Guess What?? I added an episode 5/25 Valentine's Solo Valentine Trip Around The World

[Valentine]

No.. it's not a typo... I am Valentine.. and my trip was during Valentine's weekend... so... it was Valentine's Valentine trip... I know..I know.. Solo on Valentine's Day?? Hmmm.. what sort of odd creature am I?? Well.. let me give you a little background: I am a disney addict.. much like many of you on these here boards... nothing and I mean NOTHING makes me happier than a day at Disney...except maybe MANY days at Disney! So.... as a single gal here in NYC, I have run out of people who share my addiction or rather.. I have stopped being able to afford bribing people to come with me on my trips to Disney.. and since there is noone legally obigated to join me on my journey's (read that as forced to come with me by the legal bonds of matrimony) I realized a year or so ago that I could perhaps travel alone.... Hmmmm...a solo trip to Disney?? what a concept.. But WHO does that?? Well..after reading the boards for some time, I realized alot of people do... so, faced with the prospect of yet another New Year's Eve ALONE... I decided that I would survive it much better if it was spent in Disney watching some form of fireworks surrounded by other addicts.... so.. the plan was hatched.... and off I went.. I survived the solo trip and even wrote about it here on the boards... and when I can figure out how to link them here.. I will! However.. a new addiction was borne of that trip... Solo Disney trips... Now...don't get me wrong.. I would LOVE to have that special someone to go to disney with... to share those special moments with... but for now... I am thrilled to do this on my own! So.. fast forward to this year.. My coworker is due to have a baby any day now... I haven't had a Disney fix since last August.. and I have started reading my beloved boards again..(which only lead to trouble! ) This time it get's worse.. I have started to get the DVC bug.. really bad... I read all I can about it and research till I am blue... I decide i am going to take the plunge and make the phone call... well.. since I am deciding to become a DVC member, I need to make a trip... and what better weekend than Valentine's day.... (sort of like the NYE thing... except worse.. since my name is Valentine all I hear is.. Oh..gee .. what a great name.. Valentine's day must be VERY special for you... NOT!!!! )..so... what better way to escape the horror... Why Disney of course!!! So... I start making my plans... it takes me all of an hour.. and i have my airfare booked.. Jet Blue $150 RT...Room Booked Pop Century $79 per night (not one AP discount left on property and almost NO rooms left on property! hence my first stay at a Value Resort) My rental car: Alamo $150 including tax for the 6 days. and most importantly.. my meeting with my DVC rep set up for the day after I arrive. Since my AP has expired, I will have to purchase a new one upon arrival... and THANKS to these boards I read that DVC owners get a $100 discount on the purchase of an AP... well... a phone call to my DVC rep and one deposit later I am assured that my temporary ID card will be fedexed to me so that I may purchase my AP when I arrive and receive my discount (I think that was probably the fastest DVC purchase this rep ever experienced!) So... I am set... I depart on Wed 2/9 at 6 am(why do we do this??) and am staying until 2/14 when my plane leaved at 9:40 pm... I like to have full days on both arrival and departure days. I make NO ps's as I tend to not plan my days and have yet to do a sit down meal on my solo trips. The only thing I do plan is EMH's I do like to take advantage of them at MK and MGM. So.. I make note of when they are and know that I will definetly do those parks for the EMH's ONLY... So.. that's it... I am ready and only have to wait about 3 weeks for my trip.. nothing like last minute planning!! LOL!!! As I did not take any notes this trip... and I just had my 40th bd so my memory isn't what it usedto be I will be using my 400 digital photos as a guide to help me remember what I did and in what order... Trust me.. when you read the rest of this you will understand why I need visual aides! ... well... I am off to figure out how to post pictures to this report so that I can also show you my visual aides.... next up..."I have to get up at 3 am.. and the Amazing Race Finale is on... which wins out.. sleep or TAR?"

Kathy

 

[nwdisgal]

You go Girl. Great report and looking forward to the rest.

 

[Valentine]

Okay... since it is snowing here and I seem to be on a writing roll.. I will continue the trip report... I have decided to keep this all in one thread.. easier to follow.

