I think I have Disney burn out

[Eeyoreloverforever]

We leave for Disney in 2 days and I am not excited.

We have been every year (sometimes more than once) for the last 7-8 years.

We are known as the Disney family, we have Disney stuff displayed in our house, etc.

Yet oddly enough I seem to have had enough of it. I am sick of looking at the Disney stuff, I am not interested in watching the movies, and I don't want to go on this trip. Normally I have everything planned, organized and packed by now. I have things planned that I need to have planned, I started packing but stopped and I feel very disorganized compared to usual, but not enough that I am willing to put in any effort on it.

I want to take a break from Disney, but I am not sure the rest of my family will agree.

I am also worried about being a downer of this trip for them. They are going to want to see and do everything and I just don't have it in me to put forth the energy that is needed for this trip.

What am I going to do?

 

[laceemouse]

I think you will feel a little better once you get there, I have had trips like that myself. Just try to relax and go with the flow, and if your family is excited try not to spoil it for them.
As much as I love Disney I think going too often can lead to a "been there, done that" feeling. We try to do and see new things each time but sometimes it just isn't possible.
Go and try to have fun, but maybe suggest another vacation next time and get a little break from Disney

 

[Darcy03231]

When my kids were younger we went at least once a year (me and the kids, DH hasn't been back since the first trip as he absoultely hated it). When the youngest was 9 we decided to take a cruise instead of going to WDW. We had a blast! We've done numerous other cruises since, done a some all inclusive resorts and did an Orlando vacation and went to US/IOA, Seaworld, Busch Gardens (Tampa) and Wet n' Wild. I've been back to WDW for a week long trip once with DN (4) last fall and am going again the first week in December this year with DN (11). After that, I'll be ready for another break. I kinda feel the way you do about your upcoming trip.

I would plan to go somewhere else next year. Your family may surprise you. They may be wanting to try something else too.

 

[HeatherC]

I can understand how you're feeling. I'm sure you'll have a great time, but maybe you can try mixing things up a bit more this trip?

Some ideas could be:

1. If you go to a character breakfast, try a lunch or dinner at a different one instead. We've never been to the one at the GF and may try that this year.

2. Resort hop at cocktail hour. You could have a drink at one, go to the next and have a couple appetizers, go to a third and have dessert. (Start at the Poly and take the monorail to the Contemporary and then wind up at the GF.)

3. Spend a full day hanging out at the pool. Take a nap and just relax. Go for tea at the Grand Floridian if you've never gone before. Book a spa treatment for yourself one afternoon.

4. Try a restaurant you'd never thought you ever would. We did this last year at Boma and loved it.

5. If you have a car, head over to Celebration one afternoon/evening. Hit the Orlando outlets.

We go every year too and I try to come up with new things to make it seem fresh and get us excited. This year we are planning on seeing Cirque du Soleil, finally eating at Ohana's and doing the "monorail crawl" thing I mentioned.

Hope you have a wonderful vacation!!!

 

[tinkerfan1]

You could send me some of your Disney stuff if you are tired of it and see if you miss it... Just a suggestion. I hope that you are able to take some time for yourself on this trip and just relax and enjoy yourself. Maybe you've always been doing this for others and you need to take some time for you. Personally, I can't imagine.

 

[ireland_nicole]

are you going through any major changes or stresses in your life? Are you having lack of interest in other things? Or just Disney- because if it's just Disney, you probably just need a break to focus on something else; but if it's everything, it's something you may need to talk to your spouse/dr. about. I'm honestly not trying to judge, it's just that I have struggled with depression, and the biggest symptom I have is losing interest in things I normally love and enjoy, and lack of motivation.

As far as this trip goes, maybe enlist the family to help with the packing and planning things, and let everybody know that this trip is more about relaxing and spending time together. Maybe take a little time and drive to the beach, or do something offsite that's different than usual.

I hope that you have a great time on vacation with your family, and enjoy your time together.

 

[happy.family.of.6]

from my experience-when I stopped planning and felt like I just didnt care anymore-is when I ended up having the best vacation ever with my family. Maybe it will turn out the same for you.

 

[DawnM]

Can we exchange spouses? My DH isn't all that excited to go to Disney either and I am like a little kid even if we go several times a year!

For DH, who is a golfer, getting the premium APs that included golfing, was what he needed to make it a likeable vacation.

So, he hits the parks in the am and then takes a son or two with him to go play a round of golf for 4-5 hours while I stay in the parks with whoever wants to stay with me.

The premium APs also include the water parks and Disney Quest which I don't feel are all that "Disney." I go to DQ and leave the kids to play while I have a latte and brownie up in the cafe! I do that in the parks some too. I have a mid-afternoon latte/coffee break while they go do something I am not as interested in.

Find something to relax you!

Dawn

 

[ms_missy66]

Awww! I can understand. We've been to WDW a bunch of times too and I've definitely had trips where I looked forward to it more than others. We'll be in the World for a total of 30 days this year, with our longest trip being our last. I have a feeling I'll be in your shoes then. To vary it up, though, we're trying to do different things. We've never done the Hoop-Dee-Doo Review or Spirit of Aloha dinner shows, so we're trying those. I've also bought the hidden mickey book and plan to do some mickey hunting. Last (since we'll be camping for the first time ever in WDW) we'll be spending more time in the resort than ever. I'm hoping maybe some downtime and different activities will keep it great.

With that all said, I agree with a pp. I'll bet once you get there, you'll be fine. There's just something exciting about seeing that castle every time I go! I'm sending you some good vacation pixie dust!

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I can see how the repetition can burn you out. I'm a military wife and moving every 3 years got old about 6 yrs ago. Luckily DH is retiring in under 2 yrs and we won't be playing the "Where will the military move us next?" game anymore.

