Trip Report Dreaming My Way Back to Disney. A First Ever Solo Trip **Completed**

I’ve been back for over a month now and am finally getting around to writing about one of my best ever Disney trips. I spent 2 nights at All Star Movies, the first time staying here.

This was my first time back at Disney World since January 2020 when I did this:

But, I’m getting ahead of myself because the main part of the trip was…

A transatlantic cruise on the Disney Dream.

This has been a cruise I’ve wanted to take ever since my first cruise 11 years ago, so I was very excited to finally be able to do it.

So the plans were:

October 20th to November 2nd: 13 night Westbound Transatlantic cruise from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale with stops at Vigo (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal), Ponta Delgada (Azores) and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

November 2nd: Brightline train from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando

November 2nd to November 4th: All Star Movies resort only stay with lots of good food, resort hopping and fireworks

And I did all of this completely solo, which as a mum of four was not something I’d had the opportunity to do before.

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Lisbon is one of my favorite places in the world; such a beautiful city

I loved it there, definitely want to go back

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 2nd November: Fort Lauderdale to Disney World (cont)

I’d been checking the app to see if my room number was there but hadn’t seen anything even though it was after the 3pm check in time, so I headed to the front desk when I arrived at All Star Movies. I had a preferred room booked because that was all that was available when I booked. Check in was quite quick and I was soon heading over to my room in the Fantasia section.

I liked the Mickey at the pool

I had to take a photo of my room number so I didn’t forget it, I still had 8662 stuck in my head from the cruise.

It was a corner room on floor 2 without a connecting door and was in a pretty quiet area. This was my first time staying in an All Star Resort and I’d been a bit worried it might be really noisy but I liked it there. I didn’t end up spending much time at the resort but I would definitely stay there again. My only issue with noise was the same with all the resorts with doors that open onto the outside, people who just let the doors slam shut.

My priority for that evening was watching Happily Ever After which was at 8.30. One of my favourite places to watch at a resort is in front of Gasparilla’s at the Grand Floridian, I like that I can stand by the railings so no one can stand in front of me. On my train journey I’d been checking for dining reservations at the monorail resorts but couldn’t find anything early enough that would guarantee that I’d be out in time so thought I would just get something from one of the quick service places over there. Once I was in my room I checked one more time, there still wasn’t anything early enough but there was a 9.10 reservation for Citricos, one of my favourite restaurants. As it was only 4ish and I hadn’t eaten much all day I headed over to the food court. I had the chicken parm which was just ok, no photos because I was too hungry.

Back in the room Piglet got comfortable while I got ready to go out.

This is the only room photo I took. After 13 nights of a very tidy room on the cruise, the two nights I stayed here I lived out of my suitcase which pretty much exploded across the room.

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 2nd November: Fort Lauderdale to Disney World (cont)

At about 5.30 I headed out to get the bus to Magic Kingdom. I planned on visiting the monorail resorts before the fireworks and wanted to give myself plenty of time. It did feel a bit odd having to allow so much time to get somewhere, I was used to it taking five minutes to get from my room to dinner on the ship.

A Magic Kingdom bus pulled up just as I arrived at the bus stop, I was mostly lucky with transport the whole time there. Even better, it was a bendy bus. My girls loved the bendy buses when they were little.

There were only a few other groups getting on the bus and it was an ok journey apart from one young girl right at the back of the bus. She had a bubble wand and was playing with it the entire way to Magic Kingdom which is quite a long journey from the All Star Resorts, the whole back section of the bus was filling with bubbles. I was sitting on the first seat of the back section and some of the bubbles were getting as far as me and it was getting a bit annoying, anything with bubbles was always an outside toy for my children.

Up until now I hadn’t been at all emotional about being back in Disney World. I was expecting to be, it was a big part of my family’s life for a long time and had been so long since we’d been back. We visited every year since my oldest (now 25) was a toddler, sometimes twice a year and always for 2+ weeks. I think I was tired from the travelling and never having stayed at the All Stars before didn’t have any emotional attachment to it.

