I'm sorry if this comes off as kind of obnoxious. It might be WAAAY early to be writing this considering I'm not even booked yet, but I miss having a trip report to write and I figure if I actually start my pre-trip report now, it'll force me to follow through and make sure I actually achieve my goal. Plus then you all can follow me along every step of the way in my vacation planning process.
So let me back up and introduce myself. I'm Melissa. (Mel for short). 33 (despite how young I look in my photos). Disney lover since birth practically. Went on my first trip to WDW when I was 3 and have been back I think 6 times since then. Mostly with family, once with a friend. I just got back from my first trip back to Disney in 8 years this past August.
Here is my previous trip report if you haven't read it and would like to.
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...e-in-forever-aug-2016-wdw-trip-report.918347/
So onto the meat and potatoes of this PTR! I have always wanted to go to Disney for Food and Wine Festival. (Well, more so since I've been of legal age to drink.) I've typically always only went to Disney in August because that was the only time my whole family could get together. October always seemed like a nice time to visit. Maybe slightly cooler and maybe slightly less crowded. I'd also love to see all the Halloween stuff going on too. And of course the food! Reading everyone else's trip reports during Food and Wine really clinched it for me. I HAVE to go and experience this deliciousness!
Only one problem. I don't have anyone to go with. My Mom works in a school and can't take the time off. I'm kind of not speaking currently to one of my closest friends and the other is a teacher. My sister is currently trying to save for a wedding (she got engaged on our August trip). So, it was looking like I was going to have to do this one alone. The prospect of a solo trip, both enthralls me and terrifies me at the same time. Not to bore everyone with everything going on in my life, but I've been going through some rough times and have been basically not in a great place with myself. I'm really putting in a lot of work to finding myself and trying to make 2017 a more positive year for me. Part of that is being okay with doing things by myself and not holding myself back because of other people. What better way to do that to splurge and take myself on a vacation that I've been wanting to do for a long time now. Also it would be nice not to have to follow anyone else's schedule, but my own. I could move at my own pace and do what I want to do. It sounds so laidback.
On the other hand, I'm afraid that being around all those families and groups of people may actually depress me that I'm alone. Would I get bored? Would people feel bad for me? Wouldn't I be lonely? I know kind of dumb thoughts. I just don't hear about too many people taking solo trips.
But as I said before, one of the things I'm working on is stepping out of my comfort zone. My Dad has always been after me to travel more, so I stated my intentions to him that I was going to go to Food and Wine with or without anyone to travel with. When my Dad realized how serious I was I think he felt bad that I had no one to go with. He tossed around a few scenarios, He offered to go, which I didn't mind, but then suggested that my sister go with me and he'd try to pay her way. In a way, it is a little unfair that I'm willing to pay my share, bu she gets pretty much a free trip to Disney, but the truth is that a sister's trip to Disney would be really nice. We've always fought a lot, but ever since our August trip and her engagement, we've gotten really close. Besides, if she comes with me I now can book the DDP and eat at some TS places I've wanted to try! (I just couldn't see the value in TS meals for just myself).
So anyway here are the details of the trip we have ironed out so far:
Who: Me and most likely my sister Stephanie (24). Here is a picture of us together.
When: I've toyed around with a few different dates and length of stays. I was very excited to learn that Food and Wine is starting early this year and my birthday (Sept 9th) will actually fall into the time frame of Food and Wine this year. As tempting as spending my birthday in WDW is though, I don't want to spend my birthday alone in case Steph can't do it. Plus I'm technically not allowed to take the last two weeks of Aug- Sept off from my job since its the beginning of the school year. My boss gave me a pass this past year, but pretty much told me to consult her next time I book a vacation. (Oops!) That leaves us with the first or third week of October. I would like to fly in on a Sunday and leave on a Saturday. So either Oct 1st-Oct 7th or Oct 15th- Oct 21st. The projected crowds are I think a bit lighter during the first week of October, but the prices are a bit cheaper in the third week. (Only by a few bucks though. It really isn't enough to be a factor). The only other thing I like about that third week is we'll be there on the one year mark to my sister's wedding. (Her date is 10/19/18.) Considering she got engaged in Disney I think it would be really sweet to be there on that date. Kind of bringing everything full circle. As long as her fiancee doesn't mind that it is. Thoughts?
Where: As much as I'd like to upgrade to a moderate, I really think a value is more realistic for me at this time especially considering I have to save for my family's week long vacation to Lake George as well at the end of July. I would like to try to at least stay at Pop Century. All-Star is cheaper, but it is I think maybe $100 difference at most to do Pop.
Add ons/ Miscellaneous: Whether I am alone or with Steph we are just going to do Magical Express to the resorts and then rely on bus transportation to the parks. We are definitely doing Park Hoppers, so I may spring for the Express Transportation if the option is there available in October and the price doesn't increase. I also definitely want the DDP and Memorymaker. In the event Steph doesn't come along I am torn about doing the QS DDP for just me or just paying out of pocket for meals. I would definitely like to attend a Halloween Party at MK. I also always wanted to do HHN at Universal, but we'll see after everything else is booked. I definitely won't do THAT alone!
Here is where I;m at now. I went onto the Disney website and crunched some numbers to get an idea of the cost. Meanwhile my Dad called the AAA agent we used for our August trip and got the very same prices. He totally couldn't believe that her price wasn't lower even though I tried explaining to him about a zillion times that travel agents don't give cheaper prices on Disney vacation packages. Anyway, even though I'd like to practice of booking it all myself, m Dad wants us to use the travel agent, so I may just humor him. After all, he's going to help Steph out so she can go.... My Dad, Steph, and I just need to find some time to sit down together and agree on the specifics and then my Dad says he'll book it for us. Hopefully within the next week or two!
