Pre-trip worrying

[EglantineEglantine]

Hello friendly people! First time posting! I will be going to Disney World on the best trip ever with my partner in 4 days and rather then excitement I feel an overwhelming sense of dread! I’m so worried about flight delays or cancellations, one or both of us getting sick, rain every day, and the list goes on! I have planned this trip extensively (much thanks to you lovely people) and I’m so scared of things going wrong. I know it’s probably just nerves and I am prepared to roll with the punches (my fella is certainly prepared to) but I guess i’m Just seeking confirmation that this is a common feeling - especially with the months of planning and money that goes into a WDW trip. Tell me I’m not alone here!

 

[sherlockmiles]

Nope! Until I get onto the Magical Express bus I'm a mess - especially the last 24 hours....and stay clear when I'm ready to leave for the airport until the plane takes off.....

Once I'm on the bus I don't care what happens because whatever happens is better than being at home and going to work.
Anything I forgot, I can live without or buy.
Rain at Disney is better than sunshine at work.

Have a great trip!! I'm totally jealous.

 

[davper]

You are not alone. While I m not as anxious as you are, I do have fears that something will cancel my flight or prevent me from getting on a flight and all that money goes out the window. Anything else can be dealt with.

Forgot something, buy it. Almost everything can be replaced. Even if it is tickets or a phone. Don't forget ID.
If it rains, wait 20 minutes. If it hasn't stopped by then, get a poncho. The park doesn't close for inclement weather except in extreme conditions. I think you can count on one hand how often the park has closed for bad weather since '71.

Make a checklist of everything that needs to go into checked luggage, Then make a list of everything that needs to go into the carry-on. Then finally make a list of all the items you must leave the house with. Like Luggage, Carry-on, Wallet, Tickets, ID, etc. Then before you level the house, you will have confidence you did not forget anything.

Don't worry and Disney on.

 

[sherlockmiles]

"Disney On" - luv it.

 

[EglantineEglantine]

Thank you both! I have ponchos from my last trip with my parents in the 80s if you can believe that! And I absolutely agree that once we’re in the Disney bubble, everything else will be frosting on the cake

 

[Euby]

I leave this Saturday for WDW. I've made list upon list. Been there several times but I'm still having Disney trip dreams where something goes wrong. I'll be glad to get there so I can get a good nights rest.

 

[EglantineEglantine]

I leave this Saturday for WDW. I've made list upon list. Been there several times but I'm still having Disney trip dreams where something goes wrong. I'll be glad to get there so I can get a good nights rest.

Right? It's exhausting! All week it's taken me about 2 hours to fall asleep because of the worrying loop!

 

[Spencer Wright]

Hello friendly people! First time posting! I will be going to Disney World on the best trip ever with my partner in 4 days and rather then excitement I feel an overwhelming sense of dread! I’m so worried about flight delays or cancellations, one or both of us getting sick, rain every day, and the list goes on! I have planned this trip extensively (much thanks to you lovely people) and I’m so scared of things going wrong. I know it’s probably just nerves and I am prepared to roll with the punches (my fella is certainly prepared to) but I guess i’m Just seeking confirmation that this is a common feeling - especially with the months of planning and money that goes into a WDW trip. Tell me I’m not alone here!

You are most certainly not alone!!

I'm fine with most things with WDW trips now, but one lingering area is anxiety about flight delays and cancellations. I fly down with my sister and actually posted a thread pre-trip because I get so anxious that it gets her upset. I'll see if I can find it and link it but I got lots of helpful tips.

Where are you flying out of? Is the flight direct? What airline?

I fly direct out of Philadelphia, and found if I really take my time in the airport, and sit away from the main action it REALLY helps calm me down. We fly Southwest, and the area where those flights primarily take off from is insane!!! So, we sat more down toward where AA takes off and it was much calmer. Maybe find a good comedy to watch? I watched my dvd's of this British comedy called Absolutely Fabulous which I had not watched for a long time and I was cracking up. Before I knew it, it was time to load.

