Someone get a restraining order...

[TxRabbit]

I can't seem to stop dreaming about another Disney vacation and we haven't paid off the last one yet!!

AND we don't have the money to go on another one. And yet, I still find myself daydreaming, looking at dates, checking out the different resorts, comparing prices...and yet, I know that we really can't afford to go.

I am still so tempted though.

...Obviously, I need help. A new mindset. SOMETHING!!

I've been focusing/meditating on this issue as a result of this thread...

I'd like to thank everyone who responded to this thread. Your responses have helped me to gain understanding about WHY Disney is so tempting to me. I believe that this is what I really needed help with more than coping mechanisms. Sometimes when we are faced with issues, we don't even understand what the real problem is. This isn't a money/spending issue. Not at the heart of it. It's actually quite a personal issue and as silly as it may seem, this thread has helped to shed light on something that I think I have been avoiding/denying for a while. My thanks again.

 

[HDCooper]

I've recently taken up scrapbooking our last trip, and that helps me relive a lot of the fun we had on the last trip...which is also our last trip for acouple years. (financially we have other goals and some other places (cheaper yes) that we would like to visit while we reach those goals).

Scrapbooking, that is a good idea

 

[DVC Sadie]

Make it a goal. I have been wanting to go to Paris for the last 3 years. So I started squirrelling a little away. Don't get discourage that it may take some time just keep saying things like "I'm 20 bucks closer to XXX"

I'm leaving for France 5/18/10 and while it took 3 years, I can't wait.

What you posted!

I hope you have a great time in France.

 

[DanceRC28]

I am the exact same way! I usually daydream about the next Disney vaca on the plane ride home....lol. DH and I cannot afford a 2010 vacation, but like you, it doesn't stop me from comparing resorts, dates, etc. I'm trying to think that maybe 2011 will be a better year, but I can't even think that far in advance. I'd like to tell you how I plan on getting over it, but I have no clue....put one foot in front of the other and keep moving through life, that's about as good as it gets these days.

 

[TxRabbit]

Scrapbooking, that is a good idea

Scrapbooking really is a great idea. I've always planned on making a scrapbook. I've been planning one since I was in little, before they became such an industry. I did a quick look and lo and behold, there's a whole forum area here on the dis about scrapbooking. YAY! Something to read about that will be constructive!

 

[TxRabbit]

One thing that helps us because we don't have a big vacation to look forward but always have alot of stress in our life is to make the "now" fun instead of looking forward to the future when there will be fun.

...

My husband and I have learned it's about making memories all year long and documenting them is just as important. We are big picture takers as well. It doesn't have to be expensive to have fun and get out of the stress. At some point you do have to be reality ahead of wanting though. I would think a furnace is a big big need.

Make time together a priority as it is precious. It doesn't have to be in a big fun super exciting place like disneyworld. You can have fun anywhere and makes the memories that much sweeter.

EXACTLY! Going down to the lake (our local state park), having a cookout and just laying back in a lounger and reading a book is heaven and FREE. That's the kind of things we do a lot.

This is a great perspective. My present has been pretty overwhelmed with the future. I think that I've lost touch with the "now" moments.

We went camping for two nights on DS's spring break last year and both DH and I were like, we really need to just get out and do this more often. We used to go a lot when we lived in CO. And we haven't. There are quite a few good day trip/overnight worthy spots within a short drive of Houston.

Sometimes I am reluctant to go exploring though. I feel the need to have more knowledge, more info, more planning. I definitely need to let go and just go explore all the places around here. I appreciate you taking the time to post.

 

[Hutchy]

OP, I totally hear you on going away for a vacation. My husband and I haven't had a real honest to goodness vacation in 3 years. I keep teasing him that the only person going anywhere is him but he keeps assuring me that Iraq and Afghanstain is not a vacation destination

Wait, are we married to the same guy? LOL We've been married almost 6 year and thanks to deployments and TDY's our only "vacations" have taken place over 4 day weekends. We are finally going to Disney in Dec and we are using savings from his deployment last year. We put every extra penny away when he's gone and we have no debt other than our house and 1 car payment that I'm planning to pay it off during the deployment next year.

 

[wdwfan16]

Scrapbooking really is a great idea. I've always planned on making a scrapbook. I've been planning one since I was in little, before they became such an industry. I did a quick look and lo and behold, there's a whole forum area here on the dis about scrapbooking. YAY! Something to read about that will be constructive!

Scrapbooking is a very expensive hobby.

 

[crisi]

Plan and dream, but put your plans and dreams into your fantasy bucket. And since they are fantasies - stop planning trips to Disney and start planning trips to Paris, African safaris, beaches in Bali. And maybe some Disney. Live an active fantasy life (every year I spend some time picking my dress for the Oscars...I'm never going to go to the Oscars, I'm certainly never going to buy an Oscar worthy formal gown with the diamond earrings on loan from Harry Winston...but that doesn't stop me from wondering if I'd look better in deep purple or a dove grey - will I go strapless this year? Who is my date?)

