Best Way to Cure Disney Depression? Plan Another Trip! A Solo PTR *Updated 5/13 TR Link

[dreamseeker9]

Your first Dole Whip? You are in for such a treat!

I forgot about being able to get pixie dusted, I may have to check that out!

Great list for the MK!

 

[SarahDisney]

Your MK Must-Do Lists are awesome! 7 Dwarfs Mine Train is awesome - I'm sure you'll love it. We did the Welcome Show for the first time on our last vacation, and it was really cute - and a lot less crowded than we thought it would be. It was a really cute way to start the day, though.

I'm looking forward to seeing your must-do lists for the other parks!

 

[PippiDancer]

Your first Dole Whip? You are in for such a treat!

I forgot about being able to get pixie dusted, I may have to check that out!

Great list for the MK!

I don't know how I managed to make it this long without trying a Dole Whip. I've heard so much about it on the DIS, I'm sure it will be amazing.

Your MK Must-Do Lists are awesome! 7 Dwarfs Mine Train is awesome - I'm sure you'll love it. We did the Welcome Show for the first time on our last vacation, and it was really cute - and a lot less crowded than we thought it would be. It was a really cute way to start the day, though.

I'm looking forward to seeing your must-do lists for the other parks!

I am very excited to try out the mine train! And to see the welcome show. I'm not a morning person, so I usually don't get to the parks for rope drop. But the Welcome show just looks so adorable, I have to see it at least once.

 

[Elevationist]

It sounds like you park tour like I do. I like having a schedule of what park to be at each day and ADRs & FP+ booked. But I don't plan my ride strategy down to the minute, though. I have my list of Must-Dos, and I just kinda free-form it! To be fair, though, I found out on my last trip, as a solo, you can get SO MUCH done so quickly. By my last day at MK, I found myself checking MDE to see what character greets had the shortest lines, because I had already accomplished all my Must Do's by mid-afternoon!

Speaking of Must-Dos, I love your list! I might work on something similar for my PTR here soon!

 

[PippiDancer]

It sounds like you park tour like I do. I like having a schedule of what park to be at each day and ADRs & FP+ booked. But I don't plan my ride strategy down to the minute, though. I have my list of Must-Dos, and I just kinda free-form it! To be fair, though, I found out on my last trip, as a solo, you can get SO MUCH done so quickly. By my last day at MK, I found myself checking MDE to see what character greets had the shortest lines, because I had already accomplished all my Must Do's by mid-afternoon!

Speaking of Must-Dos, I love your list! I might work on something similar for my PTR here soon!

I would be so stressed out if I tried to plan out every minute. I would be so worried about running past schedule that I wouldn't enjoy myself. I try to keep my list of must-do's short so I can easily accomplish everything. That way everything else I do that isn't on the list seems like a bonus.

 

[PippiDancer]

Up next is my Must Do list for Epcot, my second favorite park. There will most likely be some additions once details for the Flower & Garden Festival are released. I'm sure there will be some yummy options at the food booths. But it will proably be a while until that is released, so I'm just going to post my list now and I'll update it later if needed.

Remember, anything with a * next to it means it is new to me.

Epcot

Rides

• Soarin'
• Test Track
• Journey into Imagination with Figment
• The Seas with Nemo & Friends
• Mission Space *
• Spaceship Earth
• Gran Fiesta Tour

Shows & Parades

• Illuminations

Moments

• Visa cardholder character meet *
• Flower & Garden Festival *

Food

• Croissant Jambon Framagge *
• Flower & Garden Booths * (Violet Lemonade, Frushi)

The Violet Lemonade and Frushi were on the menus of the booths last year. They sound delicious, so hopefully they will be returning. Also, the Dole Whip with coconut rum sounds wonderful, so that is also a possibility. I'm not a big drinker, but pineapple & Malibu is by far my favorite cocktail, so that dole whip is right up my ally. It didn't make my must do list because, like I said, I'm not a big drinker so I don't know if I will want alcohol at the parks.

 

[Elevationist]

Yay, you're going to try Mission Space! I love Mission Space!

