Pre-Trip Anxiety... Anyone Else Get This?

[mindeola]

No, but I do get post-trip depression after any vacation. Seriously.

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

I can't worry about what may or may not happen. I can only live in the moment and be excited for all that is to happen. I will say that my group has experienced illness on several trips, some worse than others. Hmmm, mom got sick on her birthday trip, but hung in there. I got sick on my birthday/HM trip and spent 1/3 of the time in our room (not ideal, but we still had a good time and I absolutely saw the love of my H as he took care of me). The worst was my niece on one of her birthday trips. She became severely dehydrated, had some unknown virus (thousands of ppl from all over the world), went to the ER twice and missed about half her trip. We've lived through all these things and still managed to have some fun in the process.

 

[RafikiTiki21]

I think its natural to feel anxious when you've planned for so long, are looking forward to something so much, and have made a good investment (time and money). You want it to be "perfect" or just as you imagined, and that's a lot of pressure!

Trip insurance helps cover/ease some of these worries. Others you can mitigate the risk of by your planning, wearing/bringing the right things, etc. But you just have to plan for the best, and then go on your trip and enjoy! Things may happen, but that's life. All you can do is plan and mitigate what is vaguely in your control.

 

[Micca]

I think it's natural to have some anxiety before a major WDW trip. You've taken a lot of time/money/effort to get everything just right, and you'd like it to be perfect. On a smaller scale, it's like planning a wedding, when the big day comes you want it to be just like you've always dreamed it would be. Having been a lifelong Disney fan, and a WDW guest for 40 years, very few of the dozens of trips have been perfect, but they all have been great. This includes trips where there was illness, injuries, and a few very expensive mistakes. Still, no regrets, there are great moments in every visit.

 

[lustergirl]

I don't usually get anxious until the night before my trip. I am usually to excited to sleep.

 

[SDSorority]

You all are the best. Thanks for sharing in my craziness and giving me tips on how to get through it!

 

[monorailrabbit]

I get these too - on my first trip I forgot to pack - of all things - shoes!! I threw on flip flops to throw the luggage in the car, and didn't realize until I heard the TSA announcement about removing foot wear that I never put my tennis shoes on. I am not a flip flop girl, no matter how much I want to be, after just half an hour my feet are blistered and it's just not a good time.

Now I make ridiculously detailed check lists weeks before I start packing. I also make to-do and shopping lists. Once I have all those lists done, my brain has to find something else to occupy itself, so the what-ifs start. What if our flight gets delayed, what if our luggage is lost, what if something happens to the dogs like they escape from the boarding facility or something... haha so I totally get it - but regardless, we always have an amazing trip and are just so thankful to be there!!

I also get a serious case of post-Disney depression... so the only cure is to immediately book another vacation and start the planning cycle all over!

 

[pd1138]

I'm about two weeks away and I do have a little pre trip anxiety! But, we have been there the week of 9/11 and even though our flight was canceled we drove at the last minute and it worked out! We were there during a tropical storm and the parks stayed open and we had a blast in the rain. We have dealt with stitches and ear infections while there too! I just think I can plan and then be ready to re-plan as needed. Some of the best memories are made during times when things go "wrong" so you go with it!!

 

[allybabba98]

I think it is completely normal. I think as long as you are okay to "go with the flow" when things don't go exactly as planned you will be okay. With three kids who each want to go in separate directions I always try to a least take a moment each day to realize where I am and just enjoy that moment.
Have a wonderful time!

 

[tsme]

I get anxious too. I worry about a lot of things too. Like the heat (DD doesn't do well in heat), over crowding, getting sick before or during, we drive so having a safe drive there & back, hurricanes, but not at Disney, I worry about one at home, we live in S. Louisiana & our DS never comes with us, I also for some reason worry about my DS running out of essentials like toilet paper & paper towels, so I over buy before I leave. I don't know why I do this, he is 24 yrs. old & fully capable of buying his own stuff. I guess I still see him as a child. Then I worry about our hairy babies, do I have enough food for them packed (they go to my parent's house), did I forget their meds or clothes, will they be happy, etc. I'm a loon. I also get so very excited that I want to start packing NOW! We're 38 days out. Is it too early for that?

