Any good Travel Planner will tell you to arrive the day before your cruise vacation. Especially in this travel climate, with delays, cancellations, long wait times, it’s all a real possibility. Then factor in the stormy summer weather… ya, arrive a day early.
My flight took off from NYC around 7:45am after a slight delay but was already headed to pick up my bags by 10:30am and was driving under the Welcome to Walt Disney World sign by 11:15am.
I arrived at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort at 11:20am, checked my bags and headed to the Event Check in to grab my credentials for the next day.
By 12:30 I had hopped on a bus and arrived at Epcot. My one Epcot objective was to try Connections Cafe for lunch, and I was STARVING. I mobile ordered and then went to Creations (right across the way) while I waited for my food to be ready. I had read all about the chicken sandwich and I really wanted to try it and it was REALLY good. Seating, I assumed would be a hassle as the restaurant was packed- but I was able to find a table and could eat comfortably. When I was done, a Cast Member helped me clean up my dishes and I headed back out to the heat.
Not going to lie, it slowed me down.
I had originally planned to try to hit Disney Springs today too, but I just couldn’t imagine how I was going to last as I was up at 3am.
Just before 2pm, I headed to the front of Epcot and hopped on a bus headed to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
I needed a break from the heat already- so It’s Tough To Be A Bug is always fantastic for that!
The Finding Nemo show was recently reimagined and reopened and I wanted to check it out. It was a favorite of my family’s and I wanted to see the changes. It’s much shorter than it was, but still adorable and a GREAT refuge from the heat. The talent in that show is incredible and never seems to get the recognition as Lion King does, which is a shame. Both shows are amazing in their own right.
After the show, I headed to back to Corondo Springs. Tricia was waiting for me at Rix Sports Bar & Grill with a Diet Coke and Nachos. It was perfect to cool down and relax after the heat of the day. I wasn’t out too much but the Florida heat is no joke.
We were meeting friends later for dinner in Epcot and by 7pm, we were back at Epcot- but it was STORMING and just not letting up. We decided to board a bus headed to the Beach Club for dinner where we were able to meet another good friend before enjoying dinner at Beaches and Cream.
It was a late night with an early wake-up call…. but it was great to be back at Walt Disney World…. even if only for a day.
