Trip Report Going back for more MVMCP, this time I'm spending the night - SOLO! December 14-15, 2017 TR

Hello Everybody!

I've done yearly trips to WDW since I was young, up until 2014. I've done 2 Disney Cruises, and me and my mom went to Disneyland back in March. Since 2015, I've only done day trips and became an AP in February 2016 (my AP was a Christmas Present from my parents), these day trips have mostly been with my college (Beacon College in Leesburg, FL), but since 2016, during the Spring, Summer, Thanksgiving, and Winter Breaks I go on my own time (at least once during Thanksgiving or Spring Break; but more than that during Winter or Summer) but I don't drive down to WDW from where I live despite it only being an hour away. I just take SunRail from (usually DeBary, but during the past summer I've gone out of Lake Mary or Altamonte Springs - there are no SunRail stations in Leesburg, FL or in Lake County for that matter) to LYNX Central Station and then LYNX Link 50 from LCS to the TTC.
Well this trip is the first overnight trip at WDW I've done since 2014, and the first time I am staying at a DVC Resort! I'm going to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on December 14 as well, thus being my second MVMCP (first one was last year on 12/16/2016)!

Here's the logistics of this trip:
Resort: Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Room: Deluxe Studio
No Dining Plan
Check-in: 12/14/2017
Check-out: 12/15/2017
Length of Stay: 2 Days, 1 Night

Itinerary should be as follows (Sorry if I sound crazy here folks):
December 14 -

• Depart Leesburg for Sanford (Uber to Seminole Towne Center, then Lynx Link 46W to SunRail Station), Lunch at Seminole Towne Center, Travel by SunRail and Lynx from Sanford to TTC (via LYNX Central Station), Monorail/Ferry to MK then Boat to WL (I plan to leave Leesburg by 10:00 AM, eta to WL/BRV should be by 3:00 PM)
• Check-in, settle in to room, explore resort (as time permits)
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom!

December 15 -

• Might have breakfast at Roaring Fork or Whispering Canyon Cafe, check-out, hand off overnight bag to bell services
• Planning to RD Epcot and hit AK w/ FP+
• Back to WL to retrieve overnight bag
• Boat to CR, then Monorail to TTC, Travel by Lynx and SunRail from TTC to DeBary (via LYNX Central Station). My mom is going to clean my apartment in Leesburg, so she said she would be picking me up from the DeBary station. I actually live in New Smyrna Beach, which is about 30-minutes away from the DeBary station.

 

[RubyLee]

I'm doing my first MVMCP this year and am psyched! My family always went the week of Christmas so I've never experienced the actual party.

Also jealous of Boulder Ridge I've only stayed at OKW.....definitely want to see more!

 

[IanDLBZF]

I'm doing my first MVMCP this year and am psyched! My family always went the week of Christmas so I've never experienced the actual party.

Also jealous of Boulder Ridge I've only stayed at OKW.....definitely want to see more!

Enjoy! I loved MVMCP last year as far as the short ride wait times go! I went on a sold out night, was busy (not as busy as NYE though).

 

[myhappyplace]

Jealous of your Boulder Ridge stay! We will be there from the 14th-17th, but at Saratoga Springs. Not doing a MVMCP though. Have fun!

 

[IanDLBZF]

It's almost FastPass+ time!
My FastPass+ Window for this trip opens in 20 Days! (for 12/14 and 12/15!)
I need advice here, with me going right to MVMCP after checking in and settling into my room what would you guys recommend?
Gameplan for MVMCP follows (eta should be between 4:30-4:45 PM)...

• Get wristband, if not entering through event entrance
  
  
• Grab “light” Dinner at Launching Pad
  
  
• 5:05-5:15 PM - get into line for Nick & Judy (they come out at 6:15 PM)

Park Closes to Day Guests at 6:00 PM

• Space Mountain
  
  
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  
  
• Grab Cookies/Cocoa from Friar Nooks
  
  
• Splash Mountain
  
  
• A Frozen Holiday Wish (8:15 PM; unless a second show is planned)
  
  
• Peter Pan’s Flight
  
  
• Find a good spot for Holiday Wishes (10:00 PM)
  
  
• BTMRR
  
  
• Go to Main Street Train Station and Watch 2nd OUACT Parade from there
  
  
• Jingle Cruise
  
  
• Cookies/Cocoa (as time allows)
  
