The "I've Waited Forever to Go Solo" Mom's Leaving Everyone Behind Trip! Updt 3/11

[Charleston Princess]

Take a deep breathe! We will be here and reading when things calm down a bit for you!

 

[KatGarcia]

It's all good I'm slower than molasses myself with the updates...don't feel bad!

 

[corinnak]

Sorry - didn't mean to pressure! Start of the school year is crazy-nutso time for sure. You are one of the best about keeping the updates coming and actually finishing in a timely fashion. The only way I could ever do that is....I don't even know!

Starting your training! That's awesome. I am still not quite settled on what I'm doing.....

 

[MomofCKJ]

So I went to the room and laid down. I read a little bit, watched a little tv and zzzzzzzz, fell asleep. I guess I was tired. I woke up, boy the rooms at Pop really do get dark when the shades are drawn, and heard a steady loud noise. What the heck is that? I opened my shade and it was DOWNPOURING. Yes I meant to use all caps to get my point across. *sigh* more rain. More wind. More ponchos.

I believe I showered to help myself wake up a bit more. Got dressed, dried the hair, not sure why as I was heading back out to the rain but I did. I got the poncho, the requisite stuff I carted around with me and out I went. Warm, windy and wet. Again.

I took the bus to MK and then caught the monorail. I was happy to have one waiting as I got to the platform and I even had a seat too. Don't you just love the monorail? So Disney. So the ride began, through the Contemporary, through the TTC and here we are, the Poly!

I walked in and it is such a beautiful resort. I really do hope to stay here someday. As I looked around Kona I started getting nervous. I wasn't sure I could do this, eat all by myself here? I felt kind of funny. This was where this trip became sort of a quest for me. I quest to find that self confidence deep down and conquer some personal demons. I went to the podium and I was about 45 minutes early but he gave me a buzzer anyways. I called Tigger and she calmed me down about my anxiety. "You are so great, look at you, having dinner all by yourself, at a place you always wanted to go!". Everyone needs a Tigger in their life, I'm convinced. So I wandered around for a bit, checked out the gift shop and then my buzzer went off. AAAAHHHH, it was time!

I checked in and the hostess was very nice. She walked me by the desserts pointing out what each one was. How would I decide! She seated me at a table for two. On one side were two women and the other I think was empty at the start. I was sort of in the middle of the area I was in, I had hoped to be against a wall and a little less conspicuous but no can do.

Dolly came over and was my server. She was a sweet woman and really made me feel completely comfortable. All through the meal she would check in, see how I was enjoying things, talk to me about the menu, she really was great.

I kind of knew what I wanted already since I had looked at the All Ears menu, oh a billion times. I ordered the Shrimp Curry Soup (6.99). Dolly told me it was a good choice, not too spicy. I also ordered a glass of Chardonnay ($10). While I waited she came out with the most delicious bread and macadamia nut butter. Oh my. I'm a sucker for bread and this was soooooo delicious!

While I was waiting for my food to arrive I had brought along my postcards. I had 12 to send out for Fairy Godmailers. I had my list of names/addresses and what they wanted them to say and I worked on filling them out during the course of my meal. I was relaxing a bit but still was glad to have a task at hand to keep me occupied. My soup arrived! Of course I took photos, trying to be discreet about it. I pretended to be looking at photos on my camera and would then take a snap!

The soup was wonderful! Such great flavor, a little spicy taste but in a good way. I loved it and ate every last drop! I would definately order this again. And since we have an ADR here for January, I probably will!

Dolly was back and had my Beef Teriyaki (24.99)!

This too was very good! Dolly said it was their most popular item and if it were ever removed there would be an uproar. I decided not to ask her about the Filet but I bet there was an uproar about that too. At least there was on the DIS. The steak was great, the potatoes, veggies, all of it. A wonderful meal!

I had to make a decision on dessert and it was hard! I opted for the Chocolate Fondue (5.99). It was nicely presented and had several items for dipping in the melted chocolate. There were fruits like berries and kiwi and pineapple I think as well as some tasty cookies. I have no picture and I am not sure why? Sorry about that! It was a nice end to a great dinner.

My total bill came to $51.09 and I tipped $10 for a total of $61.09. A little high for just little ole me but I'm worth it right?

I would find out later, thanks to a faithful reader, that someone on the Restaurant board was looking for a DISer eating alone at Kona on this night. I checked out the thread, we wrote back and forth and it was me! She and her family were seated to my right, her and her DH and their 2 boys. She saw my LGMH on my bag but didn't say Hi because her DH thinks that sort of thing is weird (I can so relate, my DH feels the same). So we had a belated HELLO and that was kind of cool!

