Welcome to the Cheap Seat...or how I decided to go to Disney in a day for a day.

[shannon006]

Shannon, you are my hero! Six kids?! Sounds like you do need a getaway vacation, even for one day!

serene56...the bread in schoolbread isn't nearly as sweet as a doughnut. It has the consistency of a roll, but just a bit sweeter. Have you ever had Hawaiian bread? Its similar to that...The custard in the middle tastes like a buttery vanilla, and the topping is toasted coconut. Its served cold but the bread isn't tough or hard. Its heavenly.

We have been married 23 years this past February. We were at WDW for Christmas with all 8 of us. However last month DH and I went for a 5 day trip to AKL without any kids. It was amazing. I saw so much detail and just took it all in. WDW is truly my happy place. Always has been, and always will be

 

[serene56]

ooh, it would be so good for breakfast! I guess it would depend on how hot the day is and what time of day you pick it up. If you pick it up before you go to LeCellier (which I'm so jealous you have a ressie for!), maybe they can ice it for you?

When is your trip?

Our trip is the end of Sept-- HOT HOT and MORE hot---with a chance of a Thunderstorm.

I have been planning this for 4.9 years now. (LOL)
I got a few hard to get ADRS-- Ohana for Breakfast AND dinner for two other days too

 

[MagiKitty]

Oh, you're very lucky. I did manage to get OHana last trip for breakfast, but wasn't able to get them for dinner. That's in my Wishes list---I wish to go to Disney for free dining again! I'd like to go there, Le Cellier just to find out what all the hoo-ha is about, Sanaa, oh heck, we like everything!

Hey, D, thanks for dropping by...I did have to shell out some cash for my last meal at EPCOT...but I'll give you a hint...it was less than $2.00!

hsembrick, in terms of great deals, just keep your eyes open. Sign up for email notifications, if you know your dates, try Yapta or Kayak. If you already have your tickets, have Yapta watch your fares for you, you may be entitled for a refund down the road.

Shannon,,,congrats on 23 years! Woo-hoo! What an accomplishment. I know what you mean about Disney being your happy place...a little too well I think!

 

[emh1129]

Loving your trip report! I think it's so neat that you did such a spontaneous thing.. and how could you not, right? You scored an amazing deal!

 

[ibela]

I tried to wait around for the Chinese acrobats--has ANYONE ever seen them? I guess I'll have to try to see them again another time....

I've seen them...twice! They're amazing. Kinda like the Body Benders at the Ringling Bros circus if you've seen that recently and/or remember.

Oh, you're very lucky. I did manage to get OHana last trip for breakfast, but wasn't able to get them for dinner. That's in my Wishes list---I wish to go to Disney for free dining again! I'd like to go there, Le Cellier just to find out what all the hoo-ha is about, Sanaa, oh heck, we like everything!

hsembrick, in terms of great deals, just keep your eyes open. Sign up for email notifications, if you know your dates, try Yapta or Kayak. If you already have your tickets, have Yapta watch your fares for you, you may be entitled for a refund down the road.

I'm trying O'hana for the first time on my Labor Day trip, we're going for dinner. Never been to Le Cellier either. And on the Rumor Board they said it's becoming a 2 credit meal so I guess I won't be trying it anytime soon either!

Never even heard of Yapta but I don't have my tickets yet for my Sept trip so I'm going to check it out, thanks!!

 

[Twingle]

I saw this deal but *none* of the airports near me had the $10 fare to Orlando! So glad you went, it sounds like you had a wonderful time!

Can't wait to hear more - and I love hearing about your meals, I've never tried any of the things you've eaten!

 

[Pikester]

 

[iheartdw]

Amazing trip report!!! I would love to take a solo trip to DW. Epcot would of been my pick too. As a mom of 3, I don't get to spend as much time as I would like in the World Showcase (oh, the sacrifices we make).
Great deal too! I haven't been able to find many deals out of Amarillo- but I will keep looking.
I'm living vicariously through you!!!

 

[MagiKitty]

Good morning dear readers! Was having some difficulties getting Photobucket to load last night, so I was too frustrated to post! I need to keep up with my momentum or else I'll just get lost....

