Within 24 hours I left my job, my boyfriend, and life behind to go work for Walt Disney World!

[Sailormoon2]

This is an absolutely crazy and incredible story. You are a brave, adventurous girl. Breathe. Keep your head up, keep smiling...everything will work out in the end, despite how dire it may seem now. There is a rhyme and a reason for every experience.

 

[bmbmd]

Agree with the gofund me account-I'm sure a lot of us would be willing to pitch in.

 

[chartle]

Agree with the gofund me account-I'm sure a lot of us would be willing to pitch in.

May want to take this to PM since it may be starting to get into a conversation that isn't allowed here.

 

[Dentam]

I hope all goes well for the OP, but she did take this trip knowing that her car was old and possibly on its last leg. She is young though and everything is a learning experience at that age still. I don't think she will ask for money since she has acknowledged that this was her decision and she knew the possible things that could go wrong. I hope she sticks to that and works through this!

 

[Gracefulskinny]

Even the roughest parts of our journeys have valuable life lessons to be learned and make us grow in new ways. It may seem hard now but you will get through it for sure. If I were you I would get to know the bus system and start hunting side jobs you can do to supplement your income. Also what happened with your car. Can you get an insurance claim from it? sell it for something to a scrap yard?

 

[mommyoeo]

You are my favorite person right now. I'm thrilled that you are there. Safe. Alive. With guitars. lol We have followed our dreams a few times and started from scratch. It's so hard. It reads like an adventure, but inside the story, it's fear and worry. Some dreams have ended well, and others have not. However, each has been valuable in making us who we are. In that way, dreams are bright colors woven into our fabric-- and life becomes more colorful. You will look back and be glad one day. Your gladness might be "I'm glad I learned THAT lesson" or maybe "I'm so glad I didn't miss out on this!" Either way, you win. Keep fighting. Blessings!

 

[Candy1971]

AND I AM OFF! I said goodbye to my friends, family, students, coworkers and hit the road! It was a stressful week, my boss wasn't to pleased at my last minute notice phone call of "Heyyyyy..... you know how I'm on vacation in Disney right now? Well.... I'm not coming back." Hahaha. My family was a mix what I felt was 10% supportive and 90% "What the heck do you think you're doing leaving your well paying job you're happy at to move to Florida by yourself?!", Which I can totally understand. I am moving across the country with very little money, a beat up car, and dream! But atlas - adventure awaits! The excuse I keep telling myself is "Hey you're 21, why not?!"

I finished packing up with my mom and my boyfriend's help. I looked around and took in the warm Boston summer breeze. It was 2:30am. I said my goodbyes, got in my car, and drove off. It felt surreal. I wasn't sure when I would be back... 3 months? A year? Maybe 2 weeks if something goes wrong?! But I felt a weird comfort in the unknown. I didn't care. I just wanted to get to Orlando and my new home. All I had to get through was 20 hours and 1,300 miles. I promised my family that I would stop in a hotel room and make the trip into a 2 day experience. However, I really had a different agenda. I planned on driving straight through, unless I really felt like I couldn't do it. I didn't want to spend the money on a hotel room.

I blasted music and hit the road! Before I knew it I was in PA where I made my first pit stop. I was so happy. I was tired but I was on an adrenaline rush. I fell in love with the road. Driving along with my windows down and music up is all ever want in life anyways, nevermind when you're end destination is a new life and Disney World!

I made it all the way to South Carolina! I stopped for dinner.. chipotle of course! I had about 7 hours left. It was 7pm and I was thinking about how I could make it to Orlando by 2-3am. I really didn't want to stop to sleep, I was so close. I looked at my gps to see where I was at. I realized that I was only an hour away from myrtle beach. Having grown up with my mom and I doing mother daughter trips to WDW, I never got the chance to vacation at other places. Don't get me wrong - I'm not complaining!!! But I remember hearing how cheap it can be to stay at myrtle beach, and how so many love it there. The idea of sleeping in a bed slowly started to sound better and better. I thought it'd be exciting to see a new place and SC seemed so beautiful already. I booked a cheap hotel online and headed there! The drive to Myrtle beach was stunning. I don't think I would like to live in SC but I adored being a tourist!

I arrived at the hotel. I hold everything to Disney standards, especially hotel rooms, so I was nervous. The reviews on TripAdvisor summed up to something like, "It's great!..... for the price."

I parked my car and went to check in. Nothing fancy, but nothing bad either. Besides an unexpected $35 room insurance fee everything ran smoothly. I got my room key and went to check it out. The outside of the hotel was pretty run down looking so as I slid my room key in the door I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. I was surprised! The room was cute. It was an average hotel room- very beachy. I was just happy to lay in a clean bed and take a shower! I decided that I would go right to sleep and wake up early enough to watch the sun rise (VERY RARE FOR ME) since you could walk right out to the beach from my hotel.

GOOOOOOD MORNING FROM MYRTLE BEACH! I woke up at 5am, and I FELT AWESOME. Today, I would rule the world! Today, I would make it home to my new life! I put on some cozy clothes and strolled out to the beach. My god, what a sight.

I pretty much had the entire beach sunrise to myself. I decided to role up my pants to stand in the water. I wanted to feel the cool waves crash against me. It felt refreshing. It felt like a new start. "What a perfect way to start the first day of the rest of my life" I thought to myself. I was never a beach person but god did I feel inspired. I was thinking of all the things I wanted to do, and all the ways I wanted to change myself for the better. I was so ready to prove all the people wrong who said I was making the wrong decision. I want to inspire others to follow their dreams, and believe in themselves. I don't know what it was about this morning but my soul was full of imagination, pride, and pixie dust.

