Okay, I'm really gonna do it. Solo trip January 23
Day 1 January 23. Saw the best and worst of Southwest Airlines today. Flight from San Jose to Austin was nice. Boarding was organized and there were empty seats, so a lot of open middles. Austin airport was great- live music! But then, yikes. First off the Austin-Orlando leg was delayed half an hour, not a big deal. It was sardine- full though and a smaller plane than the first one, less leg room. Lots of people boarding at the end and just standing in the aisle because they didn't want to separate. I paid the $25 bribe to SWA to board earlier, and I probably wouldn't use them unless I did. Definitely a bad idea if you have kids to board late on Southwest. Arrived in Orlando at 7:55 pm- it is a journey from SWA gates to Magical Express, but it was smooth and I arrived at All Star Music at 9:20. Check in took about 20 minutes, at first the computer and my band had different opinion on whether my room was ready, but then they agreed. I got my requests, top floor and non pool side. My bag arrived at my room at 2:30- yes that's 2:30 am.
For me , not a huge deal, but be forewarned if you are going to stress about your luggage. I have no idea whether SWA or DME played around with it, but someone did. The food court at All Star Music was PACKED at 10 pm. Had to sit outside in 40 degree night. I think WDW must run promotions in South America, I would estimate 70-80 pct of people here are speaking Portugese or Spanish. By the way, have yet to encounter anything other than polite families, no large groups so far. I wish I knew some Portugese so I could converse.
Day three- Saturday Jan 24
Got to Epcot at noon- I know, I know, but I am only able to burn one end of the candle at my age. Headed straight to World Showcase and saw O Canada- very nice. Emerged from Canada into a lot of people! Ate Teriyaki chicken in Japan at Katsura Grill- food ok, service stellar. Saw American Adventure and then was over Epcot- too may people. So I monorailed over to Magic Kingdom, which pretty much made Epcot look like Siberia population wise. The wait times were never holiday-like, Space hovered around 50-60 minutes, Peter Pan the same, but holy moly there were a lot of people! For crying out loud, there was a 5-10 minute line for TTA! Anyway, I hung in, just sort of wandered, sat by the river in Frontierland and things started improving slightly around seven pm. Rode Mansion twice again ( love it), saw Monsters Inc Laugh Floor for the first time- It 's pretty cute. Did Buzz, TTA twice and Ariel ride.
This was the first time I had seen Wishes inside the park & I was amazed at the choreography of the music and fireworks. I also saw late Main St Electrical Parade, fully expected to be unimpressed, but I am a believer now- it's great.
Lots fewer people at the late parade too. Was able to walk onto Poo and the Mansion right at closing. Stayed til twelve trying to be last one in park, but failed- there were still some people shopping at midnight. Then was the only passenger on bus to AS Music- weird ride. You definitely don't have to worry about not getting a ride back to resorts, they are on top of it.
Lots of nice cast members, lots of nice park visitors, nice day and night even with the massive ( to me) crowds. OK, two rants before I forget. Spaceship Earth was my all time favorite ride last time I was here (2006). What nitwit green lighted that ridiculous end to an iconic ride? That silliness belongs in Innoventions, and if it was there, no one would do it. Rant number two- the American attention span is so dismal that they feel compelled to "short version" cartoons on the resort channel that were probably 7-8 minutes long originally. I guess they decide that kids can't focus for that long?
Tomorrow Studios- I am hoping for lighter crowds??? Maybe? Please? Pretty please?
Day five Monday January 27
Hopefully I have the date right this time!
Up early to check out of AS Music and head to MK'S for Keys to the Kingdom tour. Left my bags with bell services to send to Coronado. So last night I remarked that I was having good bus karma- well, I angered the bus gods! Arrived at bus stop at 7:45, then watched five Studios buses, three Epcot, two AK and even one that said Blizzard Beach that for crying out loud- is closed.
I had plenty of time, so it didn't mean much to me, but the people next to me had breakfast reservations and were freaking out. I would guess that the MK's buses were filling up at AS Sports and not even stopping at the others?
Keys to the Kingdom tour was marvelous, highly recommended. You do see lots of cast members "off stage" which I thought was interesting, but maybe not for everyone. Lunch is at Colombia Harbor House (mmm great tuna sandwich), we rode Jungle Cruise and Mansion- got to go into Mansion thru cast member door. It is five hours and you are on your feet the whole time except for half hour lunch. Magic Kingdom looked pretty populated when I left, but I didn't see any wait times.
Checked into Coronado Springs this afternoon, waaaay different vibe from All Stars. Haven't seen a kid yet, but I have seen hundreds of smoking, drinking conventioneers. It is a beautiful hotel (it's true about the long walks to rooms by the way)' just not sure I would choose it if I had small kids.
Feet up now, if I get motivated I might hit Downtown Disney tonight.
Animal Kingdom and Cirque De Soleil for my eight birthday ( in dog years) tomorrow.
