So, you’ve decided to go to Disney World on vacation.
Great!
Do you know what you’re in for? There’s so much to see and do in Disney World that preparing for your vacation can get a little overwhelming at times.
All I can tell you is that you’re not alone.
Let’s take a look at the eight-step emotional cycle of Disney Vacation Planning.
1. Excitement
When you first decide that you’re going to visit Disney World, you get excited! Maybe you’ve told the kids – maybe you haven’t, but either way excitement is the name of the game!
Whether you’ve been to the most magical place on earth recently, it’s been a while, or this is your first time, all you can think about is how amazing this vacation is going to be.
2. Stress
After the initial excitement fades, stress sets in. Now you’ve started the actual planning phase. What hotel will you stay at? How will you get there? What FastPass+ should you book? Where will you eat? When is the best time to go?
All of these questions are important because Disney has reservations for almost everything. From Advanced Dining Reservations for food to FastPass+ for attractions, you’re going to be scheduling your vacation days up to six months before you actually arrive. You might be asking yourself, “How do I know where I want to eat six months from now?” That’s the reality of planning a Disney vacation.
3. Optimism
Don’t worry – things will look start looking up soon! Once you plan and schedule these things, you’ll start feeling good about what you accomplished, and you know your hard work will pay off when you don’t have to wait in long lines and you’re actually enjoying your vacation!
4. Annoyance
Now you wait. You’ve scheduled some special meals and you’re really excited about visiting special shows and attractions, but your vacation is still a few months away. There’s nothing you can do but go about your daily lives just counting down the days until you head to sunny Florida.
5. Confidence
After planning and preparing for the last year, you know that your vacation is just a few days away. You have your bags packed, you’ve finished up last minute important things in your real life, and you know that you’ll soon be Disney bound!
You know that everything is going to be perfect, and this is going to be one of the best vacations you’ve ever had!
6. Restlessness
Many folks have a hard time sleeping the night before they go to Disney. You might wake up early and be ready to go – certainly not like how you get up for work!
7. Last Minute Anxiety
When your alarm finally goes off, you jump out of bed and you’re ready to go. You make sure you didn’t forget anything – tickets, reservation numbers, MagicBands – it’s all ready to go, but you just have to make one last check.
8. Elation
You’ve finally arrived! You check in at your hotel and head to the parks! For the next few days, real life doesn’t exist, and you’re in the most magical place on earth where anything is possible.
Eat the Mickey Ice Cream Bar, enjoy the extra cup of coffee, forget your morning workout – just enjoy yourself and bask in the light of success because all of your hard work paid off!
What emotions do you feel before and during your Disney vacation?