  
• 12:00 AM Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration
  
  
• I could see myself heading back to Wilderness Lodge by 12:20-12:45 AM

As for 12/15, I am going to Epcot & Animal Kingdom. Doing RD at Epcot, and FP+ at Animal Kingdom, all my FPs for Animal Kingdom could be after 11:30 AM. The gameplan here is:

Boat from WL to CR, then Monorail to TTC, then Monorail to Epcot

• RD - Frozen Ever After
  
  
• Test Track (Single Riders)
  
  
• Soarin’
  
  
• Living With The Land

Bus from Epcot to AK

• FP+ - Flight Of Passage
  
  
• Lunch - Saulti Canteen
  
  
• M&G - Timon
  
  
• Primeval Whirl
  
  
• FP+ - DINOSAUR
  
  
• Expedition Everest (Singles Line)
  
  
• FP+ - Kilimanjaro Safari

Need to leave AK and head back to WL by 3:00 PM (pick up bag from Bell Services)

 

[IanDLBZF]

Guess what happened? I was surprised to find out the online check-in opened up early for me (today, I kid you not). So, guess what? Online check-in is DONE!
Also mid-terms for me come up next week, lot to do between now and next Friday! 60-Day FP+ Window opens up on October 15!

 

[IanDLBZF]

FastPass+ Day is coming up fast!!
Here's what it all comes down to at this point of time:

• For 12/14, because of MVMCP, I may book a 4-5 PM SDMT or SM FP which I can use "at my disposal". I did do online check in, which by surprise opened at the start of the month vs 60 days ahead of time.
• For 12/15 I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. I am doing both Epcot and AK this day, so I am deciding weither I should RD Epcot and do 3 afternoon FPs at AK or do 3 morning FPs at Epcot and book one more FP at AK. What are your thoughts on this guys?

Most if not all my midterms are caught up to date.

 

[IanDLBZF]

FastPass+ selections made? - Check!

Online Check-In Done? - Check!
Everything's all set!

 

[IanDLBZF]

FastPass+ selections made? - Check!

Online Check-In Done? - Check!
Everything's all set!

Edit for the AK FP: I swapped EE for Dinosaur (2:20-3:20).

 

[IanDLBZF]

Alrighty, having seen the entertainment schedule for this year's MVMCP here's my "rough draft" game plan for 12/14. All I need is character information confirmed and we should be all set!
December 14, 2017

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Game plan (DRAFT)

Boat from WL to MK, Eta should be between 4:00-4:20 PM

• Get wristband, if not entering through event entrance
  
  
• FP - Space Mountain (4:40-5:40 PM; which I have to my disposal)
  
  
• Grab “light” Dinner at Launching Pad
  
  
• 5:05-5:15 PM - get into line for Nick & Judy (they come out at 6:45 PM)

Park Closes to Day Guests at 6:00 PM, MVMCP starts at 7:00 PM​

• Grab Cookies/Cocoa from Friar Nooks
  
  
• Splash Mountain
  
  
• BTMRR
  
  
• A Frozen Holiday Wish (8:15 PM)
  
  
• Peter Pan’s Flight
  
  
• M&G - Scrooge McDuck (if time allows)
  
  
• Find a good spot for Holiday Wishes (10:00 PM)
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  
  
• Go to Main Street Train Station and Watch 2nd OUACT Parade from there (11:00 PM)
  
• Cookies/Cocoa (as time allows)
  
  
• 11:55 PM - Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration

I could see myself heading back to Wilderness Lodge by 12:20-12:45 AM - Boat to WL
Also, I am going to Disney two times this month as well, one of the perks of being a local AP! Going on Veteran's Day (doing three or four parks in one day), then on November 21 (three parks in one day - Epcot, HS, and AK - with a focus on thrill rides)!

 

[IanDLBZF]

Big news!

Yesterday was the last day I could customize my MagicBand for this trip! It's due to ship at any point in time now (could be either later today or sometime within the next 24-48 hours!)

 

[IanDLBZF]

My MagicBand arrived yesterday afternoon, before my mom came to my apartment to clean and pack before I came home for Thanksgiving Break!

 

[IanDLBZF]

You know your trip is coming up (FAST) when you get this email!

Only 10 days left! Plus I have final projects and stuff due over the next 8 days (excluding this Saturday and Sunday!)

 

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

Solo trips are awesome !!! I’ve done 3 of them! Whispering Pines is a must do for breakfast. Wilderness lodge is my favorite lobby on property !!!

Hello Everybody!

