Tips for dealing with the long wait till our next trip to WDW?

[disneyterri]

This threat really hit home. We haven't been to Disney since Feb. 2004 (except for a day trip to MK in 2011), but we're planning one for next August (2nd half). I have two small trips coming up this summer, but all I can think of is the Disney trip next year. I just keep coming here to get some sort of fix.

 

[noahdove]

I love this thread!!! I am Disney-sick...I am planning 2 trips as I write this one for this August with 2 dear friends and the other is a cruise April of 14..
I read and read more whether I am planning or feeling sad/sick for Disney..I love reading everyones tips and tricks and special things they do...keep this going I do need to buy music tho only have a few songs for the kids...

 

[Lumiere Lover]

DH can't take any more trips to WDW for quite a few years. He said he want's to try other things. You know what that got him-I'm planning a trip to Disneyland for June 2014. I feel like a fish out of water. I am worried that I am going to be disappointed in the size, etc. To have the Tower of Terror, Soarin, and Bug's life attractions all in the same park seems crazy to me. At least I know I will be able to walk in the park that Walt walked in. That will make it worth it for me!!

 

[Lisa71]

Soarin , and Bugs life are in California Adventure next door...and yes, it is smaller, but that makes it easier to do more. I love WDW and grew up in CA...but Disneyland was much better than the MK if you ask me. WDW is our fave place on earth...but the magic at Disneyland does not disappoint.

 

[excited4disney2012]

We returned from our trip in February this year. I immediately began "planning" our next trip which will be in January 2014. I feel like a weirdo because I research something Disney EVERY single day! Crazy!

 

[nickeldc]

I've found that avoiding all Disney stuff is actually what helps me. Different for everyone, but being on these boards and watching Disney videos on youtube just make me 'Disney-sick' (as opposed to home-sick!). The last time we went was in March of 2011, and I haven't been on these boards since then, til now, since we are planning a trip for fall of this year. I still get pangs for Disney, but I try to distract myself with other things until it's time to start planning another trip!

Completely agree - I only have four months and I am OBSESSING! I need to cool it!

 

[bocaj1431]

Our last trip to disney we made the best purchase. We bought the official WDW CD " Four parks - One world". It has music from the attractions, rides, entrance music to the parks and more. You feel like you are right back in the parks again. Whenever we need a disney fix we just hit play. I have seen it available on Amazon.

 

[MrsBoyer428]

I'm glad I found this thread. DH and I are going on the Fantasy next Saturday and I can already feel the dread of Disney withdrawals coming on.

 

[winkytink]

I'm new to the research game and our trip isn't for another 4 1/2 years, so I've been immersing myself in review sites and watching too many Disney films! Lol. Just found this forum today and I can tell it'll get me in trouble. Poor DH is gonna lose his mind. He's not really into theme parks. I'm not either...but WDW is so much more. He's never been so he doesn't get it. It's all about escapism and living a life that doesn't exist outside of Reedy Creek...oh yes I know about that.

 

[suzimar57]

it's been 5 years since our last trip (and probably another year or two more before our next....) so coming here daily fills the void!

plus mentally planning for a trip helps a lot!

 

[Fantasmic23]

Some people have advised me to stay away from these boards when my next trip seems impossibly far away (April 2014), citing that I will just become more frustrated and depressed. Nonsense! Checking in here at least weekly (and sometimes daily) gives me even more inspiration and motivation (especially since I am putting money away for the trip each week). I have to keep my eyes on the prize, and the DIS is one way to do it! I realize, though, that some people get "Disney Sick" and the DIS (and YouTube ... See below) might not be the best place for them.

Watching YouTube videos is great, too. Lately, I have been watching ride videos (Spaceship Earth, Dinosaur, Test Track, etc.), because I have watched all of the "Surprise! We're going to Disney!" videos to death.

Watching Disney movies helps, too, but I prefer the Disney-themed documentaries when I'm feeling the blues in-between trips: Waking Sleeping Beauty, Walt & El Grupo, Walt: The Man Behind the Myth, The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story, Frank & Ollie, Modern Marvels: Walt Disney World, etc.,etc. Most of these docs used to be available on Netflix Instant Streaming, but sadly they've disappeared. Regular Netflix should have all of them.

Don't tell my kids, but I have been reading Ridley Pearson's The Kingdom Keepers series. A great, entertaining way to pass the time between trips! There are also wonderful books about Walt Disney and Walt Disney World, too! Check your local library before you fork over money for books.

