Taryn's Mad Hatter Adventures

Tales from my (mostly Disney) travels!
Taryn's Mad Hatter Adventures
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  • Tag: Disney’s Magical Express

    • A Quick Getaway – All Star Movies!

      Posted at 2:57 pm by taryngirl, on March 1, 2019

      2/26/19 Part One

      I received an email invitation for a Disney Annual Passholder after hours event.  In checking my calendar…I was free. In checking flight prices…they were dirt cheap!  In checking with a travel buddy…she was free to attend also!  What start out as a 1 day trip, ended up being 2 days. 

      The first step was getting reservations for the event.  They are extremely limited in number and it’s first come first served.   Success for us both! 

      The next step was booking a resort.  I was able to find a room at All Star Movies with an Annual Passholder (AP) rate.  Total cost…$238 including tax for 2 nights in a Standard room.  And finally, I had to book my airfare.  I fiddled around with Philadelphia and Harrisburg.  I was able to get good pricing on way down to Orlando from Philly with my friend.  But my return flight would be to Harrisburg. Total cost for airfare was about $90 TOTAL on Frontier.  (I usually fly Southwest form Philadelphia.  Just last August Frontier began service from Harrisburg.  I also recently became a Den Club Member.  Harrisburg is actually closer to me and an easier drive, so I was excited to try it!). We also realized this would be a birthday trip for both of us!  

      I was up at out the door at 4 a.m. for the drive.  Our flight was smooth and we arrived a half hour early into Orlando.  Since we were only coming for two park days, we packed everything in a backpack to use as our personal item.  With Frontier Airlines, the flight is usually cheaper but you pay for each “add on”.  Carry on baggage, checked baggage, choosing a seat…these all have costs.  See HERE for full information on Frontier’s policies.  

      We headed for the Magical Express which is located on the B side of the airport.  From landing until arrival at our resort, it was about an hour.  Our Magical Express had stops at Coronado Springs, All Star Sports, All Star Music and finally our resort, All Star Movies.  It was a packed bus!

      IMG_3828

      Our plan was to check in at the desk even though we had the room number texted to us.  We wanted to get our birthday buttons, decline mousekeeping so we could get a gift card, and make sure my Magicband worked since it didn’t at the airport.  (I had completed online check in and got the text that our room was ready while we were on the Magical Express.). We also wanted to get lunch at the food court and then head to the room to drop things off.  

      Here are some pictures of the food court!  We made it there at about 12:45 p.m. which is prime lunchtime and it was surprisingly EMPTY!  The food court has several different “bays” that you can order from.  Here is an overall menu featuring all of the bays:

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      Grab and Go sectionIMG_3993IMG_3994IMG_3995

      This surprised me!  A wine display!

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      (Dining Plan Eligible)

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      We both decided to order from here!  I honestly couldn’t decide.  I get too overwhelmed with too many choices.  I was running around from bay to bay trying to narrow it down.IMG_3996IMG_3997IMG_3998IMG_3999IMG_4001

      I opted for the Meatball Sandwich and it came with 2 sides.  I could pick from chips, a roll or a side salad.  This was actually a lot of food for the cost I though!  The chips were amazing and the meatballs were really good.  The castmember was also very friendly and talkative. IMG_4002

      My friend ordered the Spinach Artichoke Pasta and also got two sides.  I’m assuming it was good because she ate it all!IMG_4003IMG_4004IMG_4005

      Overall I really liked the variety and the quality for it being a “value’s” food court!

      My friend decided she really wanted dessert so she went back up for this Cookie Dough.  Since she was wearing her birthday button, they gave it to her for free!  It was also very good!

      IMG_4006

      Part 2 up next…the actual resort and our room!

      Posted in All Star Movies, Dining Review, Disney, Quick Service, Uncategorized, Walt Disney World Resort | 0 Comments | Tagged All Star Movies, Disney, Disney's Magical Express, Food Court, Food Picture, Foodie, Magical Express, Walt Disney World
    • Mother/Daughter Disney Trip! August 2018

      Posted at 10:40 pm by taryngirl, on August 25, 2018

      I know I’m in the middle of writing my August Grandeur of the Seas trip report, but I have to also start my DISNEY WORLD trip report!  So I’ll probably be alternating, but to read straight through either report, be sure to check my Trip Reports tab where I will have links so you can follow in order.

      THE PLAN:

      • Who–myself, my two daughters, my cousin, her two daughters
      • What–all girl cousin trip!
      • When–August 11-18th
      • Where–Polynesian/Bay Lake Tower
      • Why–one last hurrah before school and soccer start, to use our DVC points, we all have an annual pass, and WHY NOT?!

