Official "SoloFriendly's letting us plan her trip!" Itinerary Suggestions Thread

I insist she hit the Jaguar slide!

Hi,

If she's not afraid of heights, parasailing on Bay Lake. Sign up at Sammy Duvall's near the dock in the rear of the hotel. The regular parasail takes you up 400 feet and costs $95.00; the deluxe takes you up 600 feet and costs $125.00. Two can do a tandem parasail but the weight limit is 350 pounds. You have to sign a liability waiver. I did the deluxe parasail on Monday, December 10, 2007; and the views of Bay Lake, Cinderella's Castle, the Contemporary Resort and Space Mountain are breathtaking and worth every penny.

Jim

I assume you're strapped in too tight to take a picture while you're up there?

have you ever eaten at the california grill? i have always wanted to eat there, but i can't really afford it. don't know if it's on your budget, but i think the view from up there would be so nice. and the food is supposed to be great too.

Actually, parasailing was on my list as a possibility (though it might be a choice between a massage and parasailing, due to cost containment). I can be afraid of heights, but I think I'd be fine in a controlled situation like this, and it IS on my bucket list. Definitely won't have my camera on me, since it's a pretty expensive one and I wouldn't want to drop it in the lake.

I have never eaten at the California Grill and it sounds terrific. I'm not sure I can afford it, either, though I can often get by with just an appetizer or salad, as I'm a light eater. Just added that to my list of possibilities.

I earlier mentioned "no Mission Space" but I just read something about there being a "light" version of MS that does no spinning. Has anyone done that? I wonder if that's something I could do.

Keep those ideas coming! (Hint: Free activities are the best!)

Budget in time to relax in a hammock. You're at CSR, so I'm sure you will, but don't forget to do it!

Hammock time is definitely inked in, even if I have to wrestle someone for a hammock!

A drink and apps at Cali Grill sounds perfect. Good idea!

Are adults allowed to go down the Jaguar slide? It looks kinda cool.

It's also the farthest from all the "main area" things. Which is both a con (takes longer to go buy stuff etc), and a pro (farther from all the convention-goers who aren't really Disney people)

Well, I've already requested a Casitas building, because I think that's the most attractive area. Also closest to the convention-goers, I believe. Which could be good (no kids) or could be bad (drunken all-night parties?). We'll see...

Hi, bali,

No, I won't have a rental car. I'll probably regret that, but this trip is a stretch financially as it is. So I doubt I'll make it off-property.

You had to ask the hard question: Dining. I'm very frugal AND on a budget, but I prefer TS over CS. I want to try to do 1 TS per day, but it's a stretch. I'm a very light eater and a snacker, I try to eat healthy 80% of the
time. I plan to bring instant oatmeal to make in my room and grab a
piece of fruit on site for breakfast. I'm also bringing healthy snacks
from home (granola bars, wasabi peas, nuts, stuff like that). I don't
always like to eat meat, especially in hot weather, so I prefer places
that offer good light (possibly vegetarian) entrees, dinner salads, and
healthy appetizers.

I really enjoyed Wolfgang Puck, Mama Melrose's, House of Blues, and Le Chefs de France last time. The only counter service I liked was Tusker House (before it was a buffet). ABC Commissary was okay. I did not care for the Chinese CS at Epcot (too bland--I normally like Asian) or POFQ's food court.

Is that enough of a challenge for you, bali?

I think the suggestion earlier of "Appetizer and drink" at various TS is a great option for a light eater. Especially if you're not in the mood for meat. Some of the restaurants the vegetarian option is kind of a "throw in," but there's usually a decent appetizer option. Lets you get in the niceness of the TS without dropping big money. How are you for sweets? Ice cream?

Good plan, Brad.

I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but I will occasionally have ice cream or something.

Not much meat and not much ice cream!?!? Whatever will we do!

Good luck, Bali!!

Solo--it sounds like the old "have a late lunch" trick will work well for you. Breakfast in your room, piece of fruit for a late morning snack, then book a late afternoon TS meal so you can take advantage of lunch pricing but have enough of a meal that it'll last you through the evening. Then have a snack later on when you get hungry. That's a good way to fit in TS dining on a CS budget because you're basically combining two meals into one.

I don't think that would work for me (even with regularly timed and sized meals, I need to snack every couple of hours in between), but maybe if my "snacks" are more substantive--like appetizers--that might. How late do the TS restaurants serve "lunch"?

Since we're planning things out, are there any rides or attractions you need to make sure to see? Anything you've not seen before?

Okay, dsoup.

I haven't done Soarin, Expedition Everest, or the car stunt show at DHS yet, and I'm looking forward to them. I also want to see the revamped IASM, Spaceship Earth, and POTC. I was too chicken to do RNR or TOT last time, but this time, by God, I'm going to do them! I didn't see any fireworks last time, so that is a priority. And the electric water pageant. Oh--and I never made it over to the Boardwalk last time! I definitely want to do that (and Jellyrolls).

I figure with 8 days, I've got plenty of time to see everything I want to see--new things and old favorites. And take a bezillion photos.

I missed Space Mountain last time, and I guess I'll be missing it this time, too. My timing sucks.

You GOTTA hit the ToT. It's really not that scary. You're staying on property so you need to get up early and hit all the morning EMHs to get your rides in.

My concern about TOT wasn't so much that it was scary, as that I might lose my lunch with all that lurching up and down. That sort of thing tends to ruin the rest of the day.

It's actually quite smooth. You get the dropping sensation, but I'd say there's not too much lurching. I highly recommend it!

Well. Scratch parasailing off my list. I was just at Sammy Duvall's website, and it says:

"We require at least 130 lbs. and no more than 330 lbs. total weight in the parachute.
"

I only weigh 115.

It goes on to say:

"If a flier is under the minimum requirement, he or she may accompany another
child or adult to reach the minimum weight."

Which is all fine and well if you're traveling with someone, but if you're not, I guess you're SOL.

I've got some weight you can borrow. And don't worry, even after I loan you 15 lbs, I'll still be perfectly well within the given weight range.