A Newbie Goes Solo! (I'm so excited I don't care how scared I am!)

[Nomi]

So here it goes, the trip is looking solid enough that I can make a PTR without feeling like too much of an over-eager beaver. Well, sort of. I've yet to make any reservations, buy any tickets, or even choose the dates within Dec that I will go. Luckily for me, I'm not a planner (I can hear you all gasping in horror over there, don't pretend you didn't). I hate lists. I get on random buses to see where I'll end up. I'll wander down strange roads in Spain until I find something interesting (which it never takes long to do), and it's not a vacation until you get lost. Twice.

I do understand the value of planning for a place such as the World though, so I'll do my best.

Promise.

Really.

So on to the good stuff. The hard facts. The truth you CAN handle, and even mold into small figurines if you like.

Dates: Sometime within the confines of the Dec Value season, ten days plus a day or two on the ends for air travel. The exact dates depend on what dates would be the best for me to fly on, which I'll be finding out in a weeks time.

Travelers: Just me, Nomi. I'm a proud Canadian hailing from the lovely tropical region of Alberta. I'll be 19 at the time of the trip, and this will be my first solo trip to not only WDW, but anywhere. I have gone on trips with a group of friends and classmates to Spain and New York, but never with just me, myself and I. As such, I have no idea what I'm doing. Which means this is bound to be and exciting trip!

Other facts about me include the following:
I've always wanted to be, and always will dream of being, an imagineer. (At least, ever since my first visit to Disneyland at the age of seven).
I also really like fish, fancy goldfish and bettas being my specialty.
I can indeed touch my nose, and even reach inside it, with my tongue.
I'm astoundingly silly.

Hotel: I'll be staying onsite, at the Port Orleans Riverside resort.

ADR's: None. I'll probably be going for the Disney Dining Plan: Quick Service thingy-bob.

Other: If at all possible, I'm going to go to Discovery Cove to geek out about fish.
This will be my second trip to the World, the first being a short visit when I was twelve.
I plan on being very, very silly. I also look forward to being able to turn on the lights in the middle of the night when I get up to use the facilities. Instead of tripping on a piece of lint, and subsequently falling out the window and thus creating a perfect Nomi-shaped window hole, which would then wake up my other travel-mates anyway. Quite possibly the best perk to going solo, I imagine.

Other than that, I have no idea what's going on. I'm having my first little meeting with my travel agent next week to go over flight plans and deals and insurance and booking and other such nonsense. By then this trip will upgrade from jello-like consistency to creme brulee.

 

[Nuwanda9]

Hey, GREAT start to your PTR!! I love to travel alone and am also not much of a planner. Not really because I am that much of a free-spirit but because I am a big picture person and details can drive me batty!! Anyway, my first trip to WDW was solo, as well. It was connected with a business trip but I stayed longer to have a vacation. I had a blast and went back (with people!) 6 more times!!

 

[Karbeau]

OH! I can't wait to hear about it. I've always wanted a solo trip (just so I can be selfish and do everything I want to do all the time). I'm not a good sharer.

You'll have a great time!

 

[Nomi]

Thank you for the replies! I'm really very super excited right now, as I just got back from the travel agent! (Work and life has been very, very busy lately, so I had to postpone my travel agent visit). Still, nothing is booked yet (we're watching for deals on airfare), but my trip is going to happen! well, it's as solid as it can possibly be at this point. My travel agent seemed incredibly nice and knowledgeable about Disney World, mentioning a good deal of the in's and out's I've discovered here on the Dis and having made multiple trips there herself.

I'm using a travel agent as this is my first trip and I do need help with things such as insurance, and my parents appreciate me having a travel agent if anything should go awry (such as airlines going belly-up, me getting on the wrong plane and ending up in the Yukon.... again.... ). And I really do appreciate a second pair of eyes on the lookout for deals.

The plan so far is to leave in the first week of Dec (roughly around the 1-3) and return 10-ish days later late in the second week of December. As for passes, I'll most likely be getting an 8-day park hopper ticket, the extra ninth day I'll either go to Discovery Cove (where, as previously mentioned, I will geek out about fish and birds and other fun things. I consider anything above 15 C (65 F, I think) swimming weather, and I hear they have wetsuits, so I should be ok there if the weather is a little on the cool side.

I guess now all I have to talk about is myself. I can do that in another post.

Also, if anyone else is going solo in Dec and is up for a dis-meet, speak up! I may be going by myself but I would love to meet some other disney-fanatics!

 

[Nomi]

Found some seat sales for the dates I want to go! Departing dec 1 and coming back home on the 10th. My parents had offered to use some of their air miles to pay for the flight (my birthday present), so I may have to jump on this.

