This is exactly why solo trips are amazing!!! How much of this random strolling and photo taking would you possibly have gotten done with the entire family in tow!!
Umm...about zero percent! We spend more time in the countries shopping or playing around or whatever when we're all together, but there is certainly no aimless wandering and photo taking! It was pretty great to do that with no complaining.
Yay, you're back! I absolutely did miss you.
Wow, this is definitely worse than my dorm experience! That sounds disgusting! We had to share two public-washroom-style community bathrooms for our whole floor though, and I was pretty low on outlets, so I definitely agree on those issues. I never have any desire to go back. Two years was far more than enough.
A true work of art.
Ooh I didn't realize! That's exciting!
Really? I'm not sure I can get behind this sentiment. Maybe I'll see it with new eyes when we go this summer! I'll sincerely give it a try.
Your Epcot pictures are so pretty and bright and are making me a little heartsick for Epcot F&G. So lovely!
My greatest joy was that we didn't have floor bathrooms and only shared within the two connected rooms. The no a/c issue was hard because we had to keep our window open and it was so LOUD. But we managed! Someone did tell us that the dorms in Iowa (which is where OM Worlds is often held, they switch years between there and Michigan) are worse. I am not sure how that is possible, LOL!
I think part of my fondness for the Mexico ride is the fact that it's always the respite from the heat. When we're in the World Showcase, it's always where we seem to be when we need a break from the heat of the day. Also, I love the Three Caballeros so much!! (but part of me misses El Rio Del Tiempo SO MUCH.)
Hooray is right! Best sight ever!
What a lovely evening at DHS. I'd be lying if I said it was my favorite park, but I do really like it, and I don't understand why people don't. There's still lots to do, and I don't find the construction seems that pervasive. It's got great atmosphere.
I feel this. I can never party as hard as I want to. (Says the girl who's in bed by 10:00 and up by 5:45 every day these days.) I think I'm already an old lady.
How was that possibly only the first full park day!? Woah!
I think they do a great job of minimizing impact from construction. I mean, where else do people take pictures of construction walls on purpose?? Also, seeing that work being done just gets me excited about what is to come, so I don't get the downer attitudes.
But it really was a great night there...the weather was nice, the crowds were super duper low. No complaints outside of the food!
Oh, I always feel like I'm going to be able to hang in there and stay out late, but it never happens. Well, it happened in December for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, but that was an entirely different kind of day. I used to be able to pull the all nighters but not anymore!!
I know! That was the longest chapter ever and it was only one day!! Even not staying out late I still managed to pack a LOT of things into each day!
Welcome back! Glad the trip went well!
I need to spend more time in the China pavillion, so pretty!
Love your photos of the Anna & Elsa topiaries!
Glad you made it over to DHS!
Sounds like a great first full day!
Thank you!!
China is definitely a favorite! It feels larger than the other countries to me for some reason, and I can't resist taking pictures of the temple, even if they're always the same as previous trips, LOL!!
I thought the A&E topiary shots came out pretty well...they are two very popular green faced ladies - I was glad I was able to get some shots without people in front of them.
It was a GREAT first day...I still can't believe I did so many things in just one day.
Odyssey of the Mind. Yes MSU dorms are not the most convenient thing and that is experience talking. Hope you enjoyed your time in the "Mitten". Great Pics!
Did you go to school there or stay there with OM? A lady on the floor who had been there before said Iowa is worse, which is terrifying.
I wish we had more time to explore while we were up there...I was desperate to see Lake Michigan, when we were driving I could see it SO CLOSE on the gps map, but we were on such a time crunch. DH used to live in Michigan, and we are wanting to take a trip up soon so we see the sights.
More beautiful pics from Epcot. DD and I just got back and thanks to your lovely photos of the topiary's we were able to enjoy so many more than we did in March.
We love HS too
How awesome to see giraffes from your window!
Your bracelet is so pretty never would have guessed cantaloupe seeds.
Looking forward to MK.
My next Epcot day will have even MORE topiaries!!
The giraffes made me ridiculously happy.
I love my bracelet! She had others that were made with things like coffee beans and orange peel. She somehow made it all look like actual beads and things, it was pretty impressive.
