3 weeks to plan a solo trip! Nov. 2014 (COMPLETE)

[dreamseeker9]

14 days and counting!!!

Yesterday, I got my Incredibles vacation booklet in the mail. My MagicBand should be arriving very soon!

I've decided not to make any ADRs. I want to be flexible with my plans, and I can't do that if I have to commit to ADRs with a credit card now. I'll be on a quest to find good counter service restaurants, and I may stop in some table service restaurants to see if they have a table or room at the bar for one.

Here's my plan for Day 2:
I'll eat breakfast at AOA's Landscape of Flavors - I remember when we stayed there 2 years ago, I was happy with the breakfast selection there, though it did get crowded. I'll go to EPCOT first, in time for rope drop. Touring Plans has crowds at a 3 level at all parks that day, so I hope that's accurate!

I'll go to The Seas first and ride with Nemo and friends, then do a first - Turtle Talk with Crush! After that, I'll look around the tanks - I love the dolphins and manatees especially. After that, I'll walk over to Living with the Land, take the boat ride there, and watch The Circle of Life - another first! Then I have a FP+ for Soarin'.

After that, I'm heading to France! I'll watch my favorite WS movie, Impressions de France, and eat lunch at Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie. After doing some shopping and wandering around the pavilion, I'll walk over to the International Gateway and either walk or take the boat to the Beach Club. I've only been there once before, but I've never stayed there. One of my dreams is to stay at Beach Club or Yacht Club - maybe next year! For now, I want to see if they have any holiday decorations up yet and just walk around, taking in the ambiance. I've never been in YC, so I want to go in that lobby and look around. Then I'll take the boat or walk over to the Boardwalk, look at more decorations there, and maybe get a snack/dessert at the Boardwalk Bakery.

Then I'll take the boat or walk to DHS! I'll do another first, the Beauty and the Beast show! I'll check if I can get any FP+ reservations once I'm in the park, for Tower of Terror or Toy Story Mania. Tower of Terror is my all-time favorite WDW attraction, I want to ride it after it's dark, hopefully more than once! And of course I will have to stop in and say hi to my beloved Muppets at MuppetVision 3D. And then another first - Fantasmic! There's only one showing that day, at 6:30 PM, and the park closes at 8:00 PM, so I should have time after Fantasmic! to head over to the Osborn Festival of Lights.

I was going to try to fit in dinner at DHS, but it looks like most cs restaurants close at 7:00 PM. I may try to get into Brown Derby - I ate last trip in the outdoor lounge, and the food was great. So maybe I'll try that again, for either the main restaurant or the lounge. If that doesn't work, then I'll head back to AOA and eat dinner at the food court there.

That's my plan for Day 2!

 

[dreamseeker9]

My trip is 9 days away! How the heck did that happen?!?

I received my DME tags and vouchers in the mail this week. I love DME! Yesterday, I received an email about my resort, AOA... but it had a notification that one of the pools would be closed while I'm there! I did some cyber-investigating and found that unfortunately, it's the Big Blue Pool - closed my 2nd, 3rd and 4th days there. So that may change my plans for Day 1, if it's nice enough weather to swim - I love that pool and was really looking forward to swimming in it again, and having some poolside drinks at The Drop Off Pool Bar! At least the LM pool will be open all the days I'm there, but it closes for rehab the day after I leave.

Speaking of weather... did I mention that I'm a bit obsessed with weather? I think I could have been a meteorologist, I really love it. When it comes to trip planning, I start checking the forecast every few hours once I hit the 10-day mark, which I'm in now! Temps are looking to be highs in the upper 70s and lows in the mid 50s - I'll take it! I could swim in 78-degree weather in a heated pool, no problem!

This weekend, I'll plan my outfits and create my packing list. I'll finish my itinerary - I have 3 of the 4 days' FP+ reservations made. I may just leave the last day open and decide what I have left to do that I didn't get to yet on that day. I also haven't made any ADRs, but now I'm thinking that I want to make time to have at least one nice signature dining experience.

I can't believe it's so close! Now I just have to finish a bunch of work so I'm not worrying about it while I'm in the most magical place on Earth!

 

[dreamseeker9]

Wow, I'll be at WDW one week from today! Crazy how fast time is flying. I made my packing list yesterday, and I made a shopping list for souvenirs and some stocking stuffers for my family while I'm there. I also decided that I'm going to pay off my room before I go, so the only thing I have to pay once I'm there will be food, drinks, and any purchases.

