More Tropical Palms Questions

[suzieqinga]

After reading many positive reviews about Tropical Palms, I made reservations there for my family's trip in June. I've read all the posts that I can find about TP, but I still have some questions. I'm hoping some of you TP fans can help me with some answers.

(1) I was at first under the impression that all cottages have full-sized appliances. I recently read, however, that the refrigerator in the studio is a small under-the-counter fridge. Is that true of all cottages or just the studio? Is there any freezer space in such a small fridge?

(2) How much travel time should we allow to each of the parks (including water parks). I would like to know the approx. total amount of time, from the time we leave the cottage until we reach the gate at the park.

Is it reasonable to plan for afternoons back at the resort (pool or whatever), in between morning and evening park hopping? Or would the travel time make that too difficult?

(3) I've read about the wildlife at the resort. It all sounded just great until I read about a pond with alligators I like wildlife just as much as the next gal, but I'm not thrilled at the idea of mingling w/ gators! Anyone care to elaborate? Any reason for concern there?

TIA for any answers.

Suzie

 

[C.Ann]

We stayed in the 2 bedroom cottage.. The fridge was a full size with a normal size freezer..

We were there in Sept. of 2001 (don't know if June traffic would be different) and never took us more than 10 minutes to get to the parks..

Don't worry about the 'gators - if they even still have them, I'm sure they're babies - and I believe they're in a pond in some obscure area.. We never saw them, but thoroughly enjoyed watching the armadillos come out at night scurrying around looking for bugs..

 

[PattnFmly]

We were also in the 2 bedroom cottage. Full sized everything including stove with oven and dishwasher! Coffee maker, toaster and microwave too. Pond is way at one end of the resort, drove past but never walked past and didn't get to see if there were any gators. Only took us 10 min to every park except for MK, and that's only because of the park the car then ferry or monorail before arriving at the entrance. We didn't return to the cabin mid-day because we were there at off-season times and the parks closed earlier so we just stayed.

 

[maximom]

I'm thinking about TPFS myself and I just received the brochure I requested which wasn't much more info than on the website so I decided to give them a call and ask some questions myself because the fridge thing concerned me as well. The 2 bdrm has a full size fridge but the studio (which is what I'm interested in) has only an under the counter fridge but it does have a freezer compartment. I was told that the studio has a range top so I'm assuming the 2 bdrm has range/oven combo. In case you're interested the studio model is 400 sf.

I've never been, I'm just quoting what I was told on the phone today by TPFS.

 

[suzieqinga]

Thanks so much for your replies! Hmmm...might have to reconsider and go for the two bedroom cottage.

Suzie

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi , I just booked the studio and yes its a smaller under the counter fridge and range top only . ( not that I am going to cook all that much more then Eggs Sandwiches for breakfast ) I assume its like if you rented one from Disney or the ones at HIFS ( or in the studios at the villas )

Our friends just got back from their 4 stay there and she said it only takes about 10-12 mins to drive to the MK and less to the other parks .. To get to parks take a left out of driveway onto 192 and follow signs . To get back to TP make sure to take 192 WEST .

She saw NO alligators during her stay ( 3-8-04 to 3-17-04 )

Michelle

 

[Straitlover]

If you're leaving the parks headed back to TP, I'm pretty sure you want to take 192 East. TP is on the east side of I-4, behind Old Town. Taking 192 West would take you towards Orange Lake CC and deadends at Hwy 27.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[sunnyshine]

We just got back from TP and this was the first time we stayed here. We had our 5th wheel trailer but I can not say enough about this place. We had a great stay. Its clean and you would never know from how quiet that you were that close to 192. We got woke up on sat am by hot air balloons going right over our camper. I t was an amazing site. Very friendly staff at check in. Took about 5 minutes.