Solo Trip to Orlando – Disney Resorts, Downtown & the Last Bus

Light Meter by Lisa K. Berton

It was my last vacation day in the sunshine state and I managed to sleep in a little. I finished packing my bags, checked out, and loaded up the turbo charged station wagon. There was only one thing I wanted for breakfast and I headed to Saratoga Springs for it.

Mickey waffles are delicious and adorable. I got them from the kiddie menu accompanied by red grapes and a small carton of skim milk. From the physically over 9 menu, slow cooked oatmeal joined my tray. Everything was yummy and my tummy was quite happy. Back in the gift shop I looked for more cool stuff for my house I don’t yet own and came up short.

I randomly selected a parking lot and wandered around a building and took photos for future blogs. People must have slept in or already hit the parks because I only saw 6 or 7 humans and 2 of them worked at the resort. It was a quiet visit.

One can never do enough shopping and so off to Downtown Disney I drove. Portions of Downtown Disney were packed and busier than I have ever seen. First I hit up the Marketplace and found a few spots that weren’t too bad like Arribas Bros. The Christmas shop wasn’t a zoo as I expected and the Hanukkah merchandise consisted of 2 small shelves on 1 endcap. Tren D was difficult to manuever through and Art of Disney had random clumps of shoppers.

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Edna ‘E’ Mode wants you to say no to capes.

The area formerly known as Pleasure Island and may someday be known as Hyperion Wharf which might be under construction was filled with folks walking around. I had lunch at Raglan Road at 1 o’clock. When I arrived it was about half-filled and then looked as though it hit or nearly reached capacity within an hour. As usual the staff was accomodating but Chef James wasn’t around and while the food was good, it wasn’t wicked awesome like my previous meal and I had to send it back to the kitchen because they forgot something. When it came back, some of my lunch was cold but I just couldn’t be bothered to say anything.

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What you can’t see is to my left is the fireplace with Christmas stockings hanging from the mantle. It’s almost as funny as when Buca di Beppo put my birthday party in the Pope Room. Get it? Cuz I’m Jewish.

The plan was to soar with Characters in Flight but as I approached I found a long line and smokers in the area. Shops in West Side were bustling. In an effort to get the heck away from everyone, I boarded a boat to Old Key West. You should try it sometime. It’s a nice relaxing 15-20 minute cruise that drops you off by registration and Olivia’s Cafe.

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I wonder if this is Tarzan’s idea of upper class.

A few photos, window shopping, and pin trading later, I found myself chatting up the fellas at bell services. One had to run off and transport guests but that didn’t stop him form hamming it up.

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Randy in action. People need transport stat!

Back on the boat we sailed to West Side and crowds were still crazy. I opted to find dinner and more peace and quiet at Caribbean Beach Resort. During my September 2011 vacation I discovered that I love the mattress in my pirate ship. I put the gals at guest services to work as they tried to find out the make and model of the mattress but the housekeeping manager had left for the day. Ask me if I have called back. No, I keep forgetting. If anyone out there can verify it for me, drop me a note, please. That was the most comfortable mattress I can remember ever sleeping on.

I hung out by the pool, picked up some stuff in the gift shop, and I think I got something to eat on the plane. I can’t remember. I do recall not feeling well and resting until it was time to return to Orlando International Airport.

This flight was much better. By the time we landed and I got my suitcase, I had missed the midnight bus back to Logan Express. There was 1 more bus at 1:15am and yes, I waited for it. Exhausted barely describes how I felt upon arriving home at 2am.

The End.

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2 Replies to “Solo Trip to Orlando – Disney Resorts, Downtown & the Last Bus”

  1. Lisa, I have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed all the installments of the continuing saga that was your Solo Trip to Orlando. I have laughed so hard. You have a very unique way of saying things. I hope you take another trip soon and blog on that, as well! It was really entertaining! 🙂

    Lisa responds: Your wish is my command. Next month I’ll recap my experience at Disneyland’s Leap Year event. You know, after it happens.

  2. On our last trip, we discovered that the mattresses at Wilderness Lodge are heavenly. We’ve stayed there 5-6 times, so they must have been updated as I never remembered them being that comfortable. I actually sighed! I have a bad back, and they were incredibly comfortable. The only thing was that I couldn’t sleep on my side and I did miss that. If I did, then my back would hurt. The matresses over at Lowe’s Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal were almost as comfortable, and I could sleep on my back. But nothing like sinking into that mattress at Wilderness Lodge!