Please start with my pre-trip report!
Good morning! Aloha! Jambo! Welcome to my solo trip report!
Who: Me - Sam!
Where: Courtyard Marriott at Vista Centre
When: February 6 - 9
Why: For fun!
Day 1: Wednesday, February 6th
I did NOT sleep on Tuesday night. I kept waking up, nervous and in a tizzy, that I had slept through my 2:30AM alarm to leave for the airport. I gave up on my beauty rest around 2:00AM, got dressed, ate a snack, and began my quick 45minute drive to the airport (LGA). At 3:30AM, I left my car with the valet and prayed she would return to me in the same condition I left her.
Emotions were flooding through me, maybe because I was exhausted, but mostly because I was on my way to WALT DISNEY WORLD!
Small snag as I got to TSA - my pre-check was not linked to my ticket! UGH! I had to go through the normal TSA line...this would have been okay except I wore sandals and had to walk barefoot through the body scanner and that's just gross! Regardless, I made it through, no issues, because my only carry on was my Mickey backpack of necessities...Mickey ears and Minnie wallet. At 6:00AM I boarded my flight and fell asleep for the majority of the trip.
9:15AM - TOUCHDOWN AT MCO! I WAS HERE! I took the rail to baggage, snagged an uber, and by 10:15AM, I was at my hotel for the next 3 nights. My preferred room wasn't ready yet, so I changed into shorts, put on my ears, and called an uber to EPCOT!
I made a mad dash for the Annual Passholder line! The cheesiest grin on my face...I won't deny it, I might have teared up!
First things first - I took pictures with just about every PhotoPass cast member I saw. I loved not having to ask for strangers to take my photo, and I had brought my Nikon in August 2018, so I didn't find it necessary to bring it this trip.
A quick stop in Mouse Gear, I picked up my AP Figment magnet. I immediately made my way over to the World Showcase - starting with Mexico, seeing as my FP+ reservations were in Magic Kingdom later today, and grabbed a Fiesta Margarita. Now, I hadn't really eaten all that much yet...paired with the fact that I do not drink regularly, so this margarita had me all sorts of giddy.
Donald had a short line in the Mexico pavilion, so I hopped in line. I wore my "Because I'm a cat lady" shirt - a homage to Aristocats and Marie!! This Donald was one of the best I have ever met. He was funny and dramatic, and made each interaction memorable. When it was my turn, Donald made me promise that I'd become a duck lady, as he was disappointed that I have two cats at home. So, I pinky promised to become a duck lady too!
I continued down the World Showcase, quickly got distracted in Norway with art by Larry Dotson; first purchase! Then I found myself in Italy....where I got distracted by the candles and purchased the Poly Hawaii candle (the Polynesian Resort is my family's favorite resort). I finally made my way to France, where I purchased a Frose! As I took my first sip, I saw that Belle would be doing a meet and greet soon! I hopped in line for my first of many character interactions.
Now, before I got to Disney, I had spent weeks pondering the best questions to ask each face character that I met...this was my chance!
I finished my Frose before I got to the front of the line. A little giggly on the brain, I chose the least unique question I could think of to ask Belle, "I just finished my last book, do you have a recommendation for me?" I mean, UGH, could I get any more cliché?! But, Belle was quick on her toes and recommended Romeo and Juliet, as it was one of Beast's favorites. We took a picture together, and I was off!
Quick photopass opportunity at the France fountain!
The one piece of art that I absolutely needed to find was the painting of Pasquale looking all disgruntled with paint dripping on his head - I headed to Doug Bolly's tent, which was past Canada. Without hesitation, I bought the print! I ended up wandering the festival for an hour and a half, waiting for Doug Bolly to arrive so I could have my print signed. I ate at the Electric Umbrella - an energy salad. I stopped at the pin station by the fountain to look for my AP Festival of Arts pin, and was extremely disappointed to find that they were sold out. The CM said they only made 3,000 of the pins and they were gone in the first week of the festival. My Pasquale signing with Doug Bolly was quick, but worth the wait. On my way out of the park, I snagged a photo-op at the bubblegum wall, always a classic!
By 2:30, I had missed my first FP+ at the Magic Kingdom. It didn't bother me much, though. I headed to the Monorail and hopped on coral! For some reason, I stayed on the monorail when I got to the transportation station...and traveled in a loop back to EPCOT...and then back to the transportation station, when I realized I had to switch monorails. Maybe the heat had gotten to me, maybe I just wanted to listen to the monorail voice tell me to please stand clear of the doors... I finally made my way to the MAGIC KINGDOM!!
