This seemed to be the first morning where we weren't rushing to get out the door and to the parks. So instead of heading right out, we decided to do some more exploring of the grounds of the lovely Coronado Springs Resort. I had stayed here on a previous trip so I was already familiar with most of the resort, but I wanted my mom and cousin to get to see more of it. It is funny that it took us 5 days to actually look around our resort. But I'm sorry, our room was literally 8 steps from the bus stop. Can you blame us that we only walked to and from the bus stop each and every day thus far?
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Friday December 6th, 2013
This seemed to be the first morning where we weren't rushing to get out the door and to the parks. So instead of heading right out, we decided to do some more exploring of the grounds of the lovely Coronado Springs Resort. I had stayed here on a previous trip so I was already familiar with most of the resort, but I wanted my mom and cousin to get to see more of it. It is funny that it took us 5 days to actually look around our resort. But I'm sorry, our room was literally 8 steps from the bus stop. Can you blame us that we only walked to and from the bus stop each and every day thus far?
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Ahhh how I love Coronado Springs in the morning! But we had places to go and people to see so we headed to the concierge lounge for a small bite to eat and coffee and then we were out of there pretty quick! First stop...Animal Kingdom! Tuesday December 3rd, 2013 I was especially excited for this day of our trip because not only were we headed to one of my absolute favorite parks, we were also about to embark on something I had never done before at Walt Disney World and has been on my bucket list for a long time....The Wild Africa Trek. Our tour was not until 11. I had tried previously to get an earlier time for better animal viewing but it was not available and I did not want to miss it. When we arrived at Animal Kingdom we took our time making our way to the Tree of Life and decided to head towards Harambe first. I am in the minority that on most trips we usually go right at the Tree and experience Dinoland and Everest first. We never were rope droppers for the safari, although after listening to the amazing Radio Harambe podcast I realized that we should have been hitting the safari first in order to see the most animals. It totally makes sense doesn't it? I just never had thought of it before. We had about an hour until the tour began so we really just took our time taking in all the sights and sounds of morning in Harambe. We decided to stroll through the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, a favorite of mine. We had some fairly good views of the Gorillas. They were out and active but there was one who was more up close who was definitely toying with me. He/she had their back to us and would NOT turn around. I really wanted to get some great pictures of him/her but they were being stubborn. It was now time for the most exciting part, the Wild Africa Trek. I'd like to save my review on this topic for a future blog post in my "Completing the Disney Bucket List" series (and I will shoot for sooner rather than later). But what I will say that it was amazing, amazing, AMAZING! I still find the price to be extreme. I hate that most people who go to Walt Disney World will never get to experience this or even know about it because it really was that good. I am glad at least that part of that ticket price goes toward conservation. I would like to know how much really goes towards it, but I would hope a good portion. Here are a couple spoiler pics from the Trek.
Going through my recent trip pictures, this one really stood out for me. It made me yearn for years gone by. Ok so maybe not years, a couple weeks really, but man do I miss Coronado Springs! Pictured here is the Cabanas section of the resort and during this trip, I decided it was my favorite section. I've stayed in the Ranchos before. While lovely, they are pretty far back there depending on which building you are placed in. I've never stayed in the Casitas but really have no desire to. That section of the resort just doesn't do it for me. But the Cabanas section is absolutely beautiful. Wouldn't you agree from the photo? I love the white sand beaches and relaxing hammocks by the lake. Pond if you want to get technical. We were in a business class room this trip so that meant we were in building 9B. This was a major perk due to the main bus stop was literally right around the corner. In fact it was a couple of days before we even ventured out into the rest of the resort because we were so close to our bus stop. I'll have more of a review on the business class sections pros/cons later. But for now enjoy this relaxing view. We all know I am a Port Orleans Riverside girl but could Coronado Springs be gaining on POR to win my heart? It just might be!
