2016 - Jennifer's January Jaunt! Pre-Trip Report

[Trixie15]

Fast Pass+ Success!​

For the most part, I got everything I wanted, so YAY!! When there were issues, it was my own fault. For example - Kali River Rapids is apparently going to be closed so I had to pick something else. And it looks like some of the tiers have changed for Epcot to accommodate Soarin' being closed.

I'll update my daily plans with the fast pass info sometime in the next couple of days. Right now - I'm off to bed!

Next: Memory Maker

 

[Trixie15]

Memory Maker​

I finally decided to add the Memory Maker plan to my Disney vacation. It's pricey but really, unless I ask strangers to take pics for me, or kind people offer, all of my pictures will have to be selfies or not include me. I think it would be fun to have some pictures of me on the rides and in front of the castle. I'm good at stopping for every photo opportunity. Plus, since my kids aren't into characters at all, we always skip them on family vacations. This time, if I get brave enough, I can visit any characters that I like and having someone else take the pictures will be fun.

I'm not planning on buying the Universal photo package at this time, but that could change, LOL!

Getting excited again now that the fast pass plus planning is done and done.

58 days until Disney!


Next: Bucket List

 

[Trixie15]

Bucket List​

One of my bucket list items for this trip was to go to a dessert party. I am not a huge Star Wars fan, but I like it well enough. I managed to book a Dessert Party for the Saturday night that I'll be at DHS.

Also on my bucket list is to eat at O'Hana and while the time is super late, I finally managed to get an ADR. It's on the Monday that I'll be at Universal Studios, and it's at 9:45 p.m.. I think I'll keep checking to see if I can get an earlier ADR. Oh, and I had to book a reservation for 2 people because it pulls up nothing for just one!

What else is on my bucket list?
-ring the bell in Liberty Square
-friar's nook macaroni and cheese, but I don't know if this place will be open in January since it's seasonal
-disneybound at least one time and have it be recognized
-rope drop at Magic Kingdom
-school bread at Kringla bakery
-meet some characters without freezing up and being awkward!
-see the flag retreat ceremony

This is definitely a work in progress! Normally I can think of a million things I'd like to do, but my mind apparently isn't with me tonight!

Adding more (1/10/16)
-ride the Liberty Belle
-avocado margarita
-all the mountains in one day at MK
-see Country Bears Jamboree
-ride Winnie the Pooh
-see Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
-ride the Astro Orbiter
-see Tom Sawyer's island
-Pirates game in Adventureland
-Trader Sam's
-Hanger Bar at DS



49 Days till Disney!


Next: A Few Updates

 

[Trixie15]

A Few Updates​

I went through my daily plans and added all of the fast pass time-frames. I also added a couple of ADR's and then color coded my days for easy-to-see FP+ and ADR times.

I also have been reading on the Southwest airlines website about 'people of size'. I haven't managed to lose and keep off any weight so far (try for a week, lose weight, give up for a week, gain it all back, ugh.) I have been a ball of anxiety about my flight and had even considered adding travel days before and after the trip and just driving down and back. My husband is adamantly against me driving by myself though, and he doesn't usually say much about my plans so I thought I would do what I can to appease him. I'd rather not drive in fact, but I'm just so high-anxiety about being so heavy and flying, being uncomfortable or making someone else uncomfortable next to me! So it's been interesting.

Anyway, Southwest will, according to their website, refund the price of a second seat for people of size after travel is completed. So I went ahead and bought a second seat there and back. My anxiety level instantly dropped so much - I felt so much better after booking the second seat. Hopefully I won't be confused with those blasted 'seat savers' but I guess they give you a special sign to place on the seat next to you to reserve it for yourself. I'd rather do this than try to squish myself into a seat and then worry for 3 hours that I might be taking up someone else's room. Sigh. I'm still going to keep trying to lose weight before I go, but even if I do the second seat will be great.

Not too long ago it felt like time was standing still. Now, though, it's rushing at full-speed ahead! As Christmas gets closer, the days are flying past!

46 days until Disney!

Next: I've Been Shopping

 

[kcpinwdw]

My anxiety level instantly dropped so much - I felt so much better after booking the second seat. Hopefully I won't be confused with those blasted 'seat savers' but I guess they give you a special sign to place on the seat next to you to reserve it for yourself. I'd rather do this than try to squish myself into a seat and then worry for 3 hours that I might be taking up someone else's room.

I am glad you are feeling better about this! You should not have to worry. Just think of all the calories you will be burning walking around Disney AND, you will have less anxiety about the return flight too. Good decision. We are getting so close, now, aren't we??!!

 

[Trixie15]

42 days until Disney!

 

[Trixie15]

I've Been Shopping​

Merry Christmas!!

