Post-Disney Depression

[tbowman]

What do you do after your dream vacation is . . . over? I know this is pathetic and I wish it weren't true, but I'm a mess.

I dreamed about going to Disney for thirteen years after my first daughter was born. For the past year I planned every detail of this dream vacation. And for 16 days I lived my dream vacation.

We had an amazing time. We were gone for 16 days with extended time spent at an ocean resort, Universal Orlando, and all four Disney parks. From the moment we woke up each day until we went to bed our days and evenings were filled with a whirlwind of activity. Then I would stay up into the wee hours of the night planning the final details of the next day's activities while my wife and children were asleep.

It's appalling how much we packed into our trip. You would be hard pressed to identify a major attraction or event at either Disney or Universal that we didn't do or experience.

My family was amazing. My wife spent many hours shopping for all the items we would need. We spent two date nights and visited several stores just to find the perfect backpack and water bottle for the trip. She also was the photographer taking hundreds of photos capturing the details of our vacation.

My three girls (ages 13, 11, & 9) were also amazing. They bought into my passion for exeriencing as much of Disney and Universal as we possibly could. They kept up and seemed to enjoy it all as much as I did.

The weather was perfect during all 16 days. No one got sick.

And here I am at home the day after our trip has ended feeling completely depressed. I was teary through our entire day of flights home yesterday. When I finally got to sleep last night I dreamed about Disney and woke up disoriented not knowing where I was even though I was in my own house.

Going back to Disney is unlikely for our family. I don't make a lot of money. We saved for years for this trip and will likely spend another year or two paying it off.

Not sure why I'm feeling the way I am. I think it's a combination of many things.

I got used to living in a world of fantasy and magic. My real life is decidedly not magical.

I got used to being with my entire family 24/7. I didn't want to leave them today for work.

I regret the few times where the stress of the trip got to me. During the final day at Disney my wife and I fought and we left the park early. We missed the parade, It's a Bug's Life, etc. I'm ashamed and embarrassed for robbing my family of a few more precious moments.

Disney was so magical that everything else seems dull. Because we don't have a lot money, we've created lots of inexpensive or even free family activities and traditions over the years that have brough us a lot of joy. I'm afraid these things won't seem meaningful or special anymore after what we've just experienced.

Mostly I feel a sense of loss. This was the happiest I've ever been in my life. I got caught up in the magic of Disney and being able to experience it with my family was the greatest experience of my life.

And now it is over. Nothing to dream about. Nothing to plan. Will I ever get to experience anything like that with my family again?

Again, I know I should be so thankful. Most families will never get to experience what I was just able to do with mine.

But I am feeling this way. Depressed, sad, down, and blue.

Surely among the millions of people who have visited Disney over the years there are some of you who have felt similar to what I'm feeling after your trips ended.

Do you have any advice? Does it get better? Are there things I can do to better adjust to real life?

I would appreciate any encouragement, advice, or kind words you may have to offer.

Thanks!

 

[SoScary'09]

What do you do after your dream vacation is . . . over? I know this is pathetic and I wish it weren't true, but I'm a mess.

I dreamed about going to Disney for thirteen years after my first daughter was born. For the past year I planned every detail of this dream vacation. And for 16 days I lived my dream vacation.

We had an amazing time. We were gone for 16 days with extended time spent at an ocean resort, Universal Orlando, and all four Disney parks. From the moment we woke up each day until we went to bed our days and evenings were filled with a whirlwind of activity. Then I would stay up into the wee hours of the night planning the final details of the next day's activities while my wife and children were asleep.

It's appalling how much we packed into our trip. You would be hard pressed to identify a major attraction or event at either Disney or Universal that we didn't do or experience.

My family was amazing. My wife spent many hours shopping for all the items we would need. We spent two date nights and visited several stores just to find the perfect backpack and water bottle for the trip. She also was the photographer taking hundreds of photos capturing the details of our vacation.