(to be continued)
Good morning! Aloha! Jambo! Welcome to my solo trip report!
Who: Me - Sam!
Where: Courtyard Marriott at Vista Centre
When: February 6 - 9
Why: For fun!
Day 1: Wednesday, February 6th
I did NOT sleep on Tuesday night. I kept waking up, nervous and in a tizzy, that I had slept through my 2:30AM alarm to leave for the airport. I gave up on my beauty rest around 2:00AM, got dressed, ate a snack, and began my quick 45minute drive to the airport (LGA). At 3:30AM, I left my car with the valet and prayed she would return to me in the same condition I left her.
Emotions were flooding through me, maybe because I was exhausted, but mostly because I was on my way to WALT DISNEY WORLD!
Small snag as I got to TSA - my pre-check was not linked to my ticket! UGH! I had to go through the normal TSA line...this would have been okay except I wore sandals and had to walk barefoot through the body scanner and that's just gross! Regardless, I made it through, no issues, because my only carry on was my Mickey backpack of necessities...Mickey ears and Minnie wallet. At 6:00AM I boarded my flight and fell asleep for the majority of the trip.
9:15AM - TOUCHDOWN AT MCO! I WAS HERE! I took the rail to baggage, snagged an uber, and by 10:15AM, I was at my hotel for the next 3 nights. My preferred room wasn't ready yet, so I changed into shorts, put on my ears, and called an uber to EPCOT!
I made a mad dash for the Annual Passholder line! The cheesiest grin on my face...I won't deny it, I might have teared up!
First things first - I took pictures with just about every PhotoPass cast member I saw. I loved not having to ask for strangers to take my photo, and I had brought my Nikon in August 2018, so I didn't find it necessary to bring it this trip.
A quick stop in Mouse Gear, I picked up my AP Figment magnet. I immediately made my way over to the World Showcase - starting with Mexico, seeing as my FP+ reservations were in Magic Kingdom later today, and grabbed a Fiesta Margarita. Now, I hadn't really eaten all that much yet...paired with the fact that I do not drink regularly, so this margarita had me all sorts of giddy.
Donald had a short line in the Mexico pavilion, so I hopped in line. I wore my "Because I'm a cat lady" shirt - a homage to Aristocats and Marie!! This Donald was one of the best I have ever met. He was funny and dramatic, and made each interaction memorable. When it was my turn, Donald made me promise that I'd become a duck lady, as he was disappointed that I have two cats at home. So, I pinky promised to become a duck lady too!
I continued down the World Showcase, quickly got distracted in Norway with art by Larry Dotson; first purchase! Then I found myself in Italy....where I got distracted by the candles and purchased the Poly Hawaii candle (the Polynesian Resort is my family's favorite resort). I finally made my way to France, where I purchased a Frose! As I took my first sip, I saw that Belle would be doing a meet and greet soon! I hopped in line for my first of many character interactions.
Now, before I got to Disney, I had spent weeks pondering the best questions to ask each face character that I met...this was my chance!
I finished my Frose before I got to the front of the line. A little giggly on the brain, I chose the least unique question I could think of to ask Belle, "I just finished my last book, do you have a recommendation for me?" I mean, UGH, could I get any more cliché?! But, Belle was quick on her toes and recommended Romeo and Juliet, as it was one of Beast's favorites. We took a picture together, and I was off!
Quick photopass opportunity at the France fountain!
The one piece of art that I absolutely needed to find was the painting of Pasquale looking all disgruntled with paint dripping on his head - I headed to Doug Bolly's tent, which was past Canada. Without hesitation, I bought the print! I ended up wandering the festival for an hour and a half, waiting for Doug Bolly to arrive so I could have my print signed. I ate at the Electric Umbrella - an energy salad. I stopped at the pin station by the fountain to look for my AP Festival of Arts pin, and was extremely disappointed to find that they were sold out. The CM said they only made 3,000 of the pins and they were gone in the first week of the festival. My Pasquale signing with Doug Bolly was quick, but worth the wait. On my way out of the park, I snagged a photo-op at the bubblegum wall, always a classic!
By 2:30, I had missed my first FP+ at the Magic Kingdom. It didn't bother me much, though. I headed to the Monorail and hopped on coral! For some reason, I stayed on the monorail when I got to the transportation station...and traveled in a loop back to EPCOT...and then back to the transportation station, when I realized I had to switch monorails. Maybe the heat had gotten to me, maybe I just wanted to listen to the monorail voice tell me to please stand clear of the doors... I finally made my way to the MAGIC KINGDOM!!
(to be continued)
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You brave soul. (With brave soles)