We left off with me waiting my 3 weeks for my trip to arrive. So, here I am, the day before my flight.. bags packed... clothes set out for tomorrow's early flight... best friend and kitty sitter over for a farewell dinner and the Finale of the Amazing Race viewing... yes.. TAR won out.. there was NO WAY I was missing the 2 hour finale.. however.. American Idol was also on... so with TIVO.. we are able to watch everything.. however, too many hours of television coupled with conversation and dinner with my best friend in the universe and it was midnight before we knew it. Uh Oh.. that means I only get 3 hours of sleep.. UGH!! Oh well... seems that this always happens and I always swear that i won't book such an early flight ever again.. but then I do it over and over!! Some people just don't learn... So.. I get into bed and blink and my alarm is going off... Scared the heck out of me.. I roll over and stare disbelievingly at the clock.. but it can't be... I just laid down... 3 hours did not pass... the kitties yawn and barely open their eyes... they have no time for this nonsense.. until they hear me up and about pouring 5 lbs of food into their bowls... Now they know something is up....they look at me suspiciously and are not pleased with me.... between disturbing their beauty rest and the telltale lots of food in our bowl means she is deserting us again thing I had tails turned up at me followed by kitty butts retreating into the bedroom back to the warmth of the pillow top bed. Well... they will understand... their auntie will be checking in on them and she spoils them soooo much more than I do. So... I managed to get my clothes on.. the cats fed... everything turned off that should be... suitcase down the stairs and into the car... and I actually managed to drive myself to the airport... all on 3 hours of sleep. I decided that long term parking would cost the same as taking a taxi to and from the airport. So.. JFK here I come. I park the car.. write down the spot I am in on the little ticket you get when you come into the lot (remember this for later!).... unload the suitcase/laptop bag and make my way onto the Airtran .. New York's version of a Monorail. I make it through security with no problem.. only have to sit around for about 1/2 hour which flys by with my handy dandy new wireless laptop... Pretty cool!! Which I packed several DVD's to pick from to watch on the way down to ....Ummmmmm... where are the DVD's?? Oh... DUH!!! They are all in the Suitcase which is now checked! Oh Well... Guess I will have to figure something else to do on the ride down... I wait until Everyone else has boarded the plane.. cause frankly I don't understand the whole Rushing onto the plane first thing when you have an assigned seat (with the exception of the elderly or people with infants who have to set up car seats.. that I understand) But for everyone else.. why?? You have a seat.. it is yours.. it will be there when you get on... and why do you want to get on a crowded/no air/ germ infested/noisy/confined plane to sit for 20 minutes while you wait for everyone else to climb/kick/breathe/spit/yell/crush you when you can sit peacefully in the gate area and stroll onto a settled organized ready to leave plane??? Gee... I see the benefit of getting on that plane first!!!! I pop my Airborne (great stuff!!) since I had just gotten over a cold and was trying anything to avoid a relapse... and settle in for a quick ride down to Orlando.... the flight was uneventful and we land on time... I get my luggage almost immediately.. and head on over to the Alamo desk... apparently Alamo and National have merged... so.. my emerald club status gets me the same deal at Alamo.. they give me my papers and say .. go pick a car... So.. i head on over... Okay.. the hour is now getting late.. so.. off to bed I go...

Up Next... What size car did she say i could have???

 

[Cinerama]

This is setting up to be good one...I'll be looking for the rest!
Michelle

 

[WDWLinda]

Thanks...can't wait for the rest.

So how long did you have to wait for the Airtran thing? Last time we did long term parking at JFK the shuttle bus took forever. I might reconsider if it sounds better now. Do they charge for the Airtran ride?

Thanks!

~Linda

 

[Valentine]

Thanks...can't wait for the rest.

So how long did you have to wait for the Airtran thing? Last time we did long term parking at JFK the shuttle bus took forever. I might reconsider if it sounds better now. Do they charge for the Airtran ride?

Thanks!

~Linda

Hi Linda... The wait for the airtran from the lefferts blvd LTP lot B (i think!) was minimal... maybe 5 minutes.. and that was at 4 am!!! a few stops later and I was at my terminal... There is no charge for the airtran if you get on in the middle of the route.. if you get on at either the Jamaica station or Howard Beach they do charge.. I think it is $9 or $10...

They still have shuttle busses that roam the lots.. but DON"T take them.. walk directly to the airtran... waiting for a bus that takes you only to the airtran station takes like 20 minutes!! I have a friend that lost her flight because she did this... they waited for a bus (not realizing they no longer went to the terminals) and finally one came.. they got on it .. and it took them like 20 feet to the airtran terminal... where they then had to figure that all out.. and get to their terminal... end result.. they missed their flight (but they are notoriously late anyway... so I am sure they were cutting it close!! LOL!!)

