madison66
03-25-2002, 08:25 AM
Hi all,
First I have to thank everyone who wrote me personally and publically on this list about suggestions for hotel and restaurant for our one day spur of the moment trip. It was much appreciated.
We left Tallahassee Saturday at 6 pm and got to Downtown Disney at 9:30. This was a lightning fast drive and no FHP! Couldn't believe it. Gas prices on the interstate $1.33-$1.35. Gas price in Orlando $1.45 - $1.55 depending on where we were. Exxon on Disney property was $1.45.
I didn't expect to get there so early, so we walked around the Disney Village Marketplace for about 1.5 hours. Got to go to my favorite placed, the toy shop and the Christmas shop. They had some great ornaments and dh picked out two for this trip. We had ice cream and hot chocolate at the Ghiradelli chocolate place and sat by the water to eat. The weather was just perfect! Got our pressed pennies at the World of Disney store and one other outdoor shop near the Pooh Corner shop. About 11:30 pm, we headed to the Coronado Springs. Wow...no waiting in line when you check in this late on a Saturday night. Our room was in Casitas 1, which we didn't think was close to a bus stop, but had we stayed longer, I suppose bus stop 2 would have served us. The room was lovely. We didn't ask for it, but got a king size bed. It is a larger room than the All Star Sports (our other property experience) as there is just a King bed as opposed to two doubles. The bathroom is really large. A good night sleep.
The next day, we packed up, got the bags in the car and drove back to the parking in front of El Centro (Registration and restaurants). They allowed us to keep the car there even though we were checking out. Got our pin for the resort and a pressed quarter.
Took the bus to MK, then got on the monorail to the GF. We were one of maybe four families getting on a MK so the monrail was empty. We asked to sit in the front and they let us! I was so happy about this! The ride was great! Got off at GF and went to the gift shop and got another pressed quarter. Checked at the desk for our PS at 1900 Park Fare. We had a 10 am PS, but were there at 9:30 am. We got a pager and as soon as we walked to the lobby, we were called back.
The food and service were excellent. Mad Hatter, Alice, Mary Poppins, Winnie & Eyeore were the characters that visited the diners. The food was terrific. Kudos to Vivian for the wonderful omlettes! There were a lot more little girls at this breakfast, but there were some little boys, just not as many. Winnie & Eyeore both visited with my dh when I was getting fruit and he told me I am only to leave the table with him next time. DH likes the characters from afar, but when he's sitting by himself, he feels just too weird about the interaction LOL.
After a great breakfast, we took the monorail back to the transportation center, then got the Epcot monorail just to take it the whole way round. Then got on the resort monorail back to the GF. We got to sit in the front again! Wow...twice in one day!!!!
That's the monorail secret...go early in the day and take it from the park or Transportation center to the resorts...everyone is going to the parks, so not many people are going to the resorts that early. At the GF we learned that we had to take a bus to MGM and then catch the bus to the Wide World of Sports. Perfect timing...we got off the GF bus and got right on the WWS bus.
Went to the Braves/Marlins Game. Marlins won (but we are huge Braves fans. A disappointment for DH). The food is basically the same baseball park food as Turner Field in Atlanta so we knew what to expect. The stadium is really nice for spring training. We sat in the upper deck above first plate.
After the game we got our pressed penny at the Disney sports shop near the park entrance. Got back on the bus to MGM and then took the bus to the CS resort. Got in our car and headed home. Whew! What a fast trip, but I feel like we accomplished so much!
The traffic in both directions on I-4 from the turnpike to the Disney exits was horrid at 4:30. What's going on??? I suppose it's just really busy for Spring Break & Easter. Traffic moved on the turnpike north, but at 7 pm-ish on the turnpike south for three miles before the main toll plaza, I felt for the southbound/Disneybound drivers. It was backed up for 3 miles. But we sailed through going northbound.
FHP were all over I75 going north and all over I10 going west. We did drive the speed limit going home.
What a great trip! Thanks for reading!!!
