Having some pre-departure anxiety

[jonrex]

Help!!! Only a few days left and I'm losing my mind!!!

I'm obsessing, obsessing, obsessing about everything: the weather and what it's going to be like ... and the crowds ... and whether or not our flight will somehow get delayed and put us way behind schedule ... and what if there's a strike ... and what if a couple of our favorite attractions we want to see will suddenly have to be closed because of breakdowns ... and what if there's a sudden illness in the family and we can't go ... and what if something comes up at work ... and what if my partner doesn't like Disney and will never want to go back with me ... and what if my bad knee gives out again from all the walking and I can't do the KTK tour I have planned for Thursday ... and ... and ... and ...

Does anyone else ever get like this???

 

[Gaiusrex]

I fing drinking to be helpful in these situations.

 

[kimwim8]

First....take a deep breath

Second...sit back & realize that 99% of what your're stressing over is out of your control!!! You can't control the weather, you can't control the crowds, you can't control the flight schedule.

Relax & think about all of the fun you're gonna have (rain or shine!!)

 

[kupperman]

Yes. Its only natural. Everyone wants their trip to be perfect because you took so much time planning it. Just try to relax and remember its not going to be perfect but if something does go wrong, just try to laugh it off and remember you are on vacation. As for things going wrong before your trip...well try not to think about that.

 

[ErinInCT]

That is totally me! I went at the end of Sept & watched The Weather Channel 24 hrs a day. I am not kidding! I feel like I know the anchors - speaking of which, I wonder if Jennifer Lopez had her baby??? Anyway. Hurricane Jeanne totally changed our plans & we rolled with it & had a great time anyway. In fact once I was there I became totally unstressed & did not worry so much about my typed out excel spreadsheet itinerary!! And yes, we wound up a day behind due to Jeanne, Splash Mtn was broken down on our trip, my dd4 misbehaved so badly we left MGM after only seeing VotLM, I lost my sunglasses & Baby Bjorn carrier, but we still had a great time!! We decided we would go back in the future to do the stuff we missed. My family was impressed with the fun things I learned from DIS which really made the vacation a blast. Just go & enjoy & figure you may be making this a yearly ritual!! Gotta save something for the next trip!

 

[QuickGold]

I do fret about the weather but it's really out of your hands so go down there ane know that short of a hurricane, WDW will be open

 

[msr709]

Believe me you're not alone in all those worries. The one that stands out for me is the knee. Having bad knees myself, the first couple of trips I would try to do it all and wind up renting an ECV from the parks. It finally dawned on me (after 5 trips) that my knees were not going to take that kind of punishment and I ordered a scooter from Walker Mobility for the week and it was the best trip yet!! Those things are not only for the fully disabled and they can save your vacation! We didn't have a car, and relied solely on Disney transportation and I didn't regret it once. They charge the same as the parks but you can keep the scooter with you all the time. Something to think about. Good luck and have a wonderful trip.

 

[miste76]

i'm freaking out too... I've second guessed just about everything already!!! The worst part is, I can't find my DIS t-shirt that I bought over the summer.
I've asked as many questions as I can think of on the DIS boards and the funniest part is, I've been to WDW so many times that I can't even remember how many times that I've been. I have never, ever planned at all for any of the trips. Our family always just plays things by ear.
I'm most anxious about the flying thing. I'm hoping to get some valium or have some alcohol before I get on the plane (I've never had valium, but I've heard that it would help).
Have a good time in WDW!!!

 

[shatzjsl]

Originally posted by kimwim8
First....take a deep breath

Second...sit back & realize that 99% of what your're stressing over is out of your control!!! You can't control the weather, you can't control the crowds, you can't control the flight schedule.

Relax & think about all of the fun you're gonna have (rain or shine!!)

I agree 100% with this post. I thought the same thing as I read your post. Don't worry about things you can't control or you won't be able to enjoy your vacation.

 

[Harligirl]

Last night I had a dream we forgot all our luggage......... and were trying to find a flight home to get it and go back! Weird!! Now I bet I will triple check everything I pack and ask DH if we have all the luggage!!

We're all a bit nuts!!
Lisa

 

[Gaiusrex]

Originally posted by miste76
I'm most anxious about the flying thing. I'm hoping to get some valium or have some alcohol before I get on the plane (I've never had valium, but I've heard that it would help).
Have a good time in WDW!!!

Dispite being one of the Proud LOTW (Lush of the World) I would reccomend NOT drinking while flying. If you're anxious and drinking, you may get sick, or a headache. If you get really anxious and start drinking, you may drink too much, and they may not let you fly or arrest you after you land!

Find a compulsive, engaging task to keep your mind off things. I do crossword puzzles. I pick up a book before hand with crossword puzzles that are not too hard. That way I speed through filling them out. It's keeps my mind jumping around, and I don't think about flying. If you don't doo crosswards, try word searces or jumbles.

My anxiety has gotten better the last couple years, but I still try to engage my mind on some other task while I'm flying.

 

[diswedwish]

Yep, I have pre-departure anxiety!!!!! First the nightmares (starting quite a while back), then the jitters and the fear we'll forget something, we'll get sick, there will be an un-predicted hurricane (hey, season goes until 11/30).

Last night I got to experience my other pre-trip phenomena - I start getting stupid - lol - I misplace things, I just do stupid things that are unlike me. Normally I'm so organized and with it and it's like my brain goes dead or reaches FL ahead of me

DH tells me to stop and calm down. We'll get there soon enough

If you do decide to drink on the plane, make sure you drink equal amounts of water. I think the dehydration is what can add to the nausea, headaches, etc.

 

[jonrex]

Thanks for all the advice and words of comfort, esp the "not worrying about things you can't control" part.

I think the thing I'm possibly the most stressed about is more along the lines of keeping others on this trip happy than I am keeping myself happy. I know that I will have a good time regardless of what happens. (Heck, there could be another hurricaine tear through the area and I'll be fine as long as I'm at WDW!!! )

I'm taking someone on this trip who has never been to WDW before and I want them to enjoy it!