 

[pd1138]

I wanted to pack at 38 days out too! My DH said it was too early. I didn't think so!!! Helps me with my pre trip anxiety so I make sure not to forget anything!!

 

[J. Iminy]

I worry about the weather the day we leave and whether our plane will be delayed or cancelled, messing up our plans. I don't even care if it rains when we are there because at least we are there. We can make anything work in Disney.

However, my biggest worry is always work. We look at Disney as a true break. A time to vacation with the three kids and let other worries fall away. It is family time and it is a time when everyone gets along and there is no/minimal fighting. We have had very few kid meltdowns even when they were little. What I worry about is work screwing that all up and people calling me or asking me to get on the phone or review documents while I'm away. Aside from being "not fun" for me, it puts a damper on the whole family's experience because the kids are still young enough that they just want us all to be together and engaged with each other. So that is my biggest source of anxiety.

 

[SRUAlmn]

So I have a good 50 days before my trip... and I'm starting to get the "what if's".

"What if we all catch a cold and have to spend the trip recovering in the room?"
"What if a hurricane comes and it's a total wash out?"
"What if the parks are so hot and crowded that it ends up being miserable?"
"What if Zika spreads to Lake Buena Vista?"
"What if our flight gets so delayed that we can't leave until the next day?"
"What if we get blisters on our feet that make it too painful to get around?"
"What if we get sun poisoning?"
"What if we have to cancel our trip again?"

Irrational, yes, but also very REAL feeling. Does anyone else have weird pre-trip thoughts or anxiety? How do you brush them off and not make things up to worry about?

Yes! I tend to have anxiety about things I can't control and I've always been an extreme worrier. If it makes you feel any better, we've had numbers 2, 3, 6, and 7 happen and none of them are looked back on as horrible memories (although the sun poisoning one was rough because it was a big splurge trip and felt like we "wasted" money,) but you're in Disney and you find ways to roll with it and have a great time. The huricane one was actually a TS, but it was fun! Cooler temps, less crowds, didn't have to worry about trying to look cute, lots of laughs!

 

[nooneshome]

I have been known to be a little anxious before a trip. My biggest anxiety comes from the drive to WDW. After that I am good.

 

[DiscoMickeyMouse]

Yup, I always stress out before every trip. I fine once I get there, but get anxious over everything beforehand.

 

[JJZMgailey]

"What if we get blisters on our feet that make it too painful to get around?"

Here's a great article that one of our contributors wrote with her Top tips to help your feet survive Walt Disney World - great advice there on things to think about while you're packing and getting ready to go.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/top-tips-to-help-your-feet-survive-walt-disney-world/

 

[GillianP1301]

Yes, I do! About a month before (which is where I am right now), I start hoping for no illness to hit close to or on the trip. The other one that causes me some anxiety is hurricane watch. I could care less for when we're actually there, but I get super anxious about potential impacts to my flight down. Other than that, it's just excitement, which I curb by starting to pack 3 weeks before we leave.

 

[disneylove16]

I hear you! I get anxiety before every trip, the "this is too good to be true, something's going to go wrong feeling". This upcoming trip though has been on a whole new level. Within the last 2 months, we've had one stressful thing after another pop up, to the point of cancelling our wedding and opting to just have the minister come marry us at the house. I was 99% sure we would not be going on our Disneymoon, but couldn't bring myself to cancel because I had hope for that 1%. Now, 2 weeks out, we are in the clear and things have resolved enough for us to go. You don't know what's going to happen, nor can you control it. All you can do is plan as much as you can, and hope for the best! Even if things happen, (getting sick, blisters, delayed travel, etc) deal with them as they come, and try to make the best of it. Worrying about things doesn't prevent them from happening. I'm sure you will have a magical trip!

 

[SaintsManiac]

I always do! I have anxiety already, so after months of planning a dream vacation I will worry nonstop until we get there!

 

[Tattylou]

I used to be like that, but now I'm on medicine for anxiety and it helps.... but I was anxious in general not just for trips. Lol. Now I just worry about someone getting sick and the rest of it I'm able to not dwell on.