Solo Christmas Trip Report - Highway in the Sky

MusicalAstronaut

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jul 6, 2017
Hellooooooo there! I'm back from my solo Christmas trip! I wanted to share a little trip report (I've never done one so please forgive me if it sucks!), including my thoughts on Highway in the Sky Dine Around. If this is way too long, skip down to Monday for just Highway in the Sky thoughts. :)

I got down to Disney on Friday night, crashed with a friend, and then checked into Caribbean Beach on Saturday. That resort is under some serious construction! It didn't affect my stay, but you definitely see it everywhere. I didn't notice any noise (and I was in Jamaica right by the construction), except once around 9am I heard the beeping of a truck backing up. No biggie at all, I just noticed it and realized it was the only hint of construction I'd heard. They set up little Island Markets in commandeered guest rooms throughout the resort. I went to one on Monday and bought some Tylenol and breakfast, so they're stocked well enough if you need something quick. The renovated rooms were really nice too, so I enjoyed staying at the resort. Unfortunately it was so cold that I didn't check out the pool.

Saturday was a long day! The temp really dropped so it was quite chilly. I went to DHS first about 45 minutes after they opened, and it was fairly empty. I did TSM, TOT, RNRC, and Star Tours fairly quickly. Star Tours had a new scene from Episode 8 which was neat. I kind of miss how they used to change them up though. My ride was Episode 7, Episode 8, and then it landed in what looked like Galaxy's Edge. I checked out the new Baseline Tap House over by Streets of America (is it still called that?) and that was neat. I tried the Bloody Orange Hard Cider and it was delicious. Then I went to Whispering Canyons for lunch. It was fine, nothing special, except my friend & I did not realize that the milkshakes are bottomless! If I'd known that, that's all I would've had for lunch. :P The Christmas decorations in the resort were really pretty. Then it was off to MK, where my day sort of slowed. I spent a while wandering around after using my fastpass, trying to decide what I wanted to do. I did the Pirates treasure hunt thing and then decided it was time for my holiday monorail tour. I went over to the Poly, all excited to check out Trader Sams. Welllllllllll apparently they had a line an hour before they opened, and there was no chance I was getting in there within the next 1.5 hours, even though I was all by myself (cue sad music). I got sad that I'd wasted my time getting over there when I could've been waiting in the 80 minute line for HM instead (lol just kidding). I got back on the monorail and went to Grand Floridian. Great choice! They had beautiful decorations, a live band playing Christmas music, and delicious spiked hot chocolate & spiced wine right when you got off the monorail. I hung out there for a while and then went back to MK recharged for the evening. I rode the Jingle Cruise & Splash (5 minute wait in 45 degree weather, surprise surprise), and then did something I'd never done before: waited for 45 minutes in the hub to watch the fireworks. As I'm getting shoved and run into by dozens of people and strollers (people, don't try to cut through the hub right before the fireworks, just go around, it's so much easier) and slowly losing feeling in my toes from the cold, I thought to myself "This is why I don't do this. No way it's worth it". Well, I was wrong, because HEA is awesome! I seriously enjoyed the show. I was very sad to see Wishes go but man that was a blast to watch! After the fireworks I think I rode Space and left. It was so dang cold & crowded that I just couldn't do it through to park closing.

See, this is already way too long. I'm sorry! I hope it's not too boring. My Highway in the Sky review is coming up!

Sunday was Animal Kingdom in the morning, where I hit the big three (former big 3?) and left. Again, very uncrowded in this park just like DHS the day before (I did not go near Pandora). Lunch was at Rose & Crown in Epcot where the hostess seated me outside on the water. It was a perfect spot to eat lunch and read my book. I had the potato soup and the steak, with the sauce on the side. It was really delicious. Now, the plan after this had been to do the Holidays around the world thing. However, a friend met up with me and instead we went to Mexico. DisFriends, those margaritas are strong. They're delicious and you don't taste the alcohol at all and THEY ARE STRONG. So I didn't end up trying any of the fun drinks from the booths around the world because Mexico did me in. We rode Mission Space & Test Track and watched the Candlelight Processional (Kurt Russell). It was beautiful and amazing as always! A second margarita in Mexico (did I mention they're strong?), fireworks, and the night was over.

I woke up Monday morning with a headache & remembering why I don't drink tequila. Luckily the little Island Market near my room had Tylenol. I went off to MK to do some of the things I missed on the very busy Saturday, and then it was time for Highway in the Sky Dine Around! Man oh man was this fun. We started at The Wave. Now, they told me to be there between 5:45-6pm. Exact words were "no earlier than 5:45", which I repeated back to them to confirm because I like to get places early. In an effort to not be a crazy early person, I walked around the Contemporary for a bit and showed up at 5:50. I was greeted by semi-worried Cast Members who said I was the last to arrive and told me to ignore the voicemail they'd just left asking if I was still coming! So I'm not sure what's up with that. Everyone already had a few empty glasses in front of them and as soon as I sat down they brought me a warm apple cider with whiskey and maple cream on top. Super yum! We were also served squash soup with duck confit. All of the food was very small portions, but by the end of the night I was stuffed, so don't worry if you look up reviews and see tiny portions. At the Polynesian we were given leis and mai tais, and three different treats. We got a little beet (I think) salad with watermelon radish and goat cheese, a spicy tuna roll, and pork belly. All very delicious. At the Contemporary we went to the tea room and were given champagne and a charcuterie board. There was blue cheese, gruyere, and various salamis. Oh, and at each stop they mixed the groups up. There are only 20 people on this tour so it was still very fun even though I was doing it solo. I wasn't the only solo, and there was enough drinking & mingling that everyone had a blast. I would definitely recommend it to other solo travelers. Our dinner course was at Citricos. They split some people off into groups of 4-5, and then the rest of us they put in the private room! That was really fun. You get a glass of red or white wine with dinner, which was two of their most popular entrees, halibut and short rib. I'm not a big fish person but I thought the halibut was DELICIOUS. So was the short rib, but I was so stuffed by that point that I couldn't quite finish it. Our last stop was back at the Contemporary where we had desserts (flourless chocolate cake, an orange cake thing, and gingerbread cookies) with spiked coffee or hot chocolate. I took a bite of each but was just so full. The orange was okay but the chocolate was rich & chocolate-y, which was all I needed. Happily Ever After was pretty good from the balcony. You can't really see the projections, but they also have those lasers and spotlights, so it was still really cool. On the way out we got little truffle chocolates to take with us. It was so much fun, and definitely worth the money. The only thing I would change is I think they could step up their dessert game, but I was too full to care at that point.

