Last Minute Trip Has Brought Perspective

[ConnieB]

I so very much agree with you....it is NOT about a perfect vacation.....it is about a perfect moment.

May your wife feel better and your travels home be safe. For years to come you will all speak with great gusto about "that time Dad drove 20 hours home". Of course that conversation won't start for at least another year, but it will come, lol. For now, practice with them to sing loudly to keep you awake.

 

[DisneyForYou]

Thanks so much for sharing!! By nature I'm a Type B so this isn't exactly a surprise (you'd be surprised by how much you can accomplish at the Last Minute). For me, the reminder to enjoy the magical moments is so important and what makes every trip a memory - no matter if your Type A or B.

 

[bear_mom]

Love your post, I think if everyone lowered their expectations a little, Disney would be a lot more magical.

 

[THEDISNEYTHREE]

That made me smile!

 

[BudgieMama]

D'aww! Thanks for sharing

 

[starsweeper]

Great post! We had a similar experience. I planned a trip for my kids and myself about 2.5 weeks out for Easter week. I was shocked to get into lots of restaurants at great times (CP, BOG, CRT, Akershus, Rainforest Cafe and more) and get FP+ for 99% of what we wanted to do. We arrived early to get the most out of the day and lowered our expectations on days we arrived mid-morning but were often surprised at what we did on those days as well. I went into the trip fearing it was a big mistake taking 4 young kids by myself during one of the busiest weeks with FP+ fully in force but we had a blast and I definitely plan to do it again. Like you, I think it was a success because we kept a good attitude and made the best of the situation.

 

[GillianP1301]

This is a great post. I'm not sure it's actual expectations that have to be lowered as long as you always maintain a healthy perspective. An attraction breaking down the day you are visiting is not a vacation ruining event, by any stretch. Really nobody should let any single negative event be vacation ruining anywhere they go, Disney or otherwise. It's the people who can take things in stride, maintain a positive attitude and a healthy perspective on life who will have the best vacations and really, the best life experiences overall. OP, your post is a really good example of that. It's the same type of outlook I have and the reason why I just let it roll off my back when my 6 year old son really wants to go see Country Bear Jamboree first thing in the morning instead of my "planned" headliner ride and we end up with a private showing for just my family in an otherwise empty theatre. I'll hold that memory much longer than I likely would've had I kept my original plan.

 

[Farps]

100% agree

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Excellent post ... Glad you are having a wonderful trip!

AKK

 

[Mikie]

Fantastic! Thank you for sharing this! Hope your wife feels better and the craptastic-ness at work irons itself out!

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I think a lot of the frustration

Love this post. It is so true. I go to Disney first and foremost to spend time with my husband and kids. Quality time unfortunately doesn't happen as much as it should day in and day out at my house. With two working professionals, a house to take care of, and disabled inlaws, there just isn't a lot of extra time tonsoend real quality time together.

I think a lot of the frustration comes from the need to feel as if you have to pre plan. I know that's what took a lot of the joy out of my vacation. The fact that those of us who like to tour in a different way than what the "norm" is now leaves us happy with the knowledge that it can still be done. Love this thread!

 

[rajak73]

Great post! We were at WDW from Dec 1-Dec 16 last year. I wouldn't say we lowered our expectations as much as we just didn't expect everything was going to be perfect and we were not going to see everything. It was probably one of our most enjoyable trips ever! Just DW and I, we walked around MK and all the other parks and had a blast! Had relation come up for a couple of days from Miami, went to AK and Epcot. Know what we rode? AK---Finding Nemo, only thing we did! Moved over to Epcot and rode SE, couple wanted to go on TT, when they were done, rode Ellens. Oh, and we stopped at customer relations for dining at 3pm when we arrived and got reservations for 8 of us. Maybe not at the ideal time for some but later and it was great! We wandered around WS, checked out the countries and talked and had a great time! Pictures with Alladin and Jasmine! We went to different resorts to check out the xmas decorations, gingerbread house, chocolate carasol (sp) played mini golf, had a cake special made for DW for our anniversary delivered at Trails End dinner, watched Wishes from FW beach, It just didn't get much better. We rode and saw most everything we wanted, biggest wait? 25 min for POTC, so if that classifies as a hugh wait???? So much more to Disney for us than just how many times we can ride SM. Know what my favorite thing to do now is? When I see a little princess dressed like Elsa......(approval from parents to talk to them of course) I will ask "Didn't I see you freezing the castle?" Most of the time they will tell me no and I just respond by "I was pretty sure it was you that froze the castle" Usually get a great smile from them.

 

[disrev]

OP chiming back in from the middle of MK while the rest of the fam is on IASW. Thanks for all the kind words and responses all. Glad my random jumbled thoughts served as encouragement to some. And we're having a blast again already.

 

[FromKansas]

Love this!

 

[Glennie5]

Thank you so much for sharing this. So happy to hear you and your family are enjoying your trip.

 

[Shmily01]

Love, love, love this post. It can get frustrating hearing about everything that Disney is doing wrong. It's so nice to be reminded of why we go year after year. For us it's because as my kids get older, it's the one place that we all can become a kid again. It's the one place where we spend every waking moment with one another and laugh and smile and enjoy each other. THIS is what makes Disney magic for us! Thanks for sharing!

 

[rtbreneman]

Fantastic post, but come on, put a SPOILER ALERT in there before revealing that Donald gets the hat! Just kidding...I also watch my kids more than anything else!

 

[Moms]

Rev,

Thanks for reminding everyone of the real "magic"!

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

This thread is a delight and made my morning. I am so glad you guys are having a good time!

 

[Delirium]

If I could make it work out that way for every trip, Philharmagic would be the last attraction we see every time before we head home. More than anything else in any of the parks, it's Disney.