Madison :)
First I have to thank everyone who wrote me personally and publically on this list about suggestions for hotel and restaurant for our one day spur of the moment trip. It was much appreciated.
We left Tallahassee Saturday at 6 pm and got to Downtown Disney at 9:30. This was a lightning fast drive and no FHP! Couldn't believe it. Gas prices on the interstate $1.33-$1.35. Gas price in Orlando $1.45 - $1.55 depending on where we were. Exxon on Disney property was $1.45.
I didn't expect to get there so early, so we walked around the Disney Village Marketplace for about 1.5 hours. Got to go to my favorite placed, the toy shop and the Christmas shop. They had some great ornaments and dh picked out two for this trip. We had ice cream and hot chocolate at the Ghiradelli chocolate place and sat by the water to eat. The weather was just perfect! Got our pressed pennies at the World of Disney store and one other outdoor shop near the Pooh Corner shop. About 11:30 pm, we headed to the Coronado Springs. Wow...no waiting in line when you check in this late on a Saturday night. Our room was in Casitas 1, which we didn't think was close to a bus stop, but had we stayed longer, I suppose bus stop 2 would have served us. The room was lovely. We didn't ask for it, but got a king size bed. It is a larger room than the All Star Sports (our other property experience) as there is just a King bed as opposed to two doubles. The bathroom is really large. A good night sleep.
The next day, we packed up, got the bags in the car and drove back to the parking in front of El Centro (Registration and restaurants). They allowed us to keep the car there even though we were checking out. Got our pin for the resort and a pressed quarter.
Took the bus to MK, then got on the monorail to the GF. We were one of maybe four families getting on a MK so the monrail was empty. We asked to sit in the front and they let us! I was so happy about this! The ride was great! Got off at GF and went to the gift shop and got another pressed quarter. Checked at the desk for our PS at 1900 Park Fare. We had a 10 am PS, but were there at 9:30 am. We got a pager and as soon as we walked to the lobby, we were called back.
The food and service were excellent. Mad Hatter, Alice, Mary Poppins, Winnie & Eyeore were the characters that visited the diners. The food was terrific. Kudos to Vivian for the wonderful omlettes! There were a lot more little girls at this breakfast, but there were some little boys, just not as many. Winnie & Eyeore both visited with my dh when I was getting fruit and he told me I am only to leave the table with him next time. DH likes the characters from afar, but when he's sitting by himself, he feels just too weird about the interaction LOL.
After a great breakfast, we took the monorail back to the transportation center, then got the Epcot monorail just to take it the whole way round. Then got on the resort monorail back to the GF. We got to sit in the front again! Wow...twice in one day!!!!
That's the monorail secret...go early in the day and take it from the park or Transportation center to the resorts...everyone is going to the parks, so not many people are going to the resorts that early. At the GF we learned that we had to take a bus to MGM and then catch the bus to the Wide World of Sports. Perfect timing...we got off the GF bus and got right on the WWS bus.
Went to the Braves/Marlins Game. Marlins won (but we are huge Braves fans. A disappointment for DH). The food is basically the same baseball park food as Turner Field in Atlanta so we knew what to expect. The stadium is really nice for spring training. We sat in the upper deck above first plate.
After the game we got our pressed penny at the Disney sports shop near the park entrance. Got back on the bus to MGM and then took the bus to the CS resort. Got in our car and headed home. Whew! What a fast trip, but I feel like we accomplished so much!
The traffic in both directions on I-4 from the turnpike to the Disney exits was horrid at 4:30. What's going on??? I suppose it's just really busy for Spring Break & Easter. Traffic moved on the turnpike north, but at 7 pm-ish on the turnpike south for three miles before the main toll plaza, I felt for the southbound/Disneybound drivers. It was backed up for 3 miles. But we sailed through going northbound.
FHP were all over I75 going north and all over I10 going west. We did drive the speed limit going home.
What a great trip! Thanks for reading!!!
Madison :)