Live trip report - my first solo trip :)

[karentan]

Bought a couple of Xmas decorations but wasn't much there this time so didn't bother. Plus I'd have been buying stuff for the sake of it so didn't see the point.
Think the kitchen sink is $26.99 now, it was more than enough for four people, we split the bill four ways so wasn't too bad at all, but suppose that if you are paying for the whole thing, then it's a bit pricey. Warning to those who don't like peanut butter, we found what seemed like half a jar at the bottom, gets very sickly when all you've got left is melted ice cream and peanut butter!

Had a bit more sleep last night, woke up at 6.30 and no noisy wake up its EMH at MK this morning, but I think I'm gonna head to AK instead, only doing half a day at wherever I end up anyway as gotta come back about 1.30 ish, get changed, then off to pick up the hire car

 

[catherine]

Sounds like you're having a great time. Thanks for sharing your trip with us!

 

[Tink2312]

Seems like you're enjoying going solo. Like you, one of my favourite things was discovering different areas of the parks I'd not seen before.

 

[irenep]

Really enjoying reading your live TR

Sometimes, the thought of a solo trip is really appealing

 

[queendisney]

Sounds like a fabulous solo holiday so far. Wonder if DH would mind if I tried it

Spent an hour or so shopping in the cast stores behind the MK .

I've never heard of this...where is it and can anybody go or is it for Cast members only?

 

[karentan]

I've never heard of this...where is it and can anybody go or is it for Cast members only?

There's a whole area behind the magic kingdom that's contains all the logistical buildings, plus Disney university and other things, and some stores for the cast members. They are for CMs only, you needd to show ID to get in

 

[karentan]

Well yesterday was a ridiculously long but good day.
I got up at 6.30am and got ready, had brekkie in the food court (mmmm, choc chip pancakes) then headed to AK. I got there about twenty minutes before opening so wandered through the shops at the front and did a bit of pin trading (I'm on a pin trading mission this trip, got about 200 to trade over 8 days)
They let people into the park about five minutes early so after i got in, i headed for Kilimanjaro safaris. For some reason we got stuck in the truck on the loading platform for about five minutes (only I can get stuck in a traffic jam on a ride two days in a row). I thought that as we were the first few people in the ride, that for once I may be able to see the lions awake for once, no such luck, those are some lazy cats!
After the safari it was starting to lightly rain, so I thought I might as well go on Kali next as I was gonna get wet from the rain anyway. Bad mistake! As I got in the boat it started throwing it down, proper torrential rain, so we're all soaked before we even get up the hill, luckily I'd used the lockers for all my stuff. As usual I ended up going backwards down the main hill (EVERY SINGLE TIME....) so ended absolutely drenched, not a single dry bit anywhere. Hid near the lockers til the rain eased off, then soggily walked towards everest. It had been closed for some reason during the morning, but had just reopened when I got there. I went through the single rider line though, and got seated as soon as I got to the front of the queue. Ride was awesome as ever, so then headed through to dinoland and rode primeval whirl and dinosaur.
Was getting bit fed up with being soggy at that point so decided to give up and head back to the hotel to get changed. Got back to the hotel, had a nice hot shower to warm back up (soaking wet clothes and the bus air con is not a good combo). Did some washing as my clothes were soaked from kali or the rain over the last few days, then got pasta and meatballs from the food court.
By then it was about half one, so got the bus to DTD as I was picking up a hire car at 3. Had a very quick walk through world of Disney to see if I could find something for someone at work, then walked over to Wyndham to pick up the car. After a bit of a problem where I had to go back to the desk as they'd given me a car with no gas in it, I was mobile
Went to hooters(Gary wants a bumper sticker), target and Walmart, stocked up on m&ms and a whole bunch of other stuff that you cant get or is too damn expensive at home.
Then it was off to give kids the world

 

[karentan]

Got to give kids the world at just after five, my shift was due to start at 5.30 but I didn't know where I was going so wanted to get there early. Managed to find the volunteer hut after getting very lost and having to ask two seperate people for directions. I was going to be helping out in the gingerbread house for dinner, so managed to find it and got a lovely warm welcome from Wendy, one of the employees there.
We all started by helping to fold towels, then got our assignments, I ended up serving on the salad bar, so got to chat with some of the families while helping to serve their dinner. One of the families coming through had made star bookmarks for us all to say thanks, really touched all of us, as we were there to help the families, and here they are thinking of all of us too.
Dinner finished at 8 so we helped clean up the serving stations, then the volunteers cleaned the restaurant and hoovered. They were running short on volunteers that night so didn't have enough people to run the pizza delivery so I ended up staying til half ten instead of nine. Got very lost again finding the pizza place, but got there eventually, and helped with the ordering and boxing. It got very busy and hectic at one point so no idea how they'd have coped if me and one of the other guys hadn't have stayed.
It was a long shift but very worth it and I left the village about quarter to eleven. I will go back there when we come back to Orlando, it's a wonderful place that does such great work for the families it serves, and I highly recommend helping out there when you're there.

Stopped at steak n shake on the way home and got a burger, then got back to the room after a very long but rewarding day.

Today is the first day of the food and wine festival, not sure yet what I plan on doing but will probably pop into Epcot at some point despite the inevitable crowds.