I've done yearly trips to WDW since I was young, up until 2014. I've done 2 Disney Cruises, and me and my mom went to Disneyland back in March. Since 2015, I've only done day trips and became an AP in February 2016 (my AP was a Christmas Present from my parents), these day trips have mostly been with my college (Beacon College in Leesburg, FL), but since 2016, during the Spring, Summer, Thanksgiving, and Winter Breaks I go on my own time (at least once during Thanksgiving or Spring Break; but more than that during Winter or Summer) but I don't drive down to WDW from where I live despite it only being an hour away. I just take SunRail from (usually DeBary, but during the past summer I've gone out of Lake Mary or Altamonte Springs - there are no SunRail stations in Leesburg, FL or in Lake County for that matter) to LYNX Central Station and then LYNX Link 50 from LCS to the TTC.
Well this trip is the first overnight trip at WDW I've done since 2014, and the first time I am staying at a DVC Resort! I'm going to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on December 14 as well, thus being my second MVMCP (first one was last year on 12/16/2016)!

Here's the logistics of this trip:
Resort: Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
Room: Deluxe Studio
No Dining Plan
Check-in: 12/14/2017
Check-out: 12/15/2017
Length of Stay: 2 Days, 1 Night

Itinerary should be as follows (Sorry if I sound crazy here folks):
December 14 -

• Depart Leesburg for Sanford (Uber to Seminole Towne Center, then Lynx Link 46W to SunRail Station), Lunch at Seminole Towne Center, Travel by SunRail and Lynx from Sanford to TTC (via LYNX Central Station), Monorail/Ferry to MK then Boat to WL (I plan to leave Leesburg by 10:00 AM, eta to WL/BRV should be by 3:00 PM)
• Check-in, settle in to room, explore resort (as time permits)
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom!

December 15 -

• Might have breakfast at Roaring Fork or Whispering Canyon Cafe, check-out, hand off overnight bag to bell services
• Planning to RD Epcot and hit AK w/ FP+
• Back to WL to retrieve overnight bag
• Boat to CR, then Monorail to TTC, Travel by Lynx and SunRail from TTC to DeBary (via LYNX Central Station). My mom is going to clean my apartment in Leesburg, so she said she would be picking me up from the DeBary station. I actually live in New Smyrna Beach, which is about 30-minutes away from the DeBary station.

are awesome

 

[IanDLBZF]

Solo trips are awesome !!! I’ve done 3 of them!

I have done many solo "day" trips since I am a local AP! They sure are fun! But this will be my first overnight solo trip!

 

[IanDLBZF]

Only 7 days left folks!
P.s. I have modified my MVMCP plan for 12/14 slightly:
ETA to MK between 3:55 and 4:20 (depends on when I get my room) - Taking Boat from WL to MK

• Get wristband, if not entering through event entrance
• FP - Splash Mountain (3:30-4:30 window; eta should be 4:25-4:30)
• FP - BTMRR (4:30-5:30 window; eta should be 4:30-4:35)
• Grab light dinner or snack
• Go to Tomorrowland and get in line for Nick and Judy (need to do this by 5:00 PM as they come out at 6:15 PM)
• Space Mountain
• Frozen Holiday Wish (8:15 show)
• Cookies and Cocoa in Fantasyland
• Peter Pan's Flight
• 7DMT
• Holiday Wishes
• Meet Scrooge McDuck/Donald Duck
• Go back to Main Street USA Train Station to Watch 2nd Parade (11:00 PM)
• Cookies and Cocoa in Tomorrowland
• Mickey's Most Merriest Celebration (11:55 PM)

Also I have decided to scratch my plans for 12/15 as a park day since I may very well be tired from MVMCP the night before, so 12/15 might as well be a breakfast and return home sorta day.

 

[IanDLBZF]

Ok, only two days left! And at this point I will be wrapping up the pre-trip report here. I won't be going live but I will however have a full trip report upon my return.

 

[Courtney6682]

Have a great time!! We are 11 days out and sooooooooo excited!! I hope u have a blast!

 

[IanDLBZF]

Ok, I know this is late but here we go!


December 14, 2017 - Travel to Disney and MVMCP night!


Starting off where things should start off....

The day before this trip I had completed all my finals for the semester, so I spent the afternoon and evening charging my devices, packing, and getting all my ducks lined up in a row before I left.

