disneyland was always one of her favorite places as our family was connected to Disney in its early days when she was a young mother. So, it was nice to pay tribute to her by going. And we were all very happy there. No tears shed, just pure joy.

 

[LALA8971]

Hi OP - I'm so sorry for your loss. I have 2 furry kids and can't imagine losing them.

We lost my grandmother about a week before our 2011 trip. My father (it was his mom) decided not to go. We did stop a few times during the trip and feel a tiny bit of guilt for having fun and laughing at a time like that, but ultimately, that is what she would have wanted. It was a good (temporary) distraction from the sadness.

 

[azdisneylover]

Did you ever go to Disney after something bad happened in your life? Did it cheer you up? I sure hope it does for us. My dog was like my baby.

Yes. November, 2009 we went for my birthday. Earlier that year, my mom passed. That was the first birthday my mom didn't wish me a happy birthday. I only cried once at Disneyland. It was in the line for Mr Toad's Wild Ride. It was at the time of day my mom would call me, wish me a happy birthday and tell me how much she loved me. I turned 48 then and let me tell you, if I was anywhere else that day, I would have been a real mess at home.It such a great loss, a loneliness I can't put into words for three years before the intense grief softened. Disneyland was a great distraction for me on my first birthday without my mom. I know that sounds childish, but so what, I love and miss my mom terribly.

Go and have fun. It is okay to miss your furry baby and being at Disneyland is the best place to be when you are feeling so sad. ((big hugs))

 

[sgrap]

In 2005, our dog (our first 'baby'--before we had kids) died just a few days before our long-planned Disneyland trip. We were devastated, but there was really nothing we could do except go on the trip. Honestly, I think it was the best thing. If we had been at home, we would have just been sitting there focusing on it. Instead, we were distracted and had a wonderful time. By the time we got home, we were ready to start looking for a puppy.

I think it would have been a different situation had it been a loved one human right before a trip, especially because it was the week we were going.

My heart-felt sympathies on the loss of your furry baby.

 

[mummabear]

OP so sorry for your loss, they really are part of the family.
A quick question: how are you kids? You mentioned that they are going to stay at the grandparents (awesome) and adult time for you and DH is certainly very important but if they arent coping well with their loss, that would be my biggest consideration of whether it's a good time to go.
If they are ok though I am sure you will have a great time