My solo trip to the World - Booked and back in a week! COMPLETE - finally! 4/24!! - Page 3 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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One note about this trip report: like the trip, it will be different. I didn't take many notes, and if I had, they would have looked like this: "Took some photos of the ground; got strange looks; took some photos of the wall; people looked at me strangely..." I went where I wanted to go when I wanted to, went with the flow, took my time, ate when I was hungry, took all the unusual photos that I wanted to. This report won't have much narrative; my pictures will have to tell the story. Enjoy!
So my DH decided to send me on a last-minute, early-40th-birthday solo trip the last week in July. I call it the "Booked and Back in a week" trip, because it was booked one Friday and I was back the following Friday! I only had a couple of days to plan, but who needs a plan when you're going by yourself? I visited Tour Guide Mike for his recommendations on which parks to visit on which days, and I was all set! I was trying out the Quick-Service Dining Plan, so there was no need for any ADRs. I would be staying at Pop Century for the first time, checking it out for our upcoming 2010 Marathon weekend trip! My flight left at 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, July 27th! Let the adventure begin!
My flight was peaceful and uneventful; before I knew it, I had arrived at MCO and was making my way to the Magical Express desk! Here's what I found when I got there:
It looked like it did last Labor Day weekend; I was very surprised. Wasn't this high season?
I was a little nervous about my reservation; since I'd booked so late, there wasn't time to get the documents in the mail. My travel agent assured me that I just had to give them my name and I'd be all set. This is exactly what happened, and I was waiting in line for the bus to Pop after just a couple of minutes. I didn't even have to show any ID! Amazing!
I had to let some people pass me in order to line this photo up properly; they looked at me a little strangely, but I was going to have to get used to that! It was not the only time I'd be getting strange looks on this trip!
I waited for a while, watching folks staying at other resorts being escorted directly to their buses without waiting in line. It didn't bother me; I was at WDW! We eventually got going, and it was a very enjoyable bus ride because the driver was a hoot! He cracked jokes the whole time. My favorite was when he was giving out the park hours: after he mentioned Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, he said "If you're planning on going to River Country, you'll be there by yourself; it closed in 2001!" It really seemed like he knew his WDW history, and I love me some WDW history!! He also made a man in the front of the bus choose which exit he should take, and told all of those people getting off at Caribbean Beach that they should thank him, because his choice meant that theirs would be the first stop! He told the rest of us we should be mad at him for that same reason! He continued this spiel throughout the ride, which made the trip pass by quite quickly!
Pop Century, here I come! First thing I noticed when I got off of the bus was that the CM there to greet us was from Michigan! It was not the only fellow Michigander I would meet on this trip!
I took this photo with my new iPhone, another early birthday gift from my DH.
The battery on my old phone just wouldn't hold a charge anymore, and he was worried about me being able to keep in touch while I was away. The iPhone made it easy to take photos and upload them onto Facebook so I could share my trip with my family in real time! It was a lot of fun (until it stopped working...but I'll get to that later!)
I walked right up to the check-in desk and had my room key in hand shortly thereafter. I stopped in Everything Pop to get my refillable mug that came with the QSDP. I was disappointed to find out that they didn't have the frozen cokes I'd heard so much about in the past. When did they stop carrying those?
My room was in the 70s building. I really liked the location; the CM had honored my request to be close to the main building. Since I would be alone, I didn't want the walk from the bus stop to my room to be very far.
I didn't linger too long in the room. I changed my clothes, called home to let them know I had arrived safely and was off to Animal Kingdom! I took some photos of the area right around my room on the way to the bus stop.
Up next: how many times would I ride my very favorite WDW ride this trip?
What a great start Beth. Glad that the flight was easy and that your room was waiting when you arrived. Love all the pictures....can't wait to hear how many times you rode EE.
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I'm so glad to see you back!! Glad to see you had another trip since I love reading your TR's and seeing your great pictures! Hope your family is doing well!
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It really seemed like he knew his WDW history, and I love me some WDW history!! He also made a man in the front of the bus choose which exit he should take, and told all of those people getting off at Caribbean Beach that they should thank him, because his choice meant that theirs would be the first stop! He told the rest of us we should be mad at him for that same reason! He continued this spiel throughout the ride, which made the trip pass by quite quickly!
Liz 
I can't wait to find out about your adventures!
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