Okay, let me clarify. I did NOT love Mission Space the very first time I ever rode it, when it was in soft opening. At that time, there wasn't an Orange Team and a Green Team. What we now know of as Team Orange is actually the original version of the ride. They had to add Team Green for people like me who got soooooo sick after riding it.

But now, as a proud member of Team Green, I love it!!

Also: I'll drink all the cocktails for you. YUM!

 

[PippiDancer]

Yay, you're going to try Mission Space! I love Mission Space!

Okay, let me clarify. I did NOT love Mission Space the very first time I ever rode it, when it was in soft opening. At that time, there wasn't an Orange Team and a Green Team. What we now know of as Team Orange is actually the original version of the ride. They had to add Team Green for people like me who got soooooo sick after riding it.

But now, as a proud member of Team Green, I love it!!

Also: I'll drink all the cocktails for you. YUM!

It never really interested me, so I didn't bother going on it on my previous trips. But I think it is definitely worth a try. I'll probably stick to the green side at first, just to be safe. If I like it I can try the orange side next time

 

[Elevationist]

It never really interested me, so I didn't bother going on it on my previous trips. But I think it is definitely worth a try. I'll probably stick to the green side at first, just to be safe. If I like it I can try the orange side next time

Good plan! I'm not generally susceptible to motion sickness myself, except in the case of things that spin. I can't handle spinny rides. And that's how Mission Space Orange simulates the G-forces, you're being spun around. On the Green sides, it's more like a regular simulator (like Star Tours), just being bounced around, etc. MUCH better for me, and I love that Disney has an option for both!

 

[PippiDancer]

Up next for must do's is Animal Kingdom! On both of my previous trips we only did AK for a half day. We didn't plan it that way, it just sort of happened. I really wish we had stayed a little later on the last trip to see the Jammin Jungle Parade, as we planned. Especially since it is gone now This time I am planning to stay the entire day so I can really appreciate all the amazing theming and details.

In case you forgot, anything with a * next to it means will be my first time.


Animal Kingdom Must Do

Rides

• Kilimanjaro Safari
• Expedition Everest
• Dinosaur
• Kali River Rapids

Shows

• Festival of the Lion King *
• Finding Nemo: The Musical *

Moments

• Pangani Forest Trail
• Maharaja Jungle Trek
• Meet Mickey & Minnie in safari outfits *

 

[SarahDisney]

I can't believe I never commented on your Epcot must do's! Awesome list (although you'd have to give me some sort of sedative to get me on mission:space, so I'm impressed that you want to do it).
I caught some of flower and garden a few years ago and loved it. We ended up spending more time looking at the topiaries than we did going on rides!

Animal kingdom list looks great too.
Festival of the Lion King is really amazing - I'm sure you'll love it.
We meet Mickey and Minnie in their safari outfits on our last trip, they were cute and I liked the greeting area.

 

[PippiDancer]

I can't believe I never commented on your Epcot must do's! Awesome list (although you'd have to give me some sort of sedative to get me on mission:space, so I'm impressed that you want to do it).
I caught some of flower and garden a few years ago and loved it. We ended up spending more time looking at the topiaries than we did going on rides!

Animal kingdom list looks great too.
Festival of the Lion King is really amazing - I'm sure you'll love it.
We meet Mickey and Minnie in their safari outfits on our last trip, they were cute and I liked the greeting area.

The flower and garden topiaries look absolutely beautiful! I'm glad it will be going on during my trip. I don't know how I managed to not see FOTLK yet. The show looks incredible! I can't wait to see it!

 

[PippiDancer]

I have been going back and forth on getting Memory Maker since I started planning this trip. On one hand, it would be nice to make sure I can get photos of myself, especially since I'll be on my own, and magic shots are a wonderful thing. But on the other hand, $150 is a lot of money to spend on pictures of me and I don't know if I would take enough to be worth it. I figured I could always just hand my camera to the photopass photographers and still get the pictures I wanted, so I decided to save the money and skip it for this trip.

It was a good decision, until I found out that my mom's friend was going to Disney the week after I was. I came up with the idea to share MM and split the cost. $75 doesn't seem like an unreasonable amount to spend for it. I did a lot of research to make sure this was definitely possible. They weren't planning on doing Memory Maker either, but after she found out we could split the cost and I explained all of the benefits, they agreed!