My three girls (ages 13, 11, & 9) were also amazing. They bought into my passion for exeriencing as much of Disney and Universal as we possibly could. They kept up and seemed to enjoy it all as much as I did.

The weather was perfect during all 16 days. No one got sick.

And here I am at home the day after our trip has ended feeling completely depressed. I was teary through our entire day of flights home yesterday. When I finally got to sleep last night I dreamed about Disney and woke up disoriented not knowing where I was even though I was in my own house.

Going back to Disney is unlikely for our family. I don't make a lot of money. We saved for years for this trip and will likely spend another year or two paying it off.

Not sure why I'm feeling the way I am. I think it's a combination of many things.

I got used to living in a world of fantasy and magic. My real life is decidedly not magical.

I got used to being with my entire family 24/7. I didn't want to leave them today for work.

I regret the few times where the stress of the trip got to me. During the final day at Disney my wife and I fought and we left the park early. We missed the parade, It's a Bug's Life, etc. I'm ashamed and embarrassed for robbing my family of a few more precious moments.

Disney was so magical that everything else seems dull. Because we don't have a lot money, we've created lots of inexpensive or even free family activities and traditions over the years that have brough us a lot of joy. I'm afraid these things won't seem meaningful or special anymore after what we've just experienced.

Mostly I feel a sense of loss. This was the happiest I've ever been in my life. I got caught up in the magic of Disney and being able to experience it with my family was the greatest experience of my life.

And now it is over. Nothing to dream about. Nothing to plan. Will I ever get to experience anything like that with my family again?

Again, I know I should be so thankful. Most families will never get to experience what I was just able to do with mine.

But I am feeling this way. Depressed, sad, down, and blue.

Surely among the millions of people who have visited Disney over the years there are some of you who have felt similar to what I'm feeling after your trips ended.

Do you have any advice? Does it get better? Are there things I can do to better adjust to real life?

I would appreciate any encouragement, advice, or kind words you may have to offer.

Thanks!

Been there! A year ago today I was on my last Halloween trip and it's kind of a downer being stuck in "real life". We were gone 7 days but the transition back into the real world was still kinda tough.

Even though we're not going to Disney this year my family and I still talk about it all the time. One of the main things I do to cope with not being at Disney or planning a trip is listening to the podcast, reading trip reports, etc. We've been throwing around the idea of a weekend trip on the Boardwalk but I'm starting college soon so that really makes me depressed! The next two years I won't have much to save for the mouse.

I've found the way to keep myself happy is not get too immersed in 'reality' 24/7. I always make a little time to stop by the boards, listen to a podcast or do something that reminds me of the magic

...There's also the fact I'm going to school primarily so I can take a job in Florida, so there's a motivator at least.

 

[jecskc]

Disney Depression is a real diagnosis to me. Te transition back to real life can be pretty brutal. The cure is planning another trip !! Even if it is a year or two away. Glad you had a great time. I also find that writing a trip report helps me relive my trip as well as extending those happy feelings. Also, reading other trip reports helps me as well.

 

[MyKidsMom1820]

I can relate! We went in 11 and we might get back in 13, but 14 for sure..... I think about it everyday. Looking at our pictures together as a family helps. Could you afford a shorter 5 or 6 day trip that would cost less??? A little less Disney is certainly better than no Disney at all right? The yearning to go back comes and goes, its always there but sometimes more than others. hang in there!

 

[shannon006]

I know what you mean. I have found that by doing as many things as possible at home, really helps keep the magic alive Some examples of what we do.

1. We bought the CD for the music which include many rides, and background music. We listen to it everyday in the car.

2. We schedule Disney movie nights. Sometimes we do special food/crafts to go with that movie. But honestly, we don't have a lot of time to plan for those things, so just watching a Disney movie is special. This past Saturday night was the Haunted Mansion as Halloween is this week.

3.We are always looking for hidden Mickeys, and try and sneak them into our home anywhere we can. People may never know or see them, but we know, and that makes us smile

4. I browse the Disney Store online everyday. I love looking at the park merchandise, and always check new arrivals and sales. Be on the lookout for free shipping or discounts. Sign up to receive those.