The plan for me would be to have an hour layover at the Seminole Towne Center mall in Sanford, which would include time for an early lunch. I called Uber around 9 AM and they picked me up by 9:15 AM, arrived in Sanford by 10:11 AM, under an hour! Only problem I had with Uber was the driver kept changing the radio one too many times adjusting it to her needs, not mine!

Seminole Towne Center, IMHO has gone downhill ever since Belk left in 2010, and since Disney Store left in 2012. It’s not what it used to be anymore! Lunch was at Chick Fil A in the food court, they start serving lunch at 10:30 AM so I had an advantage as the bus I needed to transfer to would arrive by 11:15 AM or so. I had time to check it all out and look around, didn’t really need to buy anything at the mall.

The bus I would end up transferring to, Lynx Link 46W to the Sanford SunRail station arrived at the mall by 11:27 AM, and the whole ride from the mall to the SunRail station took about 15 minutes. I had brought a 7-Day pass before this trip so that way I wouldn’t have to have the cash fare on me full time.

SunRail heading down was not bad at all. I will admit you do see the most interesting things, I saw Amtrak Train 97 with FOUR private cars! We ran a little late due to a flagging operation at Winter Park and us meeting train 97 in Maitland.

Lynx Link 50 heading down was a different story, the driver was new and couldn’t figure the route out (you'd think that the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX) would train their drivers on the routing!). The driver figured it out eventually hehe. Had no issues with the Express Monorail going to MK, but did have to wait a while for the boat to Wilderness Lodge (usually they run one cruiser and one Launch Boat, however only the cruiser was doing the Red Flag run because the launch boat was OOS).

Anyway...

The room I had was 4563. Excellent room! No cleanliness issues, nor maintenance issues. At first couldn’t figure out the light switches, but I found them eventually. Lovely view of Bay Lake too!

The lobby is beautifully decorated at Christmas too!

Had a short time to layover before going back to MK for MVMCP! P.s. I never knew BRV/CCV had grocery order service, so I ordered two water bottles for when I got back and the return trip the next day!

Onwards to MVMCP!

I then got the boat back to MK for MVMCP, and realized I would end up missing my FP for BTMRR, called an audible before I did Splash (I had a FP for that) in that I would BTMRR that night during the party. Love the new screening procedure in that the entrance doesn’t get crowded.

Splash Mountain had a log jam (almost went 101 towards the end of the ride), but it cleared out eventually and we never had an evac.

After Splash I had to hightail it over to Tomorrowland because I was planning to meet Nick and Judy. I had a pair of bunny ears with a matching tail from Walmart which I wore as part of a Halloween Costume, and my Nick & Judy plushies. Got there by 5:10 PM, and hopped in line by 5:20 PM.
The pair doesn’t sign, like last year, so they handed us autograph cards. They came out by 6:15 PM, and I meet them by 6:18 PM (about 3 minutes after they came out). Was a teensy bit anxious/nervous before they came out but I calmed down by the time they came out.

My interaction with them was amazing! Went up to Judy saying “Judy you’re my favorite character ever! I love you!” Her hug was the best! I managed to kiss her on the cheek for a change, as Judy has kissed me (on the cheek or neck) on TWO separate occasions!

Then I hugged Nick, and as I did, from what I saw on the video I had the Blueberry record on my iPhone, Judy saw my tail and her reaction was priceless.

Blueberry - He has a tail on, just like you!

I asked Nick if he still made Pawpsicles with Finnick, and asked how Finnick was doing. Even asked Judy if Chief Bogo was keeping her busy.

Showed them I had plushies of them, Nick took his and KISSED IT (and I heard that all too familiar to me kissing sound that Judy made when she kissed me during MVMCP 12/16)! I told them they were the best and I got a GROUP HUG!

Grabbed a quick dinner at launching pad before doing Space Mountain (which had about a 10-15 minute wait). Knocked that down and proceeded to hit 7DMT as the party was getting underway! Did two treat stations in FantasyLand, then proceeded to head for the hub to see A Frozen Holiday Wish (something I now regret doing)! The hub was like Times Square in NYC on New Year’s Eve for this show!!!


After seeing A Frozen Holiday Wish (which this version had Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and Kristoff), I headed back to Fantasyland to knockdown Peter Pan’s Flight, posted wait was 25-30, actual wait was 15-20. Cleared out Peter Pan and then headed to Frontierland to do BTMRR at NIGHT! I then went to Adventureland to have the snowman pretzel/snowcone. As I got off BTMRR I realized my Olaf pin had fallen off and the black Mickey on the back had disappeared (it was on my shoe!), thankfully I went over to Frontier Trading Post to get the black thing replaced! Love how friendly and helpful CMs can be in situations like this!


