Hey.. who cares.. I'm Going to Disney - Arrival at the Swan Part III

[Valentine]

Finally.... after the realization hit me that I COULD actually go to Disney on my own... here I am!!!

Cast of Characters:

Me - Kathy, Single 39 (OMG!!!)
Pal Mickey - My constant sidekick throughout this trip (thought I killed him one night.. but more on that later)

As I am now armed with my brand spankin' new room key.. I head off in search of the West Elevators... I find them.. and head on up to the 6th Floor... As I had booked Club Level I was expecting to be on the 11th or 12th floor.. but I was thrilled because I was going to have a balcony... I just love fresh air in my room... I hit the sixth floor.. and follow the signs to room 690... I walk down the hall.. keep walking.. a little further.. and realize that my room is the 2nd from the end of the building... I put the key in the door.. hold my breath.. and I am in... I turn on the lights.. and WOW.... I Love it!!! It is a Swan Studio.. I have a couch.. King Size Bed... and the room is really spacious... I am extremely happy!!! My bags arrive moments after I do... and in strolls Bob.. the happiest bellman I have ever met.. He was soooo nice... and was more than willing to fill me in on all of the Swan amenities.. he was very "Disney like" ..Eager.. a huge smile on his face.. and he took real interest in making my sure I had a good time... I thanked him for his time... handed him one of my Disney envelopes... and sat down to relax for a few minutes.. and Finally have those fries!!! Okay... Room experienced... clothes changed... tummy happy (for now!!) it's time to head back to MGM... As I was planning to be at the Magic Kingdom in the morning for My Keys to the Kingdom tour.. and I had planned on spending NYE night at Epcot... I decided that I might not have time to hit MGM again.. so tonight was it.... So.. off I went... This time I hopped on the boat... and chatted with some people who were interested in my Mickey. I arrive at MGM.. and Mickey wakes up.. he is very excited to meet the movie stars here... I realize that I made a mistake earlier in the day by not getting FP for the RnR Coaster when I walked over and saw that the wait time was now posted at 190 minutes... and the Tower of Terror was well over 90 minutes... As I have been on both.. I decide to skip them.. and try again while Fantasmic is going on... There were 3 shows scheduled for that night.. and I figured I would go to the last one at 10:15 .. to optimize my touring time.... Hmmmmm Yeahb Right... Read on to see what REALLY Happened!!!.... I am worried now that the park is just too crowded to do anything.. but press on... It turns out that everyone seemed to be on Sunset Blvd.. because the rest of the park was just normally busy. I got on line for the Great Movie Ride.. and when I reached the first movie part of the line... a CM was there asking for single or double riders... I announced myself and was immediately pulled out of the line and brought to the front of the theatre... passing up the whole weaving in and out portion of that line... a plus timewise.. but I do love those movie clips!! so... I was put on the next ride... I ended up at the gangster part.. and Had a CM who was QUITE enthusiastic.. she was really into it... it was nice to see... I always enjoy that ride.. and it was quite different for me.. experiencing it alone... I always tend to look to see my travelling companion's reaction to Disney rides... and I think I miss some things.. this trip I get to be totally self indulgent.. a real stretch for me... but I think I can get used to it!! I then head on over to Star Tours... 20 min wait.. not bad.. I get on line.. a Really Cool family is on line behind me... this is their first trip.. and they ask me a few questions... I give my best Disboard advice.. and they are eternally grateful!! After Star Tours I head on over to Muppets... It is now a walk on.. and I catch the pre-show at the last 2 min.. I look around the room.. but still can't find that Net full of Jello??? ANYONE?? Where is it!???? I thoroughly enjoy this one.. as usual.... and head on out to journey on... As I pass Indiana Jones.. Mickey tells me to pull the rope on the well next to the entrance.. Try It.. it's funny.... Although.. some people were looking at me very strangely.. standing there alone.. pulling on a rope in the dark.. . and giggling... hmmmmm... I decide to head on over to try RnR and TOT again.... it is nearing 8 and I think that most people will have either seen the first showing of Fantasmic and left.. and the others are now either in the theatre waiting... or on line... Well.. I was partially right... The lines for both rides were still insane... so.. I decide that I am tired.. and am not going to make it till the 10:15 showing of Fantasmic.. so I figure I will try and get into this show...well it is literally 5 min from showtime.. so I hoof it on over to the stadium... I am walking.. and I am into the theatre... good sign.. I wasn't turned away.... I stop at the snack stand and get a hot dog and a beer.. and the lights go out... Uh OH.. Where to go.??? I head over to the left hand side of the stadium to the standing room section.. there is NOONE there!!??!??!?! I actually can sit.. and see directly through the aisle and it's a great spot.. with NOONE around me!! Amazing!!! The show was fabulous as usual.... at about mid point.. some CM's come and sit near me... and seem to enjoy the show as much as I... at the end I asked them if they got tired of seeing it... and they informed me that they usually don't get to see it... it is only when Disney has multiple shows that they can see part of it.... so.. they really enjoy it also... it was nice to share that experience with the CM's... I had called home to let a friend of mine listen in on the Fantasmic music as it is her favorite show.... she was thrilled!! (I found that I did that a few times during my trip!!) I joined the mass of humanity exiting the stadium... and head on out of the park... I did check both TOT and RnR before leaving.. but still no luck.. Oh Well.. these might be a bust this trip.... I decide to leave the park.. and head back to the Swan to try out that Heavenly Bed .. after all... tomorrow is NYE.. a Very long day planned... starting with Keys to the Kingdom...and ending with Illuminations at Epcot... So I thought!!! Tune in for the next installment of Hey... Who Cares.. I'm Going to Disney.. and the Terrible Nightmare!!!!

 

[IloveDMB]

Wow, that's cool that you got a studio! Sounds like a nice start.

Thanks for sharing, I look forward to reading about the rest of your trip.

 

[pumba]

I love all the rides you did.......Star Wars is one of my favorite and love to get thrown around......sorry that you didnt' get to do RNR ...but I will sit out the TOT until I can get a bar to hold onto again.....thanks

 

[Valentine]

I know.. I was sooooo shocked when I finally did get to ride TOT (that's in my last day trip report!! See.. now you have a heads up!! ) Wait.. something's missing here... where is the lap bar???? I remember us sitting up on our legs to keep the bar from going down too far so that we would get some air time!! Guess Disney caught onto that craving!! You really don't need the lap bar though... on my 2nd trip through I was very comfortable.. Although.. if you feel a bit nervous.... just make sure you are the first in any of the lines and you end up against the wall which has a hand bar attached to the cage... That way you don't have to miss out!

Thanks for the input on my trip reports!! Makes them all that much more fun to write!! Sorry they are Sooooooo long.. I talk alot!!

Kathy

 

[Krissalee]

Great room, great day! Thanks for sharing your report. I long for a solo trip...