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07-18-2010, 12:07 AM
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#1 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 902
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Oct 14-17:A Solo Trip to Disneyland! Day3: Single Rider Shuffle
Hello everyone and
 to my Solo? DIS trip report to Disneyland!This will be my first trip to Disneyland as well as anywhere in California. The Cast: That's me on the right, Tom. I'm 39 and have just came back from Disneyworld June 11th. This is me baking in the hot Florida sun at EPCOT.  Now the reason I have a question mark after Solo is that there is a chance that I can bring along Dianna (on the left), my wife and my love, over that weekend if everything works out. It's a longshot but I am putting forth a big effort to see if I can get this done. I am currently in the early stages of planning due to my workplace not being clear on how many days I will have to enjoy myself after my training is done. So hang in there and find out with me how fun a Solo? trip can be! LINKS: 7/20: Preliminary Itinerary 7/20: Hotel Update 8/2: Still Waiting on Disney 9/21: Summer Updates 10/6: One Week to Go! Trip Report Day 1 Part 1: Have Gun. Will Travel. Part 2: A Lot Happened on a Work Trip but must be Skipped for the Readers Sakes! Part 3: Who Needs a Cantina Band Anyway? Part 4: You will sense Disney Magic when you are Calm and at Peace. Part 5: So We Meet Again Dr. Jones. Part 6: Riding that Attraction is not my idea of courage. It's more like, suicide. Part 7: A Twisted Holiday Day 2 Part 1: Not So Sunny California Part 2: It's Not My Fault! Part 3: This is Actually Kinda Like Cropdusting Kid. Part 4: What an Incredible Smell You've Discovered! Part 5: So This is What Being Inside a Two Meter Exhaust Port Feels Like! Part 6: I Really Didn't Want This Much Attention! Part 7: Yo! Ho! Yo! Ho! A Pirate's Life for Me! Part 8: This is Halloween! Part 9: Getting Buzzed at MHP! Day 3 Part 1: Saturday Magic Morning Part 2: Curiouser and Curiouser. Part 3: Oh Alice! You Tease! Part 4: My (Magic) Kingdom for a Cup of Coffee! Part 5: The DCA Marathon. Part 6: Single Rider Shuffle
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Last edited by SurfinTX; 02-23-2011 at 03:38 AM. |
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07-18-2010, 02:38 AM
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#2 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: WA
Posts: 143
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Hope your wife is able to join you! I look forward to reading more! You'll LOVE Disneyland!
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Me(23)
 Disneyland Trips: Oct 1997, Oct 1998, Oct 2002, Oct 2005, July 2007, Nov 2009, and Dec 2011.  |
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07-20-2010, 05:00 AM
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#3 | |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 902
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Quote:
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07-20-2010, 06:55 AM
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#4 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 902
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Itenerary
Where? Anaheim International Inn Travelodge When? Oct. 14th-18th How? Every so often my work sends a few people to train with the vendors of the tools we use. This time I was selected and now have a free roundtrip flight to LAX. I have already worked it out with our travel company to extend the duration of my stay so I can enjoy a few sights of Los Angeles. Specificaly Disneyland and Universal Studios. Preliminary Itenerary: Assuming I'm Solo. 3 Day Disney Bonus Parkhopper 1 Day Universal Studios Thursday - Depart work training Thursday at 1:30 pm. Check-in at 2:30-3:00 pm. Grab early dinner (Mimi's?) and then head for Disneyland. Catch a few rides and then watch either Fantasmic or Fireworks. Sleep. Friday - Take Gray Line to Universal Studios - Pickup 9:30 Arrive at Universal Studios 10:15 Ride! Ride! Ride! but Simpsons first. Park Closes at 7:00 pm. Head back. Saturday - Bonus Hour Morning. Get there early! Catch Fantasmic or World of Color...or something like that. Sunday - Keep riding and parkhopping! See, pretty flexible, eh? At this time I have no plans as far as dining. If I am solo then I will probably be eating counter service but maybe something nice one night. If Dianna is coming then the plan will be totaly different (and far more expensive).