I've talked about resort hopping before and I will talk about it again. Let's face it. I'm probably not going to be able to afford any room (for any length of time anyway) at the Grand Floridian ever! So what better way to experience the finer things in life then to resort hop and check it all out? We've made this a stop on many of our past WDW vacations. We've experienced some of the restaurants, did some shopping, did some lounging - just like we were real life resort guests. It really is a beautiful resort. For my money, it is not really my style, but I can appreciate the beauty and grandeur of it from afar (as I stay at the less expensive but not any less charming Port Orleans Riverside). I will say that the Grand Floridian is home to one of my favorite hidden gems restaurants, the Grand Floridian Cafe. Ok, it's not really hidden...but I think it is often overlooked due to some of the more popular restaurants at this resort like Citricos and Narcoossee's. The Grand Floridian Cafe actually has some amazing food and I would put it on par with some of the signature dining. Best part is, it's less expensive or less credits on the dining plan. Forget the dining for a second, this resort has some beautiful grounds and great views of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon. Making it overall an amazing stop while resort hopping. Perhaps one day I'll get to stay there, or at least make a visit to the spa. A girl can dream right?
What is your favorite part of the Grand Floridian Resort? This week's Wordless Wednesday theme is the Disney Inspired Letter "P" and really this could not be a more perfect theme for my little blog. What else could I be thinking of but the sole inspiration for my blog and one of my favorite places in all of Walt Disney World? It's PORT ORLEANS! Thank you to Deb at Focused on the Magic for hosting this week's blog hop. Please make sure to visit her page and to join in on the fun.
As I have navigated through the Disney blogosphere the last couple of months, I've been utilizing my "notes" app on my phone and making sure to jot down any new and interesting ideas, foods, drinks, experiences, etc that I've come into contact with. The list is getting quite long and is going to serve as my mini bucket list if you will for our upcoming WDW adventures. I call it mini because all of these things are completely doable given enough time and energy (not to mention enough alcohol tolerance). I've limited the list to food and drink and here is what I've come up with. It's things like this that help me keep the dream alive while I sit here patiently waiting for the month of December to be upon us. *sigh* -Tusker Lager at Sanaa: This idea came courtesy of Safari Mike at Jambo Everyone. Now I'm not a big beer drinker, but my mother is so I am going to try it and most likely let her finish it.
-Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich at Sleepy Hollow: I don't even need to limit myself to the ice cream cookie sandwich. I just need to visit Sleepy Hollow in general. I am actually ashamed to call myself a WDW fan when I'll admit I've never even stopped here! -Tutto Gusto: Not much more to say about this one. I love wine and I love Italy. I'm totally there. -Truffle Mac n Cheese Hot Dog at Fairfax Fare: Truffle was all I really needed to hear in order to be convinced. It seems I'm always searching to find something good to eat while at the Studios. I plan to give this bad boy a try! -Lapu Lapu at the Tambu Lounge: I will thank Rhiannon from My Disney Addiction for adding this little gem to her trip report thus making me add it to my list. -Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich at Dino Bites: Is this the same ice cream sandwich that can be found at Sleepy Hollow? If so, don't judge, because I will eat another one. Courtesy of Dave at Jambo Everyone. -Sugar Cane Mojito at Dawa Bar: Once again I've never been to the Dawa Bar and if they close this bitch before I get there, I am going to be upset. -Contempo Cafe at the Contemporary: I haven't looked as far into this to decide just what I'd like to try, but I've been wanting to try some new counter service experiences and I have heard great reviews about this one. -Avocado Margarita at La Cava: Margaritas are my drink of choice. Looking forward to trying some new flavors and see if I end up preferring the traditional. -Citrus Swirl at Sunshine Tree Terrace: I've been in the loop with the whole Dole Whip craze. I admit I enjoy them but they don't send me running to Aloha Isle. I heard a rumor that the Citrus Swirl is just as delicious and will probably present less crowded lines. I think I'm going to test that theory. -Cream Cheese Pretzel at Fife and Drum: A pretzel...with cream cheese...sounds like my kind of snack. -Roaring Fork at Wilderness Lodge: Once again, looking for new counter service experiences. Do you have food and drink ideas that I just have to try? Please comment and let me know so I can add them to my food and drink mini bucket list. I was absolutely thrilled to find out that Mouse on the Mind