What do you do while you wait? Next trip 19 months away...

[mshanson3121]

*Sigh* Now that I know with reasonable certainty another trip is a possibility, and DH has agreed, and in fact, we've set a date of summer 2017... now I just wish time would fly by. How do you pass the months? How do you keep the anticipation alive and well for your kids? How early do you day dream and plan, lol?

We know where we'll be staying (same place as last time, private home with pool about 20 minute drive away), and in fact, since their home books up so fast, we'll likely be putting our (refundable) deposit down this spring. It also looks like this trip may be longer. DH will have the summer off, fully paid, so really, time is a non-issue (except for the budget factor, lol). When I mentioned spending less time next time, DH said he actually wants more time there, so we can have some more days for just R&R, and perhaps to do some other things (I imagine Legoland will be on that list). My guess is we'll probably have 12 days available for parks/R&R this time, as opposed to 9 this summer. Not entirely sure of dates. Will depend on when DH is done school. Likely will either be June 20 to July 1, June 27 to July 8 or August 13-24 (feel free to chime in on your thoughts on those choices, lol).

 

[horse11]

reading up on the forums always helped me. You are actually going at a good time. Hopefully more will be open then. Spend time keeping up on the progress at the parks. Our first trip to Disney was decided three years before we actually went so I understand what you are going through. What helped me was enjoying the planning process and each step such as the 180 day mark.These steps helped make the trip more of a reality. For me the planning process became just as much fun as the trip itself

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

We're also planning our next WDW trip for July 2017 (along with a DCL cruise). I'm enjoying reading about the upcoming attractions/restaurants/etc as they are announced and as progress is made. (I know a lot of things won't be open by summer 2017, but there will be new things since our most recent trip to WDW this past May.) We've also never cruised before, so it's fun learning about DCL, the Caribbean, and cruising in general. Additionally, I've recently helped several friends and colleagues with their own WDW vacation planning - sort of living vicariously.

 

[Mikie]

Ahhhh. . . The addiction that is Disney! How to handle the withdrawal symptoms. . . I'm bad at remembering who posted what, but i think maybe you were pretty sure the trip you planned was certainly your once-in-a-lifetime? If only i were so creative as to dream up a world that inspired the addiction we all share!!

Sharing advice with others on the DIS is a good pastime, as is watching Disney behind-the-scenes documentaries when they appear on travel channel. I also like to try to keep up on the rumors & construction so i know what i've got to.look forward to.

ETA - i also like to seek out Disney sweepstakes so i can fantasize about how great it will be *when* i win a night in the castle

 

[Rash]

I spend the time devising ways to get back sooner.

 

[mshanson3121]

Ahhhh. . . The addiction that is Disney! How to handle the withdrawal symptoms. . . I'm bad at remembering who posted what, but i think maybe you were pretty sure the trip you planned was certainly your once-in-a-lifetime? If only i were so creative as to dream up a world that inspired the addiction we all share!!

Sharing advice with others on the DIS is a good pastime, as is watching Disney behind-the-scenes documentaries when they appear on travel channel. I also like to try to keep up on the rumors & construction so i know what i've got to.look forward to.

ETA - i also like to seek out Disney sweepstakes so i can fantasize about how great it will be *when* i win a night in the castle

Yes, it was supposed to be once in a life time. Partially finances, we never would have dreamed it possible to go back. But I also never dreamed I'd get DH back there, he wasn't even keen on the first trip. However, looks like neither will be an issue. DH realizes that he just can't compete against the children's insane desire to return, lol. And while he could care less if he ever went back, and probably would honestly prefer not to - his weakness is his kids

 

[horse11]

Ahhhh. . . The addiction that is Disney! How to handle the withdrawal symptoms. . . I'm bad at remembering who posted what, but i think maybe you were pretty sure the trip you planned was certainly your once-in-a-lifetime? If only i were so creative as to dream up a world that inspired the addiction we all share!!

WOW you may have been talking about me lol!! My trip report was even titled "A Grand Adventure of a Lifetime." That trip was suppose to be a ONCE in a lifetime but long and behold here we are working on our second trip!!! So funny how Disney gets in your blood lol!!

 

[horse11]

Yes, it was supposed to be once in a life time. Partially finances, we never would have dreamed it possible to go back. But I also never dreamed I'd get DH back there, he wasn't even keen on the first trip. However, looks like neither will be an issue. DH realizes that he just can't compete against the children's insane desire to return, lol. And while he could care less if he ever went back, and probably would honestly prefer not to - his weakness is his kids

Again you guys could be talking about me lol!!! Hubby hates crowds but even he has no complaints about our return trip! So excited for you and your family!! have fun planning!!

 

[mshanson3121]

Again you guys could be talking about me lol!!! Hubby hates crowds but even he has no complaints about our return trip! So excited for you and your family!! have fun planning!!

Yeah, he doesn't care for heat, or crowds, or amusement parks.... lol. Really, it's nothing short of a miracle! But, he does love seeing his kids have fun.
I day dream about the things I want to do next time around that we didn't get to do... I'm worried that HS will be so closed up for construction we'll be disappointed (it was DH's fave park, and we all really loved it there), but sounds like AK will have lots of new things going on!

