By guest blogger Carl Trent of Dad's Guide to Walt Disney World
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about a vacation (nothing new there). It hit me last week. There must be several stages we go through as you plan our Walt Disney World Vacations. Let’s explore …
Stage 1 – The Honeymoon
Every Disney World Vacation I’ve ever planned started out with a party, or at least with a celebration. My favorite was when we surprised the kids at Christmas (they were 19 and 23 at the time) and left on January 1st. That was quite a celebration.
There is always that initial rush, that joy, that incredible happiness that comes when you decide, shout it out with me, “I’m going to Disney World!!!” Even the Superbowl MVP gets pumped about it. Yep, start the happy dance music.
Stage 2 – Heigh Ho
Next comes the “off to work we go” stage.
Airline Reservations, Hotel Reservations, Disney’s Magical Express® Transportation Reservations, Tickets, Advanced Dining Reservations, Restaurant plans, Park Plans, Extra Magic Hours, Park Hours, Water Parks, Downtown Disney, mini-golf …
Planning a Disney Vacation is a lot of work.
Stage 3 – The 100-Day Blahs
I realized something last year when we were planning a big trip to Disney World. There was a time when the blahs set in. It was about 120 days before we left. I called it the 100-Day Blahs.
What causes the 100-Day Blahs? It comes from the lack of anything to do. You are through Stage 1 and you’ve done all you can do to finish Stage 2, then all of the sudden, there is nothing left to do. There’s an empty feeling. All you have to do is wait. (Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock.) The calendar just won’t move quickly enough. That’s the 100-Day Blahs. It’ usually lasts until about 3 weeks before departure time.
Stage 4 – I’m too excited to sleep
Now who didn’t love that old Disney commercial with the little boy who was “too excited to sleep”? That’s Stage 4 of our Magical Vacation. About three or four weeks before the trip, everything starts to get exciting. Packing, checking the tickets and reservations every day just to make sure they haven’t changed, dreaming of that first glimpse of Cinderella Castle.
Stage 4 continues all the way through the trip. It’s amazing how little sleep you’ll get during your trip and still be able to function. It’s just so exciting.
Stage 5 – ADVBS
What got me thinking about this is last week I announced on my blog that I’m suffering from ADVBS. I bet at some time in life you’ve suffered from ADVBS too. ADVBS is “After Disney Vacation Blues Syndrome” (yes, I made that up myself). That’s Stage 5 of a Disney World Vacation (or any Disney vacation for that matter).
ADVBS is that time after the trip when you get down, you get depressed, you don’t want to go to work, all you want is to go back to Disney World. It’s OK. There’s a cure for ADVBS.
It’s time to start planning the next vacation to Walt Disney World!!!
Yes, it’s a vicious cycle, but who’s complaining? What stage are you in?
Related: 'Surprise! We're Going to Disney World!' -- Stealth Planning Tips
Related: The Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World
Planning a Walt Disney World Vacation is a big task. There are hundreds of things to think about. That's where I come in. Hi, my name is Carl Trent, but I'm better known as Dad. The Disney Dad. I run a little website called DadsGuidetoWDW.com. At Dad's Guide we want to help you plan a "Perfect" Vacation. Dad is a self-proclaimed (rarely challenged) Disney World "expert" who focuses on how to develop a plan that will allow you to have the best vacation possible.