and This Happy Place Blog were doing another Kill Marry Refurb post. If you are not already familiar with this game, a Disney topic/category is chosen and you have to decide within that topic what you would like to KILL, REFURB, and MARRY. I had so much fun last time coming up with my thoughts on the World Showcase Pavilions. In case you missed it, you can find that little gem here. So now we are talking Walt Disney World Resorts. Wow, this is tough. There are so many of them, and still quite a few that I haven't stayed in. Kill and Marry came to my mind immediately. It was Refurb that presented the toughest choice for me and although I was tempted to go with a resort that I haven't stayed in, I decided I just couldn't do it not having the full scope of experience. KILL: CARIBBEAN BEACH I'm sorry guys, but I sort of despise Caribbean Beach. I don't understand why so many people love it. Especially with the other choices in the moderate category. If you can afford to stay here, I'm not sure why you wouldn't choose Port Orleans or Coronado Springs. I'll admit that the grounds are lush and the beaches are a nice touch, but I find the colored buildings to be tacky and cheap looking rather than inviting and relaxing. Furthermore this place is constantly packed and that can't help but be reflected in the bus service. Apparently I am in the minority since this seems to be the place to be. However, I think many first time visitors are drawn in by the thought of this theme which creates a large draw to the resort. I would imagine several of them are a little disappointed after having stayed here. I know I was. The food court and table service restaurant are among the worst on property and depending on what building you are in, it could take you days to reach Old Port Royale or any bus by foot. The best part of my stay here was the quiet pool. That's it...I just did not care for it. Man do I ever sound bitter! We shouldn't start these posts out with the KILL category. :) REFURB: BOARDWALK INN I really hate to do this. The Boardwalk has always been my dream resort. I had wanted to stay here for quite some time and never could justify the price. I really should be choosing one of the All Stars right now but it's just been so long since I've stayed there I don't think I could make an accurate argument. So I have to go with the Boardwalk as it's fresh in my mind from my last visit to WDW. I finally decided to take the plunge, spend the money, and book a stay here. It was a very short stay of just one night as my husband and I were visiting family in Florida and decided to take one night away to hop over the Boardwalk and finally check it out. So why would I choose this resort for a refurb? It wasn't that anything was really wrong, it was absolutely beautiful and still a dream come true for me. But I guess for the price, the room didn't seem quite as nice as I had hoped. It seemed a little worn and in need of some TLC. Also when we were there the bakery was closed for refurbishment and I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a better counter service offering even though there are several wonderful table service locations. However, this place is absolutely gorgeous and the Bellevue Lounge has quickly become one of my favorite places to be at WDW. I really can't complain about this resort, but for the money, I think they could spruce it up just a tad. MARRY: PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE If you've read the name of my blog, I would hope you are not surprised by my choice to marry Port Orleans Riverside. I love the hell out of this place! What is not to love? The grounds are amazing, beautiful, peaceful, serene, wonderful...need I go on? The best part of this resort is, it could be quite busy yet it never seems to feel that way. True, it is quite a large resort but it never feels like you are miles from the main building or from the bus stop. The theming of this resort is amazing. Just when I think I wouldn't want to be anywhere else then the elegant Magnolia Bend, I step foot into the Alligator Bayou and find I would rather have a little rustic feel to my stay. In my opinion, Port Orleans Riverside has a deluxe resort feel for quite a savings in the price. There is so much to talk about, I think that the rest would best be described with the following short and sweet list: 1. River Roost Lounge and Ye-haw Bob 2. Boat service to Downtown Disney 3. Muddy Rivers pool bar 4. Evening carriage rides 5. Riverside Mill - amazing counter service 6. Royal Rooms 7. Surrey bikes Thus concludes this episode of KILL REFURB MARRY. Thanks again to Mouse on the Mind and This Happy Place Blog for coming up with this brilliant idea and for inviting other Disney blogs to join in on the fun! Well another exciting week of Disney news and views has come to an end. I can't tell you all how much I love being in this blogging world. It makes me so happy to connect with others who have the same interests and views as I do. Because let me tell you, in the "real world" I don't come into contact with too many.
