I Didn't Know Vacations Were So Stressful

[lbus42]

I am amazed at how many people get so stressed out about planning a Disney Cruise. Many people obsess about every little detail such as what servers should they ask for or what specific cabin should they get. I know a lot of this is about getting the best value for their money, but how can one have a good time if they are worried about every little detail. This is a vacation and a cruise is a very relaxing one, but it won't be relaxing if you are stressed out even before you step aboard the ship.

Relaxe, take a breath and remember you are planning a vacation. It should be fun. You should have a good time and you will even if everything is not perfect.

 

[Aby]

Not everyone that obsesses over their vacation planning is actually stressed about it. Some enjoy the process of researching all the little details as they count down the time until their vacation begins - I know that I do! I am also willing to do a little more work on the front end if it increases the enjoyment or experience when the vacation actually comes - nothing wrong with that! I do agree that even with minimal planning people can have a great time but sometimes people come back upset that they missed something that a quick bit of research could have avoided. I do agree though to not strive for total perfection - nothing is ever so but that's okay too!

Aby

 

[rantnnravin]

Planning ahead is what provides the relaxing atmosphere once on board. What appears to be a seamless string of entertainment, activities, and R & R is due to the careful orchestration ahead of time.

 

[Hundredacre]

We are not planners and we do always miss something- super annoying when you realize it after the fact. For example, we totally missed the pillow case signing thing even though we took cruises where it was available. Even brought the stuff to be signed in one cruise and forgot to bring it to get signed. Got magical family on one of our first cruises and just thought everybody on the cruise was getting it. Could go on forever. Trying to become more organized by reading these boards the last year. (But now we are trying other cruise lines because of these boards- didnt "realize" other lines existed. ) Sometimes I am kind of amazed we make it to the ship. We are a bit too que sera.

 

[disneycrazy2004]

I absolutely love planning, It is half the fun for me! I don't find myself stressed about it at all! I do love and plan lots of little details that make our vacation absolutely magical

 

[CupcakeLisa]

we are planners - but we find it fun. just because someone does the things you mention in your post doesnt mean they find it stressful

 

[lbus42]

I am not talking about those that are planning and researching. I am talking about those who post stuff like they couldn't get the specific cabin they wanted, or they are freaked out because their favorite cruise director is now on a different ship, or something like that. They will usually say something like "I'm worried that" or "I don't know what to do now". A common thread that comes up all the time is the "I tried to book such and such at midnight when my booking window opened and I could not get in". This is a pure panic posting. If it was researching, then they would see all the other threads showing that this is very common and happens all the time.

 

[rantnnravin]

Or, it could be that dealing with those disappointments ahead of time makes the actual vacation time less stressful? Perhaps having time to put a Plan B in place helps for some - especially those who are planners by nature. I CAN tell you that after a great deal of research for our last cruise, I was more than a bit perturbed when we were r-routed to Puerto Rico - for which I had done NO research whatsoever. I did not like trying to figure out what to do in port on the fly; I did not know what was available; nor did I know anything about the island. I did not have the lay of the land or an understanding of the different areas in San Juan - i wish I had, because we would have had a much nicer time than we did. I felt very uncomfortable not having the knowledge base that I normally have when we go somewhere new. It has nothing to do with panic.

 

[Shanti]

I am not talking about those that are planning and researching. I am talking about those who post stuff like they couldn't get the specific cabin they wanted, or they are freaked out because their favorite cruise director is now on a different ship, or something like that. They will usually say something like "I'm worried that" or "I don't know what to do now". A common thread that comes up all the time is the "I tried to book such and such at midnight when my booking window opened and I could not get in". This is a pure panic posting. If it was researching, then they would see all the other threads showing that this is very common and happens all the time.

I can see this from both sides. I love the planning but also get stressed too much occassionally. But that's all part of the thrill of pulling together a great trip anywhere. For me the details of trip planning are a fun challenge- like a game of chess that will have a meaningful outcome. It's my hobby and for the most part stress-relieving, because it takes me away from daily cares & reminds me of an upcoming vacation.

 

[BigredNole]

The most stressful thing about a vacation for me is the cost. I can see some people with issues on their room. Some people have to be in a specific level to be comfortable. Its either something they are accustomed to or they could never tell their friends that they were in a lower level room. Yes, there are people that simply go on vacations to keep up with their social circles no matter how far in debt they go.

The only thing that would stress me out after booking is something going wrong with transportation down.

 

[tinkerone]

I think its mostly just people venting, not so much stressing out. I can't say I have seen to many posts by people who are stressed out. Not in the true sense of the word.
The planning is the fun leading up to the vacation. Asking for suggestions or wondering where the CD's are don't seem to stressful to me.

