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

[NicholeB630]

I'm getting a little anxious our trip is 34 days away. Im hoping were lucky and no hurricane hits or it rains the whole time. I also worry a little about safety. Flying, being in the parks with such large crowds just because of everything that goes on in the world. Id never let fear keep me from doing things I want to and we will continue to travel but it does make me worry a little more. I used to never even bat an eyelash worrying about flying but now I do. I get sick to my stomach thinking something could happen at the airport or on the plane. Then the crowds at Disney and how it would be such an easy target. But I try and not worry to much and just be aware of my surroundings.

 

[DiannaVM]

I get anxiety about getting anxiety! LOL

The main things I worry about are the travel there (plane) and then about me getting sick in any way, or not feeling well-enough to enjoy 100% or ruin someone else's fun/excitement because I am having a "moment of (usually literal) weakness". I am doing my best to counter act all of that though by making sure I have necessary medications, proper snacks in case I need a little spike in blood sugars or to hydrate, and just think happy thoughts/have a good attitude.

As PPs have said, most other things (and even these to an extent) are out of my control and so there is no point in worrying about them too much.

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

I definitely have anxiety but most of it is transportation related. Once we are there most of it goes away. I think planning & managing is a lot easier now with MDE. I'm good once I get in the Disney Bubble but I do constantly wash hands in the bubble... just a little germ phobia.

 

[maltdizzy]

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

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?

You already know many of the thoughts are irrational, you just have to keep reminded yourself of that.

All the pre-planning adds anxiety for me. I hate it. People who like to have a plan done to the minute are set; but we prefer to relax and go where the spirit takes us on vacation. Ultimately, I am only concerned about crowds being bad. I'm not expecting it, we travel when we do minimize crowds. But I won't feel confident about that until we are there a couple of days.

If the crowds are low enough, park selections, FP+ and even ADR's can be thrown out the window and we can tour serendipitous like we prefer. If they aren't hopefully our FP+ and ADR's will keep us going but still flexible.

Heat, humidity, rain...we can easily deal with any of those.

 

[famy27]

I generally don't really get anxiety, but I've had some of the things on the list happen, and it never ruined our trips.

In September 2014, we were headed to WDW for a long weekend (just three days). Right when our plane was supposed to board, we got word that all traffic in and out of O'Hare was halted due to a fire that some idiot set at the radar center. We sat in the airport for 12 hours and never did get on a flight. We were going to cancel the whole trip, because there would really not be much point in flying all that way for one night.

We ended up calling WDW, work, the airline, etc., and we were able to push everything back one day. We got on a flight exactly 24 hours after we were supposed to leave, and we had a fantastic trip. Sure, it was stressful at the very beginning (especially when my older daughter burst into tears as the giant "CANCELLED" flashed on our gate screen), but we made it through, and it was actually kind of an interesting experience. We had a nice lunch at Macaroni Grill at the airport, the kids played at the play area, and then we went over to a gate for an afternoon flight where we were on standby. It turned out it was a Make a Wish flight, so they had cake, games, balloons, etc. Even though we didn't get on a flight, we had fun talking with the kids and the families and waving streamers and cheering, and we got more cake to eat than we needed . My DDs both walked away with treats and balloons to take home, too. We bonded with other travelers who were missing cruises, work events, family weddings, etc., so our day delay for WDW didn't seem so bad.

Now, I don't wish for lengthy flight delays (I've been stuck at O'Hare for more than 12 hours on three separate trips, and it's not my idea of a great time), but I know that it's just a hurdle to overcome on the way to an awesome trip.

I've also been sick on trips before and had blisters. It's been ridiculously hot and crowded. We just try to be flexible. On one of the super-crowded days during our Thanksgiving trip, we bailed on the parks and spent the afternoon and evening exploring the deluxe resorts. It ended up being a really fun day. Just go with the flow!

 

[YawningDodo]

A few days before we leave, I even get weird feelings that I don't want to go anymore. I don't know if subconsciously I'm bummed that the anticipation of the trip is over, or if it's because I'm stressed and feel like I have so much to do.

But once I get there, everything subsides!