I love all your WS pictures! Nice to see a low crowd DHS, doesn't happen much anymore. I love Jaws as well, it is my all time favorite movie ever!! I can quote almost the entire movie!
Muppets is such a classic, we go every trip. Pizza Rizzo closes at like 4pm
We wanted to check it out and it was closed, really Disney, that is strange!
I hope your next meal is a good one.
Yes! A fellow Jaws fanatic!! My husband does NOT understand my obsession, lol!! He's the same way about Independence Day, though, so he can just get over it, haha!!
I had no idea Pizzerizzo closes at 4! It wasn't in my plans, so I didn't check the hours or anything, that's crazy. I feel like it would still get a lot of traffic, especially in summer. Weird!
My meals are about to improve, thank goodness!
Hey if you find prices for rent in that area... let me know!
Definitely!! I have a feeling even Manhattan prices wouldn't hold a candle to those, lol!!
I adore Hollywood Studios too! It is my favourite park...well maybe, I also love AK! I always try to get as many rides as I can on TSMM and as many as my stomach will allow on ST. It really is unfortunate that the food is so lacking! Hopefully the new worlds will bring some improvements in that department. My go to food is the Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge-I love this outdoor patio, although it can somethimes be a lengthy wait to get a table. BUT it sounds like you were there at a prime low time!
I agree that the food doesn't live up to the rest of the park. It makes no sense to me! I do like Brown Derby and SciFi, but otherwise it's a nope on the food for me. I'm really excited to see what Star Wars land food options will look like. I am RIDICULOUSLY excited for that area of the park.
Oh how I miss those days!
that's gorgeous! And super cool - what a great concept!
Haha, I do that too. Glad I'm not the only one.
Right?? I remember planning our first trip and realizing that Akershus was full of princesses because I loved it so much before. And on the flip side, I was super sad that LTT was no longer a character meal.
I need to go find the packaging my bracelet came in and share the website of the artist. She also had some coffee bean jewelry that was really cool. I had a hard time choosing, but for some reason the teal and purple took me back to 3rd grade and I had to have it!
I'm glad I'm not the only one!! I think they did such an amazing job selecting the movie clips to show there at the end!
All caught up! First off... how have I not read your TRs before?! I sure have been missing out!
Congrats on a successful week last week and I'm sure you're relieved for it to be over!
So sorry to hear this
I myself haven't had the pleasure of trying these, but I also haven't seen them appear in a TR lately so was thankful for that!
It's a good reminder I need to get my act together and try them myself!
You're braver than me, my hair goes up before I leave my room each morning
OMG you are SO right. As a mostly only solo-tripper, I find this to be extremely annoying and happens ALL the time. You can't "spread" out to prevent it, so people take advantage...
Yay! And here's a benefit of solo-tripping to make up for the note above
Actually, before I read the rest of this, I was thinking "I wish my hair looked that cute when I pull my up..." I guess it's just a matter of perspective
I LOVE THIS "quilt"!!!!!!!
Yay! I love this game!!! Nice loophole, too, by the way
Your bracelet is amazing! Beautiful
I do, too! Though I
really miss the All About Eve scene where she says "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night."
Ya know, a rundown crappy looking apartment
in DHS isn't sounding too bad, to be honest...
I'm so glad you're here!! Welcome aboard my crazy train, lol!!
I am SO HAPPY that OM is over for now, even though I am feeling pumped about next season. The trip was exhausting and I'm so glad to be home.
If you ever find yourself over at AKL, pop down to the Mara for some of them...upon first bite I wasn't so sure I was going to like them. The texture takes some getting used to. But the flavor wins out...I really think they put drugs in them or something, because after the first two I was hooked!
Normally I am the same with my hair! It's so long right now that I get annoyed with it being down. But I had this idea in my head that I was going to defeat the humidity...or at least try to get in one good punch, haha! My next update will show the progression from morning hair to evening hair!
I was so frustrated with people trying to move me out of the way, or sneak past me in a line. There was one instance where I was in line for something and this older man and three teenagers walked right in front of me. I said, "are you actually just walking right ahead of me in line?" He turns and says, "yes. there is a group of us." I just laughed, because if anything other than a laugh had come out of my mouth it would have probably gotten me banned from the parks
It was unbelievable.
