Mom needed a break...no laundry, no hubby, no kids...sorta!! A SOLO TR..updated 11/15

[MEK]

Paula-

Those gorillas look surreal! Very, very cool!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Paula-

Those gorillas look surreal! Very, very cool!

I was thinking the same thing! Almost like they were photoshopped in! Great photos, as always! I will definitely be checking the trails out on my next visit.

 

[julezdisney]

That's one handsome Gorilla. If I were a lady gorilla- I might want to make babies with that one!

 

[lmillercrew]

Hey Paula. Another great few posts!! It took me a while to catch up. I started working for JCPenny, for the holiday, EARLY in the morning. So if I sit down to read, I get sleepy. Anyway, to answer your photo question, I LOVE the one with "Mufasa", king of the jungle, sitting up on the hill. I've never seen him that well. I know he wasn't a choice, but I love that picture. So magestic.

 

[ILuvCrush]

Hey Paula. Another great few posts!! It took me a while to catch up. I started working for JCPenny, for the holiday, EARLY in the morning. So if I sit down to read, I get sleepy. Anyway, to answer your photo question, I LOVE the one with "Mufasa", king of the jungle, sitting up on the hill. I've never seen him that well. I know he wasn't a choice, but I love that picture. So magestic.

Oh they're ALL up for being the one picked!! I still can't decide! I like the lion one too I did submit the Moon over Everest one to allearsnet for their photo of the week thing.... but haven't heard nothing yet

The only reason that I'm leaning toward the moon one... is it's different. I expect there will be a lot of VERY GOOD animal pics submitted, but not so many nitetime ones

Paula

 

[ILuvCrush]

Well I ended up submitting the Moon one... I was "this close" to the giraffe behind the tree.... but I ended up picking Moon instead. I'm already in the 4th group! There's a lot of awesome pics submitted. Yet again...I don't have a chance But, you should check it out!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2005671

There's one of 2 tigers fighting(playing) in the water... unbelievable!!!
I need to go back to take more pics!!

Hey mommyintn...if you're still here... the gorilla pic you entered is AWESOME!! I love it!

Paula

 

[princess&her4princes]

Good luck!!!

 

[Disneyfan71]

I'll have to go back and read your trip reports but from what I gathered you had a wonderful time. I've never gone to Disney alone--sounds like it would be interesting. But I did want to thank you for posting this

 

[princess&her4princes]

WOW...the pics were great on the photo contest thread, yours is great and so different!!! The Tiger pic was unbelievable!!!!

 

[ILuvCrush]

OH My!! I can't believe that this is my last 'trip' chapter already!! I have plans for another 1-2 chapters yet, but the actual trip will be over
So don't go away....!!!

After my spin on HM... I noticed it was getting close to 8:00...Spectro Time. I wasn't really feeling it though. I was feeling hungry...again (darned slimy fish!) I swear, now that I'm looking back at my trip journal, all I did today is eat! Anyhoo, I went into my new fave CS place, Columbia Harbor House.
I had the Chicken Nuggets and Apples. I got a seat upstairs, near the window, so I was able to see the parade. After my late dinner and watching part (not all) of the parade from my window... I scooted back over to Fantasyland. I figured that since the parade wasn't over yet, the lines may have let up.

I walked onto It's a Small World. Yes the images that I have created in my head about that ride since reading Kingdom Keepers certainly makes IASW much more exciting!!! Creepy Little Dolls!!!

This time, instead of heckling the ride with my family, I actually really looked around. I never noticed that there are nearly as many ANIMAL dolls as PEOPLE dolls... and they are OH SO ADORABLE!! I really wished, I hadn't made that promise to myself... 'no pics on the rides/shows'!! I'm looking at IASW as a psychadellic safari on my next trip

Next stop, Snow White. I didn't notics any drastic differences from the rehab, but everything was nice and fresh. After my Scary Adventure... I looked around the shop then a pin kiosk. I bought a soda to sip and found a seat near Dumbo to watch Wishes. I like watching Wishes from Fantasyland. I like how the fireworks seem SO BIG and surreal from there, as opposed to how they appear when watching from the hub. The very first time I took my kids to see Wishes... we watched from fantasyland too. Well, Wishes made me cry. I probably would have looked like an idiot (if anyone was looking at me, instead of the sky), sitting there all by myself, in the middle of one of the greatest firework shows on earth, crying like a little baby!

I managed to pull myself together by the time Wishes was over and headed toward Splash Mountain. I thought I'd see if I could use my magic fastpass. I almost skipped it, because I HATE to walk around in soggy bottoms, but went anyway, against my better judgement. Super FP worked and I got right on. The ride stopped a couple of times, but eventually we made it to the Briar Patch. I ended up just getting a little sprayed, not the serious 'I look like a drowned rat' soaking I've gotten before

I left Splash, used my last magic FP for a final trip on BTMRR, then meandered thru frontierland to Adventureland. Took another cruise thru Pirates, and kept heading toward the front. I figured I'd do a little more shopping. My little toe was really hurting, but I figured I'd live.

As I approached the hub, I heard the Specto music.... Huh??? There was only 1 parade scheduled... BONUS!! I watched part of it from near the Liberty Bridge

But after a little while, I was annoyed by the people standing near me...so I headed toward the front of the park anyway, via the little bridge by Crystal Palace. I could see the end of the parade from CP and got a couple of pics with the castle behind it.

