With the Disney parks and resorts all closed, a lot of us are spending time doing some serious “Disney dreaming”. Last week I shared some memories I have of our best Disney vacation, and many folks on social media have been sharing all kinds of fun ride re-creations, renditions of favorite Disney songs, memes and other fun things related to Disney to help us smile and get our “Disney fix” since we can’t travel there right now. Even the Disney parks have been sharing fun games, learning activities, and photos to remind us of how special a Disney vacation is and to give us all something to look forward to.
It’s this “looking forward” part that I want to chat about a bit today because it’s just human nature that we want – and actually need – things to look forward to for our mental health. Things are challenging right now and while no one has a crystal ball as to when things will be back to normal, we do know that things WILL get better (hopefully sooner rather than later) and we WILL be able to take those dreamed-about Disney vacations.
So while we wait and dream, that’s what I am going to be doing – looking ahead to future Disney trips – and I hope you will too! Why?
First of all, because as I just shared, vacations are actually good for you! Studies consistently show that taking vacations reduce stress and improve mental health, among other things. In addition, vacations are among the most important things we can do for our families, and are remembered by children more than any physical gift we give them.
As for a Disney vacation, anyone who has ever visited the Disney parks or sailed on a Disney cruise, knows that doing what is best for their guests is always a priority for the decisions that Disney makes. Of course this is a business, but that business is creating magical memories for those who visit, so protecting those guests – along with the amazing cast members who work so hard making that magic – is of prime importance. Disney closed their parks and stopped sailing when it was evident that it was the best thing to do to protect everyone, and they will not reopen or start sailing again until they feel confident that they can deliver great guest experiences while still providing the most healthy environment possible. We can be certain that while the parks remain closed at the moment, Disney executives are currently discussing a variety of plans that will allow them to do just that.
So with all of that being said, if we want to Disney dream and think about – and maybe plan – a future vacation, when is a great time to visit? All other things being equal (work/school schedules, finances etc.), the fall is probably my personal favorite time of the year to visit. The weather is great and honestly there is just SO much to look forward to – the months from September to December are some of the best of the year! Here are just a few of the highlights:
There’s the super fun Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party…
There’s the delicious Food and Wine Festival at Epcot…
There’s the festive Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party…
There’s the glorious Festival of Holidays…
And amazing Christmas and holiday decorations…
In short, there’s a LOT to look forward to!
Of course, finances always play a part in any vacation planning, but being mindful about how much you spend doesn’t mean you can’t go at all. It simply means that you will want to carefully plan your dates, hotels, and other vacation expenses to not only get the best price, but to also make the most of those precious vacation dollars. This is a big part of what I do with my clients every day.
(Remember too, that a deposit on a Disney vacation is only $200, and is refundable up to 30 days before you travel, meaning you can cancel or change things to a later date without losing what you’ve spent.)
As we continue our quarantines and social distancing from each other, I think now more than ever it’s important to remember that we have a lot to look forward to – and maybe planning that next Disney vacation might just be that something that provides the “happy” that our families need right now.
Remember – “There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow, just a dream away!”
Happy Disney Dreaming!
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