A Very Merry (solo) 40th Birthday trip for me! Update 3/23

Stacybaeasm

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Mar 28, 2008
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Hello anyone who happens by to read this. Welcome to my trip report on what was the best 40th birthday celebration EVER!! Of course, it isn't actually my birthday yet, but it was the only time I could take the trip so I decided to celebrate any way. Now, if you are stopping by here, hoping that I will bring the funny like DisneyDawn or Nebo or UtahMomma, you will be sadly disappointed. Although I am told I am funny in person and tell a great story, that doesn't translate to the written word so much. I guess its because you can't see my face or hear what a great mimic I am. I'll do my best to make this entertaining, but it certainly won't be up to the level of the before mentioned trip report writers.

I also promise to finish this one, unlike the last one I started writing that had all of 1 reader (:wave2: thegreggorsmom). I have notes all the way through and I'm kind of excited to relive my trip.

Ok, I guess it's on to introductions. The cast consisted of:

ME: an almost 40 year old Disney princess who believes in the magic, in the reality of the characters, and still cries when she watches Wishes and Fantasmic! I try to get to Disney once or twice a year even though very few people in my life understand the obsession.

And that's the cast. There were a couple of guest appearances along the way, but no one wanted to go with me so I went by myself. I enjoy doing solo trips. I can do what I want, when I want and I never feel guilty about it.

For the rest of the details:
I stayed at Old Key West in a renovated room (which was lovely). I was on the QSDP for the second time and I only had 1 ressie - Askershus for breakfast with my fellow princesses.

I think that's about all for now. I hope a couple of people come along for the ride. Don't be afraid to post and let me know you are out there. I sometimes get depressed when I think no one is reading.
 
ME! I'm here and I'm first and I'm reading and I think you're funny -- and I can't wait for more. :crutches:

And I am not sure how often a smiley with a black eye and crutches actually gets used, so I am doing my part to keep him employed.
 
I'm in and looking forward to your TR. Plus I would love to see some pictures of the renovated OKW rooms!
 

Looking forward to hearing more. I spent my 40th at WDW also and had a blast. Am glad you went solo instead of not going. I live near DL and go solo all the time. I have also gone solo many times all the way to WDW. I love it!
 
ME! I'm here and I'm first and I'm reading and I think you're funny -- and I can't wait for more. :crutches:

And I am not sure how often a smiley with a black eye and crutches actually gets used, so I am doing my part to keep him employed.
Welcome Sarah!!! Glad you made it here. I have never seen the smiley with crutches so its good you're using him. Poor little guy, probably never gets to come out and play.

I'm in, continue to post.
Welcome! I will continue to post, I promise. I decided to write this one for me so I won't quit!

I'm in and looking forward to your TR. Plus I would love to see some pictures of the renovated OKW rooms!
Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the renovated room. My camera died a horrible and tragic death as soon as I got to Disney. The room was gorgeous though. I'll get to that soon.

Looking forward to hearing more. I spent my 40th at WDW also and had a blast. Am glad you went solo instead of not going. I live near DL and go solo all the time. I have also gone solo many times all the way to WDW. I love it!
Thanks! I end up going solo a lot now, and love it! There was no way I was skipping my 40th birthday adventure no matter what! I have never been to DL so I'd love to hear stories.

Looking forward to sharing your adventure!
Welcome! It was an adventure. I'm glad you stopped by.

I promise to get an update out soon. THanks for reading!!!!
 
I'm in! I always admire people that do solo trips. I feel like if I ever did, I'd bore myself somehow, no one to tell my Disney knowledge to :rotfl2:

Happy Birthday!
 
You now have legions of fans around the country (world?) huddled around their computers and waiting for an update...

popcorn::

do it for this poor little guy...:crutches:...he's been through a lot.
 
OK...I'm in too! I have always wanted to do a solo trip and may still do one.

Can't wait to hear about yours and be inspired! :hyper:
 
I'm in! I always admire people that do solo trips. I feel like if I ever did, I'd bore myself somehow, no one to tell my Disney knowledge to :rotfl2:

Happy Birthday!
Welcome! It's amazing how many people you can still spread your knowledge to when you travel by yourself. In an upcoming update, you will get to hear the conversation I had with a man in the space mountain line about how fast passes are free!:lmao:

Happy almost 40 birthday! Im all ears! :goodvibes
Thanks! I should be getting an update out later today.

