WDW Anonymous(e): Signs of addiction

[MatzoBelle]

Tolerance: need a longer trip to get fix
Withdrawal: post-trip blues
Craving: restlessly pine for next trip
WDW-seeking behavior: endless plotting and strategizing to justify one more trip
Preoccupation: hours spent planning real or imaginary trips
Need for eye-opener: read message boards before breakfast
Trouble cutting down: ignore objections to another trip from significant other
Secrecy: embarrassed to tell others you are going again; plan in private; hide souvenirs
Stockpiling: collect items for trip months in advance
Pre-loading: listen to parks music and Disney podcasts during journey
Guilt: can't afford trip that you are taking anyway
Single-minded focus: forget that there is a real world to vacation in and discuss
Regret: exhaustion, burnout, poverty and desire never to return...until a week after trip
Rationalization: tell self all the walking makes the trip essential for health
Remorse and promises not to relapse: tell self and spouse next trip is last hurrah
Relapse: go again anyway
Denial: buy DVC

The cure: accept you are powerless over your addiction, refuse rehabilitation, and get an annual pass with water park add-on

Yes?

 

[ruthies12]

Are you starting a support group? I'm in

 

[GBBTomorrow]

Yes. This is exactly right. A few years ago I had a major breakthrough in my addiction: I've started openly referring to it as "my hobby." I used to feel a little bad about my Disney obsession, but when I started thinking about all the strange hobbies I've heard of, I figured, hey, this can be MY strange hobby. Putting it into that context has helped me both enjoy the time I spend on it with less guilt, and given me a convenient way to explain my Disnerd-dom to people who look at me strangely: "You know how you like to go to estate sales/collect comic books/paint your dog's toenails/pull weeds from your lawn by hand? Well, Disney is my hobby, just like that."

 

[runnerchick]

You know you have a problem when you book 499 days out....I am liking the idea of calling my obsession a "hobby"!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Psychological studies have shown that more pleasure is derived by spending money on experiences instead of things. "drops mic*

 

[PetePanMan]

Yes. This is exactly right. A few years ago I had a major breakthrough in my addiction: I've started openly referring to it as "my hobby." I used to feel a little bad about my Disney obsession, but when I started thinking about all the strange hobbies I've heard of, I figured, hey, this can be MY strange hobby. Putting it into that context has helped me both enjoy the time I spend on it with less guilt, and given me a convenient way to explain my Disnerd-dom to people who look at me strangely: "You know how you like to go to estate sales/collect comic books/paint your dog's toenails/pull weeds from your lawn by hand? Well, Disney is my hobby, just like that."

I view keeping up on all things Disney as my hobby as well. It really helps spread out the enjoyment of the actual trips. Planning for next trip at end of your current trip also help reduce post trip blues.

 

[tiggernpooh]

My whole family is addicted, thanks to me.
We now take shorter trips, but more often so we don't have to wait as long to get our next "fix"!

 

[MatzoBelle]

I left out cross-addiction and gateway "drugs": WDW leads to cruises and experimentation with other parks.

 

[kbelle8995]

Are you starting a support group? I'm in

I think that the boards are the support group.

 

[micksn]

I'm from the UK. If it's a medical condition do you think I could get a trip prescribed on the NHS?

 

[ArwenMarie]

Yes. This is exactly right. A few years ago I had a major breakthrough in my addiction: I've started openly referring to it as "my hobby." I used to feel a little bad about my Disney obsession, but when I started thinking about all the strange hobbies I've heard of, I figured, hey, this can be MY strange hobby. Putting it into that context has helped me both enjoy the time I spend on it with less guilt, and given me a convenient way to explain my Disnerd-dom to people who look at me strangely: "You know how you like to go to estate sales/collect comic books/paint your dog's toenails/pull weeds from your lawn by hand? Well, Disney is my hobby, just like that."

I love this! So true. Why is it different than anyone else's odd hobby?

 

[ArwenMarie]

My whole family is addicted, thanks to me.
We now take shorter trips, but more often so we don't have to wait as long to get our next "fix"!

Same here, I don't need or want longer trips, I prefer more frequent.

 

[Fan of Figment]

I "cured" myself a long time ago.

 

[Texas Mickey]

Hi! I'm Texas Mickey and I'm a Disney addict. It's been 6 months since since my last trip.

 

[chrispeto]

My husband and I are both WDW addicts, fortunately my grandkids live in Washington so we only go to WDW every other year and see the grandkids on off years. But it is real hard not to plan a Disneyland trip on those off years. Good thing it is expensive

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Same here, I don't need or want longer trips, I prefer more frequent.

Yuuup. 4-5 park days is all I want/need. We love to do frequent trips of that length. I get my Disney fix, and find that 4-5 days is plenty of time for me to breathe in, breathe out, and move on.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

You know you're D-U-N when you're waiting for DME for the trip back to MCO and see the little girl crying and then the mom crying and you start crying.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Yuuup. 4-5 park days is all I want/need. We love to do frequent trips of that length. I get my Disney fix, and find that 4-5 days is plenty of time for me to breathe in, breathe out, and move on.

Same here. Even three full park days/4 nights is enough for me to book a trip. Another benefit is you don't get as worn out if you are touring for less days

I don't see us ever doing the long 8-9 days again, I'd rather break it up into two trips. But we're lucky where we live, we have a lot of airline options and the flight is short.

 

[Mikie]

I left out cross-addiction and gateway "drugs": WDW leads to cruises and experimentation with other parks.

It's a little eerie how well the addiction language fits the WDW mold. . . "Experimentation with other parks" is the pitfall we may succumb to next trip as my kids have gotten older.

 

[chefmb]

I left out cross-addiction and gateway "drugs": WDW leads to cruises and experimentation with other parks.

Uh--oh! I'm in trouble!