jcamacam
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2004
- Messages
- 344
My mom is planning a major grand gathering for our family (50 of us in all) for 12/2-12/9 (woohoo! almost there!).
Anyway, she sent us this article a few weeks ago about enjoying the anticipation of the trip - thought you might enjoy it (and your upcoming trips as well!)!
Anticipation --
Almost as Much Fun as Being There!
Some people are lucky enough to have the magic of the Mouse practically in their own back yard. For them, Disney World is not a vacation destination, but the location of their local park, favorite restaurant or show. With just a swipe of their annual pass, they can pop in for the day for lunch at France or a quick Tower of Terror fix. They have their favorite servers and tables at their favorite restaurants, their favorite Cast Member attraction operators on their favorite rides. They reek of Mouse savvy.
For the rest of us, a trip to visit the Mickster requires a *tad* more planning.
Our trips require giant bottles of change that must fill up before we call Central Reservations. Calendars must be scoured and vacation time requested well in advance. Airlines, cars, and hotels must be booked. Countdown clocks to the Mouse can have numbers upwards of 600 days. We are lucky in one way that many of the local folks are not, however.
We are blessed with Anticipation.
It almost seems to not be an accident that Anticipation and vacation sound so similar. Anticipation can be a way of adding time to a vacation. In fact, all of our vacations, regardless of where we are going, have a number of definite anticipatory steps. With Disney World, it's kind of a 5 step program for Disney addicts.
Step 1: Admitting you need to see The Mouse
"Hi, my name is John, and I am a Disneyholic." This usually is accompanied by an unexplainable need to give giant fuzzy- headed characters a hug.
It may have been suddenly brought on by a year of exceptional responsibility and hard work. Or maybe just a reflection in the mirror one morning that looked more like your parents and less like you. A flurry of phone calls usually follows, ending with the final realization that WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD.
Step 2: Vicarious Vacations
Almost immediately, the vast resources of friends and the worldwide web are accessed. You're suddenly eager to see those lengthy vacation videos and photos of your neighbor's trip to Mousedom last month. You're even happy to see perfect strangers' videos and pictures. You find yourself smiling and waving at Mouse commercials on TV and squealing, "We're going!" -- even if no one else is in the room.
Suddenly it MATTERS what's going to be happening at The Mouse five months from now.
Step 3: The Battle Plan
Serious planning begins to take shape. EVERYTHING that can be read, is read. Over and over. Even those who have been there dozens of times are apt to buy a guide book just for some fun reading.
Life and death decisions are calculated. What night for Portobello Yacht Club? When will we see Fantasmic? What days for Animal Kingdom?
As the 30-day mark approaches, resort hotel maps are scoured and memorized.
Step 4: Dusting off the old Mouse-wear
Packing is a very personal thing. Some begin packing well in advance of any trip. Some wait until the last spin of the dryer the night before departure. Some pack with the skill of an Air Force load master, leaving nothing behind. Some stick a toothbrush in their shirt pocket and hope for a good sale on underwear at their destination.
For the last bazillion happy years, however, packing has been the pinnacle of Anticipation. It begins with the arrival of the Vacation Packing Fairy.
There's nothing that brings more joy to this writer's mind than when the "big" suitcase magically appears open and empty on the bed in the guest room. It means something wonderful is about to happen. It means that work, and all thoughts of it, will soon be gone. It means great fun and adventure SOMEWHERE is about to be had.
As days go by, little piles of clothes and things in Ziploc bags begin to surround the suitcase. One by one over a period of days, the Packing Fairy moves all the items into the suitcase.
Step 5: Pirates in Your Pillow
It doesn't matter how many times you've been to see Mickey. It doesn't matter if the servers at Boma know you by name, or if you've never been to the Mouse at all. As far as 72 hours in advance of your departure, truly mystical things begin to happen in your pillow at night.
Train and steamboat whistles can be heard in distant parts of the down. Pirates singing "Yo Ho" just below the pillow case make sleep hard to come by. Fireworks appear on the inside of your closed eyelids. You can SWEAR you smell Main Street cookie dough.
Anticipation has a magic that can stretch a five-day, one- week, or two-week vacation into a mental one that can last for months. It makes the toughest days a little easier, and the best of days even better. It has the power bring a smile to your face, often when you need it the most.
Anticipation is a gift.
