TimNDansMom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2000
- Messages
- 3,093
I was a little slow in getting going the next morning and missed the breakfast the hotel served in their little café off the lobby, between 6 and 10am. I was surprised that it was more than just coffee and donuts and decided I would try it before I checked out the next morning. My room was acceptable for the Rock Bottom Rate of $34.00 I had booked online and I was pleased to see Security wandering around during the day as well as at night. The hotel was a larger complex than I had expected and there was an outdoor pool. I had to find some food as I was starving by this time and discovered two grocery stores and an Eckert Drug store near by. The only restaurants I could see, were those suitable for lunch or dinner. I ended up buying a few odds and ends between the 3 stores to make myself some sandwiches plus some shoelaces to repair my broken carry-on strap. (Note to myself: always pack some shoelaces, they are almost as invaluable as duck tape!)
It was approaching noon and I finally made the decision to forego Universal and head down to Magic Kingdom. I had discovered before I left, that all Spectromagic Parades originally scheduled during the week had been cancelled and if I wanted to see it, I would have to go on that day. I had 5 days of park hoppers left over from previous Disney trips at my disposal which I felt was more than enough to spend time in the parks with.
My research into the Lynx bus system came in handy because all I had to do was catch the #8 bus right in front of my hotel, transfer to bus #50 at Sea World and it would take me down to the Transportation and Ticket Centre at Magic Kingdom, all for $1.25! Before I knew it, I was standing on Main Street USA looking towards the Castle, feeling as if it had only been yesterday, that I was last there.
Since I had had such a late start, I knew my chances of accomplishing much were limited so I decided to wander around and soak in the atmosphere that I had been craving for the past year and get on whatever ride didnt have a long line-up. Also, there was an E-ticket night on Tuesday and I was pretty sure that I would do that, so wasnt going to worry about the big rides. I did get a Fastpass for Space Mountain, went on Snow Whites Scary Adventure, Its A Small World and Pirates of the Caribbean. I watched Cinderellas Surprise Celebration twice, had lunch at Cosmic Rays with a Dole Whip for dessert from Aloha Isle and caught part of the Share A Dream Parade. The rest of the time I wandered around all the many shops, waiting for Spectromagic to start.
I found myself the perfect parade-watching location in front of City Hall because I wanted to make a quick exit onto the Monorail to EPCOT, so I could watch Illuminations at 9 oclock. Spectromagic was a wonderful as ever and I had no problem getting quickly over to EPCOT afterwards.
I had thought I would go on Test Track as a single rider, but was disappointed to find that it had closed for the day. Maybe it had broken down, as it was supposed to be open until 9. I stopped by the new attraction Mission:Space and marveled at the architecture of the building. It should open sometime this year and I cant wait to try it out on my next trip! I sat for a while and watched the EPCOT Fountain dancing in the darkness to its inspiring music, then wandered around World Showcase soaking in the atmosphere while waiting for my favourite, the Illuminations: Reflections of Earth fireworks to start. Big *SIGH*, it was as beautiful as ever!
Afterwards, I hurried to catch the Monorail back to the TTC and caught a Lynx bus back up to International Drive, transferring again at Sea World. I got off a little before my hotel, when I saw an IHOP restaurant and realized that I was hungry. A late night snack of French Toast fit the bill. It had been rather nice to slow down and enjoy the parks, than with the gung ho style I usually have. I still had to make a decision whether to go over to Universal the next day, before I headed down to the Comfort Inn.
to be continued
It was approaching noon and I finally made the decision to forego Universal and head down to Magic Kingdom. I had discovered before I left, that all Spectromagic Parades originally scheduled during the week had been cancelled and if I wanted to see it, I would have to go on that day. I had 5 days of park hoppers left over from previous Disney trips at my disposal which I felt was more than enough to spend time in the parks with.
My research into the Lynx bus system came in handy because all I had to do was catch the #8 bus right in front of my hotel, transfer to bus #50 at Sea World and it would take me down to the Transportation and Ticket Centre at Magic Kingdom, all for $1.25! Before I knew it, I was standing on Main Street USA looking towards the Castle, feeling as if it had only been yesterday, that I was last there.
Since I had had such a late start, I knew my chances of accomplishing much were limited so I decided to wander around and soak in the atmosphere that I had been craving for the past year and get on whatever ride didnt have a long line-up. Also, there was an E-ticket night on Tuesday and I was pretty sure that I would do that, so wasnt going to worry about the big rides. I did get a Fastpass for Space Mountain, went on Snow Whites Scary Adventure, Its A Small World and Pirates of the Caribbean. I watched Cinderellas Surprise Celebration twice, had lunch at Cosmic Rays with a Dole Whip for dessert from Aloha Isle and caught part of the Share A Dream Parade. The rest of the time I wandered around all the many shops, waiting for Spectromagic to start.
I found myself the perfect parade-watching location in front of City Hall because I wanted to make a quick exit onto the Monorail to EPCOT, so I could watch Illuminations at 9 oclock. Spectromagic was a wonderful as ever and I had no problem getting quickly over to EPCOT afterwards.
I had thought I would go on Test Track as a single rider, but was disappointed to find that it had closed for the day. Maybe it had broken down, as it was supposed to be open until 9. I stopped by the new attraction Mission:Space and marveled at the architecture of the building. It should open sometime this year and I cant wait to try it out on my next trip! I sat for a while and watched the EPCOT Fountain dancing in the darkness to its inspiring music, then wandered around World Showcase soaking in the atmosphere while waiting for my favourite, the Illuminations: Reflections of Earth fireworks to start. Big *SIGH*, it was as beautiful as ever!
Afterwards, I hurried to catch the Monorail back to the TTC and caught a Lynx bus back up to International Drive, transferring again at Sea World. I got off a little before my hotel, when I saw an IHOP restaurant and realized that I was hungry. A late night snack of French Toast fit the bill. It had been rather nice to slow down and enjoy the parks, than with the gung ho style I usually have. I still had to make a decision whether to go over to Universal the next day, before I headed down to the Comfort Inn.
to be continued
).
