rubysparkles
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2010
- Messages
- 192
Hi, I'm Caroline, I'm 32 and from London. This is me last time I was in WDW back in October 2016 (WOW HAS IT BEEN THAT LONG!!!) with my brother. I really, really, really, really love BB-8 and my hair looks really, really, really, REALLY different (thank god, I was growing out an attempt at bleaching my hair blonde).
Me now...
I've never done a PTR before but I thought with my FP+ selections ready to go on Tuesday, I'd give this a go. This trip has already changed a lot since I booked it in March. I secured a booking for DVC through points for Kidani Village from the 16th of November for 8 days. My first time trying it and although it was stressful waiting to see if I was going to be able to get a place in any of my chosen resorts, I'd still recommend it. I really wanted to stay near Epcot with Food and Wine, but I'm guessing so does everyone else coming to Florida, but after BC, CC and BLT all got filled I got my fourth choice of AKL. Now I've started looking at it, I'm really glad this is going to be where I'm staying. It's quiet and calm and two of my favourite restaurants I've had the pleasure to try are at the hotel (Sanaa which is always a must do, whoever I'm with and Jiko). I haven't tried Boma yet but the rave reviews have me excited to try it.
Why did I decide to go to Disney then? And by myself? Well, I hate my birthday, I never enjoy it but I always love going to Disney World. I've been to all the parks in the world bar one (Shanghai Disney) and I get to WDW about every two/three years. With the announcement of the Galaxy's Edge opening date and Food & Wine finishing just after my birthday, I decided I wanted to 1. Go away somewhere for my birthday and 2. Go somewhere I knew I loved but had plenty of new stuff to get excited about. Last time I went Pandora was being built, so there's a lot of new big stuff to see.
I've changed my dining reservations around A LOT. But the biggest change I've made so far was rebooking my flight home to a week later as my Godmother kindly offered me to stay at her beach house near Daytona with her extended family over Thanksgiving. I've never experienced Thanksgiving before in the US and it gives me time to go back to WDW after staying with her for a night at AOA. With that extension I get to do something that's always been top of my list at WDW but I've never been there at the right time... Candlelight Processional (and Festival of the Holidays). I love a lot of things, but my love for Christmas even surpasses the fact I work in the retail sector. I even get to use that fancy new Skyliner to get to Epcot.
My mission this trip is to lounge it up as much as possible. I'm keeping my dining reservations a lot lighter than usual, but want to eat some great food without too much of a fancy atmosphere. I did the Deluxe Dining Plan once, and although I loved so much about it, the amount of food and the eating alone at fancy restaurants got a bit boring. To be able to use all my credits I had to eat at a 2 credit almost every night and only had enough room for dessert ONE night out of nine. AND I EAT A LOT OF FOOD. Lounges seem like a great inbetween option that also offers me a lot more flexibility. Between that and F&W festival, I've not got that much time for reservations but I have a plan for pretty much every place I'm eating and even snacks built in to the plan. I'll post that all in a separate post here.
Outside of Disney, I live to travel, especially to theme parks. I've done 37 out of the 50 states and want to finish up the 50 by the time I'm 40. I lived in Hong Kong for nearly 4 years where I taught English and Drama, so while I was there I got to see some of Asia. I work in a supermarket where I recently got promoted to my first management position, which was another reason for this trip. To congratulate myself for that and get some rest before the very hectic weeks leading up to Christmas. I say rest but a trip to Disney isn't exactly everyone's idea of it, but for me it's going to be that perfect inbetween where I should get to relax a bit but there's sooooo much to do, I could never be bored. Especially now I've got a few days by the beach where I can really chill out. None of the food I eat will have nuts in, not that I'm allergic, I just hate them with a passion. I'm solo, because I'm single and I really enjoy taking time out of my life to travel alone. It really feels so much less stressful for me personally, I feel pressure when I'm traveling with others, even my own family to make sure everyone is happy and catered for. More than they even know. So getting time to just do what I want, when I want is freeing for me. It's a bit selfish, but I plan to be selfish once a year for a short period for the rest of my life. I can't see a time when I won't want a week or two away, no matter what my situation. I know that sounds strange to some! I don't mean to sound like such a weirdo, but different strokes for different folks.
