Solo TR – You’re staying where? First Solo Trip to the World.

[pas130]

kaffinito YAY!!!!! You made it. I know I'm late.....forgive a girl who just worked the last 16 hours I have a lot of catching up to do, just wanted to let you know I found you-thanks for the link

 

[stepdisney]

Kaffinito I am so proud of you my resort-changing-sister-from-another-mister! On the plane, off of the plane....good girl!!!! What kind of side effects did you encounter? Did you remember which resort you booked? That would be my only worry about flight-altering drugs....lol. I would have to pin my resort reservations to my shirt and hope that someone would push me onto the correct magic express bus. lol.

Anyway, I am all caught up on my TR reading, strapped in and ready for your adventures. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

Last PTR post before I leave!

Part IV - Karen has to fly

Why don't you use the magic feather like in Dumbo?

 

[KatMark]

Karen, I'm here. I had no idea you had started this or I would have gotten here sooner.

 

[kaffinito]

Hi pas - hope you got some sleep!

Hi step- glad to see you here!

Hi Christine!

Hi Kathy!

Yep, I made it here safely, no side effects from the Ativan at all.

I like AsSpo, and love being here solo!

 

[Carrie772]

Last PTR post before I leave!

So I have the “magic flying pills” my carry on luggage, new from eBags, and enough movies, books, and music loaded onto my tablet to get me through at least 36 hours of flying.

I’m still absolutely terrified at the thought of flying though….

Part V
The trip begins…..
To Be Continued tomorrow morning...

Hey Karen! I have seen you over at the POR FAQ thread. I love your writing style. And 36 hours of flying! Oh my! From where?

 

[kaffinito]

Hey Karen! I have seen you over at the POR FAQ thread. I love your writing style. And 36 hours of flying! Oh my! From where?

Thank you for your nice comments on my writing style.

My flight was only 2 1/2 hours, but I wanted to make sure that I had enough material to get me through a flight.

 

[kaffinito]

So my trip is over, and I have asked the mods to move this PTR over to the TR board.

So let me just start this off with flying. I've been terrified to fly for a long time, and was really terrified at the thought of flying. I took two Ativans before I boarded (the plane was delayed) and once on the plane it reminded me of a bus or a train.

So the whole flight there I pretended I was on a bus, and that the bus was going to Disney. Takeoff is the worse for me, but once in the air was able to enjoy the Sirius XM radio (Top hits of the 80's) and read my book "Mousetrapped: A Year and a Bit in Orlando FL." It's a good read BTW.

The free pop and the free pretzels helped too. It was good for me that I knew right where my seat was, so I was able to look at it on the schematic. I made it through just fine, and got off the plane in one piece. Slightly stoned, but in one piece. Then I just had to figure out how to leave the airport, but asked for directions, and found the DME bus.

The bus was very pleasant, especially since they weren't leaving right away and I had plenty of time to smoke before they left. Once aboard it was a short trip to AsSpo - the first stop BTW.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Welcome back!!!

Was the flight home as uneventful? Fingers crossed! Now that you've conquered flying will you fly with the boys next trip? At least this means it will so much easier to take a long weekend to Disney now and then - even short solo trips can be refreshing.

 

[sjs314]

So my trip is over, and I have asked the mods to move this PTR over to the TR board.

So let me just start this off with flying. I've been terrified to fly for a long time, and was really terrified at the thought of flying. I took two Ativans before I boarded (the plane was delayed) and once on the plane it reminded me of a bus or a train.

So the whole flight there I pretended I was on a bus, and that the bus was going to Disney. Takeoff is the worse for me, but once in the air was able to enjoy the Sirius XM radio (Top hits of the 80's) and read my book "Mousetrapped: A Year and a Bit in Orlando FL." It's a good read BTW.

The free pop and the free pretzels helped too. It was good for me that I knew right where my seat was, so I was able to look at it on the schematic. I made it through just fine, and got off the plane in one piece. Slightly stoned, but in one piece. Then I just had to figure out how to leave the airport, but asked for directions, and found the DME bus.

The bus was very pleasant, especially since they weren't leaving right away and I had plenty of time to smoke before they left. Once aboard it was a short trip to AsSpo - the first stop BTW.

