My first solo trip/MVMCP/WDWToday Reunion 2010 PTR

[yourMaire83]

Hey all! Today I told DH that what I want for Christmas is to go to WDW, and he said OK (I didn't think he would). Now, I will be honest and say that I love DH very much but we have been going through some rough stuff lately and so I am very excited to be getting away to my favorite place and (hopefully) decompress a little.

Here's a little background on me. I'm a Florida girl! We moved to Florida when I was in first grade and I lived there until I was 23. I'm from a small, sheltered, Pleasantville-type, resort beach town that's sort of isolated and sounded by wetlands on two sides. Naples, FL. Looking back, I really loved growing up there. However, everything shuts down very early there and now that I am a "young adult" I am glad to be more in a "big city". Now I live with my husband of almost three years about 20 minutes South of Salt Lake City. We live in Draper, where a lot of Olympians and their coaches live. We're very close to the ski resorts .

Now a little about this trip. My Disney obsession is rooted in my upbringing. We lived about 3 1/2 hours South of WDW, and so we had Seasonal Annual Passes and my parents indoctrinated my brother and I with Disney 2-3 times every year. This will be my first Disney trip with all the Christmas goodness in over 15 years! I pretty excited!

 

[yourMaire83]

My travel dates are Thur Dec 2-Mon Dec 6. So excited!

 

[yourMaire83]

Since this trip is last-minute, I'm going to have to do a split-stay. First night I will be at All-Star Sports, the next 2 nights at the Dolphin, and the last night at Port Orleans Riverside. Grand total: $522.08 not too bad for 4 nights on-property, at the last minute. I am cashing in our rewards to get my flight "free" and I will be buying a 4-day pass and a MVMCP ticket.

Here's the plan:
Since I arrive early afternoon on Thursday, I will be attending MVMCP that evening. I won't have to use a day of park admission, and I have read that I can enter MK as early as 4pm! There are several meets during the party that night, so I'm very excited/nervous to meet some strangers!! If I'm not feelin it at first, then I'll just listen to one of Lou's Audio Guides and grab dinner on my own before I bite the bullet and jump into an attempt at being outgoing.
I'm super super excited for the parade , snow on Main Street , and some amazing fireworks.

The next day is Epcot day, and unfortunately most of the events "sold out" quickly for those podcast meets. I'm on the waiting list, and maybe by then I'll have schmoozed my way into one . Epcot has evening EMH until 12:20 that night! Good thing I won't be checking out of my second hotel the next morning! I'm very excited about Holiday Illuminations (even if only the end is different, I'm positively giddy about hearing Cronchite bring me to tears at the end. Remember, it's been about 15 years since I've done the Holidays in Disney... I think if they had the Lights of Wonder still that I would lose it... I'm excited to explore a little at the Dolphin; there was an article in Celebrations magazine recently (and I just read it today).

More plans coming up...

 

[yourMaire83]

So, originally I was booked for my 2 Disney hotels as All-star Sports and Port Orleans Riverside... today I found there's a room available for All-star Music on my POR night! Switched it and saved $35! I also checked to see what discounts I can get at work, and by using Wild at Work I can get my hotel for Friday and Saturday and my park ticket for $389. It was $335 just for the room at the Dolphin. I will be at the Royal Plaza near Downtown Disney. I hear the beds are comfy

So, my trip is costing $597 after I get my Christmas Party ticket. I plan on getting a $100 gift card, to use for food/beverage, once I get there.

I'm getting so excited!

I'll be there in 2 weeks!

 

[moniqueelaine]

I am in..I want to go on a trip solo..I am thinking about it this summer....We went in 2009 and the next family trip will be summer of 2012... So, I'm gonna live vicariuosly through your trip

 

[yourMaire83]

I am in..I want to go on a trip solo..I am thinking about it this summer....We went in 2009 and the next family trip will be summer of 2012... So, I'm gonna live vicariuosly through your trip

Yay, my first response! I'm glad to know I'll have someone reading... I've tried a trip report before and learned a few lessons, so this one should be awesome! I'm going to write a journal each day, and try to make it a good one.

I have been wanting to take a solo trip for only a few months now. Prior to that, I thought I wasn't the type - not brave or daring enough. Then DH and I separated for about 30 minutes before we left Epcot on our last trip. He went to get desserts in France and I grabbed a few gifts in Mousegears, and I had time to wonder around a bit before we met back up. It was exhilarating! I felt like a kid at Disney again. It made me feel more emersed... kind of in the way that if you don't talk on the phone while driving you can concentrate on what you're actually doing... I wasn't worried about entertaining DH, it was just me and the World.

