As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
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Moving on with the current of the years.
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To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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I'm taking my first solo trip to the world this Jan. I have a few meet-ups planned (my dinners will be shared with others) and we may decide to tour together a little too, but I want to have a backup plan for keeping myself entertained.
I'm very social, but also love being alone at the parks. For those who really enjoy solo trips, do you have any tips for a really successful trip?
I will be in WDW from Th am through Mon afternoon over the Jan race weekend. So almost 4 full days. I am planning on 2 days in the parks with base tickets.
I love going to Walt Disney World by myself. It is a different kind of fun. I am not sure how I can tell you with what I do... except I still make a schedule, a guideline... I do ALWAYS make at least one-sit down meal a day, whether it is a Lunch or a Dinner. This gives me a break off my feet and to enjoy some good food and to rejuvenate my body (which I can push it with all the walking) so I can go back to the parks. Also I am still trying to do this but to enjoy my resort more; take a walk around, enjoy the pool a bit more. I will be doing that next May.
Even with a "schedule" I tend to go off that too....I decide at that very moment what do I want to do.... I am a people person too and I tend to start a conversation wherever! I also try to sit down more in the parks too. Enjoy the atmosphere....
Have a Fabulous time!
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Kate in PA All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them- Walt Disney
Make a special effort to make the most of your "solitude". Really listen to the parks, to the ambient music as you pass from one location to another, to the sounds of children squealing as they meet Mickey, to the sounds of the animals on the safari. We don't realize how much traveling with another person insulates us from our surroundings. You'll be amazed at how much your senses have missed when you've been chatting with your travel companion.
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Do the things that YOU want to do!
It wasn't until I traveled solo that I realized that when you travel with even one other person, everything is a compromise or involves a discussion.
Think about what you want to do, and make sure to get it done. Miss out on FastPass if you happen to get a chance to have a picture with Gaston or Mulan or whoever is your favorite character.
Be a kid.
Find something to celebrate and get a button--even if all it says is "First solo trip."
Finally--make sure you and I get a chance to meet up again!
I love going to Walt Disney World by myself. It is a different kind of fun. I am not sure how I can tell you with what I do... except I still make a schedule, a guideline... I do ALWAYS make at least one-sit down meal a day, whether it is a Lunch or a Dinner. This gives me a break off my feet and to enjoy some good food and to rejuvenate my body (which I can push it with all the walking) so I can go back to the parks. Also I am still trying to do this but to enjoy my resort more; take a walk around, enjoy the pool a bit more. I will be doing that next May.
Even with a "schedule" I tend to go off that too....I decide at that very moment what do I want to do.... I am a people person too and I tend to start a conversation wherever! I also try to sit down more in the parks too. Enjoy the atmosphere....
Have a Fabulous time!
Sounds like we have a lot in common! I love having a structured plan to my day, but I'm fine changing my mind afterwards. I am also pretty social, and I like to start conversations in the ride queue. In fact, I often enjoy the queue more than the attraction itself. Sometimes I get the feeling that folks around me wish I would get out of their bubble (not space bubble, but just awareness bubble) and I find that amusing as well. I am definitely looking forward to the social experience of being along among many.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dancingpenny
Make a special effort to make the most of your "solitude". Really listen to the parks, to the ambient music as you pass from one location to another, to the sounds of children squealing as they meet Mickey, to the sounds of the animals on the safari. We don't realize how much traveling with another person insulates us from our surroundings. You'll be amazed at how much your senses have missed when you've been chatting with your travel companion.
Great point! I plan to really soak things up in a way I can't do with others. I enjoy a cocktail, and find that this is a great enhancement to the wonderful surroundings, so I'll be making time for this.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Her Dotness
I found as a solo traveler elsewhere how very important it was to make myself sit down and rest a bit when out and about.
There can be so much you want to see and do that it’s easy to overdo without realizing you are.
Force yourself to take little rest stops before you start to feel tired.
This is good advice, but like you, I seldom follow it! See my next post for my newest idea.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GingerJ
Do the things that YOU want to do!
It wasn't until I traveled solo that I realized that when you travel with even one other person, everything is a compromise or involves a discussion.
Think about what you want to do, and make sure to get it done. Miss out on FastPass if you happen to get a chance to have a picture with Gaston or Mulan or whoever is your favorite character.
Be a kid.
Find something to celebrate and get a button--even if all it says is "First solo trip."
Finally--make sure you and I get a chance to meet up again!
The button is a great idea, Ginger! And a meet-up is a definite. Plans are solidifying and I will update you soon! Your visit is going to be a highlight!!!!
__________________
Themed environment junkie
Last edited by KimmyAnn1147; 10-05-2018 at 10:27 AM..
So, I thought back on my solo park experiences (namely, one morning in MK and one full day in Shanghai, and some mommy and sleeping kid in a stroller time in the evenings) and reflected on why I enjoyed that so much.
1. No negotiating
2. Soaking up the atmosphere
3. Having a goal or project and pursuing it
#1 and #2 are kind of givens for me, but #3 wasn't set in stone until I got this silly idea.
What if I try to experience every MK attraction in one 9am-8pm park day????
Now, the folks I have mentioned this to up till now think this is crazy. But I'm in pretty good physical condition (I don't work out, but I walk a lot) and I love a good challenge to give my day structure. I have decided to pare this down to traditional "rides" and animatronic shows. I am exempting myself from Enchanted Tales with Belle, since it takes forever and without a kid, I would feel like a creeper in there....
To make this easier, on one of my earlier days, I'm planning to do something I've wanted to do for a while: take the DVC tour. This should secure me a few extra FP, which will make this challenge a little easier.
What do you all think? Maybe I don't want to know....
Oh, and Ginger, I've got the timeline all figured out, feel free to join me! The challenge occurs on Sunday, Jan 13.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KimmyAnn1147
So, I thought back on my solo park experiences (namely, one morning in MK and one full day in Shanghai, and some mommy and sleeping kid in a stroller time in the evenings) and reflected on why I enjoyed that so much.
1. No negotiating
2. Soaking up the atmosphere
3. Having a goal or project and pursuing it
#1 and #2 are kind of givens for me, but #3 wasn't set in stone until I got this silly idea.
What if I try to experience every MK attraction in one 9am-8pm park day????
Now, the folks I have mentioned this to up till now think this is crazy. But I'm in pretty good physical condition (I don't work out, but I walk a lot) and I love a good challenge to give my day structure. I have decided to pare this down to traditional "rides" and animatronic shows. I am exempting myself from Enchanted Tales with Belle, since it takes forever and without a kid, I would feel like a creeper in there....
To make this easier, on one of my earlier days, I'm planning to do something I've wanted to do for a while: take the DVC tour. This should secure me a few extra FP, which will make this challenge a little easier.
What do you all think? Maybe I don't want to know....
Oh, and Ginger, I've got the timeline all figured out, feel free to join me! The challenge occurs on Sunday, Jan 13.
Wow, that's ambitious! MK is the hardest park to do that, outside of DLR. Hmmm, sounds like fun! I assume you'll be getting FPs for the hardest ones (like Peter Pan and 7DMT) to make it a tiny bit easier?
Wow, that's ambitious! MK is the hardest park to do that, outside of DLR. Hmmm, sounds like fun! I assume you'll be getting FPs for the hardest ones (like Peter Pan and 7DMT) to make it a tiny bit easier?
I just may join you!
Very ambitious, I know! I would love company!!! I am not staying on property, so I likely wont get 7dmt, but I'm hoping to get peter pan, space mountain, and maybe buzz lightyear? Mostly because I dont live the theming of tomorrowland, so I want to get out of there asap. And then, if I do the dvc tour, lately they are giving out 3 lower-tier anytime fps for those, so i could use those in a pinch.
I'm looking at thursday the 10th of Jan for dvc tour, and MIGHT do AK on friday the 11th as well. Wanna join on either of those ventures?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KimmyAnn1147
Very ambitious, I know! I would love company!!! I am not staying on property, so I likely wont get 7dmt, but I'm hoping to get peter pan, space mountain, and maybe buzz lightyear? Mostly because I dont live the theming of tomorrowland, so I want to get out of there asap. And then, if I do the dvc tour, lately they are giving out 3 lower-tier anytime fps for those, so i could use those in a pinch.
I'm looking at thursday the 10th of Jan for dvc tour, and MIGHT do AK on friday the 11th as well. Wanna join on either of those ventures?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'll be there for some of it, for sure! It's a bit early for me to be planning that far ahead.
I would think it'd be easier to do your challenge on a weekday, with smaller crowds--thought at first you only had the actual weekend.
I was solo one day in MK and took a tour. This was perfect because I had a few hours with others, and we had lunch on the tour with the group. But then I had the rest of the day to myself. I rode Pooh three times in a row
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Don't let your heart be filled with sorrow, for all you know, tomorrow, the dream that you wish will come true.
Days after red-eye flights are brutal, in my experience. Good to leave yourself time to recover.
Yup. I love the parks after dark, and I don't think arrival day I would be worth much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lumieregirl
I was solo one day in MK and took a tour. This was perfect because I had a few hours with others, and we had lunch on the tour with the group. But then I had the rest of the day to myself. I rode Pooh three times in a row
I don't think I'll be doing a tour. Taking this trip in itself is pretty edgy finances-wise. But if it were longer and I had more disposable income, I think this would be a great way to balance out a solo experience.
Make a special effort to make the most of your "solitude". Really listen to the parks, to the ambient music as you pass from one location to another, to the sounds of children squealing as they meet Mickey, to the sounds of the animals on the safari. We don't realize how much traveling with another person insulates us from our surroundings. You'll be amazed at how much your senses have missed when you've been chatting with your travel companion.
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