Just can't find that spark of excitement..

[DisneyMama811]

I've been absent from the boards for a few months, earlier in the year I was eagerly planning a Disney vacation for our family of 4, then Ontario (where I live) hit another covid wave, things were getting worse by the day, and I started to give up hope that we would ever be able to go. I fell into a deep depression (mental health is a chronic issue for me) and stopped planning.

Things are opening up again now, most of the things on my "waiting til it comes back" list have returned to WDW, I'm fully vaccinated and my husband is partially. yet I can't find that excitement to start planning again, I just don't even care anymore and the thought of being surrounded by thousands of strangers sets my nerves on edge. I love Disney and I so badly want that spark of excitement to return so we can have that trip of a life time...I just don't know how to get it back again.

 

[GeneralTso]

It's clearly not time yet. Listen to your body and your mind.

Planning a Disney vacation when you're not 100% all in and excited sounds miserable. It takes a lot of patience, you gotta want it cuz they don't make it easy! Wait until you're in a space you know you'll love it.

 

[FCDub]

Nothing is more important than mental health. Don’t force it.

 

[wdw&sonny]

I’m with you. Not excited about the reality of the current situation… no FP, no AP…
But, i stay on these board to dream of a return to MY normal Disney. Keep your dream alive. The magic is out there waiting for us.

 

[Moochie13]

You know, I can relate to that. I’m American but I live internationally. I haven’t been able to go home in 18 months to see my college-age daughters. I’m supposed to fly to the USA in 5 days, and be at WDW in 7 days. But after this past year, after all the canceled flights, the last minute denials of permission to leave the country I’m in, I’m afraid to let myself get excited. There is so much red tape to get through. I can’t feel excited when I’m so worried that there will again be something that comes up to prevent me from going home. I think once I get to the USA I’ll finally allow myself to get excited about WDW. I hope you start feeling better soon, and are able to feel excited again! Sending pixie dust your way!

 

[JCornell]

I'd suggest starting to watch some of the vlogs on youtube and see how you react to them. If it makes you anxious to watch them walking around the park or if it rekindles your excitement will help tell you if you're ready or should wait it out some more.

 

[lovethattink]

Mental health is so important! Take care of yourself first. If Disney brings you joy then plan away. But if the thought brings negative feelings, then wait.

 

[holden]

I get it. We just returned from a week at WDW and by day 5 I was ready to go home. WDW has always been my happy place, but not this time. It was a little overwhelming, exhausting and stressful (both of my kids got sick with colds...something they haven't had since winter of 2020). After we got home I thought, "I don't want to travel anywhere for a long time." I think I've just gotten used to being home. Traveling use to be one of my favorite things to do.

 

[Selket]

I don't know how easy it would be to cancel your plans, but I've sometimes booked a resort if I saw a good deal so I had it just in case it turned out to be a good time to travel. I did eventually cancel those bookings (one last year, one this year) but currently planning to go in December to celebrate a friend's significant birthday and I won't cancel that one (super excited). In other words, totally agree with others that say if you're not excited to plan and it's a bit unnerving then it's not a good time to go.... but if you can look to book some trips a bit farther out if you see some refundable good deals - this might help keep the fun in planning but the stress out of it since it's no loss if you don't go. I also think next year (2022) will be a great time to go with more things open, more normality and the 50th anniversary of the MK in full swing.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

The title spoke a different way makes a song from "Righteous Brothers" come to mind.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

I've been absent from the boards for a few months, earlier in the year I was eagerly planning a Disney vacation for our family of 4, then Ontario (where I live) hit another covid wave, things were getting worse by the day, and I started to give up hope that we would ever be able to go. I fell into a deep depression (mental health is a chronic issue for me) and stopped planning.

Things are opening up again now, most of the things on my "waiting til it comes back" list have returned to WDW, I'm fully vaccinated and my husband is partially. yet I can't find that excitement to start planning again, I just don't even care anymore and the thought of being surrounded by thousands of strangers sets my nerves on edge. I love Disney and I so badly want that spark of excitement to return so we can have that trip of a life time...I just don't know how to get it back again

I will comment on the thousands of strangers part.

The only way to get back at feeling well about that, is actually putting yourself in the situation again.

About a month ago, I went somewhere where there was thousands of people indoors, unvaccinated, vaccinated, didn't matter. Not one mask in sight. It was my first time feeling pre pandemic with that many people maskless.

It felt weird for about an hour, then I just adjusted and it felt normal again. I was happy. From that point, I haven't worn the mask indoors anymore

Believe it or not, the planning of my upcoming trip actually also helped me feel excited, when I previously had none. In the end, follow your feelings and the time will eventually come where you will wanna plan your next magical vacation =]

 

[annadreamsofdisneyworld]

I'm excited about Disney but not comfortable traveling there yet. We have a trip booked there for August 2022.

 

[disneyseniors]

OP, if crowds make you apprehensive? Then I would be leery of going to WDW at this time. The 50th crowds will be huge, I imagine. I'm guessing from the lack of rooms at resorts or reservations for parks. Also people are tired of being pent up for so long and want their disney fix. I am not going to WDW this year at all due to the expected high crowds. I hope it slows down a little at the end of next year when we will probably go if things change.

 

[Summer2018]

I empathize with you and how you feel.