That changed the minute I got off the bus at the Magic Kingdom. I got as far as the walkway through the bus stop and was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t move and I could feel the tears starting to well up. A very lovely transportation CM actually came over to me to check that I was ok. After a little bit of a chat with him I managed to get myself moving and was soon seeing this

It was very crowded so I headed over to the monorail stopping to take a quick photo of my destination for the evening

 

[Duckberg]

Looks like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 2nd November: Fort Lauderdale to Disney World (cont)

As it had been five years since my last visit I expected things to feel a bit different, but once I got over that initial overwhelmed feeling everything was just so familiar. I knew what to do, where to go, it really was like coming home . The only difference in front of MK were the scanners instead of the bag check which I preferred, it was much quicker going through.

I hopped on the resort monorail and stopped at the Contemporary first. I didn’t really do much there, just wandered around a bit, happy to just be there.

I’d promised my oldest daughter I’d look for something with Stitch on it to take back for her. Her first cinema visit at age 3 was to see Lilo and Stitch, and she’s been a huge Stitch fan since. I was taking photos so that she could choose something.

I thought Darren might like this golf shirt but he couldn’t decide.

Proof I was at the Contemporary

Then back on the monorail to the Polynesian. Again just wandering around taking in the atmosphere.

More Stitch

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 2nd November: Fort Lauderdale to Disney World (cont)

Then off to the Grand Floridian.

I’d seen online that the gingerbread house was being built and was hoping it would be finished by the time I was there. I was so happy that it was, and better still there were hardly any people there. The Christmas tree wasn’t up yet and I don’t think there were any treats on sale, so that is probably why.

I wandered about taking photos.

I was feeling a bit thirsty so stopped into the sundries shop just off the lobby to get a bottle of sprite. There was a woman with three children in front of me to pay and the children were bickering over the keyrings they were buying. The CM at the register had to go off to get something for them, the mum was eye rolling the kids and was very apologetic to me. When it was time for them to pay she told the CM that she was paying for my sprite as well. It was such a small thing to do, but made me very happy that there are nice people around.

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 2nd November: Fort Lauderdale to Disney World (cont)

I had about half an hour to go until the fireworks so decided to go outside and get a good spot to watch them, when I’ve been here before it’s always been quite busy. It was a bit drizzly though and no one else was out there so I hung about on the covered walkway until a few minutes before.

My viewing spot

Watching Happily Ever After again in my happy place was so wonderful, there were definitely a few happy tears shed.

I mostly just stood and took everything in (and whisper sang to myself) but did take a few blurry photos

I was just so happy to be finally watching them in person again, I would have liked to have my family with me though particularly Alice who loves fireworks as much as I do.

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 2nd November: Fort Lauderdale to Disney World (cont)

After the fireworks I headed up to Citricos, I was a bit early but only waited a few minutes until I was shown to my table. This was a first for me, I’ve never eaten at a Disney restaurant alone before. Service was very quick probably because there weren’t that many people in there.

Fancy water glass

I’d had lots of different flavoured breads and spreads on the cruise, but the bread in the signature restaurants is some of my absolute favourite. Just simple crusty bread with really good butter , I did have to stop myself from eating all of it.

I ordered the filet and asked for the recommended wine to go with it but they were out of it. My server suggested something similar, I can’t remember what but it was very good.

And the steak, perfectly cooked, I loved it.

Taking photos while thinking about having dessert

It was quite late so I really wasn’t sure about having dessert, but there was one with Baileys!!!!!

The warm chocolate sauce for the macchiato is poured at the table

Wow, this was absolutely amazing. It was one of the best desserts I have ever eaten. There’s a light Baileys mousse inside the chocolate coffee ‘veil’ on the top but I was too busy eating it to take a photo.

Dinner at Citricos was so good and I was so full afterwards, and I waddled away very happily.

Then monorail back to MK where I managed to get a photo without too many people.