 

[soniam]

I like to listen to Disney music, especially background and attraction soundtracks. It makes me feel like I am there when I hear the MK Main Street background music. Try Mouse World or Subsonic. I also started a thread about music. Here's the link with suggestions from others.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/theme-park-music.3463524/

 

[Jfsag123]

We had a 2 year wait between our first and second trips. I'm not going to lie, it was pretty rough. However, I followed many of the suggestions already given and it helped a lot. One other thing we did between trips was to plan regular "Disney Nights". Once every few weeks, we would pick a Disney movie and watch it as a family. We also would sometimes plan meals to coordinate with the movie (ex: gumbo for Princess and the Frog) and play Disney games (there are lots of these! Disney Apples to Apples is a fav). As we got closer to the trip, we started having the nights more frequently, first every other week, then every week for the couple of months right before the trip. It helped to build anticipation, especially as we watched moves more relevant to the parks as we got closer.

You will make it! Oh, and add me to the "once in a lifetime" club as well...

 

[agavegirl1]

Save up the money for the next trip and hope I will be in good health to enjoy it. Read here to stay up to date.

 

[BudgieMama]

Enjoy the boards, read about news from the parks, watch the podcast... But mostly I try to get on with enjoying today and not wishing the time away.

It'll be 3 days short of 2 years between our first trip and our next one. We couldn't book until April this year, and our now 267 days from our trip. We're also 212 days since we booked, so are approaching our half way mark.

Time passes, your trip will get here. Enjoy your life in the mean time!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I feel your pain. I started planning my next trip in September (just a few months ago). Problem is my next trip is September 2017 which will be 2 years from the beginning of my planning......so I've occupied my time building up my Pinterest collection, Googling the heck out of Disney and Universal as well as joining this wonderful website

My last trip was September 2011 and way too much has changed in how WDW and Universal works (moreso the much more security at the rides as the security wasn't nearly that strict back then). So I keep up with the changes including swapping out rides that I find out are closing (though most I honestly am not sad about (talking about Captain EO as an example)), find out new strategies with FastPass+ as time has gone on (since I was last there with only Legacy FastPass) and keep myself updated on all the new things coming.

*sigh* 2017 just needs to get here..

 

[phillymummer]

Yeah, he doesn't care for heat, or crowds, or amusement parks.... lol. Really, it's nothing short of a miracle! But, he does love seeing his kids have fun.

I think your hubby and my hubby could be friends!! He is the same way. On out last trip he was grumpy from the heat and sore from all the walking/standing and exhausted from dealing with the crowds. I was so shocked when he told me he had fun!

I think reading these forums- several of them (not just the TPA&S), is a great way to pass the time. Visit the board for families, the one for tips, the community board. They all have great posts.

 

[GPC0321]

Stay busy with work, kids, life. The busier you are, the faster the time will go. If you find you have too much time on your hands to pine for Disney, find other things to do. Make some shorter range plans for upcoming things (holidays, birthdays, anniversaries) and throw yourself into those. Find a TV series or series of books that you get sucked into that can pass the time too.
And, of course, visit the boards, watch Youtube videos, and do allow yourself some time to daydream and plan! My mom and I both have Disney related passwords on our computers at work now, a subtle reminder of what's in store for us in a few more months. We also joke about "training" for Disney, first at our State Fair, and this coming Friday when we're out shopping with the masses. My parents are starting to walk on Sunday mornings again to "get in shape for Disney". Christmas is going to be fun since the WDW trip is our Christmas present to ourselves and each other, though I imagine some Disney ornaments might join the celebration this year. I'm also going to tell them about our tickets to La Nouba on Christmas.

It's been 17 years since we've seen Mickey, so the anticipation is overwhelming! But it's amazing how fast time is flying by too. You'll be back before you know it!

 

[mshanson3121]

My biggest fear is they'll implement the tiered pricing by then. There is a real chance, that the tiered pricing will price us out of Disney and we won't be able to return. So I really hope that doesn't happen. Has there been any more said about that?

 

[mom2rtk]

Maybe I have you confused with someone else, but didn't you cut your last trip short? (or at least consider it.) I'm curious what you plan to do differently this time with the extra time?

 

[mshanson3121]

Maybe I have you confused with someone else, but didn't you cut your last trip short? (or at least consider it.) I'm curious what you plan to do differently this time with the extra time?

Yes we did. Because we did too many days in a row and were worn out. We drove 3 days (about 36 hours of traveling including meals, traffic jams etc) to get there, started in the very next day, and did 4 days straight without a break. Never again. For starters, next time, I am flying down with the kids with my MIL, while my husband and step-father drive down (they'll leave before us, and plan on beelining it, as they want to spend a day golfing somewhere, lol), which will make it much easier on the kids. And we will not do more than 2 days in a row without a rest day. So, likely we'll do 8 days for parks and 4 full days for rest, as opposed to this time having done 7 park days and 2 days rest. And of course will only have 2 days for traveling there/back, as opposed to 6.

 

[lustergirl]

My trip this past April was the first one in 3 years. The time went by really fast. I was busy with work and family.