Last Minute Trip To The World

[avenueqpat]

(And the answer is yes, I will actually try to complete this entire trip....last time I got very busy about halfway through, and never got it finished)

So for those who didn't see my other thread, I had a lucky day at the casino on Thursday, and I decided it was time to spend some of those winning and take an emergency trip to Disney World!

So I called up today, and (lucky me) didn't realize this was the last day of the Free Dinning offer booking period. However (silly me) I now have 8 Table Services to reserve, at about 14 days out!!!

Staying at Pop Century, and looking forward to it!

So here are the travel plans -

October 5 - Take Amtrak from Albany to NYC and stay with a friend for some of the evening.
October 6 - JetBlue (YEAH!!!!!) from JFK to Orlando - arriving at about 9:12 AM - yes....that will be a VERY early morning to get to the Airport through the Subway system. My friend lives in Queens so I will be going to Midtown Manhattan, switching to an A Train, and then getting on the shuttle that goes to the airport -------- fun times right? But it is worth it for the JetBlue service and prices (only $89 each way pre-tax)
October 14 - Leave Florida at 3:45 and get back to JFK around 6:30, then Amtrak back home!

As far as the Parks themselves.....
6 - DHS but probably just for a few hours to do a couple of my favorite rides - ToT and RnRC are definite, and then probably head back to hotel to get some sleep - I will be tired from the travel!
7 - Magic Kingdom - Open 9A - 9P, and I should be rested enough to enjoy a full day.
8 - Epcot - 9A - 9P, will probably do Future World Rides, and then head in a Clockwise circle around World Showcase - Last visit I started in Canada and gave up at the friendship boat - this is generally my least favorite part of the parks, however there are some good photo ops for characters (which I do enjoy), and the dining will be fun so long as I can get a reservation sometime on this day LOL.
9 - Animal Kingdom - 9A - 8P (EMH) - I didn't go at all on my first trip to this park, and my 2nd trip I took a break to go during an Epcot day, and I LOVED it. I plan on devoting the whole day to take in everything I can, and I think it will be great fun!
10 - This is a tough choice - so I think I am going to do Magic Kingdom in the morning, then take a leisurely lunch, and then either go back or browse Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk.
11 - Another tough choice (high crowds expected again), but will probably do --- NO IDEA where I will be this day ---- any thoughts?
12 - I am going to go back to DHS to hit Toy Story Mania, but am strongly considering getting tickets for MNSSHP in the evening. My hope is that even though DHS has EMH at night, that the morning will not be as crowded at Rope Drop.
13 - I think Magic Kingdom again - but possibly going in later on in the day and enjoying my morning doing breakfast at another resort.

So, I am excited about this trip, and since I have my IPhone now, I will be doing some tweets from the park - I will post the Twitter name once I make one

Feel free to post if you are reading along - it will be an extra boost to my typing as it gets closer!

 

[starann]

So VERY jealous that you A. won money at the casino 2. it was enough to get some stuff for the house AND go to WDW 3. you are going to WDW!!!!!


Others may have better suggestions but as a solo traveler you may be able to sit at the bar of some resturants (not sure which ones have bars though) so you might not need a ressie!


Let us know what you book, if anything!

 

[OrlandoMike]

Did you pick a resort yet?

And here's a tip for those table service ressies...

If you dont get what you want, just get there the minute they open, tell them you dont have a ressie, you are willing to eat at the bar, or you can wait at the bar for a cancelation or no show!

You're usually at a table within 30 minutes!

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

Did you pick a resort yet?

And here's a tip for those table service ressies...

If you dont get what you want, just get there the minute they open, tell them you dont have a ressie, you are willing to eat at the bar, or you can wait at the bar for a cancelation or no show!

You're usually at a table within 30 minutes!

Great tip!

 

[avenueqpat]

@starann and @orlandomike - I may try that for a day or two. Right now there are 2 days that I did not get a reservation for, but otherwise I was pretty happy with the choices that I found being so late in the game. And to Mike, I decided to just go ahead and do Pop based on expected time out of the hotel!

@EverybodyElseWhoIsReading - Some updates!

Tuesday the 6th - I will be arriving at MCO by about 9:30, and I am hoping to be at my hotel by 11ish via Magical Express. First thing I need to do is get my One Day base ticket (since I am flying in from New York this time) and exchange it for a FL resident ticket - still trying to figure out which one I want, but will probably go with a Seasonal Annual Pass as long as the dates of this trip don't conflict. Then off to Hollywood Studios to try and hit a few rides, and have a 3:30 ADR for Prime Time Cafe. I am one that will play along and put on a character of my own if need be, so I think that it will be fun!

Wednesday the 7th - Breakfast at Crystal Palace at 8:20 - I am hoping that I can get in a little bit earlier, and make it back out to the front in time for the Opening show, but we will see how that morning goes, and if I miss it, I have other days! I think it is the cutest of the opening ceremonies! Then chilling out around the Magic Kingdom for the day! First time I will get a pic with the Pooh gang!

Thursday the 8th - So, I got a $15 voucher for Planet Hollywood, which I thought was going to go to waste, but I am actually going to grab dinner here at 10:30. I figure that I could either get a drink or 2 with it, and if alcohol is not allowed with the card, I will save a Table credit and hope I get lucky with a Signature Dining place, or a Dinner Show.

