Photo by P. Rickrode
I often hear, “You’re going to Disney World again? Didn’t you just go last year (or in June, or January, etc.)?” My response is always the same, “Yes, we did and yes we’re going again.” You want to know why? I’ll tell you. It’s fun!! I love Disney World. We always know we’re going to have an excellent experience, good food, clean rooms, quiet pools (we know the ones to visit), free transportation and much more. It’s money well spent (in our opinion).
“But the crowds are terrible,” you say. “Don’t you get tired of waiting all those long lines?” “It’s so hot. Why do you spend hours every day walking around in all that heat and humidity?” And, my favorite, “It’s so expensive.”
Here’s my typical response: “I. Don’t. Care.” I love Disney World, heat, crowds, long lines and all. We have our favorite restaurants, rides, shows, pools and other fun experiences. It’s kind of like a second home for us. Mississippi is the working home, complete with chores and bills and other responsibilities. Disney World is the second home. The carefree, no chores, no bills, no worries home. It’s our Hakuna Matada place.
Photo by C. Rickrode
Everyone needs one of those. And what vacation isn’t expensive? I live on the cheap every day at home. When I’m on vacation, I want to splurge a little. That’s part of what makes vacation so special. (Plus, I scrimp and save something, no matter how small, religiously every week in my vacation fund so I can have an extra good time when I’m gone.)
And I know people who visit the same beach every summer. The same lake house, the same mountain cabin, the same Caribbean island. How is that different? Don’t you get tired of the same view every single year? Don’t you ever want to go somewhere else, I mean there are a gazillion interesting places you could visit? So how is going to Disney World every year any different? Hmmm?
Disney has some fun things that you can’t find anywhere else, especially the Disney cruises. Think about it, Disney has their very own private island only available to Disney cruisers. How cool is that?
While cruising, they shoot fireworks off of the ship over the ocean? How cool is that? You can play Thugo on pirate night. It’s like Bingo but you have to collect Thugs. The game is hosted by a rowdy group of thugs in one of the bars and it is an absolute hoot. Collect the right set of Thugs and, voila – Thugo!! (I actually won one round the night we played.)
There’s also the special holiday parties. The Halloween party is the absolute best party in town. Costume or no, you can trick or treat all night long, meet and greet characters you hardly ever see any other time of the year, an AWESOME parade complete with headless horseman and glow in the dark hitchhiking ghosts! It’s fabulous. The Christmas party is a close second.
Photo by P. Rickrode
And where else can you learn to draw an adorable Disney character?
Or wear one of these ridiculous napkin hats and not feel foolish because everyone else is wearing one too thanks to the super fun wait staff and crew?
Not to mention the wine pairing dinners, wine, bourbon, tequila, and beer tastings, private guided tours, an African safari adventure, a water roller coaster and dozens of other really cool things. Only Disney my friends. Only Disney.
Oh, I almost forgot, they also have a fire-breathing dragon in their parade. That’s right, it breathes fire!! You don’t see that anywhere else.
So there you have it. Why I love Disney and why we go so often. And, yes, we are going to visit Disney World later this summer. (We’re waiting until it gets REALLY hot. Ha ha.) No, seriously, I want to make sure all of this cancer treatment and residual side effects are behind me before we leave town. I want to be healthy and pain-free so I can enjoy every minute of fun and truly celebrate the end of this battle with the cancer. I think I deserve this one.
Photo by P. Rickrode
So how about you dear readers, do you like to vacation in a different spot each year or do you find yourself repeating your favorite places? Do you like Disney World? What’s your favorite vacation destination?
Word of the day: Rachitis
Fun fact about me: I’m looking forward to taking some new pictures this year at WDW; some more up-to-date ones with my new hair.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, June 2018. Original photos by Patricia and/or Corey Rickrode.
jansenschmidt 
Feel free to take my turn. Never been and never particularly wanted to go.
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Disney World is definitely not for everyone David. I think it’s best if some people don’t even try to go because some people seem grumpy the entire time they’re there. Those folks should stay home. I think they feel like they HAVE to bring their kids so they make themselves miserable so the kids can have the experience.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’re doing well and keeping up with all your treatments.
Patricia
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Ooooh, have fun! I know how much you love your Disney trips. 🙂 I’ve been to Disneyland once, but have never been able to convince my hubby to to go either Disney location. I would love to go again (like you, I don’t care about the crowds), and I would enjoy every moment of it because it’s all part of the experience.
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Sheila I hope you get to go at least once. Disney World is so vastly different from Disneyland. There is so much to see and do even without going on any rides. There are fantastic shows, amazing restaurants and great shopping. Sometimes my hubby and I spend the day visiting the different resorts because each one is unique and has something cool and different to offer.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a fantastic rest of the week!
Patricia
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We vacation in the same place each year – south Florida for spring break and northern Michigan for summer, fall, and sometimes in the winter. I get it, there is fun in what we know. Every sunrise and sunset is a little different and I can find awe and splendor in just about anything. I’ve been to Disney once, we took the family and my daughter was so young she doesn’t have many memories of the visit – I do. It was the beginning of my knee pain and it was challenging to do all the walking and waiting – waiting is the worst for a bad knee. The kids had fun, but it was not for me. I know you’ll have a blast – enjoy.
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Like I told David above, Disney World is not for everyone. I think it’s nice to experience it as least once before making up your mind about it, which you’ve done, but for those of us who love it, it’s just magical. Like your south Florida beach – it speaks to you and you love it. That’s why anyone should keep going back to the places they love. And I hope you keep going because I love your photos.
Have a great week, Clay. I hope your knee replacement journey is going well.
Patricia
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You should go wherever you want on vacation – no guilt or explanation! I love D-World, too and plan to go back, despite having been there multiple times. It’s always a fun time. I know your next trip will be awesome!
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We try to find something different to do each time we’re there: a tour, a special dining experience, holiday party, etc. And, we try to stay at different resorts because each one is unique and has something different to offer. It’s more than just rides for us.
Thanks for sharing and your support. I hope the rest of your week is “magical.” (wink)
Patricia
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If you want to go to Disney World again, then that’s what you should do! Especially since you’ve been saving up for it. Especially since you have something big to celebrate!
For many years, my family went to visit the same friends in TN for vacation. The friends are no longer there, but we still love the area, so we’re moving there! Now I’m hoping we love it just as much when there is a job and bill paying involved. 😉
Hope you have a great time when your trip comes around!
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Oh we definitely have something BIG to celebrate. But even more than the end of the cancer treatments, we’re celebrating all the things we didn’t celebrate during my treatment: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, my birthday, our anniversary. There’s so much to be thankful for. I was hoping to have a book out by then, too, so perhaps we’ll add in the celebration of my first book launch. Stay tuned for that.
I have a feeling you guys are going to love living in Tennessee! I think it’s a beautiful state and most folks I’ve met from there are super nice. You can officially consider yourself a southerner!
As always, thanks for visiting and have an awesome rest of the week.
Patricia
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Loved this post! NOLA and Natchez are my “second home”. If I miss a year, I get a bit “home sick”, so I can definitely understand you returning to WDW each year. Have a blast! And take tonnes of photos!
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Well what’s not to love about Natchez and New Orleans! Both are unique and fun and beautiful places. I hope you get to visit often.
Of course it would be nice to see you back up here in Vicksburg, too. At least you know you’ll have a nice comfortable place to stay and a great breakfast! Not to mention awesome company! (wink)
Thanks for sharing, Mil. I sure enjoy seeing all of your running experiences. And a bit of Australia, too! Keep it up girl.
Patricia
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