Oct 2008 solo trip

[bound2travel]

Hi there,
I'm new to the boards and have been enjoying other people's TRs so I thought I would take a stab at it. I've always kept a journal when I visit other countries, but never at Disney

Here's the basis:

me: 41, single and the proud owner of a FL seasonal pass

dates: Oct. 16th - 19th at POP

reason: do I really need a reason to visit Disney? Well, this time it is for the F&W at Epcot. I go every year even though I am not an adventurous food person. I did try a tiny bit of kangaroo in Australia this summer though For the first time I am attending a Sweet Sunday as part of F&W. I was so excited to get the ressie.

strange things about me: no one else in my family really cares for Disney. My sister would rather die. My oldest two brothers would go just for their kids/grandkids but I don't think they really ever enjoyed it. I think that last time the youngest brother went was when he graduated from Navy bootcamp in 1981. My parents rarely took me though we lived in North Central Florida (Gainesville to be exact). I think I'm adopted or switched at birth. Somewhere there is a Disney loving family with a daughter who doesn't.

trips this year: Disney May 08 (Flower and Garden), Oct 08 (Food and Wine) and Dec 08 (Mousefest)

 

[bound2travel]

Sorry to wait for the next part but I had to work today.

The plans:

I've gone to F&W for the last couple of years so I knew I would go again this year. The biggest problem was choosing the weekend. As I work every other weekend, that cut my choices down to three weekends - Oct. 3-5, Oct. 17-19 or Oct. 31 - Nov. 2.

I scrapbook and my favorite store celebrates its "birthday" the first weekend in October. I had to keep that weekend open in case they had another birthday bash crop. I finally found out mid August that they would have a birthday month instead of a weekend.

The third weekend fell during Halloween. Did I really want to hit Disney during that weekend? I want to hit MK too, but would it be more crowded than usual because of the holiday? That weekend became my third choice.

The second weekend didn't fall during anything happening at home, so it quickly became my first choice. However, something would happen that would cause a lot of indecisiveness.

I used to live in TN and still have good friends up there. One is retired and told me in late July early August that she wanted to come down to visit. The closest timing I could get from her was "some time after Labor Day" could she be any more vague? I kept trying to get her to commit so I could finish my plans. No luck - so what to do?

 

[Candice30]

i'm also going solo this month. a last minute trip that i booked yesterday. i haven't told my family yet as they just don't get it. they do all like disney but are okay with visiting once every 5 years or so. HUH!! i would love to visit once every 5 weeks! i finally bought an AP last trip so i am determined to use it for many trips. unlike you though i do not live so close so airfare usually cuts down the number of trips. i have never been for F&W but hope to some day.

like you i had to play around with the weekends before i finally decided to just go during the week. i already had vacation time approved but had planned to just stay home. i scrapbook as well and just found out that there is another 30 hour marathon scrap at my scrapbook store so sis and i are doing that on that saturday and sunday and then i leave mid morning monday.

i am going to be exhausted.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Hi there! I am also planning solo trips for F&W and Mousefest. Can't wait to hear about your adventures!

 

[bound2travel]

Hi Candice and 2excited. Thanks for replying. I'll get to more of my planning later.

Candice - just to further tempt you. There is a HUGE scrapbook weekend at Disney every year. This year it was at B&Y. 2009 will be at the Contemporary. Just think - Thursday 9am until 3pm Sunday - cropping at Disney. If you want more information just pm me.

 

[bound2travel]

Sorry I haven't gotten back to this. Work and a 26 day constant headache (as of 10/10) has kept me from continuing.

So, my friend wouldn't commit to a date. I finally decided that I would pick a date for my trip and then tell my friend when I would be at home. I decided the 16th - 19th of October.

The next step would be to get the 16th off work. Done! Now to make hotel reservations and a SWEET SUNDAY ressie. I got POP for the weekend and got into the Sweet Sunday (F&W event) that I wanted. I tried for the Jamie Deen event as well, but that was already full (darn).

Now, some of you may be thinking... she's doing all this at the end of August/beginning of September and she hasn't mentioned ADRs yet??? Yeah, well.... I don't often eat at TS especially since DDP has gotten so popular. Plus, there aren't that many TS places at Epcot that I really want to try other than Le Cellier. I did try I even said any meal any day - Oh well some other time maybe. I do like RC but not as much since they removed my Tea Time Chicken from the menu. I also don't have a Disney Visa - yeah I know - so I don't have the free dining anyway.

So, the general plans are in place. Now to go crazy on the internet dreaming of Disney until I actually get to leave.

On the side note - the headache - it started very late one Sunday evening almost a month ago. I've been to the dr (shot, skelaxin, vicodin, gabapentin, some other pain killer, now topamaz), chiropractor, 2 massages, xray, mri and now a new blood pressure med (160/92 at the dr is not good). Now you know why I HAVE TO GO TO DISNEY!!!! My branch manager actually asked me if I would still be able to go on my trip!

 

[bound2travel]

As I'm also planning on attending Mousefest for the first time this year, I thought I would actually join disboards instead of occassionally lurking. This way, I may know a couple of people at Mousefest.

When I lurked before, it was for information and didn't get onto the boards too much. Now I can get into some of the boards and post. I decided to start with the Solo thread - as I am solo. It wasn't long before some pixie dust sprinkled my way. One of the posters saw the dates I would be visiting in Ocotober and suggested meeting up. She, Elizabeth, was even nice enough to invite me to meet with her and some other for lunch one day. I was pleasantly surprise and agreed. Now I get to meet some people from the boards and try a new place at DTD (Wolf Gang Puck's Cafe). Whoo Hoo

Of course it wasn't long before I found the trip reports thread and have had WAY too much fun over here . I had to add my pre trip report.

I have six days to go. I'll do most of my packing on Sunday. I hope my headache is gone by then - otherwise I'll be the one lurching around Epcot that ISN'T drunk . Seriously, between the headache, little sleep and the meds, I'm