 

[Shanti]

The only thing that would stress me out after booking is something going wrong with transportation down.

Yes, or someone getting sick right before the trip. I also worry about that.

 

[jdb in AZ]

A good friend who's usually unflappable, was quite stressed about going on her first cruise. Maybe it was fear of the unknown, traveling "outside the box" or whatever, but before they left she kept asking me one nervous question after another, even tho her DDIL was the travel agent who had made all the arrangements and could have explained everything to her. and probably already had.

A bro-in-law who wasn't particularly happy(!) to be on a family vacation -- on land -- actually kicked the tire of the shuttle van a few times when it picked us up from the airport. Shoulda left him home -- he was a real pain. Tho again, he's usually quite nice and remains calm while cooking a family feast for 50 relatives.

DH and I accidentally sat in the wrong seats on a plane. When the couple who were actually assigned to the seats showed up, the man nearly came unglued. I tried to explain it was accidental, DH apologized, and we quickly moved to the correct seats (one whole row back), but the jerk was sure it was intentional and that DH just didn't care.

So yes, some people really get stressed when they travel. Once we get through security at the airport and our plane is on time (or at least isn't delayed more than half an hour) I'm usually good to go.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am amazed at how many people get so stressed out about planning a Disney Cruise. Many people obsess about every little detail such as what servers should they ask for or what specific cabin should they get. I know a lot of this is about getting the best value for their money, but how can one have a good time if they are worried about every little detail. This is a vacation and a cruise is a very relaxing one, but it won't be relaxing if you are stressed out even before you step aboard the ship.

Relaxe, take a breath and remember you are planning a vacation. It should be fun. You should have a good time and you will even if everything is not perfect.

I see the same thing. I've always said that I am glad I knew nothing about DISboards or any of the other cruise boards before my first cruise, or I'd have been a basket case. Worrying about whether I've gotten the "right" room, dining rotation, serving team. Even if it was the right cruise to take.

I did what research I could using travel books and the DCL website, made our plans and said "OK, here we go". If something unplanned happened, we were prepared to just go with the flow. Often that's how great memories are made.

 

[bumbershoot]

how can one have a good time if they are worried about every little detail

They generally aren't posting while ON the vacation. They are posting while planning it. Two separate times. So you plan and plan, and then when the vacation shows up you reap the benefits of all the planning.

This is a pure panic posting.

Nah.

If it was researching, then they would see all the other threads showing that this is very common and happens all the time.

It's HARD to search these boards. Might be better than it used to be, but it's still hard. I tend to just google "disboards" along with whatever phrase I'm looking for. Which is ridiculous, but it is what it is.

Or, it could be that dealing with those disappointments ahead of time makes the actual vacation time less stressful?

Yep.

I think its mostly just people venting, not so much stressing out. I can't say I have seen to many posts by people who are stressed out. Not in the true sense of the word.
The planning is the fun leading up to the vacation. Asking for suggestions or wondering where the CD's are don't seem to stressful to me.

Yep.

My supposed friends thought that me wondering "does pink go with red?" while planning my wedding was some sort of bridezilla tantrum. The fact was, it was 2001-2003 (horribly long engagement), and very few Americans were mixing those colors at that time, and I couldn't tell if it was my own "interesting" taste coming out (in college I got the Dee-Light Groovy Dresser award for my periwinkle dress and rust-orange tights combo that I loved) OR if it was cool. I tried to ask my friends and they just refused to talk about it, since all of their moms had planned their weddings and they didn't understand what it really entailed. So I asked my online friends. Many many conversations about it and ideas, and I got it nailed down at last.

And while it was stressful to figure out if it was tacky or not, on the day I wasn't stressed at all.

So yes, some people really get stressed when they travel.

Sure, WHEN they travel. Perhaps if they'd gotten stressed BEFORE they traveld they would have been more prepared for the actual travel.

DH, DS, and I were upgraded from Delta Comfort to FIRST today. Exciting! Except that they had no veggie food for us because we had no idea we would be upgraded (the fare said NO complimentary upgrades, and we weren't upgraded until we scanned our boarding passes at the gate) and it was at 6am so I wasn't going to take advantage of free booze. We had all booked together, which is unusual. A woman who sat in front of me had been split from her husband, and she was LIVID about it. She was in 1A and her husband was in 11 aisle. how dare they, why did they do that, blah blah blah. If she had ever turned around to me (while she was delaying the flight whlie she demanded the gate agent come talk to her) I would have flat out said "you booked separately, didn't you?" and I KNOW I would have been right. A little bit of planning (don't book separately!) would have saved her a lot of stress (though it looked like she thrives on the stress, and her husband certainly didn't loo pleased that they would now be spending their 43rd anniversary across the aisle from each other in row 1).

