How do you all cope?

Liquor.

I don't have any answer for you because am in the same boat as you...no trip planned for 3 years. It is hard. I read everyones excitement as there trip comes close and like you am so zealous. But for me reading all their adventures and keeping a list of everthing I want to look at when planning my trip that is so very far away helps me. I must say that list is getting very long.

LoL - I have always pretty much done all the things that you're doing.
Then I got really bad and became a writer!

I watch other peoples trips on you tube, and liquor doesn't hurt

I, too, share your pain because I myself don't have any plans for any Disney trips at the moment because of financial and personal reasons. Personally, I am waiting until 2016-18 where by then, I would think my financial situation gets better and I hope all of the expansions of Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney will be complete, the FP+ system gets sorted out and has little to no problems and hopefully, something will change for the better at Epcot and/or Hollywood Studios or a new ride gets added. Even if I could afford it at the moment, I would still hold off until 2016-18 considering how I already went in mid-2013.

For me, I need an incentive to go back to Disney because as much as I love it overall, I would also like trying new experiences and new attractions, as well. Certainly, my next trip will involve new dining experiences but for new attractions, well, Disney needs to provide more that will interest me and a new parade and a new roller coaster doesn't exactly interest me very much at the moment. (I'm not a fan of viewing parades or riding coasters.) So for now, I am saving up for a prospective longer trip at a deluxe resort with more than enough money to try the new experiences I have in mind and hopefully, new attractions in the parks will come and will interest me down the road.

It's difficult seeing all the excitement of the pre-trip reports people have and then reading the trip reports of how people had a great time. You feel gutted, jealous and yearn that you could do the same but for whatever reason may be, you can't and you feel powerless. And the impulses are there, I'm not going to lie, but you never want to wastefully spend the money. Leaving the bubble is hard enough as is. Managing the financial aftermath some might say is even harder.

All I can really say is be grateful you've been able to go multiple times in the past. For some people, they would dream and do anything to be able to go to Disney just once. Other than that, no matter how long you've got to wait for your next trip, Disney World will always be there in Florida. It's not moving to another continent or another foreign country and yes, it is true some rides, attractions and restaurants will come and go and new ones will take their place but certain things will never change. Cinderella Castle and its glory will still be there at the end of the walk down Main Street. Seeing the monorail whoosh over parts of Epcot will be there. Mickey will still be in four parks meeting and greeting guests. The hidden mickeys will never go away. Disney World is all about the combination of re-living old memories while simultaneously making new ones. Trust me, your time will come where you'll get to re-live and experience the old and new magic and aroma of WDW and so will mine.

I take a deep breath and then immerse myself in the reports and discussions here. I truly live vicariously through all the folks here.

Oh, and liquor.

I make tentative plans for way out in the future, like 3 years from now, and start working on what I want to do... That way there is at least something on the cards. Though saying that, now we have DVC I do kinda feel like we know we will always be back so I don't get the same upset I'm never gonna make it back there feeling. DVC is the only known cure

What Ollie said - I live through here, and primarily through trip reports and, when really lucky, the webcams that some of our super wonderful members set up! Oh, and live or somewhat live reports.

Otherwise, I whine a lot, look through my scrapbooks, rearrange my pins, whine some more, and drop subtle hints, like showering with my supply of Disney soap and shampoo and walking up to Joe and saying "Smell me!! What does it remind you of!!!".

Fair points. Life's too short and I'm sure we all wish we could go to Disney every year and enjoy great things in life but unfortunately, there's always a price to pay no matter how you look it. Life is difficult as is but we do the best we can to balance between what would need to do in life and what we want to do in life.

I also agree that planning your next trip helps out. That's actually a very common tip in the coping process. You don't exactly know when you'll come back or you have a broad range of dates but planning that next trip will motivate you and you will promise yourself you will do everything in your power to make sure you'll come back. And I also think social media and YouTube videos helps. You're kept up to date with the latest park news so you are aware of all the changes and events going on though I understand watching a YouTube video or viewing photos from a site is definitely not the same compared to actually being there.

Other than that, it always helps to take part in the hobbies and activities that you really enjoy doing that are non-Disney related. You're at least doing something you enjoy as opposed to constantly moping around about the fact that you're not in Disney or don't have plans to go to Disney in the near future.

I always say that buying DVC is kinda like having a baby, there's no "right" time to do it. If you wait and wait until you think that you're ready the prices are going to be twice what they were when you started thinking about it and you will have had a dozen trips in between anyhow.

