Post Disney Depression

[kathy387]

Count me in! We've only been back 12 days and I can feel myself already slipping into PDD! I can't explain it The place just makes me so happy that I want to be on a permanent vacation to WDW!

 

[DisneyHoneyMoon]

I thought I'd share my thoughts on the post-trip depression... I hope this isn't too sappy... I've tried explaining this to friends before but I just feel like they don't "get it" because they're not Disney people.

Anyhow we went last August (2005) and we went through the Walt Disney: One Man's Dream 'show' at MGM. Listening to Walt, I suddenly realized why I love Disney World, why my family loves WDW and why I get depressed when I come home from Disney World. Walt mentioned something to the effect of, he would take his daughters out to do things but he couldn't find a place where the parents and children could do things together. That was his main vision in creating Disneyland. It suddenly made so much sense. Growing up, and even now in my own family, we don't spend a whole lot of time together during the day. Kids are at school, Parents are at work, and when everyone gets home they do their own thing. I was always on the computer or in my room growing up, and now I find myself studying in one room while my wife is watching tv in another. When we're at Disney World I feel like we're in an entirely different world. We have our resort at night where we're in one room, constantly talking and reviewing the days activities. We ride together on Disney Transportation, able to talk to each other instead of concentrating on the road. We eat together at Disney restaurants instead of getting our food and plopping in front of the tv or going and eating on our own. We walk together, ride the rides together, we get to take turns picking out which ride, planning our dining, learning together at Epcot, etc. WDW is everything that Walt set out to accomplish, it's a place where families can spend time together and 'learn' more about eachother and enjoy eachother. When we come back from Disney I get depressed because it's back to the same old routine. I'm not talking about going back to work/school, I'm talking about after those things. We don't spend as much time together as a family. It's hard to find something on TV that everyone likes. It's hard to plan meals where everyone likes the food. It's hard to find activities in our own city that everyone likes. It's depressing because we can't take a quick trip over to the Haunted Mansion and ride in the buggies together or go to TOT and watch the cool intro video in the library. Disney World is like a unifying force that helps you remember why you're a family in the first place. Having said that, we have our trip planned for this May and I can't wait to go and enjoy spending time with my wife.

DisneyHoneyMoon

 

[Polyfor30th]

I usually start getting depressed 2 days before having to leave, at that point I start planning my next trip.

I'm the same way. Funny though, right now I'm fighting little bouts of pre-trip depression. I'm sad about it being over before it has even begun-oh so silly Our trip isn't until the end of May. So, I guess I'll start my next trip planning before this trip even begins, hehe.

 

[MJMcBride]

There is nothing more depressing than that last ride. My last ride during my previous trip was just my 2 year old son and I on the Maelstrom. He loved it.

 

[PolyAddict]

I thought I'd share my thoughts on the post-trip depression... I hope this isn't too sappy... I've tried explaining this to friends before but I just feel like they don't "get it" because they're not Disney people.

Anyhow we went last August (2005) and we went through the Walt Disney: One Man's Dream 'show' at MGM. Listening to Walt, I suddenly realized why I love Disney World, why my family loves WDW and why I get depressed when I come home from Disney World. Walt mentioned something to the effect of, he would take his daughters out to do things but he couldn't find a place where the parents and children could do things together. That was his main vision in creating Disneyland. It suddenly made so much sense. Growing up, and even now in my own family, we don't spend a whole lot of time together during the day. Kids are at school, Parents are at work, and when everyone gets home they do their own thing. I was always on the computer or in my room growing up, and now I find myself studying in one room while my wife is watching tv in another. When we're at Disney World I feel like we're in an entirely different world. We have our resort at night where we're in one room, constantly talking and reviewing the days activities. We ride together on Disney Transportation, able to talk to each other instead of concentrating on the road. We eat together at Disney restaurants instead of getting our food and plopping in front of the tv or going and eating on our own. We walk together, ride the rides together, we get to take turns picking out which ride, planning our dining, learning together at Epcot, etc. WDW is everything that Walt set out to accomplish, it's a place where families can spend time together and 'learn' more about eachother and enjoy eachother. When we come back from Disney I get depressed because it's back to the same old routine. I'm not talking about going back to work/school, I'm talking about after those things. We don't spend as much time together as a family. It's hard to find something on TV that everyone likes. It's hard to plan meals where everyone likes the food. It's hard to find activities in our own city that everyone likes. It's depressing because we can't take a quick trip over to the Haunted Mansion and ride in the buggies together or go to TOT and watch the cool intro video in the library. Disney World is like a unifying force that helps you remember why you're a family in the first place. Having said that, we have our trip planned for this May and I can't wait to go and enjoy spending time with my wife.

DisneyHoneyMoon

This is exactly it. With 3 DD's ages 14, 12 and 5, 2 full time jobs and other activities we are never all together. You are right, when you are there everything is done TOGETHER. I love all the stupid things we laugh about. I will not travel with anyone else but my immediate family. This time is too important to me to have distractions around. Our family trips are about that, our family . This is why I long for our next trip, always.

 

[Lizzybee]

(brushing back the tears) maaaan I love you guys...group hug It's true lots of people don't get it, but at least we can come here and talk about it and know that everyone here understands. It's more than rides, it's more than characters it really IS a Happy Place. (the tune "Glory Glory Halleluia starts playing quietly in the background) True DIS'ers know it goes much deeper, when you see Wishes and you feel like a child again and you have a bond with your kids because you are like a kids (sure it embarrasses them but it's still bonding). Admit it, we all could relate to that new commercial "I'm too excited to sleep". I'm hoping to save up enough to take a trip this summer (shh I'll probably surprise the kids again so mums the word), but if not I'll keep checking what the prices are for different dates and resorts and dream. I know we'll be back to the Happiest Place on Earth, it's just a matter of when

 

[penguin087]

I thought it was just me. I went May 2005 with my son, my best friend and her kids. The post Disney depression was horrible! We had such a great time. I can't wait to go back. I think I am driving everybody crazy talking about "next time" May 2007. So I come on here, read the boards, make plans and try to keep my mouth shut so somebody will still want to go with me!

 

[Harvestmooner]

We started talking about our next trip on the way home. Disboards helps alot in surviving the PDD!!!

 

[Jen D]

Disneyhoneymoon, what a great post.

I've been trying to shake off PDD, we got back three weeks ago. The first week is the hardest, the real world just feels wrong.

I don't think we're going back until President's Week 2007, I can't believe I'll have to wait another year-- although our trips are usually 18 months apart so I'm narrowing the gap.

I guess the Disboards help... maybe they make it worse though! Sometimes I think I should go cold turkey from the DIS until 180 days out.

 

[vfb2girls]

I feel the same way, we haven't even been on our trip yet and I am starting to feel depressed knowing that after so much planning it will be over in such a short time. I was going to try and plan a trip for the spring of 2007 and had already booked a Disney cruise when my husband informed me that we would have to wait until 2008 to go back to Florida, he wants to take a 14 day land/sea trip to Alaska so I guess I will be busy planning that. But I do know that I will still hang around the DIS boards to get my daily fix of the mouse.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

I get the Disney depression so bad I:

1) listen to Disney music all day long on Live365
2) all ringtones on my cell phone are Disney tunes
3) visit DIS boards every day (every hour)
4) have another Disney trip of any kind booked
5) use family Disney photos as my desktop wallpaper

As you can see on my countdowns, DH and I have alot to look forward to.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Oh yea, I get extremely depressed after we return knowing that we won't be back for a year. We try and do long weekend trips throughout the year, so at least I can plan for something!