I was going to wait until I had more of my trip paid off to purchase it, but I saw a post on DIS saying that the pre-purchase price is going up to $169 tomorrow! I'm not sure if it is true, but since I knew I was going to do it, there didn't seem to be any point in waiting and having to pay another $20. So I purchased it tonight!

So now I get to have Memory Maker!! Yay!! No worrying about getting good photos on my camera or missing out on a great shot that the photographer took with the photopass camera. And I get to have magic shots!

This prompts an addition to my must-do list. To get a magic shot with the balloons on my birthday (preferably at Magic Kingdom).

In case you haven't seen it yet, here is an example that I found on google.

 

[Elevationist]

I took the plunge and got MemoryMaker for my solo trip in September. I debated over it for a long while, but eventually decided that I really wanted to get lots of memorable photos. I'm soooooo glad I did, the ride photos and videos alone made it worth it! I also made sure to stop at every PP photographer I saw. I ended up with 187 PP photos!!! Totally worth it, I'll never do Disney without it now!

 

[PippiDancer]

I took the plunge and got MemoryMaker for my solo trip in September. I debated over it for a long while, but eventually decided that I really wanted to get lots of memorable photos. I'm soooooo glad I did, the ride photos and videos alone made it worth it! I also made sure to stop at every PP photographer I saw. I ended up with 187 PP photos!!! Totally worth it, I'll never do Disney without it now!

I am very excited to have memory maker for this trip! It will make everything a lot easier.

 

[PippiDancer]

Finally, the last of my must do lists, Hollywood Studios! I really hope they don't start removing the hat before my trip, even though it is a very real possibility. I know a lot of people don't like it, but I do. I think the park would look strange without a major icon. And no, I don't think the Earfull Tower is a good icon. It needs something that you see as soon as you walk into the park that makes you think "wow! I'm actually here!"

But I digress...

Hollywood Studios Must Do

Rides

• Toy Story Mania
• Rock n Roller Coaster
• Tower of Terror *
• Muppetvision 3D
• Great Movie Ride

Shows etc.

• Fantasmic!
• Beauty and the Beast stage show *
• One Man's Dream
• Frozen Sing Along *

Moments

• Animation Class *
• Meet Minnie in Animation Building *

Food

• Cupcake from Starring Roles *

I am determined to actually ride Tower of Terror this time. The first trip I didn't even consider it because the idea a free fall rides is terrifying. Last trip I decided I had to try it, mainly because I want to see the incredible themeing, but I chickened out. But this time I definitely will!

Is the Frozen sing along a permanent show? I thought it was a temporary thing for the Frozen Summer event, but it is still around and doesn't say anything about a close date. Im glad if it is sticking around, it seems fun!

 

[SarahDisney]

I'm with you on the hat ... But I was told by a CM that it's coming down in early January.

Great list! I've also never been on TOT ... But unlike you, I'm not interested in trying it. I chicken out as soon as I hear the name.

Frozen sing-a-long seems to be sticking around ... which is good news in my book. I thought it was super cute and definitely worth doing. There's also a Frozen snowground where you can build a snowman, and Wandering Oaken's Trading Post (Frozen merchandice), which seem to be the permanent remnants of Frozen summer fun.

 

[Elevationist]

Finally, the last of my must do lists, Hollywood Studios! I really hope they don't start removing the hat before my trip, even though it is a very real possibility. I know a lot of people don't like it, but I do. I think the park would look strange without a major icon. And no, I don't think the Earfull Tower is a good icon. It needs something that you see as soon as you walk into the park that makes you think "wow! I'm actually here!"

For us old folks who remember a time before the hat, that "Wow!" moment was the Chinese theater. I love the hat, I've just never liked it blocking the Great Movie Ride. I wish they were just moving it, not getting rid of it completely. It was so pretty at night!

Honestly though, I don't think the entrance view is going to last for long. My gut feeling is that open area left by the removal of the hat is going to become a big stage/performance space. Kinda like what's been set up in front of the hat for a while now, but maybe bigger and more permanent.

