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USA Today
19 hours ago
- USA Today
I flew to Disney World and back in one day. Here's how it went.
I love a day trip. The change in scenery revitalizes me and the limited timeframe makes getting away feel more manageable. I don't have to deal with packing, lodging or taking a bunch of time off work. And it costs much less than a vacation. Travel insurance comparison site SquareMouth projected a 7-day domestic trip for two to average just over $5,015 this year. Recently, I took my furthest day trip yet, from Atlanta to Walt Disney World near Orlando, but you don't have to go that far to enjoy time away. Disney in a day I've visited all four Disney parks in one day before, which some guests tackle as an unofficial challenge. However, I decided to skip the parks entirely this trip and make it a leisurely resort day with friends who live in the area. According to a Harris Poll survey conducted on behalf of ResortPass this May, relaxing, recharging, and spending time with family and friends top the list of priorities for the more than 2,000 respondents, during time off. Those were also key for me, even at Disney World. My day began at 4:15 a.m. when I woke up admittedly too late for a 6:45 a.m. flight at the world's busiest airport. Travelers are advised to arrive at airports at least two hours early for domestic flights. By the time I drove to the airport and found $20 economy parking, it was already 5:45 a.m. Thankfully security was a breeze and I didn't have any luggage to check, but I still jogged a bit to my gate to be safe. The flight cost just under $38 roundtrip during a promotion paired with Frontier Discount Den membership. It got me into Orlando by 8:15 a.m. From there, I caught a MEARS Connect shuttle to Disney's Boardwalk Inn. The shuttles stop at multiple Disney resort hotels and cost $32 roundtrip, before airport fees and tips. A rideshare or cab would've been faster, but more expensive, and I wasn't in a hurry. I got to the Boardwalk 30 minutes before my 10:15 a.m. brunch reservation at Cake Bake Shop Restautant by Gwendolyn Rogers. That gave me time to freshen up and explore before meeting up with my friend Jacqueline for our first languid meal of the day. We caught up over decadent Eggs Benedict, fragrant French toast and much needed coffee. Then, we decided to take the Disney Skyliner to Disney's Riviera Resort and Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, just for fun. Even though the Skyliner is technically a form of transportation, the gondolas feel like an attraction to me and remind me of the Magic Kingdom Skyway I rode as a kid. With what felt like all the time in the world, we strolled through the resorts, taking photos, sharing laughs and pin trading before meeting up with our friend Quincy at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort for drinks at 2 p.m. I'd made reservations for brunch and dinner, but we played the afternoon by ear and wound up at Rix Spors Bar and Grill, which offers but does not require reservations. It was so nice to sit back and relax, without the go-go-go mentality usually associated with theme parks. I nearly lost track of time before my 5:05 p.m. dinner with my friend Serena at 'Ohana in Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. This is one of the most popular restaurants on property. While I'd been there for breakfast before, this was my first time trying their famous dinnertime noodles and bread pudding, which are also available at neighboring Tambu Lounge. The dishes lived up to the hype, but my favorite part of the meal and the day was the company. By 6:45 p.m. I was back on a MEARS shuttle, which I scheduled to pick me up at the Polynesian. My flight was supposed to leave at 9:40 p.m. but it wound up being delayed more than 3 hours. Had I known ahead of time, I would have taken a later shuttle and perhaps monorail crawled through Magic Kingdom-area resorts or watched the fireworks from the Polynesian's beach. It was nearly 2 a.m. by the time I landed back in Atlanta. I got home at about 3:30 a.m. bleary eyed, but grateful. Getting away You don't have to go far as Disney World. A study published in Nature Neuroscience in May 2020 highlighted the connection between our surroundings and well-being. 'Our results suggest that people feel happier when they have more variety in their daily routines—when they go to novel places and have a wider array of experiences,' Catherine Hartley, an associate professor of psychology at New York University and a co-author of the paper, said in a ews release at the time. Simply exploring a neighboring town can be a getaway. 'You can still have a sense of wonder and discovery and immersion, even when relating to places that are relatively close,' Dr. Andrew Stevenson, a professor of Psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University in the U.K. and author of 'The Psychology of Travel' previously told USA TODAY. Adventure close to home: 5 ways to be a tourist in your own city A day off Just taking a day off can also be rewarding. More than 50% of respondents in the ResortPass survey said they feel happier and more productive after taking a single day off from work. 'I would argue that that single day can provide as much of the emotional and physical benefit of a longer time off as that once-a-year long vacation,' ResortPass CEO Michael Wolf told USA TODAY. The company provides paid day access to resorts across North America. 'I think what's magical about a single day of rest and recharge is that you can do it without lot of planning, without a lot of cost, without a lot of stress,' he added. My self-induced rush to the airport and unexpected delay coming home were stressful, but the trip overall was worth every minute.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Jaspreet Singh: Avoid These 7 Big Wealth Killers in Your 20s