Also exciting - my very first ever giveaway came to an end last night! So I want to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Alan M for winning his very own pair of Mickey and Minnie Mouse Vinylmations from the Mechanical Kingdom series. Alan has been contacted via email and I should be getting those prizes out to him very shortly. Thanks again to all who took the time to enter. I have some other giveways in the works, and hope to announce bigger and better prizes in the future. Now on to the awesome reads for this week: ***The Disney Food Blog made me very happy this week. I can finally try the "grey stuff" on our next visit to Walt Disney World. Be Our Guest Restaurant is now offering the "grey stuff" by way of cupcake. I bet it's delicious! ***I'm going to feature Rhiannon from My Disney Addiction this week even though I am insanely jealous of her! As I type this she is in Walt Disney World and she has a plan! Check out her mouth-watering list of food items to try while at this year's Food and Wine Festival. I can't wait to find out how many she crossed off the list! ***Sean from Disney Day by Day is in Aulani this week. I hate him...But what I don't hate is this awesome hidden Mickey he posted on Hidden Mickey Monday. ***It seems that me being jealous of people is a common theme this week! Kidding....kidding....Actually I was thrilled to read about Nora's experience at the Marty Sklar book signing in DHS. Events like these make me wish I lived in Florida. Luckily, I can live vicariously through Nora at Extra WDW Magic! Thanks again for another great week! If you are anything like me, Walt Disney World vacations can sometimes be few and far between. I just have to face the harsh reality that I can’t always afford to visit several times a year. Not to mention that staying in a deluxe resort would result in my family being forced to eat ramen noodles for the next fifteen years. Ok, so it’s not that bad…but I am sure you catch my drift. It can be expensive! It is because of this fact that while at Walt Disney World I like to indulge in a little activity called resort hopping. Resort hopping is especially fun when making dining reservations. Our family usually tries to make our dining reservations at as many different resorts as possible so that we have the time to look around and enjoy all of the different resorts on Walt Disney World property. For example, the gorgeous Wilderness Lodge pictured above is one resort I have never had the pleasure of staying at. However, on our last trip when we took advantage of the free dining offer, we decided to reserve a sit down meal at The Whispering Canyon Cafe. We went early that day and walked around the grounds, looked in the shops, had a drink by the pool, and then made our way into dinner. I sometimes find that these times spent just relaxing and taking in the sights are more enjoyable then the time spent rushing around to get from ride to ride. There is so much more to Walt Disney World then just the parks and guests who may not have experienced a Walt Disney World resort are truly missing out on a part of the magic. Now I am not saying you should crash the resort and spend every waking minute there. The resort after all is for the guests staying there. However, taking a leisurely stroll before dinner or making a trip to the shops is more then ok and a wonderful way to pass the time.
What is your favorite Walt Disney World resort to visit? Many times when I am trying to decide on which resort at Walt Disney World I'd like to stay at, I search the internet for info and pictures. You usually can find really great in depth information on many different sites, but not always a variety of pictures. So I made the decision to do a photo review (more photos, less info) on one of my favorite resorts in Walt Disney World, the beautiful Coronado Springs resort. But this is part two of the review. We've already covered El Centro and the Dig Site on Part One of the photo review posted last week. Make sure to check it out if you missed it. This week we are going to take a look at the three themed sections of the resort as well as the room offerings. Coronado Springs is made up of three themed sections representing the American Southwest and Northern Mexico. These sections are the Casitas, the Cabanas, and the Ranchos. Casitas: So the Casitas are what I think of when I envision an all inclusive type resort in one of Mexico's popular vacation destinations. And actually it looks very similar to one we stayed at in Riviera Maya for our honeymoon. The buildings are the tallest at the resort (three and four stories) and look and feel a bit richer (for lack of a better term) then the other sections of the resort. Now I don't think this necessarily means better, they just have a bit more of a sophisticated feel. There are lovely fountains throughout with quiet courtyards and manicured topiaries. The Casitas definitely make up a large portion of the resort and with good reason as they house many of the convention guests and are located near the convention center. Most of the Casitas are close to El Centro, however Casitas building 