Anz's Solo Trip to the Mouse Pre-Trip Report

[MsPennieLane]

I thought I’d start my trip to the World with a little pre-trip report.

I’ve always wanted to visit Walt Disney World alone – ride what I want to, take ages shopping if I feel like it, have lazy mornings by the pool, you get the idea. I never thought I would have the guts to go alone. I can be quite a shy person at times, plus I don’t travel well on the plane so to actually be going alone is quite an accomplishment – as well as being a dream come true.

A couple of weekends ago, I was reminiscing my trip with hubby in 2003, watching camcorder footage – it was his first and my second. I suddenly felt very homesick and I happened to mention this to hubby. I said jokingly I want to go back right now. With us moving to London at some point in late August/ early September and hubby leaving his current job at the same time, it was impossible for him to take any time off. Plus we’re already booked to go for a sneaky visit in September before going again over Christmas. September suddenly felt ages away. I casually asked hubby if he would ever consider a visit to the World for a week – his answer was no as he felt it was a long way to go for a week. We talked about the possibility of me going alone. After all, with our new jobs (when we actually get around to applying for some!!), we might find that one of us has more holiday entitlement than the other. At first, hubby wasn’t sure about me going without him. We discussed it a little and that was that.

The next day, hubby came home from work and announced that he had been thinking about me holidaying without him and even though he would miss me, he wouldn’t actually mind if I went. We trust each other 100% so that was never an issue. Just out of interest, I started looking at prices and asked for a few quotes. I decided to wait until Tuesday before booking something definite – to give myself more time to think, and also as we had several people view our house yesterday and I wanted to see if anyone would make an offer.

Tuesday, I started looking at flights after I received a great quote for a week at Pop Century with the annual passholder rate applied. First Choice was giving me conflicting information on my flights including transfer to the resort from the airport or not – in the end I spoke to either 5 or 6 people and was still very confused, so I waited and waited as I couldn’t make up my mind. Big mistake. I lost the flights I wanted and if I still wanted to go, I had to go a week later. The flight was cheaper but it was in economy not premium. I am a terribly nervous flyer and in the end, I figured I’d be nervous wherever I sat! Early Tuesday pm, we had a phone call from the Estate Agent saying we had 2 offers to purchase our house. By way of celebration I decided to go for it and I booked my flight. I put the phone down to the airline and was shaking like a leaf, utterly amazed that I had actually gone through with it and not chickened out at all. Even typing this now, I still can’t believe I’m going

I had a revised quote on Pop Century as I had to change the dates but luckily the price is the same so that's all paid for. I’ve arranged our travel insurance thru M&S - it was the cheapest that included baggage plus it made sense to buy the annual insurance for the pair of us as we've still got 2 trips to make. I've arranged my transfers to and from Sanford Airport via Coach USA which was $40 round trip from Sanford to Disney, my coach from Wales to London (my mum lives near Gatwick Airport so I will stay with her and she will drop me off at the Airport) and I’ve purchased my Annual Pass over the phone. There’s nothing like speaking on the phone to a Cast Member, especially one so helpful and polite.

My itinerary so far:

Saturday 24th:

Arrive at Sanford 14.40, get coach transfer to Pop Century
Check in, dump luggage and head off to MK
Try and stay for Spectromagic at 9pm and Wishes at 10pm

Sunday 25th:

Up early - EMH Magic Kingdom
midday break back to hotel and pool
PM - Epcot
Iluminations 9pm

Monday 26th:

EMH - Animal Kingdom
midday rest
pm - MK
dinner at Concourse Steakhouse, Contemporary

Tuesday 27th:

EMH - MGM
break
PM - back to MGM - 2 showings of Fantasmic so catch 2nd one

Weds 28th:

EMH - Epcot
11.30am lunch at Le Cellier
pm pool and relax, maybe a bit of shopping
then E-ride night at Magic Kingdom

Thurs 29th:

EMH - Magic Kingdom
9.05am PS for Crystal Palace
break
pm - Animal Kingdom for the parade

Friday 30th:

EMH Animal Kingdom
break
PM - MGM

Sat 31st:

check out early, leave luggage and head off to park hop
Transfer to airport and catch flight home

Obviously I might not be going full steam ahead this trip but I am hoping to check out a few things I've yet to see, like Fantasmic, Spectromagic etc. I also want to spend lots of time chilling by the pool in between park hopping. There are 3 E-Ride nights while I'm there so who knows, I may do more than one. I’ve made my packing list already as I’m very forgetful so will write things down as I think of them. I told my mum all about my trip once I’d booked. My mum is a worrier (like mother like daughter!) but she didn’t seem too concerned – although I am now officially considered odd as I’m leaving my hubby behind. But sometimes, a Disney Fanatic has to do what a Fanatic has to do.

