The Disney Empire

It's plastic, it's cheesy, it's artificial ... but I'm not going to lie to you: I love the Disney amusement parks. Roller coasters make me nauseous, and I don't much like wading through crowds or standing on line, but Disney does so much so right that I'm willing to overlook the mobs and just flat out enjoy myself. I've never yet made it to the Animal Kingdom or the various campgrounds or resorts or cruise ships, and EPCOT is interesting but ultimately just a gigantic souvenir store with an outrageous admission charge, but I've done Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida many times, and I don't think I've ever had a bad experience at either of them.

Favorite rides? Space Mountain (even though I really don't like roller coasters), the Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan's Magical Flight, the Jungle Cruise, Mr. Toad's Wild Road, the Pirates of the Caribbean, the Tiki Birds, the Country Bear Jamboree ... the list goes on and on.

And I must mention Club 33, which was supposedly built to give Walt a place where he could drink alcohol with his buddies, and which exists today as a camouflaged private dining club off Main Street USA. Becca's half-brother Kevin got us in there for dinner around '98 or so; the food was good, but best of all was the exclusivity and the terrific view of the evening's fireworks.

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