Then it was back to Fantasyland to see Holiday Wishes and to meet Scrooge and Donald!


Saw the show from the same spot I saw it last year, fantastic as ever! But when compared to HEA, HEA knocks Holiday Wishes off its socks! I’ve heard rumors, per Jim Hill, that MNSSHP would be getting a replacement for Happy HalloWishes, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Holiday Wishes gets a replacement too! Before I went to meet the Ducks, I hunted down the MVMCP exclusive pins and picked up a figurine set featuring the characters from "Mickey's Christmas Carol."


Now onto Scrooge and Donald. Hopped into their line by 10:25, meet them by 10:54. It was a wonderful yet very amusing interaction. Even told Donald that HE was number 1, and Mickey was “number 1 and a half”! Overall it was a very fun interaction too. That makes two out of the fab five I have meet!

Headed back over to Main Street USA to see the second parade from the train station, just as Kringle Krew was approaching the train station. I even heard the Mad Hatter shout something but I couldn’t tell what he said! I swear one of the elves riding a scooter in the Toy Land segment of this parade must be good friends with Judy (during MISIDPI) as she waved and saluted at me!

My last order of business for the day was to see Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration. Me being a Three Caballeros fan I just had to see Panchito and Jose perform, I’ve seen them in Soundsational once back in 2014! The show was pretty amazing, once it got to the Three Caballeros segment I shouted “PANCHITO I LOVE YOU!” Had no issues seeing Text Me Merry Christmas being performed in this show, having seen a Periscope reference in “Fiends” at Busch Gardens during Howl-O-Scream once!


By this time, both me and my feet were tired! So I headed on back to WL, no issues with transportation back to the resort. I saw that my order had been delivered and put into the mini-fridge! Took my evening meds, put my PJs on, and went to bed.

The next chapter is coming tomorrow!

 

[IanDLBZF]

December 15, 2017 - Take the long way home!

Originally this day was supposed to be a park day, however my mom had a Christmas Party for her work she wanted to attend and couldn’t pick me up from the DeBary station that evening so she would pick me up from my apartment in Leesburg the next day. So I made this day a travel day, and decided to take Lynx, SunRail, and LakeXpress back to Leesburg.


Got up around 8:45 AM, showered/shaved/brushed teeth/got dressed and packed for the long trip home! Had breakfast at Roaring Fork, it wasn’t too bad. Had french toast banana foster, yogurt, a danish, grapes, and apple juice.


WARNING - WHAT FOLLOWS MAY SOUND “CRAZY” TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART ITS NOT.


I grabbed the boat from WL to Contemporary (it was already at the dock when I got there), I took that then hopped onto the Resort Monorail to the TTC.

The next leg was from the TTC to Downtown Orlando (Lynx Central Station) via Lynx Link 50. I was the ONLY one on the bus from the TTC to Disney Springs! On-time for most part. Then it was SunRail from there to Altamonte Springs. No issues there either. Train was on-time.


The next leg was from Altamonte Springs to Apopka, via Lynx Link 436N. We did run into some traffic, mostly on SR 436 as we approached Apopka. Thank god I didn’t miss my connecting bus to Zellwood (Lynx Link 44), where I would spend the next hour or so in a layover before my connecting LakeXpress Bus (Route 4 to Eustis) arrived. It was a fairly quiet run on the 44 and LakeXpress Route 4. My connecting bus to Leesburg (LakeXpress Route 1) had no issues either. Then came the bus back to Downtown Leesburg (LakeXpress Route 2), which is where I live during the school year. There were no issues up until we hit the Southside Shopping Center. Here’s what happened:

A passenger tried to board the bus without his shirt on, the driver told him to put it on, that’s when one of the passengers stood up and threatened the driver! This passenger mind you was apparently high on crack, he pushed a cart in front of the bus, showed his phone screen, made threats, and that same passenger who boarded without his shirt on (he did put a shirt on before sitting down) even flipped the middle finger a number of times! Police were called too because the driver’s safety was at risk. This caused the bus to be DELAYED, so what he did was run the bus back to Citizen’s Boulevard via Downtown Leesburg (he did let me off at the stop near Leesburg City Hall), thank god nobody was injured, but OMG that was scary!

PSA:
Remember kids (and readers alike), don't do crack it can harm you in many ways. It can even get you in trouble with the law.