Getting to and from Catholic church?

[buffettgirl]

My wife and I have attended 9:30am mass at Mary, Queen of the Universe the last two trips we have gone. We take a cab, once from Coronado Springs, the other time from the Polynesian. Give yourself a hour to travel to the church. The cab ride was actually 30 minutes but we like to give ourselves some time to get settled in before the mass starts. It cost us approximately $25 each way.

that's good to know - our first week we'll be getting there from Coronado and our second week we'll be going from shades of green (right across from Poly)...so at least it's good to know the appx cost...

 

[Believing is Seeing.]

Thanks for this info i was looking for just this!!

Why is mass longer?? any particular reason (other than it's probably very crowded??)

Because everyone is from out of town the priest will spend quite sometime in the beginning of mass to welcome everyone and ask where everyone is from, if there are grandparents, any one celebrating a anniversary, anyone married for over 50 years...

Mass is always so nice there. I enjoy it so much. After mass I stop in the gift shop for holy water then go over to the character warehouse in the outlets, it always suprises me what I find in there. Those princess dresses are so cheap!!

 

[nezy]

I look forward to our Church away from home-and I love the gift shop-believe it or not I buy more souvenirs at MQU shrine gift ship than at WDW!

We do take our time there-say some prayers in the chapel,watch the fish and turtles in the pond, walk the garden, go to the gift shop. I think it helps keep things in perspective especially when we are spending so much time in Disney where things are not really real. I I didn't say that-everything/one in WDW IS real!)

 

[SingingMom]

here are some photos of the inside of Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine, taken last week...

 

[buffettgirl]

oh that's gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Kricketnp]

I was curious if there was a thread like this - I love MQU; it's absolutely gorgeous! I will be going down to Disney in TWO DAYS with 3 friends, and although I go to church every Sunday at home, I don't think it's feasible for me to make it off-property to mass by myself! I miss it being at the Poly! Made it much easier for the lone churchgoer in the group staying on-property without a car!

 

[SingingMom]

I was curious if there was a thread like this - I love MQU; it's absolutely gorgeous! I will be going down to Disney in TWO DAYS with 3 friends, and although I go to church every Sunday at home, I don't think it's feasible for me to make it off-property to mass by myself! I miss it being at the Poly! Made it much easier for the lone churchgoer in the group staying on-property without a car!

Yes, MQU is gorgeous. It was just named a Basillica. Quite an honor.

It would be nice if Disney ran a shuttle, even if you had to pay for it. Would make it more comfortable for a lone churchgoer, etc.

Mears was very nice - we booked round trips through the conceirge at the Dolphin. Driver gave us his number in case the pick up didn't go as planned and we needed to get in touch with them - but everything went very smoothly.

 

[MFLetou]

I remember when they had mass at the Polynesian--over where they do the dinner show. It was...unique.

During the time we're going, as luck would have it...there's a Holy Day. So we're going to have to go twice. (We will have our own car.)

I wonder if we'll be better off going to the one in Celebration. I don't want to offend anyway, and if you love MQU, that's fantastic...but we're pretty old school. New age Catholic mass is not my thing. I think quiet, holy, and solemn. Generally speaking, those things also tend to add up to fast. (My "normal" Sunday mass is around 40 minutes). With 2 little kids, we REALLY appreciate that.

I could really start a flame war about Canon guidelines on what is appropriate to be send from the altar but I shall refrain!

Anyway, it sounds like MQU is not going to be my thing. So how's the one in Celebration? Is that more "normal?"

 

[SingingMom]

I remember when they had mass at the Polynesian--over where they do the dinner show. It was...unique.

During the time we're going, as luck would have it...there's a Holy Day. So we're going to have to go twice. (We will have our own car.)

I wonder if we'll be better off going to the one in Celebration. I don't want to offend anyway, and if you love MQU, that's fantastic...but we're pretty old school. New age Catholic mass is not my thing. I think quiet, holy, and solemn. Generally speaking, those things also tend to add up to fast. (My "normal" Sunday mass is around 40 minutes). With 2 little kids, we REALLY appreciate that.

