‘Till Next Time Disneyland
It has officially been one month of not being a Disney Annual Pass holder. Of course it’s not a huge deal but I’ll admit, I miss it.
People always look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them I have an annual pass to Disneyland. “Isn’t it so expensive?” “Doesn’t it get boring?”
No. No it does not.
I was fortunate enough to go to Disneyland often growing up. My family would go together probably once a year and in 2001 we even took a vacation to Disney World in Florida. Of course as a child, Disneyland was always such a fun place to be. I loved the thrilling rides and the characters. It was like a new adventure each time I went.
I never purchased and annual pass until I was in college. As a young adult, I felt a different side of Disney’s magic. For me personally, Disney became a place to just get away from the hustle and bustle of life. I started to appreciate all the details in their decorations, the music around the park, and shows. I loved just grabbing a snack, sitting around, and just trying to imagine how they came up with all of it.
The main reason that I won’t be renewing for now is because the cost of everything at Disneyland has been increasing a lot over the past few years. Since being an annual pass holder in 2015, the prices have increased almost $500 for the all the perks I used to have. Parking is $20 a day. A regular churro at the park now is almost $5! Yes, the pass that I had before leaving covered parking and included some discounts here and there, but my wallet was crying after each day spent at Disneyland towards the end. The parks were also getting way too crowded. It’s usually a good day when you can still park at the Mickey and Friends parking structure. But the moment they start moving you off the original lot, you know it’s a busy day. I can only expect it to get crazier as the park continues renovations and expands with Star Wars Land. Altogether it was beginning to be more stressful than fun.
Nonetheless, I can’t wait to go back to Disneyland but for now there are other things that I need to put as a priority in my life. I want to dedicate more time to my creative career, maybe move out on my own, and definitely travel more. Last year, I even traveled to Japan and visited Tokyo Disney Sea. I had the time of my life. The food? Cute and delicious. The decorations? Cute and colorful. The cast members? Cute and so kind! Did I mention how cute everything was? Maybe this is my chance to save up and visit the other Disney parks around the world before I renew my pass again again.
‘Till next time, Disneyland. Can’t wait to relive all your magic again one day.