May your countdown clock be short, your pillow full of marvelous sounds, and your next vacation be your best.
* * * * * * * * *
Anyway, she sent us this article a few weeks ago about enjoying the anticipation of the trip - thought you might enjoy it (and your upcoming trips as well!)!
Anticipation --
Almost as Much Fun as Being There!
Some people are lucky enough to have the magic of the Mouse practically in their own back yard. For them, Disney World is not a vacation destination, but the location of their local park, favorite restaurant or show. With just a swipe of their annual pass, they can pop in for the day for lunch at France or a quick Tower of Terror fix. They have their favorite servers and tables at their favorite restaurants, their favorite Cast Member attraction operators on their favorite rides. They reek of Mouse savvy.
For the rest of us, a trip to visit the Mickster requires a *tad* more planning.
Our trips require giant bottles of change that must fill up before we call Central Reservations. Calendars must be scoured and vacation time requested well in advance. Airlines, cars, and hotels must be booked. Countdown clocks to the Mouse can have numbers upwards of 600 days. We are lucky in one way that many of the local folks are not, however.
We are blessed with Anticipation.
It almost seems to not be an accident that Anticipation and vacation sound so similar. Anticipation can be a way of adding time to a vacation. In fact, all of our vacations, regardless of where we are going, have a number of definite anticipatory steps. With Disney World, it's kind of a 5 step program for Disney addicts.
Step 1: Admitting you need to see The Mouse
"Hi, my name is John, and I am a Disneyholic." This usually is accompanied by an unexplainable need to give giant fuzzy- headed characters a hug.
It may have been suddenly brought on by a year of exceptional responsibility and hard work. Or maybe just a reflection in the mirror one morning that looked more like your parents and less like you. A flurry of phone calls usually follows, ending with the final realization that WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD.
Step 2: Vicarious Vacations
Almost immediately, the vast resources of friends and the worldwide web are accessed. You're suddenly eager to see those lengthy vacation videos and photos of your neighbor's trip to Mousedom last month. You're even happy to see perfect strangers' videos and pictures. You find yourself smiling and waving at Mouse commercials on TV and squealing, "We're going!" -- even if no one else is in the room.
Suddenly it MATTERS what's going to be happening at The Mouse five months from now.
Step 3: The Battle Plan
Serious planning begins to take shape. EVERYTHING that can be read, is read. Over and over. Even those who have been there dozens of times are apt to buy a guide book just for some fun reading.
Life and death decisions are calculated. What night for Portobello Yacht Club? When will we see Fantasmic? What days for Animal Kingdom?
As the 30-day mark approaches, resort hotel maps are scoured and memorized.
Step 4: Dusting off the old Mouse-wear
Packing is a very personal thing. Some begin packing well in advance of any trip. Some wait until the last spin of the dryer the night before departure. Some pack with the skill of an Air Force load master, leaving nothing behind. Some stick a toothbrush in their shirt pocket and hope for a good sale on underwear at their destination.
For the last bazillion happy years, however, packing has been the pinnacle of Anticipation. It begins with the arrival of the Vacation Packing Fairy.
There's nothing that brings more joy to this writer's mind than when the "big" suitcase magically appears open and empty on the bed in the guest room. It means something wonderful is about to happen. It means that work, and all thoughts of it, will soon be gone. It means great fun and adventure SOMEWHERE is about to be had.
As days go by, little piles of clothes and things in Ziploc bags begin to surround the suitcase. One by one over a period of days, the Packing Fairy moves all the items into the suitcase.
Step 5: Pirates in Your Pillow
It doesn't matter how many times you've been to see Mickey. It doesn't matter if the servers at Boma know you by name, or if you've never been to the Mouse at all. As far as 72 hours in advance of your departure, truly mystical things begin to happen in your pillow at night.
Train and steamboat whistles can be heard in distant parts of the down. Pirates singing "Yo Ho" just below the pillow case make sleep hard to come by. Fireworks appear on the inside of your closed eyelids. You can SWEAR you smell Main Street cookie dough.
Anticipation has a magic that can stretch a five-day, one- week, or two-week vacation into a mental one that can last for months. It makes the toughest days a little easier, and the best of days even better. It has the power bring a smile to your face, often when you need it the most.
Anticipation is a gift.
May your countdown clock be short, your pillow full of marvelous sounds, and your next vacation be your best.
* * * * * * * * *
