How to make last Dis trip count and avoid being sad?

[msdroz]

Hi there- extremely looking forward to what will most likely be our last trip to Disney, but as I'm sitting here listing to Disney music I'm having an overwhelming sense of nostalgia and sadness knowing that this will be our last trip with our son. It's not that we don't want to go back, there are just so many other vacations that we want to take before he goes off to college so I think Disney will be on the back burner for awhile. I really want to enjoy every moment of this trip and really be present but I'm struggling already with the fact that I'll be crushed when it's all over. I know that's irrational and crazy and I am very blessed to be going at all, but I need some advice on how to enjoy the week that we are there and not think about the reality that we won't be back.

 

[DisDreaming4116]

I think the first thing to do is stop considering this your final trip. Yes, you may take 3 years off. Maybe 7 years. Maybe you won't be back until your son has children but you will be back again. And while many of us get worked up when there is a new restaurant here or bathroom taken away there, etc. Disney World has largely stayed the same for decades. It won't be the same when you return but it won't be like walking into the complete unknown (except for Star Wars Galaxy's Edge) lol. Enjoy your trip and upon going back home, look forward to your next vacation, wherever that may take you.

 

[FCDub]

I would caution against putting so much pressure on it. That will only magnify everything that happens that isn't "perfect."

It's OK that there's a sense of finality, but when one door closes, another one opens. Big world out there that, as you've noted, is up for exploration next.

 

[ShelbyK]

I would start researching all your other vacation options and getting excited about those so you have other positive things to look forward to. I like to go on Tripadvisor and just search different places and check out restaurants and things to do etc.

 

[PSUGuy]

A little premature to think of this as 'The Last'. After a WDW family vacation in 2009 our adult children and grandkids took a break from WDW but we resumed last Nov., all 11 of us. Our younger daughter wants to come with us this Oct and both daughters and crew want to join us in 2009. Relax and enjoy!

Also, we all spend 10 days at Myrtle Beach every July so you can do other things along with Disney.

Bill From PA

 

[acwsmom]

I really can't offer much more than sympathy. I know exactly what you're going through and have felt all of those same feelings of sadness and memories. Our DD graduates from High School next year and I know our upcoming trip will probably be the last big one we take as a family. We had APs this year and planned a extra couple trips to make the most out of it, so we've had a very Disney-filled year, and our last big hurrah is coming up in a couple months. But next summer will be filled with graduation and a trip elsewhere with extended family so I know Disney won't be in the plans for 2019. I have no idea where DD will eventually end up with college, but I know her summers will be busy and she'll have less time for family events like this. Plus, our DS is getting older and doesn't care much about Disney anymore, so we've promised him that we'll start trying Universal and other places that will interest him more once DD left for school. So I have been acutely aware that, while we may return to Disney eventually, it will probably be for a shorter trip or include friends or potential future family members. The family dynamics will never be the same and, while that excites me in a way, it definitely make me sad as well!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Why give up something you love that's not hurting you or your family?

We don't go to Disney every year. We are every 2-3 years or more type people. We also like to vacation other places and see new things so Disney isn't an every year deal for us. We did a trip in 2015 and I knew going in that was probably going to be our last family trip ever or at least for a very long time. As a nuclear family. DS is graduating this year, college schedules, DD's HS schedule, etc. Life gets in the way. It was bittersweet but I'm not going to write off an entire place. I figure we might go back as a family of 4 in a few years if we can make it work or we will go back with grandkids.

DS just went on his senior trip in March and I'm going with just DD in November. After that I don't see myself there again until 2021 or later. But that's ok!! I'm thinking of doing an adults only trip with my SO in a few years and trying to squeeze in a week somewhere as a family of four in 2021 or 2022. We shall see what the future brings.

 

[disneyvoice]

Don't think of it as your last WDW trip! As our son has gotten older my DH and I find we LOVE going to WDW for couple only trips. You're just entering a new phase of your life. Our son is graduating high school two years early and will be on his own next year so my DH and I decided to build a house near WDW so we can go all the time. While we will absolutely miss our son we are looking forward to new adventures!

 

[KittyKitty]

I have a little talk to myself to not think about going home, ending vacation, till the last day or last morning. As previous poster said, think of it as a break.

Have a great trip.

 

[agavegirl1]

We go every four years without kids. Every time you go to Disney will be the "last time" for something..."the last time before the kids are in school", "the last time before the kids are teenagers", "the last time before college" etc. etc. Don't lament what no longer will be but look forward to what can be.

 

[PSUGuy]

On a related note, wifey had a co-worker a few years back, a DVC owner who went to WDW 2 or 3 times per year. As a trip time was approaching, this gal would tell my wife that she was depressed thinking that in 3 weeks her WDW vacation would be over. This weeks BEFORE the trip even started! How a person enjoys anything pleasant in life eludes me.

I'm not unsympathetic to getting the blues at the end of a trip, we used to get this. After our first 5 or so trips we fell into a pattern of yearly trips of 8 to 11 park days. After those many park days we pretty much have had our fill. We'd gladly stay if offered a few days more but we're not down in the dumps on departure. Actually what happens is that on our first day of a new trip, 1/2 hour after arrival, usually in the pic below, we feel like we never left the last trip. It's all an extension of the previous one.

