When Does Reality Kick In....

Reality for me is leaving the house, I'm like a mad woman cleaning everywhere plus I'm a panicker, I panic about everything till we get out of the house - then I'm calm. We have started to spend the night before at a hotel airport to extend the holiday, so once I'm at that hotel then my holiday has begun

I do get a reality check once everything is paid off, then it starts to feel real.

I was beyond excited when I booked shortly after our wedding in January! Then as the 180 day hit and I started making ADRs. Then the 60 day FP+ selections. THEN, I paid off the trip!!!!!!!!!!!! Woo Hoo no going back now!!!

Since we drive down, I am a nut in the car, can't sit still, very antsy... but when we drive under that welcome sign, it all becomes 100% real for me. I start to tear up and I want to run over every car in front of us just to get to the resort and check in.

46 more days...

I don't think it hits me till I am on the plane. There is so much to do before we leave that I don't have time to be excited. I also plan so far ahead of our trips that it is hard to get to excited when you are planning in Feb. for a Sept. trip. When I sit down on the plane and look at my Disney planning book that is when the excitement starts.

Not sure if it really has for me yet.... I think it will be when I get on the plane or when the bus drives into wdw. I've packed tissues because when I 1st saw DLP I cried !

There's so much to do in preparing to leave--work to finish up, cat sitting to organize, shopping and packing to do that actually leaving is a rather stressful procedure that really keeps me from enjoying the trip until all of the items on the check list are checked. Then on the way to the airport, I'm always very anxious about the traffic and delays that we might encounter (we're a little over an hours from the closest airport and with the traffic around major metropolitan areas in the mid-Atlantic, you just never know what could slow you down!) I'm a very nervous flyer, so it's hard for me to focus on how excited I am to be going to Disney until we're safely back on the ground at MCO.

So I'm going to say leaving MCO because from there, my trip is in Disney's hands

I think it hits me for real when I leave work for the last time before my trip. I know that I have nothing to worry about except Disney for the next week. Heaven..

I agree with AliceMouse. I don't think it will feel real until we're safely on the ground in Orlando. Also, for myself, once I've set foot in the Magic Kingdom and seen the castle with my own eyes, that is when I will know I am truly at Disney world.

I think for us, it would be after we get on the road. It takes about 10 1/2 hrs. to get there. And we wake up early cause we are sooo excited. But, sometimes, we can't wait! We leave the day before and stay somewhere close so we can get up and get our day started early at WDW.

For me it is when im on the Disney magical express .. Then i realize im almost HOME !!

It would have to be when we get to the "welcome Home" at the resort.

When I see the Magical Express counter at MCO and all those friendly cast members who actually know what to do with my MagicBand.

For us it is when we are in the limo heading to the airport on departure day. We hire a limo because it is actually cheaper than having to pay for airport parking fees.

Honestly when I can fell the heat in the little tunnel that connects the plane to he airport. I panic too so I really know it's happening when I'm there.

I think for me it's when you pass the Walt Disney World sign arch with Mickey and Minnie on the road.

As we're checking in at the Magical Express. I start to "squeee" a little and do a little dance.

I think for us its when we leave the house because everything else is out of our hands and this year is very special because we are travelling 3 hours the day before and staying overnight in and on site hotel before our flight so I will be refreshed have a few drinks and snacks and that's my holiday started!!!!!

For me, it's usually when I buy the plane tickets. I never really consider a trip confirmed until I have those taken care of. In my head (which I admit is sometimes an odd place) changing my Disney reservation is easy. However once we have plane tickets - that's it - we're going.

Our February trip he been sort of crazy. One day we were canceling, then maybe we got to go, then just two of us were going, then suddenly within the span of a week everyone was going and it was paid for! It's been a crazy crazy whirlwind that still doesn't quite seem real.

Magical Express welcome center at MCO is where it starts for me. Once they scan your band, you're officially in the bubble.

I know it is real when it is all paid for.... but I guess when I feel it is really real is when ,like Ken ,we see the Magical Express welcome center ,or when we drove one time when we went under the Welcome sign. Of course I do get teary eyed when I step onto Main Street.

I'm not sure. I'm single with no kids so I'm the booker, payer & planner & the only person that has to be pleased so it's real as soon as I start booking all the things that need to be booked. However, I think I feel it at two times. That first breath of Florida air I get as I walk out of the airport to the Magical Express bus that's taking me to my resort & when I walk in to the resort lobby to check in.

Most definitely the night before.

I get home from work, put down my purse, set my coat and boots in the foyer and... No more work! No more coats, no more boots, no more purses! Not for a whole week!

When I can finally peel off the blazer, toss the creased pants into the laundry bin, shove the high heels in the closet... That's when it's real for me. My life has become very centered around work (I'm sure some of you can relate!), so when I can finally set all that aside then I start to feel that warm Disney-themed rush that is the trip beginning!

It becomes real as soon as I'm on 75 south out of the ATL!

Come on Mickey!

At MCO in the monorail. I think of it as our first ride.

The earlier of paying off the trip or buying the airline tickets. Because my hubby will threaten to cancel the trip if I get out of line before that. Once the money is spent, it's real and the threat dissipates. And I can remove my golden halo.

The reality of being there hits when we pass under the arch!

haha we say the same thing!

I got a dose of reality about an hour ago when I came home to find my WDTC documents in my letter box

Suddenly today the opposite effect hit me... The reality that we will be heading home at the end of this trip...

I actually started to tear up a bit.

I always knew this is what I wanted to do for my 40th. I never doubted that. What I did doubt was how much fun we could have. With all of the advice and trip reports from you all I realized this may be one of our best adventures EVER! I don't want the "leaving reality" to hit me!!!