Tuesday I was up bright and early to check out from my hotel and hit MK again before going home. Why there for the third time? Because it'd been so dang busy that I had still missed some things! Well folks, if you can manage it, the time to go is during the WEEK during December. There was nobody in the park. They only had the ferry going and it took 20 minutes to get on it (only *one* ferry going) so I got in the park at about 9am. I rode Space Mountain 4 times in a row with no wait at all. I also did Jingle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Splash, and Buzz Lightyear before heading to Disney Springs at noon for shopping & lunch. Oh, I also had a Nutella waffle & got pixie dusted one last time before heading out (and subsequently got weird looks at every gas station on the way home).

All in all it was a great trip. I wish I'd had an extra day to take advantage of how empty it was on Tuesday, but maybe next year. Sorry if this was way too long!
 
That was fun to read.... we got there Sunday morning to enjoy the cold and moderate crowds all day at MK doing nothing fancy but hitting the rides.
Monday was Epcot which had some new things for me... I took my mom, sis and nephew to Biergarten for lunch (because it was the cheapest candlelight procession restaurant deal I could find) and really enjoyed the food, music and service. Do not go into this place without one heck of an appetite. We
hit the traditional rides, then did the CP... Kurt Russell was our storyteller.... Now I like him and his acting, but I was very impressed with his telling of
the Christmas story, dare I say moved. The orchestra and choir were superb. I'm not a super religious person, but I was impressed that Disney has kept Christ in Christmas and did such a wonderful job with the CP. Being thoroughly in the Christmas spirit we hopped over to GF to see the gingerbread house, decorations and stock up on sweets. Hit AK for rope drop and got on FOP in 20 minutes, spent a few more hours with the family and then flew home... It was a beautiful time and I'm lucky/unlucky enough to be going back for Xmas solo. Here is my favorite pic from the weekend.IMG_7827.JPG
 
That was fun to read.... we got there Sunday morning to enjoy the cold and moderate crowds all day at MK doing nothing fancy but hitting the rides.
Monday was Epcot which had some new things for me... I took my mom, sis and nephew to Biergarten for lunch (because it was the cheapest candlelight procession restaurant deal I could find) and really enjoyed the food, music and service. Do not go into this place without one heck of an appetite. We
hit the traditional rides, then did the CP... Kurt Russell was our storyteller.... Now I like him and his acting, but I was very impressed with his telling of
the Christmas story, dare I say moved. The orchestra and choir were superb. I'm not a super religious person, but I was impressed that Disney has kept Christ in Christmas and did such a wonderful job with the CP. Being thoroughly in the Christmas spirit we hopped over to GF to see the gingerbread house, decorations and stock up on sweets. Hit AK for rope drop and got on FOP in 20 minutes, spent a few more hours with the family and then flew home... It was a beautiful time and I'm lucky/unlucky enough to be going back for Xmas solo. Here is my favorite pic from the weekend.View attachment 288671
Beautiful pic! This is my 3rd xmas trip solo and I call it my tradition now. I'm the same, not super religious but the CP always moves me. Glad you had a great time!!
 
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Great trip report. It had all the ingredients for an awesome vacation - a cool resort - fun rides - great food - and tequila!
 


Thanks SO much for this report! I've got a solo trip in February with the Highway in the Sky Dine Around booked, and your report confirmed I made a good choice!!! :thumbsup2
 
I went over to the Poly, all excited to check out Trader Sams. Welllllllllll apparently they had a line an hour before they opened, and there was no chance I was getting in there within the next 1.5 hours, even though I was all by myself (cue sad music)

What time of day did you get to Trader Sams? This is high on my must-do list and I too thought being solo would make it easier to get in.
 


What time of day did you get to Trader Sams? This is high on my must-do list and I too thought being solo would make it easier to get in.
Like 4:45. They told me that there is usually a line before they open and that people line up like an hour before (I think they opened at 3 that day?). I also thought it would be easier to get in, it didn't look packed, but I guess the number of people allowed in is the fire marshall limit so they won't let you in even if you're alone and happy to stand at the bar.
 
Thank you! Great trip report. I have been on the fence regarding the HIGHWAY IN THE SKY.

I am sold! So will plan on trying to obtain a reservation for my February trip! Thanks
 

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