      So we knew we wanted to go in August, but had to plan around school and soccer schedules, and other family vacations.  Also, because I am a Disney Vacation Club Member, my new points came available August 1st.  So I had to plan for some time after that.  My cousin, Alex, had already made her reservation at Polynesian Village Resort, by renting DVC points.  She planned to arrive 3 days before us.  We had gone once in August before and I swore NEVER AGAIN!  It’s so dang hot, and it rained every day.  But alas, August it was!  After several changes of resort for us, we decided on Polynesian Village Resort and Bay Lake Tower.  I wanted to do the split stay so I could experience more than one resort to share with my Disney clients.

      About a month ago, we made the decision that my oldest daughter would not be able to make the trip.  She is on a premier soccer team and we had gotten the schedule.  You guessed it…a tournament!  It’s her first year on this team and we just didn’t think it was a good idea to miss several practices and then a tournament.  So it would just be my youngest daughter and I making the trip.

      We had been cruising from August 2-11th from Baltimore.  Upon return to Baltimore, we had flights booked leaving at 1:30 p.m. ish.  After researching, I saw there was a flight that left at 11:05 a.m., and there were varying times you could depart the ship.  So I called Southwest and made the switch and canceled my oldest daughter’s ticket!  It was super easy, and we now have a credit for her to use.

      We departed the ship around 8:15 a.m., got our luggage, went through customs and met my husband in the parking lot by 8:40 a.m.  We headed directly for the airport.  He dropped us right around 9:00 a.m.  There was a flight leaving at 9:45 a.m. ish that I inquired about at the counter, but it was too late because our luggage still had to be checked.  It would not have made the plane!  So we could leisurely make our way to our gate.  One note at security…we had to take out any electronics that were larger than a cell phone.  I’ve never had to take my iPad out before.  Also, all food/snacks had to be taken out and put in a separate bin.  (This was the moment I found the huge zip loc bag my mother had given my daughter in case she got hungry.  It was filled with chocolate twizzlers and caramel creams…)

      We made it through security and headed to our gate.  We weren’t hungry because we had eaten breakfast on the ship before we got off.  I caught up on some work things and Kinsey caught up on her YouTube.  By the way…I LOVE MY NEW AMERICAN TOURISTER MICKEY LUGGAGE!2018-08-25 11.10.02

      We had a great flight, and once in Orlando, made our way over to the B side to head to the Magical Express transportation area.  I noticed a new sign!  AND hand sanitizer!  That was a definite difference I noticed on this trip.  Hand sanitizer dispensers near or in most restaurants on Disney property. I am a fan!

      2018-08-25 11.09.18

      This was about 1:45 p.m. on a Saturday.  Look how empty it is!  The Polynesian was lane 2 and we were the only ones in it!

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      A few people did eventually come in behind us before we were able to board a bus.  But it was still very empty in this whole area!

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      If you are brand new to Disney World, or have never used Disney’s Magical Express, GO HERE to read all about it!  It really is so convenient.  In summary:

      • Disney will send you luggage tags in the mail once you register with Magical Express.  They are yellow, and you attach them to any luggage you are checking at your airport.
      • You get to the airport and make your way to the B side of Orlando Airport and head down to the Magical Express.  Watch for signs!  And there’s a map they will send you with your luggage tags.  DO NOT GO TO BAGGAGE CLAIM if you put the yellow tags on your luggage!
      • You scan your Magic Band at the check in area, and they tell you which lane number to get in.
      • You board the bus and they drop you directly at your resort!
      • Your luggage will be delivered to your room…normally within 4 hours of arrival at the airport.

      WHAT I PACK IN MY CARRY ON!  Since it can take up to 4 hours to receive your luggage, pack your carry on with any essentials you think you might need in that time frame.  For me:  Wallet, electronics, chargers, medication, deodorant, bathing suits if I think we will swim, MagicBands, a brush.  This is all in case the luggage does not show up before we head to a park or to dinner, etc.

      I spy!  This particular bus was stopping at three different resorts.  We were lucky, and drew the first stop!  Taken through the bus window because we were very near the front seat.

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      I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS RESORT!  This is 100% my decor and atmosphere.  We actually had professional pictures taken here at this resort when the girls were 3 and 5.  This was one of the spots!

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      2018-08-25 11.07.43

      UP NEXT…another piece of my cruise trip report!

      Posted in Disney, Uncategorized, Vacation, Walt Disney World Resort | 0 Comments | Tagged August, Disney, Disney's Magical Express, Magical Express, Planning, Polynesian, Polynesian Village Resort, Trip Report
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