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07-20-2010, 10:32 PM
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#5 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 902
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Hotel Update
So how did I end up in the Anahiem International Inn Travelodge? Over my last few vacations I have used Priceline to make my hotel reservations. Usualy I do very well bidding on rooms and have had several fantastic deals on 3 and 4 star hotels. This time I was looking to save a bit of money and try a two star hotel since they seem to have the most free starter breakfasts in the morning. Checking the maps I see several hotels that fit the bill all within a block of Disneyland including a Super 8 and Holiday Inn Express. I placed a bid of $47 which was right above half the average rate. Crossing my fingers I submit...and find them selecting a hotel that was only $2 over my bid and considerably farther away.   Just about a mile. Oh well! I'm a grown man and I can make the hike. What was grinding on me, however, was the price I paid. Well, the good news is that Priceline has a guarantee that if you find a better rate on your room than you bid they will match it and give you back $25. Well today I logged in and searched my hotels rates and they have dropped to $34 a day (if you stay 4 or more days)! I'm calling them first thing in the morning. I'll update on how it went afterwards. <Keeping my fingers crossed> UPDATE: After calling Priceline they agreed to the lower price plus an extra $25 off so I am perfectly pleased with the rate I got! 
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Last edited by SurfinTX; 07-21-2010 at 08:28 AM. |
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07-20-2010, 11:25 PM
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#6 |
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Luver of all things Disney!
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Philomath, Oregon
Posts: 8,699
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I'm afraid of using those travel sites to book motels!! We looked at a few motels when we had to do a last minute trip last April (09). We found a place, close & cheap....great reviews (not sure from who). We arrived to find the most disgusting place EVER!! Ick....from now on....I'll pay the extra & go with Disney Travel.
Well I'm sure your wife is hoping it's not a solo trip!!  Hopefully things will work out & you both can enjoy the parks during Halloween-time!!Look forward to seeing how this all goes!! (I will miss a couple weeks, as I'm leaving this Saturday for 12 days!!) 
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07-21-2010, 08:25 AM
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#7 | |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 902
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You really have to do your homework with bidding, no doubt. Even after all the studying I still missed that Travelodge as an option for a two star hotel. I had great luck in New Orleans and other trips around the U.S. but this time just wasn't optimal. No worries though since I just finished my call with Priceline and they agreed to match the price as well as the bonus $25 bringing my average daily rate down to $36 after taxes! That's a big chunk of change for spending inside Disney!
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07-21-2010, 11:51 AM
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#8 |
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Luver of all things Disney!
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Philomath, Oregon
Posts: 8,699
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That's great!!
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07-22-2010, 10:13 PM
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#9 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 2,020
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A new PTR!! I know nothing at all about Disneyland!
 So...looking forward to hearing all about your plans! I hope it works out to be a duo trip and not solo!!!
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Currently In Progress:
A Very Happy Birthday to ME!! A Journey in October 2012 Completed Reports: Stop and Smell the Roses...But Watch Out for the Bees! July 20124 Days, 4 Parks and 4 Years In A Row...Here We Go! July 2012 PTR; Led Zeppelin Collides With The Magic Kingdom TR March '12, We're Changing The Plan Again?? You mean there is a Plan? May/June 2011 TR and A Girl's Trip Becomes So Much More PTR May/June 2011; I Can't Believe He Said YES! June '10 PTR and I Can't Believe He Said YES! We Conquered June! June '10 TR All-Star Sports March 2009, POR and CSR June 2010, POFQ May/June 2011, March '12 Off Site, POFQ July 2012, POP Century October 2012, All-Star Music December 2012, Caribbean Beach March 2013  |
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07-25-2010, 11:25 AM
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#10 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 8,368
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Joining in! I don't know very much about Disneyland, so I'm sure I'll learn a lot.