Friday the 9th - Tusker House at Animal Kingdom at 12:40. This will let me do the Safari first, and maybe Bugs Life, and then just enjoying the park atmosphere while making my way over to get dinner. The park is open till 8 that night, so I will get to hit all the rides later on.

Saturday the 10th - No reservation yet ---------- I think that I want something in a park, but not 100% sure where I will be that day - some parks are open late though, so I may just hop to a resort lunch somewhere.

Sunday the 11th - Marakesh in Epcot at 11. Lazy day enjoying the Prototype Community, and maybe running to MK for 2 AM Closing.

Monday the 12th - Again, not sure about where to go yet... Will probably look into getting MNSSHP tickets for this evening.

Tuesday the 13th - Last full day of the Vacation - Turf Club at Saratoga Springs - I think that will be a nice way to end the trip - there were however some openings earlier in the day if I decide to see a Firework / Show at one of the parks.....I need to decide that soon though!


Very excited, and I will keep you all posted!

 

[dmwang9]

Subscribing.

Sounds like you're going to have a blast, and I can't wait to read more!

 

[glenpreece]

Wow sounds like one of my solo getaways, although I have never done a character meal solo before.

 

[avenueqpat]

Wow sounds like one of my solo getaways, although I have never done a character meal solo before.

I love being able to go solo and just meet up with someone for a day or two - and I have yet to do ANY character dining, but I love Tigger and Eeyore - Pooh and Piglet are fun too

But I realized I should have asked if there is a character attendant who I could ask to take a shot with my camera, or PhotoPass photographers

 

[glenpreece]

I love being able to go solo and just meet up with someone for a day or two - and I have yet to do ANY character dining, but I love Tigger and Eeyore - Pooh and Piglet are fun too

But I realized I should have asked if there is a character attendant who I could ask to take a shot with my camera, or PhotoPass photographers

See that's tht hing at the character meals they don't have attendants and only the ones that offer the photo pkg have photogs, I would feel weird asking some family to take my pic lol

 

[avenueqpat]

Hmmmm.....I may need to rethink that then - I mean there is always the stick one hand out and try to squeeze in myself and the character....but that could also be awkward..........Someone said on another thread here that they would ask another family to take pics for them, and then switch so the other family could have everyone in....but I would fee weird about that too ---- well, this may guarantee my spot at seeing the opening show.

I will keep you all posted

 

[OrlandoMike]

Find a family near you that looks like they are as into it as you are.

Offer to take their family pic, if they will take a pic of you!

You shouldn't have any problems! People LOVE it when their entire group can get in a photo, and I'm sure they would help you in return!

 

[OrlandoMike]

Tuesday the 13th - Last full day of the Vacation - Turf Club at Saratoga Springs - I think that will be a nice way to end the trip !

If you ask for Max it will be!

 

[akcire]

Congrats on your win.

Any time we do Character Dining we offer to take photos of others, so they will in turn take our picture. This way my husband and I can get our photo together with the furry friends. Surprisingly the Crystal Palace is the best place for this, Winnie the Pooh practically ate at our table one day. Pooh must have needed a break from toddlers.

We have even had servers offer to take our picture with the characters, never at character dining have we felt we missed a photo op.

Don't forget, you have planned your trip during Food & Wine. This years Food & Wine looks awesome! Also the Halloween Party is on at the Magic Kingdom, and the new Wishes Dessert Buffet has been extended. We were supposed to be at the World right now, had to cancel for a medical issue. I am missing the Mouse so much I am starting to sound like a commercial.

Enjoy your trip....

 

[avenueqpat]

I think it is pretty deffinite that I am going to go to the Halloween Party - I really want to see the fireworks live instead of just on YouTube. I also think there will be an even erier feeling going through HM, and then coming out to the new decorations. I already am going to need to play with my tickets when I get there, and when I do that, I will get the MNSSHP ticket as well (probably right on the 6th)

I also do plan on using some snack credits throughout Epcot - not a big wine and beer drinker, although I saw there is a place with Champagne??? Yum! That is an out of pocket expense that will be worth it.

I don't think I will do the Wishes buffet, although it looks delicious - just because I have seen the fireworks from there before, and although the view was OK, I think that there must be a better spot somewhere......not sure where yet though I will scope out some areas durring the day.

Very excited - in one week I will be in NYC trying to figure out how the heck to get to JFK and catch my flight Tuesday Morning from Queens!

 

[glenpreece]

MNSSHP is tonnes of fun, i did it solo a few years and kept running into the same couple at the character meets over and over again. I was dressed as a king and they were PP and Wendy.

 

[avenueqpat]

Ah yes.....the costume. I just finished on a production of hair and was gonna go as my hippy self, but the pot spats may get me booted. I'll prob just do tiedye bandana on head tie dye shirt and get a peace sign chain.

 

[avenueqpat]

www.twitter.com/PatDisney09

This will make the TR easier for me to put together when I get back, and will give me something to do when there are lines.

The real question is, can you take pics on an IPhone and upload them to Twitter?

 

[avenueqpat]

Got all my info today. 6 days till the trip!

 

[OrlandoMike]

Only 6 days! Get packing!

 

[Saxton]

Congratulations!!! Wow, a friend has forced me to go to a casino a few times and I'm never lucky. You won't have any problem getting pictures - when I'm alone I always get asked to take pictures for people. When we were down last October a straight couple on their honeymoon grabbed us on Main St. and asked us to take their picture and then they happily took our's.

I think I must have missed it ... where will you be staying?