I could really start a flame war about Canon guidelines on what is appropriate to be send from the altar but I shall refrain!

Anyway, it sounds like MQU is not going to be my thing. So how's the one in Celebration? Is that more "normal?"

By no means am I flaming, but I'm a little confused as to why you say it is "New Age Catholic Mass" at the shrine?

Sometimes they go a little overboard asking for donations, but the mass is pretty much as it is at our home parish.

The neatest thing about it is the size and the amount of people attending mass. The congregational singing is amazing. My husband turned to me once and said, "wow - listen- everyone's singing, not just YOU." (I'm a cantor at our parish.)

 

[MFLetou]

By no means am I flaming, but I'm a little confused as to why you say it is "New Age Catholic Mass" at the shrine?

Sometimes they go a little overboard asking for donations, but the mass is pretty much as it is at our home parish.

The neatest thing about it is the size and the amount of people attending mass. The congregational singing is amazing. My husband turned to me once and said, "wow - listen- everyone's singing, not just YOU." (I'm a cantor at our parish.)

Well I don't know if it is, but generally, if Father is making introductions and asking the studio audience about special events, then it probably leans that way. (This is way off topic for a Disney forum, but the Vatican repeatedly has been trying to shut that stuff down in the US--it takes attention away from the sacred host. And there are other things--the priest is forbidden from leaving the altar, but many of them do during the sign of peace. Same thing with the homily. Its a violation of the liturgical rules, routinely ignored in the US. The younger crop of priests for the most part don't do it--they're generally more orthodox than those that are, shall we say, products of the 60ss. That's why I mean by New Agey).

(It sounds like I'm about 70 because I'm being grumpy, but I'm actually 29...I just happen to have a very close friend who was ordained last year and studied in Rome, so I'm perhaps a little more "up" on these sorts of things than your average Catholic.)

Anyway...is the Celebration one more "normal?"

 

[Kricketnp]

Yes, MQU is gorgeous. It was just named a Basillica. Quite an honor.

It would be nice if Disney ran a shuttle, even if you had to pay for it. Would make it more comfortable for a lone churchgoer, etc.

Disney should run a shuttle - that'd be ideal!

As for MQU being more "new age," I never found it that far off from regular Sunday mass at home, but then again, I'm also used to a "youth" mass with drums and guitars, so anything is tame by comparison!

 

[Lewisc]

It would be nice if Disney ran a shuttle, even if you had to pay for it. Would make it more comfortable for a lone churchgoer, etc.

Mears ran a (paid) shuttle from WDW to the Shrine. It was discontinued, presumably not enough customers. A family is better off with a taxi. Others have a rental car. I guess there aren't enough lone churchgoers looking for transportation.

 

[Missytara]

Since I am normally alone, I have gone to the Poly mass, instead of renting a cab. It is a nice service and I love strolling through the resort after mass....

 

[MFLetou]

The last time I was at Disney, I was told that the Poly mass was no longer...is that not the case?

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

The last time I was at Disney, I was told that the Poly mass was no longer...is that not the case?

There used to be two Catholic Masses and one Protestant service every Sunday at the Poly. This went on for many years and we attended numerous Catholic Masses.

These were stopped a number of years ago. There was never any real explanation given. I have to believe that for the Catholic Masses the shortage of priests has to be a big reason. At the Poly a retired priest came every Sunday to celebrate the Masses. Another reason is that the monies collected from the Disney Mass attendees every Sunday went to build the Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine. I guess once the Shrine was built and with the priest shortage the decision was made to stop all Masses and services at the Poly. I understand that at Christmas and Easter they do have Catholic Masses at the Contemporary Resort.

 

[tara32]

I never knew people went to church on vacation!

 

[Henlady]

Tara:
One of the first things I do when I know I will be traveling over/on a Sunday is find the closest church that I can attend. I do not skip attending Mass at home and would never dream of missing it on a vacation. My kids joke that I could tell you where a church is in just about every major vacation area on the east coast. But hey, that's just me.