Sated and hydrated, I moved on from Norway to Mexico. I was sad to see the Cantina boarded up for renovations, but they kept the little food kiosk that they used for the Food and Wine Festival open so you could still get your Mexican food on. I strolled by the margarita bar too...I've always been tempted to try one, but I was still feeling good from my earlier drink, and no need to become a drunken fool when I only had one day in Disney.

I walked up the steps of the pyramid and quickly past the artists. I don't like the little wooden sculptures, I'm sorry. I find them so creepy. I know its for the Dia de los Muertas but....I'm superstitious like that, or else I grew up in the age of Mr. Yuck neon green stickers. I don't like anything with skulls on it--which practically knocks out all Ed Hardy gear for me. Wearing a skull just creeps me out. Now, I'm sure that the artists are super talented, but I just can't handle the little wooden scary things.

I have never had a line for the Gran Fiesta Tour, and today was no exception. Again, I had my own row in the boat which was fine with me. I always like Donald Duck's antics.

Emerging from Mexico, I needed to start heading to the Kodak shop under Spaceship Earth to get my free photo.

Here's Grant Wood's American Gothic translated Disney style....

The dolphin topiaries were part of the promotion for the Oceans movie.

Slight detour to the right had me going here:

I enjoyed some time in the Butterfly garden but none of my pictures came out nice enough to share...

I will say on the other side of the Butterfly garden was a site for the Princess and the Frog. I thought it was odd. Instead of topiaries, there were large wooden cut-outs of the characters on some grass.

 

[MagiKitty]

I decided to see the wait time for Test Track, since I was nearby anyway. Ten minutes!

While waiting, I was chatting with a fellow single rider from Texas. His wife was waiting outside, gestating their first child. We actually ended up in the same car. It was fun, as always, but its the photo that brings the biggest laughs. My picture always looks something like this:

Test Track conquered, I didn't even deliberate on Mission Space. This ride does nothing for me but create anxiety. I had no dreams of space camp or going to the moon as a child, I still have none as an adult. But I do like the Mars sculpture on the outside.

Over to Spaceship Earth with a 5 minute wait time. I'm about to get on the moving circular walkway (the Omnimover) when the entire thing is stopped. Apparently, a man with his baby strapped to his chest got on the ride THEN realized his wife and older child were not with him. In fact, they were behind me. Jumping out of the car, he joined his family behind me. Then they started to fight. Apparently, 3 year old Justin just took off and Mama had to go catch him. Mama was mad at Papa because he didn't even notice they were gone.

For once, I was glad to have my own car.

I really enjoy Spaceship Earth. Dame Judy Dench really knows how to narrate. I usually enjoy the little video at the end too. But this time, the video thought I was a boy! It had me getting dressed in a suit for work and kissing my fake wife goodbye as I took off in my flying car...I'm a girl! I want a do-over!

So that made me cranky, until I went and got my free photo at the Kodak shop. The CMs were really nice and helped me choose a good pic of me and the gang.

I decided to try Soarin next. Why doesn't Soarin have a single rider line? By the time I got there, all the FastPasses had been given out and the wait was 75 minutes. No thanks. I'll have to try you another trip.

But there was no line for the Land. The Land really is a weakness of mine. Again, it probably has to do with the food. There was a really cute little girl in front of me with her Dad and Grandpa. She was really afraid of the alligators and loved the goats. Grandpa didn't believe the gardens were real. Even with the narraration that the food is used largely in the restaurants, he refused to believe it.

What does Disney do with all the alligators it raises? They're all so cute in their little incubator, but eventually cute and scaly becomes long and dangerous...

Anyway, the Land really made me think of my next meal. Again, I went to the lagoon and took the ferry across to Morocco. This time, I was going to the World Showcase clockwise and hit France, the United Kingdom and Canada....

 

[MagiKitty]

Heading towards France, I spied Marie from Aristocats leaving! She was the one character I really wanted to see again! Darn!

I thought about watching the movie in France, but I was torn between getting a snack at le Boulangerie Patisserie or getting my usual fish and chips in the UK. While a chocolate croissant would be lovely, I decided I'd try to eat something a little more substantial. And, I still had schoolbread running around in me.

What really decided it was that I needed to find a washroom. I asked a CM in France where the nearest facility was and she gestured towards Morocco! That was not my direction, so I decided to go over the bridge and head for my dinner.

On the way, I found love!

And I remembered to take this:

You can tell its getting later in the day, my hair is down.

