It's unfortunate that my first post about my travels and such are going to slam on one of Americas greatest icons.  I honestly don’t know where to begin... The Disneyland Hotel and Resort

Last month I was in Orlando, visiting Jessica and she took me to 2 of the Disney Theme Parks – The Magic Kingdom as well as Disney Studios.  Sticker shock for Park Tickets didn’t hit me all that bad since Jessica managed to score us passes.  Apparently growing up in the area you’ve worked for Disney at least once in your life and there is a darn good possibility that you still have peeps still working there.

In part I think the difference between going for pleasure and going for work makes things somewhat different. When you’re blowing money for ‘fun’ you don’t pay as much attention cause you’re caught up in the moment.  However, when you have to track every single receipt, you’re far more aware that the coke you just bought cost you $2.90! (You know the one that you bought at home the other day only being $1.25.)

So my first ‘view’ of my trip was how painfully expensive everything that I was required to do and buy left me whimpering as I handed my debit card over.  As my cohort and I were leaving the Disney Property in a cab heading to the airport I noticed a sign that stated that valet parking costs $17.00 per day!  So not only are you paying out the nose to stay on a very dated hotel, but you’re also paying to park on their precious property!

After my first day I remember saying to my husband that even though I really appreciated being on property for the conference I was working – that I would never pay to stay there with my family.  That the money that was spent corporately, I could have stayed somewhere MUCH nicer at a fraction of the cost *and* could have found a place that wouldn’t have charged me $17.00/day for the privilege of parking on their property.

No matter where I went, what I did – for a cheapie lunch I spent a minimum of $10 (and that was really walking around and comparing prices) – but the average was $20/lunch and $30/dinner.  Which as a family – that adds up!  Portions did run huge, so I suppose I could have saved or split it – but I also have a gastric bypass.  As I sat eating half a burger, I saw how easy it was to scarf down a burger, so… $20 is probably average.  So between random beverages throughout the day and then breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack here or there, you’re easily blowing through $80/day (my per diem being a lot less than that!). And if you read any random food guides, you'll notice that the pricing is high, the food isn't rated all that good...  I think I had 3 meals that I thought were 'tastey' (not good, but better than so-so) in 5 days (25 meals and that's all sad huh?)...

Walking through Downtown Disney at night made me realize that regardless of our economy sucking right now, Disney was still doing quite well.  As I tried to squish myself through the overpriced ‘Disney store’ looking for goodies for my loves, I realized that no, I definitely would never pay to stay here.  And I made a mental note to thank Jessica and her fabulous husbie Travis for hosting me in their home, and then teaching me the ways of Disney World. *chuckles*

My end thoughts? You can never replace The Mouse – and I happily shelled out more money than I care to admit being caught up in the moment and having fun.  It was equivalent to walking into a casino; you can’t help but put your money in those darn machines.  Next time I will leave my debit card at home and only carry cash.  And if I go for personal reasons, I will not pay to stay at the hotel as that was the one part of the trip that lacked so much ‘Disney’ really… I don’t know how much the hotel was since we were part of the convention there was a corporate discount – but randomly looking online – you can stay at a Sheraton around the corner for a fraction of the cost, and save so much money in meals alone!

Much YAY for the fun factor…

However… Shame of Disney for financially raping parents wallets and completely manipulating society as a whole to make the price ‘okay’ in our collective heads.

As for the travel – The John Wayne Airport was probably THE BEST Airport in regards to cleanliness and simplicity I have ever been in.  After having the sticker shock of Disney food – paying $10 for a burger was a blessing. *chuckles*

I have many, many journals spanning various subjects – one of my favorite being travel.  I don’t know I had never gone into an electronic format for this journal; especially given my countless hours in airports or on the road with a laptop on my lap.

I have a very dear friend whom used to be a co-worker actually (Adam); that asked me if I had taken my good and bad experiences and found a place to rate hotels and such.  I asked him if he had a website he used for that and he said no therefore I began to do a little research.  Every site I saw had pros and cons and left me feeling like I would be the little fly on the wall screaming foul as a big corporate newspaper came down and smooshed me flat.   Not to mention I really liked having a written document of my travels…

After a little thought I decided it was best to start a new journal here to add to a couple that I already religiously write in.  I hope this one blossoms into the same love that my written ones have.

I’ve traveled personally since I was young enough to escape ‘home’ and never looked back – my first real trip away from home oddly enough was quite the adventure.  I was too young to be leaving without permission, but older friends had convinced me to join them for a day in San Diego, going to the Zoo – and I did just that.  Thankfully when I called my mom from San Diego she was only slightly miffed. She was happier I called to tell her where I was really at and when she could expect me.

I was born in San Diego, California and my parents had this ‘genius’ idea (said with mild sarcasm) to move to Las Vegas – at the time Vegas was just beginning to boom, we got in there when housing prices were still dirt cheap and the various companies and casinos were begging for skill and talent.  My father acquired a well paying blue collar job, my mother having done waitressing, made more money in Vegas than she ever had.  While we were never ‘well off’, we were comfortable for the most part.  But my parents were content living in the west, going to San Diego occasionally to see family. Some of my summers were spent with my sister Sherry and I going to a little po-dunky town called ‘Bullhead City, Arizona’.  (BHC has grown quite a bit being across the Colorado River from the city of Laughlin, Nevada) spending time with my father’s side of the family.  Much to my chagrin, my favorite auntie Tina still lives in Bullhead City – something I’m desperately, yet patiently trying to remedy. (No offense to any Laughlin-ers or Bullhead-ers.)

So, that first taste of hedonistically and spontaneously running off and simply enjoying life was the beginning of a passion for me. I have lived in more cities as an adult, wanting to move every other year, and I have been blessed to have met and marry a man who not only tolerates my wanderlust – but suffers from his own version of such.  The first trip Brady planned for us together was merely weeks after meeting – flying into Las Vegas to help me re-locate to the Seattle area.  The road trip that ensued was wonderful as we drove it enabled us to stop alone the way in San Francisco for a couple days.  (What was amazing, was one of my best friends who lived in Las Vegas ended up moving to the Portland area - it was nice having Chryssy closer!)

After I moved to the Seattle area the first trip we planned together (well, I should say he did all the planning, I just got as excited as a little girl) was to Anchorage, Alaska where I got to see so many new and exciting things.  My trip to Alaska reaffirmed that I had only touched a tip of an incredibly huge iceberg – which I had so much more to see and do in my life.

My husband was blessed to be working in a career that enabled him to travel around the globe and see and do many things – my favorite story of his still was the wader of a child that overcame him as he walked around the forests in Singapore (actually it was the MacRitchie Reservoir) and monkeys came from everywhere to frolic and play as if they were saying ‘hi’ and walking along with him.  I have yet to go to Singapore to experience this with him – but one day.

I worked in the same field as he and got to travel, but it was only domestically – other than Canada (I LOVE Canada for my own various reasons and sincerely look forward to exploring perhaps Toronto next), I have yet to venture outside this country.  Recently I started for a new company and my travel schedule is going to really test my love of travel, one week I’m in Anaheim (Recently at the Disneyland Resort for a conference) for 5 days, and then I’m home for 5 days, and gone to Seattle for 8, home for 10, and in Boston for 4 days… you get the idea. (Mind you, I still have a apartment in Seattle, and I just got back from Orlando & Tampa, Florida and Disney World about 4 weeks ago with one of my best friends Jessica!)My journal here is created with the intent to share my travels with others, both business and personal – in some hope that maybe my experiences can be shared with those who have an interest in travel, or to see the places I have been through my eyes and thoughts.  If nothing else, I’m sure it will be amusing