Hello, fellow travelers and grumble enthusiasts! Ever wondered where the ‘Grumpy’ in ‘Grumpy Dad’ comes from? Our recent trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, intending to celebrate our boy’s birthday Star Wars style, might offer some insights.
Like any well-prepared dad, I made sure my boy and I had a thorough Star Wars marathon in the weeks leading up to our trip. After all, we had to know our Chewbacca from our Jabba the Hutt! As the day arrived, our excitement knew no bounds – the lesser crowds and the relatively shorter entrance lines only fueled our enthusiasm.
Our first ride of the day was a breeze, with less than a 30-minute wait time. A great start, we thought. Then we attempted one of the newer Star Wars attractions, ‘Rise of the Resistance.’ Now, folks, the Disney app showed a wait time of 95 minutes, but we were okay with that. Except…the ride broke down after a mere 15 minutes in line.
Undeterred, we used this time for a quick lunch break (because what is a visit to a theme park without overpriced pizza?). As luck would have it, the ride reopened just as we finished eating. We spent the next hour and a half in line, only for the ride to break down again. Cue disappointment and tired children.
Here, my birthday boy made the executive decision to leave the park. We, however, convinced him to stick around for the ‘Tower of Terror’ and the ‘Millennium Falcon’ rides (he did love both of them). Even that turned into a waiting game of about an hour for a ride that lasted less than 5 minutes.
To summarize: twelve hours (door to door) and several hundred dollars later, we had been on a grand total of FOUR rides. That’s when it hit us: for the same money, we could fly to Cancun, stay at a plush hotel in Playa de Carmen, and visit XENSES + XCARET (where, by the way, the admission price includes unlimited food and drinks).
The silver lining? Our kids agreed, wholeheartedly choosing Playa over Disney (it may not be the choice for everyone). So the very next day, we started planning our next trip, only this time, to sunny Mexico.
While I may grumble about our misadventures, they’ve taught us some unexpected lessons. They’ve made us question the value of our experiences, not just in terms of money but also in terms of the memories we make.
So, here’s to turning grumbles into tales and taking unexpected detours. Remember to double-check those documents, as I always do. And, oh, remember to book your airport shuttle in advance. Because in the world of business and travel, it’s not just about the destination but the journey and the stories we gather along the way.
Stay tuned for more tales from Grumpy Dad’s travels.