How to beat the winter blues- Book a solo trip!

tinknme

<font color=green>I happened to be posting on the
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Jun 24, 2005
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Winters are the worse for me & it seems as I get older the cold, cloudy days bother me more. I suppose you could say I get the “Winter Depression”. So why not book a trip & have something to look forward to!

Anyway I will tell you all a little bit about myself & forewarn you that I am not that great with trip reports, so please bear with me. I might ramble a little as well, so apologies if this reads like a novel. I'm not even sure if this is considered a pre-trip report lol

I have been for the most part happily married(I would be lying if I said our marriage is perfect, but we try)for 18 years. Dh unfortunately is not as crazy about Disney as I am, but that is ok. His love is for traveling to Europe & I can’t argue with that. He takes his trips to Europe, I take mine to Disney & everyone once in a while we do take them together. Helps us keep our sanity lol We have two sons ages 14 & 11 that I consider to be my miracles. They both mean the world to me & they love Disney as much as myself :goodvibes

My first trip to Disney was in October of 1995 with my brother & his family along with my mother, my dh, & our ds that was 1 ½ years old. This was also my first experience attending MNSSHP. We all went again in May of 96(I was 5 months along with ds #2) & in Oct. of 2000(sadly this was the last trip I would have with my mother :sad1: ). All of these trips we stayed off site & drove non stop from Illinois(well unless you want to count the couple hours of sleep at a rest stop :rotfl: ).

Feb, of 2005 was our next trip to the world & this is when the Disney fever really hit! We drove again(this would be the last time driving), but we did spend the night at a hotel along the way this time(we finally wised up lol) This trip consisted of dh, our ds’s ages 11 & 8, along with dh’s brother & family. This was their first trip to the World & we were all so excited! This was also our first trip staying on site at PC. I was recovering from major surgery, but I did not let that slow me down, I left wanting more!

After returning home I planned a surprise trip for the boys. We would be returning as soon as school was out in June(I booked PC again, just love it there!). I invited a friend along & this was her 1st trip as well. I did very well at keeping the secret(It was so hard at times not being able to share my excitement with them). I had told them my friend was taking a trip to Disney & we would be giving her a ride to the airport & that we would spend the night at a hotel so they could go swimming. They bought it & thought nothing about the luggage I took :thumbsup2 Dh drove us all to the airport & I am busting at the seams waiting to tell them. At the airport we get my friends luggage out & then I tell the boys they need to get ours out as well because we are going to Disney! They both look at me like I am nut’s & tell me no way, to stop teasing. I was in hysterics & I could not stop laughing. They finally believed me when I showed them the plane tickets. Wow what a wonderful trip that was & the last one that I would secretly plan again.

Again upon returning home, I still wanted more. So I plan a trip for Oct. with free dining & tickets for MNSSHP(we stayed at ASMu this time). This was the best, the whole trip was magical(well except for the one crying meltdown that I had. We were at Epcot & the boys were in a mood & just kept picking at each other. I couldn’t handle anymore, I sat down & just started crying. One good thing the boys were perfect the rest of the trip & I felt better myself!).

I felt like the luckiest person in the world! I was able to go on 3 trips in one year & share all of this with my family & a friend. Wow life could not be any sweeter! Well yes it could :teeth: In Jan. of 06 I get a call from Mil. She had planned a trip with bil & sil & her dh decided that he did not want to go. Everything was paid for, would I like to take his place? Hmmm, let’s think about this. Well there was no thinking, I instantly said yes!!!!!! All I had to pay for was food & any souvenirs I might want. This was another awesome trip & so different as I had no husband or children with me. I was able to take things slowly, what a difference that makes! I was also able to experience different resorts. We stayed at the CR, BWV’s, & my favorite AKL. Oh I fell in love with this place. So peaceful & just sitting on the balcony watching the animals was so calm & relaxing. This trip was my pixiedust: thanks to my mil. I will never forget it.

I booked another trip for myself & 2 ds’s for Oct., so we could again enjoy free dining & MNSSHP(staying at AKL, I wanted the boys to experience this wonderful resort). This time I invited one of the boys friends along. He had never been before(notice I love taking newbies lol Just something about sharing this wonderful place with others). This turned out to be another wonderful trip with lot’s of memories! It was a great experience taking another child along & something I will probably do again in the future.

