Let the Wookiee Win: An August Solo Adventure! *Updated 11/17*

[Tracy161]

I think Disney cold is worse than other cold. It’s the same on the Gulf Coast — wet cold feels so much worse.

Yes! Once I emerged from the plane back in New York, it was approximately -10 with the windchill and felt oddly the same as when I was in Florida with 30+ degree temps

 

[kastoney]

Happy New Year!!!! Glad to hear you all had a great time and survived the frigid temps Seriously though glad you got some more Disney time in. Can't wait to hear about it

 

[Tracy161]

Happy New Year!!!!

Thank you! And the same to you!

Glad to hear you all had a great time and survived the frigid temps

It was chilly, but at least it was Disney

Seriously though glad you got some more Disney time in. Can't wait to hear about it

Thank you! Once I'm caught up on everyone's TRs, I'll get cranking on my own

 

[Elizabeth Smith]

Happy New Year. Sorry about the cold weather on your family trip. I would feel a little salty going to Florida and still being cold.

 

[mmwelch]

Coming in super late, had to catch up but going again for the first time in 4 years in a few months. Had to get perspective from fellow person from Western NY.

 

[Tracy161]

Happy New Year.

Thank you! And to you!

Sorry about the cold weather on your family trip. I would feel a little salty going to Florida and still being cold.

Thanks, it really was a hard pill to swallow. It helped that at least we weren't back home in the negative digits!

Coming in super late, had to catch up but going again for the first time in 4 years in a few months. Had to get perspective from fellow person from Western NY.

So happy you're here! Wow, I'm so excited for you!!! Four years is a long time to be away, so I can't imagine your excitement!!!

 

[KathyM2]

as did the crazed adult in the Minnie costume in the second picture...

I love your Minnie costume!! So cute!

Also I have to add, "Florida cold" overall is pretty crappy. I know, I know...when you come from someplace were it was minus a billion degrees at home and you say anything about how cold it is in Florida...people go nuts but...I get it...we were in South FL for the holidays and while yes, it was exponentially warmer than at home...it still sucked because you aren't prepared for it and when you can't do warm weather things in FL...it's kinda depressing sigh!! But I'm glad you managed with double leggings and looks like you still had a great time!

 

[missjackiemcg]

We should have all met and huddled up for warmth

YES!! That would definitely have been a good idea!!! Anything would have helped

 

[Tracy161]

I love your Minnie costume!! So cute!

Thank you, Kathy!

Also I have to add, "Florida cold" overall is pretty crappy. I know, I know...when you come from someplace were it was minus a billion degrees at home and you say anything about how cold it is in Florida...people go nuts but...I get it...we were in South FL for the holidays and while yes, it was exponentially warmer than at home...it still sucked because you aren't prepared for it and when you can't do warm weather things in FL...it's kinda depressing sigh!! But I'm glad you managed with double leggings and looks like you still had a great time!

I completely agree!!!!! It's very depressing because you don't necessarily expect it. But I suppose it was better than what either of us would have faced back home, right?

YES!! That would definitely have been a good idea!!! Anything would have helped

Agreed! We really missed an opportunity there

 

[Tracy161]

Hi, friends! Remember me? I've at least made a reasonable re-appearance on many of your TRs by now I've been purposely staying away from my own though... bit of bad news on that front. But don't worry, I have some really good news, too!

Bad news first... my TR has come to a stand still. A permanent one. You may remember I lost both my iPhone AND my laptop pretty much back-to-back... and you might have just now also came to this sad conclusion: all traces of my August photos are on those two devices. As my laptop was on its final few days, I tried hard to get the most important photos off it but alas, it just didn't happen. So... I'm going to switch on over and recap my January 2018 trip with my family! And then... maybe I'll do a little bit of a PTR for my next trip... officially booked yesterday! I'll be heading back down to Flower & Garden this year from May 14-21! Anyone else gonna be there at that time?! You may also remember me saying there was a small chance this spring trip would not be a solo one. If you were hopeful of that, I am here to dash all those hopes But fear not, I love my solo trips... and I'm super excited for this one!

I took absolutely 0 notes on our January trip as I didn't expect I'd do a TR. But I do want to share some fun photos from the trip! My sisters, brother-in-law, and niece and nephew flew done for a week to stay with my dad, his girlfriend Sherry, and her daughter Heather. They are about 20 minutes from Disney. We spent two days at Disney - the first at AK and the second at MK. We also went to Chef Mickey's on a third day. The weather, as many of you have already reported, was pretty much terrible. And we left prior to the weather forecast really taking a turn for the worse, so we were ill-prepared for the cold that soon followed! Our AK day wasn't too bad, but the day at MK was just awful. I had two pairs of leggings on under a pair of jeans, four layers of shirts, and I was still freezing! But we still had lots of fun... I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!

My sister Ashley and I became the pack-mules of the trip. We had either a child on our back, or one of 83 backpacks my sister and brother-in-law insisted we needed... Sometimes we had a child AND a backpack. Here we are heading for AK!


We headed immediately for Pandora. Just kidding. We went straight to Dinoland! And proceeded to ride TriceraTop Spin approximately 374 times. Sherry and Heather aren't morning people, so they would join us later! Come to think of it... maybe they just needed a break



This picture of my niece is just precious. I don't know why we aren't on the ride ourselves though? So maybe the two of us just rode 373 times that day, I stand corrected.



