Semi Live Trip Report

[loves to dive]

I'm doing 6 nights/7 days solo for F&W but started 2 days early to knock out MK and AK. There most likely won't be any pictures because I just don't remember to take them. 2 nights at CS and 4 nights at YC.

Left Athens, GA bright and early at 6 this morning and got here around 1:30. I got the text my room was ready around 10:30. Building 8B in Cabanas, second floor. I'm pretty satisfied with it, the bus stop is right behind the building, it's a corner room which would be nice if I opened the curtains. Not going to happen since my view is of the parking lot, it doesn't bother me since I don't pay for views in moderates.

After I got unpacked I headed off to AK, the bus arrived 3 minutes after I got to the bus stop and it took about 5 minutes to get to the park. I was the only one on the bus. About 10 people in the bag check line and no one in front of me in the scanning area. I hadn't eaten anything all day so I headed over to Nomad Lounge and had a refreshing adult beverage - Snow Leopard Salvation (vodka, pear liquor, mint and lime juice topped with Ginger beer) and Wagu beef sliders (2 sliders and a few finger potatoes with vinegar). Excellent service, excellent food and good drink. Headed over and did stand by for Bugs Life, no wait. After that I grabbed a FP for Lion's King and walked over and did the Pagnini (sp?) Trail while I waited for that. Loved the show, great as usual. Wandered around and looked in shops for a while and rode the Safari around 6:30, all sorts of animals were out and the driver got all excited because the Wildebeest were out running and chasing each other and the small deer like animals (I can't remember their names) were running around and leaping straight up in the air. All the animals were pretty active. Walked the Maharajah Jungle Trek and the tiger was actually out in the open, I had a nice conversation with the CM there about tiger's mating habits. Rode EE around sunset and finished the night with a visit to First Aid for something for a headache and watching the Tree of Life show. Grabbed something at Pepper's Market and while walking back to my room the HS FWs were going off so I stopped to watch them. All the CMs I encountered were friendly and pleasant, the park was clean (including the bathrooms) and not crowded at all. A pretty good first day.

 

[QueenJen]

Wow! You've had a pretty full day. Enjoy your time on vacation.

 

[loves to dive]

Wow! You've had a pretty full day. Enjoy your time on vacation.

Thanks, it was a little tiring.

 

[loves to dive]

MK day. Got to the bus stop and the bus was there waiting. Completely full but he packed me and 3 more people in and off we headed to MK, not stopping at the last stop because we are full. Then we hear a voice from the back yell "hey you said you were stopping at El Centro". We were already out on the road so the poor driver had to turn that bus around and go back to the last stop to let a woman and her kid off. Boy were the people waiting at the stop upset when they found out they couldn't get on the bus. Got to MK around 9:30 and the bag line was about a 15 min. wait but I had no bag so in I went. Went straight to POC and it was a walk on, walked over to HM and it was a walk on as well, booked a FP for JC for a little later. After HM went to watch the show, I liked it but I'm over Frozen, just let it go. After that went to the Hall of Presidents since I haven't seen that in about 15 years or so, then off to my JC FP. Couldn't decide what I wanted to do so checked MDE and Little Mermaid ride was a 10 min. wait so I went there, it was a walk on. After that I decided to do Winnie the Pooh since I've never ridden it, it is now my favorite ride. It was a walk on as well. Grabbed some grapes and wandered over to Tomorrowland where I had to ride the People mover because one must then COP. I had a 2:45 ADR for tea at GF and it was now around 1 so I looked in a few shops, my favorite - the jewelry store is closed so that was a bummer. Rode the train around the park. I was going to take the boat over to GF because I'm not fond of the monorail but no boats running because of ugy nasty dark clouds so on the monorail I hopped. My tea was wonderful as usual and as usual I was too full to even move and a little tipsy from my champaign so I decided to call it a day. The boats were running so back to MK and my bus luck held out. A CS bus was just getting ready to pull out, again jam packed but there was one lonely seat in the back so I got a seat. The bus driver was one of those great ones who sang and entertained us all the way back. It was around 5 so I decided to go to the pool, did a few laps in the quiet pool then headed over to the main pool for some hot tub time. It was raining by then but no thunder. I was able to sit in the hot tub for about 15 min. before the sky opened and it was everyone out of the pool and huddled under the bar. It slowed down enough for me to scamper to my room about 10 min. later but started back up so it looks like it will be car snacking food for supper for me. I brought a great rain coat, clear plastic that goes all the way to the ground but when I got it out this morning there was a big ole rip all the way down the side. Tomorrow I'll have to buy a Mickey poncho. Another day of great CMs, not to bad crowded and fairly clean park so no complaints from me, rain and all it was a good day.

 

[wvgoofyfan]

Sounds like a great trip so far. Don't you love the freedom of being solo and getting so much done. I love interacting with the great cast members also.

 

[loves to dive]

Moved over to Yacht Club around 8:30 this morning, of course my room wasn't ready but no problem, I stored my bags and off to Epcot. I got to IG about 5 min. after park open and walked over to Soarin. It was posted a 20 min wait but it was really on around 15. I like the new film but have to say I liked the old one better, this one has a few issues with the screen being out of focus. After that I listened/lived with the land, I love this ride. Then it was over to see Nemo and up to watch the dolphins play. It was feeding time for general population so I wandered over there but there were 3 divers in the water and it just made me sad since I haven't been diving in about a year and a half so I moved on. Went to SSE which was posted a 20 min wait but was probably about 10, after that it was over to find the AP area for glass pickup and off to The Festival Center to look around. While on my way to WS I passed TT which showed a 10 min. wait for single rider, it was a walk on so I rode that. Walked around WS until my 1:00 Food and Wine pairing lunch at Spice Road Tables, which was excellent and almost put me in a food coma. I had received my room number around 10 so I went back to YC to see what I got. I had booked a standard view so you never know, I got this
I'll take it. Walked around the resort trying to find the nearest stairs since I hate taking the elevator but where my room is, there just isn't any choice. Then I went to the quiet pool for about a hour of rest. After a shower it was off again, I walked through WS on a mission to eat at least one thing at a booth even though I wasn't hungry. Ended up with an empanada at Patagonia
Then on the monorail to TTC and the Ferry to MK


Rode the train around the park just because, then off to watch the castle show and FWs, after that it was People Mover, JC at night which was fun it was about a 12 min wait, accidently watched the electrical parade because I got stuck then SDMT. SDMT was about a 20 min wait, posted 30. Just before time to board a family in front of me that had 3 little ones asked if one of their girls could ride with me. She was a little scared at first but I ooohhhhed and aaahhhed and pointed out things and she ended up laughing by the time it was over. By then I was exhausted so back to the room for the night. I'm not normally a rope drop to park close kind of person, it just sort of happened tonight. Another good day.

 

[loves to dive]

Sounds like a great trip so far. Don't you love the freedom of being solo and getting so much done. I love interacting with the great cast members also.

I go solo about every other time I go and I might enjoy it more than when I go with my son.

 

[loves to dive]