On the other hand, I also got the feeling that they've done this before. Er...SHE has done this before.

 

[ASchwa]

I am amazed at how many people get so stressed out about planning a Disney Cruise. Many people obsess about every little detail such as what servers should they ask for or what specific cabin should they get. I know a lot of this is about getting the best value for their money, but how can one have a good time if they are worried about every little detail. This is a vacation and a cruise is a very relaxing one, but it won't be relaxing if you are stressed out even before you step aboard the ship.

Relaxe, take a breath and remember you are planning a vacation. It should be fun. You should have a good time and you will even if everything is not perfect.

I like reading about where I go. I also like to find my way around. I went on the Norwegian Fjords Cruise that started in Copenhagen. I went to Copenhagen and toured around a couple of days before. I went solo, and the one thing I planned in advance with my family was a webcam where you can see the faces of the person in Geiranger, Norway. When I walked off the ship in Geiranger, I saw the area of the webcam, and then earlier than the appointed time, I texted to my family that I was near the webcam. I also had to factor a time difference. My brother on his computer in NY, USA took a picture of me in Geiranger, Norway and sent it to me in five minutes. If I hadn't planned or found the webcam, none of that would have happened. It was really exciting and I showed people the picture.

 

[crzyred]

I'm a planner. For my family that's fun! My sister and I spent months before our first cruise reading posts, researching the ship and ports. We read posts that had step by step instructions for embarkation, is that silly, well yeah probably for a group of adults, however we also have someone in our group that doesn't do travel days well with unknowns. So we literally had things laid out for him, to reduce stress (on ALL of us!) We were all just fine because we essentially knew what to expect. We were even very impressed with how smoothly and quickly things went.

 

[TestingH2O]

I like reading about where I go.

This. And, for DCL, where I'm going is the ship! It's not like not seeing Cinderella will ruin our trip, but just like I'd research hotels, attractions, and restaurants in London, I do the same for the ship!

 

[Jennifer777]

My supposed friends thought that me wondering "does pink go with red?" while planning my wedding was some sort of bridezilla tantrum.

Ha! I was also apparently a "bridezilla" because I expected the baker to come back and actually assemble the three tier cake with a fountain underneath rather than leaving it in pieces on the cake table. "It's just cake, no one will care, it will still taste the same" some of my "friends" said.

I think some people struggle to understand that what isn't important to them, could be very important to someone else. We each have our own priorities, our own styles and enjoy and worry about different things. Having a little girl who was obsessed about Elsa on our first couple cruises, I can totally understand the concern parents might feel if they don't secure those princess meet and greet tickets, especially if they've paid a fortune for photos. It was literally the only thing my daughter talked about leading up to those first couple cruise. And while many of us have been fortunate enough to take multiple cruises with more planned in the future, for some, their first cruise may be their last due to finances, health issues or schedules. How disappointing it would be for them to plan, plan, plan the perfect, once in a lifetime trip and then have components of it not come together as they had hoped. It's ok to empathize with them, even if we don't understand why it's such a big deal to them.

One of the greatest things about the Dis and other forums is you can plan as much or as little as you like. The people who are laid back can find kindred spirits and those of us who obsessively plan can unite and obsess over rooms, excursions and PATs.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I work for a sports travel company. Our guests book packages with us to travel to citybdestinations to see their favorite team play. There are usually also a city tour planned and a team event. The rest of their time on the trip is free time to do what they would like to do on their own. These trips cost thousands of dollars. You cannot believe how many travelers get back home and comment on their post-trip survey: "I wish we would have known more about what to do and see in (city)". We all just shake our heads. If I am going somewhere, I research it. Then I research it some more!

I am soooo grateful for the boards here. Because of all I have learned over the hours, days, months and years, our family has had the most magical Disney vacations. The memories we have created are priceless! Have there been hiccups along the way? For sure. Working on the front end to try and get everything you want out of a vacation for your kids and family is how many choose to roll. I know I do! I also know that things have a way of working out in the end.....you should have seen my face when I found out our cabin was the very first one off the elevator!!!! That would have been the very last cabin I would have chosen, and I almost cried. Heck, maybe I did cry LOL because that's what I do....but it turned out completely fine! All of the pre-planning is worth it to me when everything is taken care of and wonderful and we, my husband especially, can just enjoy every minute and the day-to-day is seemless.