Disney World...What can I say?

It’s quite the place. There are lots of cute things, interesting things, even some marvelous things there. When you go there you will be entertained, and you will have fun. But I can’t say I loved the place, or even liked it overly much. I really don’t need to go back there ever again – even if I have grandkids some day. Our money would be better spent to build the biggest sandbox of all time.



Most of what you do there is wait in line. If you don’t like waiting in long lines, don’t go to Disney World. Every wonder you want to see is preceded by a line of people snaking through maze-like walkways. You shuffle back and forth through cavernous buildings, side to side, front to back, side to side, around 3 corners, until you are somewhat disoriented about where you came from and where you are going. Finally you reach The Doors, where you are loaded onto some sort of carriage. You scream for 3 minutes, or laugh for 10, and then unload into a slightly shorter maze that ends in a gift shop where you can purchase a tee shirt that says, “I survived the FILL-IN-THE-BLANK”. After you’ve made your purchase, you head down the crowded thoroughfare to the next attraction and start the process all over again...Lather, rinse, repeat as they say. And to top it off, you have paid hundreds of dollars for this privilege.


Doesn’t this seem a little weird?


But there are people there by the thousands, the THOUSANDS! I can’t help but wonder that this shows us What Is Wrong With America...Thousands of citizens paying hundreds of dollars to wait in line, saying, “Entertain me! Thrill me!” We noticed that the lines were shortest at the attractions that tended to be more informative than thrilling so, of course, we frequented a number of these.(Hey! We’re Dutch! We don’t even like to spend more time than we need to...) Classed by many as “cheesy” and “outdated”, I found them to be more fun than getting my body jerked and thrown around. (They should have chiropractors in those gift shops at the end of the ride...now THERE’S a business idea!) And definitely more fun than getting the bejeebers scared out of me! Sorry, I have this disorder – apparently – that causes me to think that being scared is not a fun activity. Being comfortable is a fun activity. Acquiring knowledge, seeing new things, eating food, laughing are fun activities. Being scared or nauseated? NOT fun! What is it with you people???


But, I digress...


Has it come to this, America? Are we so bored with the privileges and conveniences we enjoy daily that we have to keep chasing after thrills? Are we so sated that we have to pursue artificial means to get them? I wonder how many people there had experienced the thrill of standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, or on the beaches of the wild Pacific, or pondered how the Space Shuttle works, or marveled at the plans and writings of the men who founded this country? I hope they’re not overlooking these kind of wonders and thinking they’ve reached the pinnacle of fun and beauty in the Artificial World of Disney. I hope they’re not teaching their kids that the kind of world we aspire to is Disney. Indeed, Walt Disney World is cute, clean, fun, inventive, clever, innovative, pleasing to the eye. But it’s not REAL. It may be the Sappiest Place on Earth, but it is not the Happiest Place on Earth.


In my opinion, it’s a fine place to go if you have nothing better to do. You’ll have fun while you’re there. You’ll see some things you haven’t seen before – though not much, considering our exposure through TV and the internet these days. Enjoy the bright colors, the music, the action – Just take the “dreams all come true” stuff with a grain of salt – and bring your credit card, ‘cause “dreams come true” don’t come cheap in Walt Disney World!

I want a gold star...

...for being a TSA Excellent Traveler!

There's just something about rules for me...If I know there are rules, I feel I MUST follow them to the letter. In my maturity, uh, let's make that in my JOURNEY TOWARD maturity, I have realized that some rules are dumb, and some are really just optional and can be adjusted to reality, or context, or whatever. But it's hard for me to do that...It makes me uncomfortable in a looking-over-my-shoulder, I'm-gonna-get-in-trouble sort of way.

But when there are rules that are not dumb and MUST  be followed...well -- I shine...and I WANT to shine.

This became clear to me once again as we went through the airport security line. Now, come on people, the line is usually long enough for you to read all the signs, and take all the actions necessary. I was ready, READY I tell you!(and everyone else should be too!) My shoes were off, my jacket was off -- both in the bin. My laptop was out; the bag separated in a bin...nothing in my pockets...And I slipped right through that portal into the great beyond of airline travel. I was a bit chagrined to look back and see that my dear hubby was being re-scanned as he forgot to take his cell phone out of his pocket, and then again, had to take off his belt.

As I gathered my things, I realized that it felt a little empty...I guess I really hoped to be appreciated, complimented on my consideration and efficiency. Wasn't there a sticker or SOMETHING? Why couldn't it be like school...The TSA guy says, "Now, everyone! Look at this lady here as an example of how to go through an airport security line. She had everything ready -- shoes, jacket off, items in bins, boarding pass ready...You should all try to be like her! Travelers like her make this process efficient and effective." He hands me a certificate for a free latte...and I beam, rewarded by my effort. Afterwards people come up and ask my how I did it...etc., etc...

But that didn't happen...or anything even close. I'm not saying that my efforts were unappreciated. In fact, I'm sure they were. But in a grown-up world, you're supposed to do things in order to enhance efficiency, or out of consideration for others -- not because you want to win a gold star.

And in that category, I think I get a "Needs Improvement"...As I said, in my JOURNEY TOWARD MATURITY...