A timelapse of driving our RV, a Tiffin Allegro Bus motorhome, just 26 miles from Disney World to Clermont, Florida.
Travel from Disney World to Clermont, Florida
We drove our coach just 26 miles, about half an hour of driving (plus killing a little time at a Love’s truck stop), from Disney World to Clermont, Florida.
It’s a little awkward, as check out time from Fort Wilderness is 11:00, and check in at TTO is noon (very strictly enforced), but the drive time between the two is only about half an hour. We considered waiting for a bit in the overflow area at Fort Wilderness, but it was full. We also considered going to a rest area to kill some time, but we noticed a Love’s truck stop on the way, and figured we could spend some time there. Love’s doesn’t usually have parking that works for us, but what with a long time to get through the intersection and a few minutes at the pump, it used up enough time.
Here’s a map showing our route, heading west:
An interactive map:
Toading up on the way out of the campground:
Leaving Disney World (how sad):
Exit to I-4 East:
Disney-shaped power pylon:
Love’s truck stop:
Joining the very long line to enter TTO; this was at 12:07 on a Sunday:
Almost to the entrance, at 12:18:
Finally on the entrance road, at 12:20:
We knew it’d take a long time to get in, so I made some lunch while we inched forward:
Paladin on the dash:
Welcome:
Almost to the entrance gate, at 12:54:
But wait, there’s more: joining the line to get a site, at 12:56:
People watching the line:
Almost to the front of the line, at 13:22; I waited in the truck after we untoaded:
Getting guided to our site, at 13:36:
So yeah, arriving shortly after noon on a Sunday, finally getting to our site an hour and a half later. One day we’ll learn and arrive mid-week, when it isn’t so busy, though we prefer to travel on weekends to avoid impacting Jenn’s work.
Power steering fluid leak repair, engine bracket replacements, underside of coach
I need to get better at checking the fluids of our coach.
We heard some weird noises coming from around the front wheels while driving, and couldn’t figure out what was causing it for a while. Since we were heading towards Red Bay at the time, I contacted Bay Diesel and made an appointment for them to investigate.
We eventually guessed that it was related to power steering. When I looked in the power steering reservoir in the engine compartment, it was completely dry:
Oops.
I refilled it with Dexron III (as required) and kept an eye on it; sure enough, the level dropped during drives:
When we arrived at Bay Diesel, they wasted no time lifting up the coach:
They found and repaired the power steering leak, from a hose under the rig:
They also inspected the entire underside of the coach, with special attention on the engine, and found cracked clutch and tensioner brackets; common issues with this vintage of coach:
So they replaced them with better, stronger brackets. Here’s a comparison of old and new brackets:
Rebuilding the clutch assembly:
They also lubed the various lube points:
A nice thing about Bay Diesel is that they were happy for owners to hang out in the shop. I wandered around under our coach and took lots of photos. Here are a bunch of pictures, starting at the front and working my way backwards:
Front with the generator partially out:
Entry step:
From in front of the front wheels:
Independent front suspension:
Safe-T-Plus steering stabilizer:
Back of the generator:
A small void behind a front mudguard, with a junction box for the ground effect light strip:
Behind the front wheels, with air horns and generator exhaust:
Under the basement storage bays:
Under the wet bay, with hot and cold low point drains, Aqua-Hot coolant overflow, and Aqua-Hot exhaust:
Under the wet bay, with my sewer outlet and the fresh water drain:
Rear wheels and engine area:
A couple of techs inspecting the engine:
Oil pan, with a non-concerning minor leak:
The engine:
Allison transmission:
Drive shaft; this piece was removed when our coach was towed back in 2023:
Other side of the transmission:
More engine bits:
Side radiator gearbox and fan:
Rear of the engine:
Finally, the rear of the coach:
Fascinating!
Disney World: Epcot After Dark
We visited Epcot within Disney World during their After Dark special event.
This was unique in that it was the first time we’ve driven to a Disney World park; previously we were staying inside the bubble at the Fort Wilderness campground, but we did this visit when back at TTO.
Epcot parking entrance:
The After Hours info:
We thought it a little odd that the map cut off halfway around the lake… but later found that they blocked off that, which was disappointing; we enjoy walking around the lake:
The Spaceship Earth globe:
Spaceship Earth ride:
Lime dole whip snack:
Luminous show:
Looking towards France:
Ratatouille ride:
Minnie Mouse:
Looking across the lake:
Mexico pavilion:
Norway pavilion:
Frozen ride:
Selfie:
The Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind ride had a somewhat long wait; it seemed like it was going extra slow:
Definitely the least fun of the three After Dark experiences, between not being able to go around the lake and longer lines. But still enjoyable.