4 & 5 are farther away from El Centro but they have their advantages being close to the Dig Site and a bus stop. Cabanas: The Cabanas are in my opinion the most desirable area of the resort. Made to represent the coastal regions of Mexico, the Cabanas have the nice sandy beaches with hammocks, the lake views, and an overall more relaxed setting. This section has two story buildings and appear much smaller then the towering Casitas. The smallness however is a huge draw for me. They are simply beautiful and I immediately wanted to stay there when we finally experienced the resort (we were placed in the Ranchos however). Most of the Cabanas are extremely close to El Centro. Even the farthest building from El Centro (8A) is still not a bad walk and it is also the closest to the Cabanas bus stop and the Dig Site. The Cabanas also house the business class (concierge level) rooms. These rooms have just slight improvements over the standard rooms but the biggest draw is access to the lounge that offers free breakfast, snacks, beer, wine, etc. Actually we will be staying there this December, so expect a review on the club level experience and my opinions on whether or not it's worth the price increase. Ranchos: The Ranchos are more of my area of expertise as this is where we actually stayed. As you may have read above I wanted to stay in the Cabanas. I was a little disappointed when we were put the in Ranchos but realized all of the rooms were most likely just as nice. And I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with the Ranchos during and after our stay. It possibly could have been due to the location of our room. We were placed in building 7A and not only was this literally right across the sidewalk from the Dig Site, it was extremely close to the Ranchos/Cabanas bus stop. Luckily for us as well, our room was facing the inside of the resort (meaning it was not facing the parking lot and way in the back like so many of them can be). The Ranchos are two and three story buildings so they are in between the Casitas and the Cabanas in terms of size. The theming here is probably my second favorite (first being the Cabanas, third being the Casitas) as they are pueblo styled villas reflecting a more desert like rural region. As funny as it sounds they just seem sort of dry. You really do get the feeling you are in a desert like setting, especially with cactus (cacti?) and the great rock work. Even though that doesn't seem very enticing, they really did a great job with this section of the resort. The Rooms: I only have experience in one room so far at this resort and that room was in the Ranchos. After our next trip staying in the club level Cabanas, I will report back with any differences I might have noticed with the room. However I fully enjoyed the room we were placed in. I right away noticed the difference in queen bed size from the other moderates we have stayed at in the past which had full sized beds (Port Orleans Riverside and Caribbean Beach). One bonus that I really loved in the rooms were the sliding wooden doors separating the bathroom area from the bedroom area rather then a curtain. This really helped on early mornings my husband was trying to sleep while I was getting ready (or vice versa which is probably the true story!) The lovely blue colors on the beds with the dark wood headboards was simply lovely. It was actually much prettier then the pictures display. But I am not an expert photographer and depending on the lighting I don't always do so well. And so our rather lengthy photo review comes to an end. I really cannot express how much I enjoyed my stay at Coronado Springs. We all know that I love me some Port Orleans, but Coronado was just a delightful experience. I feel this resort gets overlooked so much more then it should. The convention aspect and the size of the resort seem to push people away. The complaint I hear the most regarding Coronado Springs is that it is too large. Maybe we got really lucky with our room positioning but I never once felt that the resort was too large. As you can see I walked around the entire grounds in order to get enough pictures of each aspect and I found it to be quite pleasant. Isn't walking all that you do in Walt Disney World? I don't know though, perhaps I would have felt differently if I was in Casitas 5 which is all the way across the lake from El Centro. The resort does a great job by having four bus stops and I think most rooms are convenient to at least one of them. The convention center is a plus for me because it makes the rest of the resort seem so quiet and the bus system is less crowded during the daytime hours. It was for sure my best bus experience at any resort I've stayed at. I hope that this photo review makes you want to give Coronado Springs Resort a chance on your next Walt Disney World vacation. Also I hope to hear from those of you who have stayed or will be staying there. Please feel free to comment below. Missed part one of the photo review? Check it out here Interested in staying at Coronado Springs or any Disney resort?
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