To celebrate our upcoming 20th anniversary, we booked a Disney land & sea trip through Magical Journeys (thanks Wendy!). Our 2 sons, Justin & Mark, came on the trip with Sharon & I.
We arrived at Detroit Metro Airport at about 8am on Friday, August 1, 2014. We had breakfast at McDonalds in the terminal. Everything was on time and we landed at Orlando International Airport at about 1pm. We got our bags from baggage claim and picked up our rental car from Alamo. It was a quick trip to the Walt Disney World Resort via SR-417.
We checked in at Coronado Springs Resort around 2pm. Online check-in helped us avoid the huge line at check-in. Sharon & I got buttons for our anniversary and Mark got a button for his birthday. They gave Justin a button for celebrating so he wouldn't feel left out.
We had requested a room in Cabanas and we were given a room in Cabanas 8B, room #8511. It was a first floor room with a view of Lago Dorado. We grabbed lunch in Pepper Market before heading to our room.
Overall the Magic Bands worked great but one of my complaints is it was a pain to use to open the gates at the resort. I often had to take it off to get the gate to open. I don't understand why they can detect you on a ride for ride photos but can't detect you in your car to open a gate.
After relaxing for a little while, we headed to dinner at Raglan Road at Downtown Disney. It's a mess there. Parking is easy at the west end but you have to walk to opposite end to get to Marketplace. Dinner at Raglan Road was very good and we enjoyed the Irish dancing & singing.
After dinner we spent time shopping at World of Disney, Once Upon a Toy, and some of the other shops.
At about 7:30pm we headed to the Beach Club for an 8pm ADR at Beaches & Cream to celebrate Marks birthday with a Kitchen Sink. We did our best but didn't quite finish it.
We headed back to Coronado Springs after our attempt to finish off the Kitchen Sink. The boys watched some TV while Sharon & I took a walk around the resort. We turned in summertime around 11pm.
Steve (aka brownie)
INTERCOT Staff: Accommodations & Mousellaneous
ASMv 4/00, 10/01, 11/03, 5/21
ASMu 8/12, 11-12/22
AKL 6/18
BC 9/94
CSR 8/14, 3-4/22
POP 11-12/10, 3/12, 10/12, 7/17, 4/22
POFQ 10/01
POR 9/04, 1/16, 11/19
WL 12/03
Disneyland 6/07, 1/15, 10/24
Disney Dream 8/14
Thanks for the report.
Vince
aka. Vizsla
INTERCOT Staff: Mousellaneous and Disney Vacation Club
DVC Member 10/11/04
Nice start to your trip, Steve!! Congrats on the anniversary!!
Coronado Springs is a lovely resort!
Linda aka: Faline
INTERCOT Staff: Vacation Planning,Trip Reports and Disney Camping
faline@intercot.com
Thanks for sharing.
Happy Anniversary!
I agree on the Magic Bands at the gate. It's difficult. I just finally started taking it off every time.
What a great anniversary trip! Glad your travel was uneventful and your first evening relaxing. :mickey:
Carol (aka KylesMom)
INTERCOT Staff: Mousellaneous & Trip Reports
Last Trip: ICOT 15
Happy A/P Holder 2002 - 2011
Awwww! Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday! Nice first day!
'83~Off
'91~Off
'93~Off
'96~Off
'97~Off
'99~Off
'00~Contemporary/Disney Magic (Jul)
'00~WL (Dec)
'01~Off
'02~POR
'03~Disney Wonder/AKL (Aug)
'03~WL(Dec)
'04~Saratoga
'05~Polynesian (Apr)
'05~Pop (Sep)
'06~POR FQ
'14-Pop
'16~Off (March)
'16~ASMusic (Aug)
'17~Off'
Sounds wonderful... Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday... and Happy Sharing
TinkX2
Next Visit - Dec 2017 Pop Century
Dec 2016 - Pop Century
Feb 2016 - Coronado Springs Resort
Dec 2014 - Caribbean Beach Resort
June 2010 - Off-site
June 2004 - Old Key West Resort
May 2003 - All Star Music
March 2001 - Caribbean Beach Resort
Happy Anniversary! I always enjoy your reports and am looking forward to reading more :mickey:
~Nikki~
Last Trip: February 2024
Next Trips: April 2024
Happy Anniversary!!:thumbsup:
Your trip is off to a great start!
Thanks for sharing!
Julie:mickey:
Next Up:
Summer 2018... WE ARE BACK!!!
2 families
4 teenagers and Larry
Taking on the parks!
Happy Anniversary! Kudos for trying to finish a kitchen sink! :mickey:
Haunted Mansion Girl
1990 & 1992 Off Site
2002 & 2003 Fort Wilderness
2004 Disney Wonder & Fort Wilderness
2005, 2008, 2011 & 2013 Riverside
2006 & 2008 Pop
2009 Disneyland
2011, 2013 & 2014 Coronado Springs
2012 CB Pirate Room
2015 POR
2016 June & Oct Off Site
2017 Sept Coronado!
Thanks for the report. I learned my lesson a few years ago about online check in at CSR. A few buses had just unloaded for a convention and each person was checking in separately. There were probably 200 people in front of us to check in. The line stretched from check in around the Pepper Market and into the convention center. Probably the worst check in experience of my life.:ill:
Sounds like a great start to a wonderful vacation.
:tink:
Julie
º0º emerzmom º0º
Disney Vacations:
DL: 81,00,01,02,04,05,06,08
WDW: 98,99,00,01,02,03(x2),04(x2),05,,07,09,11,12,13(x2),14,15,16
Next trip Nov 2017
I agree 100% about the MB at the resort gate ... it was like a game of "when will we get it to open today" every time we tried, way more frustrating than the cards.
Heather aka ibelieveindisneymagic
INTERCOT Staff
Engaged at the castle!
My Disney Home is POFQ
