One day, what would you do?

[theLavers]

I'm going to WDW this Friday, my birthday to do some Christmas ornament shopping. I have a four hour drive each way and I've done this kind of one day trip with the family before, but never by myself. So, if I leave home at 5am I'll get there by 9am, park and do whatever until 6ish, when I'll need to drive home.

Question 1) Is this crazy to do alone? I could spend the night in a value and drive home in the morning but I don't really want to spend the $. Also don't want to waste time when I get therWe checking in. Flipside is that if I don't spend the night, I'm going to have to pay parking.

Question 2) If you only had a nine hour day, which park would you spend it in? Epcot's my fav, but we don't usually spend alot of time at Animal Kingdom (dh hates it!) so I was considering that park, too. I may need to run to MK for some ornaments, so I might burn more time traveling back and forth than I'd like.

Any advice you have for me is appreciated. I'm so excited!

MaryPat

 

[Lizziejane]

Honestly....I'd treat it as a mini-solo trip, and overnight it. that way, you'll actually have 2 days to tour the parks, and you'll likely feel more refreshed on the drive home.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

My birthday is next Monday and I've also been debating which park to spend it in.....alone....due to work and school conflicts. The decision is hard. Each park has advantages. Right now I'm leaning towards EPCOT. I'd probably feel the least self-conscious there.

At least I'm local and don't have 8 hours of driving!!!

BobK/Orlando

 

[Vivianne]

I would definitely stay overnight. You get there, check-in and you're ready for the park. I would visit MK and enjoy that park to the max. At least you'll have a room to rest the night. After all it's Friday..why rush? Four hour drive each way alone can be tough Have a safe trip.

 

[cbg1027]

Well hello fellow Tallahassee Lassie! Good to know I'm not the only crazy one in this town. Happy Birthday! I just spent my birthday at Disney a week ago!

I wouldn't want to spend the money on a hotel either, but I know I couldn't handle that drive alone, back and forth, in one day. It was great in middle school because we had a bus driver so I could sleep on the ride...but I would think it's bit dangerous. You'll be tired and having to drive that far after a long day isn't a good idea to me.

If DH hates AK, then I would take advantage of this opportunity to be able to go without him!

 

[Carousel_OF_Disney]

Why are you in such a hurry to get home?

But Animal Kingdom is probably only open until 5pm - so you could spend the day from 9-5 doing that - then going over to Downtown Disney and shop at the xmas store there. It's probably open until 9pm. (or you could stay the night and hit that first thing Sat. morning at 9am). The majority of my xmas items have been purchased at Downtown Disney. ((I'm sure someone here can get you exact hours for both AK and the Xmas store fast than I can))

If you stayed at a disney hotel you could do extra magic hours at epcot til midnight, then shop the next morning /and or/ do a park hopper with AK in the morning and Epcot at night. The Xmas parade though at AK is worth staying til 4pm.

I live 7 hours away and go alone all the time - but if I was 4 hours away and my things were xmas items and a park - I'd deffinately do this:

Pack several days prior. (extra clothes if you spill, sweat, get too hot,too cold, too windy, to drive in, music, cooler, full tank of gas, etc etc - you never know)
Get to bed early the two nights before.
Bring along a cooler with sodas, snacks and sandwiches.
Drive to Animal Kingdom (or whatever park) - go in as soon as it opens.
Do stuff non-stop and flash pass as much as possible til Noon. (Plus flash passes usually close around 2pm these days).
Go back to the car, grab a quick sandwhich and drink (Drop off any purchases you might have already made). Then back in til closing.
At 5pm when the park closes - then head over to Downtown Disney.
Do your shopping, you can be on the road home by 7pm. Plus you don't want to be in any traffic in the area at 5pm.
You can stop and get more food or whatever on your way home somewhere.
8 FULL hours at a park right now with the somewhat smaller crowds will be plenty of time anyway - so getting home before midnight will make you feel SO MUCH better the rest of the weekend - you at home after 1 day at Disney. Plus driving in FLORIDA in the late mornings SUCKS with the Sun.

Living 4 hours away - I don't think it's worth doing a hotel for this trip.
Plus you could save that money and go back before Xmas on a second trip with someone and do Mickeys Very Merry Xmas Party with a hotel. Not to mention $30 avg or more for a hotel buys a lot of little xmas items or several big ones -- plus is half the cost of what MVMXP is.

**if you are at AK make sure to do K. Safarri first as that when the animals are out the most. Plus it's usually one of the longest lines.
*** bring a jacket or poncho if you don't want to get soaked on the Falls
(extra shoes / socks on this too - luckily I was in flip flops last time)

 

[theLavers]

Thanks for all the answers and ideas so far. I'm not in a hurry, I'd love to stay the whole weekend, but I have a five year old. I've told her I'm going Christmas shopping--I just didn't tell her where. She has a ballet recital, so she can't go. Plus, I want to go by myself. I relish the idea of pleasing noone but myself at DW for a day.

I think I could make the drive, and I've thought of burning some CDs for the trip. I'm leaning toward Epcot right now, just because I've never tried the Grand Marnier slushie from France or the school bread, sounds like lunch! I don't know--I've never been able to decide without considering anyone else's opinions.

I may try one-day commando with the option of staying the night if I don't think I can make it when I get there. I might be able to find a value room without a ressie. I do LOVE the idea of spending the night, then I could do Epcot, spend the night and go to Animal Kingdom in the morning for a few hours, then drive home. Wow....that really does sound fabulous. If I could find a great FL discount, I'd bite. I'm rotten from getting $59 rooms too many years in a row.

BTW, we're going back as a family in late January, so no matter what I decide I'll be back soon! Thanks and keep the ideas coming!

 

[Vivianne]

Hope you had a great trip, returned safe and sound and everything worked out as you planned.

 

[cprelaxin36]

I agree with those who say you should stay overnight. Go to the parks on your birthday and check out some of their christmas things. Reserve a hotel through hotwire for cheap in the downtown disney area, and you could check out the christmas store in downtown disney in the morning, too. Then go home in no rush.

 

[CptJackSparrowsGirl]

I'd so do the whole Magic Kingdom!!