The financial news of the past year---particularly these past few weeks---is enough to make you want to stop blogging, dive into bed and pull the covers over your head.
But since it was getting hot under there,
I decided to zip out a post to all four (4) of you fabulous readers of Jungle is "101" (Hi, Mom!).
Here goes.
I'm not saying the economy is bad, but for the first time in our lifetime the Disney parks are offering free admission next year to each of us on our birthday.
With today's admission prices, what is that, a $400 value?
[I engage in hyperbole here, so don't go wacky on me and deluge my in box with emails about the REAL current admission price for adults (one day, no Park Hopper)].
The Bank of Main Street was recently taken over by the Federal Reserve.
Minnie's house in Toontown has a lockbox on the front door and a foreclosure notice written in crayon.
Chip & Dale's tree house property has been vacant for about three years---which is no big loss to the Toontown real estate market because there's nothing to see in there anyway.
Sleeping Beauty apparently just received a notice that the equity line on the castle has been shut off by her bank.
Is there a silver lining?
Will this downturn mean less folks at the Park?
Chances are good that there will be a lot more room, however, the locals may flock there to escape the drudgery and fears generated by the wonderful state of our economy.
In the last Great Depression, people spent their money to go to the movies in record numbers in order to escape the drab darkness of everyday life.
Will Disney theme parks become more popular escape mechanisms than they are already?
We shall see.
The parks are still pretty expensive, even if you hold a valid annual pass. Unless you pack a lunch and drinks for your whole crew, the food prices alone are going to drag you down.
Still, nothing says, "Hey it's okay that we lost the house and now have to live in our SUV!" like a walk down Main Street or a Matterhorn bobsled run.
I'll end with this:
Global economic collapse??
I'm going to Disneyland!
Pax vobiscum
--Mike