I worked my way up Main Street. I found a bobblehead Jack Skellington, for my 1 'boy' technician (he's like a little kid...he even sent me a list of purchases he wanted me to get for him from the Lego store!) Since I knew that he loved toys and Jack... it was a perfect gift I stopped in the confectionary to see what I culd pick up for my other 4 'girl' techs. i ended up getting an assortment of teas, coffees and lemonade sets. All my co-workers were happy with their little gifts, when I got back

This is Jack and a coffee set... the lemonade/teas were the same idea, but I gave them away before I remembered to take a pic

After my very busy day... 17hrs, 3 parks, and a DVC tour... I headed back to ASMu. It was a hair before 11 and NO ONE was at the bus stop... wierd, but nice I didn't wait long. It was a nice ride back. The family I had met on Weds (with Scuttle) were sitting near me, so we caught up with each other and I found out their trip had been wonderful so far. Poor Scuttle was beat, and slept on pappy's lap. I gave them some advice for dealing with the Toy Story maniacs, since that's where they were going in the morning, and wished them a wonderful remainder of their trip!! I stopped and refilled my mug and got some grapes to snack on while I packed up. Went to my room and packed up everything except my clothes for in the am and toiletries... it was a good thing I took that empty suitcase

I was tired, my 'dogs were barking' so to speak. I checked out my dogs, to take care of that sore toe... no wonder it was killing me. I had a big blister on the inside AND bottom of my piggy toe AND one on the next one! I took care of them, but they bothered me for a few days after I got home anyway.

ME picked me up at 8:25. The bus driver was full of trivia and was quite entertaining. I did not know that the ME busses are not staffed by WDW, and are contracted to Mears. But that does help explain why some people have not always had the most magical experience.... even though, personally, I have no complaints. I ate breakfast at MCO. The flight to PGH was completely full, but uneventful. We landed to a 30 degree temp drop in PGH, compared to MCO... Brrrrrrr!!!!

I got to my house about 5pm. The girls were very excited to see me...but no more than I was to see all of them! DS was even there to welcome me home Shocker...I know! Everyone loved their gifts... even DS put his in a drawer...instead of in a corner, so I think he liked his too


Thanks everyone for following along on my journey, I'm really glad you did Coming up.... What I learned, will I do it again???



Paula

 

[princess&her4princes]

Awww, Paula, I can't believe you're done!!! But what a great report, it was so much fun to follow your adventure and wonderful trip. I felt like I lived it with you. Glad to hear your coworkers and kids like their gifts, even your DS!

Can't wait to hear your list of things your learned andif you'll do it again?!

Btw, great pic of the castle that last night, it was beautiful!!!

 

[faerieprincess]

Oh Paula, i'm so sorry your trip is over!!! i've enjoyed reading it and your pictures are AMAZING. It's not all the camera, either, you have a fantastic eye. i'll be looking forward to your final thoughts but i wish you'd had another week of days to tell us about

 

[Lady Lallie]

I don't want it to end!!

Good luck with the photo contest. I love looking at them every week but have never entered. Perhaps I should.

 

[ILuvCrush]

I don't want it to end!!

Good luck with the photo contest. I love looking at them every week but have never entered. Perhaps I should.

You DEFINATELY should!!! I don't think there's a light topic... but your other pics ROCK too

Paula

 

[Lady Lallie]

You DEFINATELY should!!! I don't think there's a light topic... but your other pics ROCK too

Paula

Well there should be!

 

[ilovemickeymost]

I love the one of Daisey & the boys. Does anyone know where that is located? And Mickey & his guys fishing on the river back? I've never seen it before, but then again we've only been there once before. AK always gets put on the back burner. Our next rip, we are spending 2 full days there & taking our time.

Well I ended up submitting the Moon one... I was "this close" to the giraffe behind the tree.... but I ended up picking Moon instead. I'm already in the 4th group! There's a lot of awesome pics submitted. Yet again...I don't have a chance But, you should check it out!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2005671

There's one of 2 tigers fighting(playing) in the water... unbelievable!!!
I need to go back to take more pics!!

Hey mommyintn...if you're still here... the gorilla pic you entered is AWESOME!! I love it!

Paula

 

[ILuvCrush]

I love the one of Daisey & the boys. Does anyone know where that is located? And Mickey & his guys fishing on the river back? I've never seen it before, but then again we've only been there once before. AK always gets put on the back burner. Our next rip, we are spending 2 full days there & taking our time.

It is cute!! You can find both of them in Camp Minnie Mickey. They're right along the main path as you head toward FOTLK..
I didn't get any pics from over there this time... cause I did FOTLK at night during EMH... so daisy was hard to see then.

Paula

 

[Schmoodle]

Oh, I'm sad it's over! But I can't wait to hear what you learned and if you'd do it again. I am starting my wish list for when I get to take my solo trip one day.

 

[soldiersmom]

Hi, Paula. I've been lurking on your trip report and loving it! I announced a few weeks ago that "I'm going to Disney World for my birthday in February even if I have to go by myself!" So far, it looks like I will be solo for the first half of my trip, then my DH will join.

I was getting nervous about the solo part--even tho I've done an afternoon or so solo on trips before (DH is not so much on Disney ) I've never done it solo all the time. Your report has given me courage. I can do this! Did you say you were going to do a "pros/cons" post later about going solo? Looking forward to that if so.

Your pictures are beautiful, and it sounds like you had a great trip overall (sorry you were sick for part). Thank you for sharing!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Wait! That's the end? But I don't feel like it should be done. Make up some more. We won't know, right? I'm almost as sad that this report ended as I was when my vacation ended. Oh well. I'll just have to wait for reports on the other trips you have planned this year. Don't leave us hanging Paula. For some of us, its as close as we will get until next October (unless some kind of miracle happens.)