The first time I ever flew I was a bit terrified and I did exactly what you did I somehow convienced myself that I was on a bus

 

[kaffinito]

The first time I ever flew I was a bit terrified and I did exactly what you did I somehow convienced myself that I was on a bus

It worked on the way down, but not so great on the way back. All I could think of on the way back was "Welcome to Michigan - Land of Ice and Snow"

But hey, at least I can fly now - that means slightly longer trips to WDW!

 

[KatMark]

Welcome home. Welcome to the "hate flying club". Poor Mark is black and blue once we get wherever we are going.

Can't wait to read more about the trip.

Happy Easter!

 

[kaffinito]

Day 1

Arrived at resort at 10:00 pm. Check in was very easy.

I did online check in so that took a lot of the wait out, but there was no line anyway. Received room 6412 in the preferred section, ground floor, king room. About as far away from a DSA as I could get, but the parking lot was close so I smoked there a lot.

Threw my stuff in the room then left for MK at 10:15 pm. I was totally geeked about getting to go to MK for evening EMH – it’s my favorite time to go!

Did photos pass – I prepaid for a photo pass CD

I rode, in this order:
AMC
JC
POTC
HM
Iasw
Swsa
Philharmagic
Tcups
Speedway
Astro

I was starving and everything was closed so had a Dole whip with vanilla –yum Hated it with pineapple ice cream, but love it with vanilla.

I had a very magical night in the park – it was lovely being there again with very low crowds, and getting to walk on all of the rides I wanted to go on.

Tried out the new interactive queue at HM, and thought it was great! It was very well done, but the line does not wiggle through it yet, just goes past it so if you want to explore the section you have to leave the line and then get back into it. I hope they change that around a bit.

The new and improved hitchhiking ghosts were simply awesome! They are well worth multiple rides to experience all three of them. And that’s all I’ll say for the people who are leaving soon and don’t want spoilers.



Don't read the next paragraph if you don't want to know....




But for those of you that want to know – the ghost I had switched heads with me, so my head was on the ghosts body and vice versa – it was really well done!




Well I got back to the resort by 3:30 and was in bed by 4 am.

 

[kaffinito]

Welcome home. Welcome to the "hate flying club". Poor Mark is black and blue once we get wherever we are going.

Can't wait to read more about the trip.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to you to!

I understand about flying - it's nerve wracking, even when you think about how very safe it is.

 

[kaffinito]

Day 2 April 18th

Was supposed to go to AK this day, but was too tired out from the flight and the long night at MK, so swam in the pool and took a long nap instead.

I had no coffee since I can no longer drink the resort coffee. Now I’m a coffee-holic, and adore my coffee, and a lot of it. I’ve recently gone from a regular coffee maker with Folgers in it to grinding my own beans and using a Cuisinart single serve coffee maker. So the coffee at the food court is now undrinkable, which makes me sad.

So I hung around the pool, and wandered around the resort. I ended up having lunch at the food court - my dinner ARD wasn't until 8:00pm. I had the chicken Caesar salad for lunch and it was yummy!

Then got ready for dinner at Bistro de Paris. I was going to wear a dress I brought with me, but thought I looked too fat in it so I settled for a nice top and took off for EPCOT.

Only took ten minutes for a bus, and the bus stopped at all three All Stars but it didn’t take very long to get to EPCOT.

I entered EPCOT by the main gates, stopped by Club Cool for some of my beloved Beverly, and headed towards WS. I wandered around looking for a DSA before dinner, and didn’t find one, so I snuck off in a corner to have one. Then I went off to Bistro.

My fantasy for Bistro was a table by the window so I could watch Illuminations.

Well, I got my table, and settled in for a wonderful meal.

I pre budgeted for the dinners so I would have enough cash on me, so I was well prepared.

The Amuse buche was a wonderful creamy asparagus soup with bacon.

I started with “Warm Goat Cheese - with basil and sundried tomatoes in a crisp shell, baby mixed greens, balsamic vinaigrette $12.00”

and had the “Pork Tenderloin - stuffed with mushrooms, truffles pasta gratin, morel sauce $33.00” for my main course.

I really didn’t like the au gratin part of the meal, it was a penne pasta and they had taken the truffles out of the au gratin. It was like smelly mac n cheese, and not a very good accompaniment to the pork.

