Too much anticipation?????????

[wendyl]

Have any of you ever experienced a let down during your trip because your anticipation was too high? We are headed to AKL for 4 nights-5 days of WDW fun. It is almost all I can think about lately. My obsession seems to be growing with each day of reading these posts. I have read the "Unofficial Guide,2004" completely through--twice--and still can't get enough WDW info. I look at people's pictures, read menu's , watch my free planning DVD, etc....

MY fear, other than my husband searching for a therapist for me, is that I am putting too much into this--and once it finally gets here--it wont possibly be a great as I think it's going to be.

I'm serious--I CANNOT remember being this excited about anything in years (is that pitiful???). How can our trip possibly be the HEAVEN I expect it to be.

Does anyone else experience this phenomenon????

 

[QJ411]

We're all there w/ ya!!! Me too, I can't wait either and I think I'm going crazy. But it'll all be worth it!


We've always gotten so excited ppl look at us funny...but it was never a let down! (And if it does, you just make the best of every situation!)

Have fun!!!

 

[luckywife]

I don't think there is such a thing as too much anticipation when it comes to a trip to WDW lol
I have been counting the days to our upcoming trip for the past several months and am SO excited to realize it's "only" 65 more days now. We haven't been since 1997 and when I look at all of the new things there are to see and do, I get that much more excited. I have also read and re-read guidebooks, looked at menus for the different restaurants and watched our DVD countless times. My family is looking forward to the trip as well but it doesn't appear that they're nearly as excited as I am. Once I discovered this board, I was HOOKED and check it several times daily to see what others have posted.
I don't think you'll be in for any kind of a let down once you get there. In all honesty, the trip will probably be so much more than you've dreamed of. Have a magical time!

 

[Antonia]

I may be one of the few who think that you can plan and plan and plan and read and read and read and when the trip actually arrives and you are there, you have taken the fun out of it for yourself.
This happened to me once. Seemed like I had already been on the trip in my mind because I gotten so into it beforehand.
For my trip in June, I have decided to finish planning and then cease reading resort boards, etc. until about a week before our trip.

 

[newholiday]

I too suffered from a letdown after too much anticipation - not totally my fault though
I do understand what you mean

 

[Mercy]

I have experienced this. I too put a lot of thought and hours on these boards planning our vacation. Even though I am not really let down by the trip, sometimes the reactions of my DH and kids dampens my excitement.

Not that they don't love WDW, but they are never (or at lease they don't let it show) as enthusiastic as I am (now take into consideration that I have 2 teenage boys). I guess because I plan these trips, I feel responsible for everyone having a fantastic time.

Sometimes my expectations are probably a little unrealistic. I want our vacation to be like one of those disney commercials, you know where everyone is dancing with the characters, hugging each other, etc.

So maybe I just need to worry about ME having a good time and not worry about everyone else. OK, I'm finished psychoanalyzing myself now!

 

[mep319]

I find it ebbs and flows...I'm on a binge right now b/c I have an unexpected trip coming up. Then I get bored with it....checking on occassionally in case I missed something. You'll calm down eventually! I promise!

 

[yecats]

I agree with most of the above post, your trip is going to turn out wonderful. I use these boards to escape the reality of life for awhile. Yes, I may overplan and when my trip finally arrives, sometimes it does feel like a bit of a let down (mostly because I know those next few days are going to fly by); however, the minute I step on Disney property, all of those feelings disappear and the vacation begins. Doesn't matter how much you overplan, you can always just be spontaneous and in the moment and throw them out while your there. My last trip I had a number of PS's and towards the end of the trip just began to cancel them and go with the flow then just did what my heart desired. I will never forget my last trip.

You'll be fine and the trip will be wonderful.

 

[Disney Debbie]

I don't think there can be TOO much anticipation! That's half the fun for me! But you do have to be realistic about how things will be when you're there. You will get hot, you may run into rude people, something may be closed that you wanted to see. Just "anticipate" that things will NOT be like the commercials - which after all are only 30 seconds - they don't show you the rest of those people's trips!! Those adorable kids may be pitching a fit for a light up sword later that night!!

 

[travellady]

At this point I am more than ready for a vacation - I can't expect any let down once I get there because it's Disney. I've set my expectations to be low due to it being a holiday week but just staying at a Disney resort should be more than enough to satsify. And I don't have to cook, and I dont have to clean, and I dont have to getup for work, and I don't have to pester my son about getting his homework done, and he'll be entertained...

That said, I went to Phoenix in February and that was a letdown - it was rainy and in the high 50's every day. At least with Disney if the weather doesn't cooperate, there is so much to do anyway.

 

[wendyl]

Well said---ALL OF YOU!!

I suppose I need to think of all the preparation as more of a hobby right now--then expect anything to happen when we actually get there. I still think it will be the greatest vacation EVER!!!! Let's hope I'm right.