I'd love to have some people following along on the journey. I'd definitely love to hear opinions on my itinerary or dining options or anything.
Me now...
I've never done a PTR before but I thought with my FP+ selections ready to go on Tuesday, I'd give this a go. This trip has already changed a lot since I booked it in March. I secured a booking for DVC through points for Kidani Village from the 16th of November for 8 days. My first time trying it and although it was stressful waiting to see if I was going to be able to get a place in any of my chosen resorts, I'd still recommend it. I really wanted to stay near Epcot with Food and Wine, but I'm guessing so does everyone else coming to Florida, but after BC, CC and BLT all got filled I got my fourth choice of AKL. Now I've started looking at it, I'm really glad this is going to be where I'm staying. It's quiet and calm and two of my favourite restaurants I've had the pleasure to try are at the hotel (Sanaa which is always a must do, whoever I'm with and Jiko). I haven't tried Boma yet but the rave reviews have me excited to try it.
Why did I decide to go to Disney then? And by myself? Well, I hate my birthday, I never enjoy it but I always love going to Disney World. I've been to all the parks in the world bar one (Shanghai Disney) and I get to WDW about every two/three years. With the announcement of the Galaxy's Edge opening date and Food & Wine finishing just after my birthday, I decided I wanted to 1. Go away somewhere for my birthday and 2. Go somewhere I knew I loved but had plenty of new stuff to get excited about. Last time I went Pandora was being built, so there's a lot of new big stuff to see.
I've changed my dining reservations around A LOT. But the biggest change I've made so far was rebooking my flight home to a week later as my Godmother kindly offered me to stay at her beach house near Daytona with her extended family over Thanksgiving. I've never experienced Thanksgiving before in the US and it gives me time to go back to WDW after staying with her for a night at AOA. With that extension I get to do something that's always been top of my list at WDW but I've never been there at the right time... Candlelight Processional (and Festival of the Holidays). I love a lot of things, but my love for Christmas even surpasses the fact I work in the retail sector. I even get to use that fancy new Skyliner to get to Epcot.
My mission this trip is to lounge it up as much as possible. I'm keeping my dining reservations a lot lighter than usual, but want to eat some great food without too much of a fancy atmosphere. I did the Deluxe Dining Plan once, and although I loved so much about it, the amount of food and the eating alone at fancy restaurants got a bit boring. To be able to use all my credits I had to eat at a 2 credit almost every night and only had enough room for dessert ONE night out of nine. AND I EAT A LOT OF FOOD. Lounges seem like a great inbetween option that also offers me a lot more flexibility. Between that and F&W festival, I've not got that much time for reservations but I have a plan for pretty much every place I'm eating and even snacks built in to the plan. I'll post that all in a separate post here.
Outside of Disney, I live to travel, especially to theme parks. I've done 37 out of the 50 states and want to finish up the 50 by the time I'm 40. I lived in Hong Kong for nearly 4 years where I taught English and Drama, so while I was there I got to see some of Asia. I work in a supermarket where I recently got promoted to my first management position, which was another reason for this trip. To congratulate myself for that and get some rest before the very hectic weeks leading up to Christmas. I say rest but a trip to Disney isn't exactly everyone's idea of it, but for me it's going to be that perfect inbetween where I should get to relax a bit but there's sooooo much to do, I could never be bored. Especially now I've got a few days by the beach where I can really chill out. None of the food I eat will have nuts in, not that I'm allergic, I just hate them with a passion. I'm solo, because I'm single and I really enjoy taking time out of my life to travel alone. It really feels so much less stressful for me personally, I feel pressure when I'm traveling with others, even my own family to make sure everyone is happy and catered for. More than they even know. So getting time to just do what I want, when I want is freeing for me. It's a bit selfish, but I plan to be selfish once a year for a short period for the rest of my life. I can't see a time when I won't want a week or two away, no matter what my situation. I know that sounds strange to some! I don't mean to sound like such a weirdo, but different strokes for different folks.
I'd love to have some people following along on the journey. I'd definitely love to hear opinions on my itinerary or dining options or anything.