Ash Jurberg
- My best friend was skeptical when I suggested going to Shanghai Disneyland on our guys' trip.We ended up having a great time, though — we got to feel like kids and connect in a new way.The experience taught me that not every guys' trip has to look like "The Hangover."
Until recently, my best friend, Josh, couldn't name a single Disney ride. Meanwhile, I've visited nearly every park worldwide and subscribe to Disney blogs.
When a last-minute work trip sent him to Asia, he decided to take an extra week of vacation. Since his wife couldn't get the time off, he asked me to join him for our first guys' trip in a decade.
We chose Shanghai. Neither of us had been before, and it was close to where he'd be working. I also had another reason for wanting to visit: Shanghai Disneyland was one of only two parks I hadn't yet visited.
When I mentioned spending half our trip at the park, I expected resistance — but Josh said yes, as long as I was willing to adjust my usual Disney routine for a more relaxed day.
We had to meet each other halfway
Ash Jurberg
I've taken my twin sons and wife to Disney parks in California, Florida, Japan, and Hong Kong. Those trips meant 6:30 am starts, matching T-shirts, and military precision. With Josh, everything was different.
He wasn't interested in my typical 16-hour Disney marathons, so we started our days late. I felt anxious about missing the quieter morning hours, but wanted to accommodate his more relaxed approach.
At the gate, Josh paused. Costumed teens and young families swarmed around us. He gave me a look that said, "What have you gotten me into?"
Around the park, people waited hours in brutal heat for character photos. Josh was baffled. "They came all this way just to stand in line for a photo?"
When we got to the Tron Lightcycle Power Run, a two-hour wait convinced us to pay about $20 each for a skip-the-line pass. Screaming in the front row, Josh said, "That was the fastest acceleration I've ever felt. We must do that again."
With my whole family, I'd never spend the extra money. For two middle-aged men, it felt worth it.
We started acting like complete kids
Ash Jurberg
Josh and I have traveled together several times since graduating from high school in Australia. My first overseas trip wasn't with my parents, but with him.
Over the years, we've partied in Vegas, sipped margaritas in Texas, and visited plenty of cities in between, with our adventures often centering on drinking and expensive dinners. This trip felt different.
Together, we watched a stage show conducted entirely in Mandarin. We had no clue what was happening, so we laughed when the audience did, yelled out our own responses when they cheered, and clapped enthusiastically as if we understood every word.
Soon, I was dragging Josh to pose on kiddie rides and in front of cartoon statues. The carousel was next, and I convinced him to join me for my first ride since childhood.
Our families couldn't stop laughing at the stream of photos showing two middle-aged men acting like complete kids.
I knew Josh had come around to Disney when we spotted Captain Jack Sparrow walking to his meet-and-greet spot. Despite mocking those marathon lines all day, Josh suddenly said, "Should we get a photo with him?"
The trip felt completely different from our other adventures
Ash Jurberg
Our last adventure had been Vegas, where our whole crew celebrated turning 40 with $100 steaks and expensive margaritas at fancy clubs. This time, just Josh and I sipped iced coffees and ate Mickey waffles.
On that Vegas trip, we'd sent zero photos home, but Disney had us constantly sharing moments with our families. When our Vegas crew saw these Disney photos in our WhatsApp group, several immediately asked why they hadn't been invited.
The trip showed me how much we limit ourselves by only considering theme parks for family vacations. Not every guys' trip has to look like "The Hangover" — in fact, maybe the next sequel film should be set at Disney.
Who knew children's carousels and cartoon characters could beat cocktails?
