A Sept 2013 Solo Trip to the World (I'm Home!)

[Dancegrl624]

Hi there! It's time yet again for a Dancegrl624 PTR. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Meghan and I'm a Disney Vacation Specialist (Disney TA). I adore my job and I LOVE helping people plan their vacations. I am also a wife, mother to 2 great kids and a former professional dancer (dance team in the National Lacrosse League) and ballet teacher. I have been to WDW 12 times and I'm getting ready for lucky #13!


One of my favorite pictures from our trip last year

This trip is a little bit different because I'm going by myself. You see, I've been invited to Disney's 2013 EarMarked Conference being held at WDW from Sept 16th - 19th. I am beyond excited! I took a short solo trip last year when my agency held a meeting at the Boardwalk in August. I was only gone for 2 nights but this time I'll be gone a bit longer than that. The conference was orginally scheduled to be at CSR but I received an email last week saying that it has been moved to the Contemporary!!! Woo hoo! This is great news because I was only planning on visiting the MK and EP on this trip and now I'm close to both of them (via Monorail to EP).

In this PTR I'll be sharing some of my normal PTR stuff....daily plans, shopping updates and hopefully my famous outfit of the day posts (I think they're famous). I'm still working on what I'm doing during my down time, but I better get my act together. I leave in 27 days!!!!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Chapter Links

Daily Plans?? pg. 1, post 11
Magic Bands and FastPass+ pg. 2, post 23
Shopping! pg. 2, post 28
10 Days! pg. 3, post 40
5 days! pg. 4, post 55
Today's the Day! pg. 5, post 66

 

[TruLovesKiss]

I just finished reading your last TR (which I really enjoyed! Your family is too cute!) and I saw that you were starting a new one, yay!!! So I thought that I would stop in to say "Hi!"

 

[Dancegrl624]

I just finished reading your last TR (which I really enjoyed! Your family is too cute!) and I saw that you were starting a new one, yay!!! So I thought that I would stop in to say "Hi!"

Aw, thanks! I think my family is pretty cute too.

So glad to have you here!

 

[MiaBella05]

joining in

 

[Dancegrl624]

joining in

Glad to have you here!

 

[wiigirl]

Following along!

 

[jenny105]

Joining in! I'll be there a couple weeks before you. I'll make sure to let the mouse know you're on your way.

 

[Racey]

I am so jealous - a solo trip sounds so great and I missed my chance a few years ago during a conference to do one ... something I will always regret!

I am very much looking forward to reading your report

 

[Dancegrl624]

Following along!

Thanks for following!

Joining in! I'll be there a couple weeks before you. I'll make sure to let the mouse know you're on your way.

Yay!!!

I am so jealous - a solo trip sounds so great and I missed my chance a few years ago during a conference to do one ... something I will always regret!

I am very much looking forward to reading your report

It will be strange to be all by myself, but I'm sure I will enjoy it.

 

[Dancegrl624]

Ok, so I'm having a hard time trying to schedule what to do during my downtime. The conference officially kicks off on Tuesday, so I need to figure out what to do between the time I arrive and then.

I land in Orlando at 5:45pm on Sunday, Sept 15th. I plan on picking up my own luggage (that will be weird), because I don't want to wait all night for it to be delivered. I always estimate that it takes up to an hour and a half from the time I land until the time I check in at my resort. Let's say I get to the Contemporary around 7:15pm. I will need to eat something, so I'm thinking about grabbing something from Contempo Cafe or possibly heading over to Captain Cook's. I need to take a closer look at the menus and then I'll make a decison. Originally, I wanted to go to DTD for some Earl of Sandwich, but I know I won't want to take the long bus ride just to get a sandwich. I won't have park tickets for this evening, so hopping into the MK real quick isn't an option.

Registration opens at 9am on Monday morning, but there is nothing scheduled for this day. There are optional resort site visits and I'm currently on the wait list for the 1pm tour (touring the GF, AoA and CBR). So, I have lots of time in the morning to go to a park (our 3-day Park Hoppers start on Monday) and the resort tour is only scheduled until 3pm. Lots of evening time too! I have no idea which park I'd like to go to first on this day, but I'm thinking about DTD this evening for some Earl of Sandwich, World of Disney, and maybe some Ghiradelli. AK does have EMH this morning, so I could always run there on do the Safari and EE. That's all I need for my AK fix!