That's the form my pre-trip anxiety typically takes. For at least half a week before any given trip I'll be strung out about how I don't even want to go (I have a perfectly nice house here, why am I leaving it??), but once I'm on my way I'm fine. I found that preparing further in advance helps lessen it, since I think some of it comes from being stressed out by last minute packing and feeling like things are going wrong because I realized at the last minute that I hadn't made XYZ preparation.

As for things going wrong on the trip itself...well, travel insurance helps reassure me about the big expenses, and other than that I just do my best to recognize that even if one of those things happens there will still be plenty of time for fun. On various trips I've spent a day in bed sick abroad, missed a flight home, cut short a day at a theme park because my brother got injured (and then had to spend several days taking care of him in a hotel room until another family member could come drive him home), and ended up with 100% of the clothing I had brought wet from nonstop rain. Some of those things were harder to deal with than others, but even the theme park trip that went really badly awry was fun up until that point, and at the end of the day it worked out fine and the world did not end.

 

[AmyA]

I totally understand! I used to be a huge pre-trip worrier as well. However, at this point we've had a lot of experience with the unexpected at WDW...like ear infections, strep, dental emergencies, migraines, etc. Once, I ended up with barotrauma in my left ear on the flight there and had to get a tube in that ear in order to fly home. That meant an ED visit plus a visit to the ENT. Another time we barely made our flight back to Nashville because the monorail broke down and we were stuck on it for 2 hours when we did a "quick" last ride before leaving. Because we've handled all of these things and have still had a great time overall, that's reduced my worrying to just a couple things:

1) I worry that my family will not have a good time because something with my planning will go awry. This worry is 100% irrational...my family has never been upset about this and something (or many things!) always goes awry (see previous paragraph )

2) As a PP mentioned, I worry that work will blow up and I will end up being called, texted, asked to "please just join a short conference call", etc. My family DOES get upset about this and I despise having to miss my limited family vacation time to deal with work.

No matter what, as annoying or challenging as the unexpected can be, a trip to WDW is almost always way more fun than being at home. Try to keep that in mind and even the unexpected won't be too terrible!!

 

[ls1222]

I was just thinking today, am I the only one that gets anxiety and maybe even a little sad right before vacation?? We have 6 days, and I'm hoping no one gets sick, feeling sad that this is the first time our oldest son will not be vacationing with us, worried about the flights, it's just silly I know! I was more excited when it was three months away!

 

[FortForever]

Yes, especially about getting sick. I worry to the point where I will start taking probiotics, obsessively wash my hands and desk at work, and before my last trip, I bought $40 hospital grade antibacterial wipes because I thought we'd get norovirus for some reason. LOL.

A few days before we leave, I even get weird feelings that I don't want to go anymore. I don't know if subconsciously I'm bummed that the anticipation of the trip is over, or if it's because I'm stressed and feel like I have so much to do.

But once I get there, everything subsides!

This sounds very much like me. I even have the last minute "let's chicken out" feelings. I do this for every trip. Some I back out of doing - not Disney. I even start some early October angst for family get together at Christmas. Everything drives my anxiety over the edge.

I think I noticed a common theme in this thread. Most woman had some worries and anxiety. The few men that answered mentioned insurance would take care of it, and how we can't control things anyway.

 

[floridadream]

Yes- I'm going through this now. We leave in 2 weeks and the anxiety is really starting to kick in. Like others said, we can only focus on what we can control and if something happens, we'll deal with it. Last night, my DD marked "Disney" on our calendar. While I'm so excited to see it there, I kind of freaked bc it's like I don't want to jinx anything- weird, I know

 

[LanaBear-ox]

As someone who is going for the first time, I do have some anxiety but it isn't till next year. Zika was bought up in the doctors on Thursday as we want to start trying, but we've decided to wait till after our trip and once there is new information out at the time. My other concern is the heat. When we travelled to New Zealand last year, I had severe dehydration as soon as I landed for a good week. It's about being smart really. However my excitement totally outweighs my anxieties.

 

[tigerwolf]

A few days before we leave, I even get weird feelings that I don't want to go anymore. I don't know if subconsciously I'm bummed that the anticipation of the trip is over, or if it's because I'm stressed and feel like I have so much to do.

