By Rebecca Toon
Asking whether or not you should go to Disney World during New Year’s is a bit like asking whether or not you should have a child – even if you decide it’s a great idea, you’re likely to have second thoughts when it reaches 12.
The truth of the matter is, what may be the trip of a lifetime for some, could easily be a total nightmare for others. In the end, only you can decide what’s right for you.
For the past 17 years, 11 resorts, 42 visits (and a Partridge in a Pear Tree) I have adamantly believed that nothing, and I mean nothing, would convince me that going to Disney World during New Years was a good idea.
And then Disney announced the closing of the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights. And then Disney announced a dinner party IN the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights – but only January 1-3.
And just like that, Disney made a liar out of me.
Having just been to Disney in November (and October) (and August), I promised Jon I’d plan this trip on a tight budget. I didn’t tell him that our Tables in Wonderland card was blacked out, or that we’d be paying 100% mark-up on our chosen “value” resort, Pop Century. I also didn’t tell him the dinner party tickets were $100 each. After all, we were on a budget!
Following a bit of research, we decided to drive to Florida. Well, perhaps that’s not entirely true. We “decided” to drive in the same way the Genie “decided” to grant three wishes to Aladdin– we had no choice. Seriously y’all, for that kind of money, I better be waking up in an actual Stave Church, English Pub, or Aztec Pyramid.
So, armed with Monster energy drinks, monster ballads of the 80’s, and a monster-sized appetite for bad gas station food, we left Connecticut around 1am on the 30th. A mere 20 hours later, we found ourselves crossing under the familiar welcome arch.
First!
In an effort to keep costs down, we had originally planned on staying an hour or so outside of the parks on Wednesday night. We quickly realized every hotel in the area had raised their prices, so after a Hail Mary call to Pop Century (and a fair amount of pixie dust), we secured a room for Wednesday night. They even arranged for us to stay in the same room the entire visit. We checked in, headed straight for the food court (read: bar) and then called it a night.
Coming up in Part II – New Year’s Eve in Disney!
Rebecca Toon
Rebecca is still “sleeping it off” in Connecticut with a Costco-sized bottle of aspirin, her better half, and two miniature adults that insist on calling her mom. She has vowed to never eat gas station food again.
If you’d like to follow her adventures, or sing monster ballad karaoke, you can find her on:
Facebook: facebook.com/beccaberry73
Twitter: Beccaberry73
Instagram: Anonymouserunner
Email: beccaberry73 [at] gmail [dot] com
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