Only true fans will understand…

This topic has 17 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 7 months ago by RIDisneyPinGuy.

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September 11, 2017 at 10:47 am #48183

StupidJudy
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Okay so here’s the deal, I get two weeks off every summer, they call it construction holidays, and since I work for a housing developer, well, that explains why we get those weeks off. Anyway, I have been wanting to go to Florida and do things besides the obvious (Disney! ) and show my teen boys stuff in Florida besides theme parks. So I have been thinking about going to Cocoa Beach, close to Orlando, not too long of a drive, then started looking at affordable resorts in the area, found the Quality Inn I think it was, which used to be where the astronauts would stay back in the day, sort of geeked out a bit over that fact! Then started looking at Kennedy Space Center, I went as a child and thought it was pretty boring but now it looks like they have a pretty neat exhibit and since I love all the Apollo stuff and that they have a bunch of things to do there now, I think I want to go check it out. Has anyone been over there?

So anyway, knowing us, after a few days we will be bored with the beach and will want to do other stuff. So I started looking at Orlando resorts with nice pool areas so we can spend the day swimming and do stuff late afternoon when it’s not a billion degrees out. Maybe take an air boat ride, or check out Gatorland, take a drive to St.Augustine, things like that. We have local friends so activities could vary, maybe they’d suggest other types of Floridian things we could do.

And of course, I ended up thinking about just booking a Disney resort, I know I won’t be dissapointed! They usually have summer discounts for resort only so that would be perfect!

To go to Cocoa Beach I would need a car rental, I checked prices for MCO rental vs returning the car to the Car Care center and it’s much cheaper to just bring it back to MCO once we are back from Cocoa Beach. So I figured, why not bring it back to MCO then hop on the Magical Express! They can take us back to the airport at the end of the vacation.

I figured we would do the things we normally don’t take the time to do since we are all about staying at the parks til they kick us out. We would not visit any parks but would visit Disney Springs, check out the bowling alley, and resort hop! Ride the monorail around and visit all the resorts on the loop, take the boats and ferries and visit resorts like Beach Club where we want to get the Kitchen Sink for lunch at Beaches and Cream. Go explore around Wilderness Lodge, have a meal or a snack there. Maybe visit one of the water parks, just kick back and relax, so much to do at Disney that doesn’t require a park ticket!

So as you can see, even when I try to plan a non Disney trip, I end up back at Disney! :p

What do you guys think? Is it crazy?

September 11, 2017 at 11:19 am #48188

dngnb8
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Frankly, the crazy things was trying to do it without WDW

September 11, 2017 at 11:28 am #48189

Nascfan
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Crazy? No! We just had one of the best vacations ever, went to Florida in May and didn’t go to Disney!
Kennedy Space Center….amazing, awe-inspiring, incredible, humbling…..do it! Son-in-law and I were looking forward to it, the girls, not quite so much. We ALL thoroughly enjoyed it, and us two boys exponentially more than we even thought we would. We never thought we’d be there from open to close but we pretty much were. Go out to the launch pads. That’s where the Apollo stuff is. They bus you out and then drop you off at the Apollo exhibit and you can spend as much or as little time as you want and then catch a bus back. The space shuttle exhibit, umm, WOW! I can’t even describe it. I don’t want to describe it because I don’t want to take anything away from the jaw-dropping moments when you see it for yourself. It was all just incredible. And we didn’t even get to do everything! There truly is more than you can see in a day.
St. Augustine is just beautiful and what I consider my adopted town. So worth the trip over! If you have any interest at all in history this is the place for you! Castillo de San Marcos, amazing! The Pirate Museum, 1000% recommended! The Old Jail, so fun!
As far as other Disney fun goes, the Chip and Dale campfire sing-along with marshmallow roast would be so fun! Do you like to ride? They have trail rides at Fort Wilderness! We had so much fun when we did that! You can do archery, rent canoes or kayaks, so much to do!
I think you would have a wonderful time and I say go for it!

September 11, 2017 at 12:22 pm #48191

StupidJudy
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What do you think about the split stay, a few days in Cocoa Beach and then a Disney resort for the rest? I mean if we’re going to stay around Orlando, why bother going somewhere else where we could be disappointed? That’s how I look at it, with Disney, I know exactly what to expect and the summer deals (if they still have them, something like 30% off room only) are hard to beat!