In short, I recommend getting to the airport early (perhaps 3 hours) and really moving slow and staying out of the way of most of the action. In terms of delays and cancellations, do not think about it, period!!! There is nothing you can do, and depending on the airline there are not likely anyway.

 

[EglantineEglantine]

You are most certainly not alone!!

Where are you flying out of? Is the flight direct? What airline?

I fly direct out of Philadelphia, and found if I really take my time in the airport, and sit away from the main action it REALLY helps calm me down. We fly Southwest, and the area where those flights primarily take off from is insane!!! So, we sat more down toward where AA takes off and it was much calmer. Maybe find a good comedy to watch? I watched my dvd's of this British comedy called Absolutely Fabulous which I had not watched for a long time and I was cracking up. Before I knew it, it was time to load.

We are flying out of Pearson airport in Toronto Canada - the Winter weather here is bonkers in a good year but this year it has been particularly awful. Extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, you name it. We are flying Air Canada which is famous for delays and cancellations, but is thankfully a direct flight. I've been watching the Orlando forecast and there are thunderstorms on Sunday when we fly in.
Today I woke up and told myself I will not be checking the forecast again until Sunday. Like you said, it's out of my control, we are not alone (so many people will be flying in and out of Orlando) and Florida weather is unpredictable! I have been to Florida many times but this is our first all-out WDW trip and I am a mega-fan so I've managed to get myself quite worked up.
That is absolutely wonderful advice about not sitting near the gate that we will be taking off from. It will be full of anxious snowbirds flying south, I'm sure! I will make sure to download something funny - I love Ab Fab! I also play a Disney game called Emoji Blitz which I always find super distracting on our chaotic transit system to and from work ha ha. I'm sure that will be helpful in the airport.

 

[TwinkleKS]

Don't stress It will all be okay .... and even if something does happen, it can be fixed. Seriously, over the years we have had some crazy things happen when traveling and even when they happen it all works out.

When my kids were 2,4, and 4 we had all of the luggage stolen out of our car (totally DH's fault I must add) and literally arrived at WDW for a ten day trip with the clothes on our back. We had it taken care of in a few hours.
We have had flight delays, people getting sick, etc. It's all good.

Like others have said, if you get anxious, plan on arriving at the airport early so that isn't a stress for you. Don't make a lot of reservations on the first day for FP or ADRs if that is something that adds to the stress.

 

[EglantineEglantine]

Don't stress It will all be okay .... and even if something does happen, it can be fixed. Seriously, over the years we have had some crazy things happen when traveling and even when they happen it all works out.

When my kids were 2,4, and 4 we had all of the luggage stolen out of our car (totally DH's fault I must add) and literally arrived at WDW for a ten day trip with the clothes on our back. We had it taken care of in a few hours.
We have had flight delays, people getting sick, etc. It's all good.

Like others have said, if you get anxious, plan on arriving at the airport early so that isn't a stress for you. Don't make a lot of reservations on the first day for FP or ADRs if that is something that adds to the stress.

Wow I'm sorry that happened to you! Glad it worked out quickly. I've had my passport stolen on a trip in Europe and it totally sorted itself out in a day. I have definitely rearranged some early ADR and FP times in just in case. We're hoping to try for a kid soon and it's my dream to take my kiddo to WDW so I really gotta work on my "Hakuna Matata" before that happens!

 

[1911]

Hello friendly people! First time posting! I will be going to Disney World on the best trip ever with my partner in 4 days and rather then excitement I feel an overwhelming sense of dread! I’m so worried about flight delays or cancellations, one or both of us getting sick, rain every day, and the list goes on! I have planned this trip extensively (much thanks to you lovely people) and I’m so scared of things going wrong. I know it’s probably just nerves and I am prepared to roll with the punches (my fella is certainly prepared to) but I guess i’m Just seeking confirmation that this is a common feeling - especially with the months of planning and money that goes into a WDW trip. Tell me I’m not alone here!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/pre-trip-anxiety-nerves.3618243/

you're not alone! it's pretty much like what sherlockmiles said for me also.

