But I Don't Know When I'll Get To Go Again....A Sept 2015 Solo PTR *Updated 07/07*

[godders]

Well hey there! Welcome one and all to my new pre-trip report! If you are joining me after finishing my last trip report welcome back and thank you for joining me once again! If you are new to the DIS or just my TRs then let me tell you a little bit about myself:

My name is Vicky, I'm 25 and from the UK. I shall be your hostess with the mostest for this report



The important stuff
Favourite Disney Movie: Beauty and the Beast/Mulan
Favourite Character: Mushu or Maximus
Favourite Ride: Journey of the Little Mermaid or Star Tours
Favourite Park: Hollywood Studios/Magic Kingdom
Favourite M&G: The Tremaines

What's the title about?
So last year I was very fortunate to get the opportunity to go to Walt Disney World on my first ever solo trip for 10 days (split stay with Universal). I had an awesome time and if you would like to read about it feel free to follow the link in my signature. Now, in the planning of said trip I distinctly remember saying the words "but I don't know when I'll get to go again" many, many times to my parents/friends/colleagues to not only justify the trip but also to explain the teensy, tiny, little bit of spending on extras and the extension of my trip by a couple of days (it was originally only supposed to be a week). I was able to go on this trip because when my Nan passed in 2013 she left myself and the others in the family some money and her orders were to do something amazing with the money. So I did. Fast-forward to this year and I was still coming here to the DIS most days to check out what was going on in the land of the Mouse and there was still so much that I hadn't been able to see and do that I decided to book myself another trip.....which brings us nicely to this trip:

The details
When: 6th September - 22nd September (Just 67 days to go!)
Where: Universal & Walt Disney World
Hotels: Royal Pacific Resort, All-Star Movies & The Contemporary (for one night only)
Who: Me, Myself and I

This trip will also be a joint celebration of sorts so I will be celebrating finishing my MA (the final deadline is 2 days before I leave) and having a mini birthday celebration as it is 2 weeks after I get home.

Thank you everyone for joining me as I go over the details, bookings, purchases and no doubt vent some stress over my thesis. I hope you enjoy!​

Chapters
Since My Last Trip
The Details

 

[godders]

Since My Last Trip

So just a little update on what's been going on in my life since my last trip.

As some of you may remember from previous reports, I had a Gastric band fitted about a year ago. Since then I've lost nearly 40 kilos so instead of looking like this:



I look like this:




About 2 weeks after my last trip to Disney I flew out to Namibia for 3 months to go an work with animals like these:





This was my third trip to Namibia and this particular wildlife sanctuary. I had an absolutely amazing time as always, made some great friends and managed to survive by gaining only a couple more scars.

After Namibia I came home for 6 days at Christmas before I flew out to Australia where I got to photograph a wedding


Bottle-feed one of these


See one of the most famous streets in the world


See this weird shaped building


Saw a massive rock


Got to cuddle a baby one of these


and I got to cheat on Disney


I had the most amazing 4 months travelling round Australia but then it was time to return to the UK and the real world. I started my Masters back in 2012 and since then I've had to have almost 2 years of interruptions due to my being out of the country but when I got back I really wanted to get it finished so I now have a final deadline of 4th September which is just 2 days before my triumphant return to WDW! ​

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Here!

 

[godders]

Here!

Yay! Welcome! Welcome!

 

[godders]

Trip 2015 - The Details!

As I said in my first post I felt like I missed out on quite a lot of things and I definitely felt pretty rushed so I'm thinking of making myself a little check list of things I missed out on to make sure I don't miss them a second time. Last year I bought a subscription to TouringPlans and made my own individual ones but after experiencing how low the crowds were during my stay (and just how hot & humid it was) I threw them out after the 2nd day. I still went to the parks I had originally planned but then just went with the flow when I got there especially at Universal because between Express Pass and Single rider everything (bar Gringotts but not every time) was a walk-on. So with that in mind, I've decided to skip the plans this year and just go with the flow. I am going to make a list instead and try to make sure I hit the things I definitely want to see and then everything else will just be a bonus. I also found that other than for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train I didn't really need my FPs and so I ended up skipping/cancelling quite a few of them.

The differences from last year
​

• Labour Day is quite late so I actually land the day before. I'm not sure how this will affect my days but I've read on the boards that it's the quietest of the holidays and that quite a lot of schools are still going back before it and I've got my fingers crossed that even for the ones that go back after, most people will have already gone home by then or will be travelling home that day...
• Different resorts - this trip, the majority of my Disney time will be spent at All-Star Movies. I'm hoping I'll be able to ask if they have a quieter room away from the pools because I'm a very light sleeper and I've heard it can be noisy at any time of the year. I also did a very silly thing and looked at all the bad reviews on TripAdvisor (I know, I know, rookie mistake!!!) So if anyone is reading this report and has stayed here please, please, please let me know about your stay! I'm sure you guys will have some good experiences or advise that will make help to reassure me that I haven't made an awful mistake . I am also a very, very, very lucky girl and I have been able to take the money I saved by stay at a value rather than a moderate to be able to spend my last night at the Contemporary in a theme park view room. When I was planning the trip I just kept imagining spending my last night sat on my balcony (with my camera and tripod) getting photos of Wishes (fingers crossed for the weather) with a lovely glass of wine and just taking a moment to be thankful for everything
• Booking more than 180 days ahead has meant I've been very lucky to be able to book some sort-after ADRs for the trip so I'm going to experience many new places I've never thought about going before

