60 Days from now I'll be headed back to the Happy Place! This will be a quick 3-day jaunt to the World. I'll be there while Husband is working in Sarasota. I can't be in Florida and NOT go to Disney. I know you understand! I booked my Fast Passes this morning at 7 sharp, so now I feel like I can write my PTR!
I'll be solo, and I'm super happy about it. I love solo trips. As I wrote to PopPhan, you can zip around the parks easily, do what you want, where you want, when you want and you only have to worry about yourself. I've also been very happy with short trips. They aren't as economical as they used to be, but still worth it for me. Now that I've paid off student loans (it IS possible!) I have some disposable income back and have been going to Florida more frequently in the past year, I may need to look into an AP!
Anyway, here are my plans for now -
Sunday October 21
Fly down from central NY and get to MCO around 10:30 am. Magical Express to the resort - All Star Sports. I don't mind values, I would have gone with POP but it was just preferred available and I won't pay for that, lol! On short trips I am barely in the room anyway and would rather spend the money on park tickets and food.
Tonight is MNSSHP night for me! I haven't done the party in about 6 years so I thought it was time to revisit, especially with some newer extras on attractions, shows I've never seen, and it's always worth it for the Boo to You Parade. No reservations or Fast Passes, I'll just arrive at 4 and stay for however long it takes me to finish what I'd like to do. I'd like to ride a couple things, particularly Splash since it was closed last year, and catch the Hocus Pocus show.
Monday October 22
EPCOT day! Plan to ride Soarin' first thing then head to Spaceship Earth (FP), Test Track, and Mission: Space (FP). Stroll around World Showcase enjoying Food and Wine Fest on a weekday (huzzah!) snacking around the World and enjoying the pavilions, ride Frozen (FP) and Rio del Tiempo, and I will always have time for a show or two of Voices of Liberty. EPCOT is my favorite park so I have no problem spending all day here from open to close. I definitely have to see IllumiNations before it retires.
Tuesday October 23
Animal Kingdom Day! However, first I need to check out of the hotel and take an Uber to pick up a car rental. There are rental places at Bonnet Creek and Swan/Dolphin but I haven't figured out where I'll go just yet. Anyhow, I'll pick up my car and then drive to AK. This is a first for me - in over 12 years of visiting WDW I have never driven on property. I've been a passenger, but never behind the wheel!
When I get to the park I will head to Asia and ride Everest standby or single rider as many times as I can and I have a FP for it at 10:40 a.m.! It's my favorite ride (can you tell?). Also plan on seeing the Nemo show, it's been a good 6 or 7 years since I've seen it. Same for Festival of the Lion King. While I'm in the Africa section I'll do the Safari (FP) and wander around the jungle trek. In the mid-afternoon I have a Flight of Passage FP. I'll hang around Pandora until I can't take it anymore and then head out of the park. It closes at 8 p.m. and I have a 2 hour drive after that, so I don't know if I'll make it to closing. I'd like to see AK after dark, it's been a looooong time since I've experienced that and from what I remember it was so beautiful. Riding Everest at night is a whole different experience, it is pitch black in there!
So whenever I leave I'll get in the car and then make my way to Sarasota where Husband will pick me up at the rental drop off. The next day will be spent recovering on the beach from a whirlwind 3 days and then we continue on to Naples to visit his parents until Sunday.
Another first for me on this trip is the lack of ADRs! I love eating at Disney but with little time to spare I'd rather not do a sit-down. Counter service is fine with me, and sometimes I just like to get snacks or a kid's meal so I don't over eat. I spent way too many Disney trips over eating and being uncomfortable the rest of the day.
I'm so excited to be heading back for another October in the World!