Right now for us, to avoid Disney burnout we only go every 18 months. It might change but we used to live about 2 hrs from Disneyland when we were stationed in CA and went all the time and got burned out.

It might not go over well with your family but next year try and go to a Beaches resort instead. I know people who love going there because they're family-oriented all-inclusive resorts. We've talked about taking our own kids there sometime.

 

[NewmanFamily6]

Wow I wish I were going in 2 days I don't feel the burn out but DH does so I understand. Maybe you could mix it up with a beach trip or something else? We did last summer and had a very relaxing time.

 

[tchrrx]

I totally understand how you feel. For 4 years now, we have lived & breathed in Disney. We have decorated a room to display our things, listened to Disney music, and spent our vacation in Disney every year. This past year, I wasn't nearly as excited to go. Our trip was not that great. In-laws went with us & they just couldn't keep up with the pace that I like to set. DH broke his foot at Epcot, so that really messed up part of our trip. Since we've returned home, we really haven't added anything to our Disney room & we no longer listen to Disney music. This coming summer, we are going on an Adventures by Disney trip. I'm hoping that it will give us the Disney touch that we love, while still providing us a break from Disney World.

Hope you enjoy your trip & make the most of it! Maybe you can try something different next year to give yourself a break.

 

[mommy*RN]

I totally feel the same way as you! Every now and then I get little spurts of excitement, but they don't last very long. We leave in about two weeks. I've been blaming my feelings on the economy...strange as it may sound. I feel bad about going on such an expensive vacation when so many people out there are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table. Plus our house needs so much work that the money should have gone to that. I think it is a case of buyer's remorse for me.

I've decided I'm going to enjoy this trip as much as I can and then we will be taking a break from Disney for awhile. My kids need to see the rest of the country and I'm planning a trip to NY in 2011 for the 10 yr anniversary of 9/11. I also want to go to San Francisco and St. Louis in the near future.

Anyhoo, I hope you have a good vacation. I think once you get there the Disney magic will shine through and help you with any burn out you may be feeling. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[ebtbmom]

You probably just need a break. We got about every other year, so it really allows time to build up the anticipation, only for me though. DH could go about every 5 years and DS doesn't really care at all. He's not a ride kid.

For our honeymoon we went on a cruise. We then cruised for about the next 5 years in a row. The last 2 cruises I was really not that excited and was quite dreading the last one. This year we didn't cruise because DH started nursing school and we're saving $$. The other day I heard a reggae (is that how you spell it?) song and I was dying to cruise again. Sadly DH doesn't graduate until 2011.

 

[kpgriswold]

Are you allowed to say that on this board?

Seriously, though, that IS alot of Disney. Do something else for a few years until you get the Disney jones again.

 

[sherylcin]

I think I know what you mean. We've found going every other year works best for us but in 2008 we did our bi-annual trip in May and then an opportunity came up to take my parents in January of this year. I enjoyed the trip a lot but found myself with that "deja vu" (sp?) feeling of having just been there; done that. I decided it is best to keep to our two year trip schedule just so the excitement builds. There's ALWAYS something new in that two year span and still lots of things we haven't done so I think we're good for a few trips!

 

[MinnieGi]

I thought I would never get Disney burn-out, but I did and sounds like you probably have it too. We have also gone at least once a year since the kids were born. Always have enjoyed our trips there. Now we also travel other places but WDW was the BIG trip.

Well this past year my DD's dance team danced on a Carnival cruise ship that left out of Port Canaveral. My first idea was that after the cruise we'd go to WDW for a few days, but I just wasn't as into the planning as I should be and wanted to try something different. So before the cruise we spent 2 days on Cocoa Beach and touring Kennedy SPace Center and after the cruise (which was fabulous)!! we spent three days at Sea World and Aquatica. I thought it would bother the kids and I being so close to WDW and not going, but I guess the burn out was real b/c no one even asked to go!!!! That was also our first cruise and we loved it...the kids really want to do the DIsney cruise now...so I guess we're not totally Disney burnt out - just the parks.

We were going to go over Christmas and cancelled that trip and are going skiing instead. While the kids in passing have made a few comments about missing WDW, they are totally stoked about going skiing again like last winter holiday!!

Give WDW a break -- its a big world out there and so much to explore!!

 

[tam626]

I hope I get it at some point. It is getting too expensive to go every year. We went the past two years & will probably go next year before our son starts kindergarden. Hopefully we will give a year or so rest after that. Right now I can't imagine it.

 

[connie1042]

I have been the last few years. This past Sept it was just my Husband and I. I do think the weather had something to do with it. To HOT to breath, but we still had a good. time. BUT, I love the beach and just one day was not enough. I think next time we go it will be a beach and a few days at Disney. I am just getting frustrated with the cost and quality of Disney right now. Every time I turn around they have upped the cost of something.I am going in July with some friends that are coming over from Scotland. They have rented a 7 bedroom house with a pool and I am staying with them. They do not just do Disney, they do all the parks in Orlando. I am looking very forward to this. It will be fun to tour Orlando with someone who is not use to the American way. They have been here before and have done things that I have not. Disney will be fun, but I know so will everything else we do. I think you have to change it up sometimes or it gets old. Have fun.

 

[churchpilot]

We still go every year for a couple of trips, with one trip being shorter than the other one. We no longer feel the need to do Commando Disney and take our time and do more Hidden Mickeys, trivia, shows, outlet shopping, resort hopping, and photography than we have in the past. Our kids have their own hobbies that we can incorporate Disney into, so that helps too. I can only wonder what the day will be like when we no longer feel the "buzz" or "high" that we get when we drive under the sign, but I have to admit that sometimes it feels a little like a routine. I still feel like I am cheating on Disney when I feel that way, so maybe it is easing me into something!!! Have fun regardless!!!