I'm in:goodvibes...Happy almost 40th...I will be 40 too on April 10 :eek:
I actually turn 40 on April 13. We should have a birthday celebration on line!

I love that you went solo! :goodvibes Can't wait to hear about it :cheer2:
Welcome! I love going solo. I think maybe I"m too selfish to share with others.

OK...I'm in too! I have always wanted to do a solo trip and may still do one.

Can't wait to hear about yours and be inspired! :hyper:
Welcome! Going solo is so easy you will totally want to go alone after you finish reading!

Happy Birthday..Looking forward to reading!
Welcome! An update is coming right up!

Oh, and Sarah - I'm thrilled to see this many people are joining in. Hang in there. I'm going to post this and then start on Travel day.
 
I am a big fan of Airtran so I always book them for my travel. And, because I like to believe I have money even though I don't, and because I am Pooh sized, I always travel business class. That being said, it sometimes makes it a bit hard to book just the right flight to Orlando. If I want a non-stop, (and I do!) I either have to fly REALLY early in the morning :scared1: or later in the evening. Early mornings get to me because I am not a morning princess and because I feel that if I have checked in to Disney, I need to be at a park so I end up exhausted on my first day. Traveling on the later flight makes me twinge because why would I pay to spend a night in a Disney resort when I don't get there until late?:confused3

On my last trip down in October, I solved this problem by flying down on the later flight and staying at the Airport Hyatt, right there in MCO. It worked out so well, I decided to do it again this trip. So, Saturday morning I slept in then got up, showered, finished packing, had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (the only thing left in my fridge) and finally got impatient and went downstairs to wait for the cab, about 15 minutes early. Luckily, I also had an impatient cab driver and he was pulling in as I went downstairs. Bonus, early to the airport!!

The flight down was pretty uneventful. I got into MCO about 7:45 pm and headed to baggage claim to get my suitcase. I had to laugh at all the impatient people around me, complaining about how long they had to wait for their baggage to come. I finally turned to one and said "Remember how far YOU had to come - walk down from the gate, take the fake monorail over here, then walk some more to get to the luggage carousel? Well, your luggage had to do the same. They don't drop you off at the gate and then pull around to unload." He kind of laughed and said "Oh yeah, I guess." Right then, the luggage came and people were pushing and grabbing.

Check in at the hotel was easy breezy. I also got a bonus, I got one of the rooms that had the balcony that overlooked the inside of the airport! I stood out there for a while several times over the course of the night and just watched the people getting on and off planes. Of course, I was also starving because it was almost 8:30 and I hadn't eaten anything except that pbj at noon. I headed out to find food and ended up with McDonald's. Now, I try to avoid eating MickeyD's as much as possible for my health but a burger and fries sounded FANTASTIC that evening so I caved. I also gave in to my old habit and got a Diet Coke. You see, I discovered that I can't have caffeine any more, it makes me very sick. I had to quit it cold turkey over a year and a half ago. But, I wanted a soda and I try not to drink regular soda. Plus, I figured, how much could 1 soda hurt me? Oh, to be able to see into the future. :3dglasses

Anyway, not much else interesting happened that evening. I ate, showered, watched reruns of Law and Order and tried to go to bed early. Of course, that old commercial for Disney is always me the night before I actually get on property "I"m to excited to sleep.:banana:" I ended up playing cards on my phone until 3 am. I think I finally fell asleep about 4:30am. *sigh* So much for not being tired on my first day at Disney. Oh well, tomorrow I head to OKW, see my aunt and uncle, and hit the Magic Kingdom. What can possibly go wrong?
 
I never thought of staying at the hotel at the airport...how does that work with Magical Express? Can you take it the next day or do you need to take a cab??:confused3

Can't wait for more, as I have a feeling something is amiss.......
 
We always stay at the Hyatt when we arrive. We travel with Jet Blue and have the same problem, it's either very early in the am or later in the day. I'm not a am person so we always take the late flight and love staying at the Hyatt, it's really a treat. We usually rent a car the next day so I can't help with the ME.
 
Oh NO!!!!! to the camera dying! Bummer!

I am so curious now - what exactly happens when you drink diet soda?

I totally know what you mean about not being a morning princess! ;)

Up to 4am. That doesn't sound good. I hope you were able to get a decent night's sleep.
 












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