From there we happened upon Donald! The line was non-existent so the kids had lots of great interactions



The kids wanted to meet some more of the gang, so to the line they went. This may be one of the few family photos my sister has of the four of them the whole trip



We hit up the Safari of course! And the kids absolutely loved this!



Sherry and Heather rejoined us. My dad and Sherry took the kids to their second viewing of FOTLK of the day while my sisters, brother-in-law, and Heather hit up Dinosaur! We spent lots of time in Pandora and everywhere else. The park wasn't super crowded this day (it was at MK later in the week though!). We ended the night with this great shot - and possibly the only one of ALL of us! Actually, now that I just popped it in, I notice Heather is missing... and now remember she was NOT having any of it! You can see her in the red jacket at the right though - clearly the tree is far more interesting than we were




Stay tuned for our MK day!

 

[Raeven]

I lost both my iPhone AND my laptop pretty much back-to-back... and you might have just now also came to this sad conclusion: all traces of my August photos are on those two devices. As my laptop was on its final few days, I tried hard to get the most important photos off it but alas, it just didn't happen.

Aw oh no! That's so sad.

I'll be heading back down to Flower & Garden this year from May 14-21! Anyone else gonna be there at that time?!

Aw we're missing you by 2 days Can you come a little bit earlier?

 

[Tracy161]

Aw oh no! That's so sad.

I know, I'm heartbroken! Of course I salvaged loads of other photos before my computer bit the dust... just not those

Aw we're missing you by 2 days Can you come a little bit earlier?

What?! Ugh! I'd wanted to go earlier in the month but stupid work insisted on throwing a monkey wrench into that idea

 

[MeghanEmily]

I tried hard to get the most important photos off it but alas, it just didn't happen.

So... I'm going to switch on over and recap my January 2018 trip with my family!

Yay!

I'll be heading back down to Flower & Garden this year from May 14-21!

Woohoo!! I WISH I were going then. April-May (esp. Flower & Garden stuff!) is my favourite time of year at WDW!

You may also remember me saying there was a small chance this spring trip would not be a solo one. If you were hopeful of that, I am here to dash all those hopes

But fear not, I love my solo trips... and I'm super excited for this one!

Phew! Yay!


...Woah. That was a serious emotional roller coaster I just went on.

We headed immediately for Pandora. Just kidding. We went straight to Dinoland! And proceeded to ride TriceraTop Spin approximately 374 times

We hit up the Safari of course! And the kids absolutely loved this!

Oooh good! Starting them young, and training them early! That's awesome!

 

[Raeven]

What?! Ugh! I'd wanted to go earlier in the month but stupid work insisted on throwing a monkey wrench into that idea

Aw, stupid work.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Sorry to hear about all your photos being gone. How sad

I wish I was heading to Disney again for Flower and Garden but sadly I don't think we will be back till next year. double

But I am looking forward to hearing all about you planning and the family trip!

 

[Tracy161]

April-May (esp. Flower & Garden stuff!) is my favourite time of year at WDW!

Mine, too! Besides Halloween... might be a tie

...Woah. That was a serious emotional roller coaster I just went on.

The truth is, Disney actually inspired our break-up in a weird way. I realized that until I find someone who makes me want to go to Disney with them MORE than I want to go to Disney myself... I'm good holding off and just going by myself

Oooh good! Starting them young, and training them early! That's awesome!

Exactly!

Aw, stupid work.

Seriously... always getting in the way of life...

 

[Tracy161]

Sorry to hear about all your photos being gone. How sad

Thank you! I was just so crushed. And we hadn't even gotten to the part of my title!

I wish I was heading to Disney again for Flower and Garden but sadly I don't think we will be back till next year. double

That's a bummer F&G is definitely one of my favorite times of the year

But I am looking forward to hearing all about you planning and the family trip!

Thank you! Excited to hear all about your latest trip, too

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

That's a bummer F&G is definitely one of my favorite times of the year

I am thinking about our next trip around F&G but next year... sooo far away.... Everyone's TRs will have to hold me over!

Thank you! Excited to hear all about your latest trip, too

I will def be starting one. I am writing out my notes now, so I don't forget the good stuff from the end of the trip! And organizing all the pics!

 

[MeghanEmily]

The truth is, Disney actually inspired our break-up in a weird way. I realized that until I find someone who makes me want to go to Disney with them MORE than I want to go to Disney myself... I'm good holding off and just going by myself

In a weird way, this is great! Good for you for not settling for less that what's going to be awesome for you. (According to the lady who worked at Discovery Cove and chatted us up about our wedding, you should never settle!! )

 

[xlsm]

I'm glad to see your update but not the reason why - like everyone else who has chimed in I feel so bad that you lost your devices and the pictures, oh my gosh!!

I'm happy to see some pics from January and suuuuper jealous of the F&G trip I am jealous of everyone with a trip in the works, LOL!! I need to find a way to get myself back down there. It's hard to go from a year of trips to nothing, nada, zip, zero on the horizon.

The kids look so excited at AK! Train 'em young and instill them with a love of WDW