Side note: You're going to LOVE that cupcake from Starring Rolls! It's a must-do for me every trip! HS day is cupcake-for-breakfast-day for me!!

 

[PippiDancer]

I'm with you on the hat ... But I was told by a CM that it's coming down in early January.

Great list! I've also never been on TOT ... But unlike you, I'm not interested in trying it. I chicken out as soon as I hear the name.

Frozen sing-a-long seems to be sticking around ... which is good news in my book. I thought it was super cute and definitely worth doing. There's also a Frozen snowground where you can build a snowman, and Wandering Oaken's Trading Post (Frozen merchandice), which seem to be the permanent remnants of Frozen summer fun.

Too bad that the hat will be going away before my trip, but I was kind of expecting it.

I am very excited that the Frozen Sing-along is sticking around. I love the movie and all of the songs. I worked at a preschool last year and I always put the Frozen soundtrack on at the end of the day and we had huge sing alongs. Very fun!

For us old folks who remember a time before the hat, that "Wow!" moment was the Chinese theater. I love the hat, I've just never liked it blocking the Great Movie Ride. I wish they were just moving it, not getting rid of it completely. It was so pretty at night!

Honestly though, I don't think the entrance view is going to last for long. My gut feeling is that open area left by the removal of the hat is going to become a big stage/performance space. Kinda like what's been set up in front of the hat for a while now, but maybe bigger and more permanent.

Side note: You're going to LOVE that cupcake from Starring Rolls! It's a must-do for me every trip! HS day is cupcake-for-breakfast-day for me!!

I've never seen the park without the hat, so I can't really picture it any other way. I hope they don't just put a giant stage there. It wouln't exactly be a magical entrance.

I've been dying to try a cupcake from Starring Rolls since I started planning our last trip. All the pictures I see on DIS look so amazing. Unfortuantely, we didn't realize Starring Rolls closed early and when we went to get my cupcake the doors were locked. It was a very sad moment.

 

[PippiDancer]

As you all know by now, my birthday is during my trip. I didn’t plan it that way, it just happened to fall during the week of school break, which is the only time I could take a week off work. But nothing could be more perfect! Any time you are able to spend your birthday in Disney World is amazing, but it is a little extra magical for me. I thought I’d post a little update explaining why.

I’ve always loved my birthday. I think it should be special, not just another day. I’ve never done huge things for my birthday, but try to find little ways to celebrate. But for the past several years, they have been far from great.

My 20th and 21st birthdays weren’t bad, but weren’t particularly great either. I was so busy between college classes and RA responsibilities that I didn’t really get a chance to celebrate either year.

My 22nd birthday was the worst of all. It was my last semester of college, I was student teaching, and was still an RA. I was crazy busy and incredibly stressed out trying to balance everything. My birthday started out with a stress-induced melt down at midnight. I spent the entire day teaching (and my kindergartners were insane all day). I only had 1 free hour that day and was supposed to go get ice cream with a friend but she fell asleep and stood me up. I had 3 different RA committee meetings I was rushing between all evening. And spent my night on duty (I had stay in the RA office from 8-11pm and couldn’t leave the building for the rest of the night)

Last year, my friend got married in San Diego the day after my birthday, so I considered flying out a few days early to spend my bday at Disneyland. But between flights and other expenses, it ended up being way too expensive and complicated. It turned out that my birthday was the same day as the annual mandatory staff retreat at the preschool I worked at at the time. So that is how I spent my birthday that year, at a very long a boring training day for a job I hated.

And the entire year last year was not great for me. I couldn’t find a teaching job after graduation and was adjusting to moving back in with my parents after 3 years of living on my own at college. All of my friends scattered (the closest is 2 hours away) so I rarely got to see any of them. Also, I had a job that I was absolutely miserable at because they didn’t treat employees very well. I got to the point of burn out and was running on fumes for 4 months before I got my new job. Disney was the major thing that got me through all those rough days.

I’m not writing this to complain or make anyone feel sorry for me, but to explain why this year’s birthday is such a huge deal to me. It is a make up for the past 4 years of uncelebrated birthdays. I don’t care what I end up doing on my actual birthday, being in Disney will be enough. I can’t believe I am lucky enough to spend it at my favorite place on earth!