I have to go along with the DVC folks. There is no way that we would have been able to go so much this year without it. Also, even though we bought a resale contract, we can still use our points for hilton head, vero beach, Disneyland, and Aulani, which comforted my husband, who worried that we might "get tired of WDW"

After our 2010 trip when it seemed like we might not be able to go back for awhile, I started pin trading online at pinpics.com and buying pins on ebay. That helped because I had become totally addicted during our trip!! I also bought a sketch book to learn to draw Disney characters and I started sketching and painting for my own amusement. I still find it moderately difficult and I get frustrated if every drawing isn't a masterpiece, but I do like to sit down and work on a new project now and then. I also like the Disney Fine Art puzzle collection. Watching Disney movies helps, too. Last New Year's Eve, we even played the Magic Kingdom Game at our best friends' house! It wasn't nearly as good as being in the park, but it was fun to pretend!!

Oh and I'm addicted to the DISunlpugged podcast over at wdwinfo.com. We even went to a Disney meet in Hershey a few weeks ago where we got to meet the podcast team and watch a taping of the show. That was cool.

I also spend a lot of time reading (and thanks to the opportunity Kristen gave me this year, writing!!) about Disney. There are a lot of really fascinating books out there--everything from art books to behind-the-scenes extras to biographies. If it's a Disney topic and you want to know more about it, someone has written a book for you! In between trips, I compiled a list--almost like a scavenger hunt--of little inside secrets that are hidden in the parks and made sure that we looked for them on our next trip.

Another big one was that I started training for and eventually signed up for a runDisney event, so now it's mandatory that I go back!!

I know it seems like forever now, but before you know it, you'll be passing under that magical archway once again!!

Yeah... DVC here as well and if it wasn't for it we would not be able to go every year. Family of 4, and we go with my parents, and Jess's Mom has been ranging along. We stay at AKL. So I would hate to tally up the total amount for the 8-10 person room for 5 to 6 nights at AKL. All I know is... last year I believe we had officially went enough times for it to have been payed for if you know what I mean. Meaning... every time we go now... its like a free room. And we have like 35+ years left of it as well. So yeah... its nice.

Back onto the topic though...

Its tough. Last year my wife and I went for 3 weeks. Two weeks with kids and family, and one for our 9 year anniversary. So coming out of the final week... honestly... the pixie dust was making me sneeze. I was just Disneyed out. I don't know how some of you guys can go two weeks straight sometimes. I was on overload! So that was in November of 2013. Lol. But here comes January 2014.... Im ready to go back and we only have the one trip planned because Jess and I both agreed we didn't need to go twice this year, and we would go twice in 2015. (Get the annual pass and get 3 trips out of it) So now I've been bit... ready to go back, but what keeps me going now is our family talks about it constantly. Whenever we have supper with my parents, which is usually on Fridays, we are talking about it. What we want to do. What we miss. Like we figured out our ADR's a bit back, and are now trying to figure out what FP's to get. So for me its the talking. The planning. Ive had to do most of the planning this year since Jess has been working the 8am-5pm job now. Usually she has been the one doing it because she was able to. She would even be able to do it at the Hospital some how! Lol... so I've had to be the one to make the calls, plan and such this year. So thats been helping me.

I was really worried about having enough spending money for our trip. (My mum paid our air tickets and accomodation). We are really short of money right now as I am only working part time since my illness. So from Christmas last year I put PS20 cash (about $30) per week in a little box. It is amazing how quickly it adds up! So I would suggest that while you are waiting to book your trip, just put a little bit of money aside each week. Then you will feel like you are really working towards your trip and it won't be such a shock when you come to pay the deposit because it will have already been saved up separate from your other finances.

My husband has said that after this trip in July we won't be able to go back until 2019! So I intend to save every week until then which may mean we can go sooner if I actually have saved the money or if not we would probably have enough to go deluxe!!!