I am looking forward to this trip very much - in case I haven't mentioned that before, LOL. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the PTR and TR!

 

[yourMaire83]

SO, it's Friday night and my DH is working until 11pm! I didn't find out until yesterday that he would be covering for someone, so here I am with no plans... I feel like staying in, and have no intentions on changing that.

My plans for tonight are making some jewelry for this upcoming trip. Here's my inspiration... Pressed Penny jewelry

I'll post some photos of the finished pieces.

 

[luvlifeinfl]

Hi Marie,

I have not been on this board in a long time. When I go your follow request on twitter I saw this is your home and decided to try and connect w/ you.

I too am doing a "solo" trip but when I say that it is without my hubby. Mine wantign to go was that I am a big follower of J.L. @ Disney Driven Life, I actually met her on our trip in Aug. She also has a video cast with a Scott, John & Nicole on inner mouse. When thye announce their meet, I was like I need to go. I went and researched flights and points from our DVC, then I went to my hubby and told him the info, I kind of got the ok look, then I said but it would be cheaper if it could be a girls weekend he was like sure u can go. That is what put in motion for me going.

Now I have to say I do have a DD-11 so I have always told her someday I would take her back & it would be just her & I, well it is here.

Now my plans are I fly out on Sat. Dec4th, I arrive at MCO at 11am so hoping to be at our resort, I am staying at ASMovies. Then we hope to meet up with others head to DTD and just hang out.

On Sunday, The DDL/ inner mouse meet starts at 2pm so I am so there, then hopefully I can make it to Lou's meet at the Beach Club. After that I plan to go to the MVMCP.

Then on the 6th I do not fly out till that evening so I think we might resort hope to see some of the decorations.

 

[yourMaire83]

Hi Marie,

I have not been on this board in a long time. When I go your follow request on twitter I saw this is your home and decided to try and connect w/ you.

I too am doing a "solo" trip but when I say that it is without my hubby. Mine wantign to go was that I am a big follower of J.L. @ Disney Driven Life, I actually met her on our trip in Aug. She also has a video cast with a Scott, John & Nicole on inner mouse. When thye announce their meet, I was like I need to go. I went and researched flights and points from our DVC, then I went to my hubby and told him the info, I kind of got the ok look, then I said but it would be cheaper if it could be a girls weekend he was like sure u can go. That is what put in motion for me going.

Now I have to say I do have a DD-11 so I have always told her someday I would take her back & it would be just her & I, well it is here.

Now my plans are I fly out on Sat. Dec4th, I arrive at MCO at 11am so hoping to be at our resort, I am staying at ASMovies. Then we hope to meet up with others head to DTD and just hang out.

On Sunday, The DDL/ inner mouse meet starts at 2pm so I am so there, then hopefully I can make it to Lou's meet at the Beach Club. After that I plan to go to the MVMCP.

Then on the 6th I do not fly out till that evening so I think we might resort hope to see some of the decorations.

That's so cool, you're doing a girls' trip! I would have loved that at 11 and if I had a daughter I would want to do that. I will be at Ariel's for the 200th WDWRadio show too!

 

[moniqueelaine]

I love the pressed penny jewlry..what a neat idea...cant wait to see the outcome....On my only trip to Disney (thus far) I went several times by myself to the parks..I had more fun than when the whole bunch of us went..So this is why I want to do a lone one as well. Our next big trip is in 2012, but I am so thinking about doin a lone one this next spring or summer. I have a grandbaby coming this summer so I may have to do it in the spring... I'm so excited to ride along with ya....

 

[yourMaire83]

I love the pressed penny jewlry..what a neat idea...cant wait to see the outcome....On my only trip to Disney (thus far) I went several times by myself to the parks..I had more fun than when the whole bunch of us went..So this is why I want to do a lone one as well. Our next big trip is in 2012, but I am so thinking about doin a lone one this next spring or summer. I have a grandbaby coming this summer so I may have to do it in the spring... I'm so excited to ride along with ya....

Well, just FYI, there is a girls' trip to Disneyland in March. It's under the Disneyland section of the boards. That'll be my other "solo" trip this year.