I75 Exit 350 Ocala "Official Disney Welcome Center"

[asktriplets]

I75 Exit 350 Ocala "Official Disney Welcome Center"

Does anyone know if this is a real Disney sponsored entity with CMs and all?

We've seen the signs, but never stopped. Not sure what all the possibilities are/services available....does anyone have info??

 

[Belle1962]

Disney closed the Disney sponsored Ocala Welcome Center several years ago, sorry.

There are many places that say 'Welcome Station" Florida Information', etc. along our route (I75). These are usually fronts for timeshares.

 

[DC7800]

It was an actual Disney 'entity' prior to its closing several years ago, however. It had a small gift shop stocked with some of the same items you would find in the 'world', and a counter which made resort reservations and sold theme-park passes. At one time, you could get discounted room reservations here (I did this once), but that ended well before the center's actual closing. For those traveling down I-75 for hours and hours, it was useful for having the cleanest restroom facilities you've ever seen.

The building was apparently sold, as it was occupied by some other business (office space???) when I last went by sometime last year.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I believe the building was torn down and there is a Holiday Inn high rise there now. It's been more than 5 years since that place operated.

You may recall that this ticketing center was used in conjunction with a Disney Radio station operated out of Columbia, Florida near Lake City. Southbound billboards advertised this low power radio station to motorists and tuning in brought you a 20-minute or so loop of Disney theme park commercials featuring the character voices, with the goal of getting you to stop at the Disney Information Center in Ocala. The station was listenable from about I-10 to the High Springs exit although sometimes it carried as far north as the state line and as far south as Gainesville. D-I-S-N-E-Y.....Disney Radio!

BobK/Orlando

 

[asktriplets]

I love you guys...such a quick response!! thanks.

my DH posted this question. He was reading tips on some website (guidetowdw. c o m , i think). Some sounded good, but there was a mention of "E Ride night" in the tips, so I figured this was a pretty outdated website!!!! He wanted to double check.

Thanks again!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

There's a photo tour of the now-defunct Disney Welcome Center in Ocala at MousePlanet. See http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/wdwguide/3_Tripplan/traveling_issues/ocala_photo_tour.htm

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I am sure it closed in August 2006 and I do miss going there because it was a tradition of ours to stop there before arriving at WDW and a few times we would purchase some merchandice before and when there was the no tax week in Florida that applied at the Welcome Center, since it was not located in a Theme Park where the no tax week was not available.