nkereina
Last chance to lose your keys.
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2009
- Messages
- 21,037
Just returned from visiting family in Tampa, and we opted to spend a day roaming around Disney World as my parents have not been there in 20+ years. We were not spending the night and not visiting any parks, but I wanted to share all we were able to do in a day in case someone else finds themselves in a similar situation, wanting a taste of Disney but without the time or cost.
We left Brandon, FL around 9am and stopped in Lakeland to use the facilities. We arrived at Disney Springs by 10:30am. We ran into little traffic and parked in the lime parking ramp with no issue. We then walked over to Saratoga Springs Resort and found the Congress Park bus depot, which is the closest one to the walkway from Disney Springs. We boarded a bus to MK, which came quickly that time of morning.
Once arriving at MK, we did have to go through bag check but we were able to walk up by the entry gates (before the tapstyles) and take photos of the landscape and take in the sights, train, etc. From there, we boarded the boat to Wilderness Lodge. We arrived at WL around 11:45 and walked around a bit, checking out the new cabins and lakefront QS location. We checked into our Whispering Canyon lunch reservation around 12pm (20 minutes early) and were seated right away. It was pretty quiet but started filling up by the time we left, around 1pm.
From WL, we got on a bus to DHS. After arriving, we proceeded to the Friendship Boats and rode that over to Swan & Dolphin. We then walked over to the Boardwalk, checking out the resorts, shops, and restaurants. Around 2pm, we stopped in ESPN Club for a drink.
By 3pm, we walked over to Beach Club and checked out the pool, beach area, lobby, etc. We then proceeded to the bus depots and got on a bus back to MK. We then proceeded back through bag check and got on the resort monorail and made our way to Poly. We got there by 3:45 and got in line for Trader Sam’s. We stayed there for a drink until about 5pm, and then walked over to TTC and rode the monorail to Epcot so we could see inside the park. After exiting the monorail at Epcot, we then made our way to the bus stops and got on the bus back to Disney Springs since it was after 4pm.
We arrived back at Disney Springs and browsed some stores, stopping in the new Planet Hollywood and the Edison to check them out, and stopped at Hanger Bar for a drink. Around 7:15pm, we made our way over to Wolfgang Puck Express for a quick dinner and Goofy’s Candy Shop for some snacks. We were back in the car pulling out of the parking garage by 9pm, home by 10pm.
It was a busy day with lots of walking, but fortunately the weather was great and I was pleasantly surprised with all we got to see. My parents had never seen WL, Boardwalk area, or the new Disney Springs so they were in awe even though we were just sightseeing. Hopefully this helps someone else who’s planning a no park visit – it was well worth it to us!
We left Brandon, FL around 9am and stopped in Lakeland to use the facilities. We arrived at Disney Springs by 10:30am. We ran into little traffic and parked in the lime parking ramp with no issue. We then walked over to Saratoga Springs Resort and found the Congress Park bus depot, which is the closest one to the walkway from Disney Springs. We boarded a bus to MK, which came quickly that time of morning.
Once arriving at MK, we did have to go through bag check but we were able to walk up by the entry gates (before the tapstyles) and take photos of the landscape and take in the sights, train, etc. From there, we boarded the boat to Wilderness Lodge. We arrived at WL around 11:45 and walked around a bit, checking out the new cabins and lakefront QS location. We checked into our Whispering Canyon lunch reservation around 12pm (20 minutes early) and were seated right away. It was pretty quiet but started filling up by the time we left, around 1pm.
From WL, we got on a bus to DHS. After arriving, we proceeded to the Friendship Boats and rode that over to Swan & Dolphin. We then walked over to the Boardwalk, checking out the resorts, shops, and restaurants. Around 2pm, we stopped in ESPN Club for a drink.
By 3pm, we walked over to Beach Club and checked out the pool, beach area, lobby, etc. We then proceeded to the bus depots and got on a bus back to MK. We then proceeded back through bag check and got on the resort monorail and made our way to Poly. We got there by 3:45 and got in line for Trader Sam’s. We stayed there for a drink until about 5pm, and then walked over to TTC and rode the monorail to Epcot so we could see inside the park. After exiting the monorail at Epcot, we then made our way to the bus stops and got on the bus back to Disney Springs since it was after 4pm.
We arrived back at Disney Springs and browsed some stores, stopping in the new Planet Hollywood and the Edison to check them out, and stopped at Hanger Bar for a drink. Around 7:15pm, we made our way over to Wolfgang Puck Express for a quick dinner and Goofy’s Candy Shop for some snacks. We were back in the car pulling out of the parking garage by 9pm, home by 10pm.
It was a busy day with lots of walking, but fortunately the weather was great and I was pleasantly surprised with all we got to see. My parents had never seen WL, Boardwalk area, or the new Disney Springs so they were in awe even though we were just sightseeing. Hopefully this helps someone else who’s planning a no park visit – it was well worth it to us!
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