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City, Sand, and Savanna - the TR - June 2012 Trip Report
Glennbo’s City, Sand, and Savanna PTR - June 2012 Pre-Trip Report The Moist Exhausting Free Trip Ever - June 2010 Trip Report - Part II The Moist Exhausting Free Trip Ever - June 2010 Trip Report - Part I The Most Expensive Free Trip Ever - June 2010 Pre-Trip Report I Paid Someone $5 for a Catchy Trip Report Title, and This is All I Got - June/July 2009 Trip Report  |
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07-27-2010, 07:03 AM
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#11 | ||
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 902
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Quote:
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This is a first for for me as well so I'm in the middle of a big learning curve. There are two big differences in DL when compared to DW. 1. Disneyland is much smaller than DW. It is completely ringed by other hotels and restaraunts. This gives you many options as far as budget and conveneince. 2. There is no dining plan per se at Disneyland and only 3 hotels on-site. A lot of WDW visitors have to adjust for this and the boards are full of topics on that subject. At this point I'm calculating the odds right at 40% that Dianna will be able to join me after my training is finished. The problem is money and time as usual. Me alone will cost about $400 if I keep myself under control in the parks. With Dianna I estimate the cost at about $1200 - $1400 depending. Still far cheaper than having to pay for it all so it's budget crunching time and keeping the fingers crossed.
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08-02-2010, 02:32 AM
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#12 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 902
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Still Waiting on Disney.
Here it is. August has arrived in north Texas and with it the sweltering days of summer. Yesterday it hit 104 deg. and more of the same is expected for today. Oh how I am California Dreamin'  The biggest question mark for the trip is what are the park hours and event times for Disneyland in October. At WDW, due to the ADR system, hours for the parks are posted six months in advance so that the 180 day planners can get an idea what park they will want to visit and eat at. For this trip though it's not such a big deal not having those hours. Since I will be Solo or with Dianna we can be pretty loose with the schedule and plan on eating a lot of quick meals both inside and outside of the parks. Here is what I do know. Disney will be having Mickey's Halloween Party on Friday the 15th from 7:00-12:00 pm at a cost of $54 inside Magic Kingdom. Also from Thur-Sun Universal Studios Hollywood will have it's Halloween Horror Nights running as well but times and prices are unknown at this time. As a solo traveler I do not think I would want to attend these events without anyone I know. I'd love to do certain meet and greets as well as see the fireworks show but that alone is not worth the added cost I think. If Dianna can get there early enough on Friday then the Mickey's Halloween Party is a no-brainer. The biggest hurdle for Dianna to go are the kids. School will be in session and we will need someone to care for them if we are both gone for an extended period of time. My parents live just over an hour away so it would be possible for them to come down to get the kids from school Friday. Dianna would need to get back Sunday to pick them up so they can get to school the next day. That means we will be flying and transferring seperately both coming and going. None of those issues are a deal breaker on their own but put them all together as well as tacking on about $700 in cost and you can seew hy we are leaning towards her not going. I am not giving up hope because there is a lot of time left. You never know if a sweet deal on tickets for the parks or airlines may pop up just like my room rate did!
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08-02-2010, 04:14 AM
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#13 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Stockton,Ca- the second most miserable city in the US!
Posts: 544
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hopefully you will get a great deal!
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"When the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a thousand pieces, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies." ~ Peter Pan |
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08-20-2010, 08:57 AM
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#14 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 2,020
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So how is the planning going? Maybe it will work out and Dianna will be able to go....
for a good deal! Solo is fine, but it is so much better with one you love!! Last year's trip with just the kids and I was wonderful! But, I like having Keith along with us so much better...hurt foot and all!!
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Currently In Progress:
A Very Happy Birthday to ME!! A Journey in October 2012 Completed Reports: Stop and Smell the Roses...But Watch Out for the Bees! July 20124 Days, 4 Parks and 4 Years In A Row...Here We Go! July 2012 PTR; Led Zeppelin Collides With The Magic Kingdom TR March '12, We're Changing The Plan Again?? You mean there is a Plan? May/June 2011 TR and A Girl's Trip Becomes So Much More PTR May/June 2011; I Can't Believe He Said YES! June '10 PTR and I Can't Believe He Said YES! We Conquered June! June '10 TR All-Star Sports March 2009, POR and CSR June 2010, POFQ May/June 2011, March '12 Off Site, POFQ July 2012, POP Century October 2012, All-Star Music December 2012, Caribbean Beach March 2013 |
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08-25-2010, 08:20 AM
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#15 | |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 902
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Quote:
 There is no doubt that going with Dianna will make this a memorable vacation but it's starting to look more and more like she will not be able to go. I'm preparing an update pretty soon so stay tuned!
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