Thanks to Mitsubishi and Drive Shop for letting us drive the Mitsubishi Mirage for a few days! We were not otherwise compensated, nor were we required to write a positive review.
Earlier this month, the time had finally come for my husband and I to travel with our friends to the 2016 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. We had been looking forward to the grown-up getaway for months, and a little threat of rain wasn’t going to stop us!
We picked up the sporty little Mitsubishi Mirage at the airport in Florida, and were quickly on our way. We had actually mentally prepared for the car being a pretty tight squeeze, but it had more than enough room for four adults and our long-weekend luggage.
Other things that got our attention during our Hurricane Matthew trip:
- Poorly planned red murals at an airport can look a little like a Halloween horror scene at a glance.
- I totally have what it takes (like green chocolate chips) to make gorgeous chocolate displays like the Disney Chefs.
- Except… maybe I can only make the floor/ground. Of the Disney Nature one. Because the rest were more like this.
- Disney communication in unique situations like hurricanes is less than stellar…
- but they will ultimately make sure you’re taken care of.
- Glass pyramids probably aren’t ideal for waiting out a hurricane, but they sure add to the experience.
- Soarin’ lines actually come down when the park closes down for a natural disaster.
- Some signs that are barely noticeable under normal circumstances suddenly seem really funny.
- It is as exhausting as you might think to wait in a food court/gift shop for two hours to buy groceries for an impending quarantine.
- While we’re grateful that we were taken care of (and, you know, that the hurricane didn’t actually show up this far inland…), each hotel’s “Ride it Out” teams may provide different experiences. For your best chances, book a deluxe, self-contained hotel (access to public areas without going outside) if you’re anticipating being holed up.
- The same teams will work tirelessly to get everything back to normal in the blink of an eye.
- You’re gonna want a few hair ties.
- Yeeha Bob (performing several nights each week at Port Orleans Riverside’s “River Roost”) won’t miss a beat. Literally or figuratively.
- Not all Dole Whips are created equally (but they all make a great breakfast).
- The Muppet Mobile Lab is back, and it’s so very cool!
- The Tree of Life at night is still perfect.
We also discovered that the Mitsubishi Mirage (which starts at $12995) – even with the sedan style that comfortably sat four – gets incredible gas mileage (37/43mpg). The curfew was (thankfully!) lifted on the Friday afternoon of our trip, though the parks weren’t yet open, and we’re glad we didn’t burn through a bunch of gas trying to pass the time.
Apple Car Play is alive and well and fully-implemented in lots of new cars now. We just bought a car this year, but it’s a 2014 – so we just missed it. I can’t wait to check it out… but even if you don’t use an Apple product the Mirage has tons of entertainment options including a very straightforward Bluetooth setup.
I enjoyed driving the Mirage well enough, but it was admittedly a little loud in the cabin – both from an engine standpoint and hearing outside noise. Otherwise I had no complaints. I was really impressed how nice it felt, after not knowing what to expect from Mitsubishi.
And I was impressed now much fun a few friends can still have in Walt Disney World, even in a hurricane.
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