I am so glad I am not alone in this! I felt that way today for a little while and I'm sure I'll struggle with it in the coming days. I figured it was because I spent so many months planning the heck out of the vacation that the thought of it actually happening and then being over is too overwhelming.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Never. We are 2 days less than 3 months out and I am so excited. I know there will be bumps along the way, but I am on vacation and everything can be dealt with.

 

[busymommy2pink]

I suffer from severe anxiety, and as much as rational thoughts make sense, it doesn't calm it. People that don't suffer from anxiety don't understand and always tell me to stop freaking out and chill. I wish I could lol.

Anyways. Here's the thing. Two trips ago our whole Epcot dat was spent in the medical station there with my DD who kept throwing up. Not fun, but we made it! Last trip, my hubby and I each room a turn being sick. We lost a park day because of it. We took the kids to the pool and they swam and announced it was the best day ever.

My moral of the story? Stuff can and may happen, and just take it all in stride as it comes. I do my best to just let what will happen happen. I can't change it. But, anxiety is very real. I can't tell you how to let it go, because I haven't learned that either. But what I can tell you, is it will be okay, and you will make it to the other side just fine. Maybe with altered plans, but sometimes that's ok too!

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[gcleland01]

Today I am irrationally having insane pre trip anxiety about hurricanes in Orlando happening during our mid September planned trip!

 

[crazymomof4]

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?

Oh yes! In addition to some of the things you listed I worry about...
Leaving my 74 yr old mom and wondering "what if something happens to her while we are away?" (we have hired someone to come every day 4 hrs/day to stay with her and my son is home in evenings and right next door to her)
and 4 cats at home. (they are healthy and relatively young but animal health can take a turn literally over night)
Sigh
I have to suppress these worries before every trip I take.
Actually makes me feel less of a nut case to hear others feel the same!

 

[HBaney84]

Considering my trip isn't until September 2017 (and not even booked yet), I haven't begun the what if something goes wrong during the trip. I'm worried what if somehow we don't make it to Disney - what if Disney somehow doesn't exist when we want to go. Irrational yes - but, that's my thoughts. I'm sure as I start to plan, it will start to turn into all those other worries as we get closer, but somehow (with all trips we seem to take), when we're actually doing it I won't have a worry in the world.

 

[dreiwhit]

I don't have any anxiety about an upcoming trip. What I do is to try to prepare in advance for problems. And if a problem occurs, I know what to do. And, if its something unforeseen, I roll with the punches.

Disney is supposed to be fun, not the cause of an ulcer.

 

[Fastpassminus]

YES! Pre-trip anxiety is the WORST. I have a reoccurring nightmare that I slept through the whole trip somehow and it's time to leave. I always pack cough and cold medications JUST IN CASE. I have never had a TOTAL wash out of a trip, but even when dealing with weather have had a great time.

 

[YawningDodo]

Oh yes! In addition to some of the things you listed I worry about...
Leaving my 74 yr old mom and wondering "what if something happens to her while we are away?" (we have hired someone to come every day 4 hrs/day to stay with her and my son is home in evenings and right next door to her)
and 4 cats at home. (they are healthy and relatively young but animal health can take a turn literally over night)
Sigh
I have to suppress these worries before every trip I take.
Actually makes me feel less of a nut case to hear others feel the same!

I've started boarding my pet rabbits at the vet's office whenever I leave town for more than a weekend -- my housemate is perfectly willing to take care of them, but last time I left on a more substantial trip (last fall's WDW trip, actually), one of the bunnies got an upper respiratory infection. The bun-bun was ultimately fine, but it was stressful for my housemate to have to try to get hold of me when I was busy with vacation and then for us to coordinate vet care and bills (luckily I have a great relationship with my vet's office and they were really relaxed about me just coming in and paying when I got back). The Christmas before that, the other bunny ate a ton of his paper litter and had to go to the vet overnight to be administered fluids while he tried to pass it. I've decided with my particular animals that it's better to just preemptively put them at the vet's office and preauthorize care. I feel much more at ease about leaving my dog with my housemate, though, because dogs are just more sturdy in general and it's easier for someone other than me or a vet to spot the early warning signs with a dog than with a rabbit.