First Trip Down the Rabbit Hole, or an Introduction of Sorts

Hello?  Is there anybody up there?  My name is Allyson, but my most valuable tea party guests call me Ally, and I would like to welcome you to inside my head, also known as, my personal Wonderland.  I'm assuming that if you're reading this, you're already mad as a hatter, just like me, so let the madness begin!

In case you were wondering where this particular Rabbit Hole leads, it's to the Wonderful World of Walt Disney World!!  I've grown up being a Disney kid in all aspects of the phrase; from watching all my favorite Princesses on VHS tape (old school I know) to actually meeting them in person at Walt Disney World, to virtually dancing with them while playing Kinect Disneyland Adventures.  If it's Disney, I love it.  I have no intention of ever "outgrowing" Disney. 

As for actual adventures to the Disney Parks, I've only visited Walt Disney World, but someday dream of experiencing the Magic on the west coast as well.  If memory serves me correctly, I've been to Disney several times starting in 1997, then walking through the looking glass three more times in 2000, 2004 (split with Universal), and most recently in August of 2011.  As I type this, I am looking forward to my first Holiday trip into the magical playground in December of this year, but more on that later.  So if sharing Disney tales is your cup of tea, why not sit down for a spot or two.  Maybe we'll welcome some other guests along the way! 

My memories of childhood trips to Walt Disney World are filled with fun memories of colorful hair wraps and caricatures done by the pool, and giant refillable resort mugs that my brother and I would fill with delicious hot chocolate on cool nights.  Speaking of cool nights, I bet my parents have plenty of pictures of us kids in hoodie sweatshirts and shorts chomping down on a hot jumbo turkey leg or posing in front of the fountain at Epcot.  One of the funniest memories I have was when I convinced my mom into coming on Tower of Terror with me at MGM Studios (Now called Hollywood Studios, but it will always be MGM to me!)  She was reluctant, but came on, shivering and everything.  After riding in the front row, and dropping a few times, we both walked out unharmed...well except for mom's image.  We went to review our pictures, and there's my mom, in a ridiculously bright shirt, screaming and grabbing the "cage" for dear life.  That's an image that even the best Disney Magic can't erase LOL!  Oh ya, and she also takes GREAT pictures on the Dinosaur! ride at Animal kingdom as well LOL!

My memories of Disney aren't just of my family, however.  I was lucky enough to experience the Disney Magic with my boyfriend Rich's family in August of last year (more on our relationship later) thanks to his lovely parents for renting a house for a week as "one last family trip" before everyone grew up and did their own thing.  This trip was different from my usual trips with my family in a few ways.  Usually I traveled via plane (started on Delta, then Delta Song, and finally finding a great relationship with Southwest Airlines) with my mom, dad, and brother.  I get terribly carsick (I'm talking about in the car for 20 minutes and feel like I'm going to die kind of sick) and usually medicate for a plane as well.  Air travel was our thing and typically is far faster than any other means of travel.  This trip with Rich's family was a 36 hour car ride from right here in Massachusetts ALL---THE---WAY---DOWN to Disney (well 20 minutes away from it).  As terrible as the drive was, I checked that right off my bucket list.  That was my first bump out of my comfort zone. 

Secondly, with such a large family, staying off property was more affordable for everyone.  How large you ask?  I'll tell you how large.  We traveled in a car caravan with his parents in one car, one of his brothers with his fiancee and their two kids in another car, and his youngest brother and his girlfriend in my car with Rich and I.  His grandparents were lucky enough to fly down (for 36 long hours I was wishing I was them lol).  The house we rented was considered a "Disney" rental, and I have to say, for the price it was, it was well worth it.  Nice and open, screened in inground pool, a "game room".  We really couldn't have asked for anything better.  I'm not saying it was bad or anything, just different than what I was used to with my family when we always stayed at a Disney Resort.  We all had 3 day hopper passes, which were both good and bad in a way.  They were great because we could hop around every park with no worries, but bad because with 12 people (two being kids), how can you get your agendas to align?  It wasn't always easy but we made it work.  I'm very happy we all got to share the Disney Magic together.

Now that I've got your attention with whimsical tales of past trips to the Most Magical Place on Earth, let me provide you with a more formal background of myself.  As I said before my name is Allyson and I hail from southeastern Massachusetts.  I've lived here all my life, and I do love it, but I could definitely do without the harsh winters.  I am in my early twenties, and am a LPN at two drastically different jobs up here, but in between the mix of chaos, I find my anchor in all things Disney.  As many women think, in my mind, I am a Disney Princess.  So if I am a Princess that must mean I have a Prince Charming of my own, right?  Right!  May I now present to you *sound of trumpets* Prince Richard (otherwise known as Rich).  Rich is a recent engineer grad, moving his way up the corporate ladder while he is still young (also in his early, almost mid, twenties).  We've known each other for many years, but our official fairy tale began 3 years and almost 5 months ago.  We've had our ups and downs.  Definitely some trying times (he went to Texas for 3 months on business), but we've always remained in each others heart.  We've had our share of firsts too with each other, including our own apartment together this past February.  I love the feeling of sharing a "first" something with the one you love, because it's those memories that make life so special.  I love the feeling so much, I'm planning our "first trip alone" to Walt Disney World December 9-15 of this year!  I cannot wait and every day brings new planning adventures.  I don't know what is more fun: planning the trip or actually taking it!

Now it seems this pot of tea has gone cold and I've sunken far too deep into my arm chair.  I've thoroughly enjoyed our tea time together, and hope to see you soon.  We've got many more things to discuss, and I've got questions for you Disney buffs out there.  Have a magical day and remember, Wonderland is but a day dream away!