Seeing Orlando In The Mazda Miata 2017

Come zoom away with me in the Mazda Miata 2017! I’m sharing some of my seeing Orlando trip while reviewing the Mazda Miata.

Seeing Orlando In The Mazda Miata 2017

It seems I’ve been ripping and running most of this summer. It’s safe to say that I love to travel. I love to do solo trips, girlfriend getaways, couples trips, and of course, vacations with the family.

As a full-time blogger, I’m always looking for ways to learn new things and up my game. Last month I was able to fly down to Orlando, Florida for the Type A Conference with Derrick. It was a quick weekend getaway, but I was able to learn quite a few things and meet new people!

During my short trip, I didn’t have a lot of time to explore Orlando. But, seeing we’ve been to the land of Mickey Mouse many times, I was okay with what I was able to soak in.

Of course, the Florida sun was there. And I enjoyed every moment of it. It also helped that I was driving the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring. As soon as we picked up the car, I flipped the top back and hit the highway.

I didn’t really think about the repercussions of what would happen when I just the top-down going 70ish miles on the highway. My hair was a mess! Good thing it’s short!

The 2017 Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring is a little thing, but cute. Complete with an exotic build and unrivaled driving experience; the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata is small in size but big on fun. Although I don’t mind driving an automatic, I learned how to drive a stick on the hills of California when I was 16, so, part of the fun was able to take the stick shift on a test drive {thanks Virginia!}.

There’s nothing more freeing than being able to drive with the windows down and letting the balmy Florida air blow through your hair unless of course, you’re driving the Mazda MX-5. Then you get to drive with the top down, and THAT is seriously a treat. Not only does it fulfill those fantasies you’ve had about being carefree and driving with the top down but it also makes the two-seater Mazda feel bigger than it is instead of feeling so tight and close-quartered.

The Mazda Miata 2017

I loved being able to drive such a sporty car while at my conference in Florida. Something about the atmosphere there or maybe it being such a coveted vacation destination, made being able to drive the MX-5 an even better experience than it would have been if I’d just been driving it around my hometown. Although I loved the look and feel of the car itself, it did come fully loaded with a lot of features that I also enjoyed being able to test out:

Great gas mileage at 27 City and 34 Highway
Quick top conversion
Anti-lock brakes
Side airbags
USB Port
Navigation system
BOSE audio system
Heated seats
Bluetooth connectivity
Push button start
7″ LCD mounted on the dash

Although the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Grand Touring isn’t great for driving long distances, it was perfect for my stay in Orlando. It had a beautiful sporty design, and all of the additional features it came with were an awesome addition to my trip.

Seeing Orlando

We had a chance to finally check out the upgrades of Disney Springs, formally known as Downtown Disney. I have to be honest; I’m not 100% thrilled with the updates. It seems to have lost a lot of the magic of Disney. There are a ton of shopping stores, so basically it’s another outdoor shopping mall or high-end outlet. Yes, you still have the Disney store, Lego store, food trucks, restaurants, live entertainment, and Disney Cirque Soleil, but everything else is for shopping.

And of course, we had to get Dole Whip. I mean Dole Whip is EVERYTHANG! Thankfully, you don’t have to go to Disney to get Dole Whip. Disney’s Polynesian World Resort (on the main level, outside near the back entrance) has their famous Dole Whip. So, if you’re looking for a place to find Dole Whip outside of Disney Parks, be sure to head over to Polynesian. Even if you are not staying on property, you can take the monorail from another resort or Downtown Disney to get to this resort.

Where to find Dole Whip at Disney World besides the Disney Park

We did not stay on property (Type A conference was hosted at one of Disney’s resorts.) We were able to land a deal at the Bohemian Hotel in Celebration, Florida. The town, Celebration is about 15 minutes from Disney. It was a super quick drive in the Mazda Miata, and of course, this little sports car got us there quickly. #zoomzoom

This luxury hotel is a part of the Kessler family. When you walk in, you are greeted by courteous staff and a beautiful setting. There is gorgeous artwork all along the walls, along with a restaurant and full bar. “The Grand Bohemian Gallery at the hotel showcases more than 75 works of art by local, regional and internationally recognized artists. From contemporary paintings and glass art to intricate jewelry and ceramics, the Grand Bohemian Gallery represents a wide array of talent, often hosting exhibitions and exclusive artist receptions.”

Bohemian Hotel Celebration’s 115 guest rooms and suites welcome you with old-world elegance and contemporary conveniences. Featuring a luxe lobby inspired by nature with warm golden, cream and white décor, our boutique hotel exudes sophisticated Floridian elegance. Fresh orchids, original works of art and beautiful lakeside views provide a peaceful and inspiring stay you’ll never forget.

Our room was beautiful, sitting at the back end of the property. Out of our window, we could see the swimming area and the lake. Unfortunately, we did not have a lot of time to explore this exquisite hotel. I am adding this to our Orlando future bucket list of places to stay.

Across the street from the hotel, you will find a Starbucks (thank you very much), several boutique shops, and restaurants. This area in Celebration is very ritzy and seemed to be diverse with people who are hip and trendy. I totally was digging this vibe and could have spent the whole weekend in this area soaking up the views, food, and culture.

However, duty calls. During our drive back and forth from the conference to the hotel, I was able to capture a few photos. These photos will be my saving grace on a cold, wintry day here in Michigan.

And of course, I’ll be thinking about Dole Whip while my hair goes crazy with the top down in the Mazda Miata.

Have you been to Florida? What are some of your favorite things to do there? Do you own a manual? If so, how did you learn how to drive it? Drop a line below and let me know!

Before you go, you can find a ton of ideas on how to save on Disney, tips on seeing Disney with the kids, etc:

Thank you Mazda for loaning me this fun sporty car for the weekend! (p.s. they didn’t twist my arm to make me say anything. These are my own thoughts and photos!)

Seeing Orlando In The Mazda Miata 2017