I am a teacher who taught from home virtually, in school virtually, hybrid, etc. I have health issues which put me at a higher risk. Getting vaccinated helped me feel a lot safer, but I still wear a mask in school (required) and indoors (most places still require it where I live). I have been to two outdoor restaurants and feel safer eating out now. I am very uncomfortable in large crowds right now, but I never liked them...it’s just gotten worse for me.

We canceled our June 2020 WDW trip & rescheduled for July 2021, and just canceled that trip because of the crowds, lack of FastPasses, and a lesser experience. It is not worth the cost for us. (We typically spend $10,000 staying deluxe). DD is getting married in WDW, so I would rather save my money for that.

We have airline credits about to expire, so we’re going to Margaritaville on Hollywood Beach instead which will be much more of a slower pace. We booked two ocean view rooms for half the cost of one room at the Polynesian.

You might want to consider trying a more low-key vacation before venturing back into WDW.

All the best.

 

[disneyworldsk]

I get it. We just returned from a week at WDW and by day 5 I was ready to go home. WDW has always been my happy place, but not this time. It was a little overwhelming, exhausting and stressful (both of my kids got sick with colds...something they haven't had since winter of 2020). After we got home I thought, "I don't want to travel anywhere for a long time." I think I've just gotten used to being home. Traveling use to be one of my favorite things to do.

we had same experience exactly how you described it. one came home with a cold. not used to being away from home and had separation anxiety from our cats and homesickness and guilt for leaving them when they were used to being with us 24/7 for 1.5 years now. It's amazing how time snuck up on all of us. The joy of planning and packing were gone. But I while we were there and present we had joy in the moment and it was nice to put away our devices for a bit and feel that 'free' feeling of outdoors, no masks, and more like ourselves. But definitely by day five we hit a wall yes. I recommend perhaps if I had to do it again and for OP a 3 day quickie to get the feet wet a little and come back to test the waters. I also felt this time around the planning aspect was deflated but once we were there it was almost like a relief.

 

[disneyworldsk]

I will comment on the thousands of strangers part.

The only way to get back at feeling well about that, is actually putting yourself in the situation again.

About a month ago, I went somewhere where there was thousands of people indoors, unvaccinated, vaccinated, didn't matter. Not one mask in sight. It was my first time feeling pre pandemic with that many people maskless.

It felt weird for about an hour, then I just adjusted and it felt normal again. I was happy. From that point, I haven't worn the mask indoors anymore

Believe it or not, the planning of my upcoming trip actually also helped me feel excited, when I previously had none. In the end, follow your feelings and the time will eventually come where you will wanna plan your next magical vacation =]

And actually it's great for those experiences that if you want to wear your mask you also have that option. I wore mine once by choice when i felt apprehensive during a very crowded carousel of progress in mk last week and i was not the only one.

 

[Dug720]

And actually it's great for those experiences that if you want to wear your mask you also have that option. I wore mine once by choice when i felt apprehensive during a very crowded carousel of progress in mk last week and i was not the only one.

Excellent point. So many people seem to think that the removal of a mask mandate means that it is now mandated that you not wear one. ALL the removal of a mask mandate means is that it is not mandated. You are welcome to wear a mask if you choose. No CM is going to yell at you for wearing a mask.

 

[LauraLap]

I'm from Ontario too and I know so many friends/family that feel the same way as you do. Ford/Williams et al. have really done a number on us - getting our hopes up, then down, then up, etc. And definitely pouring fear into our souls constantly. It's been a roller coaster for sure. It took me a while to get going and planning, but when I got into the full swing of things, it felt so great. I'm looking forward to leaving soon and finally leaving this jail/province.

 

[Naomeri]

As others have said, if it doesn’t make you happy and excited to plan, it’s not time to go yet.

I was very COVID-cautious throughout the whole lockdown in my state of MN, as I live with my grandparents and want to protect them. But after about 6 months of lockdown, it was more damaging my mental health to stay in, so I went to WDW in October (and then quarantined away from my grandparents when I got home) That helped me for a few more months, until I went back in March. Now I’m fully vaccinated and planning 2 more Orlando trips (one at USO, one at WDW).

All of that is to say, you have to do whatever is healthiest for you and your family. Don’t force yourselves into uncomfortable situations. Maybe try activities involving people close to home to see how it feels before committing to anything big.

 

[Disneyliscious]

I've been absent from the boards for a few months, earlier in the year I was eagerly planning a Disney vacation for our family of 4, then Ontario (where I live) hit another covid wave, things were getting worse by the day, and I started to give up hope that we would ever be able to go. I fell into a deep depression (mental health is a chronic issue for me) and stopped planning.

Things are opening up again now, most of the things on my "waiting til it comes back" list have returned to WDW, I'm fully vaccinated and my husband is partially. yet I can't find that excitement to start planning again, I just don't even care anymore and the thought of being surrounded by thousands of strangers sets my nerves on edge. I love Disney and I so badly want that spark of excitement to return so we can have that trip of a life time...I just don't know how to get it back again.

I was in your shoes and when I couldnt go to Disney I went somewhere else. BOY WAS MY EYES OPENED and I found a whole NEW level of spark and excitement. Breaking away FROM Disney is exactly what I NEEDED. Now, Im planning a Disney trip and while I dont think the excitement will ever be what it use to be (Ive realized planning was more of a job than an enjoyment now) its still fun.