 

[karentan]

Notes from the trip so far:
Buses have been awesome, not had to wait more than ten or fifteen mins for any bus and if they have been full, there's always been one right behind it
Crowds have been nice and low, the usual big rides (soarin, test track, belle) have had the usual queues but they always do anyway, everything else is 10-15 minutes tops.
Liking the solo trip so far, it's lovely to be able to do what you want when you want and don't have to worry about people having to keep up. Although its probably not something I would do again soon, missing Gary being here.
Give kids the world is awesome, I highly recommend volunteering there, and if you've got spare time on your next trip, please consider volunteering there
Downtown Disney parking lots look very messy at the mo with all the construction, the marketplace so far looks relatively untouched. I dread to think what it'll look like when they properly start construction there though
All star food court gets very busy in the evenings, if you're staying here bear that in mind, I don't mind but sure if you've got tired cranky kids they're not gonna wanna wait...

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

A lovely idea to volunteer, did you have to pre-register all your details?

I like the way you made the most of the rain, I remember going on Kali and getting a lap full of water! why me??

Really enjoying your TR, it seems so relaxed and you can just please yourself

 

[karentan]

You have to go on their website and pre register. Ask you'll need to do an online orientation so plan on registering about three weeks in advance

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Thanks for the reply

 

[edinburghlass]

I would really like to do this one day had a look at the website then just found this thread on here.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2729866

 

[karentan]

Well its been a long but fun couple of days:

Yesterday I decided to hit Epcot for the first day of the food and wine, despite knowing it was gonna be busy and touring plans listing it as the worst park. I still had the car in the morning so went offsite to publix before dropping it back at DTD, then got the buses to Epcot, and got there just after 11.
Headed straight to world showcase, which seems to be what everyone else did because it was heaving.... Started in canada and got the filet, then watched oh Canada (first time ever). Stumbled on the character training spot in the uk pavilion, so managed to get photos with mickey, chip and dale, Pluto and king Louis all within the space of five minutes I stopped in France for an ice cream, then watched impressions of France (again a first, but not something I'd watch again). Got a Belgian chocolate waffle, then tried the teriyaki chicken sushi. Watched the American adventure (another first), then went round the rest of world showcase, stopping for garlic shrimp and lamb chops from the Australia kiosk, which were soooo good.
By that point I'd done all of world showcase, so rode test track in the single rider queue, checked out the festival centre, then got a Frappuccino and headed for captain EO. Haven't seen this since the 90s, and forgot how cheesy 80s it actually is
Went on living with the land, rode the nemo ride and saw turtle talk, then headed back out. The Epcot character spot only had a five minute wait (never seen it that quiet ever) so headed into there as I'm trying to get the most out of the photopass share I'm in. Got the bus back to the resort, and had dinner in the food court, then got an early night

 

[karentan]

Although at first going to Epcot on opening day of F&W seemed a bad idea once I saw the queues for the kiosks, it turned out to be a great day. The crowds evened out over WS after a while, and in the evening when the locals come out, the rest of the park was dead.

 

[karentan]

Today has been a LONG day, got up and had brekkie in the food court, then headed to HS for EMH, and got there about 7.30. Once it opened I headed straight for toy story, but it was closed, so grabbed a fastpass, then headed back towards the hat. There were some characters out, and they had really short queues as people had only just got in and were on the fastpass run, so got some photos. After that I rode tower of terror, which was walk on, then hit star tours and muppets. By that time toy story had reopened and my fast pass time had arrived, so rode that, then headed to Indiana jones. It started raining halfway through so they couldn't do the last scene (it's been years since I watched this so can't even remember what the last scene is)
Rode great movie ride, which sucked as much as I remembered it did then rode rock n roller, and saw beauty and the beast, followed by a quick lunch along sunset boulevard
I went back to the animation building for more character photos, then left the park around 3.30.
I went back to the hotel for about 45 mins, mainly to change pins (I've got about 200 to trade this trip and had traded all the ones I took out this morning) and to pick up a parcel I had shipped back yesterday.
Went out to MK and got there about 5. I rode most of tomorrowland: carousel of progress, monsters inc, stitch's great escape, the peoplemover, and space mountain. Watched the Main street electrical parade and wishes then headed back to the hotel.
Grabbed dinner then headed back to the room, and found they were playing lilo and stitch on the big screen by the pool, so grabbed a lounger and ate my dinner while watching the film perfect end to a great day

 

[karentan]

Solo trip pros:
Can't remember the last time I spent 13 hours in the parks on one day
Getting the most of the photopass share I'm in. I'm stopping for as many of the characters as I can, but still getting on all the rides too, as I don't have to worry about keeping up with anyone or slowing down to let someone catch up

 

[Azza1987]

Sounds like you are having a great time!

 

[Laurafoster]

Sounds like your getting a lot done.

We were at F&W on the first day too. That lamb from Australia was sooo good! I haven't ventured around the other side yet so hopefully so that in a day or two, I usually like the China and Singapore offerings

 

[winniepie81]

Loving your trip report! Looking forward to f&w next year! Missed out this year. Flower and garden was cool but its not the same!
Looking forward to reading more!