The trick is to find a spot as close to the Airtran station.. and that is not too hard! Good luck!

Kathy

 

[lynn71092]

OMG, I couldn't believe as I was reading your first report.
I can SSOOO relate. I have given up taking (and paying) for my godchild to go to WDW because it got too expensive and I really don't think she appreciated WDW OR the cruise. So I finally convince my sister to go with me last December (she hadn't been there in 4 years, why did it take so much convincing) and while we had a good time she has already told me not to plan anymore trips with her, she wants to go somewhere else. So I am planning my first Solo trip either at the end of September or the first week in December. I am NOT waiting anymore for someone to go with me. I will so have to keep it a secret though, I have a very overprotective son who will be convinced that I will be attacked by Jack the Ripper if I go to WDW alone!!

 

[Valentine]

Okay... where were we?? Oh yeah.. the Alamo pick up garage....

I take my suitcase, Laptop bag, coat, sweatshirt, Pal Mickey, and Me.. over to the garage to pick out my car... it is a short walk across the street and up the elevator to the quicksilver lane... I know I booked a midsize car.. or was that a full size car... or was it a ???? Uh Oh.. I look around at the walls and see descriptions of the car type that don't seem to jive with the normal car lingo.. so much so that I cannot even recall now what the descriptions were.. there were several people wandering the lane looking as perplexed as I.. so I didn't feel out of place.. we compared notes and decided that we were indeed in the right place.. as NONE of us wanted to trek back over to the Alamo desk and admit we were indeed from america.. but just couldn't translate their seemingly foreign lingo.. well... my new found friends and I picked our cars (I got a Dodge Stratus.. Silver/Blue.. No rental white for me!!) and agreed that if they let us out of the parking lot then we must have picked the correct class of car!! I load my suitcase into this little sporty zipper... How cool am I?? and approach the gate first... a cursive glance at my paperwork.. and Enjoy your trip! I am off... it's been a while since I have driven in Florida... but I quickly got the hang of it again.. (althought my journey on my last day will have me thinking otherwise!!) In no time I am rolling in under those Disney Signs!!! No greater feeling than that... I know from reading the boards to follow the signs to WWS to find POP since there are no signs for POP itself until you are almost upon it... I found POP with no problem and am soon breezing through security and pulling into the Classic year's parking area... well...I had visited POP once before while staying at Disney to see what it looked like.. we didn't get out of the car.. just sort of drove around and took in the sights... so I knew what to expect. Well.. being inside is a whole other experience... I was pleasantly surprised! Now.. to get the full impact of my impression of POP... I believe it is necessary that I state I have.... in my over 50 trips to Disney ... NEVER stayed at a value resort.. my first trip onsite ever was at the Polynesian Concierge (before it was as spectacular as it is now) and we did the Deluxe Magic Plan (remember that??) 3 meals a day.. everything included that you could possibly dream of... and I had NO CLUE what I was doing.. I spent a fortune... I still get sick when I think of that!! LOL!! But I also remember what a fabulous time we all had.. the videos of my sister .. and all she would say was.. here we are.. going to eat AGAIN!! It seems that is all we did that trip.. eat, plan where we were eating next, figure out how we were getting there and then get there.. somehow we managed to fit some actual touring in.. but it really was just the stuff we saw getting from one restaurant to another!!! Never again!! Well.. since then I have stayed at The Poly for several trips then the CM's moved over to AKL Concierge when that opened..so... of course.. so did we... I believe that is by far the best Concierge experience. I have also tried the Yacht club Concierge, WL Concierge (are you sensing a trend here??) Swan Club level, but then my bank account started protesting.. or I just got older and more money concious... so.. my stays then adjusted to non concierge.. such as The Boardwalk, Wilderness Lodge, Dixie Landings, POFQ, and my personal favorite the Dolphin. So... as you can imagine... I was a little hesitant to try POP... but I figure.. hey.. I am purchasing my DVC... I should try out POP as my final Non-DVC hotel stay... and since this was a last minute trip and meant to be a cheap one.. I would give it a shot... (oh.. and the fact that there were virtually no other rooms available on property had a little something to do with it also!! )

