James Vandling of Mebane plans to take a dream vacation with his family after a $50 scratch-off ticket turned into a $1 million prize.

“I’m going to take my kids and grandkids to Disney World,” he said. “We’ve never done that before.”

Vandling bought his lucky $10 Million Spectacular ticket from Hawfield General Store on South N.C. 119 in Mebane. Vandling said he originally stopped at the store for another reason.

“My nephew wanted a Gatorade so we stopped,” Vandling recalled.

He initially bought one $10 Million Spectacular scratch-off and won $500. So, he decided to try his luck again.

“Go big or go home,” Vandling said with a smile.

When Vandling arrived at lottery headquarters Friday, he had a decision to make. He could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000.

Vandling chose the annuity of $50,000 so for the next 19 years, he’ll get a check for $50,000 until the full $1 million prize is paid. He received the first of the 20 payments on Friday and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $35,764.

“I kept telling people I was going to win big one day,” he said.

The $10 Million Spectacular game debuted in December with five top prizes of $10 million, 20 prizes of $1 million and 20 prizes of $100,000. Three $10 million prizes, five $1 million prizes and six $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.

For details on how $9.7 million raised by the lottery made a difference for education programs in Alamance County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.