I get it…you don’t want to think about your Disney vacation being over. But the reality is that you’re going to have to come back to the real world at some point. It can be quite a shock to the system after being in the Disney Bubble for a while.
Something that often gets overlooked when you are in the planning process for your trip is your return strategy. Yes, I’m suggesting that you should implement a little bit of strategy for coming home while you’re in the middle of planning the details of your actual vacation.
Here’s what I mean:
Say you’re in Disney for a week. You fly home on a Sunday afternoon, and by the time you get back to your house from the airport it might be evening. Perhaps everyone has to then get ready for work and school on Monday morning.
I guarantee any mom’s head would explode if she had to prep everyone for that type of transition in that short amount of time!
Here’s something to keep in mind when preparing for the transition after Disney:
Think about your travel dates
Consider the timing between returning home from your trip and returning to your “regularly scheduled programming” when you’re mapping out the end of your trip. Maybe this means that you come home on a Saturday instead of a Sunday so that you have a full day to rest and recover. Or at the very least, plan for an early morning flight so you can get home at a decent hour and have a little bit of downtime before you have to get things rolling again.
Don’t overlook the fact that a Disney vacation is absolutely exhausting! It’s truly one of those vacations where you need a vacation when it’s over. Even though it’s not what you want to think about, your future self will thank you if you plan smart when deciding on your travel dates.
Plan a rest day
Another strategy you might want to consider is implementing a rest day on the last day of your vacation. If your schedule permits, you could plan for a relaxing pool day at your resort or maybe a little shopping at Disney Springs on the final day of your trip. Remember above when I said that Disney is exhausting? By not spending a full day in the parks on this day, you’re giving yourself a head start on the post-trip recovery.
Once you’re home from your vacation, you will likely feel yourself missing the magic of Disney. The good news is that there are a lot of ways that you can bring a little bit of that special feeling of Disney into your home when you’re not at the parks.
Commemorate your memories – I’m sure you took tons of photos and videos while you were on your vacation. Consider using the time after your trip to actually do something with them. It can be as simple as printing out a few to put in frames around your house, or maybe you use an online service to make a scrapbook. Even just sharing your photos on social media is a fun way to relive the memories, and you’ll be reminded of them year after year.
Pro Tip: If you know you’re someone who likes photo memories and you know you’ll do something special with them, be sure to purchase Memory Maker in advance. This is the option for you to pre-pay for all your trip photos that the Disney Photopass Photographers take. If you purchase it in advance, not only will you save money, but you’ll also be inclined to get your money’s worth so you’ll be sure to take advantage of these photographers’ willingness to take your family photos.
Bring Disney into your kitchen – I’m willing to bet you ate some pretty iconic snacks while you were on your trip. While nothing is quite the same as eating a Mickey pretzel on Main Street USA, you can still have a little “taste” of Disney at home. Maybe you find a copycat recipe online for one of your favorite Disney restaurant dishes and remake it at home. Perhaps you buy a Mickey shaped cookie cutter and make your own rice crispy treats or sugar cookies. You could even just grab a box of Mickey Mouse ice cream bars from your local grocery store and enjoy them in your own front yard.
Disney entertainment for all – There’s no shortage of Disney media you can bring into your home. It could be a Disney themed movie night where you make popcorn and eat it out of the popcorn bucket you bought at the park. Maybe you find a Disney playlist that you listen to when you’re driving in the car or running on the treadmill. Did you know they even make Disney parks playlists where you can listen to the same music that is played within the parks? Talk about bringing the parks home with you!
Attend local Disney events – One of our favorite events that comes to our hometown every year is Disney on Ice. It’s such a fun way to get a taste of Disney and see some of your favorite characters and hear your favorite songs while surrounded by other enthusiasts. Maybe your local high school is putting on a Disney themed musical this spring and you attend with your kids. And be sure to check out the special exhibits at your local children’s museum or science center. Ours recently had an Inside Out themed exhibit all about feelings, and pretty soon they’re bringing an interactive Pixar one.
And of course you can always get that next trip on the books! Having another Disney vacation to look forward to is always exciting, no matter how far away it might be. If you’re ready to get your next trip on the books, reach out to your Smart Moms Travel agent today.
Not working with a Smart Moms Travel agent yet, but looking for help in planning the details of your family’s upcoming Disney trip? I would be happy to work with you to make sure your vacation is nothing short of magical! Simply click here to get started.