Well.. so far I am not disappointed with my accomodations... the lobby is very cheery.. lots of happy CM's.. no line for check in.. I get a lovely CM who decides that since the room they have assigned me to is not ready yet (what.. why not.. I mean it is already 9:30 am?? ) that she was going to assign me to a different room.. I got a King Room in the 70's... Room 222 to be exact.. (anyone else get the connection there?? I thought that was pretty funny.. room 222 - Karen Valentine??? ) and IT WAS READY NOW!! I head back out to the car.. taking a brief detour through the food court and everything pop shop... very nice... breakfast is to be had here shortly... I walk back out to the car and drive over to the 90's parking lot (as I read here that parking is actually closer in the 90's lot for some of the 70's buildings..this would prove to be true for me) It was here I noticed the HUGE sea of humanity waiting for the busses and I was very happy at that moment that I had rented a car... I park the car quite easily (this would be the case for every time I returned to the hotel .. with the exception of my last night) and unload my luggage and head on over to my room. The grounds of the hotel are quite fun..colorful and rather quiet .. which was surprising... I find my room on the second floor.. it was very near to the elevators/ice/soda machine and stairs. My room overlooked a courtyard that did not have any of the Large Icons just trees.. and a little drive that housekeeping seemed to use to park the golf carts when they were delivering towels and such to the guests. Not too bothersome or noisy. The room itself was quite comfortable.. it was a king room handicapp access bathroom which was a little odd.. but no problem.. I did miss having a bathtub though by the end of the week!! Oh.. My aching legs.. No Hot Tub.. not Bathtub... I still haven't recovered! I found the room to be very clean, the bed was comfortable and the decor was very cute! I unpacked my suitcase and changed into my florida gear.... it is a beautiful sunny day... with hopes of getting up to near 80degrees... so... shorts and a t-shirt it is with a sweatshirt brought along.. just in case! Pins on.. Pal Mickey in place... fanny pack filled and I am ready... first assignment.. Breakfast.. I am starved.. been up since 3 am... and all I had was a cup of tea.... That breakfast smelled wonderful in the food court... so.. Off i go to find my way around POP... I head on over to the Classic years.. easy to understand signs on property get me there in no time.. my room is about 2 min away from the action!

I stop and take a pic of the famous hippity dippity pool which is right near the food court

well.. sort of the pool area.. my first official pic of the trip!!!

I then head inside to claim me some breakfast.. No points to be counted today!! I am in Disney!!! i got myself an Adult Breakfast Platter.. and it was quite tasty.. for those of you who care.. that is basically, eggs, bacon, a sausage link, some hash browns and a bisquit. I took it outside to sit and feel the florida sunshine. Fully nourished I decide to head on out to the parks... now I have no plan here... I need to get my AP and I figure I will drive on over to Downtown Disney and get it there.. but as I walk out of the lobby towards the parking lot, I pass the bus stops and an MGM bus pulls up... noone is waiting so I decide.. okay..I'll go there.... so onto the bus I go...

 

[Valentine]

OMG, I couldn't believe as I was reading your first report.
I can SSOOO relate. I have given up taking (and paying) for my godchild to go to WDW because it got too expensive and I really don't think she appreciated WDW OR the cruise. So I finally convince my sister to go with me last December (she hadn't been there in 4 years, why did it take so much convincing) and while we had a good time she has already told me not to plan anymore trips with her, she wants to go somewhere else. So I am planning my first Solo trip either at the end of September or the first week in December. I am NOT waiting anymore for someone to go with me. I will so have to keep it a secret though, I have a very overprotective son who will be convinced that I will be attacked by Jack the Ripper if I go to WDW alone!!

Tell him Jack the Ripper isn't a Disney character.. so he won't be there!! LOL!!

I hope you do plan and go on your trip.. it is really quite alot of fun... read on and you will perhaps pick up some tidbits and dos and don'ts.. as i tend to give way too much detail!! LOL!! I hope I don't bore anyone..

kathy

 

[Credit Man]

Enjoying your report! Thanks for posting.

 

[Valentine]

Still on Day Arrival Day/Day One.. Whew.. just typing this I am exhausted.. and I have barely gotten started!!! ...

Well.. here I am on the MGM bus... and I thought it had just pulled up..but I was wrong.. I had just pulled up to it.. so, the bus was pretty full... I was the last one on and ended up standing in the front near the driver... Checked his name tag out.. Nope.. not Tyler....

In no time we are pulling up to MGM.. I stroll over to security.. I get my cavities searched... Only kidding.. but by the end of the week I started feeling like a stripper whipping open all my zippers for the world to see all my wares...

