MouseFest Hop till You Drop at Pop - Day 2 -- UPDATED 1/6 - Page 4 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Lori - Glad you're safely home! I can't wait to read your TR. Mousefest was amazing - and meeting you and all of the other Passporters was awesome!
Lesley, it was really great meeting you. You are a wonderful, kind lady. I kept wondering about you on the 11th and whether you were having trouble getting home.
It was a fantastic trip and meeting everyone really was awesome!
__________________
ºOº ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
I said that I was going to have a lot to tell you and boy, do I ever. This trip wasn’t like anything that I’ve ever experienced at WDW. I’m so glad that I got to visit one time by myself. I hope that I can do this again someday.
It’s hard to describe the feelings traveling solo to WDW but I’m going to try. The sights, sounds, smells, and emotions are more noticeable ~ more intense ~ less diluted than when you travel with some else. I saw a lot of things that I never noticed before. I “discovered” Cinderella’s Wishing Well. I found little hidden paths all around the castle. I listened, I mean really listened to the music as it changes from one land to another at the Magic Kingdom. When we took the Keys to the Kingdom tour years ago, we learned about all of the background things to be looking and listening for. I noticed the smell of baking cookies along Main Street. I noticed the Christmas decorations. Yes, the obvious Christmas trees were hard to overlook but I saw the subtle window decorations that were themed to that time period and I found out about the Christmas garland on the street lights were ‘hidden’ Minnie Mouse’s.
I got to stroll thru each park late after hours and experience the magic. This was my first time seeing Animal Kingdom after sunset and man, it's gorgeous! I got to walk down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom at 12:30 in the morning with maybe 30 other people. I had so many magical moments and even though I didn’t run into the “dream squad” I had enough pixie dust to go around.
So enough with the pre-rambling. I can’t promise that I won’t ramble again. I want to remember everything from this trip.
Why is it that no matter what you do, you can’t sleep the night before your trip? It couldn’t be because I was worried about not hearing the alarm at 3:30 in the morning. I had set the alarm next to my bed and another in the bathroom. It couldn’t be because I was afraid that I'd forget to pack something. That was all completed two days earlier. I take a prescription sleeping pill. With the approval of my doctor, I had weaned myself down to half a pill in anticipation of my trip. I took a full one the night before I was going to travel. I should have been konked out. Instead, I got a few hours sleep and jumped out of bed at 3:30 to start my adventure.
Glenn got up at 4 and took me to the airport so that I could be there at the recommended time of 4:45 am. (stupid airport people) They were the ones who said that I need to be there no later than 4:45. They didn’t get around to opening the doors until sometime after 5:00. They said, “Oops, we didn’t know the doors were locked”. Grrr… I wanted to say “Oh, we all decided to stand around outside in the freezing weather while rubbing our hands together and dancing around trying to stay warm.
After making it thru a short line that took a lot longer than it should have and going thru security, I made my way on to the plane. Yikes! I thought it looked small from the outside but I didn’t think it was this small. The layout was one seat, aisle, and one more seat. I could sit in my seat and touch the opposite side of the plane. I’m glad that the weather was clear. I'd hate to go thru any bad weather with this plane. The flight was pretty good considering the size of the aircraft. No, there weren’t any munchies served. I could see every town as we passed over them ~ the layout of the streets, which houses had their porch lights on, and what the traffic was like on the highways as went over Kansas City.
I got into KC at 6:30, made the long trek to the opposite side of the terminal for the gate of my next flight at 9:30, went thru security again and settled in for the wait. Thank goodness, I was allowed to check my luggage all the way thru to Orlando. My flight to Orlando was smooth and uneventful (that’s the way I like it).
By this point, I had talked to Glenn a couple of times on the cell phone. He had me call when the puddle jumper landed, before the next flight boarded, before take off, and when I got to Orlando. I also talked to him before getting on the bus to the resort and after I got to my room.
Anyways, I checked in with Magical Express. How wonderful not having to wait for your luggage at the carrousel. The next time I see my bags they will be in my room. WooHoo! The line wasn’t too long and I was on the nice bus to Pop Century.
One of my friends, before I went, wondered if I would be lonely at WDW. not at all. I met people on every form of transportation, standing in lines, or waiting for a show. A couple was on the bus with their two boys. They were from Lincoln, NE and this was there first trip. I asked them about their plans and they didn’t have very many. (Not good) They didn’t have any dining plans made which is not a good thing anymore and didn’t know what park had what. I gave them a few ideas on what to do their first night and a few suggetions for dining thru the week. A couple in front of them was listening and started asking questions. I saw the family from Nebraska several times during the week and we would compare notes as we waited for the park bus.
Up next ... some Pop pictures and closing down Epcot at 10:30.
__________________
ºOº ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
Last edited by Minnie Lor; 01-02-2008 at 04:11 PM..
Reason: added which day I was on
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oooo and wait til you hear about all of the cool stuff that I won.
__________________
ºOº ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
Glad you got home in good condition Lori. DH and I saw how bad things were and took an extra two days before returning to IL. Can't wait to hear more about your adventures!
Lesley, it was really great meeting you. You are a wonderful, kind lady. I kept wondering about you on the 11th and whether you were having trouble getting home.
It was a fantastic trip and meeting everyone really was awesome!
I didn't have any problems- in fact my flight got in 15 minutes early! There was a light drizzle that had cleared the streets. We're really good at using salt here in Chicago.
Lorie - I'm so glad you enjoyed your solo trip. I did one in October 2006 and had a marvelous time. I think Mousefest would be the ideal time to solo. With all of the meets you could be with people as often as you want. Can't wait to hear more, friend!
Lorie - great trip report! It's so cool to hear how excited you are about your solo trip and to know that when I met you at the ornament exchange you seemed still just as excited! Thanks for letting me in on what my "extra magic" was going to be after the Illuminations reception with the allears people! It was fantastic - DH and I really loved it! (shh. . .I'm keeping it a secret until I can get to finishing my own TR). It was great to meet you - maybe someday I'll try a solo trip too!
__________________
A Fairy Godmother wannabe -
Look what a little Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo can do!
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Great start!! I love that you really "opened up your eyes and ears" to all the hidden stuff -- that's my obsession and I love to look closely at everything around me at WDW to see the hidden details that most people miss. The Imagineers are true masters!
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Can't wait to hear all about your trip 
ºOº ~*~ 
Day 1...
I had set the alarm next to my bed and another in the bathroom. It couldn’t be because I was afraid that I'd forget to pack something. 
With the approval of my doctor, I had weaned myself down to half a pill in anticipation of my trip. I took a full one the night before I was going to travel. I should have been konked out. Instead, I got a few hours sleep and jumped out of bed at 3:30 to start my adventure. 
Grrr… I wanted to say “Oh, we all decided to stand around outside in the freezing weather while rubbing our hands together and dancing around trying to stay warm. 
I could see every town as we passed over them ~ the layout of the streets, which houses had their porch lights on, and what the traffic was like on the highways as went over Kansas City. 
The next time I see my bags they will be in my room. WooHoo! The line wasn’t too long and I was on the nice bus to Pop Century.
I gave them a few ideas on what to do their first night and a few suggetions for dining thru the week. A couple in front of them was listening and started asking questions. 
I saw the family from Nebraska several times during the week and we would compare notes as we waited for the park bus.
so don't keep us waiting bring on all the great stuff from your magical trip 
the airport wasn't open when you got there! 
Can't wait to hear more
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