Monday night January 27 update
So I am seeing on Touring Plans that crowds are indeed not very big. I would definitely not be able to handle too many more people than this, so I need to stick to low attendance times for sure. Downtown Disney to me, was a zoo, but it was probably a reasonably slow night there I guess. Ate dinner at Pollo Campero, pinto beans A+, chicken B-, checkout system C-. Bus was good again- about 25 minutes to my stop. Coronado is massive! Still think it's beautiful resort, lakeside bar was great, my major complaint right now is the smell of cigarettes that is almost everywhere I go at this resort.
Day seven Wednesday January 29
OK, that's more like it- the crowds are finally what I hoped they would be. All it took was 48 degree temperature with showers turning to a steady rain! Started the day at Epcot where I had a Behind the Seeds tour in the Land at noon. If you like the ride, or have an interest in gardening, I think you would enjoy this tour. Inexpensive ( I think I paid $16 with Dis Visa discount) and fairly non time consuming- ours went about 80 minutes. Jumped on the monorail over to Magic Kingdom and ? where are the people? I waited in zero lines all afternoon. Of course I am not in the line demographic as I don't have a little one, like to meet princesses, or ride roller coasters. Even the standby times I saw as I passed were tame- Space Mt 10 minutes, Pan 20 minutes. I did Pirates, Mansion twice, Peter Pan (with a FP+), Buzz four times, and TTA four times (love it). Today's food reviews- Pecos Bills:
Cheeseburger C- and would be lower without the fixings bar, Atmosphere C-. Aloha Isle- Dole Whip A I finally had one! It was quite good, even on a cold day, but not quite as life changing as I have been led to believe on the boards! Wandered Main St for a while, took a lap on the train and decided I was done. As I was leaving I saw the sign for the Grand Floridian ferry and decided to take a detour and check out how the upper classes do Disney. After a quick ride, I walked to lobby- really a very lovely place, live chamber music- wish I could afford it. I dilly dallied until seven ( the resort & MK'S monorails are being worked on 11-7 on weekdays) and then jumped on the resort rail. I love going through the Contemporary! Took the Epcot monorail- one of my top five Disney things to do is ride the monorail into Epcot after dark, beautiful! Walked to Mexico and just hung out for a while, sitting on the fountain. Then I rode the three Amigos ride. I know the middle is pretty hokey, but the beginning under the volcano and the end in the fireworks room make me happy. Next was Norway where I stopped and had a Norwegian Club at the bakery, it gets an A-, only marked down slightly because I had it toasted and it got a little greasy. Then rode Maelstrom a couple of times. I am one of those whackos who enjoys Disney theming so much I can just sit in the little dark village at the end of Maelstrom for fifteen minutes and be happy. Walked out at 8:55 and Illuminations was starting! Looked at railing and the were several open areas 40-50 feet long straight ahead of me, never seen that before. It was cold and wet. illuminations was amazing as always. I know that it has been around for a while and probably should be replaced, but it will be a daunting project to improve on it!
Tomorrow- Last park day at Epcot
Day 8, Thursday January 29
Started day still with good bus luck, first bus at Coronado stop #4 was for Epcot! Headed straight for World Showcase as I felt it was the area I have neglected. Explored an empty Canada, then went to UK. Meet & greet with Alice only had two families in line when I walked by. Couldn't walk by France without seeing Impressions again. The cast member doing the intro was great. Morocco for lunch at Tangierine Cafe- chicken platter B+, theming A, service B. spent some time exploring nooks and crannies of Morocco. Trying to find appropriate souvenir for eighteen year old boy- not easy (I ended up getting him a retro Epcot shirt at the shop under Spaceship Earth). Next to Japan, have to explore Mitsukoshi store every time I pass, but resisted buying anything. Thought about repeating American Adventure, but timing was wrong. Wandered Italy, thought about a pretzel in Germany, but line was long (same line as beer line). Spent a while in China seeing Reflections ( very good), terra cotta warrior dudes, and in store. Norway next to try School Bread (again, like Dole Whip - thought it was good, but not stupendous). Used only fast pass of the day on Maelstrom, standby was a twenty minute wait at 4pm. Did Energy Adventure again, then back to Mexico for three amigos and some sitting time. Also bought a purple porcelain cat- it looks better than it sounds and it was only $12.
Started back around World Showcase to meet some friends in Boardwalk, by this time I was on fumes, feet hurt, energy low. Made it to Boardwalk to meet them, after Grand Floridian- the Boardwalk lobby seems tiny! Tried Big River for dinner, one hr wait. Same story at Flying Fish and Kouzzina, ended up at ESPN with no wait. Burger B, nachos B, bud light B, theming if you are sports nut, A++. If you are not a sports nut, I would steer clear. After dinner I hoofed it ( sore hooves) over for one last ride on Spaceship Earth. Got off at 8:50 and bee lined for the bus and was back in my room at 9:30. Again, it has other faults, but the Coronado's bus service was sweet.
No package from Magical Express on my door, so I had to call- 1:45 bus to airport tomorrow!