 

[MFLetou]

Yeah...I may not be especially happy about it at the time, but the commandment says "keep Holy the Sabbath," not "keep Holy the Sabbath except at Walt Disney World."

Now, if I could amend it...

 

[justcruisin]

MFLetou,

I have found the Mass at MFQ to be quite traditional. Yes, prior to the start of Mass the Priest does explain it is not a parish church and therefore, is supported solely by those attending. I did feel this "speech" was a little contrived, but it is how they keep the doors open. I don't recall any of that "now, introduce yourself to those sitting around you" kind of stuff that happens at some churches. (Truly, not to be rude, but I'm not there to make friends).

During the service, the congregation kneels twice (in our diocese we kneel only once ... ) and the ENTIRE congregation was on its knees until the tabernacle was shut. Even those kneeling on the hard floor!

Having been blessed to attend Mass at MFQ yearly for the past 5 years, I find the experience quite moving. Just about everyone there is a TOURIST -- families like mine keeping the Sabbath a priority. And yes, everyone does sing

The gift shop is like nothing else I've every seen and the Rosary garden is spectacular.

Yes, the Mass is a bit long, but that was because of the sheer quantity of attendees.

Since you'll be attending twice, consider MFQ for one. You'll also have your own car, so consider visiting the grounds at a different time.

It truly is an amazing dedication to Mary.

Hope this helps.

 

[SingingMom]

There used to be two Catholic Masses and one Protestant service every Sunday at the Poly. This went on for many years and we attended numerous Catholic Masses.

These were stopped a number of years ago. There was never any real explanation given. I have to believe that for the Catholic Masses the shortage of priests has to be a big reason. At the Poly a retired priest came every Sunday to celebrate the Masses. Another reason is that the monies collected from the Disney Mass attendees every Sunday went to build the Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine. I guess once the Shrine was built and with the priest shortage the decision was made to stop all Masses and services at the Poly. I understand that at Christmas and Easter they do have Catholic Masses at the Contemporary Resort.

Mostly due to the shortage of priests... and the dream to have a true place of worship for the tourists, not the luau venue.

I never knew people went to church on vacation!

Yep - many do!

Tara:
One of the first things I do when I know I will be traveling over/on a Sunday is find the closest church that I can attend. I do not skip attending Mass at home and would never dream of missing it on a vacation. My kids joke that I could tell you where a church is in just about every major vacation area on the east coast. But hey, that's just me.

Us, too. We've been to the neatest churches while on vacation. We once had a parishioner drive us back to our resort in Bermuda because we were having trouble hailing a return cab! That was one of nicest experiences!
We have attended fancy catherdals, little country churches, and everything in between while on vacation. It just adds to the adventure and fond memories!

MFLetou,

I have found the Mass at MFQ to be quite traditional. Yes, prior to the start of Mass the Priest does explain it is not a parish church and therefore, is supported solely by those attending. I did feel this "speech" was a little contrived, but it is how they keep the doors open. I don't recall any of that "now, introduce yourself to those sitting around you" kind of stuff that happens at some churches. (Truly, not to be rude, but I'm not there to make friends).

During the service, the congregation kneels twice (in our diocese we kneel only once ... ) and the ENTIRE congregation was on its knees until the tabernacle was shut. Even those kneeling on the hard floor!

Having been blessed to attend Mass at MFQ yearly for the past 5 years, I find the experience quite moving. Just about everyone there is a TOURIST -- families like mine keeping the Sabbath a priority. And yes, everyone does sing

The gift shop is like nothing else I've every seen and the Rosary garden is spectacular.

Yes, the Mass is a bit long, but that was because of the sheer quantity of attendees.

Since you'll be attending twice, consider MFQ for one. You'll also have your own car, so consider visiting the grounds at a different time.

It truly is an amazing dedication to Mary.

Hope this helps.

Actually, they did a "turn to your neighbor and tell them where you are from" in the begining the last four years we've attended.