I also have decided to not make any ADRs. Once I'm there, I may make some at the last minute, or I may just show up - I think since the World won't be very crowded, finding a seat for 1 won't be too difficult, especially if I'm not too picky on where I eat.

I am working to lose weight right now, so I'm setting a goal for myself of choosing healthy meals with 1-2 treats allowed per day. I'm also setting the goal to fit intentional exercise into every day, beyond walking in the parks. I'm hoping it's warm enough to swim. There's a 1.38-mile trail around the lake between Pop and AOA - I'm not a runner, but I enjoy power walking, so I can do that for some good exercise, too.

On to my plan for Day 3!
I'll enjoy breakfast at AOA's Landscape of Flavors food court, then catch the bus to AK for rope drop! I love AK, but since I was just there in April and I have limited time, I plan to only do single rider on Expedition Everest, Kilamanjaro Safaris, and the Festival of the Lion King - another first, since it was closed earlier this year. I'm really excited to see that show! I may have time for the Maharajah jungle trek as well.

Then lunch - right now, I'm thinking either Yak & Yeti at AK, Sanaa at AKL (good reason to see AKL also!), or head to the Contemporary and eat at The Wave. I've never eaten there before, and I've heard great reviews, and they have healthy selections. Then I want to see the holiday decorations at the Contemporary and also the Grand Floridian, and do some Christmas shopping for family. From the GF, I'll take the ferry or monorail to MK for the evening festivities!

I have FP+ reservations for POTC, BTMRR, and Splash Mountain- I want to ride them all after it's dark. I moved the Liberty Square Riverboat from Day 1 to Day 3. Ideally, I want to ride it at dusk for some awesome photos! I'll also ride Haunted Mansion.

For dinner, I'm going to try to get a table close to the rail at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments. From my April trip when I had a cold, I know they have a great chicken & rice soup! If I time this right, then I can be at that table for the Frozen holiday wish and when the MSEP goes by! Then I'll move toward Main Street for the Celebrate the Magic show, and then Wishes at 9:00 PM, when the park closes.

I have a goal to see The Kiss Goodnight, which means I need to linger until at least 9:30 PM after Wishes is over (and stay out of the way of all the people exiting). Since Wishes is 12 minutes long, I don't think it will be that difficult to kill those 18 minutes - I can duck into a store, or try to wander around a bit away from the crowd. I also won't be in any big hurry to go stand in long lines for the AOA buses - might as well enjoy MK as it empties out, see the kiss goodnight, then do some last-minute shopping before I head out.

Sadly, then it will be time to pack that night, and I'll have received by the time I return to my room my DME luggage tags and notice of the time for my DME the following evening. But I will have one last day to fit in anything I didn't do yet.

 

[SarahDisney]

I'm finally catching up on everything I missed while I was getting ready for my trip and away.

I love your trip Wish List. There are a lot of great things on there, and even if you don't get everything done, you should still be able to get a decent chunk of it done and have a great trip!

We got pre-check on our flight at JFK ... the TSA agent was just sending everyone down that line. It made going through security a little faster (except that I got pulled out to go through the scanner, but even that only took an extra minute). I've never been there that early (we took the 8AM flight ... the 6 flight was just too early for us), but hopefully you'll be able to make it through security in plenty of time.

Plans look great.
Fantasmic! is really amazing, and I'm sure you'll really enjoy it! I've never seen the Osborne lights, but we saw them set up last week (they actually had a cast member preview the night we were there, but they kicked us normal people out of the park)

I ran around the path at AOA/Pop when I was there last week ... it was actually really fun to see all the trivia and pop culture facts that they have along the path. There were a decent number of people running and walking around there - so you won't be alone, but it's not so crowded that it's unmanagable.

You can easily pop into a store to kill the time between when Wishes ends and the Kiss Goodnight. The kiss goodnight really is the perfect way to end the day at MK ... it's so beautiful to see the castle changing colors and the recorded announcement reminds you how much Disney really does want you to enjoy your trip.

Yay for being a week away from the trip!

 

[dreamseeker9]

I'm finally catching up on everything I missed while I was getting ready for my trip and away.

I love your trip Wish List. There are a lot of great things on there, and even if you don't get everything done, you should still be able to get a decent chunk of it done and have a great trip!

We got pre-check on our flight at JFK ... the TSA agent was just sending everyone down that line. It made going through security a little faster (except that I got pulled out to go through the scanner, but even that only took an extra minute). I've never been there that early (we took the 8AM flight ... the 6 flight was just too early for us), but hopefully you'll be able to make it through security in plenty of time.

