First off - DO NOT check in on work during your cruise - it will literally ruin your vacation - AND it is VERY expensive to access the internet and or place international calls from the ship. Just have your DH lock your phone in your stateroom safe to assure you don't even know the pass-code to the safe!
Then - say a BIG "TO H@||" with it - you are on vacation - NO JOB is more important on vacation that the job as parent.
As technology lines blur - the traditional workday has become null and void. You need a break from work - AND- technology. Research has been published that it takes the average person 2-3 days to slip out of work mode and really begin to relax. Vacations that require you to 'check in' are not vacations at all - but just working remotely with your family in tow. Don't fool yourself - the world will continue to operate - the work will get done - and remember this - vacation is a benefit that is inherent with your job (I'm assuming) - and a benefit isn't a benefit UNLESS YOU USE IT!
As far as getting in vacation mode - observe STRICT work hours for the week before you leave - let small things go - and don't allow small things to be made into big things. Let it slide - the world will continue to turn - and no one will die (assuming that you aren't a traffic controller or something similar!!!!)
We all tend to think that our jobs have to be done immediately - however as I said - no job is more important than to show your kids that work is important - but it can also be left behind to spend 100% quality time with your family. You will retire from your job one day - but you will never retire from the job of parent - EVER.
Here are some things that DW and I do to slip into vacation mode - BTW we both work at jobs that if we aren't there work/communication/projects/calls/e-mails etc etc etc do not get answered/done/completed - so I know how it feels - but relaxation and time away is far too important to your physical and mental health to neglect.
OK - so on to the list -
LISTEN TO DIS RADIO! It's a great way to build anticipation - and begin to get that feeling again of your life having a 'sound-track' - we had never been to the attractions at the Canada Pavilion and had never eaten at Le Cellier - but we committed to doing all of that on our last trip (since we were able to pick up someone's canceled lunch reservation!) And hearing the Canada Pavilion movie theme song on Dis Radio got me pumped up to head north to Canada by heading SOUTH to Florida! HAHA
Look through pictures from previous
Disney Vacations - any Disney Vacation - WDW - DLR -
DCL - where ever you have been before - take a walk down memory lane!
Make a trip countdown paper-chain with a daily tip - fact - packing advice etc - and break a link with your family every day till your trip!
Check the maintenance/refurb list to see what will be going down - or coming back up during your vacation to hone your plan a little further.
Buy a box of Mickey Ice Cream Bars for desert after a family meal!
Watch your favorite Disney Movie(s)!
Try to name ALL of the Dwarfs!
Confirm all of your reservations - and enter all of the info into an excel spreadsheet and fill in the rest of your Disney Vacation Plans on the spreadsheet and give everyone in your family a copy!
Decorate your workspace - even if your are a cubicle dweller - add a few very Disney accessories that will shine a little ray of hope in your day (my office is full of Mr. Potato Heads - it's become my personal 'brand' - my co-workers joke that my office looks like the day after the Carnival! LOL In my opnion - I LOVE being 'that' person. Everyone can count on me for a little brightness in their day! And a good laugh - and a funny story to boot!
Send your kids a Mickey Mouse Balloon at school (mylar of course due to latex allergies!)
Add Disney touches to things you do - a mickey head at the end of your signature is a great laugh - how many people will even notice it!
START PACKING NOW! Add a few things to your suitcase every day to build your excitement!
Finally - imagine your favorite Disney moment (from a park, from a movie - whenever!) and envision it - let the moment take you away - and then imagine your kids experiencing the moment (for the first time - or all over again!) and then think about something to do to add a little extra magic to someone else's day - or here is a big one if your are a supervisor - pick out one person or a few people that you work with who have made a big difference in your life - work - home - or otherwise - and think of a very small gift that you can get them while you are away that will just let you know that you are thinking of them - are thankful for them - and value them enough to think about them on your vacation. It could be a postcard picked up at the airport on your way back home -
OR - do what my wife and I did on our last vacation- find out who in your social group is going to Disney next - and get a post card signed by a character or two and mail it to them from Main Street! One of the guys I work with is taking his family during our next vacation - (he's a really incredible guy!) so I got his kids names and their home address and mailed them a card signed by both Mickey & Minnie! Not only did it make us smile while doing it - hearing abut what happened when it arrived in the mail gave me those warm fuzzies ALL OVER again!
OR mail card to your kids with them knowing - so it will be a surprise for them when they get home!
PLUS my wife and I both sent "Wish you were here" card to our office - it was a riot!
Most importantly - start to let go - FEEL the magic coming on!
Find your laughing place!
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