I ask one of the CM's if I can purchase my AP at Guest Services and she told me no.. that I can just go to the regular ticket window... I thought that was wrong.. but maybe it was new.. so I turn to head to the regular ticket window which had about 4 million people at it... when she stops me and asks... "Oh.. are you a DVC member?" to which I proudly say.. "Why Yes".. My first official declaration!!! and she said.. "Oh..then yes, you do have to go to Guest Services.. they will be happy to help you there!" I smile and turn in the direction of Guest services where there was No line... ah... pixie dust! I tell the CM at the window that I would like to purchase an AP and that I have my temporary DVC membership card.. would that suffice to get me the $100 discount off of my AP? to which she replied.. "No Problem" That membership is already paying off!! I am now presented with my brand new AP .. ripe and ready for all the trips I am already dreaming up... and head on over to the gates... Insert ticket.. insert fingers.. and I am in...

Ah... Disney magic... there is nothing like it... I look around begin my picture taking madness... for my recent 40th BD I treated myself well.. I purchased my first ever Digital camera... an Apple Ibook ... and Ipod and a fabulous photo printer... so.. fun fun fun.. let the pictures begin!

Of course I have to check out my namesake items...

and I pop into this store to make my first purchase.. a cool pair of mickey sunglasses...

Of course I immediately have to make my way down sunset blvd and take my first ride on

There was practically no wait outside so I jumped in.. Disney has changed this line up a bit.. they have added a bit of a que inside the recording studio... a weaving bit... this was never there any other time I went.. only added about 5 minutes or so to the wait time.. Of course the ride was great!.. Nothing like a 0-60 takeoff to get you going in the morning.. Oh wait.. I already did that Much, Much earlier this morning!!

Well.. if it is good the first time.. it is usually better the 2nd time around.. so.. around I go and hop right back in line...

Another successful ride and I am off to check into my hotel.. well .. not really my hotel.. but how cool would that be if there really was a hotel themed like that at Disney??? I would definitely stay there!!!

Going up.. coming down.. did that a few times.. and realized that I was running out of steam... Tonight is EMH at the MK so I need to get back to the hotel and rest up. This side trip to MGM was a quick added bonus for picking up my AP....

So.. I mosey on out of the park... (exactly where did that term come from.. I mean.. what is a Mosey??? ) and head over to the bus stop for POP.. a few minutes later one pulls up and deposits me back at POP. I decide to head on over to Goodings to pick up some refreshments for my room as I have a refrigerator... I do want to try and stay somewhat on program while I am here.. and if I have some healthy options then I will make better choices.. or so I thought!! I pick up some fruit, carrots, Baked Lays, Non-alchoholic Beer, Water and soda. When I get back to the hotel, I get the same parking spot I vacated and load the stuff up to my room. I decide that I should take a nap as I have been up for quite a few hours of very few hours of sleep.. and what better place to do that then by the pool!!

I head on over to the computer pool... there are many chairs to choose from and the pool is a nice size... I step in for a moment and the water is VERY warm... and when I get out.. man am I chilly!!!

I wrap myself up in my pooh towel and crash for about 2 hours... Ahhhh.. Blissfull sleep....

Sort of where I wish i was right now!!!

Up Next... Continuation of Arrival/Day one (believe it or not!) ... MK EMH...How were the crowds????

 

[DisnyMama]

Valentine, I am really enjoying your trip report. My DS and I have Disneyland AP's and a few years ago I did the unthinkable (as far as he was concerned) . While he was at his Dad's one weekend I went to Disneyland ALL BY MYSELF!! I had the best time. It was so funny when I told him what I did. I realize that when he grows up and has a life of his own and if Prince Charming (disney style) doesn't show up, I will be doing the solo WDW trips. It really helps to know that there are alot of us out there not willing to give up the Magic-No Matter What!!

I look forward to the rest of your report.
Shannon

 

[Valentine]

Wow.. still on day one... No wonder I was sooo tired when i got home!! Well.. my pics don't seem to be working.. so I will breeze through this post and edit to add the pics later when i can figure out what the problem is...

Okay... so I am heading over to MK for EMH's.. I had read quite a few mixed reports prior to my trip regarding the EMH's ... so I was unsure as to what to expect when i got there... I decide to drive over as I didn't want to have to deal with long lines for he busses on exiting the park later... just before I leave POP I get a phone call from Ricardo, my DVC rep confirming my appt with him for the next day.... We chatted for a bit and then I headed out... it was probably around 5 o'clock.. the park was scheduled to be open until 7 with emh till 10... I figured I could handle that no problem!! LOL!!

