Disneyland on the Mind

I think it's time. There are plenty of external forces that are leading me to think that I MUST go to Disneyland soon. Perhaps it's the fact that this is the second year on a row I haven't been to Disneyland to celebrate my birthday in 10 years, my whole being knows that something is seriously out of whack.

It probably started back in April when I was invited to spend a weekend in Anaheim to celebrate my roommate's friend's birthday in May. She and her husband have Annual Passports, and was going to gather a bunch of people, get a hotel room or two at at a Disney Hotel and go to Disneyland one day, California Adventures the next. What made things easier was the fact that the SoCal Park Hopper special was going on, making things cheaper. I was supposed to go, but as it turned out, my really good friend and her dance company had their company's debut show that weekend, and I was asked to photograph for them. If that wasn't enough, I was even offered an even more discounted Park Hopper pass by someone who couldn't use one during that week. Even though it was a deal, what made it easier for me to turn that offer down is the fact that if I were to get a one day pass to a park, I'd use my Disney Rewards card, so I don't have to spend actual money going (and is the only reason I do wind up going once a year since not renewing my pass last year).

Then on my birthday of all days, I was told that someone who isn't one who fancies Disneyland all that much would go with me. That took me for a loop. That person also knew that talking about going to Disneyland is a very serious matter for me, and isn't something with which to joke around . I was in denial for a good, long time until I was finally convinced it could actually happen.

Last night, I was commenting on the very cute photo collage my roommate's friend (the birthday girl) made of my roommate's and her pictures of that weekend, and my roommate informed me that she was going back to Disneyland this Friday and was pursuading me to go. I told her I couldn't, because I had to do this thing called work that day. She didn't think that was a good enough excuse, and the offer still stands. The main reason why I'm not accepting that invitation is mostly because she's going on a kind of date there, and that's awfully awkward, especially at Disneyland, where rides usually double people up.

Now I'm faced with another offer: chaperone for an all-girls Catholic school's Grad Nite this Thursday. My friend's work is horribly short on chaperones, and I was asked to help. What it would entail is my getting to my friend's work in Anaheim by 9:45pm, count heads in the bus, be there in case something happens, and should something happen, I go and find a teacher to take care of it, and I can even nap in the chaperone lounge until I have to count heads one more time and then go home at 6:15am. I get in the park for free and I'm fed, but I would have to wind up taking work off the next day unless I'm really crazy and try clocking in 4 hours later (hmmm...).

It's awfully tempting. I have to admit, that I haven't totally ruled out going. But there are two major things that are stopping me from saying yes:

-I'd be at Disneyland that's crawling with crazy teenagers.
-When I went to my own Grad Nite 10 years ago, I had my worst Disneyland experience ever.

My Grad Nite wasn't anything traumatizing, but it wasn't fun. It should have been; I even had a "date." But after wearing the wrong dress, the wrong shoes, being stuck in the bus for much too long and separated from most of my friends, I had to shuffle around the park when it was super crowded and there was an overpriced, ultra-limited food selection was gross, and to top it all off, someone stole my friend's and my money when we wanted to get some sours (I was getting for my sister), at the very end of the night, and couldn't get them because it was the last of my money. It wasn't all that fun 10 years ago, I'm not sure what would make it any better now.

...and to think that 2 months after that, I got my first Annual Passport I kept for 8 years.

I've checked my rewards balance, and I do have enough to get me in, and pay for one more person's ticket as well. But I could save that amount for another time should I choose to go Thursday night. It also doesn't help that my friend mentioned she's thinking of working from home on Friday, which would allow us to have lunch should I decide to not go to work on Friday...BUT, there is also a Lakers game that would be happening around the time I'd have to be ready to go and junk...

These are very difficult grown up decisions I'm faced with. Life is no fair.