Plans look great.
Fantasmic! is really amazing, and I'm sure you'll really enjoy it! I've never seen the Osborne lights, but we saw them set up last week (they actually had a cast member preview the night we were there, but they kicked us normal people out of the park)

I ran around the path at AOA/Pop when I was there last week ... it was actually really fun to see all the trivia and pop culture facts that they have along the path. There were a decent number of people running and walking around there - so you won't be alone, but it's not so crowded that it's unmanagable.

You can easily pop into a store to kill the time between when Wishes ends and the Kiss Goodnight. The kiss goodnight really is the perfect way to end the day at MK ... it's so beautiful to see the castle changing colors and the recorded announcement reminds you how much Disney really does want you to enjoy your trip.

Yay for being a week away from the trip!

I'm so glad you had a great trip!

Pre-check would be excellent! I doubt the lines will be too bad that early in the morning, especially on a Sunday, but you never know.

It's good to hear that you think Fantastic! is amazing. I was reading some other TRs where people were underwhelmed by it, and I was considering giving it up for an ADR at HBD that would put me at DHS past park closing - I love the idea of walking in the park when no one is there anymore! But I think that even if Fantasmic! is at 6:30 PM, and DHS closes at 8:00 PM that day, I could still pop into HBD if I want to eat there after Fantastic! Or I could do a few more attractions and then head back to AOA for a late dinner.

Good to know about the path around the lake! I also thought it would be fun to walk through Pop, I've never been over there - just to check out the resort.

That's good to know about being able to kill time before the kiss goodnight. It does sound like the perfect way to end the night, especially since it will be my last night at WDW!

Thanks! ​

 

[dreamseeker9]

I got it! I scored a FP+ for the Seven Dwarves Mine Train!

I've been checking every other day or so to see if I could change one of my FP+ experiences to SDMT. I found one for the day that I leave, but it was too late in the day to work for my schedule.

Today around noon, I found a FP+ for SDMT, and I changed my POTC on Day 3 for it! I am SO excited for my Day 3 evening in the MK - my FP+ for SDMT is 4:25-5:25 PM, right around sunset. Then I have my BTMRR FP+ after it's dark, and then Splash Mountain FP+. It's supposed to be cooler, but I don't care - I'll still ride Splash, I love it! Then Celebrate the Magic, Wishes, and The Kiss Goodnight.

These changes required some tinkering with Day 1 at the MK, but I think it works even better now.

I'm also coming up with a Plan B for each day, if I want to go back to AOA and chill out, or go check out another resort. After seeing photos of the WL all decked out for the holidays, I just may have to make time to go over there and check it out - I've never been, and it's my good friend's favorite resort.

I have to remember that I'll be back next September, so it's okay if I don't fit in all the attractions I want to see. But I don't know when I'll be back to enjoy the holiday decorations, so I definitely want to take advantage of those.

I'm still looking over menus as well, trying to make healthy choices with 1-2 indulgences per day.

6 more days!!!

 

[Luv0fDisney]

Hey! I'm reading your PTR.... You are soo lucky to get a fast pass for SDMT.
I have been wanting one..

 

[SarahDisney]

Yay for getting a FP+ for SMDT! We were able to walk right on with the FP+ - hopefully you'll have the same thing! It should be really nice around sunset.

Having a plan B is a great idea - that way if you need a rest, you have a plan and you don't have to feel bad about abandoning your plan.

5 days now - so exciting!!

 

[dreamseeker9]

Hey! I'm reading your PTR.... You are soo lucky to get a fast pass for SDMT.
I have been wanting one..

Don't give up! You never know when one will open up!

Yay for getting a FP+ for SMDT! We were able to walk right on with the FP+ - hopefully you'll have the same thing! It should be really nice around sunset.

Having a plan B is a great idea - that way if you need a rest, you have a plan and you don't have to feel bad about abandoning your plan.

5 days now - so exciting!!

I hope I can walk right on to SDMT with the FP+, that would be awesome! I've read reviews that it's almost too dark on the outside of the ride after dark, so I think sunset will be a great time to ride it.

I have a feeling I will want to chill a bit, so I'm definitely going to build in a Plan B for each day! I've been going back and forth on MVMCP, only it's the day I arrive, and I know if I stay up til after midnight that first day, I'll be so dead the next day - not worth it.

I can't believe it's only 5 days away!!! Now I just have to finish a bunch of work in the next 3 days so I don't have to think about it while I'm gone next week!

 

[dreamseeker9]

Since the forecast seems to shift hourly, and since I'm feeling tired and I still have to put in 2 full work days this week, I've come up with a Plan B for each day. I also tinkered with my FP+ selections.

Great news is that the weather looks great for both Sunday and Monday now, clear and highs in the low 80s. So I can swim both days or either day!

For Day 1, I'll still go to MK as soon as I check in, so I should arrive in the MK by 11:30 AM. My Plan B is to skip the Festival of Fantasy parade and instead go back to AOA, swim that afternoon, take a nap (though I'm not much of a napper), then go to EPCOT for IllumiNations that evening. This means I would miss my Splash Mountain FP+, but I have another one for Day 3. My Plan C is to stay at MK until I have to leave at 7:00 PM, and then to eat dinner at an MK resort, then go back to AOA.

For Day 2, my Plan B is to return to AOA after lunch in France, swim, then go straight to DHS. Once at DHS, my Plan B is to skip Fantasmic and instead have dinner at HBD. Or my Plan C is to see Fantasmic, then go have dinner at the BC, YC or Boardwalk when DHS closes at 8:00 PM. Oh, and I got FP+ reservations for TSMM and TOT!

Starting Day 3, the weather gets gross. The high is 63, with 70% chance of rain through that afternoon. My Plan A is to go to AK that morning and then take a bus to an MK resort for lunch, check out the Contemporary, WL and GF, then go to MK for the evening. If I wake up and it's really cold and gross outside, my Plan B is to sleep in and then go to an MK resort for brunch, then still check them out. The idea of being in the WL by a fire when it's cold and rainy outside sounds delightful, maybe with a hot chocolate.

I'm leaving Day 4 as my catch-all day. If I don't end up at AK on Day 3, I'll go the morning of Day 4. I also don't have much time planned on Day 2 for the World Showcase, and I could easily spend all day there. I shouldn't have to be back at AOA to catch the DME until 5:00 PM, so I have a lot of time that day in the parks.

I'm also going to make sure I do as much shopping as possible in Days 1 and 2, so I can have bags delivered to my resort (how I love that option!). Here's my shopping list (changed from earlier):

• Basin White at GF: Bath bombs (stocking stuffers for my Mom)
• Santa ornaments at any store (my Mom collects them and just requested one, even if it's a Santa Mickey
• DHS: Stage 1 Company Store: Muppets tee for me (I look every time I'm there and never like the selection, but maybe this time will be different!)
• WDW Christmas tee for me
• Disney sweatshirt or zip-up hoodie for me. I must buy this in Days 1 or 2, because I'll need to wear it on Day 3!
• EWS Germany's Karamell Kuche: candy stocking stuffers for the whole family!
• Waterproof Mickey watch - does anyone know where I can find this? I've looked in the parks and haven't found one yet. It would be perfect for the water rides!

So that's it! I'm sure I'll do some more tinkering before I leave very early on Sunday. I'll pack on Saturday. Oh, and I found out that my friend and her family will be down there at the same time, staying at the AKL, so we may meet up!

 

[SarahDisney]

Your plan Bs (and plan C) look great! I like the idea of buying a sweatshirt early in the trip to wear later on the trip.

It's not a bad idea to keep tinkering with the plan, even when you're there - when you get there, you might see that your plans won't work as well as you thought, so it's good to be open to the idea of changing them.

How exciting to find out that your friend will be there at the same time. Hopefully you guys can get together (and you can see AKL, which from what I've heard and seen in pictures, is beautiful).

4 days!!!

 

[dreamseeker9]

Holy cow, I'm at the 3-day mark! That means only 1 MORE DAY of work! And just in time, since the forecast for NYC is predicting possible snow overnight tonight!

I was pretty busy at work today, but I did manage to tinker just a bit this morning with my Day 1. I decided that I most likely will want to go back to AOA and swim, so I moved my FP+ selections all to around lunchtime, before the 3:00 PM parade. I think that would be a good break point to leave MK. That's going to be my nicest weather day by far, so I will want to swim but will also want to take full advantage of the parks, which means EPCOT and Illuminations that night!

I went to the Disney Store after work to see if they had any t-shirts or hoodies I want to buy now, wash and take with me. Unfortunately, even in the 2-floor NYC Times Square Disney Store, there is only a small section for adult clothes. I wasn't blown away by anything I saw, so I figured I'll wait until I'm at the parks. That store was so packed, and it was raining outside. Plus, Times Square has a lot of the sidewalks narrowed for construction. So if I can make it through that, then I'll be fine on Main Street and around the hub of the castle!

I reserved my car service to pick me up at 4:15 AM on Sunday. That is why I think I'll need some down time later that day - crazy early!

I'm going to go enjoy the chicken vegetable soup I picked up from Zabar's, a great grocery near my apartment, with an onion roll and a salad, and then get to bed early. I have a bit of a sore throat and want to make sure it doesn't develop into anything. I had a horrible cold the last time I went to WDW, and it really put a damper on the trip!

 

[dreamseeker9]

Your plan Bs (and plan C) look great! I like the idea of buying a sweatshirt early in the trip to wear later on the trip.

It's not a bad idea to keep tinkering with the plan, even when you're there - when you get there, you might see that your plans won't work as well as you thought, so it's good to be open to the idea of changing them.

How exciting to find out that your friend will be there at the same time. Hopefully you guys can get together (and you can see AKL, which from what I've heard and seen in pictures, is beautiful).

4 days!!!

Thanks, Sarah! Good point about being open to change while I'm there, I will definitely do that.

My friend and I were texting today, we may meet at AKL after her kids are down for the night. I said I'm fine with taking a cab over to AKL and meeting her for a drink - great excuse to check out an AKL lounge or restaurant, and to catch up with my friend! I've only been to Sanaa, and I loved it. I really would love to go to Jiko.

 

[dreamseeker9]

OK, Disney is messing with my meticulously planned schedule. They just changed park hours for every day I'm there next week!

I'm hoping this actually works in my favor, because hours have been extended. The best part is that MK will be open until 10:00 PM on my Day 3, and they've added a second MSEP, which means I can definitely ride attractions during the first one and then stay for the second one, when crowds thin out.

Now I'm off to assess how these changes affect the rest of my plans! Ah, Disney - always keeping me on my toes!

 

[SarahDisney]

I hate Times Square ... but I firmly believe that if you can navigate through Times Square, you can survive anything.

And Disney did the same thing to me a few weeks before my trip! It worked to my benefit (it's how I got my BOG ADR), and I hope it can work to your benefit too (it looks like it will for day 3)!

 

[dreamseeker9]

I hate Times Square ... but I firmly believe that if you can navigate through Times Square, you can survive anything.

And Disney did the same thing to me a few weeks before my trip! It worked to my benefit (it's how I got my BOG ADR), and I hope it can work to your benefit too (it looks like it will for day 3)!

Absolutely on Times Square! And I saw the fake Mickey characters chatting with their heads off. Yuck!

I tried to get an ADR for BOG for that new last hour, but none were available. But I'll keep trying! I ate there for lunch but not for dinner, so that would be so great!

 

[dreamseeker9]

It's almost here! I'm mostly packed. I just have to do dishes and shower this evening. My goal is to be in bed by 9:00 PM, and hopefully I can sleep, since I have to wake up at 3:50 AM! But it will be worth it to see my favorite mouse!

It's been a good day. My parents and I were reminiscing on the phone about past trips to WDW. I thought I remembered those trips well, but I didn't recall that one year, we went during Christmas. My mom really remembered the Christmas parade, but the memory that stuck out most for me was that my brother wasn't yet tall enough to ride BTMRR and was very upset about it. But I was so excited to ride it with my dad!



Ah, good times.

Today, I watched The Little Mermaid, in honor of staying in a LM room at AOA. And I just watched Muppets Most Wanted. Now I have the Finding Nemo extras Blu-ray in while I'm finishing up a few things, enjoying the aquariums. My DME luggage tag is on my suitcase, and my Asics are out, all ready for me to wear tomorrow!



My friend gave me 2 books for my birthday, and I haven't read them yet, so I'm taking them along. Does he know me well or what?!





The forecast has improved somewhat, less of a chance of rain, and Monday is going to be warmer now, but Tuesday and Wednesday will still be cool. That's fine, I can swim Sunday and Monday. I read online that some deluxe resorts haven't decorated yet for the holidays, so I'll be better off waiting until Tuesday or Wednesday to visit them, like WL - apparently, they are always the last one to decorate for some reason. The Contemporary has their displays up, and the gingerbread house is up at the GF.

I can't believe it's here! I'll be sure to start a Trip Report once I'm back. Thanks to everyone for reading my PTR!

 

[SarahDisney]

Have a great trip!!! I'm looking forward to reading all about it when you get back!

 

[dreamseeker9]

Hi all - I've finally started my Trip Report on this trip! Here's the link.

So I can officially close this PTR now. Hope to see you over at my TR thread! Thanks for reading.