 

[bryanb]

It’s great that you planned everything out in such perfect detail, but now it’s time to be prepared in case you have to let go of every expectation.

One of the best days of my WDW life. Pouring raging rain, muggy, rides closed due to lightning. Me sitting at Disney Springs in at the bar of Homecomin’ with a beer and a plate of Southern food, having a great conversation. Watching the dramatic weather. No worries. Just relaxing on a vacation. The weather cleared soon enough and it was great to return to a park that had cleared out. The lines nonexistent. Got to take our time and just enjoy the crisp air. All the plans were upside down but life was so good.

 

[PDXmouse]

You’re absolutely not alone! We’re leaving tomorrow and I was DREADING packing. It was making me seriously anxious. And I’m excited about the trip but was dragging my feet about packing! I think it’s anxiety about the trip, worry I’ll forget something, worry I’ll pack the wrong type of clothes, or too much stuff I don’t need (or not enough of what I do.). I’m driving DH crazy worried about the flu, about crowds, about cold weather.... It’s enough to make me want to stay home! I really hope the feeling goes away tomorrow.

 

[EglantineEglantine]

It’s great that you planned everything out in such perfect detail, but now it’s time to be prepared in case you have to let go of every expectation.

One of the best days of my WDW life. Pouring raging rain, muggy, rides closed due to lightning. Me sitting at Disney Springs in at the bar of Homecomin’ with a beer and a plate of Southern food, having a great conversation. Watching the dramatic weather. No worries. Just relaxing on a vacation. The weather cleared soon enough and it was great to return to a park that had cleared out. The lines nonexistent. Got to take our time and just enjoy the crisp air. All the plans were upside down but life was so good.

That sounds like an amazing day! I love when plans change and you end up having an even better time

 

[EglantineEglantine]

You’re absolutely not alone! We’re leaving tomorrow and I was DREADING packing. It was making me seriously anxious. And I’m excited about the trip but was dragging my feet about packing! I think it’s anxiety about the trip, worry I’ll forget something, worry I’ll pack the wrong type of clothes, or too much stuff I don’t need (or not enough of what I do.). I’m driving DH crazy worried about the flu, about crowds, about cold weather.... It’s enough to make me want to stay home! I really hope the feeling goes away tomorrow.

I feel this. I'm driving my partner crazy! He keeps giving me "the look" every time I fret ha ha

 

[JEng711]

You’re not alone! WHEN we get to WDW all is good but this winter weather and travel has me bugging like never before.

We’re in NY and will fly out of JFK direct on 2/3. When we had that major snowstorm/blizzard a couple weeks ago, flights were canceled or delayed out of both JFK and LGA, and major highways were closed due to a state of emergency for road workers and emergency services, I looked at the hubs and said “If ANYTHING like this is predicted for our travel date, we’re going a day early and we’ll stay in a Motel 6 if we have to.”

He looked at me like I was crazy (not about $, more like “calm your tatas about snowstorms”), but I’m not letting anything that I have any aspect of control over, get in the way of this get-me-out-of-the-northeast family vacation.

 

[EglantineEglantine]

You’re not alone! WHEN we get to WDW all is good but this winter weather and travel has me bugging like never before.

We’re in NY and will fly out of JFK direct on 2/3. When we had that major snowstorm/blizzard a couple weeks ago, flights were canceled or delayed out of both JFK and LGA, and major highways were closed due to a state of emergency for road workers and emergency services, I looked at the hubs and said “If ANYTHING like this is predicted for our travel date, we’re going a day early and we’ll stay in a Motel 6 if we have to.”

He looked at me like I was crazy (not about $, more like “calm your tatas about snowstorms”), but I’m not letting anything that I have any aspect of control over, get in the way of this get-me-out-of-the-northeast family vacation.