Now, if you're keeping tally of my cheap visit to EPCOT, this is where we stand:

leftover gift card: $25.32 balance
Lunch at Morocco: 11.41
Alcoholic loveliness: 7.52
Schoolbread snack: 4.65
Total: 23.58
Balance by dinner: 1.74

So crossing the bridge to United Kingdom, I was set on getting fish and chips for dinner. On line, these guys kept me company:

The seating area to the right of the chip shop was closed for a private function, so already I knew I'd have to balance my meal and go closer to Canada to eat. This put a damper on my foodie greed.

Sophie from Edinburgh was so kind and patient with me. I told her I was going to put my meal of gift cards. She said no problem. I used one toward my drink, and another gift card on my fish and chips.

Beverage in UK: $1.62 cash ($1.74 on gift card)
Fish and chips: free ($8.55 on other gift card)
Total for the day thus far: $1.62

I didn't take any pictures of my meal. In all honesty, its not the most appetizing looking, but fried food rarely is. But it was yummy and I managed to find a seat on a bench closer to Canada where I enjoyed a performance by Off Kilter. Now, I've read about Off Kilter fans here on the Dis, and now I totally get them! They were really good and it was perfect dinner entertainment....

 

[DL55]

Enjoying your pictures.
We have never tried to eat at the Mexico pavilion. We can eat Mexican food any time. On our last trip, while DH played golf, I went to Epcot by myself. It was nice not have to rush through the World Showcase.

 

[MagiKitty]

Hey DL! Yes, you really notice so much when its just you strolling around. Disney takes such care in detail its amazing.

We have a few good Mexican restaurants around here, but its also something that I enjoy a little too much....

That's part of why I like to go to Morocca. I usually can't find a falafel unless I'm down in the city. And schoolbread--I haven't figured out where else to get besides Norway.

 

[kimbo0569]

I can't wait to read more! I'm so envious of you! What a deal you got! Sounds like an amazing day!

 

[MagiKitty]

Still stuffed from my dinner, I decided to go up the stairs and walk around the Canadian mercantile. I love all the Anne of Green Gables stuff, I loved those books as a child.

Does anyone remember the Beaver Tails they used to have in Canada? Kinda like a cousin to the funnel cake, fried dough goodness with differnt toppings? Mmmm...why'd they take those away? Bring them back!

I decided to go see O Canada! It was nice and cool in the theater. There was very few people there with me, which made it kinda creepy, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Walking around, I saw plenty of Le Cellier diners coming and going. I imagined how satisfied they must be from their mushroom filet. I will get to eat there one day! I did have a ressie there last year, but BF vetoed my day at EPCOT when he decided he wanted to go to Magic Kingdom on our last day. Granted, I must really, really love this man to give up that elusive ressie. Even the guy on the phone, who I talked to when I called to give up the reservation, said, "you're going to make someone really happy". Thanks, rub it in a little more.

Sadly, my day at EPCOT was coming to an end. I think I did a pretty fair job at getting a lot done and truly making the most of my few hours on Disney property. I just needed to find my spot to watch Illuminations that was coming up shortly. I decided to head back to the front of the lagoon, as I usually watch Illuminations for the opposite end near Japan.

Even now, the seasoned Disney veteran that I consider myself, I still get the chills when the lights dim and the torches are lit and the booming voices come up and announce that Illuminations will be starting soon. I thought I had read that they were going to revamp Illuminations, but the show was just as beautiful and inspiring as it has been in the past. Its amazing to me that this happens every single night!

Once Illuminations was over, I and the rest of the Disney visitors made our way past Spaceship Earth and out to the exits. I didn't know what to expect from the bus lines, but there weren't that many people waiting for our bus back to All Star Movies and I was able to sneak on the first bus. The ride was fairly quiet, I think everyone was pretty exhausted from our day's festivities.

I made the long, long walk back to my room. It was only then, as I was getting to bed, that I felt kinda lonely. I had intended to share my adventures with friends, but I realized that Wi-Fi would cost me $9.99...definitely not in my budget! So I settled for watching TV, which annoyed me also because I could not figure out a way to get rid of the closed captioning.

The closed captioning thing annoys me coz I'm a compulsive reader. So I'll read the captions and not pay attention to the screen at all. And if the captioning is lagging behind the storyline--argh! Drives me nuts!

