Trip Report I know every mile will be worth my while! (A Princess 5K trip report)

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Somehow I knew this TR title would reference a song from a Disney movie. I'm a singer after all, and the Disney Renaissance was basically my childhood. A few titles I considered relating to the theme included:

"It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small"
"If I go there's just no telling how far I'll go"
"Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest"
"There ain't nothing gonna stop me now cause I'm almost there"
"We must be swift as a coursing river"

But I went with Hercules for several reasons, not only because I relate to the themes of the song, but because it kept popping up during the trip.

In case you missed my PTR, visit A first, a second, and a third.

Otherwise, continue reading for a journey full of family, fun, and OF COURSE food!

 

[Kiwiduck]

Confused lady wasn't actually me as sadly I am far away from Disney in NZ. However, I feel as though I have been the confused lady in many a person's story.

 

[bee]

Can't wait to read this TR

Welcome!

Looking forward to your TR!

Yay! Welcome!

Great song choice! Ready to follow along!

Thank you! Yay, more gifs!

Yay!! Following along!!

Welcome aboard!

YEA!!! Ready to read!

I forgot all about 2048. I'm going to have to redownload that game!

I forgot about it too, until I saw someone playing on the subway a couple months ago!

I never have managed to get very far in that game.

There's definitely a strategy to it...once you figure it out (or read how to it online!) it gets much easier.

Sudoku!

Had to mix up my number games!

Following along!

Welcome!

I'm in for the drinks er um food

Of course you are!

Yay! Can't wait to read more!

Yay! Welcome!

As a nurse, these gross me out sooo much. Like there is no way anyone ever cleans in all those grooves, who knows what is all living in there

I'm not saying I'm a germaphobe...but yeah, that's nasty.

Exclusive footage of you and M having to listen to the bus driver:

Great start to the report! Can’t wait to read more!

Haha! Perfect!

Here

Present

. . . and accounted for! I'm in, too!

You three!

Yahoo! I'm in for the ride!

Yahoooo-oo-oo! Welcome!

Just got here! Ready for the full report!

Yay, welcome!

Confused lady wasn't actually me as sadly I am far away from Disney in NZ. However, I feel as though I have been the confused lady in many a person's story.

Haha, I am sure I've appeared in plenty of people's stories!

 

[krisri18]

Ready for the story!

 

[*Flynnderella*]

I’m in!! Also neeeeeeeed to know how to put Gifs on here!!!

 

[Songbird76]

Ha! I love that you name the people you come across because that means I'm not the only one who does that. On our bus trip to Paris several years ago, we had names for everyone on the bus....Smokestack woman, because she was a chain smoker, porcupine people: a whole family with spiky hair, stupid shoe woman: every day she wore high healed shoes, even on the city walking tour!!, Willow and her mother, because according to DH, the girl looked just like Willow from the movie.

Following, obviously.

 

[melmel89]

Following along

 

[bee]

Ready for the story!

Ahhh perfect gif! Love it!

I’m in!! Also neeeeeeeed to know how to put Gifs on here!!!

Welcome! Just do a Google search for the image you want but type "gif" after your search terms. Then insert it into your post the same way you would insert a non-gif.

Ha! I love that you name the people you come across because that means I'm not the only one who does that. On our bus trip to Paris several years ago, we had names for everyone on the bus....Smokestack woman, because she was a chain smoker, porcupine people: a whole family with spiky hair, stupid shoe woman: every day she wore high healed shoes, even on the city walking tour!!, Willow and her mother, because according to DH, the girl looked just like Willow from the movie.

Following, obviously.

I literally lol-ed at "porcupine people!" Welcome!

Following along

Welcome!

 

[bee]

Day 1, cont.

Where were we?

We had just gotten our room assignment and were STARVING! Our room was in Ranchos (the farthest section from the main building), so we decided to go straight to Pepper Market instead of walking all the way to our room and then all the way back.

As I approached the food stations I thought, "Wow, we got lucky with an uncrowded day!" There were no lines for any of the stations so we'd be devouring those delicious empanadas in no time! Before I could get very far a CM stopped me and said, "Can I help you?" Only then did I realize there were no lines because the whole ordering area was closed off with ropes! It turns out PM closes at 11:00 for breakfast and opens for lunch at 11:30. It was only 11:15 so we would have to wait a few minutes. M was holding a table with our carryons so I went and sat with her. No big deal.