Just before dessert Illuminations started.

I had a wonderful view of the fireworks, and thoroughly enjoyed watching them from my window seat. It was a very special dinner.

I finished up with the Vanilla Créme Brulée – dessert which consisted of “caramelized rice pudding, and Upside down caramel cream, Créme Brulée ice cream” It was good, but prefer the crème brulee at the Wishes Dessert Party.

The service was good, I ordered a 4 cup French Press, and it was just right after caffeine-less day. The park was closed after Illuminations so I left.

The next day was check out day, so I packed my back pack with swim stuff and got the room ready for check out. Then I wandered over to Music to check it out.

Music doesn’t have as many trees or as much landscaping as AsSpo, and looked a little barren. There is a lot more landscaping at Sports! It also seems a lot bigger than AsSpo. Their main pool was empty, while the one at AsSpo was still going strong. The piano pool had some people in it though.

All in all, I didn’t care for the looks of Music, and was glad that I had chosen AsSpo. I really liked it there, and the food court has the best chicken Caesar salad on property. It’s even better than the one at Poly, and I didn’t even have to argue to get some extra salad dressing.

Room and resort description: In the king room there is a removable shower nozzle, and hand rails in bathroom but has a bathtub. There is a Flat screen tv, and a safe big enough to hold an iPad. Nice comfy bed with overstuffed pillows and a cheap bedspread. No dust or dirt anywhere, and the room looked new.

The bus service was great. 10 minute wait for EPCOT, shared buses going to EPCOT, and to MK, but no shared buses during peak hours or going home. Only had to share during slower times. Since the All Stars are right in a row, it didn’t take long at all. 5 minute wait for MK and no other stops. No shared buses at pick up at the parks. Lots of charter buses and cruise line buses being used for Spring Break crowds.

The pool was insanely crowded at night with all of the kids, a group of twenty got kicked out my last night for being too rowdy.

The pool stays open until 12:00 with a life guard, but kids and adults were still swimming until 3:00 am.

All in all I give Sports a

 

[hstrickland]

Finally found your TR! Haven't read anything, yet. Will start reading this afternoon when I have a few minutes.

 

[ClareH37]

Loving your report, and how wonderful to have that table at Bistro - amazing!

I've got Bistro on my 'possibles' this years but after reading your report I really do think it's going to have to be a 'must do'!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

What a nice pic of you, Karen!

Nothing better than a TR with lots of pics - this one is perfect. Glad your stay at ASSp was a good one - think it could be a mighty long before I give it a try, but do like the energy.

I hate to fly now too - but in the 90's flew about once a month. Now I dread it - did you have to go through one of the new body scanners? If I cannot sit in the first 5 rows, do not fly even to WDW. Just can't see the wings or know the wings exist. Weird, I know.

LOVE window view at Bistro!

Looking forward to the next installment.

 

[KatMark]

Nice to put a face to a name -- very nice picture. Love the window view for Illuminations.

 

[kaffinito]

Finally found your TR! Haven't read anything, yet. Will start reading this afternoon when I have a few minutes.

Wait until I get to the V&A portion!

Loving your report, and how wonderful to have that table at Bistro - amazing!

I've got Bistro on my 'possibles' this years but after reading your report I really do think it's going to have to be a 'must do'!

The food and the service are really good. It's a nice meal and a nicer environment.

What a nice pic of you, Karen!

Nothing better than a TR with lots of pics - this one is perfect. Glad your stay at ASSp was a good one - think it could be a mighty long before I give it a try, but do like the energy.

I hate to fly now too - but in the 90's flew about once a month. Now I dread it - did you have to go through one of the new body scanners? If I cannot sit in the first 5 rows, do not fly even to WDW. Just can't see the wings or know the wings exist. Weird, I know.

LOVE window view at Bistro!

Looking forward to the next installment.

I know you don't want to try out AsSpo, and understand that the values aren't for everyone. But I've yet to meet a resort category I didn't like!

Nice to put a face to a name -- very nice picture. Love the window view for Illuminations.

That's actually a decent pic of me. I don't photograph well at all!

I understand the the view from a window table at Tokyo Dining is much better with unobstructed views. I might have to try that sometime.