I'll leave you this image of my sister post engagement in front of the castle at MK. Please ignore how sweaty and gross they both look. It was a VERY humid August night and we were in a sea of people watching Wishes.
So let me back up and introduce myself. I'm Melissa. (Mel for short). 33 (despite how young I look in my photos). Disney lover since birth practically. Went on my first trip to WDW when I was 3 and have been back I think 6 times since then. Mostly with family, once with a friend. I just got back from my first trip back to Disney in 8 years this past August.
Here is my previous trip report if you haven't read it and would like to.
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...e-in-forever-aug-2016-wdw-trip-report.918347/
So onto the meat and potatoes of this PTR! I have always wanted to go to Disney for Food and Wine Festival. (Well, more so since I've been of legal age to drink.) I've typically always only went to Disney in August because that was the only time my whole family could get together. October always seemed like a nice time to visit. Maybe slightly cooler and maybe slightly less crowded. I'd also love to see all the Halloween stuff going on too. And of course the food! Reading everyone else's trip reports during Food and Wine really clinched it for me. I HAVE to go and experience this deliciousness!
Only one problem. I don't have anyone to go with. My Mom works in a school and can't take the time off. I'm kind of not speaking currently to one of my closest friends and the other is a teacher. My sister is currently trying to save for a wedding (she got engaged on our August trip). So, it was looking like I was going to have to do this one alone. The prospect of a solo trip, both enthralls me and terrifies me at the same time. Not to bore everyone with everything going on in my life, but I've been going through some rough times and have been basically not in a great place with myself. I'm really putting in a lot of work to finding myself and trying to make 2017 a more positive year for me. Part of that is being okay with doing things by myself and not holding myself back because of other people. What better way to do that to splurge and take myself on a vacation that I've been wanting to do for a long time now. Also it would be nice not to have to follow anyone else's schedule, but my own. I could move at my own pace and do what I want to do. It sounds so laidback.
On the other hand, I'm afraid that being around all those families and groups of people may actually depress me that I'm alone. Would I get bored? Would people feel bad for me? Wouldn't I be lonely? I know kind of dumb thoughts. I just don't hear about too many people taking solo trips.
But as I said before, one of the things I'm working on is stepping out of my comfort zone. My Dad has always been after me to travel more, so I stated my intentions to him that I was going to go to Food and Wine with or without anyone to travel with. When my Dad realized how serious I was I think he felt bad that I had no one to go with. He tossed around a few scenarios, He offered to go, which I didn't mind, but then suggested that my sister go with me and he'd try to pay her way. In a way, it is a little unfair that I'm willing to pay my share, bu she gets pretty much a free trip to Disney, but the truth is that a sister's trip to Disney would be really nice. We've always fought a lot, but ever since our August trip and her engagement, we've gotten really close. Besides, if she comes with me I now can book the DDP and eat at some TS places I've wanted to try! (I just couldn't see the value in TS meals for just myself).
So anyway here are the details of the trip we have ironed out so far:
Who: Me and most likely my sister Stephanie (24). Here is a picture of us together.
When: I've toyed around with a few different dates and length of stays. I was very excited to learn that Food and Wine is starting early this year and my birthday (Sept 9th) will actually fall into the time frame of Food and Wine this year. As tempting as spending my birthday in WDW is though, I don't want to spend my birthday alone in case Steph can't do it. Plus I'm technically not allowed to take the last two weeks of Aug- Sept off from my job since its the beginning of the school year. My boss gave me a pass this past year, but pretty much told me to consult her next time I book a vacation. (Oops!) That leaves us with the first or third week of October. I would like to fly in on a Sunday and leave on a Saturday. So either Oct 1st-Oct 7th or Oct 15th- Oct 21st. The projected crowds are I think a bit lighter during the first week of October, but the prices are a bit cheaper in the third week. (Only by a few bucks though. It really isn't enough to be a factor). The only other thing I like about that third week is we'll be there on the one year mark to my sister's wedding. (Her date is 10/19/18.) Considering she got engaged in Disney I think it would be really sweet to be there on that date. Kind of bringing everything full circle. As long as her fiancee doesn't mind that it is. Thoughts?
Where: As much as I'd like to upgrade to a moderate, I really think a value is more realistic for me at this time especially considering I have to save for my family's week long vacation to Lake George as well at the end of July. I would like to try to at least stay at Pop Century. All-Star is cheaper, but it is I think maybe $100 difference at most to do Pop.
Add ons/ Miscellaneous: Whether I am alone or with Steph we are just going to do Magical Express to the resorts and then rely on bus transportation to the parks. We are definitely doing Park Hoppers, so I may spring for the Express Transportation if the option is there available in October and the price doesn't increase. I also definitely want the DDP and Memorymaker. In the event Steph doesn't come along I am torn about doing the QS DDP for just me or just paying out of pocket for meals. I would definitely like to attend a Halloween Party at MK. I also always wanted to do HHN at Universal, but we'll see after everything else is booked. I definitely won't do THAT alone!
Here is where I;m at now. I went onto the Disney website and crunched some numbers to get an idea of the cost. Meanwhile my Dad called the AAA agent we used for our August trip and got the very same prices. He totally couldn't believe that her price wasn't lower even though I tried explaining to him about a zillion times that travel agents don't give cheaper prices on Disney vacation packages. Anyway, even though I'd like to practice of booking it all myself, m Dad wants us to use the travel agent, so I may just humor him. After all, he's going to help Steph out so she can go.... My Dad, Steph, and I just need to find some time to sit down together and agree on the specifics and then my Dad says he'll book it for us. Hopefully within the next week or two!
I'll leave you this image of my sister post engagement in front of the castle at MK. Please ignore how sweaty and gross they both look. It was a VERY humid August night and we were in a sea of people watching Wishes.