UNTIL.

Obviously a HUGE convention let out for lunch break around 11:15 and they all started forming a huge line to get into the food lines! At first I stood in line but it was just too many people and I was sleepy and hungry and anxious...so I gave up. This is where we both got a little hangry and decided to just go to the room.

In our HANGRY state the walk seemed extra long. It didn't help that it was 80 degrees and we were carrying backpacks full of clothes.

BUT THEN...

I noticed Siestas Cantina was already open and didn't have much of a line! I volunteered to stand in line and M went ahead to the room. I ordered two orders of cheese empanadas (served with just salsa here instead of the beans and rice at Pepper Market). While I waited I ordered Drink #1 of the trip at the bar next to the QS line.

Frozen strawberry margarita

Sipping on the drink made the wait time for food go by MUCH faster! Soon I was back in the room and we were enjoying these:

Though they weren't quite as good as the ones served in PM, they were a few dollars cheaper and we got to enjoy them much sooner and in our AIR-CONDITIONED room!

Up next: Room photos!

 

[bee]

Day 1, cont.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...

Coronado refurbished room photos!

(If you look closely above the coffee machine you will see my BEE bottle!) We tried to clear all our personal stuff out of the photos but I missed this one)

Disney is trying this again...

And a better look at what was on the bed:

Up next: Will our transportation luck continue?

 

[sheriffwoody]

Day 1, cont.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...

Coronado refurbished room photos!

(If you look closely above the coffee machine you will see my BEE bottle!) We tried to clear all our personal stuff out of the photos but I missed this one)

Disney is trying this again...

And a better look at what was on the bed:

Up next: Will our transportation luck continue?

I love those pins so much I've been debating getting some on ebay...I don't think we'll end up staying at Coronado before the construction is over.

 

[Doc Disney]

Our driver went very off-script and talked over the beginning of the DME video. He started out joking about how tired he was, but he basically ended up telling us he doesn't like his job and we were being mean to him. It was suuuuuuper awkward. When Gus came on the TV he told us how Gus is a fake bus driver and the real drivers, "don't know him." When the driver wasn't talking over the video the ride was fine.

This probably would have overly annoyed me. I know that Gus isn't real but keep the magic alive for everyone else

 

[bee]

Day 1, cont.

Though our room was far from the main building, it was extremely close to the nearest bus stop!

We arrived at 1:27 and the next Epcot bus was estimated to arrive at 1:29! It actually came a minute early (a pattern we noticed throughout the trip with this particular sign) so we literally waited ONE MINUTE for the bus!

Not quite #ShirleyStatus, but close!

I had forgotten how close Coronado is to Epcot. Soon we were stepping off the bus and walking to bag check. On our way we encountered the thing everyone fears most at Disney: a huge group of teenagers in matching shirts and backpacks! Unfortunately they rushed to the front of the bag check line and we got stuck behind them for a bit. But the security CMs kept things moving and soon we were here:

There was no wait for the AP line!

We had a few FastPasses but we weren't in a rush so we stopped at Club Cool. There were a bunch of kids from a DIFFERENT tour group crowded inside, but they didn't really bother us. In fact we saw a total of three different groups (judging by their shirt colors) and the most annoying thing we heard was a little chanting.

NO BEVERLY????

On our way to The Land we saw how much work had already been done to prepare for Flower and Garden, which wouldn't begin until after we left.

It was time for a quick coffee stop! We hadn't tried the Joffrey's frozen cappuccino in awhile and it sounded good, soooo...

No alcohol in this one! It was okay but I wouldn't get it again. The texture was kind of weird.

We brought our beverage into one of the gift shops by the lagoon. This display amused us:

Waaay more Mrs. cups than Mr. cups. It was the same way at the Character Outlet store in the outlet mall in Lake Buena Vista. The obvious conclusion is that gay male couples are MUCH more interested in Disney wedding merch than either straight couples or lesbians.

Also, please excuse my weird voice, but this pin set also amused me:



After some browsing it was time for our first FP of the trip!

I have really tried to like the new Soarin', and I don't dislike it, but I so miss the original!

Afterward we had a bit of time before our next FP, and after reading @prfctlyximprct's report I was on a mission to try the famous Rose Gold Cupcake!