Haven't heard back from the travel agent yet, I might give her a ring and ask if anything has popped up yet.

 

[Nomi]

IT'S OFFICIAL!

There's no turning back now (well, if I really wanted to. Bush sheesh, who would want to?). Flights have been booked! Waiting for confirmation on the room. Oh gosh, I'm jumping up and down like a bull in a china store! In my mind I am anyway.

And there is yet MORE good news. For my birthday present, my mom offered to pay for my flights with her air miles! Isn't that just the most splendiferous thing you've ever heard? And that, along with some wonderful snooping done by my travel agent, brings the total cost down to a much lower amount than I thought! Which, for a poor pet store fish and aquarium associate and starving artist, is like hearing that someone had just left a 180 gallon aquarium, multiple high quality Demekins, Ranchus, Ryukins, ect and as well as several fancy halfmoon plakat bettas on your doorstep.... almost. For me anyway.

And now is time for to be sleeping. Grammer.... dissolving.... *honk-shuuuu*

 

[Nomi]

Eeep, so I see that I've been neglecting the internet again. *get's slapped on the head with the internet herring*

Anyway, I have a whole deal of fun, exciting and super spectacular news! But I'm going to have to start waaaaay at the beginning. So get ready... get set... and... GO GO GADGET TIME TRAVEL SUBMARINE!

So in the last episode, I was waiting for confirmation (via my travel agent) for rooms at POR. But for some reason or other... she reported that POR was sold out for the dates I'm going. And that was all it took for me... to book THE ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE INSTEAD!!! I'm easy, when it comes to animals. XD The only way the AKL could be any more perfect is if it included and african cichlid display! *is a geek* Never mind me, we're just redoing the african cichlid tanks at work (Bigger display tanks for the win!)

Anyway, as you can tell, I'm already excited beyond ALL REASON!

Beyond that I've booked my dining reservations, discovery cove aaaand *drumroll* MVMCP!

Here's the schedule (so far)

Day One (Nov 30):
Arrival (no res)

Day Two:
Boma 7:30 PM

Day Three:
Nine Dragons 6:00 PM

Day Four:
Discovery Cove (no res)

Day Five:
Jiko 7:10 PM

Day Six:
Garden Grill 8:10

Day Seven:
50's Prime Time Cafe 9:25

Day Eight:
California Grill 9:30

Day Nine:
MVNCP (no res)

Day Ten:
Going Home

Ok.

Can I start packing now? *packs and sits by the door*

And that's the conclusion of this episode. Up next: Filler episodes until more details available. Including pictures. Of me. RUN AWAY!

 

[Nomi]

Pictures go poof!

 

[Nomi]

Well, I'm so excited I feel like my chest in going to explode!

In a good way. Not in an alien baby erupting from my chest sort of way.

You're welcome for that image. But anyway, 21 more days!!! After 12 years of dreaming, 21 days seems like such a short time! And like a very long time to wait as well, as I feel like I should be waiting at the door, suitcase ready, wearing shorts, t-shirt and sunglasses while waiting for the taxi! It's only a 504 hour wait, I'm sure I won't be *that* tired if I stay up that long jumping up and down in anticipation.

EEEEEE!

Anyway, everything is booked and payed for, from the room to the flights to the MVMCP and dinner reservations. I should be picking up my package from the travel agent next week.

And I've actually done shopping for this trip. Shopping. I HATE shopping! But I've bought shoes for this trip (the shoe store did have a cichlid tank, so it wasn't all torture), some very classy bright red runner/walkers (that are very comfy). Also, I've bought a small handbag/backpack sort of thing, in a lovely brown and lime green (I thought it was appropriate). Just big enough for a sketchbook, as wel as compartments for a water bottle, sunscreen, ect. I'm thinking of sowing a LGM on it, and if I do pictures will be forth coming.

 

[Nomi]

I got a call from the travel agent today.... My package arrived!!

I was getting very nervous that for some reason I would not get my magic express tag, or my hotel/flight reservations wouldn't work. Or some other sort of nervous-making fiasco. But all was well!

Included was: Invoices from the travel agent confirming hotel/flights/ect.
A print off (travel agent did this) of ADR's, dates, flights and MVMCP/Discover Cove (very handy).
Booklet of trip information and vouchers.
A few Luggage tags (not the magical express tags, but very cute).
Travel Insurance booklet/papers.
Discover cove Eticket.
MVMCP Ticket
WDW How to Guide
Magical Express Booklet and Tag!

As you may imagine, I spent the rest of today with a huge, goofy smile on my face!

Today happened to be a day off for me (How lucky was that!) so not only was I able to pick up my package right away, I could also do a preliminary plan, as well as print off some tips and hints, and other useful information!

