I have perfected the art of taking pictures of myself...the solo disney trip report!

[Nicole786]

Great installments, i'm lovin it!

 

[cheapi86]

Wow! people are reading my trip report

I was going to type up day 3..but my ambien is already taking effect.

Hopefully I can finish the week up tomorrow

 

[Tara in CT]

I am so excited to see a trip report from someone who went solo! Can't wait to read the rest

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

HOORAY for solo trips! Welcome to the club! Warning- it's surprisingly addictive!

I'm surprised so many people commented on you being solo! I've only had it happen once that I remember- the ride operator at Small World gave me a rude look when I said just one, like he thought I was on crack to be there alone AND riding IASW!

 

[cheapi86]

I think I got a lot of comments about being alone because people think I'm younger than I am. One girl even said "Wow! I wished my parents trusted me enough to go on a trip by myself."

Anyway on to day 3!

My tour commando trait came out on Friday. I woke up at 630 to get ready to go to Animal Kindgom. While I was eating my oatmeal (frugal alert! I took the packets with me and made hot water using the coffee maker...mainly because I was too lazy to walk to the food court I remembered my birthday button! So I put it on and headed out to the bus stop.

I caught a bus that was pretty empty and the first thing the bus driver did was say.." Let's recognize our VIP" and the whole bus sang Happy Birthday to me. It was embarrassing but funny

When I got to Animal Kingdom I realized I probably got there a bit too early. I was the only person lined up (that wasn't going to the Breakfast...), so I sat down on the bench and waited for someone to start the line. What can I say..I'm a follower

Once I got in line I met a couple behind me. They were on their honeymoon and we started talking and realized that we were taking the same tour tomorrow. It is a small world!

They were shocked to find out that I'd never been on any Disney roller coasters and didn't plan on going to Expedition Everest that day. What can I say. It's not the scare factor of the ride, it's my worrisome mind think- this is foolish, I'm going to fall off, I'm going to break down...

When they finally let people come in, I saw the preshow (AK has my favorite :

And headed to Dinosaur (no line, I walked on) I'd never been on it before, and it was SCARY! The picture they take of you on the ride, showed me crouched down in the seat! Also, doesn't everyone think it's so cool how Mrs.Huxtable is a scientist in the pre-movie?

After Dinosaur I pysched myself up and headed to the thriller ride: Primeval Whirl (told you I was a wimp!). The line was very short and while I was heading up the ramp, a cast member said "Happy Birthday! Have you heard of a magical moment? I'm going to let you go in front of the line and ride twice in a row."

Now let me tell you that I was barely riding this thing once, so I knew I wouldn't ride it twice. Not to mention that I didn't realize it turned (Primeval Whirl....where was the clue ) so I was happy to do it once.

But it was still exciting to bypass everyone and get a spot right then. Plus I received a neat certificate.

After that I headed to It's a Bug's Life. That show is very cute. Then I got a bit lost on my way to the Safari (because I am waaay too cool to use a map) and wound up in Asia:

Then I went to the safari and had my longest wait of the day there - 20 minutes- but I wasn't complaining for a summer holiday week.

A lot of the animals were out during that ride. Here's my favorite picture of the ride (oh and if you were on that ride and you let your daugther stand up and BLOCK EVERYONE'S PICTURES...EVERY.SINGLE.TIME....STOP..A)because it's rude and B) because she might become lion food...I'm just sayin'):

Then I needed to cool off, so I went to see Festival of a Lion King. That was a nice (air conditioned!) show:

Then I was hot and tired. So I headed back to the hotel to take a nap before dinner.

Next:
California Grill & Wishes

 

[cheapi86]

After a nap, I woke up and got ready for California Grill. I decided to work my Birthday button and wore a jacket over my dress just so I could keep it on

Once I got the the contemporary, a cast member took me up the special elevator to the restaurant. I wanted a table near the window, so I had about a 10 minute wait. I headed out to the observatory deck to kill time:

See the birthday button?

