Disneyween 2020 Might Be a Go!

 I was reading Disney news, as I do most days, and the Halloween food and decorations for Disney World are scheduled to be up September 15th. This, of course, made me look at hotel, park, and flight availability for my birthday weekend. Everything is available! The hotel is a bit more than I'd want to pay, but that's due to the lack of Value Resort offerings. It's not out of my budget, though. Mostly because I'd only stay for four days rather than five or six. As for the flight...OMG so cheap! $287 round-trip with an upgrade?! That is wild!

I'm going to wait a bit before booking, because anything could happen in the next seven weeks. But probably within the next two to three, I'll be ready go make my final decision. I just need to go somewhere! Disneyland would be preferable. I don't mind paying full price for a reduced experience there. Disney World is a different story, but at this point, I'm willing to make the sacrifice!

The 2020 Vacations That Never Were...

I'm sure we've all had disappointments in 2020 thus far. For me, it was my vacations that I had to cancel. I was suppose to leave the country for the very first time in my life! Then I was suppose to have an epic birthday voyage! Neither of which, nor my replacement vacation, happened.

Photo by Roméo A. on Unsplash

Slow Travel Through Hawaii (Including Disney's Aulani Resort)

Photo by Ethan Robertson on Unsplash

Like most of my random life choices lately, this one was inspired by an episode of ChooseFI. There have been lots of interviews with people who do slow travel, or move to new places every few months, but for some reason Trip of a Lifestyle really stood out to me. This couple took a 6 month honeymoon in Hawaii and didn't spend much more than a one or two week trip would take. It's all about making smarter choices to get the most out of your time and money.

Hawaii is one of the few places that I have any strong urge to visit, but I always think cruise. That might just be because cruises are what people do, and I do really want to go on a cruise somewhere. Also, I'm not big on beaches, and felt like I'd be obligated to hang out on the beach if I flew there and got a hotel. But if my "hotel" was a ship, I could stay on the ship when I wasn't doing non-beach excursions. Of course, this is totally silly and irrational. It's my vacation, I can do whatever I want. Like visit volcanoes!

After listening to this episode, I was inspired to look at this trip in a different way. Who says I have to spend a week at a beach resort, or take an overpriced 15 day cruise? I would love to visit Disney's Aulani resort, but I wouldn't want to spend a whole vacation there. The solution? Take a longer vacation and live like a local. I can get an AirBnB or even just rent my own apartment like this young couple did. It's genius! I can stay for a month or longer for the same cost as a week at a resort!

I certainly have enough money in my savings to cover a trip like this, and since I don't currently have a job, I don't have to worry about vacation time. However, if my plans to work remotely and for my self come to fruition, I could ideally make some money while I'm away and possibly cover a longer stay!

I just need to work hard now, so I can work less later.

I want to visit all the USA Amusement parks by road trip!

Photo by Christina Boemio on Unsplash

I love amusement parks. I love rides. I especially love rollercoasters. I also love meeting characters, watching shows, and eating special food. Oddly, I've only ever been to 11 amusement parks, and only 8 of them within the last 5 years.

This trip was inspired by Trip of a Lifestyle's cross-country roadtrip to visit all of the US National Parks. I was listening to their episode of ChooseFI and immediately got excited. I'm not big on nature, but I am big on rollercoasters! Why not do a similar trip that follows my own interests? My first task was to find out exactly how many parks there are with in the US and where they are. This was easy, since a website exists for that!

Now for problems that I need solutions for.

1. I don't know how to drive. I had driving lessons when I was 16, and then a friend tried to teach me last year at 30, but I never went further than that. My first step is going to have to be learn how to drive and get my driver's license, or else, how the heck am I suppose to have a roadtrip?!
2. I'll need a van. What kind would be best? What's available in my area? How much will it cost? What work will it need to make it roadtrip ready?
3. My mom is going to think I'm insane. She was uncomfortable enough when I went to Disneyland by myself for the first time. She was okay when I went to Disney World alone. She was nervous to let me go to Japan solo, but thanks to COVID-19, that was cancelled. How is she going to react to me driving back and forth across the country, sleeping in a van?
4. Making money while on the road. This one, I did have an immediate idea for. It was just a matter of actually getting the work.

Once I can get through these barriers, this trip is totally possible. When will it happen? I have no idea. Most of the parks are currently closed due to the pandemic, so it's anyone's guess as to when everything will be open and fully operational.