A solo Veteran's Day Trip Report to MK- with video!

I'm heading to the World this coming weekend and thought I should get my previous recent trips posted so I'm ready to go with the newest one.

This is from my first solo trip to Magic Kingdom- I've never gone to the parks alone, and had intentions to meet up with some friends, but they didn't make it, so it was just me! A few people said how sad it was that I went alone (thanks, mom!) but I didn't feel lonely at all! In fact, it was fun.

My posts are usually really wordy, so I'll try to make this mostly pictures with words only to clarify or explain a photo. There's also a video of the special Flag Retreat they did for the holiday. Enjoy!

Taking the ferry to the park. We never do this, always take the monorail or ride the bus. I loved the Ferry ride!

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Already Christmas decorations up on November 11th- love it!

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Hopped the train to make a loop back to New Fantasyland.

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

This was during the Annual Passholder preview, but I hadn't RSVP'd. I asked about getting in, and the CM asked how many were in my party. When she discovered it was just me, she gave me a wristband. I was in!


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Headed here for lunch:

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Lunch was the quiche, salad (delicious!) and potato leek soup. It was okay. The quiche was overpowered by the flavor of roasted red peppers, so if that's your thing, you'll love it. The potato leek soup was good, albeit very salty. The salad was my favorite part of the meal- the dressing was outstanding.

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

I ate in the West Wing- loved the dark, macabre setting. Very Haunted Mansion-ish, and the thunder effect was really neat.

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

After eating, I walked around to take some photos. Main ballroom:

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Rose Room. They were closing this off to lunch guests just as I was entering to take photos.

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Fancy soda fountain

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Pretty rose mosaic on the floor

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Parting shot of the main ballroom

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

 

[Bama14]

I'm going to have to go have lunch at Be Our Guest just to see it! It looks amazing, very detailed!

 

[GatorAsh]

It was very awesome. I imagine it's pretty packed all the time now that it's open to the general public- last time we were there in December, there was a 30 minute wait to get in. But it's something you should definitely try. It's even neater in person!

 

[GatorAsh]

Checked out Gaston's Tavern and went on VOTLM:

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Grabbed a pickle from the fruit/snack stand in Liberty Square and boarded the Liberty Square Riverboat

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Shadow of the steam from the riverboat

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

A teacher on board had this awesome (and oh-so-true) shirt on

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

A unique view of the Haunted Mansion

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Headed over to Tom Sawyer's Island. Wish this was full!

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

I love sitting in the rocking chairs and relaxing on TSI. I do miss Aunt Polly's snack shack though- they used to have yummy PB&J's.

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Left TSI and wandered through Frontierland. I just LOVE container gardening.

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

A very realistic Animatronic!

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

I also love the Liberty Tree- so old and majestic. The lanterns hanging from it are a so cool- I'd love to do something similar in my yard.

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

These next three photos are part of why I love living in Florida- the tropical foliage is the best!
Beautiful hibiscus

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Awesome bird of paradise

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Lovely bottlebrush

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

 

[GatorAsh]

Headed to the front of the park for the Flag Retreat. I'd never seen it before, and how fitting that Veteran's Day would be my first time.

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr


Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

I like this little alcove. I'd like to visit Disneyland and see New Orleans Square...

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

I needed to charge my phone, so I headed up to the train loading platform and found a seat by an outlet. It was a perfect viewing location!

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Clouds began moving in, and a cold breeze picked up. I thought for sure we were going to get rained on, but amazingly, we never felt a drop. We did get this wonder of nature though...

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Yet ANOTHER reason I love living in Florida- those skies!

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

The band marched out from the train loading area and headed down the stairs. The played "America, the Beautiful." There was an older gentleman to my right who was in a wheelchair and had a hat on showing he had fought in the Korean War. He stood for the song and was weeping while his family members patted his shoulder and wiped tears away. It was very touching.

 

[GatorAsh]

After that, I headed out of the park to go to the Grand Floridian and have a drink in the lobby (one of my favorite traditions to do while at WDW!)
This is from the monorail ride

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

God must be a Gator 'cause the sun is orange and the sky is blue!

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Grabbed a drink from Citrico's (Mizners Lounge wasn't functioning as a bar because of the construction going on; it was acting as the grab-and-go location), and headed down to the lobby to listen to the band.

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

After finishing my martini, I wandered around the resort taking pictures. They always have AMAZING flower arrangements here.

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

And other odd antiques and curiosities

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Yep, it's a squirrel cage!! It makes the multicolored plastic tubing I had for my hamsters in middle school look sad by comparison!

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Headed back to MK to ride Haunted Mansion and had a clear walkway up Main Street as it was cleared for the parade.

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr

Grabbed this parting shot on the way out and headed home. What a great day!

Solo Veteran's Day Trip by GatorAsh11, on Flickr