Trip Report 11 Day Solo Trip Sept/Oct 2013

Hello,

I am back once again from a solo trip to WDW. Many people ask here about what it is like to go solo and if they should do it. I've done it many times now. Usually for short 4 day trips. This is my first long trip. And I filmed it all. So anyone who is wondering if they should go solo or if you just want to escape through a trip report, join my on my 11 day journey to WDW.

My trip report will include video as well as pics.

I will be staying in 3 different resorts, attending 2 different Halloween events (one several times) and eating quite a bit as I try to remain fit and active even on vacation.

It all starts at 4:30 am Monday morning Sept 23, as I get a taxi to JFK from midtown Manhattan. I've only slept about 2 hours but arrive at the Jetblue terminal with plenty of time to spare. I like taking the earliest flight so that I have a full day at the parks when I arrive. Also check in seems quick and easy when I get there early.

All went well and I arrived at the Dolphin Resort around 11am. Check in went smoothly and I was upgraded to a room with a balcony facing Hollywood Studios.

The weather seemed ok but rain was in the forecast. For four days! Not occasional storms but constant downpours.

So let's get going!

 
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M

MickeyPeace

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Here is the second part of day 4. I'm still at Magic Kingdom. I've just had lunch at Pinocchio Village House and now I'm heading over to Tom Sawyer's Island. Anyone who has not been over there should do two things-
1 Download Tom Sawyer from iBooks and read it on your phone before heading to Magic Kingdom (It's free)
2 Take the raft to Tom Sawyer Island asap!

TSI is a piece of Disney history. It has the feel of the way things used to be. I absolutely love it. And if you read the book you can appreciate the details even more. So I head over to the Island for a bit of a mid day break. As I start wandering, I quickly realize that 75% of the few attractions are not open-the barrel bridge is closed, one of the caves is closed, the gears in the mill aren't spinning, the windmill itself isn't rotating, of course Aunt Polly's is STILL not open- but still it is nice to wander and explore. I love sitting in the rocking chairs and looking at Haunted Mansion.
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I hope you enjoy this video of my mid day journey over to Tom Sawyers Island. In it you will take a real time ride over the river of America on the raft in real time, take a look inside the windmill, journey through on of the caves, check out the derelict Aunt Polly's and venture of to Fort Langhorn.

 
englanddg

englanddg

One Little Spark...
Wdwprince said:
Here is the second part of day 4. I'm still at Magic Kingdom. I've just had lunch at Pinocchio Village House and now I'm heading over to Tom Sawyer's Island. Anyone who has not been over there should do two things-
1 Download Tom Sawyer from iBooks and read it on your phone before heading to Magic Kingdom (It's free)
2 Take the raft to Tom Sawyer Island asap!

TSI is a piece of Disney history. It has the feel of the way things used to be. I absolutely love it. And if you read the book you can appreciate the details even more. So I head over to the Island for a bit of a mid day break. As I start wandering, I quickly realize that 75% of the few attractions are not open-the barrel bridge is closed, one of the caves is closed, the gears in the mill aren't spinning, the windmill itself isn't rotating, of course Aunt Polly's is STILL not open- but still it is nice to wander and explore. I love sitting in the rocking chairs and looking at Haunted Mansion.View attachment 46896

I hope you enjoy this video of my mid day journey over to Tom Sawyers Island. In it you will take a real time ride over the river of America on the raft in real time, take a look inside the windmill, journey through on of the caves, check out the derelict Aunt Polly's and venture of to Fort Langhorn.

Click to expand...

Excellent video! Liked here and on youtube. Good work!
 
Sarabell

Sarabell

Well-Known Member
Great TR! I´m going this year around the same time. I´m still awaiting confirmation from a friend but otherwise it will be a solo trip as my 30th bday gift to myself. I was feeling kinda meh about going solo but u have encouraged me! Thanks a lot for that!
 
M

MickeyPeace

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
You must try it or you'll never know. My bet is that you will have a great time. And if you ever feel bored, talk to another guest or cast member. You'll meet some great people. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there.
 
M

MickeyPeace

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So I'm back from Tom Sawyer Island. The sun is now out in full force and it is HOT. I decide to go to Be Our Guest Restaurant to see if I can get in. I've never eaten there before. There is a line almost to Mermaid but I decide to wait it out. About 45 min of waiting in direct sunlight in the queue, I am covered in sweat and near the front of the line. At this point a cast member comes out with a water cooler and cups and completely bypasses everyone who is in the front of the line and has waited the longest! She parks herself at the half way point of the line and starts serving people who have waited half as long, while the rest of us almost pass out. I didn't want to get out of the line since I was alone and everyone around me was getting cranky from the heat.

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Once I got inside, I voiced my opinion to a cast member that something should be done to make it more comfortable for those waiting 45 min in a uncovered queue in direct sunlight. Not sure if it went any further than him. I should have said something at Guest Services. Then a CM helped me order my food since I could barely function at that point. I ordered the quinoa salad and master cupcake. I found a table in the Beast room and then went to explore the restaurant. Long story short-this restaurant is the gem of the New Fanstasyland. And the food that I ordered was great. (You can see all of that in my video).

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Next I headed back to the Dolphin to head out to Universal Studios for my first Halloween Horror Nights. I had seen a lot of videos on Youtube by all of the well known bloggers about this event. I got the impression that it was very scary and had state of the art props of the quality that might be used in the movies.

When I got there I had high expectations for the event. I shouldn't have. I didn't find it scary at all and the props in the "mazes" did not look movie quality. I expressed this opinion back in October when I got back and was attacked so I"m not going to get too much into it but my general opinion is that this is event didn't live up to my expectations. Even the pics and video that I took make it look much scarier than it is. I think the target audience is teenage girls.

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So I was very happy to be back at the Dolphin at the end of the night and ready to go back to another Disney Park in the morning. Day 5 is more Epcot and the first day of Food and Wine Festival...

Here is the video of the rest of Day 4.

 

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