The Drive over to the MK was quick and painless.. I flash my AP and my AAA parking pass and head over to the preferred parking area.. Now, my AAA parking pass says 2004 on it.. but I was assured by AAA that they don't issue you a new one.. they don't really ever expire....so.. I went on faith with this one.. I had no problems using it the entire trip... The preferred parking area is right near the Special Needs parking area... so that means you have to walk through the tunnel and past the Kennels which puts you at the TTC... Now.. maybe it is just me.. but that hill dip is pretty steep over there.. and I can't imagine pushing someone in a wheelchair up and down those hills after a long day in the park... so.. keep that in mind those of you who may be travelling with people who have issues walking long distances or in wheelchairs.. Disney transportation may be the way to go for the MK...

I haven't been to the TTC in a while... and am faced with my transportation decision.. Monorail or Ferry.. I can't remember the last time I took the Ferry.. so I decide to hop on... It is quite empty.. and with the late afternoon sun setting.. quite beautiful...

I found the ferry ride to be a nice relaxing journey to the MK... a great place to escape to if you just want to have some peace and quiet... I would only suggest this in the afternoon NOT at park opening or closing.. then it is filled to the gills with people and although still a nice ride... Not nearly as peaceful as a late afternoon trip.

Upon arriving to the MK I once again breeze through security doing my latest strip routine.. I apologize to the guard for the lack of feathers and sequins... and head on over to a line I see right in front for the wristband distribution.. I am in and out of there in a flash.. wristband secured...

Here is that magic moment.. yes.. the first trip down Main Street... Always manages to put that big goofy grin on my face, a hum on my lips and a pep to my step... I decide to stroll around randomly and maybe get in a few rides that won't be open during EMH before Wishes starts.. I have my favorite Wishes Viewing location at the Plaza Pavillion.. so I figure I will work my way around the park and end up at the Pavillion by 6:45... so.. off I go... I walk through Adventure Land and decide I will try out Pirates as my first ride... as i am walking along I am struck by a sight that I know I have to capture on film....or digital memory card.. There.. right in front of me.. Some really BAD SHOES...okay.. here is my chance.. I have read all of Zurg's tips on capturing those unsuspecting Bad Shoe folks... I whip out my camera and try a shot.. hmmm.. not so easy... I reshoot.. still not so hot.. okay.. so now i am attempting a third shot.. Uh Oh.. I think I have been spotted... for some Bad Shoe wearing chick.. she sure could move fast in those Bad Boys... So.. here is my attempt at capturing them for the world to see...

I have a renewed respect for your camera skills Zurg!!! Besides a real respect for you as a Dad and Disney King.. And of course...Trip Report writer extraordinaire!!! (If there is anyone who has NOT read them... what are you waiting for?????)

Okay.. Badshoe moment passed... and I am in front of Pirates... I start to head in and see that the line is actually all the way to the entrance... WHAT???? Uh OH.. crowds... I will never wait for pirates when the line is that long.. no way.. so I walk away knowing that I have a whole week ahead to ride ... (Actually I realized I never did get to ride Pirates at all this trip.. as a matter of fact.... that brief jaunt through Adventureland was the ONLY time I was there the entire trip!! Unbelievable!)

So.. now I head over to Frontierland and check out the wait times for Splash and BTMR.. both are pretty long.... so I decide to wait for these also... I pretty much ended up walking all the way around the park and not riding anything cause the lines were just too long... and it was getting close to wishes time.... So I hotfoot it over to the Plaza pavillion only to discover when I get there that it is closed!! What?? OMG!!! Now what?? Some quick thinking and manuevering since lots of folks had already found their spots.. I decide to try the rose garden... I had read here that it was a good viewing spot and I had never tried that.. so...I head on over.. Well..this turned out to be a beautiful find... The Rose Garden was being restricted to Resort Guests with wristbands only... Since I had mine on I was let right in... there was a spot right on the fence that would not block anyone's view... and I stood right there... Wishes was wonderful as ever... I cry everytime I see it...

See Tink In This Shot!!

