Trip Report 3 1/2 Hours at Free Disney

DS 02.jpg


3 1/2 Hours at Free Disney


Who: me

What: 3 1/2 Hours at Free Disney

Where: Disney Springs

When: Friday June 3, 2022

Why: Business trip with DH in Orlando




Hello everybody and welcome to my fast and cheap Disney trip. The last time I was at the parks was 2016. Before that it was 2009, 2007, 2002, 1992, 1989, and many, many times in the 70’s and 80’s. We even had an off season annual pass one year, in the early days of Epcot. I’m interested in seeing Galaxy’s Edge, Pandora, and Toy Story Land one day, but the crowds seem ridiculous to me right now, and the whole Genie and Lightning Lane system is a huge turn off. Also the money it costs to go, parking fees, etc. I am an avid Trip Report reader and hope you will enjoy my cheap, fun, morning!


I found myself in Orlando last week and knew my DH was going to be playing golf Friday morning. I was pretty sure I could fit in a Free Disney morning. Free Disney is what I call Disney Springs, because to me at least, it feels theme parky and pleasant, yet costs nothing.


We stayed at a Doubletree in downtown Orlando. It was OK. Here was our view.

DS 01.jpg





After dropping off the man, at golf, I headed to the Springs. Parking was easy peasy (and free).


I started walking around and realized everything was closed. It was around 9:30am. A quick search on my phone told me many places would start opening up at 10am. So I walked around and took some pictures. By the time I got to Rainforest Cafe, it was almost 10am. I noted which places I wanted to visit, when they opened, along the way.


DS 03.jpg




DS 04.jpg




DS 05.jpg




DS 06.jpg
 
Click to expand...
Ellen Ripley

Ellen Ripley

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
DS 09.jpg



First animatronic! I’m in Adventureland! It’s the Jungle Cruise! I really loved this Crocodile animatronic, the fog effects, the flowers, rock work, waterfall. A super cute area. I walked through the Lava Lounge cavern, then headed into Rain Forest Cafe.



DS 10.jpg



DS 11.jpg



DS 12.jpg



DS 13.jpg




OMG! I’m at the Living Seas! I was happy to look at the fish tanks they had around the restaurant, walked around and saw an effects cycle. Lots of cool animals, no puns, but I was satisfied.




DS 14.jpg


DS 15.jpg
 
Ellen Ripley

Ellen Ripley

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I don’t know why I wandered into the Christmas Shop, but I did. These ornaments were pretty wonderful. I almost felt like I got to ride these rides just by looking at them. I was interested in all of them but not at $30. I would have probably bought one for $20. I would have bought even more at $10 a pop. I took pictures instead. There were a few more attractions represented that i did not shoot, Little Mermaid, Tower of Terror, Main Street Cinema.

DS 16.jpg




DS 17.jpg




DS 18.jpg




DS 19.jpg




DS 20.jpg




DS 21.jpg




DS 22.jpg




DS 23.jpg




DS 24.jpg




DS 25.jpg
 
Ellen Ripley

Ellen Ripley

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I was interested in seeing Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar and The Edison, but it seemed they open at noon and it was 11. I decided to go eat at T-Rex. I was alone and didn’t have a reservation. They asked me if I minded sitting in the bar area. I looked at it and said, I would prefer not to be seated there. They ended up seating me in the Ice Cave, which was dark and pretty cool. It was extremely hot and humid outside, so the AC married with the Ice Cave theming, very much helped restore my comfort level.



DS 27.jpg




DS 29.jpg




DS 30.jpg




DS 31.jpg




DS 32.jpg




DS 33.jpg




DS 34.jpg




DS 35.jpg




DS 36.jpg





I ordered a $20 regular burger, maybe it was called Bronto Burger. It was good, not exceptional. My server was polite, efficient, and pleasant.

Here is a jokey picture of the hamberger buns I did not eat, at the end of the meal. The food looks weird under the blue light.



DS 37.jpg



So Dinosaurs, It’s like I’m at old Universe of Energy, or Dinosaur, or hey Jurassic Park land at IOA. Also there are shades of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride, Little Mermaid, which is great. I saw a few effects sequences while I was there and oh that’s right, there are fossils in the bathroom. I thought that was a nice touch.
 
Ellen Ripley

Ellen Ripley

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Finally it was noon and I could go explore Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar. I had just eaten, and was full and didn’t want a beer, so I walked around and snapped some pics. I used the bathroom here too, it was clean. I probably hit 4 bathrooms while I was at DS, and they were all clean. It was also morning though. The Hanger Bar was smaller than I expected, but it was extremely well themed. I’d go back for a drink or two, with friends.


DS 38.jpg



DS 39.jpg



DS 40.jpg




Finally I checked out The Edison. This place was a lot larger than I expected and although the theming was good, it seemed light to me. There was a photoshoot happening in there with maybe a magican (not from here lol) or a cosplayer. He was dressed Steampunky (no photos sorry).



DS 41.jpg



DS 42.jpg



DS 43.jpg



Final thoughts:


This was a great Idea. I had fun, got my Disney fix in. I never made it into the Lego store, there was always a line. The Star Wars outpost was pleasant and played John Williams. They had Cantina Band instruments which I thought was funny and totally a waste of space, for me.


Once Upon a Toy used to have better merchandise. World of Disney also used to have better merchandise.



I saw a family at T-Rex celebrating a little girl’s birthday and thought that DS was pretty great for a special day, with your family, without having to sell a kidney. Thank everybody!



The End
 

Attachments

  • DS 44.jpg
    DS 44.jpg
    41.4 KB · Views: 87

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom