A Commando on Valium - A 7 Day Solo Trip at AKL ***Update 3/23 page 19

[2xcited2sleep]

You're moving into the final countdown!! I like all the mickey heads. I will need to make a trip over to HD to get some myself. I hope that you get to meet some DISers. As far as the lunch options go, I'm going to vote for snack around the world as well -- there is SO much to choose from!

 

[Quacktatty]

So when I last left you I was figuring out where to eat on my Epcot day, thanks to your suggestions I will be doing World Showcase. I had to seriously alter my touring plan which I wasn't happy about, but I think it will work out fine. I'll be stopping China, Norway and Mexico for some lunch snacks.

But now I have a new ADR dilemma. Right now my ADRs are:
Liberty Tree Tavern - Lunch
Raglan Road - Dinner
Teppan Edo - Dinner

LTT I am pretty set on keeping, the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake is calling my name. Teppan Edo I will enjoy because I love that style of food. I am doubting Raglan Road. There really isn't much that screams "Eat me!" on the menu, save for the Bread Pudding.

I really liked Kona Cafe last year, but I'm not sure that I want to repeat it...although the Crab Cakes and Stingy Wings still call my name! I guess I'm just afraid that I'll end up stuck in an ADR rut. I'm also still trying to get into Whispering Canyon Cafe which I have not had any success with as of yet. I'll be calling to pay off my trip on Wednesday, so maybe, just maybe, I'll get lucky. My last thought is to maybe try Jiko, either at the restaurant itself, or In Room Dining. I keep thinking I should eat at my own resort at least once. And seeing as I don't do buffets, Jiko would be my only option (not counting Mara of course, as I'll be eating there for most breakfasts).

So, yet again, I need opinions!

Do I:
1. Keep Raglan Road
2. Try to get Kona
3. Try to get WCC
4. Eat at Jiko (probably In Room Dining)

I'm only 27 days out, I'm not supposed to still be making decisions!!!

 

[Quacktatty]

A while ago I purchased some pins on EBay with the intention of NOT trading them. Then recently, I bought 10 more so that I could use them as traders. It was just a grab bag type auction and I could have gotten anything. To my surprise, most of the pins were pretty great! I put together my lanyard tonight with all the pins - keepers on the left, traders on the right.

These are the keepers

From top down - Chip and Dale with a Zebra Dome, Chip Head, Chip and Dale with a Disney "D", Dale, Stitch in heart boxers

Stitch again, Elliot from Pete's Dragon, a Green Monorail

And the traders

Nemo, Goofy in a Boat, A Siamese cat from Lady and the tramp (I think?), Jack Skellington, Grumpy

Ariel, Huey or Duey or Luey (who knows!)

And of course, my biggest pin and definitely a non-trader, my Around the World Segway Pin

The ones that I had bought for myself as keepers were the Chip and Dale Zebra Dome, Chip Face, Chip and Dale in the D and the Nemo Pin. The reason Nemo is a trader now is that it was supposed to be a Squirt pin, but the seller sent the wrong one.

It was a hard choice to make when I picked the traders. I like most of the pins actually, but some - like Jack Skellington and Grumpy - while I would normally have kept those pins, or even traded for them, I would have liked them in a different style than what was in the grab bag. So hopefully I can find some adequate replacements at WDW!

 

[Quacktatty]

I ended up deciding that Raglan Road just wasn't for me. I called CRO to make my final payment on my trip (woohoo!) and changed my ADR for Raglan Road. My first request was Whispering Canyon Cafe, but there were no openings available on the days I was requesting. I guess that's okay because I plan on doing the Backstage Magic tour on my next trip and that's where lunch is during the tour.

So I ended up getting Kona for 9:20 on Wednesday night. It works out well since Wednesday is my MK day and the park closes at 8:00 that night. So it gives me plenty of time to get to the Poly for dinner time. And also time to take some time to look at the resort and maybe get a drink or two.

Stay tuned for an updated schedule in the next post. It's still being perfected, but I think it's close to final (I hope!)

 

[Quacktatty]

Day 1 - Arrival and Favorites Day
Arrive at MCO 9:45am
DME to AKL hopefully by 11:00am
Check-in and then head to DS hopefully by 12:00
Pick up a Fastpass for Toy Story Mania and ride if the line permits
AK until close (5pm)
Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ
DHS for approx 2 hours to use TSM Fastpass and get my TOT and RNRC fix
MK for EMH until 11pm
Dinner at Casey's or Columbia Harbor House

Day 2 - Backstage Safari, AK and DS
Breakfast at Mara
Backstage Safari - AK (8:30am)
Lunch - Yak and Yeti (CS)
AK until close
DS for EMH until I get tired
Dinner back at the Resort - Mara or In Room Dining

Day 3 - Segway Tour, DS, DTD
Breakfast - In Room Dining or Mara
FW Segway tour (11am)
To the Poly for lunch at Capt Cooks
DS until close
DTD
Dinner - Earl of Sandwich

Day 4 - MK
Breakfast - Mara
MK all day
Lunch - Liberty Tree Tavern, 1:10pm
Dinner - Kona Cafe, 9:20pm

Day 5 - EP
Breakfast - Mara
EP all day
Around the World Segway tour (9am)
Lunch - Snack around the world
Dinner - Teppan Edo, 8pm

Day 6 - AK, EP
Breakfast - Mara
AK until close
Lunch - Flame Tree
EP for EMH
Dinner - Tangerine Cafe

Day 7 - DS, AK
Check-out
Breakfast - Mara
DS for EMH
AK until 1:00pm or 2:00pm if I can get a later ME pick up
Lunch - Flame Tree
ME to airport for 5:10pm flight
Arrive home at 10:55pm

 

[Charleston Princess]

Looks like you will have a fabulous time!!!

I love all your pins! I especially like the zebra dome one -- now I need to go search ebay for one for me!

 

[Girldreamer02]

Congrats on the house! Thats exciting! I wish matt and I didn't have to travel for work so that we could buy a house, but alas that won't stop happening for quite some time. I can only dream and save my pennies And also be jealous hehe because your house looks super cute and I love it! I am so excited for you for your trip. I love your little countdown calendar and the visual calender too. Super cute! Good luck with your flight issues. I will keep my fingers crossed for you. I can't wait to hear about toy story mania. We want to ride it so bad! We are trying to schedule a trip for dec, but it is going to depend on his work. If we do go it'll be the most last minute we've ever thrown a trip together, which will be scary adr wise. Also resort wise. Eeek. Can't wait to hear more as you get closer to your trip!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Your itinerary looks great!! I see you referenced your next trip already... when you'll take one of the tours. Have you booked your next trip already or is it just in the planning stages?

 

[Quacktatty]

I love all your pins! I especially like the zebra dome one -- now I need to go search ebay for one for me!

The pin is from a series of Chip and Dale with Disney Foods - Dole Whip, Kitchen Sink, Zebra Dome and Tye Dyed Cheesecake. I figured the Zebra Dome would be fitting since I was staying at AKL!

Congrats on the house!

Thanks!

I see you referenced your next trip already... when you'll take one of the tours. Have you booked your next trip already or is it just in the planning stages?

It's definitely not booked yet, I'm still hoping I'll have enough money to book it. I'm thinking about a 10 day trip at the end of October. I want to visit Universal and Sea World as well as do the Backstage Magic tour, so it'll have to be a long trip! Once I find out how poor buying a house will make me and what my bonus from work is, I probably will either book or postpone for a later time.

 

[Quacktatty]

Who is ready to go to Disney World? Mr. Potato Head is!!!

3 weeks to go!!!! At this minute, 3 weeks from now, I'll be just touching down at MCO!!!

 

[Quacktatty]

I guess there isn't a better time to start a picture countdown, is there?

3 weeks from today, I'll probably be riding this:

 

[Quacktatty]

I was listening to a podcast live show last night and one of the guys who spends a lot of time at DHS mentioned that there is officially no more Single Rider Line at Toy Story Mania - GASP!

Because of this new found change, I need to alter my touring plans. I was NEVER planning to be at DHS for Rope Drop except for my last day. Now, I have to make it my first park on 3 days.

On arrival day I have already decided to head to DHS first to get a fast pass (hopefully) for TSM and ride if the line isn't totally crazy.

On Day 3 I now need to head to DHS for opening, ride TSM, get a fast pass and then be at Fort Wilderness for my Segway tour by 11:15am.

This dang ride better be worth it! Seeing as Buzz Lightyear is one of my favorites, I'm guessing this will be as well, but I'm not sure it's worth all of this stress and schedule changes.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

ACK! No single rider line?? That changes things for me too potentially. But luckily for me I have you to go first and figure it all out and then report back.

Like the photo countdown. 3 weeks!!

 

[Quacktatty]

ACK! No single rider line?? That changes things for me too potentially. But luckily for me I have you to go first and figure it all out and then report back.

Like the photo countdown. 3 weeks!!

I'll definitely keep you posted with how it works out. I was really hoping to ride lots of times, but we'll see.

 

[Quacktatty]

3 weeks from today I will be spending some time at this attraction!

 

[MomofCKJ]

Tis true, the single rider line is gone. I asked where it was and was told it was discontinued. You must get there for RD. I got an FP at 9:05 with a return of 10:20. I didn't get in the standby line because it was ginormous. Instead I did One Man's Dream and ToT and RnR and came back. At 10:40 the FPs for TSM were coming out with a 7:45pm return and the standby was something like 90 minutes (I'd have to check my notes but they are upstairs). Definatly be there at Rope Drop! I did get to ride again later in the week when a very sweet CM named Raul gave me a Fast Pass for it. He said he pulls a bunch in the morning and keeps them in his pocket to give to nice, happy people who are smiling. So keep your eye out for Raul in the Animation building and smile away! LOL!

Excited for you, only a few weeks to go!

Allyson

 

[Quacktatty]

Tis true, the single rider line is gone. I asked where it was and was told it was discontinued. You must get there for RD. I got an FP at 9:05 with a return of 10:20. I didn't get in the standby line because it was ginormous. Instead I did One Man's Dream and ToT and RnR and came back. At 10:40 the FPs for TSM were coming out with a 7:45pm return and the standby was something like 90 minutes (I'd have to check my notes but they are upstairs). Definatly be there at Rope Drop! I did get to ride again later in the week when a very sweet CM named Raul gave me a Fast Pass for it. He said he pulls a bunch in the morning and keeps them in his pocket to give to nice, happy people who are smiling. So keep your eye out for Raul in the Animation building and smile away! LOL!

Excited for you, only a few weeks to go!

Allyson

Thanks for the confirmation! I'll definitely keep and eye out for Raul and save up all my smiles for him.

 

[Quacktatty]

I missed yesterday, so here's two for today.

Three weeks from today I will have spent my morning doing this:

And I'll be eating dinner here:

 

[Quacktatty]

Here I am with 17 days to go. Plans are finalized for the time being, so what better to do than create yet another itinerary!!??

I can't even begin to explain why I created yet another one, but I did. And it's color coded. Now I just have to get everything together. I'm doing laundry this weekend, and then it will finally be time to pack!!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Here I am with 17 days to go. Plans are finalized for the time being, so what better to do than create yet another itinerary!!??

Well, of course! What else would you do?

...then it will finally be time to pack!!!