There was a bus already at the stop so I waddle jogged to get it, I really didn’t need to because people were still boarding when I got there.

After a long, tiring day of travelling, I had had a wonderful evening. Fireworks and yummy food

 

[Wicked Sisters]

Saturday 2nd November: Fort Lauderdale to Disney World (cont)

After the fireworks I headed up to Citricos, I was a bit early but only waited a few minutes until I was shown to my table. This was a first for me, I’ve never eaten at a Disney restaurant alone before. Service was very quick probably because there weren’t that many people in there.

View attachment 845348

Fancy water glass

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I’d had lots of different flavoured breads and spreads on the cruise, but the bread in the signature restaurants is some of my absolute favourite. Just simple crusty bread with really good butter , I did have to stop myself from eating all of it.

View attachment 845350

I ordered the filet and asked for the recommended wine to go with it but they were out of it. My server suggested something similar, I can’t remember what but it was very good.

View attachment 845351

And the steak, perfectly cooked, I loved it.

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Taking photos while thinking about having dessert

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It was quite late so I really wasn’t sure about having dessert, but there was one with Baileys!!!!!

View attachment 845355

The warm chocolate sauce for the macchiato is poured at the table

View attachment 845356

Wow, this was absolutely amazing. It was one of the best desserts I have ever eaten. There’s a light Baileys mousse inside the chocolate coffee ‘veil’ on the top but I was too busy eating it to take a photo.

Dinner at Citricos was so good and I was so full afterwards, and I waddled away very happily.

Then monorail back to MK where I managed to get a photo without too many people.

View attachment 845357

There was a bus already at the stop so I waddle jogged to get it, I really didn’t need to because people were still boarding when I got there.

After a long, tiring day of travelling, I had had a wonderful evening. Fireworks and yummy food

Bailey’s is just the best.

 

[cgersic]

Yummmmo that dinner and dessert looks divine!

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 3rd November: Disney Springs and Resort Hopping

Other than dinner in the evening I didn’t have any definite plans for this day. I’d only added on the two night resort stay after the cruise because flights were so much cheaper on the Monday than on the Saturday (£400 v £1200), and I didn’t feel right about going back into the parks for the first time in ages without any of the girls. It was quite hard to resist going into the parks while being so close, but I do have a parks only trip booked in the summer with Alice and Lexi so I have that to look forward to.

Even though I wasn’t in a rush to get anywhere I was still awake early, it helped that the clocks had gone back an hour overnight. Combined with the time changes on the cruise that made seven nights with an hour of extra sleep.

First thing to do was breakfast

I had missed these, I love a Disney danish.

I bought a refillable mug as well, even though I was only there for two days it made sense with the planned resort hopping.

After my nutritious breakfast I headed back to the room for a while then off to the bus stop where I only waited a few minutes for a Disney Springs bus.

I was looking for a few souvenirs for the girls and maybe something for me so just wandered around for a while.

Waved to our old home resort

I was still on the hunt for something Stitch for the oldest child

She eventually decided on this loungefly wallet but didn’t let me know until after I left Disney Springs so I would have to go back the next day

I thought this was cute but don’t have a dog to buy it for

But this was freaky, what did they do to Piglet! It’s so hard to get any merchandise with just Piglet on, I would have bought it if it just had a normal lid but that head is just scary.

 

[Go.Nijntje]

Sunday 3rd November: Disney Springs and Resort Hopping

Other than dinner in the evening I didn’t have any definite plans for this day. I’d only added on the two night resort stay after the cruise because flights were so much cheaper on the Monday than on the Saturday (£400 v £1200), and I didn’t feel right about going back into the parks for the first time in ages without any of the girls. It was quite hard to resist going into the parks while being so close, but I do have a parks only trip booked in the summer with Alice and Lexi so I have that to look forward to.

Even though I wasn’t in a rush to get anywhere I was still awake early, it helped that the clocks had gone back an hour overnight. Combined with the time changes on the cruise that made seven nights with an hour of extra sleep.