I am excited about Kennedy Space Center, thanks for the tips! I wasn’t sure about the bus tour part but I guess we should try to squeeze that in. There seems to be A LOT to do in just one day, probably would get there for opening to be sure to pack as much in as possible.

September 11, 2017 at 1:29 pm #48192

Nascfan
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I like the idea of a split stay and staying on Disney property. Like you say, you already know what you’re getting and so why chance it another place? Plus if you want to monorail, explore resorts, do any activities in and around other resorts, you are already there! You don’t have to pay for parking and it’s so much easier being right there.

September 11, 2017 at 1:36 pm #48193

StupidJudy
71 XP

Right, I would want to take advantage of Disney transportation, including returning to the airport. I would rather not have a car unless I have to.

I found an interesting diagram of Disney transportation yesterday, I will find it and post it here!

I told the boys about it and they seem to like the idea of a split stay and doing Disney things besides the parks! When I mentioned spending the day at Disney Springs, Alex’s eyes got real big, yesssss! He’s a shopper

September 11, 2017 at 1:39 pm #48194

StupidJudy
71 XP

And the reason behind the thread title, if I tell anyone besides you guys about this trip idea, you know what the answer will be!

There are soooo many other places to visit, why go there again!

September 11, 2017 at 1:46 pm #48196

BacksideOfWater
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I’ve actually considered a non-Disney trip to Orlando. There are a ton of things to do in the area besides Disney. The 2 Universal parks (:surprised: Did he actually just say that!?!), Legoland, Seaworld, you already mentioned the Kennedy Space Center, the Orlando Eye, I-drive, Gatorland, Wikki Wachi Springs, and Fun Spot America just to name a few. if you get bored of the beach maybe look into doing some of those

September 11, 2017 at 1:50 pm #48197

RIDisneyPinGuy
182 XP

We recently spent a night in Cocoa Beach before our Disney Cruise. We stayed at the Four Points Cocoa Beach. The room was very nice, the hotel was clean and well maintained, staff very friendly, and price was very reasonable.

One suggestion for a day trip would be DeLeon Springs State Park. A cool park with walking trails, a natural spring swimming hole, and a breakfast restaurant with the best pancakes I have ever had.

Hope you have a fun trip!

September 11, 2017 at 1:51 pm #48198

StupidJudy
71 XP

@backsideofwater, good suggestions, although I want to stay away from theme parks, not that I don’t enjoy Universal but with the heat, humidity and crowds, I might snap

I would rather do air conditioned things or be on a Disney boat or in a Disney pool

I have heard good things of the Weeki Wachee, have to put that on my list! My son wants to zipline over some gators at Gatorland. Crazy boy trying to convince me to do it as well.

September 11, 2017 at 2:09 pm #48200

Nascfan
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StupidJudy wrote:

My son wants to zipline over some gators at Gatorland. Crazy boy trying to convince me to do it as well.

Oh you should!

September 11, 2017 at 2:12 pm #48201

StupidJudy
71 XP

RIDisneyPinGuy wrote:

We recently spent a night in Cocoa Beach before our Disney Cruise. We stayed at the Four Points Cocoa Beach. The room was very nice, the hotel was clean and well maintained, staff very friendly, and price was very reasonable.

One suggestion for a day trip would be DeLeon Springs State Park. A cool park with walking trails, a natural spring swimming hole, and a breakfast restaurant with the best pancakes I have ever had.

Hope you have a fun trip!

Where is this breakfast restaurant? How was the pool at Four Points? I am picky about my pools

September 11, 2017 at 3:56 pm #48206

Acamm
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I think that it is totally doable! We vacation each year 90 minutes from WDW in Madeira Beach which is between Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Its SO BEAUTIFUL and the water is crystal clear turquoise color with WHITE sand! Its worth a look if you get a car! Heck, I might come with you to be your tour guide

September 11, 2017 at 6:18 pm #48224

SEJ101
499 XP

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Being a Floridian, I don’t think these are bad ideas. Maybe check out a Spring or St. Augustine.

Or don’t. It’s your choice.

September 12, 2017 at 7:40 am #48250

StupidJudy
71 XP

Acamm wrote:

I think that it is totally doable! We vacation each year 90 minutes from WDW in Madeira Beach which is between Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Its SO BEAUTIFUL and the water is crystal clear turquoise color with WHITE sand! Its worth a look if you get a car! Heck, I might come with you to be your tour guide

YES!!!!
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