I went back to my hotel room to shower again, change, and pack up. I hit the road by 8am, and I had 7 more hours until I was home sweet home!

What fun! Good for you! I'm glad you enjoyed your little respite in Myrtle Beach...I love living here! I think the only other place I'd rather live is somewhere in Florida extremely close to Disney World Best of luck on your magical adventure!

 

[jordansmama]

I'm so glad that you made it to Orlando safely. Keep your head up! "That which does not kill us makes us stronger"- Friedrick Nietzsche is one of my favorite quotes and repeating it in my head has gotten me through some pretty tough times. You can do this!

 

[NewRVLady]

Agree with the gofund me account-I'm sure a lot of us would be willing to pitch in.

was waiting for this.......

 

[littlejimmy]

must look away. must look away...arrrrgh! I cant

 

[TeresaNJ]

Wow! You are one brave, adventurous girl! I am loving your report, and honestly, you could write a book, seriously. You have a way with words, and kept me on the edge of my seat, and highly entertained. I'm sorry for your difficulties, and I hope & pray everything works out for you.

 

[Jingle]

From a fortune cookie. "When You Must, You Can." Wish you the best!

 

[EMom]

Even the roughest parts of our journeys have valuable life lessons to be learned and make us grow in new ways. It may seem hard now but you will get through it for sure. If I were you I would get to know the bus system and start hunting side jobs you can do to supplement your income. Also what happened with your car. Can you get an insurance claim from it? sell it for something to a scrap yard?

I hate to be the anti-cheerleader of this thread, but along these lines...

1. Never go on a road trip without checking your oil, tire pressure, tire condition, fluid level, etc. My parents wouldn't hand over the keys to me at 16 before I took a sacred vow to do all these things, and for good reason.

2. Did you sign anything regarding your Corolla? There is often fine print that says the auto shop can charge you per day for caring for your car until YOU take it off their hands. Did you sign it over to them legally? Sell it to them for junk? Just walk away? You need to figure that issue out quickly, lest that bill turn into a mountain.

 

[littlejimmy]

I hate to be the anti-cheerleader of this thread, but along these lines...

1. Never go on a road trip without checking your oil, tire pressure, tire condition, fluid level, etc. My parents wouldn't hand over the keys to me at 16 before I took a sacred vow to do all these things, and for good reason.

2. Did you sign anything regarding your Corolla? There is often fine print that says the auto shop can charge you per day for caring for your car until YOU take it off their hands. Did you sign it over to them legally? Sell it to them for junk? Just walk away? You need to figure that issue out quickly, lest that bill turn into a mountain.

come on now, you are just complicating things with reality here. she is following her dream for crying out loud.

 

[NewRVLady]

come on now, you are just complicating things with reality here. she is following her dream for crying out loud.

yep

I actually knew someone-same age- who DID leave an old junker, at a similar place. I am sure the mechanic shop will make a pretty penny selling it.

 

[squeegee]

yep

I actually knew someone-same age- who DID leave an old junker, at a similar place. I am sure the mechanic shop will make a pretty penny selling it.

It depends on the mechanic shop, and whether or not they'll be able and willing to go through the process of perhaps a lien and/or titling it. Laws vary from state to state, of course, and can have an effect on what the shop's options are.

Dad's been a mechanic longer than I've been alive, and has owned his own shop for most of that. If someone just dropped a junker at his place, he can't just go and sell it, willy-nilly, and there are issues to be had with titles, even when junking it, assuming one does everything on the up-and-up.

 

[Hisgirl]

I hate to be the anti-cheerleader of this thread, but along these lines...

1. Never go on a road trip without checking your oil, tire pressure, tire condition, fluid level, etc. My parents wouldn't hand over the keys to me at 16 before I took a sacred vow to do all these things, and for good reason.

2. Did you sign anything regarding your Corolla? There is often fine print that says the auto shop can charge you per day for caring for your car until YOU take it off their hands. Did you sign it over to them legally? Sell it to them for junk? Just walk away? You need to figure that issue out quickly, lest that bill turn into a mountain.

EMom is being realistic here. It's great to learn from one's own experience but boy, howdy it can be even better to learn from another's experience. I have no doubt everyone reading this is making a mental note: Before heading out on a trip, check, oil, tires, etc. Bring plenty of cash. Don't max out credit card and then not have access to emergency credit.

I think you're doing a great job of having perseverance! What a trooper! This is a great learning/growing/stretching experience for you and will be part of your character and strength.

A few folks have commented on the abandoned broken down car. Please pay attention to their suggestions. One phone call can clear that up. Did you leave the title? Have you canceled your insurance if you did? Don't put this off. Maybe this was just part of the story you left off to shorten things.

 

[chartle]

yep

I actually knew someone-same age- who DID leave an old junker, at a similar place. I am sure the mechanic shop will make a pretty penny selling it.

I looked it up on Kelly Blue Book and was surprised that this car still had ok value $900-$1,200 in fair condition, but I'm sure a new engine negates any profit. Maybe for parts?

 

[sunnyday123]

I'm going to piggy-back on Emom's anti-cheerleading;

You do know Disney has very strict guidelines concerning appearance for their castmembers? I think it's great that you're your own person and someone obviously spent a lot of time on your hair color, but that and the visible tattoos just won't fly with Disney.

And I'm shocked your parents just let you jump in a car and take off without checking the basics to make sure it would actually make it to Orlando. That's a pretty far drive for an old car.

 

[NJlauren]

In her defense related to her hair and tattoos... She has the job already and worked there before I would guess she is aware of these rules.