We are lucky to have excuses for trips at the momen, October was a planned vaction, March is a honeymoon and in April/may if we the in laws go ahead with the Vegas wedding we will go to disneyland. We try to fit disney in to our lives, after March we have no planned trips back to the world but...... I plan to take my dw to disneyland paris next Christmas cause it's cheap and we are saving to go to japan to go to Tokyo and will be doing disney there. After that we are planning on visiting the opening of Shanghai. You will be amazed at how much cheaper the international parks are if you need a disney fix. Living in the uk the flights to Orlando are so expensive so we have to make up in other ways. But in all honesty if we didn't have a trip in e works I wouldn't tread the sites because it would make me home sick

I know where your coming from..We thought that 2012 was going to be our last trip..( 5 magical vacations since 2004, every two years ) So in January this year,with sadden heart, we were convinced it would be another trip to Europe..Then the pixie dust started to fly..First I got an e- Mail from WDW with discounts off resorts..40% off deluxe.. ..Then one week later, a Virgin Atlantic flight sale.. ...And our first time in October..All our previous trips have been in July..So to your question..Don't stop believing...( Hey, is that a song ) ...Will this be our last Disney vacation.?...Will I be saying goodbye on Main Street to Cinderella's Castle on our last night..?...Who knows..I hope not, but I do treat this vacation like it might be the final farewell..This way I get my Visa card in meltdown mode..LOL..Just keep believing in the magic...

But for real, I agree with all the points on here. Plus I loveeee getting Disney mail so I stalk disney store's website for sales/free shipping. Right now its the Twice Upon a Year Sale so I look for just little trinkets that are super cheap and order them. I try not to spend more than $20 because I want to save money for my actual trip, but its fun to get a little present in the mail to remind myself of Disney. I also do little crafts and cooking that I connect to Disney. Currently working through everything in the Food and Wine cookbook from last year.. Anything to keep the despair away.

Then again I'm luckier than most since my cousin is a CM, so I know a trip is never far away. Not sure what I'm going to do next year when the boyfriend already suggested somewhere tropical instead of Disney. He didn't respond well to my suggestion that we stay at Caribbean Beach as a compromise

It's been almost 2 years since our last trip and I miss it so much. To keep some of the Disney in my life between trips I've read a lot of books on Disney. And not just travel guides, but some on the history and making of Walt Disney World. Every now and then my husband and I will make some Disney recipes at home and have a Disney night.

I also cycle through my growing wardrobe of Disney shirts. And eat dinner every day on my Disney plates.

You're lucky. I've never been. My family and friends are amused by my 'Walt Disney World Obsession' (though truthfully it is really more a "Walt Disney World / Tinker Bell" obsession) about a place I've never been to. I can't tell you how many websites, forums and blogs I've read. I have guide books, maps, and lists. lots of lists. If I ever go I'll be VERY prepared! I could probably get from Pop Century to the Haunted Mansion blindfolded. Ok, that is a bit of an exaggeration, but I have planned many daily itineraries for all the parks. I even have a 'bucket list' of things to do when I get to the Magic Kingdom. First, buy mouse ears, buy cool mouse ears balloon, visit Tink!

We only can afford to go once every 1-2 years (last trip was in October 2012, we're going this year in September, and next trip is Dec 2015) so I get the longing between trips. To ease the pain, I work on planning my next trip even if it is too far out to actually set anything in stone. I make a list of the restaurants and snacks I want to hit, any new experiences to try, etc. I also love listening to the DFB, WDWToday, Be Our Guest, WDW Radio Show, and DisUnplugged podcasts while I'm at work to stay up to date on all the latest news, reviews, etc.

Here's another thing I do- create a Disney playlist. Not just the official songs, I love finding interesting covers. Stellar Kart has some good ones, as does Suburban Legends, and you have not LIVED until you hear Irrational Fever's version of "I'll Make a Man Out of You." It's technically metal, but kind of a pop-metal, so even if you're not normally down with that kind of music (and there's a LOT of metal that I do not care for), you'll probably get a kick out of this.

I listen to all of mine off of their websites:

http://www.wdwtoday.com/

http://beourguestpodcast.podbean.com/

http://www.wdwradio.com/category/podcasts/

http://www.disunplugged.com/category/orlando-podcast-episodes/

http://www.dfbpodcast.com/

I have a VW Bug CD Player (headlights come on when it's playing and it's covered in Disney stickers like my real Bug ) on the frig with all the Disney CDs stacked next and just play them as I work around the house. I also will sit down and just watch ride video on the WDW youtube site. It's not the same excitement, but it does bring back fun memories. It also convinced our friends going with that they rides are not like other amusement parks so they agreed to all of them!

I have a room done in Disney and each morning DH gets his hot water from the Mickey kettle. I have pics taken by other of flowers and the castle framed in other picture settings through out the house. They are artistic enough to look well done and they make me happy. DH calls it my "castle fix".

I have to have a trip planned. I don't know that I could go without a trip on the books. It sounds weird but I go just to get away from work and I live in Ohio.