I’m going to Disneyland!
Well, that’s one way and place I plan to celebrate my Remissionversary anyway.
Actually, I had wanted to go to Disney World. In a strange twist of fate, that already happened this year too.
So how am I going to celebrate over the next few months?
Insert Shrug Here
I don’t know.
I have some big ideas, but a lot of it is still TBD.
Here’s what I do know:
- A few years ago, I switched to a new travel credit card through Bank of America with a great rewards program. I’ve patiently been accumulating my points so I’ve got a lot saved. And I do mean a lot!
- I’ll do like I did with Five Years in the Clear: I’ll celebrate with multiple things over a stretch of time. For 5YITC, it was trips and parties. I started on December 31 and carried it through for an entire year. I’m limiting 10YITC festivities to a shorter span: June through December 2019, and I’m pretty much focused on celebrating with travel and adventures.
But I really am going to Disneyland. Earlier this week I saw an announcement for something I’ve been waiting for: Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion birthday celebration plans.
I’m one of the lucky Foolish Mortals who will be partaking in “The Haunted Mansion: Celebrating 50 Years of Retirement Unliving” celebrations. (A special event to honor the Haunted Mansion turning 50 this year!)
The Event
It’s happening two nights only: August 7-8 and August 8-9.
Guests get access to special merch, and a special after hours visit to the park –during the Witching Hour even! From 1 a.m. to 4 a.m.
Obviously, the Haunted Mansion is one of the attractions that’ll be open. But they’ll have special photo opps, haunted backdrops, performers, and a swinging wake!
And they’re even encouraging people to dress up as their favorite Haunted Mansion characters. I imagine there will be some great costumes and pictures taking opportunities there too.
I may even dress up. Or I may just sport my haunted mansion sleeveless like I did when I went to the Magic Kingdom. I don’t know yet.
Getting Tickets
Tickets went on sale for the event at 10 a.m. PT yesterday which was noon my time.
At first I didn’t think I was going to get any. I thought I had read they were limiting it to 999 guests each of the two nights.
When I logged in it was like anything else at Disney…get in line and wait. I was placed in a queue with over 2,000 people ahead of me.
I didn’t think there was any hope I’d get a ticket by the time it was my turn.
But I had to try…
After about 30 minutes it happened. There was only one other person in front of me. I was next! (And there was a cute alarm that went off to notify me I was about to enter the ticket area.)
But would I get a ticket? My heart leapt with hope when I noticed a message under the “Number of users ahead of you” line I hadn’t seen before.
There were still tickets available! And I got two!
Haunted Mansion Party Here I Come!
Late last year when I learned the Haunted Mansion would turn 50 this year I thought, “Man, that’d be something cool to go do. Because surely they’ll make some sort of hoopla, right?”
I didn’t know what Disney might do, but they had to do something. I felt it in my bones.
And then this week I spotted an announcement about this event and I was like, “I’ve got to. I’ve just got to.”
Epcot is actually my favorite of the parks, but Haunted Mansion has been, is and always will be my favorite ride.
Foolish Mortal and Proud of It
My Partner in Crime
Even better, I’m going with Tracie, my Arizona Bestie!
I also wanted to see Tracie as part of the 10YITC celebrations. We met at work in the early 90s and have been friends ever since.
Tracie is not only my bestie, but she’s also the first adult Disney lover I ever met.
I remember being in awe of her back then, because what adult admitted they loved Disney? That was for kids. I would’ve been too embarrassed to admit such a thing.
Heck, for decades I was embarrassed. I’d surreptitiously watch new Disney movie releases from the comfort of my own home so I wouldn’t feel judged going to a theater.
And when we moved to Florida I’d contain my excitement and joy about going to Orlando when company would request one of the things they’d like to do was go to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot.
Those days are over.
I love Disney. I’m owning it.
Grabbing the Ghost by the Sheet
I’m so grateful to have reached 10YITC and have the means to do some celebrating.
I can think of lots of places I’d like to celebrate, but I never imagined one of them would be attending a spooky soiree at Disneyland in honor of the Haunted Mansion’s big milestone with a fellow Disney lover, who happens to be my bestie.
But then the opportunity came along so how could I pass it up? #YOLO
P.S.
Anyone who knows me knows Wayne and I are about conjoined at the hip. I’m going somewhere without him?
Of course I’d love to go with my hub for all of this, but, well…it’s not really his thing. I’m sure if we hadn’t just been to Disney World he’d go (begrudgingly) for me if I asked and his work allowed.
However, since it’s happening in the middle of the week and it’s a middle of the night event…I can’t see him getting on board with this. I only foresaw one big no, and I really wanted to do this.
In fact, in a departure from my usual course of action, I didn’t even ask him about it. Tracie was my first go to. Even before I knew about this event I had asked her if she’d want to maybe meet up in Disneyland or something this year.
So when then this Haunted Mansion thing came along, well…if just felt like kismet.
Is it? I don’t know, but I’m ready to go.