Then pull yourself out from the fantasy and enjoy the life you have.

We take fairly regular Disney trips - and we can afford fairly regular and fairly expensive trips. But I still dream about the trips to Disney we aren't likely to ever actually take - the grownup trip at the Grand Floridian in a honeymoon suite. The trip where we get my husband's whole family down.

 

[TxRabbit]

Scrapbooking is a very expensive hobby.

Luckily, as I have always planned on making one, but have just never set aside the time to do it, I have a pretty good supply of scrapbooking supplies that I have collected over the years.

Do you mean to be negative with your posts? And judging? Or am I misreading you?

 

[TxRabbit]

Plan and dream, but put your plans and dreams into your fantasy bucket. And since they are fantasies - stop planning trips to Disney and start planning trips to Paris, African safaris, beaches in Bali. And maybe some Disney. Live an active fantasy life (every year I spend some time picking my dress for the Oscars...I'm never going to go to the Oscars, I'm certainly never going to buy an Oscar worthy formal gown with the diamond earrings on loan from Harry Winston...but that doesn't stop me from wondering if I'd look better in deep purple or a dove grey - will I go strapless this year? Who is my date?)

Then pull yourself out from the fantasy and enjoy the life you have.

We take fairly regular Disney trips - and we can afford fairly regular and fairly expensive trips. But I still dream about the trips to Disney we aren't likely to ever actually take - the grownup trip at the Grand Floridian in a honeymoon suite. The trip where we get my husband's whole family down.

I like this with regards to the trips. After all, how would you even know how much it would cost to go somewhere and do something if you didn't research it out first? Like the PP wanting and achieving the goal of going to Paris. Just doing research to figure out where you would want to go could be fun. Like today, I think I'll find out what it would take to go to the World Cup Finals...

 

[annsteere]

It is helpful if you can identify, SPECIFICALLY, what it is about Disney that really makes it attractive to you.

One of the things that is "magic" for me is the time with our two kids. I treasure chatting with them in line even more than the rides themselves. So, in looking for a substitute, I need an experience that gets my family away from distractions, alone-together. Watching a Disney movie won't give me that.

I treasure the rare days that DH is disconnected from his phone. (We learned this the hard way on a trip where he was "just" excusing himself for 5 minutes at a time and I was ready to throw the phone into the water at Splash Mountain). Last weekend we spent three days together in the woods--where there is no phone reception.

It may sound shallow, but it is important to me that it is warm. So, Disney-on-ice is definitely not good for me: cold, and not a good place to chat.

If "I can eat treats all day" is important to you, a county fair might make a decent substitution.

If "experiencing something new" is what rings your bell, you can get that with a museum.

Once you figure out what part of the whole vacation is the magic for you, you can look for other ways to scratch that itch while you accumulate the money for a return to Disney World

 

[TxRabbit]

It is helpful if you can identify, SPECIFICALLY, what it is about Disney that really makes it attractive to you.

One of the things that is "magic" for me is the time with our two kids. I treasure chatting with them in line even more than the rides themselves. So, in looking for a substitute, I need an experience that gets my family away from distractions, alone-together. Watching a Disney movie won't give me that.

I treasure the rare days that DH is disconnected from his phone. (We learned this the hard way on a trip where he was "just" excusing himself for 5 minutes at a time and I was ready to throw the phone into the water at Splash Mountain). Last weekend we spent three days together in the woods--where there is no phone reception.

It may sound shallow, but it is important to me that it is warm. So, Disney-on-ice is definitely not good for me: cold, and not a good place to chat.

If "I can eat treats all day" is important to you, a county fair might make a decent substitution.

If "experiencing something new" is what rings your bell, you can get that with a museum.

Once you figure out what part of the whole vacation is the magic for you, you can look for other ways to scratch that itch while you accumulate the money for a return to Disney World

Excellent advice. And something that I realized earlier, or later as the case may be, in this thread. Earlier today as a matter of fact. I realized today that I have been putting on a happy face for many many years now, while I am deeply unhappy. I recognize that it expresses itself in many different ways in my daily life.

I don't expect changes overnight, but I'm happy to have a revelation. I need time for some personal reflection and analysis. And yes, there is definitely something more than a simple trip to Disney that I am jonesing for. I'm hoping to be able to put it into words and then be able to not just get that once every however many years, but more in the here and now, as other PPs have suggested.

 

[gillenkl]

OP - some other things I do to keep the "magic" going:

Disney ring on my cell phone - unfortunately, we are now getting tracfones to lower our budget so no more ring for me.

I put up disney halloween and christmas decorations

I listen to disney music when I'm cooking or in the car

I have a disney screensaver/background on my computer

I found a Disney Monopoly game at Goodwill for $2 and it looks like it was never played with - giving that to DD for her birthday so I'm sure we'll be playing that game alot.

Just a couple little things I had forgotten about.

