It’d been almost 6 months since we lost the third member of our household and family unit. Adjusting had not been going well, and improvements were at a crawl. Things had also been building to an unhealthy level, and we were unhappy yet stuck in our routine. What could we do to change our outlook? What could help us heal and act as a placeholder for the gap that had been left? 

The three of us had been annual pass holders together from 2017 until 2020. We went to the parks essentially every week and sometimes more than once(living close by, those weeknight trips are great). The pandemic, restrictions, and rising prices forced us to drop the passes, frustrated in 2020. 

After dropping the passes, we tried SeaWorld as a cheap option (again nearby, and the passes really are affordable) to fill the entertainment option and give us a place that encourages walking. While SeaWorld was a new experience and did have those things to an extent, it was a drastic change. The space to walk was minimal compared to our Disney trips, which often included walking between parks and hotels. We are talking about 3000 calories burned in a day without even realizing it. After exercising and following some semblance of a diet, that kind of recreation would lend to a healthier lifestyle without even realizing it. 

Alternative Options

We also tried public parks, frequent(and expensive) trips to Disney Springs, and other options to keep us entertained and active, but this was all short-lived because soon, we had to stay home together due to health reasons or nearby home for the same reasons. Fast forward to about two weeks ago, and we are unhappy, unhealthy, and down from a party of three to two. 

Though we couldn’t go back in time and redo things or be in those moments again, we needed to restore some recognizable form of existence from those better times.

We are Disney People

Then came the finalized news about Muppetvision 3D and the whole area around it being demolished or reworked into an entirely different Monsters Inc-based area. This area had been something the three of us visited often for various reasons. We all loved the Muppets, and we all enjoyed walking through the Muppet and Christmas store that were there. We had multiple memorable trips to the muppets-themed restaurant PizzeRizzo and the Italian restaurant Mama Melrose. 

Kim and I would hit PizzeRizzo for post-long-run refueling during our post-run recovery walks around Disney. Mama Melrose was more than once a looked-forward-to lunch reservation after Kim or Kim, and I ran Disney half marathons complete with photos to remember the moment. There were also some beautiful creative conversations and relaxing moments on the open second-floor patio of PizzeRizzo when the weather was just right. 

So, after the confirmation that the area would soon be gone and replaced with new attractions, along with the previously mentioned Tom Sawyer’s Island at Magic Kingdom and Dinoland USA at Animal Kingdom, we got to thinking.

What is really important?

It was obvious: we should get back to the parks like we had when things were better, take those long walks, and visit the areas that would eventually be gone, where we had so many memories as a couple and as the Three Amigos/Caballeros. 

So we renewed our passes and are back just like before 2020. We have already hit the parks enough to pay for the passes, and our happiness and health have both seen vast improvements. This is the therapy/gym membership that we needed. It was under our noses the whole time, but we were a bit too mad at Disney(rightfully so) to see it. Now, we’re using Disney for our own means in our own way. 

The Last Ride

The plan is to use these passes to their fullest extent for this next year. We got the Pirate Pass, which allows free parking, availability on most weekends, and a few blackout periods when the parks are too busy to attend anyway. It’s precisely what we need in more ways than one. The tickets aren’t cheap, but some things are worth the price when you really sit down and look at the big picture. 

We realize that these changes to the theme parks are part of life and, therefore, will continue. So we plan to visit all corners of the parks and take them all in with fresh eyes while also treating it like a goodbye. After this year and a comprehensive farewell, I’m not sure what will happen, but it very well may not be Disney, at least for another chunk of time. Therefore, The Last Ride has begun. 

We are on a quest for fun, distraction, memories, steps, growth, and, with any luck, healing. I will go back to documenting our trips via blog posts as I enjoy doing it, and hopefully, the tips, tricks, timelines, and updates I provide will help some of you. 

The first of these will be my overview of Jollywood Nights, which we visited for the first time shortly after obtaining the annual passes. Teaser: It wasn’t what we expected.

A Return to the Kingdom

Our first trip back was to Animal Kingdom. Compared to the other parks, it’s usually a calming, laid-back experience. It worked out perfectly, and you can bet that from the moment we saw the sign-out front to walking in the front gates, our emotions came flooding back.

We easily got on the soon-to-be-extinct Dinosaur ride and took plenty of pictures in the area. To explain how perfect things went that day, on my first throw at the Dinosaur-themed carnival games, I won this plush. It’s even more impactful because Disney has phased out merchandise for the ride and area, so there’s not even anything you can buy to prove the ride existed in the future.

The Bottom Line

I know this blog doesn’t resonate with everyone.

This choice to purchase annual passes wasn’t easy, obviously, as it took us years to do it, but it was an eye-opening one. It also isn’t something everyone can afford, nor is it practical for people who live farther away. BUT there are a few lessons here I think everyone can take away. 

Everyone is different: what makes them happy, how they heal, etc. 

Something out there is making you feel better or worse than you realize. 

Money, while absolutely crucial, is money. It’s not a replacement for memories, feelings, or time, nor is having it living. 

Lastly, there is a way for you out there or a way through whatever it is that’s in your way. You just have to figure it out and go towards it. It likely won’t be easy, it will probably take sacrifice, and it may even require some hard looking in the mirror.