I was pretty happy about the loophole, lol!! I didn't really want to go back to Epcot for the evening, but I couldn't break the rules of bus roulette!! Thank you Disney gods, for providing a DHS bus!!
Oh, I miss that line too!! Always one of my favorites!
That's a really cite picture. We saw those chalk drawings on the ground but didn't know that they looked like that when photographed. I wish we had seen your picture before we left on our May trip.
It looks like you picked a great resort to stay at for a solo trip. I love your view. I would enjoy walking through the World Showcase at my own pace during Flower and Garden. We never seemed to take the time on this past trip to really enjoy the show.
I went over to DHS one evening by myself to see the Star Wars fireworks. I rode TSMM twice by myself. It was fun. I had a nice time talking to CM's. They were happy to chat. I think it helped with ease the boredom.
Thank you! I was so glad I didn't talk myself out of having it taken. Having the pictures done by myself was out of my comfort zone. I don't mind rides and things, or walking around or even eating alone, but pictures were harder for some reason. I got over it quickly, but the first one was tough!
I think AKL was great for a solo stay! I was able to enjoy the resort more by myself...I don't know if I'd choose it for a family trip, mainly b/c of the travel times by bus, but otherwise I thought it was incredible.
Being on my own was nice as far as exploring goes. I loved taking pictures in the countries. I didn't spend as much time doing things in each country, but I could go slow and take pictures and no kids complained!!
Yes, I always managed to find someone to talk to, which was nice! I kept up a running text commentary with my husband, too, and it wasn't nearly as lonely as I was afraid it would be. Disney was perfect for me as a solo destination because I knew my way around. It was the first Disney trip where relaxing was possible! (although my 13 year old wishes ALL of our trips were more about relaxing!! When we're together I want to go, go, go!)
Woah. I would not be able to handle no air conditioning. I need it to be ice cold at all times.
I've always wondered about that! I'm sure there is some tour in the works for future Flower and Garden festivals.
Agreed!!!
I really enjoy this ride too! Donald is so underrated.
Oh no, that's crazy.
Really cool!
I love this park too.
I agree with this too. They need more breakfast options especially. The only thing that's open at that time is Starbucks and the line is sooo long. Actually many parks fall short of breakfast options, aside from Epcot where I can get some yummy french pastries. Although I always say that and end up skipping breakfast because we're running to Soarin' or something
I get a little choked up at the end of TGMR too
Yay for no lines for you! I was never the Rebel Spy either, but I just think that I am soooo undercover that no one will ever mistake me for a Rebel Spy...
because isn't the first rule of being a spy is to Not look like a spy?
The day I first learned there would be no a/c in the dorms was one of the saddest days of my life, LOL! I was so scared. Now, to be fair, it was much cooler temp wise there than home, but the little dorms had ZERO airflow or ventilation. We kept our window open all the time, and I brought a little desk fan. It was not awesome.
Donald is definitely underrated!! He's always been a favorite of mine, and for some reason I just love the Three Caballeros. The song cracks me up and makes me happy. The whole thing is just so ridiculous and silly, and I love it!
They really do need more breakfast options! I'm not much of a breakfast person, but DH and my 11 year old definitely are. I can go until about 10 before I start getting hungry, so it doesn't bother me, but they are always annoyed that there aren't many food options early in the day.
Yes! We are rebel spies...and we're just so good they don't even KNOW!
My family loves HS. We did 2 days of it on our last trip and had plenty to do. We even missed out on a couple of things like the Indiana Jones show. I am loving all of your animal pics from your AKL room. My kids would love that! Especially my animal loving daughter.
BTW I'm wearing my new yellowbox flips that you recommended for the first time today and they are super comfy. I need to get another pair.
That's how I feel! We always end up missing things there, no matter how much time we spend. I just really like the atmosphere of the park.
The animals were the BEST!! There was nothing like seeing the giraffes right outside just hanging out. I loved it!
Hooray for yellowbox!! They really are so comfy, I"m glad you like them!!
I always will be in my heart, though!!
One of my favorite lines from any park-related...."thing" lol is "the Hollywood that never was and always will be". Speaking of, they just introduced a new nighttime projection show at HS, snuk it in last week, have you seen the reviews? I watched it on YouTube and while it's not anything ground breaking it did bring me back somewhat to that Old Hollywood feel 