 

[FINFAN]

wanted to thank you for your nice post about my response.....don't beat yourself up too much aBOut all this...there are TONS of people in the same boat, heck, I have been otRI would not have posted! I don't think you need to stop frequenting the boards to avoid the "dream", I mean, knowledge is power, and you do gain valuable knowledge on ways to take a trip cheaper. I mean, not that you HAVE to book a trip just because you see a deal, but having information is a good thing Visit many of the forums, the Community Boards can be scary, but you will certainly have a variety of topics. Also, heck yeah, WDW is the ultimate escape from reality, once you drive thru those gates the real world is left behind. You get to play in a make believe land, where the *magic* is SOOOO much better than reality, who WOULDN'T want to go there every day? I agree with a PP who said they can have quality family time, no cell phones, meetings, late work nights, homework struggles etc., it's great! We also have a DS who needs action 24/7...for us, as much as I would love to go to Colorado, beach trip etc., he would be bored stiff, fight with his DS etc. Basically , if the kids are happy, we are happy. As for now, WDW brings that happiness. However, we are also getting priced right out of WDW by those same kids as they are now teens, need larger accomodations, college and HS have different vacation dates etc. Accccck, I am rambling now, hijacking your thread, sorry!
WDW is a great place to go, and for those that live close enough to drive there in 1 day,( a bargain really, for all the choices of entertainment you can choose from) there is always something new happening at WDW, so the longer you wait, the more new things you will get to see I hope you can find your "here and now", you know , I am sure it is there...it just does not have a chat board named for it to help you find it...KWIM?

 

[PatriciaH]

Plan and dream, but put your plans and dreams into your fantasy bucket. And since they are fantasies - stop planning trips to Disney and start planning trips to Paris, African safaris, beaches in Bali. And maybe some Disney. Live an active fantasy life (every year I spend some time picking my dress for the Oscars...I'm never going to go to the Oscars, I'm certainly never going to buy an Oscar worthy formal gown with the diamond earrings on loan from Harry Winston...but that doesn't stop me from wondering if I'd look better in deep purple or a dove grey - will I go strapless this year? Who is my date?)

What! I am SO going to the Oscars one day Even if I have to just pay for tickets. Lol.

 

[wdwfan16]

Luckily, as I have always planned on making one, but have just never set aside the time to do it, I have a pretty good supply of scrapbooking supplies that I have collected over the years.

Do you mean to be negative with your posts? And judging? Or am I misreading you?

I was just stating a fact. Scrapbooking is an expensive hobby. I know because I do it and it always costs me more than I expected. I have made scrapbooks for bridal showers and two of them cost me over $200 each. They were for very dear friends.

 

[TxRabbit]

I was just stating a fact. Scrapbooking is an expensive hobby. I know because I do it and it always costs me more than I expected. I have made scrapbooks for bridal showers and two of them cost me over $200 each. They were for very dear friends.

Ok. I can easily see spending $200 on a scrapbook. Especially with all the bells and whistles out there. My style is simple. When I worked, I did desktop publishing (graphic design, technical writing), and so my layouts and ornamentation tend to simple. I have some brads and things like that to add a bit of sparkle, but mostly, I just like paper. I wonder...were the scrapbooks a completed gift? A keepsake of your friendship up to that point? or were they the kind that the giftee could add pictures to? Pictures of the big wedding event, from shower to honeymoon? My SIL is getting married and I wondered about doing the latter as a gift for her.

 

[wdwfan16]

Ok. I can easily see spending $200 on a scrapbook. Especially with all the bells and whistles out there. My style is simple. When I worked, I did desktop publishing (graphic design, technical writing), and so my layouts and ornamentation tend to simple. I have some brads and things like that to add a bit of sparkle, but mostly, I just like paper. I wonder...were the scrapbooks a completed gift? A keepsake of your friendship up to that point? or were they the kind that the giftee could add pictures to? Pictures of the big wedding event, from shower to honeymoon? My SIL is getting married and I wondered about doing the latter as a gift for her.

The ones I made were for them to put their photos in. The first page would hold an full page photo of the two of them. It had fun pages (pre-engagement type), engagement, bridal shower, wedding and honeymoon.

For the wedding I had many different sections - Bride, Groom, Parents, Bridal Party, Church, Reception, Guests, Bridal Dance, Cutting the Cake and others. It was about 80 pages in total.

 

[TxRabbit]

The ones I made were for them to put their photos in. The first page would hold an full page photo of the two of them. It had fun pages (pre-engagement type), engagement, bridal shower, wedding and honeymoon.

For the wedding I had many different sections - Bride, Groom, Parents, Bridal Party, Church, Reception, Guests, Bridal Dance, Cutting the Cake and others. It was about 80 pages in total.

Did you have a model that you worked from? Or were your layouts completely original? I tend to do best with editing something, not so much from scratch. If you had a model, I'd appreciate knowing what it was so I could check it out. Also, do you recall how many hours it took you to do it?