I also make endless lists, including a list of songs I want to download onto my iPod for the next trip (most of them Disney-themed). I know ... I'm a geek. . There are even songs I should download NOW, to emphasize my impatience about our next trip: "The Waiting" by Tom Petty, "Anticipation" by Carly Simon, "When Will I See You Again?" by The Three Degrees, and "Patience" by Guns N' Roses.

 

[Fantasmic23]

Our last trip to disney we made the best purchase. We bought the official WDW CD " Four parks - One world". It has music from the attractions, rides, entrance music to the parks and more. You feel like you are right back in the parks again. Whenever we need a disney fix we just hit play. I have seen it available on Amazon.

YES! This is by far my favorite WDW souvenir! I bought it on our Pre-Christmas Trip in November 2010 and I haven't stopped listening to it ever since. The Swiss Family Robinson tree house theme does get on our nerves after awhile.

 

[Disney Springs]

Our last trip, (or vacation in general), was 2010, with no future trip in sight....at the moment. I go through emotional highs and lows. Some days I'll really be in a Disney mood and will surf the Dis food picture thread, or resort board, watch Disney movies, etc. Then other days I get too depressed that I try to avoid anything Disney. Just like the PP who mentioned this. I totally get it!

For me, half the fun is the planning. So I can't wait to get back into that! I'm hoping to aim for a WDW trip in 2015 or 2016. But I really won't know until next year.

My "mini" goal for right now is finding a part-time job, and part of my paycheck will be saved for that trip, and vacations in general. I already have a temp job lined up for next week. Hoping one of these temp jobs turns into a permanent position. I'll have to wait and see! So at least for now, I can start seeing Disney vacations in our future again!

 

[Phoenixrising]

Realistically our trip to WDW won't be till 2015/2016, depending on how I'm able to save the money. DH took pity on me and I'm planning a solo trip to DL in Nov without the family as a sanity break from all the problems we've had this year. I'd love to find a part time job, but am currently recovering from a bad car accident, that realistically won't be able to actively look till 2 to 3 months from now. There is a slim possibility that we could go in 2014, depending on how big of settlement I get from the accident (the accident wasn't my fault). In the meantime, I'm still on a fact finding mission on WDW, while planning my escape from home in Nov to DL. I'm heavily researching both trips, so that when I'm ready to book the WDW trip, I can go into my fav TA and tell her exactly what we want to book, and will be very informed. I love to plan, and it's keep my sanity throughout my recovery from my accident.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Someone smarter than me said 'The best part of any trip is anticipation and remembrance.' So true!

My sister and I planplanplan when we've got a trip coming up, even if it's months away, and we talktalktalk about past trips to help bide the time. I went solo in November 2006 and I kept a journal of that trip, with a lot of 'this is what I'm doing now' and 'this is where I'm going' sorts of entries, and I still read it to this day. Takes me right back.

 

[Nakkira]

I know this can get kind of expensive but sometimes I go to ebay or disney store and find things on sale. Maybe a 99 cent trinket or a t shirt. It gives me something to look forward to in the mail. Don't go crazy though. Don't want to encourage a hoarding situation .

I use a similar method to help me curb my anticipation. I keep ordering "little things" I can use on my trip (while not going over-board)
A pin, a new lanyard, a collapsible water-bottle.
I am getting things I need and building my trip anticipation at the same time.

147 days to go is 146 days too many!

 

[cfriend416]

I agree that sometimes the best thing to do is just stay away from everything Disney - but that doesn't mean I do it! I just went for the third time this past February, and I am already so Disney-sick. We're really hoping to go this coming February, but it's really not a very realistic hope! Hopefully we'll know in the next couple months if it's going to happen or not. In the mean time, I'm spending time on the boards and reading every update on easywdw.com. It's my favorite Disney blog!

 

[cbeeindisney]

Love this thread, like said before, I'm not alone! Df and I won't be going on our honeymoon until summer 2015, that's right, 2015!! I could die in anticipation of booking and planning this trip, but I go on here, the Disney food blog, and anything I can to check out news about WDW. It's tough! I'm actually looking for ways to deal myself!

 

[kaelalala]

I'm back home for a few weeks after my CP and I want nothing more than to return to WDW right now! Only 54 days til my return to my REAL home
Since I've been home I've been trying not to focus on how much I miss Disney, but instead on all the awesome memories I have and the new ones I'll be making when I go back. I'm trying to keep myself busy by picking up hobbies that aren't necessarily related to Disney (but certainly could be if I wanted) - sewing, baking, cleaning...I guess you could say I'm being a Disney princess and naturally, I have Disney movies and parks music blasting in the background the whole time!

 

[nym4588]

We have seven months to go and I feel like it's dragging by! I am really excited about this one because it's a special mom/daughter trip. She hasn't been there in years and I can't wait to be her personal tour guide!