Disney World: Magic Kingdom
We visited Magic Kingdom again, during regular hours (and on Valentine’s Day).
Train station and train:
Castle:
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure:
Ferry to Tom Sawyer Island; a generally boring area, but we had to visit it, as it will be going away soon, to be replaced with a Cars-themed land:
The river and riverboat will also be going away, unfortunately:
Pirates of the Caribbean ride:
Snack:
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride:
Video:
It’s a Small World ride:
The traditional picture of the massive New Zealand representation:
Tron Lightcycle Run ride:
Video:
Snack:
Carousel of Progress ride:
A new activity is making a custom tiara from a selection of frame styles and crystal colors, which Jenn did:
Jenn with her new tiara:
Haunted Mansion ride:
No one poses like Gaston:
We had dinner at the Be Our Guest restaurant on Valentine’s Day:
Disney World: Epcot
We visited Epcot within Disney World.
Chalk art:
During the Festival of the Arts they have special food booths, and some dishes to collect stamps for a prize, which Jenn enjoys doing. Here are all of the things we ate as part of that:
The prize last year was a plastic glass that Jenn still uses; the one this year was a rather unpleasant rice cake thing (at top, on the collection booklet); disappointing:
Another collection thing that Jenn did was the World Traveler Passport, where she got a stamp and handwritten message from each of the world pavilions, from someone from each country:
Mexico pavilion:
Frozen ride:
Germany pavilion:
Italy pavilion:
Japan pavilion:
Morocco pavilion:
United Kingdom pavilion:
Living with the Land ride:
Paint by numbers:
Flowers:
Guardians of the Galaxy ride:
Spaceship Earth ride:
A custom video based on our answers:
Journey of Water:
Disney World: Hollywood Studios After Dark
We enjoyed the Magic Kingdom After Dark so much that we booked a couple more, starting with Hollywood Studios After Dark.
We had to experience Muppet-Vision 3D one last time — it will be shutting down in June 2025 and replaced with a Monsters, Inc land:
Dinner in Galaxy’s Edge:
Smuggler’s Run ride:
We got to be pilots, for the first time; we’ve been engineers and gunners in the past:
Galaxy’s Edge:
Blue milk:
Rise of the Resistance ride:
Toy Story Land:
Alien Swirling Saucers ride:
Slinky Dog Dash ride:
We enjoyed free Mickey bar ice cream:
Toy Story Mania ride:
Runaway Railway ride:
Star Tours ride:
Sunset Boulevard:
Rock’n’Roller Coaster ride (did not enjoy this one; very rough):
Tower of Terror ride:
Video:
We did all of the rides that were open during the special event, even ones we normally skip (like Star Tours and Rock’n’Roller Coaster).
Hollywood Boulevard:
A fun night.
Disney World: Hollywood Studios
We also visited Hollywood Studios in Disney World.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area:
Oga’s Cantina for lunch:
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride:
Toy Story Land:
Spinning Saucers ride:
Slinky Dog Dash ride:
Toy soldiers drummers:
Some food:
Toy Story Mania scores:
Hollywood Tower of Terror ride:
A video:
Pandora store for a couple of charms for Jenn:
The Brown Derby for dinner:
Disney World: Magic Kingdom After Dark
After spending several hours at Animal Kingdom, we went back to our coach to rest for a few hours, then headed out again to Magic Kingdom, for a special “After Dark” visit, where we (and hundreds of others) could enjoy the park after closing hours, with pretty much no lines for any of the rides, and “free” popcorn, ice cream, and beverages.
We timed our arrival well, and with some help from the ferry boat skipper going extra slow, we were able to see the early evening fireworks from the boat:
A posed photo in front of the castle:
Side of the castle:
Little Mermaid ride:
“The backside of water” on the Jungle Cruise ride:
Pirates of the Caribbean ride:
Riverboat and castle:
Haunted Mansion ride:
An amusing Haunted Mansion pic:
Castle selfie:
Later fireworks and light show:
Teacups ride, with Jenn’s giggles:
Peoplemover ride:
Space Mountain ride:
Tron ride:
A video with us:
Heading out, with a mostly empty Main Street:
A magical experience.
Disney World: Animal Kingdom
We visited the four Walt Disney World theme parks again this year.
I’m doing a separate post for each park visit, starting with a half a day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park, which is part theme park, part zoo.
Some posed photos:
Avatar land:
Avatar ride:
Lunch:
Heading to the safari ride:
Tree of Life:
Snack:
Expedition Everest ride:
