Slipping Away to Disney for a Two Day Solo Stay Aug 30-31 -- On my way! 8/30

[JDTwo]

I had a flight credit that needed to be used by the first week of September, so I started looking into taking a quickie trip to WDW. My flight ended up being only $6 out of pocket round trip, plus $30 Early Bird boarding. Even with the Early Bird, $36 for a round trip flight isn't terrible! It will also cost $15 to park my car at the airport overnight. Actually it may be $15 per day; I will have to double check.

I will be arriving on the 30th of August (flight comes in at 10 a.m.) and coming back the very next day (flight leaves at 6 p.m.). Some may think it isn't worth it and believe me - I agonized over it! But my husband recently told me that he wants to do other trips for a while instead of Disney. Sad! I figured - if I can swing one last little hurrah just for myself then it will be good!

I'm staying at Pop Century. I almost - almost! - pulled the trigger on a much more expensive resort. I almost stayed at the Poly, figuring it was just one night and it would be a fun splurge. But then it seemed like the cost just kept adding and adding up and before I knew it I was spending $1000 (between resort, tickets, and food!) so that I wouldn't lose a $130 flight credit. Made no sense. So I toned it way back down and settled on Pop with 2 day tickets. I even fought myself with the tickets. I almost bought a 1 day ticket and thought that I would use the second day to explore other resorts and Disney Springs. In the end I couldn't narrow down the park selection and didn't think I'd really have time to do any park hopping in just one day, so I bit the bullet and bought 2 day tickets, no park hopper. Even now though as I'm planning I'm kind of wishing I'd gotten the hoppers. But that's $50 and no guarantee I would use it so I'm not adding it.

All in all, the trip should be 'fairly inexpensive' at $336 for the resort and 2 day tickets plus $36 for the flight and then probably $30 for 2 day airport parking.

 

[JDTwo]

I really put some thought into which park to go to on the first day. I eventually chose Animal Kingdom since I will only have one evening in the parks and it looks like there is some new stuff to see and do. I see that the Jungle Book show gets mixed reviews but I'd like to see it. Too bad the Rivers of Light show won't be working yet.

Since my flight comes in at 10 a.m., and I think I have to ride the bus to Pop and check in before I can really do anything, I think it will probably be 1 p.m. by the time I get to AK. It closes at 11 p.m. this night so I can get some good park time in. Too bad Dinosaur will be closed.

I keep wondering if I should have chosen the park hopper option. I could have gone to Epcot or DHS for a few hours first and then hopped over to AK. Can I buy a park hopper for only one day of my two day ticket? I know I won't be hopping anywhere on the second day.

The other reason I chose AK (besides it being open so late and having a lot of attractions I really enjoy) is because there is a lot of food I want to try! Just little things, really, but a lot of them. I know I won't be able to do it all but here are the things I'm interested in:

Flame Tree BBQ - I want to try the French Fries with Pulled Pork and Cheese.

Tusker House - I usually eat breakfast here but would like to try dinner.

Dawa Bar - I'm not much of a drinker. Fruity drinks almost always taste like cough syrup or Nyquil to me, wine tastes like rotten grapes, I can't even get past the smell of beer. BUT - I want to try a Bloody Mary in a big way. I think it sounds delicious.

Harambe Fruit Market - There is a fruit and cheese tray here that looks/sounds good in case I need a snack (ha!)

Pizzafari - The garlic knots sound so good! I think I would really like them.

Smiling Crocodile - I've never even heard of this place! But they have Smoky Cheddar Grits - served with pulled pork and bread-and-butter pickles, and a Chicken Drumstick - served with potato salad and bread-and-butter pickles. Both are less than $6 and sound pretty good!

Kusafiri Bakery - it's a bakery - that means cupcakes and cinnamon rolls!

Harambe Market - This one is on my probably list for lunch. I've wanted to try it since it opened but have just not had the opportunity. I like the sound of the chicken skewer, or maybe the beef and pork sausage.

Tamu Tamu - Dole Whip!!

Caravan Road - Teriyaki Beef Slider with pickled cucumber - sounds interesting!

Nomad Lounge - another adult beverage that sounds like a maybe - the Leaping Lizard - Malibu pineapple rum and Augusta cachaca with orange, passion fruit, and mango juices. Maybe these kinds of more tropical flavors won't taste so medicine-y to me. They also have a selection of small plates that sound great.


So much delicious food to choose from - no way can I try everything on the list in only ten hours, LOL! But it will be fun to choose once I get there. I really want to try stuff I've never had before.

I'd also like to try some new-to-me shows/attractions at AK while I'm there this one day:

• Finding Nemo the musical
• It's Tough to be a Bug
• Flights of Wonder
• Wildlife Train/Rafiki's Planet Watch
• Most of the animal trails - I always told myself I could go to our excellent zoo at home any time I want since we have passes; so I never bothered to go to any of the actual animal exhibits here.

 

[JDTwo]

At Animal Kingdom I have Fast Passes set up:

• Kilimanjaro Safaris -- 12:35 to 1:35
• Festival of the Lion King -- 2:30 to 2:50
• Expedition Everest -- 3:35 to 4:35

I'm thinking I want to do the safari at night since I will be there when it is dark. I think that the current fast pass time I have set up is a really hot part of the day and the animals will be resting to stay cool. Later may be better.

Lion King is my favorite show!

As a solo vacationer I really didn't need to make a FP for EE since the single rider line will go fairly quickly, I think. The crowd level for this day is listed as a 2. But there isn't really anything else to pick from as far as Fast Passes since Dinosaur will be closed.

I can always make additional fast passes after 4:35 if I want. Also, if I get particularly bored at Animal Kingdom (I'm usually one who calls this park a half-day park!) I can bus over to Disney Springs and walk around there for a while. It's got some neat new stores and restaurants, too. Always an option.

 

[JDTwo]

On the second (and last) day, I decided to go to Magic Kingdom. Because of my flight out, I'll have to be back at Pop by 3 p.m. to get the bus back to the airport.

I was able to get a pre-park opening ADR at Be Our Guest for 8:35. I was so glad to see that I could order just a cupcake there - the Master's cupcake. Yum - grey stuff! I really don't think I want any of the breakfast offerings especially since they raised the price from $21 to $24. I'll just sit and take pictures and enjoy my cupcake. And then hopefully grab a ride on the Mine Train coaster when it opens since I couldn't get a fast pass for it.

Just like at Animal Kingdom, there is some food I'd like to try at Magic Kingdom. There is absolutely no way to do all of this so once I get there I will pick and choose:

Be Our Guest - Master's Cupcake - pre-park opening ADR.

Aloha Isle - Dole Whip!!

Friar's Nook - I think the Pot Roast Macaroni and Cheese and also the Barbecue Chicken Macaroni and Cheese sound great!

Gaston's Tavern - love the Cinnamon Roll here.

Columbia Harbour House - one of my favorite QS restaurants at MK. I have always gotten the salmon here but the Lighthouse Sandwich and the Anchors Aweigh Sandwich both sound great and would be new for me.

Diamond Horseshoe - this would be fun to try for lunch but as a solo diner I think it would be way, way too much food. So this is probably not happening.

Liberty Tree Tavern - I think the Sweet Corn Fritters and the Ooey-Gooey Toffee Cake sound delicious!

Sleepy Hollow - Chocolate Hazelnut Spread and Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich - everyone seems to really like this so maybe I want to try it? I love Nutella.

Casey's Corner - I've never had the Corn Dog Nuggets and I bet they're good. Plus who doesn't love the piano player?!

Cosmic Ray's - I love the 1/2 chicken and rib combo but I've had it a bunch of times. I want to focus on a lot of new things for this short visit to the world.

Crystal Palace - if I could get a pre-park opening ADR for Crystal Palace I would ditch the BOG ADR in a heartbeat. I love the breakfast here and even though it wouldn't be new, I missed it last time and really regretted it.

Again - this list is definitely not a 'eat everything list' - just a list of interests to pick from while I'm there. BOG is the only reservation I have made and the only one I will make.


Some new-to-me attractions at Magic Kingdom for my list:

• Astro Orbiter
• Buzz Lightyear
• Country Bears Jamboree
• Carousel of Progress
• Storytime with Belle

 

[JDTwo]

I have the following fast passes set up for Magic Kingdom on the 2nd day:

• Pirates of the Caribbean -- 9:10 AM - 10:10 AM
• Haunted Mansion -- 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
• Jungle Cruise -- 1:40 PM - 2:40 PM

My 3 favorites! I couldn't get a fast pass for Seven Dwarves Mine Train. I think I'll head that way right after BOG and see what the line is like.

I'm having serious remorse that my trip isn't longer. There isn't any way to make it longer, either - I work before and after these days off and really I can't justify spending any more money on a trip by myself. I just have to keep telling myself that this is just a quick little fun stop and that if I want to do more than this, I have to work hard and save money (and hope my husband will want to schedule something here again soon!)

I have a gift card with $100 on it to use while at the parks. I've been saving it for a while and it's going to come in super handy. I can't believe how close my trip is - just a few days away now!

 

[JDTwo]

I just found out that there will be bus service from the parks to Disney Springs starting in a couple days. This is awesome! Now if I get to the point where I'm ready to leave AK on the first day of my trip, I can easily catch a bus to DS and hang out there for a while before heading back to the resort. It's pretty likely that I'll want to do this, so I'm really glad it is going to be easy. There are a few things I'd love to do at DS.

My favorite merchandise aside from Haunted Mansion stuff, is the 'Mine, Mine' stuff from The Seas in Epcot. Every time I go, I really want some stuff from there, and last time I did buy a shirt. But I want the towel and a water bottle or mug this time. The problem is that I'm not going to Epcot this time. Does anyone know if the seagull stuff can be found at AK, MK, or DS?

 

[JDTwo]

I'm getting really excited about the time away. It's such a short time but I really think that despite the looming 90* combined with 90% humidity days, it's just time away that I need to recharge my batteries and come back to every day life renewed (and with a longing, I'm sure, for another trip ASAP.) Even if it's too rainy or too hot or too humid to do anything I really want to do, it will be nice to just sit quietly by myself at the resort for two days without anyone demanding anything from me.

I still think I need a 'Mine!' towel though. And a water bottle. Maybe the shopping app will show me where I can find them.

Is anyone even reading this? I don't care, really, as it's just a nice way to journal about what's coming up. Just curious since I'm sure it's boring without pictures and I'm not exactly the funniest person in the world. I learned the hard way that the internet is a much MUCH smaller world than it would seem, and it's only as anonymous as one makes it. So I'm keeping this as anonymous as possible. It'd still be fun to chat, though.

 

[JessH87]

On the second (and last) day, I decided to go to Magic Kingdom. Because of my flight out, I'll have to be back at Pop by 3 p.m. to get the bus back to the airport.

I was able to get a pre-park opening ADR at Be Our Guest for 8:35. I was so glad to see that I could order just a cupcake there - the Master's cupcake. Yum - grey stuff! I really don't think I want any of the breakfast offerings especially since they raised the price from $21 to $24. I'll just sit and take pictures and enjoy my cupcake. And then hopefully grab a ride on the Mine Train coaster when it opens since I couldn't get a fast pass for it.

Just like at Animal Kingdom, there is some food I'd like to try at Magic Kingdom. There is absolutely no way to do all of this so once I get there I will pick and choose:

Be Our Guest - Master's Cupcake - pre-park opening ADR.

Aloha Isle - Dole Whip!!

Friar's Nook - I think the Pot Roast Macaroni and Cheese and also the Barbecue Chicken Macaroni and Cheese sound great!

Gaston's Tavern - love the Cinnamon Roll here.

Columbia Harbour House - one of my favorite QS restaurants at MK. I have always gotten the salmon here but the Lighthouse Sandwich and the Anchors Aweigh Sandwich both sound great and would be new for me.

Diamond Horseshoe - this would be fun to try for lunch but as a solo diner I think it would be way, way too much food. So this is probably not happening.

Liberty Tree Tavern - I think the Sweet Corn Fritters and the Ooey-Gooey Toffee Cake sound delicious!

Sleepy Hollow - Chocolate Hazelnut Spread and Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich - everyone seems to really like this so maybe I want to try it? I love Nutella.

Casey's Corner - I've never had the Corn Dog Nuggets and I bet they're good. Plus who doesn't love the piano player?!

Cosmic Ray's - I love the 1/2 chicken and rib combo but I've had it a bunch of times. I want to focus on a lot of new things for this short visit to the world.

Crystal Palace - if I could get a pre-park opening ADR for Crystal Palace I would ditch the BOG ADR in a heartbeat. I love the breakfast here and even though it wouldn't be new, I missed it last time and really regretted it.

Again - this list is definitely not a 'eat everything list' - just a list of interests to pick from while I'm there. BOG is the only reservation I have made and the only one I will make.


Some new-to-me attractions at Magic Kingdom for my list:

• Astro Orbiter
• Buzz Lightyear
• Country Bears Jamboree
• Carousel of Progress
• Storytime with Belle

I tried the waffle from Sleepy Hollow last trip and it was amazing! I highly recommend it if you love Nutella! The trip is only a few days away! Its a quick trip but its Disney so its definitely worth it! Have fun!

 

[JDTwo]

Thanks @JessH87 and

By this time tomorrow I should definitely be standing in Animal Kingdom. It's kind of surreal!

 

[JessH87]

Thanks @JessH87 and

By this time tomorrow I should definitely be standing in Animal Kingdom. It's kind of surreal!

So exciting!! Disney trips are the best even if it is a quick trip! Have a great time!!

 

[JDTwo]

Since I'm sitting in the plane, waiting for everyone else to load, I suppose this pre-trip report will end and the actual trip report begins! Catch you on the flip side!

http://www.disboards.com/threads/quick-2-day-solo-adventure-8-30-8-31.3540673/