So now I'm doing the single digit dance and today's thoughts have been this time next week I'll be on the plane etc

Anz

 

[Miffy2003]

Sounds great Anz

Is there room for me in your suitcase LOL??!!

You've got lots of MK time planned! You must do Spectromagic - it is amazing!

Have a fantastic time.

Karen

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Now hold on a minute Ms P.Lane, if I read this right you are going in September, December and still sneaking in a solo trip!

I'm impressed and incredibly jealous at the same time.

Have a great time on all 3. Don't worry, you won't be alone in WDW, we all be right there with you, at least in spirit.

Kev

 

[KayleeUK]

Anz

You lucky thing Sounds great - have a fab time won't you. Come back and tell us all about it.

 

[SusanEllen]

Lucky Girl, I have two things to say to you about your spontaneous trip--
1) Good for you!
2) About your husband--What a guy!!!

I've made one solo Disney trip to Disneyland (which is much smaller and less daunting than WDW, brave you). I found it a unique and worthwhile experience. You will find that anytime you do wish for some company to share the moment all you have to do is take a quick look around to find a friendly face and a kindred spirit. There's definitely something in the Disney environment that allows us to feel safe enough to talk to complete strangers. And it's a delight to find other enthusiastic Disney fans. Don't worry about being lonely, besides all those new friends waiting to be met, you'll have your memories of past trips and the plans for the two coming up soon accompanying you every step of the way.

I know you'll have a great time and hope you will share your adventures with us as you have so generously in the past.

Bon voyage,
Susan

 

[Jane and Ian]

Have fun. I did a solo trip to New York and found it very strange, not having anybody to discuss things with!! But in the end I did the trip again the next year - solo and this year am taking 10 year old son too, and hubby is going to sty home and tile the kitchen!!

Have a wonderful time

Jane

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

Anz, you lucky thing!! I can't even visit the bathroom without an entourage!!!!!!
Hope you have a great trip - I'm sure you will. The itinerary sounds great - trip reports please!!

Cath

 

[MsPennieLane]

Thanks for the positive responses I'm getting really excited now. I'm not too worried about my flight - I did an online fear of flying course thingy and it explained a lot about turbulance etc. I decided not to get any happy pills from the doc seeing as I'm going alone - I need to be coherent! Hubby is now dropping me off at the airport, which will probably mean it'll be harder to leave lol. Still, I'm counting down the days now and I'll definitely be writing trip reports - I've got my notebook all ready

Anz

 

[Pootle]

Well ! Good job that notebook's packed too so we can share the trip with you.

Have a brilliant time - I can't believe you'll be at those Chilli's wings again before I've even got to taste them

Will be so looking forward to your trip report.

 

[Kay7979]

My first trip to WDW was by myself. I was single and in my mid 30s. I had originally planned to get away from cold weather and take a February coach tour of Florida, so would have been with a group, and Disney was only part of the agenda. As it turned out, the tour was full for the time period I wanted to go. The travel agent suggested perhaps I just go to Disney instead. It seemed a bit odd to go there alone, and ride rides alone etc. but I decided it would be fun and relaxing. I was worried that going for a whole week was a very long time, as I thought most people only went for a few days. I discovered that a week was not too long, and I had a really great vacation. As you said it was nice to do things on my own schedule without having to consider what other people wanted to do. There was a real freedom and carefree joy of seeing, doing and exploring at my own pace. I took a camcorder and recorded shots of the resort and the park grounds and rides and added my own commentary in places so I could share the video later, and I watched the footage at the hotel when I got back at night. I really enjoyed that. Ever since that trip I have felt that WDW is a great place to de-stress, relax, and be really carefree. Have a GREAT time!