I am back from my trip and starting to work on the blog posts for each day. It may take me awhile!
I always like to get an early start and get down to Orlando as soon as possible. I landed at around 9 am and actually met up with a few friends at the airport. We chatted for a few minutes and then headed toward the Magical Express transportation area.
The line was long!! I have always had good luck with Magical Express – and love not having to pick up my checked bags – so I guess I was due to have a wait. I waited about 25 minutes to get on a bus. Many of the people waiting were running the Princess races so there was a lot of race discussion while waiting.
Once I finally got on a bus, it was about an hour until I was dropped off at Coronado Springs. I was staying for one night in the new Gran Destino tower.
The lobby is beautiful! I had done online check in and had received a text on my way over that my room wasn’t ready yet. I confirmed that with a cast member at the front desk and was just about to drop off my carryon bag at bell services, when I got a text that my room had just become available. Awesome! So I headed up to check in out and drop off my bag.
After checking out the room, I headed to the Magic Kingdom. I knew I would only have a few hours as I also had to go to the race expo and pick up my bibs, but that was fine. Because I had a longer transportation time, I had already missed my first Fastpass. But again, no worries. I was just happy to be there and to be warm!!
I had a Fastpass for Winnie the Pooh and noticed a line that stretched out past the queue for Fastpass return. This would be a trend this trip. I actually considered bailing but luckily the line moved along and I was on the ride within 10 minutes.
Then it was time for something to eat. I looked at my mobile order options and nothing was exciting me. Then I saw that the line for Friar’s Nook wasn’t bad and decided to try their tater tot dishes.
Ok, I love tater tots in general. So I am up for any dish that has tots…add macaroni and cheese and bacon – yes please! Yes, the bowl looks huge but it was actually pretty shallow. It definitely hit the spot without being too much.
After that, I moved through Fantasyland and over to my next Fastpass at the Haunted Mansion. Again, the line for Fastpass return stretched out into the park but it did move along quickly again as well.
After that ride, I wanted to do a first for me. Yes, even after many, many visits, there are still some things I haven’t done. So I had planned to ride the Liberty Belle. It is a big boat that circles around Tom Sawyer’s Island for about a 15-20 minute ride. It leaves every half hour so I timed it out and arrived in time to board.
There was a nice breeze and it would have been a nice day to ride…. but unfortunately, it was not meant to be. As the time approached for the ride to start, there was an announcement that due to a medical emergency they needed to cancel the ride. There was no estimate of when the next ride would take place. So I had to get off…and I didn’t make it back on again this trip. There is always next time.
I was now ready for a snack. I love that Dole Whip now has mobile order. My go to is the swirl with vanilla soft serve and the pineapple Dole Whip. I ordered on my phone, walked over to the stand and picked it up. There was a significant line so it was great to bypass that for the mobile order pickup.
It was time to go to the Expo so I left the Magic Kingdom and walked over to the Contemporary (about a 10 min walk) to catch the bus. Disney provides free bus transportation to the expo from all the Disney resorts.
I don’t like to deal with the crowds at the opening of the expo so I get there in the late afternoon. When I arrived it was not busy at all. I walked right up and got my race bibs and shirts. The RunDisney shopping area also wasn’t crowded so I looked around a bit and bought my pins. I do collect Disney pins and I like to have one from each race.
With what I needed completed at the expo, I went back to Coronado to meet up with my friends who would be arriving soon. I was able to get back to the room and unpack a little (not too much since we were only there for one night). Pam and Donna arrived and we went to Three Bridges lounge for dinner.
There are no reservations available for the Three Bridges lounge but we didn’t have any difficulty getting a table. We had a Mexican corn dip to share as an appetizer and then I had the Shrimp Corn dogs with fries. And of course, a cocktail. It was all good and an awesome location on the water.
It was then time to call it a night as I had the 5K early in the morning.
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