Listen to this: my sister in law was talking to a friend of hers who is headed to WDW as a chaperone for a school trip. She actually made this statement: "I DON'T KNOW WHY I SIGNED UP TO DO THIS--NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE 12 HOURS IN A THEME PARK WITH NOTHING TO DO!!!"--------Can you imagine!!! And she was serious!!-------------some people!!!!!

 

[mrslane]

Originally posted by Mercy


Sometimes my expectations are probably a little unrealistic. I want our vacation to be like one of those disney commercials, you know where everyone is dancing with the characters, hugging each other, etc.

So maybe I just need to worry about ME having a good time and not worry about everyone else. OK, I'm finished psychoanalyzing myself now!

You know, this is a really good point. DH and I invited his brother and wife along last yr, and I planned and planned to make sure THEY would have a god time; at our expense at times. Looking back, I know now that planning is such a fun part of the process. DH & I are going alone this summer and I will plan stuff down to the hr., but if it doesn't work, so be it. It's all happy in the end! We're going to Disney World!

 

[Bute]

wendyl
Sorry to put some sense of reason in all of this and risk spoiling it. Enjoy planning, it is half the fun of trip. Once there, remember you are in a fantasy land with real people. There will be bumps but how many hours have you already enjoyed thinking about this trip. Have fun!!!

 

[DisneyBill]

Too much anticipation?????????

Is this anything like a car too fast, or a girl too pretty? No such thing. Be flexible, expect a few change-in-plans, and you will have a most wonderful vacation!!

 

[minster22]

I am one of those who loves to plan also although we have been many times and now actually plan for down time. I think you may be confusing "anticipation" with expectations. As long as you go to WDW with the "roll with the punches"attitude ,your obsessive anticipation is not going to hurt your actual trip. I would bet that a good portion of us here on the Dis are just as crazy with excitement!! Each trip for a long time I was so afraid it would not be "as good as the last time" but now I know that they are just different and truly always surpass my "expectations". In addition to responding to you I also wanted to see my countdown because I am totallly Crazy with anticipation at this point!!!!!!!

 

[stemikger]

I am the same way. Sometimes it does damper things - becuase I have looked at so many pictures of the resort and read and reread some of the ride reviews that there is nothing left to see that will surprise me. But that being said when I do get there I take a deep breath and remind myself to take moment by moment. This helps me to enjoy the present while it is happening and let's face it - there is no better place in the world that allows you to enjoy the present like Disney World.

I think most people are guilty of not living in the moment - which is why that famous quote I believe by John Lennon is so popular which goes like this "Life is what happens while were busy making plans".

You will have a great trip no matter what (after all your in Disney).

 

[garylpn]

but go with the flow when you get there, i start shifting into my dis mode on the plane down, dw says"i can do anything i want to you when your'e on vacation" i've actually found myself doing less and less planning with each successive trip, upcoming is first trip since 98 with any ps, only because i've decided to try 'ohanas and i've never been able to do a walkup there, the rest of the trip. we just jump in the disney river and let the current take us where it will

 

[wendyl]

Has anyone found that looking at all the pictures of the resorts and restaurants, etc.... ruins some of the suprise and wonder of what you will discover when you get there. I want to walk into the lobby of the AKL and be impressed--I'm afraid that if I see everyone's pictures ahead of time--that I wont be surprised or impressed.

Anyone else experienced that with pictures??

OK--yes I know the obvious answer may be : "if you're worried--then quit looking at pictures"----------But that would separate interest from OBSESSION (which I currently have). I can't help myself, in other words.

 

[mep319]

I obessed and looked at all the pictures...don't worry about not being impressed...the pictures don't do it justice. It is the entire experience..the smells sounds etc....it's hard not to be impressed!

 

[Tink03477]

Gosh, I can't get enough of pictures! Even my own. I love looking at all the on-line pictures. It's still entirely different when you see WDW in person. As to too much antisipation, I don't think that's possible for us. My son and I watch all the vacation planning videos and DVD's ALOT starting about 2 months out at least once a week. It's sooooo exciting. We're going in May and we can't wait!!! My only worry is that neither one of us gets sick! Last year, 2 days before we were to leave I ended up in the ER over night!!! What a panic. I was blacking out at CVS in the local mall doing some last minute shopping for our trip with my son; who's 15. Poor kid. Ambulance came and took me out of there. So embarassing. Threw my son my cell phone to call Grammi and met us at the hospital. Never found out what was wrong with me and it hasn't happened since. All I could do was tell the Doc's "get me out of here, I have to finish packing and go to Disney in less than 2 days!!!" Then when we got there I couldn't eat anything because it hurt my stomach, then I lost my voice entirely (not always a bad thing lolol). But not good in crowds trying to get your son's attention as you lose sight of him disappearing. I had to clap to get his attention. Too funny! So, see; even with all that; look at the money I saved on food and I even lost weight on vacation!! I plan my little heart out, every day; that's half the fun of a Disney trip; the other half is being there with your family!!!