Here is the plan so far:

Nov 30: Arrival
Flights: 8:15 EDM → 10:55 DEN
12:40 DEN → 6:04 ORL
Check in to the Animal Kingdom Lodge (!), check out hotel and room. If feeling up to it, take first bus that shows up to any park.
Get lots of sleep!

Dec 1:
Go for rope drop to the Magic Kingdom ( 9:00, arrive 30 mins earlier). Hang out at MK until 6:30-7:00.
ADR at Boma for 7:40. Arrive at 7:25
Hang out, perhaps swim, at hotel.

Dec 2:
Head over to EPCOT whenever I’m feeling up to it (probably around 9-10) and explore the World Showcase (maybe do soarin first). Take is slow, sample lots of food.
ADR at the Nine Dragons, be there around 5:50 for 6 res.
Stay for Illuminations, head back to Hotel.

Dec 3:
Do EMH at the MK. When it starts to get busy, leave. The head to AK or DHS, or tour the monorail resorts first.
No ADR’s. Eat at AK. Afterwards, head to hotel or DTD (Christmas shopping time perhaps)

Dec 4:
Discovery Cove. Take taxi (or other transportation if provided. Will find out) to check in, around 8-8:30.
Leave at 6 (taxi) to hotel, arrive at Jinko at 6:50 for 7:10 ADR.

Dec 5:
AK for rope drop, get there at 8:30. Then hop over to EPCOT for the afternoon. Explore Future World. ADR at the Garden Grill at 8:10. Be there at 7:50.

Dec 6:
Head to any park for the morning (AK or MK). Get to DHS for at around 5-6 to catch Fantasmic. DHS EMH.
ADR at Prime Time for 9:25 (be there at 9:10).

Dec 7:
Rope drop at DHS (9:00, arrive 8:30). The head over to MK.
ADR at California Grill for 9:30 (arrive at 9:00). Wishes from the Cali Grill!!

Dec 8:
Any park in the Morning (AK perhaps). Head over to MK for…. MVMCP!!
No ADR’s.

Dec 9: Leaving.
1:55 Orlando → Toronto 4:45
6:00 Toronto → 8:14 Edmonton

I was also able to pick up some light capris while I was shopping for a new pair of work pants (new peach throat monitor ripped my old pair). I don't do shorts

Anyway, I'm off to do some 'packing' (aka sorting out what the heck I'm going to bring. I got a LOT of great tips from here. I love these boards!)

 

[Nomi]

Only 6 more days!!

So I'm starting to "Pack" tonight (only the stuff I'm not going to use between now and when I leave). And I'm so very excited!

And scared. Mostly about getting there and back. You see, this is my first time traveling internationally alone, and I'm nervous about making connections on time, finding the Magical Express, checking in, ect. I'm scared of forgetting things too. Still very excited, but scared.

Excuse me while I go double check that all my WDW tickets, papers, ect haven't spontaneously combusted.

 

[Nomi]

So it's down to three days away, and I'm making all my final preparations.

Got my H1N1 shot on Tues. And let me tell you a little factoid about little ol' Nomi here:

I. HATE. NEEDLES.

Me. I'm the girl who works with tarantulas, scorpions and snakes all the live-long day. I, the girl who hand cleans the electric catfish and piranha tanks with no hesitation. The little girl who loved heights and roller coasters and all sorts of other scary things...

And needles get me. But for WDW, I will do it. (And wasn't that bad. Small needle, for a flu shot, no side effects and almost no soreness).

Bah. Anyhoo...

I've started packing, printing off plans and all my ADR info to take with me, as well as other impotent stuffs. Like body glide.

Tomorrow is my last day of work before I leave (scheduling worked in my favour this week!) I have all weekend to prepare and pack!

 

[dsaville]

It all looks very cool and lots of fun. I'm excited and I'm not even going.

 

[princessbee]

This all sounds really cool! I would love to go to WDW solo someday... congrats to you for deciding to go ahead with it. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Nomi]

Thank you both!

 

[Nomi]

AHHH freaking out right now! I got my confirmation #'s for my ADR's from my travel agent a while back, and I just tried to print off some more information on my ADR's from the website. Now, in the first place, I don't know what phone number she provided. I've tried the travel agent's number, my home and cell number, and so on and so forth. I keep getting the 'invalid reservation number' message! What do I do! Are my ADR's gone!?

 

[Nomi]

Ok, so I've figured out the ADR thing (XD I was a bit of a spaz for a bit there).

And now:

Suitcase is packed. Cary-on is ready to go, and I'm all ready to go! In twelve hours time, I'll be on my way!