Now it would be a year before my next trip & a few months longer than that for my family :( My next trip was in Oct. 07(staying at PC). I have made quite a few friends here on the Dis boards & they are part of my family. We all decided to have a big meet, go to MNSSHP, & enjoy the F&WF at Epcot. We shared quite a few meals together & made a lot of wonderful memories. When we all met, it was like we had been friends forever :goodvibes I shared a room with two others & it was like a slumber party! Again I was taking a trip without my family to the World. I felt bad, but only for a second :rotfl: This gave me a chance to really enjoy what Epcot had to offer though. My boys like to go for the rides & in previous trips I never really was able to take in anything that the F&WF had to offer, so this was a treat! Oh & after all these trips I finally bought an AP!

Our big family trip was coming up in Dec., we were spending Christmas at Disney! Bil & his family were joining us as well. We stayed at the Polynesian & yes I fell in love with this resort as well. Dh really enjoyed himself this time(one thing that helped was flying, no stress for him or us!). He was able to relax & do his own thing if needed. I loved being here for Christmas, was it crowded? Maybe, but I did not care, I was as happy as could be! The decorations, the atmosphere, nicer weather(leaving the cold back home was a big plus!). Everyone was in such a good mood. Why oh why can’t everyday be like this? Waking up Christmas morning at Disney is a feeling that is so hard to describe other than saying magical(I know corny, but true lol). It will be a while before we do this again, but it will happen & I look forward to it!

Which brings us to now(If you even made it this far lol). I have a flight credit from our Dec. trip & I have an AP.. That right there is reason enough to think about the next trip :thumbsup2 In all honesty the only trip I was thinking about is the one I have booked for Aug. 08 with my 2 sons. But sometimes things happen & when flights went on sale, I took it as a sign lol I booked a flight on Air Tran leaving May 5th & returning May 9th. I had not even booked a room yet, this was one of those spur of the moment, do it right now things!

After I booked the flight, I thought goodness what have I done? Taking a trip to Disney by yourself, are you crazy! The thought of what I had just done made me a little nervous. Disney does not make me nervous, but the thought of being alone was a little different. But after thinking it over for a while I realized that this would be another new adventure for me! So I booked PC & made one ADR for myself(I chose R&C & I am hoping to be able to watch Illuminations). I found out as well that another member of my Dis family will be there at the same time with her dd, sweet! Now I am not totally alone :goodvibes I will be sharing some meals with her, which will be nice. I had planned on eating just CS, I am not much on eating alone. I am still a little worried about R&C.

I am now getting very excited about this trip! I will have 4 nights & 3 full days to do as I please. No one to worry about, no one to answer to. I can sleep in as late as I want(I highly doubt I will sleep in, but it is a nice thought) I am looking forward to the F&GF at Epcot, Eating when I want(well except for The ADR's booked :rolleyes1 ) & what I want. I can take my time & browse, I will not feel bad about not getting on certain rides(I am not much of a roller coaster person). I can ride my favorite ride, HM as many times as I want. I can do anything I want, wow that sounds wonderful!

I am almost to my 45 day mark(I ended up booking dining with the AP), which means my documents will follow soon after. Once I get those babies, it will be hard to contain myself! I am doing something for me & going to Disney is the best choice I could have made. I will leave behind the husband, children, dog, cats, laundry, dishes, ect. They can take my spot while I am away for a few days. I will be at my "Happy Place" & reality will be left behind, for a few days anyway.


To be continued………….
 
Great start, Janet, and I loved reading your "Disney history" all in one place. :goodvibes Just wish I wasn't missing you by a day. :sad1: Next time! :thumbsup2
 
Thanks Lindsay! I didn't mean for it to be so long :rotfl: I'm sorry to be missing you as well. Hopefully soon we can plan another meet :thumbsup2

Great start, Janet, and I loved reading your "Disney history" all in one place. :goodvibes Just wish I wasn't missing you by a day. :sad1: Next time! :thumbsup2
 
I loved reading your Disney history too!!!