Rough Plannage
​

Arrival day - Sunday 6th - Royal Pacific Resort - An evening at Universal - Last year I was very lucky to be on my way to the parks just 2 hours after landing so I'm hoping for the same amount of luck this time)
Day 2 - Labour Day - Universal Studios
Day 3 - Tues 8th - I.O.A
Day 4 - Weds 9th - Check out earlyish from RPR and head over to Disney. Hopefully get a couple of hours at Hollywood Studios. ADR - California Grill 8.50pm (x2)
Day 5 - Thurs 10th - Epcot. ADR - Akershus 8.30am (x2)
Day 6 - Fri 11th - Magic Kingdom am (Night of Joy) then park hop over to Epcot for afternoon. ADR - Chefs de France 6.50pm (x2)
Day 7 - Sat 12th -Animal Kingdom. ADR - Sanaa 1.35pm
Day 8 - Sun 13th - Magic Kingdom. ADR - Cinderella's Royal Table 9.05am
Day 9 - Mon 14th - Hollywood Studios. ADR - Mama Melrose Fantasmic Lunch 12.05pm
Day 10 - Tues 15th - Morning off then Magic Kingdom for MNSSHP ADR - BOG 4.50pm
Day 11 - Weds 16th - 4 Parks in one day marathon!
Day 12 - Thurs 17th - Hollywood Studios. ADR - Sci-Fi Dine In 12.45pm
Day 13 - Fri 18th - Magic Kingdom (afternoon break) then MNSSHP. ADR - Chef Mickey's 9am
Day 14 - Sat 19th - Animal Kingdom. ADR - Tusker House 9.40am
Day 15 - Sun 20th - Downtown Disney then MNSSHP. ADR - Raglan Road 1pm
Day 16 - Mon 21st - Check out early and have my things sent over to the Contemporary then Epcot. ADR - Restaurant Marrakesh 1.35pm
Day 17 - Tues 22nd - Magic Kingdom then pick up about 4.30pm to take me back to the airport ADR - 1900 Park Fare 9.20am

So looking at it all typed out I know it looks like a crazy amount but most days I will probably take an afternoon break. I managed to time them all so well last year I only actually saw it rain once but I've heard it rained every day....

Questions

1) I have reservations for 2 for my Cali Grill, Akershus and Chefs de France ADRs so if anyone would like to join me for any of those please let me know.
2) Anyone done 4 parks in one day and have any tips for planning one? AK opens first at 8am and then MK/Epcot are open till 9pm I'll do those first/last. Which park would you guys get your FPs for?
3)For those who've been at the World/Universal on Labour Day - what kind of crowds can I expect? Will the crowd calendars 2 prediction be accurate do you reckon?

I think that's it for now but no doubt more will spring to mind in the coming weeks. I'm making my FP selections on Sunday but hopefully I should be ok. I booked mine less than 30 days out last year and managed to get everything I wanted. Oh the joys of a solo trip!​

 

[DisneyBelle_x]

Following along
Your plans sound great, what a nice treat for you last night I stayed in Bay lake tower a few years back over my wedding and loved it, wish I could stay there or Contemporary every time. Our trips overlap slightly and we plan to be in MK & AK on the same days so will def say hi if i spot you.
Must go and catch up on your TR from last year

 

[godders]

Following along
Your plans sound great, what a nice treat for you last night I stayed in Bay lake tower a few years back over my wedding and loved it, wish I could stay there or Contemporary every time. Our trips overlap slightly and we plan to be in MK & AK on the same days so will def say hi if i spot you.
Must go and catch up on your TR from last year

Hahaha don't we all!! I went to Beaches and Cream on my last trip but other than that I've never ventured near a deluxe resort (oh, other than passing through on the Monorail of course). Looking forward to exploring one a bit more! Yes please do! I do love meeting other DISers. Hope your planning is going well!

 

[MataHari22]

Jumping in to follow along.

Wow, you have been to quite a few amazing places. Love the animal photos.

Sounds like it will be a great trip with lots to celebrate.

 

[DisneyBelle_x]

Hahaha don't we all!! I went to Beaches and Cream on my last trip but other than that I've never ventured near a deluxe resort (oh, other than passing through on the Monorail of course). Looking forward to exploring one a bit more! Yes please do! I do love meeting other DISers. Hope your planning is going well!

I love exploring the resorts, have been fortunate to stay at a few of them including deluxes (thanks to renting DVC points) and if you get a chance you should pop over to Animal Kingdom lodge as its beautiful.
Nearly all set, FP+ time in a few days and then i think I'm pretty much ready and waiting, keep reading solo trip reports to put my mind at ease about being alone out there

 

[godders]

I love exploring the resorts, have been fortunate to stay at a few of them including deluxes (thanks to renting DVC points) and if you get a chance you should pop over to Animal Kingdom lodge as its beautiful.
Nearly all set, FP+ time in a few days and then i think I'm pretty much ready and waiting, keep reading solo trip reports to put my mind at ease about being alone out there

I've got a ADR at Sanaa at the AK villas so I might wander back to the main lodge afterwards while my food goes down. I am hating the waiting game! I just want to be there now. Luckily the boards are helping. Yes! Definitely keep reading solo TRs they really are the best way build up your confidence for the trip. How long are you going for? I found that having wifi there was really good for helping to combat the being alone factor. Meant I could message everyone back home as much as I wanted and post pics and things so you don't feel quite as cut off

 

[godders]

Hey everyone!

So as you can see my pre-trip report has been an absolute failure! I unfortunately got bogged down in studying all summer so I couldn't take the time out I wanted to keep you all updated on the plans.

I ended up having to shift the holiday back by a week so I only got to WDW yesterday (and enjoyed a lovely dinner at Biergarten). So I figured I would do a couple of posts while I was here just to lure you in before I get home and write my actual TR.

But it's only 5.30am here and I've been awake since 3 (damn changing time zones) so I just wanted to drop you all a quick Hi and to apologise for my sloppy reporting!

 

[MataHari22]

Have a great time!