going to church

[tinker-kyle]

dont know where the best place to post this ... but thought i'd try it here

we are traveling in dec 2005 with my MIL and her sister (a nun) --- they NEED to go to mass, but we wont have a car

so ... does anyone have any advice on how to get to and from the local catholic church?

DH and I usually just pray to mickey when we're on vacation ... needless to say that did NOT go over well with the sisters

thanks
btw ... we're staying at Saratoga Springs

 

[Patsfan7]

We always rent a car, so we are all set, but I have seen cabs going to the church. It is Mary Queen of the Universe Shrine. http://www.maryqueenoftheuniverse.org/

The closest part of disney that it is near, I would think, is Downtown Disney. We usually go out Hotel Plaza Blvd, take a right, then a left at the second light I think it is, and the Shrine is down about half a mile or so. (directions on the website) My suggestion would be to leave very early for Mass. The line to get in the parking lot can get very long. There is a ton of seating, but they squeeze you in the pews, and there are plenty of people standing. I would suggest that they get there early and take a gander at the grounds. There are many nice places to view, (memorials, statues, etc.) the grounds are beautiful and there is a gift shop as well.

I am sure that a CM at your resort would also be able to make suggestions, especially about timing on when to book transportation etc. Good Luck, and consider going to the Shrine yourselves too, it really is beautiful... and not very far from the outlet shopping, including a Disney outlet.

 

[4orm]

I thought I read in the UG that there was a couple different religious services that go on at WDW kind of hidden away. I thought there was one at the Poly, and a few more (for a couple denominations) but can't remeber...

 

[tinker-kyle]

thanks ... but whats the "UG" ?

i would love if there was something on-site but i no longer think they do that ... does anyone know for sure?

 

[ptrbryant]

They stopped all religious services onsite (used be at Poly) about 3 or 4 years ago. We always go to the Queen of the Universe Shrine.

Karla B.

 

[wildernessfamily]

You family will be in awe of the shrine, Mary Queen of the Universe. It is right off of I 4 and has signs to it. It can take a while to tour, and they have a gift shop that has wonderful books. They have a Sunday mass schedule that I am sure can be found on their web site. It is such an awesome and calming place in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Disney. I 4 runs right by it's door. Outlets are right next to it. I think you family will be impressed if you get them information ahead of time. But they may want to spend a few hours after mass ends to experience it.

 

[tessqt]

The Shrine is beautiful, please consider going you will not regret it!

The last time we were there I got a kick out of the Priest asking where everyone was from. We will be there the week after Thanksgiving and if we were not getting a car we would take a taxi. The Poly does not have masses anymore.

I didn't realize it was near outlets, I don't know when they were built maybe it was after our last visit 3 years ago. Have to check them out! LOL

The Priest stated that a church was needed and alot of the funds to build were from "visitors"!

 

[swilphil]

They stopped all religious services onsite (used be at Poly) about 3 or 4 years ago. We always go to the Queen of the Universe Shrine.

Karla B.

I thought they had mass at the Contemporary on Easter and Christmas. I know they did this past Easter. If the OP is going to be there during Christmas, she should ask.

 

[kjustice]

You can always use www.masstimes.org for Catholic mass times all over the world!Once you find a church there is a map link and directions.

 

[Podgieree]

You can always use www.masstimes.org for Catholic mass times all over the world!Once you find a church there is a map link and directions.

Thanks for the great website! -P

 

[llij]

Just another plug for the Shrine here. It is truly beautiful and I got a kick out of the pastor asking where everyone was from! We usually have a rental car, but have taken a cab in the past to the Shrine. I also read how Mears shuttle will do a pick up at the resorts for one of the Sunday morning Masses. Not sure if they still do that but it might be worth looking into. The resort would know for sure.

There is also another Catholic church called Holy Family Catholic Church (http://www.holyfamilyorlando.org/). It is a little farther away, but has decent Mass times as well.

Good luck!

 

[elaine and the boys]

We'll be in Disney for Christmas and planned to go back to Queen of the Universe Shrine. However, was there a Christmas mass celebrated on Disney property in 2004?

 

[Idroveallnight]

The Shrine is certainly beautiful, but we have really enjoyed the parish churches in the area. They are smaller and tend to have that home feel. We have been to every church in the area. I don't think you can go wrong. If you are taking a cab you should go with what's closest. The grounds at the Shrine are beautiful and the gift shop is neat!

 

[iluvepcot]

The CR is $30 each way to mass. The last time we were there we got a good tip. Take a bus to dtd and then get the cab. Just riding into the disney resorts costs more money. The cab is more then half the price by doing this. but then you save money but it costs you time. We spent some time in DtD that day anyway, so it worked for us.

 

[bobbiwoz]

In 2004, there was a Catholic Mass celebrated at the convention center of the Cont.R. We got a notice about it placed under the door, but we left on the 23rd and didn't go to it.

Bobbi

 

[elaine and the boys]

Thanks for the info, bobbiwoz! I'm sure it was probably packed, but it's nice to know that it could be an option for us this Christmas. Thanks again.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Disney has Catholic Masses and other religious services available at the Contemporary Resort for Christmas and Easter.

 

[Happy Gal]

So, you can technically take a cab to Downtown Disney, and then just walk the half mile? That would be good for us.

 

[Patsfan7]

Actually, neither the church nor the resorts (except Hotel Plaza Blvd hotels) are within walking distance from DTD... you would need to take Disney transportation to DTD, then take the cab from there to the Shrine. On the way home, the cab could bring you back to DTD, then you would take Disney transportation back to your resort. (this would save you the money that the cab would charge from DTD to your resort, b/c the cab would be driving right by DTD to get you to your resort) Hope that helps &/or makes sense.

PS: Please take a look at the Shrine's website. They have a map and directions. I have pasted the directions below from Lake Buena Vista Hotels, which would include the Hotel Plaza Blvd sites. I may have mislead you all in stating the 1/2 mile distance. That 1/2 mile I spoke of is not from DTD, it is after you go out Hotel Plaza Blvd, take a right onto Route 535, and after you go under the highway (Route 4), then at the second set of lights take a left onto Vinland Avenue is the 1/2 mile from that point (in my approximation)

From the website:

From Lake Buena Vista Hotels: Take S.R. 535 south (towards I-4), go under I-4 and continue in the left lane to Vineland Avenue (about 300 yards). Turn left at the traffic light onto Vineland Avenue (at Little Lake Bryan) and proceed to the Shrine entrance.

Hope this clarifies.

 

[ChasPowl]

I do not think that you could easily walk from DTD to Queen of the Universe Shrine. It seemed quite a bit longer that a half mile drive, but maybe we went the long way. They do have nice grounds and an interesting gift shop. We browsed the gift shop until the traffic out of the parking lot lightened up a little.