Marissa227
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2016
Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed reading your trip report!!! Thanks so much for sharing, and I hope you'll write again.
Well, I did take this pic shortly after returning home. This is Kodiak and Hailey. Missing from the pic is Clara. Sadly, I lost Hailey this past January.Thank you for sharing. We will be going during the same time period this year. Hoping that the opening of Star Wars doesn’t turn it into a super packed trip. Loved all of your pictures, but was hoping for one of a reunion with your cats at the end
Thank you for the picture! I am sorry for your loss, beautiful kitties.Well, I did take this pic shortly after returning home. This is Kodiak and Hailey. Missing from the pic is Clara. Sadly, I lost Hailey this past January.
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On a side note, after another incident at work regarding my request for future PTO, I submitted an HR complaint about that boss--his text about the hurricane was entered in as evidence. Within the month he transferred to a different position (coincidence?). Wishes do come true!
I'm so excited to read your trip report! I love Disney and miss Disney World, but haven't been in a few years now (my family moved overseas) so it's cool to think about the possibility of going alone and not having to wait for the next time my family is back in the States!Pre-trip and Friday, September 1st
With the encouragement from several people both here and on Facebook, I've decided to document my recent trip. I've been thinking about the best way to capture everything, and I've decided to break the 12 days into separate entries for each day's activities, along with observations, thoughts, and very rare complaints (consider them more as suggestions for improvement).
If you'd like to read about my pre-trip thoughts and reasons for my trip, please read my initial post at Time for Some Me Time.
I'll start this thread out with a little explanation of how my trip was actually planned.
Once I committed to this trip, an online friend recommended me to a friend of hers who ran a small travel agency that was affiliated with Disney (no names to respect DIS). I knew next to nothing about modern Disney World (I hadn't visited since 1986) or how to go about planning day-to-day reservations and Fastpasses, etc. The very scope of it all was mind-boggling. I'm somebody who prefers to plan things on my own, but I was concerned that it would take me too long to do my homework and that there would still be too many unknown factors. All I wanted was for this to be as snag-free as possible. So I agreed to sign up with the agent, whose method is to handle EVERYTHING. She not only does booking for all reservations, but she also works out an efficient walking plan for each day to limit backtracking, catching shows, and standing in long lines, etc.
In the long run I think she did a great job, with the exception of one decision that I'll go into a little later. In the months and days leading up to my trip, however, I found myself more and more anxious because I felt that not only was I not in the driver's seat, but I was essentially locked in the trunk and blind to where we were going. Her method is to create a My Disney account for me, with an ID and password and email also created by her, which meant I was locked out from seeing anything. Because she was the middleman, Disney sent the package with Magicband to her, and then she turned around and sent that, along with printouts of her day-to-day schedule and walking plans and password information. Because of that delay, it meant I didn't receive any of this information or materials until two days before my flight...so you can imagine my distress as the clock ticked down. I only had those couple of days to familiarize myself with the times and directions before I was on my way. She did also include a "day bag kit" of all sorts of essentials (hand wipes, pocket kleenex pack, small first-aid kit, hair ties, safety pins, etc.) and a $25 Disney gift card, things I wasn't expecting so it was a very nice and thoughtful gift.
My employer gave us a nice 4-day weekend for Labor Day, but I wasn't flying until that Saturday, Sept 2, so I spent Friday running last-minute errands, setting up my three cats for limited pet-sitter visits, some house chores, and packing. By Saturday morning, I was essentially ready to go and just had to pack the last-minute essentials.
Things I forgot to do before leaving?
Things I forgot to pack?
- I purchased extra cat litter but forgot to bring it up from the car (my friend and volunteer pet-sitter had to use my car keys and haul up the bag herself)
- Close my windows (it was nice and cool when I left, but got hot and humid again while I was gone)
Things I packed that I never used?
- A hat (frustrating because I'd bought one just for the trip, had to buy one onsite because the sun was brutal--it was worth it as it also cut down on the number of times I had to dig into my backpack to swap glasses/prescription sunglasses)
- Sudefed or other antihistamine (I don't normally have allergy issues, but one day something I encountered set me off and it was bad enough that I worried I'd caught a cold--I picked up some Sudefed from the resort gift shop and it cleared me right up, no problem the rest of my trip)
Things I didn't pack and didn't anticipate needing?
- Swim goggles
- Rain poncho (I used it once, briefly, but it was too darned hot to wear and I got wetter from sweat than from rain--a small umbrella was much more convenient)
- Sunscreen lotion (too difficult to apply traveling solo, had to pay resort price for spray-on type)
Things I packed that were super useful?
- Product to drain my ears after spending half a day at Typhoon Lagoon (despite everything, I could not get my left ear to drain--in desperation, I went to the resort gift store in hopes of finding a solution, and god bless Disney for selling a product specifically for this problem!)
Purchases I regretted?
- Large size carabiner clip on my day-bag/backpack (awesome for hanging the bag from restroom doors if no hooks were present)
- Small Umbrella (perfect for handling the typically brief Florida summer afternoon showers, easily fits into a side pocket of my backpack)
- Wine bottle opener and wine bottle stopper (for obvious reasons)
- Little bottle of hand sanitizer attached to strap of day bag for quick and regular access
- Small and large ziplock bags (great for snacks, protecting electronics from rain, leftovers, collecting receipts, etc.)
- Industrial sized bottle of Aleve (Advil just wasn't cutting it)
- Two pairs of excellent walking shoes to alternate daily
- Foot-specific first aid kit (included sheets of moleskin, a small foldable scissors, alcohol wipes, nail clippers, tweezers, safety pin for popping blisters, and blister-specific bandaids) (the scissors came in handy for lots of things)
- Tennis ball (use as acupressure on bottoms of feet after a long day of walking)
- Individually packed wet lens wipes (my glasses regularly got smeared, sprinkled, and smudged throughout the day)
- Hand-held rechargeable fan (this was a life-saver due to the heat/humidity, both walking and while standing in line)(bought a good one on Amazon, uses USB charger, puts out an excellent wind)
- A couple of loose and light-weight white button-up shirts I could throw on over a tank top to "dress up" for signature dining (rolled up easily and didn't take up much room in the pack)
- Laundry kit (ziplock containing detergent pods and dryer sheets--with machines already costing $3 per machine per load, I didn't want to spend additional money on supplies that were easily packed)
- Two rechargeable battery packs (you can spend $30 on a fuel rod and swap them out regularly onsite, but I already owned two of my own, which allowed me to leave one charging while taking the other with me for the day)
- Four-slot wall-socket/USB charger with two iPhone/iPad adapters and two lines with the other standard charger type (this allowed me to charge two phones, a battery pack, and my portable fan all at the same time, etc.)
Purchases I didn't regret?
- The resort refillable mug (I wasn't using a meal plan, so spent $18 on the mug, but almost never had TIME to use it--I usually ate either at Disney Springs or at the parks, and doing rope-drop nearly every day meant lugging the mug around if I took it with me. Plus I was arriving back at my room too late to want to drink anything. I DID eventually use it a lot when I was forced to extend my stay due to Hurricane Irma, particularly the Monday afterward when the parks were closed, but that was NOT anticipated, and I wouldn't have gotten my money's worth otherwise. I didn't even bring it home with me because it didn't actually hold much and wasn't particularly good at keeping the drink cold for long--that's what I have Tervis glasses for--and it would have just become clutter. I don't even drink soda anymore, but I knew they also offered iced tea, which is why I got it in the first place. I'd have to think hard about whether I'd buy it again--it would totally depend on how many "down days" I've scheduled.)
I think that'll do it for this entry--next I'll start the day-by-day notes.
- Travel package insurance (Hello, Irma!)(While Disney offered me 40% off on the three additional nights I ended up staying before I could fly home, it was still a substantial additional expense, plus meals, so the insurance was absolutely worth it--if you're planning any sort of trip to a hurricane-prone region, it's a wise investment.)
Oh my goodness! Who are the people who can casually buy a $7,000 bottle of wine with dinner?There was a bottle listed for $7,000.
I really like your attitude! It's so refreshing to hear these days. I can't imagine going to WDW in August though. We're from WI and hate humidity. I know we are fortunate to be able to go either in late Nov., Dec. or Jan. Our next trip will be 11/28/21 - 12/07/21, and the way the cost of flying is looking we'll probably drive.Monday, September 4rd
My first park day! As it should be, I spent it at the Magic Kingdom. Understandably excited, I got up early and ate a breakfast granola bar while getting dressed, then I headed straight for the bus. By the time I arrived and walked to the two-part security line, the opening ceremony was already going on (I could hear it).
Observations about security: They appreciate (and usually ask) that you unzip every single compartment of your bag while you're waiting for your turn, and they examine everything in it, so be prepared and be patient and spend a few moments afterward repacking. Don't carry anything you won't absolutely need because if you plan to park-hop or hit a resort or use the Monorail at some point, you're going to go through this process multiple times and it's a pain. Keep it simple to keep it fast. Also, you have to remove any celebration pins from your shirt to pass through the metal detector, so do yourself a favor and attach it to something else like the arm strap of your backpack or outer shirt you can just strip off and pass around so it's still easily visible while walking but you don't have to remove it every time you go through security.
Even though I missed seeing the opening show, I stepped over to the side to just gaze upon the main gate for posterity's sake because it felt a bit like a family tradition.
The first thing on my planned agenda for that day was to take a hard right into the "Town Hall" building for a meet-and-greet with Tinkerbell. I stepped in and joined the longer line, and only then learned that this was the line for Mickey. I debated switching, but then decided to stay since I had no other planned opportunity to meet Mickey, and this was likely the shortest line for him that I would face, while Tink's was comparatively very short anyway, so I could do both without throwing off my plan too much. While in line, I ended up talking with a large Hispanic family in the park for a big family reunion from across the nation, which was very cool. I was just glad I was ahead of them in the line.
I have to say, the talking Mickey is a bit...weird. I think I prefer the full-body characters to be silent because it's a little disconcerting trying to have a conversation with a bunch of pre-recorded messages.
Tinkerbell, on the other hand, was a blast and I'm so glad I didn't decide to skip meeting her. She was funny, her enthusiasm was contagious, and she helped get me into the right mindset to enjoy the rest of my day and vacation (if I wasn't already).
Observation: There's a saying that no matter where you go, there you are. It basically means that unless you deliberately change your attitude, you will bring your troubles with you. When I left on this trip, I made a choice to leave behind worries and concerns and stress that 1) I had no control over, and 2) would only negatively taint everything I did while I was there. So I pushed them out of my head and as much as I could and embraced the happy message around me. I was there to have fun and to be happy. I decided not to let the crowds get on my nerves. I decided that rather than get frustrated, I'd let it roll off me and find other ways to occupy my mind, be it through talking with other people or just going to find a quiet spot to relax and reset if it got overwhelming (which was rare). I decided that if I really wanted to experience some of the famous magic of Disney World, I would first had to open myself up to it--and that meant interacting with characters and talking with kids and helping others and paying the smile forward at every opportunity. And in nearly every instance, throughout my entire stay, this proved to be the right attitude. I walked around with the biggest dumb grin on my face every day, even in the worst of the heat (it probably looked as much like a grimace as a smile at times), but dang it, I was ENJOYING myself. And the magic kept finding me.
Tips, particularly for solo travelers but really for everyone:
So anyway, after those character meet-ups, I wandered down the middle of Main Street as best I could (it was Labor Day and the park was packed). I stopped a couple of times to try out the professional photographers stationed at scenic or significant spots throughout all the parks to take photos for you (both with their camera and with whatever you hand them). They'll direct you where to stand and even ask you to pose in certain ways if they have special post-picture special affects that can be added later. I usually hopped in line whenever I spotted one since I'd paid for the Memory Maker package and there was no limit or extra charge. Depending on where they were located, I often found them just standing with no line or maybe just one or two people, so it only took a few moments to have a few snapped.
- Talk with cast members, and I don't mean just make demands. Speak to them like you would to anyone you see on a daily basis. Ask them how they are. When they wish you a magical day, return the favor. Be considerate of their time and effort. SMILE. Remember that magic isn't compulsory--you can't MAKE it happen. But they CAN if you inspire them.
- Talk with people around you, whether on the bus or in line or even seated at the table next to you in a restaurant. They'll let you know ASAP whether they want to return the conversation--and read the signals if they're not interested in engaging. But it was my experience that most people were happy to talk about why they were there, what they'd already done or were planning to do, and where they were from, etc. It not only helps to pass the time while in line and share a few laughs, but it can have a positive impact both on your own experience and on theirs. You may even come away as friends!
- Don't be afraid to be silly. Don't go to Disney World thinking you're too old to hug Tigger or ride the Teacups. If you think you're too old, you're missing the point and doing it wrong. It's for children of all ages, and it's one of the few times and places in the world where you can still be a child. This is what memories are made of, and those are the best souvenirs.
Opinion regarding the Memory Maker photo package and service: IMO the results were mixed for me. I'll freely admit that I'm too harsh on myself and don't consider my self photogenic at all (I'm jealous of people who make it look so easy and strike instant and natural poses--I just usually look drunk), so some of them I just don't like, period ,and it isn't their fault. But some of them just didn't look good for lighting or set-up reasons. I did find that some of my best photos came from my iPhone, probably due to automatic settings or whatever. However, I can also see a huge value in this for families because it enables everyone to be in the picture. Another point--I expected more close-up and personal photos and not so many distant shots that sometimes lose me in the crowd. I don't want full-body shots, I want it to feel the face. Because of this I'll admit that I didn't download about half the pictures from them, which is a disappointment considering how much the package cost. I always think pictures are more more successful when they focus on the person and just use the Disney stuff in the background AS background--it's a subtle difference, but let me show you.
Here's me in the middle of Main Street in front of the Castle--as classic a Disney pic as you can get but nothing special.
And here's one from in front of Thunder Mountain. I love this one.
Moving on, because I had a very busy walking plan for that day, I didn't browse through the shops along Main Street or linger in front of the Castle, but I did pause long enough to snap a picture of the Crystal Palace, which is still one of my favorite structures in the Kingdom--I just love the Victorian-era design and feel of this greenhouse-like restaurant. This had originally been on my restaurant reservation list, but it ultimately was cut due to time and budget, but I think I'll do it next time.
Then I headed straight for Adventureland and the Jungle Cruise, which was the first big attraction on my list and one of my priorities.
Unfortunately I wasn't the only person with this idea, and this was why my walking plan started to go off the rails because I didn't have a Fastpass and the Stand-by line was much longer than my agent had estimated. By this time the heat and humidity was really starting to set in and while the line was under a roof and there were the occasional fans along the way, it wasn't nearly enough and by then sweat was rolling down my back. True to the entire Disney experience, there are tons of details along the zig-zagging line to create that sense of immersion and occasionally make you laugh (the difference between a real themepark and a no-frills amusement park). I snapped a few pics so show some of that detail that I love so much.
And of course the famous hissing spider! I said it's official name should be The Big Nope.
Once boarded on the boat, our guide and skipper was very entertaining rattling off an endless string of corney jokes and bad puns--exactly what everyone expects on a ride that's nearly 40 years old and beloved. This was one of my favorites from my childhood and it didn't disappoint--heck, it had been so long since I've been on it that there were portions that caught me by surprise.
Here was ourfearfulfearless skipper.
Once done with the Cruise, I headed over to the Enchanted Tiki Room (another classic childhood favorite), but there was still a wait before the next ride, so I decided to finally give the Dole Whip a try (I've heard so much about it!). I decided, though, that I'd get the swirl with vanilla ice cream to cut the sweetness a bit. However, I don't know if they screwed up or the machine was malfunctioning, but what he gave me was solid ice cream, no pineapple in it whatsoever. I was pretty disappointed but didn't have time to go back and make a deal about it, so I just ate half and threw the rest out and got into the line for the Enchanted Tiki Room. (Sorry, no pictures, but you can find video on Youtube, etc. I don't tend to take pictures from inside attractions because I don't want to break the spell or risk a flash that will disrupt it for others.) By today's standards this is pretty mild and the thrill seekers would call it boring, but honestly, how can you complain about anything that means sitting in the dark in the A/C while animatronic birds and flowers and Tiki statues sing at you for 15 minutes?