5. Antenna toppers are awesome! You can buy them online, they often come out with new ones that don't last long on the site. We also have a personalized liscense plate that says EPCOT, which is in a liscense plate frame we bought on our last trip. It makes me smile everytime I drive.

6.Pillsubry often comes out with the refrigetated coolies that have Mickey in the center for holidays. I will buy several of these and we have these with our Disney movie nights.

7. We use our popcorn buckets from our trips to use for our movie nights

8. I use my refillable mug from the resort on a daily basis for my water

9.We have the toy monorail, but I plan on buying slowly, each of the attractions, builidings to build my own Walt Disney World Resort at home

10. We have pictures all over the house of trips.

11. Check out EasyWDW, it is an awesome site, with so much humor, wonderful pictures, and great information on what is new and changing on a regular basis.

I hope these ideas have helped. Not a day goes by that I don't miss the happy place. Trust me on this. We won't be going back until 2014, but in the meantime, we will treausre our memories and keep the pixie dust coming.

Also, I just wanted to mention that your trip sounded amazing, and for such a long trip may have been quite ex*****ve. I'm not sure on your location, but perhaps planning shorter trips, and staying in 2 rooms at a value, or a room for 5 at Port Orleans, with free dining may be a better way to go. Drop the park hopper tickets. We have made many trips by planning cutting out some things that for our family were not must haves. Never regretted it. However for us, we ALWAYS purchase the photopass. To me, it is priceless.

Have a magical day

 

[tbowman]

Thank you everyone for your kind words and advice. I will be following many (if not all) of your suggestions.

Shannon - You are right, our trip was very expensive. We went all out. We could do Disney at a much lower cost by cutting corners.

But it still seems out of reach to me. Living in Nebraska the travel portion of the trip is a huge hurdle. Driving 24 hours doesn't appeal to anyone in the family. And airfare alone is expensive.

My girls will also all be in middle school and high school and possibly college by the time I can envision going again. I'm afraid they won't want to go.

I will be taking many of your ideas and my wife and I have come up with a few new ideas to extend the magic of the vacation of our vacation for the whole family. And I imagine I will always cherish the memories.

I don't know if a return trip is in the cards - even a discounted return trip. But who knows? The pull is so strong. Maybe we will find a way to make it happen.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Marsheliz]

I totally understand!!! I feel like this too! I agree with the others about reading trip reports, the CD, watching the movies, etc.. That tends to help.. We are wanting to go again in Sept 2014 and that seems forever from now..... You are not alone!

 

[shannon006]

OP, we too have a 24 hour drive We love it when we can fly, however have only done this on our couples only trips. So what we do is always drive straight through on the way. Its not fun, but doable, and we save so much money On the way home, we stop. I prefer to stay at a Holiday Inn Express. You know what you're getting, the room is always comfy and breakfast in included. We pick up the travel coupon booklets at the rest stops, and find one in there. This past June we stayed at a beautiful Holiday Inn Express, which the room was huge, for $72 out the door! We did for that one night, squeeze all 6 of us into that room, but it was huge and we had no issues. We were there for all of about 11 hours and it served its purpose. So you can save big money by driving.

Also we use the Disney transportation the majority of our time there. DH loves the break

 

[Cydsmom]

I as well get the Disney blues! We returned on Oct 20 from a 9 day trip and I have dreamed of Disney every night since then. Have faith that if you set your mind to returning, you will. Our family also had little fusses a couple of times, but that's going to happen when it's hot, you're tired, and it's so crowded you can barely move. I feel the same though, that I'm blessed to have gotten a dream trip and more blessed, because we went last year too and when we first planned this trip my husband could have paid it off in a month had he not lost his job and the new one he did find is only bringing in about 1/2 of what we were used to. Then I see families struggling to feed their kids and pay the power bill and I feel even worse for my Disney blues, but alas I still get them. Why don't you write a trip report to help ease the blues?