Originally Posted By tigger_twin89 So I was driving home today from work and I was listening to my park sound track and I closed my eyes (don't worry I was at a red light) and I felt like I was there, I could smell the churros and popcorn. It made me miss the park so much!! I can't wait to go back. How do you guys deal with missing the park?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I know this isn't going to be a very supportive answer, but I deal with it by just going. I will admit that I am a little spoiled by being about a 30 minute drive (without traffic, of course) from DL, so that certainly does play into it some. When there is no way that I can get there, I definately make good use of the iPod and pictures. I've found that when Darkbeer is updating his pictures every couple days, you really get to feel like you're there yourself. Is it as good as being there in person? Of course not, but it's a pretty good substitute!
Originally Posted By WestWind The best thing I do is plan for the next trip. I also try to keep up on what is happening there by reading posts here. Talking with any friends that want to talk Disney can also help but they do not seem to want to talk Disney as much as I do.
Originally Posted By sdlovesmickey I am having major Disneyland withdrawl right now. Sometimes listening the the soundtracks makes it worse I just keep telling myself that I will be so busy the next few months that it will be time to return to the parks quickly. I was trying to figure out a way to go during the Easter break but without flying out I don't think we can make it. Not to mention the amount of @#$% my extended family would give me if I went then too. I can hear it now....
Originally Posted By danmcmartin I agree, planning the next trip is helpful. At least you know you will be going back and when. I also read these boards and some others. We have decided to wait a couple of years. We went three times this last year, but we want to go after some of the new stuff has been finished and DCA is looking different. Even though its 2 or 3 years away, I am already planning.
Originally Posted By Moon Waffle Agreed. Plan ahead for the next trip. I usually add a date to the trip countdown, even if it's not 100% certain, just so that I'm counting down to something. And I start thinking about hotels, # of days in the parks, etc, etc. I might even start checking airfare. Remember, the day you get home from a Disneyland trip...from that point forward every day is one day closer to your next trip!!!
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle I plan, or at least look forward to, my next trip, too. I go every 2 years, so it's not like I'm there all the time and can be constantly packing a suitcase, but I like to think ahead and dream about my next trip. I also listen to the soundtrack, look at pictures, etc etc! It's definitely not the same thing but it helps. Oh, I watch my old "Day at the Happiest Place on Earth" video too.
Originally Posted By Dalia3001 I am suffering from massive trip planning withdrawl at the moment as well. My husband and I just moved into a new house after our first year with an AP. I was basicly able to plan our "next" trip almost all year since last March, which was great. We took 3 trips over the year. But this year, with all the new house expenses, we decided not to get an AP and not to plan any trips, just to enjoy our beautiful home. Which is great in theroy, and I do love our house, but I am missing knowing when I will go next. Maybe I should plan a far future trip, so I can at least keep that in mind. Hmm, maybe the Australian niece is almost old enough to make the trip out here, and then we would HAVE to go to Disneyland, or we would be HORRIBLE people.
Originally Posted By AZDLDad We are not going to renew AP's either, however we'll be in budget committee discussions about a monthly payment to save up for an east coast Disney cruise possibly in 2009.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice The planning ahead thing definitely helps. Our upcoming visit in March was planned and booked almost a year ago, and I've already booked the hotel for our annual December trip. That's pretty much the way it always goes unless it's an extra, last-minute bonus visit. *L* We're ALWAYS counting down. I check out Disneyland goodies on YouTube, too. There are a lot of really good recent AND nostalgic videos out there, plus cool junk like videos taken during ride breakdowns and evacuations! Wheeeeeeeeeee!
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes Yeah, Thanks to YouTube, I finally got to ride Space Mountain with the lights on!
Originally Posted By NJ AP We live in New Jersey. When I really need an easy Disney fix we go to the NYC Disney Store on Fifth Avenue. They have character visits Thursday - Monday and Disney World merchandise. Its the best we can do. Sometimes it helps just talking to Disney cast members.
Originally Posted By mele We plan a trip. We watch the Disney vacation dvds. We look at the thousands of photos we've taken of past DL trips throughout the years. We watch YouTube videos and play Disney Scene-It. My daughter is the worst. She wants to do these things constantly.
Originally Posted By NJ AP There are days I wish they had built the rumored park in Virginia, or even the mini-video club park they thought about building in Philadelphia. Then my Disney fix would be only a short drive away.
Originally Posted By dzy76 I seem to want to go back about the first week I get home from the last visit. As soon as my feet recover, I'm ready. But alas, the pocketbook isn't. To lessen my withdrawl I listen to Disney music on Live365 and listen to Disney podcasts. Search Disney websites, start planning my next possible trip and spend time with my sister talking Disney. It's all a girl can do to stay sane!
Originally Posted By joeysmommy I am having DL withdrawls right now too! I shouldn't complain I went last Sept and Nov but we may not be able to go this year. My DH is starting a new job and may need hip replacement surgery. : ( We bought AP's last Sept so we'd like to get 1 more use out of them. I was going to plan my 40th Bday there with girlfriends and then have my DH meet me with the kids at the end of the weekend. To get thru the DL blues I like to work on my DL scrapbook. As I scrap each layout it's like I'm there all over a again. Also, my kids like to listen to the DL CD in the car. I think I'll go check out You Tube again.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Before I lived ten minutes away from the Park, I used to really miss going. Reading this makes me jealous of all the resources that are now available. I used to go to my photo albums and soundtracks. That was about it. Of course, I also started collecting graphic material about Disneyland. I would buy old magazines from second hand book stores (I still have a list of all the publications that carry articles about Disneyland), and check out flea markets and thrift shops. That's how I ended up with such a big collection, mostly paper items. The Disney Stores were also helpful, although by the time they were widely spread, I was living in Southern California. Now, they aren't quite as "magical" as they once were. I would have loved YouTube back then! As it is, I enjoy the rare videos from the past, as well as some of the odd home videos people post. (You've seen Pluto chasing that kid through Town Square, right?) And there are so many home-made DVDs out there, too. So... today it is much easier to get a "Disneyland fix" then it was back when I was living away from the Park. Of course, I do realize that nothing substitutes for the real thing...!
Originally Posted By disneyland1 We listen to our many CD's of Disneyland sounds, and look at pictures of Disneyland that Darkbeer takes on Smugmug. We still miss it very much when we are away. We also look forward to our next trip.