By this point I was actually nearly an hour behind on my walking plan and my Fastpass for Thunder Mountain was available, and the Stand-by Line for Pirates of the Caribbean was estimated at over 30 minutes, so I skipped it rather than risk missing my opportunity on the other. Sadly, I ended up running out of time this day and never made it back, so it had to wait until my next Magic Kingdom day and I would only get to ride it once. Likewise, I only got to ride the Cruise once because of time and then Hurricane Irma--but I'm getting ahead of myself!
I slogged up the incline and used my first Fastpass to skip the worst of the Thunder Mountain line, but there was no relief from the heat and sun until the last part before I was boarded. This was probably our favorite ride the last time my brother and I were there (during the last hour we rode it endlessly because the line was nonexistant). One advantage to doing the parks solo is that you often get a seat/car to yourself, which is what happened in this case. Even though this coaster is nearly 35 years old now, it's still one of the best on the grounds because of the combination of immersive theming and the relatively smooth ride. Nearly every coaster in Disney (with the exception of Rock N Rollercoaster at Hollywood Studios) trades the usual loops and extreme thrills for smarter designs that utilize banked curves and multiple dips. Frankly I prefer that. I think it means they have to think more about every inch of it.
Here's a glimpse of it. Again, the attention to detail about the surroundings and "story" are what separates Disney from all the rest, IMO.
Unfortunately Splash Mountain was closed for renovations during my entire stay (it had been scheduled since the spring), which was a real disappointment because I've never been on it--it opened a few years after my last visit. Maybe with luck I'll finally get to ride next time.
I'll admit that I skipped Tom Sawyer Island and riding on the steam paddlewheeler, etc. Partly because I was bored with them 30 years before and didn't feel an urge to revisit (it's a static walk-through that's more kid-oriented), and partly because it was around Noon by this point and somebody had left the sauna door open! I was getting a real wake-up call for what the rest of my week was going to be like and I was going to have to conserve energy as much as possible. I found a spot in the shade along the riverbank and just admired the ship as it rounded the bend in the river and was content.
I then headed for the Haunted Mansion, another one of my family's favorites and a MUST DO on my list. I didn't have a Fastpass so was relieved to see it less than a 30-minute wait. This is one of the few attractions were you actually miss some of the best stuff by doing a Fastpass. When in the Stand-by Line you weave through tons of funny and even interactive tombstones and statues that make the line seem to move faster. This is one of the attractions built on a constantly moving conveyor belt of individual cars--you step out on the moving track and then walk to your car, sit down, and the bar lowers to your lap. That means you aren't standing and waiting, starting and stopping, while each car unloads and reloads. It means the lines move much faster than typical rides, but you still have time to chuckle at the bad puns and other entertainment.
Observation: Several of the attractions I rode that use the conveyor system stopped multiple times--often in awkward positions that left you sitting in the dark or watching the same animatronic scene over and over again--until things started moving again. This was probably due to the increasing attendance of people with special physical needs, or maybe just a technical glitch, but from the number of personal scooters everywhere, my guess is the first reason. While I think it's great that Disney is able and WILLING to accommodate them as much as possible, it does sometimes bring everything to a stop while they do so. You just have to be patient and remind yourself that you would want the same consideration if you were in their shoes, and that it's great that physical limitations for the most part don't prevent guests from enjoying everything there is to do there.
Observation: Since I mentioned the personal scooters, I'm going to quickly comment on this topic regarding the Disney buses. All of them are capable of lowering and adjusting/folding seats in order to accommodate these machines. The only issue is that the most they can handle is two at any time. But there were LOTS of the scooters everywhere, and as a pedestrian you always had to watch where you were walking or risk getting run over. Most drivers were cautious and conscious of what they were doing, but these things are not very precise and sometimes they just jump forward, etc., particularly if you're not used to using them. The real issue, though, is that at bus stops you could see as many as six of them lined up for the same bus...but if only two can go at a time (assuming one isn't already on there), that means those on machines had to wait for the next bus...and the next bus. If there was a couple together on machines (which I saw) they either got split up or both had to wait. I think that, at this point, Disney should address this issue and perhaps create some sort of shuttle or exchange system specifically designed to handle the popularity of scooters--either build scooter exchange shops next to the bus stops so there's one waiting for you when the bus stops, or some sort of bus/van that has greater capacity. Just a thought...
Since the forum has a limit on pictures per post, this seems like a good place to break. Please see the next post for a continuation of this day...