Bill From PA

 

[msdroz]

Thanks so much everyone!!!! This is exactly the type of advice I needed this morning during my temporary emotional funk! I knew fellow Disney enthusiasts would understand and have exactly the right thing to say Thank you for giving me some different perspectives and food for thought.

 

[stsomewhere]

After a DIsney trip in 2012, my kids claimed that they never needed to go back to WDW. They would rather cruise. Last year, my daughter turned 16 yrs old and asked to go to WDW to celebrate her sweet 16. We did a mother/ daughter trip and had a blast. My husband to chaperone my son and his friend( both freshmen in college) on cruise since the cruise line required them to have an adult over 25. My daughter and I had such a wonderful time that we went again last week. This time my husband and my daughter's boyfriend came. We had a great time. My son was unable to go due to hs/ college spring break were different weeks.

My daughter and her friend want to go to WDW for their senior trip next year but in Dec. to see the Christmas lights. I just booked a girls trip for my mom, my daughter, friend and myself.

 

[AngiTN]

Since you are giving up a Disney vacation for other vacations you want to take, focus on that instead, if you get sad. It's not like you are giving it up and not getting to go anywhere else ever again. Presumably you are giving it up for places you want to go to more, so that's a good thing, right?
Who knows though, you may well decide you'll return to Disney again. If you've never tried it as an adult only trip you should. We went from enjoying trips with the grandchild more to enjoying our trips with just the 2 of us more. Shhh... don't tell her though There's nothing wrong with an adult only vacation too

 

[anniemae]

Stop thinking of it as your last trip. It's not like you can never go back. You are alive and have your family and have the means to travel. No sympathy from me. LOL! Go out to see other places and who knows? Maybe you will go back to Disney in 2 years, 5 years, or 7 years but you can go back. One thing that helps me is to discuss things we want to do "next time" we go, even if we don't know when that will be. Or where we want to stay next time, or a restaurant to try next time etc.

We also have been discussing other places we want to take the kids, like grand canyon, caribbean cruise, Canada etc. Just because we want to see new places means we can never go to Disney again. It will always be there. And as others have said, a trip with just you and DH will be wonderful.

 

[piratepride]

I think about this a lot too. My daughter is now 15 and my son is 12. Our first trip they were 5 & 2. In a few short years she will graduate from HS. The nice thing is we are DVC owners and someday they will take over the contract and we will join them on their families vacations! So, hopefully there is no "last trip" in sight any time soon.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Disney has a way of pulling people back, even if it takes years. I’m sure you’ll go back. I understand wanting to explore new places though. We do our Disney trips in Nov/Dec and take other vacations in the summer, because we want to explore new places too, but I won’t give up my Disney time. Like others said, don’t think of this as your last trip and certainly dont ruin your trip by being depressed about every “last” that happens while you’re there. Have fun!

 

[lolomarie]

I went in 1992, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2013(DLR), and 2015, next trip is Sept 2018. My sweet spot is every 3-4 years. I'm from Canada though and so we have a long way to travel. These trips have spanned from when I was 8 years old, to girls single trips, trips with now ex-boyfriends, 1 kid, now 2 kids! I also love traveling elsewhere (looking at you NYC)!!!! I figure I'll always go to WDW, it just looks differently in every phase of life. Also, I try really hard to not focus on the end of the trip until the end is actually there. It makes it easier to be in the moment and enjoy!

 

[bethbuchall]

We can't afford a vacation every year, so usually it's 2-5 years between Disney trips. I remember the day we left for home when my youngest was turning 3 (his first trip). The older two were 8 and 11. I was so sad because I knew it would never be like this again. The little kid magic would be gone for the youngest, and the oldest would be approaching high school by the next trip. I was right; it was never like that again. But there was still magic every trip we took.

We didn't go to Disney World for every vacation because there is so much of the world to see. Every trip that we have taken has been special. The summer before my oldest's senior year of high school, we packed everyone in the minivan for a cross-country National Parks trip. (Shhh...that was even better than a Disney trip.)

This summer, the youngest is finishing his first year of college. My daughter (the middle one) is getting married Labor Day weekend. My oldest has been married for a couple of years. At least 4 of us are going to Disney World! (My son and his wife aren't sure if they can make it, since they're in Hawaii right now.) I know that there will still be magic, and I know that there will still be a next time even if it isn't for another 5+ years.

So, try not to think about it as a last trip. "There's a great, big beautiful tomorrow..."

 

[msdroz]

We didn't go to Disney World for every vacation because there is so much of the world to see. Every trip that we have taken has been special. The summer before my oldest's senior year of high school, we packed everyone in the minivan for a cross-country National Parks trip. (Shhh...that was even better than a Disney trip.)

So, try not to think about it as a last trip. "There's a great, big beautiful tomorrow..."

LOL so true!!!!!
PS a cross country national park trip is on our list and I know that will be an altogether different kind of planning and trip!