Then my pager buzzed and I sat down. There was a family next to me who were simply HILARIOUS! The mom came over to my table and just talked and talked. They've even bought land near my school to build a cabin so we exchanged email addresses!

I ordered the rainbow crunch sushi rolls for an appetizer. I LOVE sushi, but you got a TON. I tried my best to eat it all though :

Then I had some pork tenderloin stuff for an entree. DELISH. I was not ashamed to try to eat almost all of it:

And for dessert I had the buzz crunch. I'm not a fan of heated bananas. But this was goood and "gluttony" was my theme of the day, so I totally ate the whole thing:

During dinner a hostess came and took my picture and put it in a little frame from the Resort for my Birthday. It was a nice touch. Wishes started about 10 minutes after dinner. It started to sprinkle a bit and a lot of people left the observatory deck (what is up with people in Disney thinking they're going to melt?) so I had a prime viewing location:

Then I was tired, so I went back to POR and went to bed. What a day!

Next: Day 4 Magic Kingdom Tour, MGM
Day 5- Magic Kingdom and Fantasmic

 

[disneyeeyorefan]

I looked at those crocs a million times when we were in Disney, but I didn't get them and regretted it as soon as I got home.
Looking forward to next installment

 

[BeautyNBeast]

Sounds like you had a wonderful time by yourself. I would be too scared to go by myself, but I am amazed and awestruck of those that can. I cannot even go to the movie theater by myself. Anyways, cannot wait to read the rest of your trip.

 

[DreaGirl]

Sounds like another great day!

You cracked me up with the lion food comment...I'll have to remember that in October!

Your meal looked SO YUMMY!!

 

[momtoccc]

Good for you for going by yourself - how fun! I'm secretly trying to plan a solo trip for me next April... shhhh! don't tell

 

[dcmartin]

Renee, you are adorable! I love reading your reports and can not wait for the next one. If you come back soon to WDW come see me at the Grand. I work Concierge, just look for Christine!
Have a Grand day!

 

[miss missy]

WOW congrats on doing a solo trip at your age that takes guts! I wish I thought of it when I was that age. I do have the feeling one day I may just do that trip, but it would be a long time from nowas I think the kids would be mad LOL! I gotta go back an read it now.. I just had to say WOW and congrats and YAY for you

 

[miss missy]

Day 1

I found a great flight (pricewise) at a larger airport about 1 hour from my home, so I left at 5 am (not that I was sleeping...I had just packed!) and headed out to the airport.

Sidenote: Can someone please tell me why I needed two fully packed large suitcases AND a carryon AND a backpack style purse if I was only gone for 5 nights???

Well first of all, not packing till last minute I am so bad about that, I am Miss Organization, so I would of been a mess if I saw that... glad I wasn't around!

Why do we pack sooo much.. well me and my MIL figure it is a disease! So fearful you will want that pair of shorts you NEVER wore the last 3 trips Boy we are our own worst enemies!!

My flight left at 9 and I think I had the craziest flight attendant in the world. LaDonna from SouthWest. She made these funny jokes the entire trip there, such as "If you're flying with children....sorry!". It made the flight go by fast.

Then I FINALLY got to MCO and rushed down to the Magical express counter. On the way I tried to tell a family (walking around aimlessly with their vouchers in their hands) that they were going the wrong way...but the didn't listen to me.

At the ME counter I got the first of many.. "Are you here alone?" By the end of the trip I was so incredibly tempted to make some biotchy comeback response. But I didn't...mainly because I couldn't think of anything.

It seemed like FOREVER before I was finally at the resort. The ME driver must have been having a bad day. The first thing he said was "I work for MEARS. I am not compensated by Disney in any way. If you miss your time going back to the airport you will be responsible for your own transportation. We will not wait for you." And that was all he said.

I think I had that flight attendant too with SW! I had a guy too that was very silly. He sang something funny, but I don't remember what.

Never did ME, always rent a car, just too darn stubborn to be told when to leave to the airport LOL!