This is me. The flight change cost is actually absurd and I don’t think we can do it. But i’ve fantasized about going a day early and taking a DVC tour in the extra time we would have if only for free ice cream ha ha

 

[loves to dive]

Nope, I don't worry about any trip I'm getting ready to take, I'm sort of a take life as it comes and roll with the punches sort of gal. I can guarantee something will not go as planned, best laid plans and all. This is why we don't plan very much. Some trips do take a little more planning than others, if it's a dive trip to a far away place obviously we have to plan out the best time to go, find plane tickets, a place to stay, the best dive operator. Most dive operators can be booked on a daily basis so if it's possible, that is what we do.

One year we had a trip to Belize booked in early December, we live in Georgia so it's a direct flight from Atlanta. It was on a live aboard dive boat, which is kind of like a cruise ship for divers but it's bare bones, built just for diving. You have to pay in advance and usually no refunds. They send someone to pick you up at the airport but the boat is going to leave when the boat leaves. The day before we were supposed to leave a bad snow storm was supposed to hit Georgia, which meant no flights would be leaving. The airport was planning to close the next day, I heard this on the radio while at work. I called honey and told him so he got on the phone with Delta trying to find an earlier flight out. Mind you, we had no lodging planned for Belize since we were supposed to arrive and get on the boat a few hours after. Finally he was able to get a flight out of Atlanta to Houston with a night layover in Houston then Houston to Belize. The flight would be leaving Atlanta in about 4 hours from right then, we live in Athens, which on a good day is about a hour and half away from the airport, on a bad day it can be three. We hadn't packed anything yet, I was going to do it that night. I got off work and ran home (1/2 hour from where I work) while honey had gathered together suitcases and his clothes. When I got home I grabbed some clothes, thankfully you don't really need a lot of clothes for these trips, just a lot of bathing suits. While I was gathering my clothes and packing, he was downstairs throwing dive gear in the back seat of the truck. Again, we keep it all in one place and pretty much all together ready to go. I ran down there and double checked he had everything, jumped in the back seat while he drove like a bat out of you know where while I was packing gear. I got it all packed just as we pulled into the parking garage. We ran to the terminal and got there about 1/2 before the flight. When we got to Houston, I got on the phone with my co-worker for her to try to find us a near by hotel (this was before the internet on phones). Thankfully, there was one in the airport and it had a vacancy. We booked our luggage straight through so all we had was our carry ons which had mostly dive stuff, we bought toiletries at the airport. Everything worked out, we got there in time and made the trip. Best laid plans and all.

For WDW trips, I get a resort reservation and that is it. I have an AP and my son sometimes does and sometimes doesn't, if he doesn't we buy him tickets when we get there. We book FPs the day we are on the bus on the way to the park and ADRs usually in the afternoon while walking around. No plans, nothing can go wrong.

 

[tellemarie]

I have anxiety on a daily basis, so even though I am an ultimate Type A personality when it comes to planning and I've been to WDW many times, I still get anxious. I make about a million lists, try to make sure everything is in the right order and double (if not triple) checked. I don't start having trip nightmares until it gets to the last week or two prior to the trip. But once we get there, everything is awesome! Most of my fears are unfounded. Of course now we're talking about doing early morning flights instead of driving (since we have a lease and are already over mileage, oops) so I'm already worried about not waking up on time and we don't even have a flight booked yet.

You really have to just breathe and take it in stride. Try to understand/remind yourself that you're going to have these worries so that it lessens the full impact because you KNOW it's going to happen at some point. I have a phrase that I often use to calm myself down if it's a particularly bad bout of anxiety and it helps, but I know it won't always so I just try to breathe through it, acknowledge it, and try to distract myself from it.

Sorry this totally turned into a lecture on dealing with anxiety, but just sharing what works for me! Hopefully some of it might help!