Updated a couple of park hours since the hours changed recently. The trip is coming up so fast now!

I have been buying myself some stuff for this trip. It feels really nice! I got three dresses from Torrid that I really love. One is the Neverland map from Peter Pan, one is from Snow White, and the last one is Alice in Wonderland.

I also found the cutest hair bows at Hot Topic. I bought several, including these:

30 days until Disney!

Next: Restaurants On My List - ADR and Otherwise

 

[Trixie15]

Restaurants On My List - ADR and Otherwise​

I thought I'd put a list of the places I want to eat all in one place. As a solo traveler I can only do so much eating which means I won't get to try as much as I would if there were several people going and we could share plates and stuff. But I'll do the best I can while being mindful about the choices I'm making.

Universal Studios
Thunder Falls Terrace
The Leaky Cauldron
The Three Broomsticks
Finnegans
Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck - maybe

Resorts
Boma (dinner)
'Ohana (dinner)
Whispering Canyon Cafe (breakfast)
Cape May Cafe (dinner)
Kona Cafe (breakfast)
1900 Park Fare (dinner)
California Grill (dinner)
Trader Sam's
Everything Pop

Magic Kingdom
Be Our Guest (breakfast)
Crystal Palace (breakfast)
Cosmic Rays
Aloha Aisle
Casey's Hot Dogs
Gaston's
Sleepy Hollow
Columbia Harbour House
Skipper Canteen or Liberty Tree Tavern

Epcot
San Angel Inn (dinner)
Garden Grill (dinner)
Katsura Grill (lunch)
Baklava snack at Morocco
Sunshine Seasons (breakfast/snack)
Kringla Bakery (snack)
Karamell-Kuche (snack)

Animal Kingdom
Flame Tree BBQ
Tusker House (brunch)
Harambe Market

Hollywood Studios
50's Prime Time Cafe (lunch)
Symphony in the Stars Dessert Party (special event)
Writer's Stop
Brown Derby Lounge


That's a lot of dining! In most places I'll probably stick with appetizers or small portions. Some of them I might downright skip (Casey's Hot Dogs - I'm looking at you!). And as always, it's just a guide. ADR's can be cancelled or changed and all of the counter service places have no obligation at all. It will be interesting to see which places I actually end up at!

26 Days Until Disney! And I got notification that my Magic Band has shipped!!

Next: DisneyBounding

 

[Trixie15]

DisneyBounding​

Since my family won't be with me (and therefore won't die of embarassment) I'd like to try my hand at DisneyBounding on this trip.

I've got a couple of outfits complete as of right now:

Winnie the Pooh - Dark yellow pants, dark yellow tank top, red v-neck t-shirt, hair bow

Cheshire Cat - gray and pink striped top, white tank top, gray pants, hair bow (I know he is pink and purple but I'm having a hard time finding a striped top that I like! Maybe I'll get purple pants.)

Neverland/Peter Pan - Neverland map dress, peter pan window necklace with a jar of pixie dust, captain hook hair bow

Alice/mad Hatter - Alice in Wonderland dress, 'We're all Mad Here' pin, mad hatter hair bow, white rabbit watch necklace

Others I'd like to finish putting together:

Snow White
Tweedle Dum/Dee
Ariel
Baymax
Eeyore
Wall-E

I also intend to pack some more typical, regular (non-themed) clothes because it looks like it's going to be impossible to tell what the temperature is going to be and I don't know that I want to always be wearing a lot of layers. I may even have to try to buy some shorts somewhere before I leave. Ha - maybe it'd be easier to buy shorts once I get to Florida instead of trying to buy them in the middle of winter in Illinois.


Next: DisneyBounding Part 2

 

[kcpinwdw]

Karamell-Kuche (snack)

How many caramel apples do you think I can fit in my carryon??

gray and pink striped top,

Don't worry about not being purple, it will look awesome!

I think buying shorts this time of year may be tough! Maybe the internet is your best bet. I have a feeling it is going to be unseasonably warm on our trip!
We are getting close! Are you decorating your Magic Band when it arrives?

 

[Trixie15]

How many caramel apples do you think I can fit in my carryon??

Don't worry about not being purple, it will look awesome!

I think buying shorts this time of year may be tough! Maybe the internet is your best bet. I have a feeling it is going to be unseasonably warm on our trip!
We are getting close! Are you decorating your Magic Band when it arrives?

LOL about the apples. I was thinking plain caramels, myself.

I don't think I'm going to decorate my band. I got a red one this time and I think it will actually match the majority of my outfits. But who knows - I may change my mind when I'm desperately trying to fill the time between now and the trip.

I saw on your TR that you're already thinking about the trip that comes after this one. I find myself doing the same thing and I don't even have a second trip planned! I think to myself - I wonder if I can pull this off again, and I start to plan a pretend trip either for just myself again or for the whole family or for just my husband and myself. It's fun to dream about it!