Finally, I gave up and decided to try to sleep. My ME time was for 9:45, so I definitely had time to enjoy the resort a bit before heading back to NY.....

 

[Twingle]

Great updates! Thanks so much for sharing your trip!

 

[Racemom17]

Love your report, sounds like you had a great time...I would love to go by myself but I think the guilt would make me miserable...maybe someday when the kids outgrow me

 

[mdsouth]

Good morning dear readers! Was having some difficulties getting Photobucket to load last night, so I was too frustrated to post! I need to keep up with my momentum or else I'll just get lost....

I walked up the steps of the pyramid and quickly past the artists. I don't like the little wooden sculptures, I'm sorry. I find them so creepy. I know its for the Dia de los Muertas but....I'm superstitious like that, or else I grew up in the age of Mr. Yuck neon green stickers. I don't like anything with skulls on it--which practically knocks out all Ed Hardy gear for me. Wearing a skull just creeps me out. Now, I'm sure that the artists are super talented, but I just can't handle the little wooden scary things.

Emerging from Mexico, I needed to start heading to the Kodak shop under Spaceship Earth to get my free photo.

I agree with you. I do not like all the little Dia de los Muertas statues. I know they are suppose to be creepy looking to keep away bad spirits, but I do not believe in that and just don't like the looks of them, much like you.
I find it hard to shop for my teenage son since it seems like most the graphic t-shirts, have some type of skull design on them. Really, it is frustrating at times!

I loved the pictures you took of the topiaries. The dolphins jumping were exquisite!

I am also sorry to see you day end, because I know that means that you TR will be ending soon. I am going to miss reading your report. You have a nice style of writing and it was so cool to read about your mini-trip on your own.

 

[MagiKitty]

mdsouth...I could hug you! A kindred spirit! My BF is a pretty good sport about my eccentricities, but the skull thing he just does not get. I just don't like them! I want my world to be all pastel, rainbows and unicorns...is that so wrong?

 

[MagiKitty]

Wednesday, 7am....I awake bright and early to enjoy my last few hours in sunny Florida. I take a shower and use (for once) the Mickey head soap, although it was odd being so intimate with him. Watched the morning news and packed my bag. Did I mention that my room had a bounceback offer? I was really tempted to do it, but I took it home just to use it as a cute calendar/fan. I said goodbye to my room and headed out to the pool.

The pool's hours were scheduled for an 8am opening, and while there was some maintenance going on, I sat down on a chair and enjoyed the warmth and being surrounded by Disney goodness. I watched the frazzled parents try to corral their hyper children. Or the couples strolling by. I envied these people another day in the parks. But for $10, I had to head home.

I went inside to take my Disney breakfast. I felt a little odd leaving my bag at a table, but there was no way I'd be able to balance a tray and my belongings. I was tempted to score a Mickey head waffle, but I just wasn't in the mood, I wanted something a little more substantial. I settled for a croissanwich and coffee, as well as a muffin for later if I got hungry. I felt a little odd eating by myself, but I enjoyed watching the chaos at the beverage station. Put a refillable mug in a child's (and some adults) hands and watch the craziness begin!

Although I was scheduled for a ME pickup at 9:45, but 9:30 I was already outside. As I said before, I had never taken Magical Express so I wasn't sure what the protocol was. Frankly the ME counter people were not much help, either. They were too engrossed chatting/flirting/complaining to each other to help me other than to tell me to go talk to the bus driver.

There was a lady with a clipboard, and as a good former camper knows, you ALWAYS go to the person with the clipboard. So I asked her if I could get on the bus to go to the airport. I showed her my paperwork, and she said "no...you have to wait for your pick up time". Uh, lady, its already 9:38. She told me that this was not my bus, that I had to wait for the next one.

Ok, ok, so I'm a New Yorker. I had to push my luck a bit. I was already there, and I was well familiar with the security lines at the airport. I asked her to ask the bus driver if I could sneak on his bus.

The bus driver was SUPER nice and asked how many were in my party. Once again, I made the symbol "one" with my (index) finger. He said, no problem, get on board.

The ride itself was rather dull except for the fact that I was sad leaving Disney property. But considering 48 hours before I didn't even know I was going to be at Disney this year, it was okay.

Breakfast: free (after $11.21 on gift card)
Transportation to airport: free