Make your choice Adventurous Stranger...A Goin Solo PTR - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Make your choice Adventurous Stranger...A Goin Solo PTR
Make your choice Adventurous Stranger Strike the bell and bide the danger Or wonder till it drives you mad What would have followed if you had - CS Lewis
Today is the day I made the leap from thinking about another Disney trip to actually going on a Disney trip.
I know it has only been two months since my last vacation but I REALLY wanted to go to the F&WF again this year. It will be my 6th or 7th Festivus of the Vine!! But this one will be different. I'm going solo!!
I actually caught the solo bug during my last trip when I did the Wild Africa Trek, a character breakfast and park day all by my lonesome. I loved it!! I also was inspired by other solo trip TRs I read, especially elbodans (Tracy) solo trip last month. Thanks girl!!
I actually booked a room at the Dolphin back in OCTOBER hoping that the dates I chose would coincide with the Food & Wine Classic at the Swan/Dolphin in 2011. Luckily, it does!
Original dates were Thursday, October 6th thru Sunday, October 9th. Unfortunately, I had to add an extra day on the back end due to no flights available on Sunday So I'll be staying until Monday the 10th. Drat!
I'm flying on Southwest round trip both ways. Good thing since I HATE flying and layovers are not my cup of tea. I'm due to arrive 2pm on Thursday and flying out 10am on Monday. This should give me plenty of time to enjoy both Food & Wine parties and still get in some relaxation time. The Mandara Spa perhaps!!
I still have three days left on my non expiring pass so park passes are already paid for. Unless I get silly and buy an annual pass. I should probably do that since I seem to be on a "every six month" Disney kick.
I also plan on attending the MNSSHP for the first time!! If I can get up to NJ and pick up my stuff from storage (finally) I have a Snow White costume and my all time fave - Jack Sparrow costume (see sig pic). Although, one of those deluxe Cindy costumes looks great too. SW allows 2 bags no charge, maybe a second bag for the costume!
The only bummer is I will not be able to take advantage of DME since I'm staying at the Dolphin. Mears has shuttles for $34 round trip. I'm positive it won't be anywhere near as cool as the DME bus but I'm willing to sacrifice to stay at the Dolphin. I would stay at BW, BC or YC but I've been to all them and I'm on a mission to stay at all the WDW resorts. Call me crazy!!
I also noticed that tomorrow is the 180 day mark and we all know what that means!! I'm not sure I want to make any ressies since I'll be stuffing my piehole with yummy goodness at the F&WF and I figure I can always vie for a seat a the bar of a restaurant and chat with the bartender. Does Le Cellier have a bar? I would assume so. No worries, I'm going to fly by the seat of my pants.
So, six months from now, I'll be passed out in a food coma somewhere in WS with an empty Grey Goose Slushie glass next to me. If found, please put me on a boat to the Dolphin. Thanks!! Much appreciated!
This means, for the next 6 months, you can tag along during my planning process. I have SO many ideas running thru my head, my brain is swimming!! I also welcome any solo trip suggestions.
I leave you for now in a state of happiness!! I'm off to work in a Disney Daze. May the people I wait on tonite not kill my buzz
Wow!! AWESOME!! I am so excited for you (and excited that we can watch you plan). I went solo (sort of) last year when my DSIL had a conference in Orlando and asked me if I wanted to "hang out" in Orlando for a few days. She had places to be everyday, so I went to the parks solo for 4 days. It is wonderful to be able to pick destinations based only on your minute-by-minute whims!! Have a great time planning.
Wow!! AWESOME!! I am so excited for you (and excited that we can watch you plan). I went solo (sort of) last year when my DSIL had a conference in Orlando and asked me if I wanted to "hang out" in Orlando for a few days. She had places to be everyday, so I went to the parks solo for 4 days. It is wonderful to be able to pick destinations based only on your minute-by-minute whims!! Have a great time planning.
Totally going to wing it! I opted not to do ADRs since I'm just going to go with the flow. The only place I'm going to have to be at in the day I go to MNSSHP. Aside from that and MAYBE a massage, I don't feel like having any reservations.
180 days has come and gone and I've decided to skip ADRs. Crazy, I know. But with my plans including both the F&WF and F&W Classic, I think I should be fine.
I've decided to check out some resorts I haven't been to. Mainly Wilderness Lodge. I actually thought about changing my ressie to WL but quickly dropped that idea since the Dolphin is walking distance to Epcot and home to the F&W Classic. I also want to stop by the GF. I might visit some old friends - AKL & Poly.
I don't know if I'll visit any other parks besides Epcot. If I do, I will def stop by MK, I think strolling around Main Street, Adventureland and Frontierland solo would be awesome. Hanging out on Tom Sawyers Island alone sound great too!
I'm also toying with the idea of upgrading to a room with a balcony. I would really like to sit out there early morning or late night with a glass of wine and just enjoy the alone time. Yeah, think I should.
I've also got the prepaid PhotoPass in the air as well. Since I'll be by myself, I either have the option of PP or handing the photographer my camera. I love PhotoPass and documenting my first solo trip sound cool but after spending a good portion of February's trip in line for EVERY character, I'm not so sure. But what happens and I get there and decide I must have my picture with them again?? Fine, I just talked myself into a prepaid photopass. If I don't use it this trip, I will eventually right?
I'm also going to do my best to get some food photos. I just can't seem to remember to take them! I do believe it's due to the fact that I LOVE food and once my eyes see the delectable dish in front of me, it's like SQUIRREL!! and the pic goes right out the window!
I'm also feeling a slight bit of guilt for this trip. Not the solo part. But the fact that I haven't told my DBF that I'm going yet. I actually booked the room last year with the intention of both of us going. Yet, after February's trip turning into a huge blowout that cost me thousands of dollars and he didn't pitch in one red cent, I decided a solo Disney trip was in order. Not wanting a pity party, DBF and I aren't doing well and I really need something to serve as a light at the end of the tunnel. What better light than a Disney trip?!?
Side note: Great White Sharks are scary, scary dudes. Why am I so fascinated by them? I'm watching Shark Men and I would love to do a shark dive but I fear I'd mess my wetsuit!
I have this little spiral bound notebook I drag with me everywhere because having 3 jobs, I get forgetful and/or confused and it helps to write everything down. It's so exciting to start jotting down Disney notes again! I've also started printing out E-worksheets and pouring over my 2011 Passporter I won for a tip I submitted. Whoo Hoo!!
Sounds like a great trip. I went on my first solo trip last year and it was fantastic. I just loved the freedom to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. I did have a few Passporter meets and that also was fantastic!
I loved everything about the solo trip, esp. having the room all to myself, but one silly tip that I actually read somewhere and it stuck in my head is, make sure you push your room door closed right behind you. Those doors are really heavy and usually close very slowly, so if someone wanted to they could sneak right in behind you. I know it is silly, but safety is never silly.
So there is my silly solo tip of the day. Have a great time!
Sounds like a great trip. I went on my first solo trip last year and it was fantastic. I just loved the freedom to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. I did have a few Passporter meets and that also was fantastic!
I loved everything about the solo trip, esp. having the room all to myself, but one silly tip that I actually read somewhere and it stuck in my head is, make sure you push your room door closed right behind you. Those doors are really heavy and usually close very slowly, so if someone wanted to they could sneak right in behind you. I know it is silly, but safety is never silly.
So there is my silly solo tip of the day. Have a great time!
Thank you for the heads up. Never really thought about double checking. Will from now on!
I'm debating booking a meal at Jiko or just winging it. I know they have a bar there. My husband doesn't like to dress up at all for dinner so the only way I'll ever get to eat at the signature places is to do it solo.
I can't wait to read all the details of your solo adventure. Taking a trip to WDW all by myself is one of my secret dreams. Somehow I don't think that my DH would be happy to hear that one of my fantasies doesn't include him!
I'm debating booking a meal at Jiko or just winging it. I know they have a bar there. My husband doesn't like to dress up at all for dinner so the only way I'll ever get to eat at the signature places is to do it solo.
My solo tip? Single Rider lines!
I was trying to remember if I had been to Jiko or Boma when we stayed at AKL way back when it opened. I only remember great food & it was POURING that day!! It was almost a decade ago, that might have something to do with it. We did visit Sanaa when it opened and WOW! was that awesome, don't recall a bar though.
Great tip, I might just have to go to DHS for TSMM & RRC for that reason!!
How great!! I don't think I'll ever be able to do a solo trip - DH would never allow it as he's as big a fan as me. Now solo in terms of NO KIDS, that's another story! We've done that before, and dream of doing it again!
I'm looking forward to tagging along with you at least for the planning!
Ok, I know I said I wouldn't make any ADRs but I did anyway. Just one. Le Cellier. Had to. I felt compelled to! After months and months of reading TRs and how truly awesome Le Cellier was I figured I owed it to myself - I am going for the F&WF after all!!! So on my first nite, at 4:50pm I will be FINALLY going to Le Cellier.
Ok, I know I said I wouldn't make any ADRs but I did anyway. Just one. Le Cellier. Had to. I felt compelled to! After months and months of reading TRs and how truly awesome Le Cellier was I figured I owed it to myself - I am going for the F&WF after all!!! So on my first nite, at 4:50pm I will be FINALLY going to Le Cellier.
Good choice! We love LC! Although we haven't been since it made the move to a Signature restaurant. That will be a great spot to dive in to the F&W fest!
Good choice! We love LC! Although we haven't been since it made the move to a Signature restaurant. That will be a great spot to dive in to the F&W fest!
I won't be on the dining plan so it'll be OOP which makes it ok with me. I'm such a stooge when it comes to cashing in 2 table credits!!
Glad I went for my first evening in WDW (orig tried for the last nite but it's not 180 days yet) so I can pace myself. My flight arrives at 1:20 and by the time I get my bags, take the shuttle to the Dolphin, hopefully check in and hop on a boat (or run to Epcot!!) I'm going to be soooooo ready to have a Grand Mariner Slushie in one hand and a Grey Goose Citron in the other
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So I'll be staying until Monday the 10th. Drat! 
If I can get up to NJ and pick up my stuff from storage (finally) I have a Snow White costume and my all time fave - Jack Sparrow costume (see sig pic). Although, one of those deluxe Cindy costumes looks great too. SW allows 2 bags no charge, maybe a second bag for the costume!
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Previous trips: POFQ 2005 & 2007, Boardwalk 2008, BCV & AKLV 2009 (our honeymoon) & 2012, BCV & BLT 2011, BCV 2013, AKLV 2014
Lisa 
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