When I arrived at the bakery area of Sunshine Seasons there was only one cupcake left and a line in front of me!!

Up next: Will I get my cupcake???

 

[bee]

I love those pins so much I've been debating getting some on ebay...I don't think we'll end up staying at Coronado before the construction is over.

Aren't they cute?? We also have the Caribbean Beach construction pins from August!

This probably would have overly annoyed me. I know that Gus isn't real but keep the magic alive for everyone else

I agree!! If that had been my first DME ride I would have been so disappointed by the very un-magical experience! Even as a repeat offender it was annoying!

 

[prfctlyximprct]

Ahhh I am at work sneak reading your report as I stalk festival ears but the suspense is killing me!!!!! I hope you got the cupcake!!!

I hope you got to experience the Nutella goodness that is the rose gold cupcake!!! Loving your report. Coronado looks so beautiful and Mexican food is my favorite, this must be my next resort!

I’m here!

 

[bee]

Day 1, cont.

Little did I know the display cupcake was just that: a display! There was a whole tray of them in the back and soon I was devouring (half of) this:

Nicole, you were so right about this! It MAY have been the best cupcake I've ever had. The perfect balance of chocolate, vanilla, and hazelnut! The cake was so moist and the icing was just magical. 10/10 would eat again!

After we enjoyed the best cupcake ever, it was time for the Vegetable Boat Ride! We had a FP but the standy line was nonexistent, so we decided to standby first and then with our FP!

There was lots of activity in the greenhouse as CMs planted and replanted various plants. (How many times can I say "plant" in one sentence?) When we first entered the greenhouse we heard a kid ask his mom, "Are we inside that big ball?" No, but I can see how you might make that conclusion.

NERD ALERT! Time for a second ride!

New Jersey!

NOT GETTING POLITICAL. I sent this to my little brother because he is a Democrat but he likes the Bush family and I knew he'd appreciate this.

On our second ride we were seated in front of a Spanish speaking family with a little girl. The girl was SOOOO excited to see all the plants. Over and over we heard, "Mira, mami! Mami, mira! Mira, mami!"

Lettuce? "Mira, mami!"

Micro greens? "Mira, mami!"

"Mira, mami!" PS there's Stanley!!!

After two journeys on the Vegetable Boat Ride we were hungry again! What better snack than a Mickey pretzel?

We had another FP to make so we headed to the front of the park.

After SSE we realized we were way too tired to stay in the park for IllumiNations. So I cancelled our dinner reservation at Rose and Crown ( ) and we exited the park. We considered doing a little resort hopping (and eating) but decided we'd rather just go back to our resort.

Up next: Back to Coronado!

 

[Rista1313]

So question.. I noticed in the picture you have a bunch of toiletries on your counter, and then in addtion, the ones plastered to the wall. Was it duplicate then?

 

[bee]

Ahhh I am at work sneak reading your report as I stalk festival ears but the suspense is killing me!!!!! I hope you got the cupcake!!!

I hope you got to experience the Nutella goodness that is the rose gold cupcake!!! Loving your report. Coronado looks so beautiful and Mexican food is my favorite, this must be my next resort!

I’m here!

Welcome! Coronado is my favorite moderate resort! I think you'd love it (but you may want to wait until construction is finished)!

So question.. I noticed in the picture you have a bunch of toiletries on your counter, and then in addtion, the ones plastered to the wall. Was it duplicate then?

Great question! The ones on the wall were shampoo, conditioner, and body wash (aka things you would typically bring into and use in the shower). The ones on the counter were lotion, bar soap, mouthwash, a shower cap, and a vanity kit.

 

[ScarletBegonias]

I'm in! You are off to a great start!! That frozen coffee looks good to me! Yummmmmm

 

[sheriffwoody]

Did you get charged anything for canceling Rose & Crown? I've always wondered if they actually do that.

 

[bee]

I'm in! You are off to a great start!! That frozen coffee looks good to me! Yummmmmm

It tasted good, but the texture was weird. It almost felt oily or slimy in the mouth. It was like they hadn't mixed the ingredients properly or something.

Did you get charged anything for canceling Rose & Crown? I've always wondered if they actually do that.

I was able to change the reservation to a later date with no penalty and I just deleted the new (ish) reservation after that.