So dinner is done and I decide to walk around the Poly a bit and check it out. I wandered out towards the Volcano pool as I had never seen it.

My kids would like this alot!

It was raining, still, and I decided I just had to keep going so off to the Monorail and the MK it was. Again I had Monorail Mojo going on and one was there just as I arrived. I boarded and we were off. Got there, bag check, poncho on and off, yada, yada, yada.

I decided to head over to the Jungle Cruise since I had heard riding it at night was quite fun. Thought I would see how riding it at night in the rain was.

Coming up, Jungle Cruise and guess who has her own boat on POTC?


Allyson

 

[Hedy]

Cool!

 

[ILuvCrush]

Great update Allyson!! Thats so neat about the belated hello!!! "Its a small world after all......"

Paula

 

[kathleen27]

Great update!!!

Kona sounds great!
I really want to add it to my next trip, but it will probably have to wait till next time. Or maybe for my someday solo trip.

I'm glad you went to dinner on your own.
I plan on doing that on my someday solo trip too.
I think I will feel the same way, nervous at first.

Did you have your own boat on POTC?!?
That's actually one of my goals!

And I hope it stopped raining sometime this trip.

Just editing to add:
I have never taken photos of my food, so I appreciate your tip about pretending to look through the photos on your camera, that may come in handy.

 

[jcc0621]

Knew you could do it. I remember you saying you were nervous about it!

I'm waiting patiently for your KTTK tour day

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Congrats on conquering your fear and enjoying a nice solo meal at Kona.

 

[askelton]

Warm, windy and wet.

Welcome to Florida!

 

[earthfaries]

Great update! Kona looks delicious! That bread and macadamia butter...

That's funny how you took your pictures of the food

I can't wait to hear about your evening in the MK ~ and who was on your boat !

 

[Quacktatty]

I'm so glad that I got that Kona ADR...I can't wait now that I've seen you pictures

 

[KatGarcia]

YAY for solo dinners! Better than you thought right?

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Yay for an update! I'm glad you enjoyed your Kona meal! I think $60 is just fine - you deserved it! Sorry about all the rain. I hope some of your Monorail Mojo finds us in a few weeks!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Awesome update, Allyson! Good for you, succeeding on your personal quest and dining alone! Sounds like you had a pretty good time. And yeah for having a friend like Tigger to encourage you along the way!

I've been on the all ears website about a billion times too and the beef teriyaki is what I've been eyeing... I'm so glad to hear you liked it. Kinda a stupid question but do you know if the infamous Lapu Lapu is available in Kona or only in the lounge? I know... priorities!

Jungle Cruise at night ... can't wait to hear what you thought of that. And your own boat in POC?! On the one hand I think that would be awesome but on the other I think I might get a little scared.

By the way... and congratulations on your half marathon training. That's just amazing. And how great that it culminates with a trip back to WDW!! And another TR from you, I hope! Not that I want to wish this one away. Still lots more good stuff to hear about your soggy solo trip!!

 

[teruterubouzu]

That meal at Kona looks so yummy. I often feel weird when I eat alone at restaurants, but it's so worth it to avoid the urge to hide and stick with room service.

A POTC boat of your own? Spoooky!

 

[Becky521]

Hey Allyson,
Sounds like you had a great dinner - good for you conquering your insecurities! We had our own boat on PoTC when we were on our honeymoon. Probably no one else wanted to be with us!! It really sounds like you enjoyed your trip - I'm glad it wasn't a disappointment.

 

[PISCESANGEL]

Great update - I'm so glad you had a good meal at Kona because I never would have been able to forgive myself for recommending it if it was awful!

Good job going by yourself and enjoying yourself. That's what it's all about really.

And way to go on sticking to your running! I have been working up to the 5K I'm doing at the end of October but still only get through about 2 miles without pooping out!

Can't wait to hear more!!!

 

[pl'smama]

Great update Allyson and I love how you got your photos at Kona!! I would so do that to....pretend to look at the pictures and then click!! That is classic!

I love that about the DIS that people recoginze each other, but it is too bad she did not speak up. I met one DISer on my January family trip and that was a highlight for me. He saw my LGMH and spoke up! So worth the effort to make my crafty LGMH!!

Suz

 

[If U Had Wings]

So glad your braved it and enjoyed your solo meal. It's the one thing I'm nervous about for my solo trip next year. I'm glad to hear it went well.