Top 5 Ways to Cure Your Disney Vacation Hangover

We've all been there. Maybe it happens as soon as you board the not-so-Magical Express to the airport, or maybe it happens as you exit Walt Disney World property and see that very sad sign where Mickey says "See You Real Soon." Reality sets in and you realize that you're suffering from the Disney Vacation Hangover, also known as the post-Disney vacation blues.

How do you beat the post-vacation blues?

A Disney Vacation Hangover is a real thing. Gone are the carefree days of rope drop, Dole Whip, and Monorail rides. Now you're faced with long lines at the airport, traffic on the highway, and Mt. Washmore-sized piles of laundry when you get home. The smiles are gone, replaced with scowls and sometimes even tears. There's nothing magical about any of that.

So what's a Disney fan to do when faced with the Disney Vacation Hangover? Find a way to cure it, of course! After much research, we've found a few ways to ease the pain of reentering the real world as you leave Walt Disney World behind. We like to call them our "top 5 cures for a Disney Vacation Hangover."

Wilderness Lodge we miss you!

5. Bring home Disney-themed snacks: This one is simple but has to be done while you're still at Walt Disney World Resort. If you use the Disney Dining Plan it's likely that you'll have extra snack credits at the end of your trip. Stop by your resort's quick service restaurant and use those credits to buy all the Mickey Mouse Rice Krispie treats you can fit in your carry-on bag! Or buy some caramel corn or Karamelle Kuche in Epcot's Germany pavilion.

Other ideas include Disney boxed candy, caramel apples, or cookies. Our friends at the Disney Food Blog have a few ideas in this post! And then when you arrive home and you're sitting there wishing you were watching Wishes, you can bust out a Mickey Rice Krispie treat and it's almost as good as being back at the parks. Almost.

Our favorite bring-home treats!

4. Buy a coffee mug at your resort: Regardless of whether you're a tea drinker or a coffee fan, a new resort-specific mug is a good fix for the post-vacation blues. And no, the refillable mugs don't count. Each resort should have a coffee mug in its gift shop that showcases that resort. Or you could stop by one of the Starbucks locations at any of the theme parks and find a park-specific mug. Any Disney mug will do! And then each morning you can gaze at your steaming cup o' joe and think about how magical your trip was. We also love these "Wish I Was There" mugs!

Don't forget you can also order Disney resort-specific coffee blends from Joffrey's Coffee thanks to their Disney Parks and Resorts Coffee Collection! Our favorite is the Kona Blend.

A resort-specific coffee mug makes mornings magical

3. Make Mickey waffles at home: Everyone loves Mickey waffles when they're at Walt Disney World, so why not keep the magic alive and make them at home? There are so many fun Disney waffle maker on the market but our favorite has to be the Mickey Mouse Waffle Maker! Waking up on a Saturday morning and whipping up a batch of Mickey-shaped waffles sure does take the sting out of that Disney Vacation Hangover. Of course you can make other Mickey-shaped foods too, but we love breakfast. And waffles.

Make Mickey waffles at home!

2. Retail therapy: If you're really missing Disney World and you just have to buy another Disney T-shirt or coffee mug or plush toy, we suggest some retail therapy on the Shop Disney Parks app. You'll find a big selection of authentic Disney Parks merchandise and it's just like shopping the Emporium, minus the post-Wishes crowds. So in reality, it's much more relaxing and enjoyable.

You can buy a new Disney Dooney & Bourke handbag, Alex and Ani bangles, Disney H2O bath products (just like the mini ones we all "steal" from our hotel rooms), and more! You can even buy Disney food including krispie treats, character suckers, Astronaut Ice Cream, and non-Disney food items like A-1 Steak Sauce. Yes, really.

You could spend hours on the app browsing all the products and making Disney merchandise wish lists. Not that we've ever done that. ;)

Find authentic Disney Parks merchandise on the app

1. Book your next Disney vacation: Every Disney fan knows the best way to cure any Disney Vacation Hangover is to book your next trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth! Knowing you have another trip coming up is sure to make you feel 100 percent happier.

What is your favorite way to cure a Disney Vacation Hangover? Let us know in the comments.