Tuesday is when the conference officially begins and I'm so excited! I'll be busy all day and then we're having a team dinner that night. There might be time to squeeze in some park time that evening but AK closes at 6pm, DHS closes at 8pm, EP closes at 9pm and MK closes at 7pm due to MNSSHP. We shall wait and see what happens I guess!

Wednesday is another full day and there is closing event scheduled from 7-10pm. I'm sure it's going to be amazing! I have no idea what it could be and the suspense is killing me.

Thursday is a full day of park touring (almost). The only thing listed for this day is Departures and my flight leaves at 6:30pm. I know ME will pick me up around 3:30pm and that's ok. MK has EMH this morning so I think I'll head there first. I think I'll spend an hour or so there and then I'll hop to Epcot. MY FAV!! As long as I get to ride Soarin' and have some strawberry shortcake from Sunshine Seasons my day will be complete and I can go home happy. The good thing with staying at the CR is that I don't have to worry about bus transportation back to my resort. I want to get as much park time in as possible!

So there you have it. Those are my tentative park plans and I'm open to suggestions! Please let me know if you're going to be at the World during this time...I love DIS meets!!!

 

[Disneychix]

Sounds amazing Meghan! I can't believe you have so much free time, great!

I loved my food at Contempo Café but maybe Captain Cooks just for the 'fun' of getting out and about. Plus, you love a nice Dole Whip

On your last day I would go to the StarBucks on Main St and get something good and enjoy myself in the MK with some quiet time! I can't imagine a time in my life that I haven't 'hurried' through the MK. Even when stopping to let the kids do their thing I've always had somewhat of a plan to be somewhere, ya know?

 

[jenny105]

Ooh if you go on a tour of CBR take lots of pictures for me! We want to run the Wine & Dine half next year and we're thinking of staying there since it offers race transportation.

Hmm now I'm thinking I should do a PTR of my AEP...

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Hi Meghan,

Joining in!

I LOVE reading about solo excursions to the World since they're just so much fun!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Sounds amazing Meghan! I can't believe you have so much free time, great!

I loved my food at Contempo Café but maybe Captain Cooks just for the 'fun' of getting out and about. Plus, you love a nice Dole Whip

On your last day I would go to the StarBucks on Main St and get something good and enjoy myself in the MK with some quiet time! I can't imagine a time in my life that I haven't 'hurried' through the MK. Even when stopping to let the kids do their thing I've always had somewhat of a plan to be somewhere, ya know?

I know...so excited for my last day!

Oh yes...I need to consume as many Dole Whips as possible!

I do want to check out the new Starbucks on Main Street, but the one at Epcot is opening on Sept 5th! I do know that I want to grab a cinnamon roll...even though they're at Gaston's now. I love the MK, but EP edges it out just a little.

Ooh if you go on a tour of CBR take lots of pictures for me! We want to run the Wine & Dine half next year and we're thinking of staying there since it offers race transportation.

Hmm now I'm thinking I should do a PTR of my AEP...

Will do! I have never been to CBR and I plan on taking pics everywhere that I go.

YES! Go do a PTR!!!

Hi Meghan,

Joining in!

I LOVE reading about solo excursions to the World since they're just so much fun!

Welcome! So glad to have you here.

 

[Miss Potts]

I'm in! I've read your last report and enjoyed it!

 

[Dancegrl624]

I'm in! I've read your last report and enjoyed it!

Welcome! I'm so glad you enjoyed my last TR. I always worry that they're boring.

 

[jenny105]

YES! Go do a PTR!!!

I'm leaving in 4 days. I'm a little late to the game for a PTR! I promise I'll do a TR though

 

[Dancegrl624]

I'm leaving in 4 days. I'm a little late to the game for a PTR! I promise I'll do a TR though

Very true...please do a TR!

 

[saintstickets]

All signed up! Looking forward to your TR. We will be at WDW from 10/19-10/27/13 so don't spare the details and pics!