Where Goes My Money?

Two five-day passes to Disney World cost about $450. For that one gets access to all the shows, rides and daily May/June thunderstorms. Food comes extra so rather than spending $2.50 for a bottle of water, Fred (our ugly green cooler) carried ours. Add to this some more expenses like airfare and car rental and you can see that a Disney World vacation is not for the unemployed.

More than 65,000 people work for Disney (in Orlando alone) on its 47 square mile piece of former, swampy real estate. Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, Mickey, Donald, Goofey...they're all there. We have autographs. And I have an image of a four-year-old granddaughter who staired at many princesses in disbelief that she was finally seeing the "real" ones with her own eyes. Her expression was priceless. Did I mention a birthday party in Cinderella's castle where we met Snow White and Jasmine? Or Animal Kingdom where we met Pochohantas? And, ever hear of the "hidden Mickey's?" And, no, Walt Disney's body is not frozen on-site in a cryonic chamber full of liquid nitrogen awaiting the day when medical technology can re-animate him.

My son-in-law mentioned how happy people seemed to be in giving up hundreds, yea even thousands, of dollars (depending upon your taste and preference). For me, the expression on my granddaughter's face was absolutely priceless, metaphorically speaking.

This was my third trip to Disney World; it's a small world after all, you know. And I have no regrets. We planned, saved and executed right on schedule. My wife didn't travel much when she was a kid. She'd heard there were 50 states but was only personally aware of TN and KY. Therefore, traveling and seeing are important to her. So we drop the bucks and go! No regrets.

I'm curious. On what do you unroll the bucks with no regrets? Maybe it was just a one-time thing or maybe it is a hobby that you enjoy. Sometimes the experience is worth it.

At least that's what I think. --Terrell Lee