Today was another mixed bag. I got to HS a little after rope drop and just walked right in, no bags and didn't get selected to get screened. There was maybe a 10 min. bag check line. Went straight to TSMM and it was posted a 20 min. wait, they hadn't opened the line yet. It was actually around 15 min. After that it was TOT, again posted 20 min. wait but it was a walk on, I think it broke down after I got off. Then over to GMR, which I love. Posted 10 min wait but it was a walk on as well. Had a great CM, at the point of the Wizard of Oz when you are supposed to follow the yellow brick road the CM in the car ahead of us was new and didn't know she was supposed to go, our CM whispered evidently she didn't hear about the yellow brick road and then he whispered she was new. Everyone cracked up. After that I went to walk through One Man's Dream, the movie was down but I walked through the exhibit. After that I shopped a little (new watch) and walked over to Epcot. I had a wine tasting and it was about 11:30, I knew I needed to eat something so I stopped at a few booths and grabbed something then walked over to the Festival Center. I had to wait in line about 15 min. to pick up my tickets since they only had one person working, longest wait of the day was to pick up tickets I had already paid for. I had a 1:00 wine tasting, which was o.k. but not great then a 2:00 food demo which was great. The chef was engaging, the food good and the emcee kept everything rolling along. After that I walked around eating at booths and doing a little shopping then back to my room for a rest of about a hour. Back to Epcot for more food and around 6:45 I decided what the heck I'll go watch the new FW show at HS so I walked back to the YC and caught the boat. I watched the little kids do the Jedi Training, so cute then decided I needed to meet Chewy. I was wearing a TShirt with a picture of Hans and Chewy and it said "Chewy we're home". The wait was about 20 min. and Chewy was happy to see my shirt, why not it was a good picture of him. Then I went and sat to wait for the show. A CM came along about 25 min. before the start and told everyone where I was sitting it was a horrible spot and told us where to move. I couldn't sit there so stood for 25 min. about 2 min. before the show a very tall man came and stood in from of me. Since most of the show is projected on buildings I got sound and a some FWs. From what I could see it looked just ok. There is only a small space that is really ideal for seeing it and even then there are trees in part of it. They needed to rethink that but I was glad I saw it, won't need to again.

 

[wvgoofyfan]

Sounds like you put an awful lot of miles on those legs but lots of good times too! Thanks for posting your travels around the world! Looking forward to reading more.................

 

[berryinDC]

What was your favorite thing you tried at the F&W booths in Epcot?

 

[loves to dive]

Sounds like you put an awful lot of miles on those legs but lots of good times too! Thanks for posting your travels around the world! Looking forward to reading more.................

I have, I'm not a planner, in case you couldn't tell so I tend to hop all around the place. By the end of the day I'm soaking in a hot bath for about a hour every night.

What was your favorite thing you tried at the F&W booths in Epcot?

I haven't finished with all of them yet, I've been posting pictures and sort of mini reviews over on the Food & Wine thread on the restaurants board. I think probably the humus fries in Morocco so far but I'm partial to Med. food. I can't really say I've had anything that was horrible.

 

[loves to dive]

Today was a F&W day so I slept in a little and got to Epcot around 9:30. I walked over to FW and rode Figment, which was a walk on. I still like the old version better but Figment is a must do in our family. After that I played a little in the play area and shopped in the dump store. Well, I opened the disney ap and snapped the tags and ordered that way but it was all stuff I saw in the shop. That way I had it all sent to my house and won't have to worry about packing stuff. After that I went did a couple of booths in FW in the Chew section. I had a food demo at noon and a wine tasting at 1 so I headed over to the Festival Center and picked up my tickets and waited for the first one. After my seminars, both of which I enjoyed, I went to pick up my AP glass and some soap at one of the booths. I bought some from them during F&G and became addicted, I had used my last bar about 2 weeks before so I bought extra this time. Then it was back to the room and some pool time. I went to the quiet pool at YC, I'm not a fan of the main pool since it tends to be loud. Just when I was getting ready to leave it started raining, which was good because 3 couples of young adults arrived with their cooler and radio and balls for the pool. The girls grabbed life jackets to use as floats and sat on them since you can't use floats in the pool. The guys were doing cannonballs jumping in the pool and throwing their balls around. I was glad I was getting ready to leave anyway because I wouldn't have stuck around after that, this is the quiet pool at the Yacht Club, not a frat party. I rested a while then headed back over to Epcot right when the skies seriously opened up. I had a cheap poncho in my luggage so I had that with me and pulled it on. It was pretty useless but got me as far as the gift shop on the other side of the IG where I bought a Disney poncho and went about my business. Of course, all the booths were shut down so people were just kind of hanging around outside them waiting for them to open up. I walked around a bit and went in some shops. Around 6:45 the booths opened back up so I went to a few then around 8 walked back to the YC. It was crowded but not unmanageable, could have been the rain or it might have gotten worse after I left but I didn't find it bad at all. I had to stop at the shop where I bought my poncho on the way out since I as soon as I opened it up I noticed a tear. They exchanged it no problem. They were showing the 2016 version of the Jungle Book on the lawn at 8:30 so I went to my room and sprayed myself down with bug spray and went back out to watch the movie. A lot of people grabbed chairs off the beach but the CMs spread sheets with towels on top on the ground so I just settled down on the ground. I had already seen the movie but enjoyed it again, it actually got a little chilly and I had to grab a towel to use as a cover. Tomorrow will be another strictly F&W day and is my last full day.