At the end of Wishes I now had 2 hours left to EHM's.. I hotfoot it over to tomorrowland where I walk right onto Space Mountain... I don't get to ride this as often as I would like.. so this was a nice surprise.. I met some really nice people in line and we chatted all the way down... a short 10 min wait... After Space Mountain I head on over to Buzz and only encounter a 5 min wait here... I see that COP is open.. but I decide to wait to ride that during the day.. (another one I NEVER got to ride this trip! LOL!) and I head on over to Fantasy land... Pooh is down... so I get a FP for later and head over to Frontierland.. I bypass all of Fantasyland as it is pretty crowded and I know i will do this at EMH on Friday morning. sort of a tradition for me.. Fantasyland is a morning part of the park to me.. I don't know.. I guess just a weird habit! LOL!! On my way to Splash I stop at the HM and take a quick ride here... only about 5 min wait also...Then I reach Splash and take a ride on that.. no wait here at all... lots of people are afraid to get wet.. as the temperature is pretty low.. Back Row = Dry.. try it sometime... you will find out... I love splash as usual... but don't opt for a second ride here... I notice that the line seems long for BTMR and I think i am just tired so I decide to head out and make it an early night... so, that's what I do... I walk to the front of the park and regret my decision of taking the car tonight... I am just sooo tired.. it has finally hit me.. the wall... there is NO other option to get to TTC except the Monorail.. the resort one.. the express monorail is closed.. they are rehabing the station... the ferry is closed for the evening and I am stuck.. the line for the monorail is pretty long so I resign myself to getting on it... It wasn't too bad after all.. but when you are tired it just seems worse at the moment... so.. 20 min later I am in my car and on the way back to POP... I realize that some of my lack of patience may have something to do with my lack of food ... I will never learn!! So I head over to the Food court to grab something for dinner... I end up getting the nachos and a refillable mug... and a brownie... How many points is that?? LOL!! All I have to say is that I could have had this meal combination every single day of my trip.. the nachos were great and so was the brownie!! LOL I fire up the laptop and download my pictures... you can use Dialup at POP.. but Please.. Please... Please ask the front desk for the correct phone number to use... hang out for the last installment for the reason why! I surf the DIS and post my first impressions of POP... All of which are wonderful.... So.. it is time to get some rest and put an end to this epic day... I have a big day planned for tomorrow... Animal Kingdom in the AM... DTD for lunch and then meet with my DVC rep... then off to MGM for EMH's there... Well.. it seemed like a good plan... Next up.. Did any of this happen the way it was planned?? A Big NO

Kathy

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

I am enjoying your trip report--cant wait for the next installment!

 

[Pattymouse]

Ditto!

 

[tiggerbell]

Valentine, I'm really enjoying your trip report - I actually woke up this morning thinking about rental cars! lol

And nachos and a brownie probably cost you at least 20 points! Disney Brownie, huge, right? 25 points. Oh, well, what else is a vacation for, right?

 

[DVCTiff]

Great report! What freedom you must have felt to just jump on the MGM bus. I can't wait for the rest!

 

[Valentine]

Valentine, I'm really enjoying your trip report - I actually woke up this morning thinking about rental cars! lol

And nachos and a brownie probably cost you at least 20 points! Disney Brownie, huge, right? 25 points. Oh, well, what else is a vacation for, right?

Yeah.. at least 25 points!! LOL!! But I was happy I came home not one pound heavier.. I actually lost 2 while I was there.. so... my random bad eating was not sooooo bad after all.. As long as I don't continue that way now that I am home!! LOL!! Hard to get out of the "vacation mode" LOL!!

Oh.. btw.. can you all see the pictures?? I am wondering if it is becuase I am on my MAC now that I can't see the pics...

Appreciate it if you let me know so I do or don't go crazy trying to fix it

Thanks!

Kathy

 

[tiggerbell]

Nope. The pictures are not coming through. Too bad, I'd love to see them! My trip coming up in December was supposed to be solo, but the 14 year old refused to allow it... it's gonna be a few more years before I'm allowed to go by myself!

 

[Valentine]

Nope. The pictures are not coming through. Too bad, I'd love to see them! My trip coming up in December was supposed to be solo, but the 14 year old refused to allow it... it's gonna be a few more years before I'm allowed to go by myself!

Thanks.. guess i have to start investigatine!! LOL!!! Oh joy!

I don't know what the problem is... I saw them perfectly yesterday... i am going to try and upload them to this site and pull from there.. maybe that will do the trick... wish me luck!! All this technical stuff is slowing down my writing! I'll be back.. if anyone has a clue.. feel free to give me advice.. all is welcome!!!

Kathy