 

[Trixie15]

I'm trying to fix the picture, but my Magic Band came yesterday!! Woo Hoo!!!!

 

[Trixie15]

Happy New Year!



23 Days till Disney!

 

[ariane37]

Happy New Year!! I have been SO terrible about keeping up with all reports since returning from our Thanksgiving trip I got right into all the Christmas business and just fell behind (again)......but all your plans look great! I love the Torrid dresses and Disneybounding outfits I actually have a couple of the Hot Topic hair bows, too. Also glad you're feeling more comfortable about your flight down There shouldn't be anything putting a damper on your vacation excitement!

I do hope your weather is on the warm side. We leave on the 15th and, except for a high one day of 72 our days are low 60's right now and nights are in the 40's. I know Fla. weather can change right up until that day, so I'm hoping our days go up a couple degrees!

 

[Trixie15]

DisneyBounding Part 2​

I am having way too much fun with this. Seriously, someone stop me! LOL - I have enough outfits put together to last a lifetime and my checkbook is telling me to knock it off already!

You know what it is? I grew up my whole life in a family that tried to stick to the edges of others' notice. Never do anything that might attract attention. Never do anything out of the ordinary, always fit in with everyone else, don't stand out in any way. Don't laugh too loud, don't dance, don't be childish, don't don't don't. And in some ways I married a man who falls into the very same category - unless he's the one getting the attention and being silly. And definitely being very overweight adds to the feeling of not wanting to be noticed, ever. My kids would DIE before being silly in public - all four of them. I just don't get why they are all (and why my family was) so uptight about everything?! Well, probably because I grew up that way and the husband is constantly on them to act proper - and I'm sure I put off that vibe though I honestly don't mean to. I can't get them to just be joyful and free for the life of me.

Being free of everyone else for this vacation has allowed me to just ... be. If I want to dress silly then I CAN - without worrying about embarrassing anyone else except myself. It would be SO much fun if we could do a DisneyBound couple of days together next time we go as a family but I don't know if I can get them to do it. They're so stuffy and picky about everything - they can't just let go and find the joy and fun in it. So what if you wear a shirt that isn't your all-time favorite - so what if you never wear it again ever? So what if it isn't BLACK, lol. (kids, sheesh!) It can be fun to just let loose.

That's how I'm feeling right now anyway. Hopefully I will be brave enough to actually follow through once I get to Florida! I think I will. I think I will actually love it! I did try hard to only buy stuff that I would wear again in everyday life. It took a LOT of searching and a lot of time to find things in my bigger size - so that was a challenge that I really loved accepting and completing as well. I even put together a couple of Harry Potter outfits for Universal Studios.

I also discovered charm lockets (like Origami Owl but generic) and I enjoyed putting several of those together for my DisneyBound outfits as well. And other jewelry and accessories from Etsy, lol. Yes, it's been a fun shopping spree! I just need two more things and I think I am done shopping. Maybe once everything arrives in the mail I'll put up pictures of the outfits since it was so much fun putting them together. It would be a good way of making sure they're complete before I start packing.

I also bought new luggage. Just boring stuff but much needed.

18 days till Disney!

​

Next: DisneyBound - Winnie the Pooh

 

[kcpinwdw]

Hopefully I will be brave enough to actually follow through once I get to Florida!

You'd better! Those outfits are adorable!

I wear things at Disney that I would never wear in "real life." I am a professional and I have to dress that way. Occasionally I will throw on a star wars Teeshirt on the weekend... but Disney is time to let it out! Luckily I was pretty easily able to rope my family into matching outfits. Though I am SURE they will not be up for it when they are teenagers

I would love to see pictures of your assembled outfits!

 

[ariane37]

Yes, you wear all those outfits you worked hard to put together and wear them proudly And really, it's not like you'll stand out or be the only one dressed like that lol. My kids will no longer dress in matching shirts when we're there, although DS10 (and DH) will wear certain Disney shirts. I have TONS of Disney shirts, dresses, and accessories. I used to only wear them when in Disney but then a couple years ago I said what the hell, they look cute, I'll wear (some) of them whenever I want! I don't do crazy stuff but I'll wear pretty much every shirt/sweatshirt and a good deal of the accessories at home and to the elementary school when I'm doing PTA stuff with the kids. And when I go grocery shopping. Or to the mall. So.... basically whenever I want

 

[Trixie15]

I'm a little nervous because a few of the things I bought haven't shipped yet from Etsy.com and I really want them! Here's hoping they ship in time for the trip.

 

[blestmom]

Joining in! Loving your pre-trip report!

 

[Trixie15]

Joining in! Loving your pre-trip report!

Thank you! And