Sad the ME driver was so upset I love riding the buses and having fun when the drivers chit chat with us. That stunk that he was crabby! Sorry!

Until we got to the resort and then he said "Port Orleans". Now I was so excited to be at Disney, I didn't look at the sign coming in or anything. I just jumped off the bus. I get to the checkout counter and the woman was looking at the computer..very confused..she had an "earning my ears" tag on. So I just thought she didn't know what she was doing. So I just keep giving her these reassuring smiles. I mean we've all had first days at work right?

Until she told me I was at French Quarter. Not Riverside. Embarrased, I had to go catch a bus (because yall I was on vacation...I was not about to do any unneccassary walking) and went to Riverside.

Then I was FINALLY able to check in (and grit my teeth when the cast member said..." oh you're here by yourself? That's sorta fun" ), stop by the conceirge to book a spot on the Keys to the Kingdom tour and buy a ticket for La Nouba.

Then I was finally off to my room.

Or so I thought.

And then I realized that POR is huge. And I have never been known for my direction skills. So needless to say I got lost (and would continue to get lost every time I left my room with.out.fail.). But then I finally found my room.

And it was gloriously air conditioned. The vacation could begin!

All I could think of is how many times I drove off property at night trying to get back to the hotel me and DD cracked up everytime we saw the Gaylord sign... we did it everynight one trip!

I have never been to the POR but I am sure I would of done the same thing and got lost! It looks nice!

Well maybe next time you can have a stuffed poodle in your arm and say, no I am not alone, just to watch the reactions!

 

[DivaOstrich]

the salmon (it was different than the salmon on the allears, it was a Copper Canyon or something...) was extremely fresh and melted like butter in my mouth. I ate the whole thing!


Was it Copper River Salmon? If so then it is from Alaska and where I am . Alaskan wild salmon is the best, but being from here where we can catch as many as we want I never eat when on vacation

So glad you posted the link on TMFL b/c I am enjoying it so much! I would love to do a solo trip on year, but I am afraid that day will be a ways off. Yeah for you!!! It looks like you had so much fun!

When I was a CM I would come to the parks quite often by myself. So relaxing and fun for people watching!! I highly recommend it!

I look forward to reading more

 

[mboekhoff]

Another TMFLer here! It sounds like you had a great time, I can't wait to read the rest.

Missy in MN

 

[DivaOstrich]

Alaskan wild salmon is the best, but being from here where we can catch as many as we want I never eat when on vacation

Okay....I just realized I said I never eat when on vacation when I meant I never eat salmon when I'm on vacation . I eat plenty when on vacation and I have to say that is one of the things DH and I are looking forward to the most.....good food!!

Hi Missy in MN!! I'm Missy in AK!!!!

Look forward to reading more

 

[BriarRosie]

Renee, I am surprised you got those "are you alone??" type of comments.
I rarely get those on my solo trips! I giggled at how much you packed for a 5 night trip! I'm going 9 nights, and I'm pretty much one suitcase, one carry on, and the backpack. And I still probably overpacked.

You hit some great restaurants, and discovered lots of people willing to talk to you. Only in Disney will complete strangers want to strike up a conversation. I thought your California Grill story sounded hilarious!
Wait, for me...not just Disney. Total strangers often talk to me anywhere I go. But at least in Disney, it's not so....weird.

Great report, looking forward to more!

 

[mboekhoff]

Hi Missy in MN!! I'm Missy in AK!!!!

Hi Missy! I have seen you at TMFL also. Have you read tiggerbells trip reports? Here is a link to her most recent trip, VERY funny

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1365004

 

[Disney4Drew]

You are a hoot, girl!

And I noticed those fabulous Vera bags on your bed!

 

[AnneMcD]

Great trip report! Years ago my mom and I visited my uncle who lived an hour away from Orlando, so for 3 days in a row I drove up to Disney by myself! I had alot of fun doing what I wanted to do! Some day I'd like to go again by myself. Can't wait to hear about the rest of the trip!