Don’t worry, this isn’t one of those blog posts chock full of photos of my multi-generational family wearing mouse ears and hugging characters with Cinderella’s Castle in the background.
But I wish it were.
Hello, my name is Erica (aka PLRH), I’m 41 years old, I live in Florida, and I’ve never been to Disney (World or Land).
When I was a child growing up in Pines Lake, as soon as I became cognizant of the existence of Walt Disney World in Florida, I bugged my parents to take me there. I saw commercials regularly on TV. Most of my friends had been there. We vacationed in Florida. But most importantly, I loved all things Mickey and watched the Wonderful World of Disney every week.
What was the response to my request to go to Disney World?
“Um, no. We took your brother and sister to Disneyland when we lived in California and they HATED it.”
Aaack! Blocked again by that fateful 1966 trip to Disneyland. The trip that sealed my fate long before I was ever born. The trip that is eternally preserved in a photo album that I longingly looked through time and time again as a child. The photo album that captures my siblings’ expressions – my brother bored and my sister thoroughly pissed off. My siblings the non-Mickey-lovers.
I continued to love all things Mickey throughout my teens and 20’s. I watched every Disney movie that came out in the theaters. I rejoiced when the Disney Store opened in Willowbrook Mall. Finally, I could have my own authentic Mickey Mouse sweatshirt… and just about anything else.
When the boys were born, they had all things Mickey too… pj’s, t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, cups, plates, etc… We owned every movie on VHS from Snow White to Mulan. In fact, we went through three copies of The Lion King because Mr. A wore it out from watching it so much. Mr. A also had a crush on Pocahontas for a while. I taught the kids to say “Mickey” instead of “cheese” when I took their photo. Mr. A had a stuffed Mickey that he loved and G-Man's wingman was Pooh Bear.
In 1997 we moved to Florida and I thought that finally we would be able to experience the magic that is Disney. But alas, I was married to the meanest person on the planet at the time and that’s all I’m going to say about that.
During my time as a single mom money was tight and I just couldn’t swing a trip. But I put it top on my list of things to do in Florida.
Then I met my Sweetie… before I got around to sharing my list we had a conversation about relatives always coming to visit when you live in Florida. That’s when my Sweetie said something akin to:
“Every time relatives came down for a visit they’d always want to go to Disney. I must have gone 20 times. Now the last thing I want to do is go to Mouse World.”
Since I knew my Sweetie was a keeper, I scratched Disney off my list.
Fast forward to January 2010… Disney ran a promotion “Give a Day, Get a Day.” If you volunteered for a day at a registered non-profit, then you would receive a free pass to Disney. Well, the four of us all earned free passes through Project Linus. When the passes arrived, I asked my husband and teenage boys if they wanted to go and the answer was “No.” So I donated the passes to the Boys & Girls Club. My parents earned a few extra passes and gave them to my sister and her family. Yep, my sister and the Hellcats went to Disney… for free.
No, I’m not bitter. (sarcasm font)
Well, this past summer I decided that I wanted to go to Disney once and for all. When asked what I wanted for my birthday, I replied, “A trip to Disney.”
The universal response I received?
Laughter.
No one took me seriously. Utter rejection. Cue the childhood memory of looking through the 1966 photo album.
Last month my Sweetie attended a conference at Mouse World. No, I didn’t get an invitation to go. It was during the week and I wouldn’t have been able to take off from work anyway. But my Sweetie did bring me back a plush Minnie Mouse and a fun pink visor. So maybe he’s softening up?
The last straw was placed on the camel’s back last night. Mr. A shared the details of the upcoming Disney Grad Nite that’s a tradition for high school seniors in Florida. And he also complained about the dress code (khakis and collared shirt).
That’s when it dawned on me that my eldest son will visit the most magical place on earth with great security and lots of witnesses before I ever get the chance.
I quickly inquired about chaperone opportunities. But then I wondered if chaperoning over 400 high school seniors can be done without xanax or large amounts of alcohol because I’m pretty darn sure that Disney doesn’t sell beer or wine on Grad Nite.
My son, as sweet as he is, offered to take me to Disney the first time he’s home on leave from the Academy. His offer made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside but I want to go before then! Dammit. Janet.
Now my goal is to go to Disney World before Grad Nite 2011.
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Your Turn
Have you ever been to Disney World or Disneyland? Did you go as a kid? Have you taken your own kids? Have you gone as an adult without kids? Would you want to go with me?
8 comments:
I will go to Disney with you! J and I need a vacation! I want a reunion and to meet your family. When do we start planning? NOT KIDDING!
BTW I have never been to any Disney park either...
Haven't been since high school. I always wanted to take L but it never worked out. My parents took him.
I would love to go.
I went when I was 8, and hated it. Too young, and I'm not much on rides in the first place. And the lines.....
Enough said.
I went to Epcot after my divorce for free, having met someone who worked at Disney. Epcot was fun!
You need to get yourself there STAT!
I have been to the Land twice. Never World. We look forward to taking our girls there when they are a bit older although after reading how many people you say have hated it, I better do some research about a good age for them to go.
Aww, you're such a kid at heart. In my opinion, DisneyWorld=Hades...but that's because I don't do crowds, lines or screeching kids.
You're not missing a whole lot, really. If you're six, great. Forty-one, not so great. Places like Six Flags or Cedar Point are much more aimed at adults (or teens, at least). Those are places where a coaster freak can find happiness.
I've been to both places several times on business and as a visitor with and without teens along. On all but one trip I calculated that standing in line took about 60% of my time. Disney has mastered the business of getting people to pay to stand in line doing nothing. So if you're not a patient line stander who can visit another world in your head,forget Disney.
The only great trip I had to Disney World was when a sudden windy cold front set in just before lunch and everyone in shorts and tees disappeared. There were absolutely no lines the rest of the day. My cold-adapted MN gf and I had a blast running from one attraction to the other until we'd done/seen most of the attractions in amazing place.
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