 

[loves to dive]

My last day and I took it really easy to day, I was pretty much worn out from eating so much, I probably consumed more calories this week than a whole month normally. Boy am I going to have to do double workouts when I get home. I had a cheese and beer pairing seminar at 9:15, I'm not sure I knew it was a beer pairing when I booked it since I'm not much of a beer drinker but it was o.k. The cheeses were English and there was an English lager and ale. I enjoyed it but the presenters were really long winded, it lasted longer than it was supposed to, we got out just before 11. I realized I had forgotten my gift card, which normally I would have just ignored and paid cash for things but it was a Disney gift card so I needed to use it all up here, so back to the room I went. I grabbed the card and back over to Epcot, I was so hot and exhausted I went to the garden in China and found a bench in the shade and just sat there for about 1/2 hour drinking water. I shopped a little in China and ate at the China, South Korea, Africa and Germany booths. I was so tired, hot and uncomfortable from so much food I went back to my room and ran a warm bath and just soaked for awhile then took a nap. I had a package at the store so when I woke up I threw on the clothes I had on earlier and headed to the gift shop to pick it up. I forgot to throw on my MB so I had to go to the concierge and get an old fashioned card to get back in my room. Thankfully my wallet was in my shorts pocket so I did have an ID. So embarrassed but the CM was super nice and laughed with me about it. I had a wine tasting scheduled for 5:30 that I was toying with skipping, it was only $15 and in the grand scheme of how much I've spent, a drop in the bucket but I got dressed and headed out. As I got halfway to Epcot, the skies opened up. No problems, I had the poncho I bought yesterday so I just put that one and went about my merry way. By the way, the Mickey watch I've had for a couple of years and is my favorite is not supposed to be water proof but is. The Mickey red cap I've had for about 15 years, however, is not. I had red dye dripping off it, looked like I was bleeding. Seminar was o.k. not great. Headed back to WS where I grabbed something from America and Brazil and then over to France for my all time favorite thing to ever buy at WDW. An ice cream cone, yep out of everything I've eaten that was the best. I did some shopping in England and listened to the band playing there then I was done. My flip flops had gotten soaked in the rain and were starting to rub the top of my foot so I hoofed it back to my room barefoot. I'm sitting on my balcony drinking a cup of tea and listening to the fireworks (can't see them) and just relaxing for the rest of the night. I think tomorrow morning I'll treat myself to a room service breakfast then it's time to hit the road for the 7 1/2 drive back to Athens and reality, which includs work on Monday morning. For once I'm ready to go home, that never happens but I'm just exhausted from so much food. It's been a good trip though and I've had fun.

 

[sailaside]

Sounds great!

 

[QueenJen]

The empanada and ice cream look yummy. Sounds like you had a nice trip. Thanks for sharing. Hope your drive home was not too bad-that's a long trek. Sorry it's back to a normal Monday tomorrow.

 

[wvgoofyfan]

Great report. Glad you took the time to write it down and post. Now that you're home,you can rest up some and start planning your next trip.