Did you see that the Disney website has May 6th MK hours changed to a 9pm closing? I would LOVE to see Wishes for my birthday!:cool1:

You can do R&C!!!! I've eaten at places alone on business trips. Eating at Disney will be easy!

It was snowing here today-I am so ready for a Disney trip.
 

Thanks Bernadette!

I hadn't noticed the time change, that is great news! Sounds like the perfect ending to your night :goodvibes

I will miss it this night though, this is my night for R&C & watching Illuminations!

It wasn't to bad here today, but I am ready for much warmer weather. I have promised to try & not complain when it is so humid out that I feel like I am melting :rotfl:

We do not have much longer :cool1:

I loved reading your Disney history too!!!

Did you see that the Disney website has May 6th MK hours changed to a 9pm closing? I would LOVE to see Wishes for my birthday!:cool1:

You can do R&C!!!! I've eaten at places alone on business trips. Eating at Disney will be easy!

It was snowing here today-I am so ready for a Disney trip.
 
Great start, Janet! I just know you are going to love this new chapter in WDW vacations. :goodvibes
 
Thanks Elin! I am really looking forward to this new chapter :thumbsup2

Great start, Janet! I just know you are going to love this new chapter in WDW vacations. :goodvibes
 
Awwww...congrats on the trip! I'm sure it will go great and you'll have so much fun(sleeping in or NOT)!

Can't wait to read more!

Jen
 
Thanks! I have to admit I have never been to a park at opening, I tend to be a little slow in the morning lol But I will be meeting my friend for breakfast at CP & our ADR is before park opening. I am looking forward to seeing Main Street & the castle without the crowds!

Awwww...congrats on the trip! I'm sure it will go great and you'll have so much fun(sleeping in or NOT)!

Can't wait to read more!

Jen
 
Have you seen the photos from this year's Flower Fest on allearsnet.com? It looks like so much fun!
 
One thing I forgot to mention is that I have not said anything at work about this trip yet :rolleyes1 I have gotten to the point that I am tired of hearing “You are going to Disney again?”. I have marked my time off on the calendar & next month I will mention this to my Manager(I make out the schedule, so she does not pay attention to what is written on the calendar). Do I seem horrible? I don’t know, I guess I just feel it is no ones business what I do on my time off & I know if I tell them I am going alone they will think I have lost it. Well they already think I have lost it, but that is another story :rotfl:
 
Final payment was made today! Everything is now paid for, except for what spending I take.

Now I just wait :dance3:
 
My ME vouchers arrived in the mail today, my trip is getting closer :dance3: :dance3: :dance3:
 
My Disney documents arrived today, I am getting so excited! :dance3:
 
Beings I am on the DDP, I thought I would share where I will be eating as far as TS meals. Thankfully only one of my meals I will be eating by myself(besides CS & that does not bother me). I will be sharing the other 3 meals with my Dis friend & her dd that will be at the world the same time as me.

May 6th - Breakfast at CP. I have eaten here before, but I have never been to MK before the park opens. We have a 8:05am seating, I am really looking forward to this!

May 6th - Dinner at R&C, this will be my solo meal. I have eaten here before & really enjoyed the food & the sticky toffee pudding dessert :rotfl: I am hoping that I can get an outside table & watch Illuminations. I won't get my hopes up though!

May 7th - Dinner at Garden Grill. I have never eaten here before & hope the catfish nuggets are as good as they look!

May 8th - Breakfast at Cape May. I have eaten here before & enjoy the food & character interaction!

There are a lot of CS places I have yet to try. I hope to go to different places on this trip, here are a few I am thinking about:

Pecos Bills
Yak & Yeti CS
Pinocchio Village Haus
El Pirita
Pizza Planet
Catalina Eddie's
Beaches & Cream

I do have other's picked out as well for Epcot, but I have eaten at them before.

Lotus Blossom Cafe
Tangierine Cafe
Sunshine Seasons

Naturally I have way more places picked than I will need, but hopefully I will get to try some of the new places.
 
This time next month I will be getting ready to head out! I am getting so excited, only 30 more days :dance3:
 


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