First thing to do was breakfast

View attachment 845649

I had missed these, I love a Disney danish.

I bought a refillable mug as well, even though I was only there for two days it made sense with the planned resort hopping.

After my nutritious breakfast I headed back to the room for a while then off to the bus stop where I only waited a few minutes for a Disney Springs bus.

I was looking for a few souvenirs for the girls and maybe something for me so just wandered around for a while.

Waved to our old home resort

View attachment 845650

I was still on the hunt for something Stitch for the oldest child

View attachment 845651View attachment 845652View attachment 845653View attachment 845654View attachment 845655

She eventually decided on this loungefly wallet but didn’t let me know until after I left Disney Springs so I would have to go back the next day

View attachment 845656

I thought this was cute but don’t have a dog to buy it for

View attachment 845657

But this was freaky, what did they do to Piglet! It’s so hard to get any merchandise with just Piglet on, I would have bought it if it just had a normal lid but that head is just scary.

View attachment 845658

That Piglet head is too weird, why would they do that?

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

That Piglet head is too weird, why would they do that?

It looks awkward to carry around as well

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 3rd November: Disney Springs and Resort Hopping (cont)

I was looking for some MagicBands for our summer trip.

Lexi wanted one with Pluto on, this was the only one I could find but she was happy with it

Alice wanted a Star Wars one, so much choice but she decided on this

I was taking my time still wandering about

Disney Springs was very busy by now so rather than walk back through to get a bus I decided to walk to Saratoga Springs and get a bus from there.

This reminded me of a stay at Wilderness Lodge years ago and doing sunrise yoga by the quiet pool there, it was very relaxing

More walking, it was a beautiful day

I did feel like I was home

I’d decided to go to to Animal Kingdom Lodge via AK, but a bus was just pulling away as I got to the Springs bus stop. I know I could have just got any park bus and changed there but I was feeling a bit hot and thirsty so stopped into the Artist’s Palette for a drink and some ac. I was feeling a bit hungry but I knew the food options would be better at AKL.

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 3rd November: Disney Springs and Resort Hopping (cont)

Second park entrance of the trip, it was a bit difficult just to walk past

A short wait for the bus and I was in my favourite hotel lobby, it’s so beautiful

I was really hungry by now so went straight to the Mara quick service.

The chermoula spiced shrimp bowl: grilled shrimp, pilau rice, kale slaw, cucumber-tomato salad, and chermoula sour cream

This was excellent, and very filling

After my lunch I strolled around near the pool area watching the animals.

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 3rd November: Disney Springs and Resort Hopping (cont)

A bit more wandering about at AKL

I sent the photo of Zawadi Marketplace to Lexi, she has a stuffed panda that she calls Speedy that we bought here for her when she was two and he’s still her favourite now, so this was his birthplace.

I was feeling a bit tired by now so headed back to All Stars for a nap before my evening plans.

The entrance to my building was cute

But the building opposite was so creepy

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 3rd November: Disney Springs and Resort Hopping (cont)

Refreshed after my nap I headed out for the evening. Another short wait for a bus going to Hollywood Studios.

I though the Skyliner looked pretty in the sunset

Third park entrance of the trip

Waiting for the Skyliner, I loved the one with Piglet

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 3rd November: Disney Springs and Resort Hopping (cont)

This was my first time riding the Skyliner at night and I loved the views (even with the reflections)

I said hello to Epcot

Then walked towards the Beach Club, just enjoying the lovely evening

I explored the Beach Club for a while and considered walking over to the Yacht Club but didn’t think I had enough time before my dinner reservation.

Heading around to the Boardwalk, I just love this area at night it’s so pretty

 

[cgersic]

This is one of the first photos I've seen where you can see the Swans and Dolphins in a lit up row! Cool!

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

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This is one of the first photos I've seen where you can see the Swans and Dolphins in a lit up row! Cool!

I hadn’t realised, I must have been at just the right spot to get that. Any cool photos I take are entirely accidental