WDWKOOK
NOW WITH LESS TAG!
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2009
- Messages
- 18,106
That's too funny. I threaten DD with stopping. We always jokingly ask her if she wants to stop and before I finish my question she says, "NO!" She thinks it's an old motel graveyard - which it is.Some 40 years ago (dating myself here), we used to drive down to Myrtle Beach every year for vacation and the best part of the trip was reading those South of the Border billboards. I tried to convince my parents to stop and they never did.
A few years ago now as a parent we took our kids to Myrtle Beach for the first time and did the same thing - reading the signs (which didn't seem as numerous or clever as the ones from ages ago). I was excited because I WAS going to stop and show the kids. So we stopped. It was one of the biggest disappointments - the place was a total dump and given this is a Disney board I won't relate the actual language I was using to myself to express what it was really like. My DW was like, this is what you were excited about? Even the kids (who get excited about everything) were like - this place is terrible. Everything was rusted out, broken, not working, it just doesn't stand up to the image and up close it looks even worse than it did from the highway. Fortunately we left without any money spent there (although perhaps stopping at the firework store might have been a worthwhile endeavor).
Oh well, at least I stopped to make the kids happy, but I guess sometimes dreams are better than reality. Not in the case of Disney of course and WL in particular.
I actually was curious what the place was like back in its heyday (did it ever have a heyday?) I found some YouTube videos and there is one very interesting one that's a documentary that I believe was made in the early 80's. The owner, some workers and customers (some none too happy about paying to use the bathroom) are interviewed. It's both funny and sad, all at the same time.
I have stayed at both and they are actually quite different experiences. My biggest issue with AKL is that the bus is the only mode of Disney transportation. While we always have our car available, I prefer a resort that offers more than one mode of escape.Hi all,
I am hoping a WL guru can give me some advice, or at least direct me to which of the almost 200 pages of this topic I might be able to find some direction!:
I have a trip planned for me, DH, DS (5) and DS (2) 10/8 - 10/13 at AKL. I am seriously considering changing to WL solely based on location. I stayed at AKL in May of last year and LOVED it. Part of our decision to stay there was based on the fact that we knew we weren't going to visit Animal Kingdom park, and that was a way the kids could see the animals, but we probably will go to Animal Kingdom this time, so it's not an issue. This will be our last trip to Disney for a while, so I'm weighing staying at some place I know I love vs. trying some place new.
Have any of you stayed at both? I would love to hear the pros and cons of both (if there are any) beyond just location and preference for theming. Is there any advice as to which would be better for a family with a 5 and 2-year old? . I loved the theming of AKL so much I'm afraid I'd be let down by WL. I am more than willing to be proven wrong though
Any help is greatly appreciated!
As Sue mentioned, WL has a direct boat to the MK and a direct bus. There is also a boat to FW and the CR and a walking path to FW. Being right next door to FW is like having another vacation within walking/boating distance. It's so much fun to eat over there or go ride horses or ponies and tour the stables. They also offer water recreation there, too and it's fun to just walk around and look at all the RVs, many of which are decorated year 'round. Unfortunately, you can't do any of that at AKL. There is no water recreation, no bikes to rent, no marina, no beautiful lake or walking paths to other resorts. You can't get to any other resorts except by bus. Of course, there are the animals, which you can't find at any other resort.
I was fine with staying at AKL for just 3 nights and then we moved to another resort (split stay). That seemed perfect to me so I would suggest the same to you. Do you have enough time to do a split stay? I wouldn't stay less than 3 nights for a split (unless it's a late night arrival night). Otherwise, I would suggest booking WL. Your kids are at the age where MK is probably their favorite park, so why not stay where you can get back more easily for nap time.
Ah, Stuckeys - I remember those in Indiana. Did they sell anything other than pecan rolls?Oh wow! South of th e Border!! I grew up in NY, and the folks would load up the family car and we'd drive down to Miami. I loved reading those signs. We even stopped once. I don't remember it being terribly run down but sad to hear its a bit worse for wear now..
We used to stop at Stuckeys too, loved their pecan pie
This makes it seem a lot more real (along with getting my flight booked almost 2 weeks ago. I know, I know. I'm staying at WL & no Whispering Canyon or Artist Point, but my DD is a vegiterian. What are you gonna do? 