As a young adult, you're possibly making a lower income, still attending college or trying to understand the basics of using money responsibly. While you might not yet have a ton of cash to invest, avoiding common poor money decisions will help you build wealth earlier in life. Discover More: Find Out: According to Empower Personal Dashboard data, the median net worth for those in their 20s was just $7,638 in November 2024, compared to $35,649 for those in their 30s. In a recent video, finance YouTuber Jaspreet Singh discussed these seven wealth killers that harm people in their 20s. A new car payment averaged $753 in April 2025, according to Cox Automotive. That doesn't include other expensive ongoing costs that Singh discussed, like premium gas, insurance and maintenance. He also said that many people get into a cycle of taking out more expensive auto loans since they get a fancier vehicle once they've paid the last one off. That will keep taking up your budget and making investing and building wealth difficult. Singh recommended getting a cheap, modest car in your 20s, putting your extra cash toward investments and getting a better vehicle when you're in better financial shape in your 30s. While you're at it, consider buying your cars with cash to avoid loans and interest. Explore Next: Singh said, 'The reason why the watch industry has been so profitable is because after the jeweler sells you the watch, they're now also selling the financing for you to pay for that watch.' Getting a luxury watch in your 20s might seem like a good way to look fancy, but the total financing cost with interest may not be worth it. Holding off until you're older and have enough wealth to buy one debt-free is wiser. Singh also mentioned there's no guarantee your fancy Rolex will gain value, especially as more people hold off on nonessential purchases. That's bad news if you're considering the watch an investment. Seeing other young adults posting pictures of their dream vacations online can tempt you to book a trip to enjoy yourself, but the cost can quickly damage your finances. The travel insurer SquareMouth found that one trip abroad averaged over $10,000 alone. Singh said that these vacations aren't helping you make money; instead, they can leave you stuck with a credit card bill you can't pay. Plus, you might continue the pattern of booking more fancy trips due to stress. That's why Singh advised not taking a trip unless you have the cash. Singh said, 'People would rather look rich than be rich.' He discussed the increase in luxury purchases when people got stimulus checks and unemployment checks during the 2020 to 2021 downturn. While some may turn to such items to feel richer in a tough financial time, Singh said the only people getting wealthy from those purchases are the companies. It's wiser to hold off on designer clothes in your 20s while you build real wealth. Eventually, you can afford them and not simply look rich. Having children adds many new expenses, like food, diapers, doctor bills and nursery equipment. Singh said these costs can lead to debt so that you don't have money for your children's college and get financially stuck yourself. He advised waiting to start a family until your finances are in the right place. Singh also encouraged picking a partner carefully since divorce is financially damaging. You'll want to choose someone who is an asset and doesn't create financial problems. According to Singh, it's common to regret buying a home due to affordability issues. Besides buying a more expensive home than you should, you might not look at the costs (like utilities, repairs and upgrades) that aren't in the mortgage payment. This can leave you drowning. Singh explained, 'All of your money is going right into the home, so it becomes a money pit as opposed to something that you thought you're gonna just be able to pay off and live a little bit more financially free.' To own a house in your 20s without straining your budget or missing out on investing opportunities, find something with a truly affordable monthly payment based on your budget. Fannie Mae gave a guideline of not letting housing costs exceed 30% of your pre-tax pay. Your 20s are a great time to avoid new debt and get rid of existing debt since those payments otherwise cut into your wealth-building progress. Singh suggested it can make sense to invest less so you can get rid of high-interest debt sooner. Besides saving you on interest, being debt-free will reduce your financial stress. Reining in your spending and finding higher income opportunities can help you invest some money and pay down the debt at the same time. More From GOBankingRates Clever Ways To Save Money That Actually Work in 2025 Sources Empower, 'The average net worth by age in America' Minority Mindset (Jaspreet Singh YouTube channel), 'The 7 BIGGEST Wealth Killers In Your 20s (AVOID THIS)' Cox Automotive, 'April Sees Sharp Decline in New-Vehicle Affordability Amid Rising Prices and Highest Monthly Payment Since December' Squaremouth, 'Economic Pressures Shift Travel Behaviors — But Most Americans Still Aren't Giving Up Their Vacations' Fannie Mae, Mortgage Affordability Calculator This article originally appeared on Jaspreet Singh: Avoid These 7 Big Wealth Killers in Your 20s Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
