Have Pen, Will Travel: A Solo Trip Report--Includes Dining and CSR Reviews and Photos! - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Have Pen, Will Travel: A Solo Trip Report--Includes Dining and CSR Reviews and Photos!
Day 0--
Whew! What an exhausting trip! I’ve been back for over 48 hours now, so I think I finally have the energy to start a trip report. First, the details...
Who: Me!
I’m a writer, a teacher, and a huge fan of travel (and Disney!) While I am married, this was a solo trip. I do not have any children of my own (though I ‘have’ 130 13 year olds, as I teach middle school.) I don’t know if this was my first, second, or third trip to WDW--I went once for 45 minutes when I was 10 years old--I hated it and insisted upon being returned to the hotel, so I’m not sure if that counts. I went last November for a convention and managed to work in three parks (briefly), but as it was a convention trip, I’m not sure if that counts (thought it is when I started loving Disney, so I guess it has to count!) This trip was my first ‘just Disney’ trip, but as you’ll see in the ‘Why’ section, it wasn’t entirely a vacation, either.
Where: Coronado Springs Resort.
Why: I booked this trip because I needed to do research for a book proposal I’m writing. The details of that are quite dull to most people, so I’ll spare you. You’re welcome. If you really are interested, read my PTR here: http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...-solo-ptr.html
Ok. I think that covers it. Now on to day zero...
I worked until 3:45 on the day of my flight out, which was at 5:45. The airport is quite close to where I live--maybe a 20 minute drive--so I wasn’t worried. My husband was driving me, and we decided to take a short cut to avoid the highway traffic during rush hour. BAD IDEA! We encountered an accident involving a school bus (no one was hurt), which caused us to become VERY delayed. We turned around in the street and cut through town, which caused a 20 minute trip to turn into an hour. My palms were literally sweating--it was very good that I wasn’t driving!
traffic...
(photo deleted--too big and won't resize)
I finally arrived at the airport at around 5:00--less than an hour before take off. Fortunately it is a very small airport, and even though my bag was searched at security--because I was carrying a monopod for my camera--I made it with about 20 minutes to spare.
The flight was uneventful--and actually quite relaxing in comparison to the mad dash to the gate!
Upon arrival at MCO, I located the DME pick up area. I was extremely worried about Disney’s Magical Express. I’m not a very patient person, and I imagined a horrific wait at the airport, along with multiple stops on the way to my resort--CSR. From touchdown at MCO to sitting in my room at CSR--with dinner and bottle of wine in hand--it was less than 90 minutes. This included a restroom stop, DME, check in, a stop off to pick up a sandwich and a bottle of wine, and walking to my room. There’s no way a taxi would have been any quicker (even given the fact that I didn’t need to pick up any baggage, as I don’t check anything ever)--and a taxi would have cost more than $60. The verdict? DME is both magical AND express!
As an added bonus (and part of the magic), as we drove toward the WDW archway, the Illuminations’ finale was happening, creating the absolute best welcome to Walt Disney World I could possibly imagine. I cried.
While the trip was beyond speedy, due to my late flight, it was now well past my bed time. So after 1/3 of a crummy sandwich and a glass of wine, I set my alarm for 7am and drifted off to sleep.
crummy sandwich...
The plan for Day 1--Rope drop at MK! The concern for Day 1--CSR bus service. Would it be as bad as the bus service on our last trip? (Spoiler--no, it would not. It would be amazing, actually!)
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Great start so far!! Sorry about the crazy trip to the airport and glad your flight and DME experience was good. Looking forward to your thoughts on rope drop at MK!! (I cried when I first saw it!)
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Check out my Pre-Trip Report for our 9/18-9/23/12 trip here:
Oh I am SO excited you finally started writing your TR. I have been waiting so patiently. (Well maybe not patiently but I have been waiting lol)
sorry about the wait. this is actually the longest i've gone without uploading photos--even after a 36 hour trip from paris to london to dublin to nyc to PA involving cars, trains, planes and buses, i uploaded my photos within minutes of returning home. i waited 48 hours plus this time!
Great start so far!! Sorry about the crazy trip to the airport and glad your flight and DME experience was good. Looking forward to your thoughts on rope drop at MK!! (I cried when I first saw it!)
rope drop at MK was actually my first 'real' disney experience, as we made it during our convention trip in november. and yes, i cried. a lot . in fact, my trip report for that trip has the word 'crying' in it! ha!
Great start, I am very interested to hear how going solo was. In case I run out of family and friends wanting to go.
i'll ruin the suspense now--solo is AWESOME. i actually prefer it. but more on that later. (and if you run out of family and friends wanting to go, i'm sure you could find some friend on here!)
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So I meant to at least write Day 1 tonight, but alas it didn't happen. It will be up before sundown tomorrow (eastern standard time)--I promise!
I did manage to change my countdown--less than 60 days until my next trip. Oh my! I'm going to have to finish this trip report quickly, so I can write up another pre trip report!
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