Alexle2007
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2013
- Messages
- 6,553
Chicago, Dallas or Nashville with a 14 year old? If Dallas, can we get to Centurion Lounge from SW? And any recommendations for things to do?
I'm still working on the 23 night Antarctica, South Georgia, Falkland Islands trip but am wavering and may opt to cross off my 7th continent instead and visit a few countries in Africa which is also a bucket list goal.
Feels good to be planning bucket list trips again!
I’m planning to bring a small umbrella to carry in line (if we even wait in lines) so no one can stand on top of us. People may think I’m crazy but I like some space lol. I don’t want someone breathing down my neckI'm Miami local so my tolerance for Disney inconvenience and high cost is minimal but we spent Saturday at MK and Sunday at HS and I can honestly tell you that the worst of it was the heat. The lines were long but overall not that long - mostly in the 45 minute range for headliners. If you aren't at the very front of the pack for Mine Train, head elsewhere but there was a good 1.5 hours at MK that were great for rides. I do think Disney should do more for shade and shaded outdoor seating. I don't know why they don't install those sail-like shade structures. Eating at MK was miserable with crowds waiting for food outside of each venue. We avoided it by going to Fort Wilderness (which might not be available for long if the restaurant opens) but the same is probably achievable at other monorail / boat resorts.
The walkways weren't nearly as crowded as they used to be so that was very nice. There's no more spacing between groups so you should be aware and be comfortable with it. Overall, the heat is what did us in, not the crowds so if you can handle the heat, you will greatly increase your enjoyment. MK especially, I found to be very manageable and HS definitely empties out around 2pm. I know everyone says how crowded it is but Disney just put out another FL Resident ticket offer and hotel discounts so they must not be hitting target numbers with full price guests.
Chicago if the weather is good.Chicago, Dallas or Nashville with a 14 year old? If Dallas, can we get to Centurion Lounge from SW? And any recommendations for things to do?
Chicago, Dallas or Nashville with a 14 year old? If Dallas, can we get to Centurion Lounge from SW? And any recommendations for things to do?
Chicago if the weather is good.
I say Nashville or Chicago. Both my DD's loved both but then, they liked the shopping aspects of each place. I think there is more to do in Chicago for the non-shopping set.
Thanks! Just booked the Park Hyatt Chicago for 3 nights! DS is definitely not into shopping. He would gladly let me pick out all his clothes.My kids loved Chicago as teens. They were very short trips and they always wanted to go for a longer stay.
The architecture cruises are AMAZING, if you think he might like that. So fascinating.Thanks! Just booked the Park Hyatt Chicago for 3 nights! DS is definitely not into shopping. He would gladly let me pick out all his clothes.
I think it is very doable to plan a last minute trip to Acadia. We did this in 2018 when we cancelled Glacier due to wildfires.
Our top things in Acadia/Bar Harbor
whale watching boat trip
boat trip from Acadia NP with a ranger on board. Stopped at Little Cranberry Island.
Cadillac Mountain drive to the summit. (I see you need a timed reservation now for this)
Low tide and walking across the sand bar to Bar Island
tidepooling
Park Loop Road with lots of stops- otter point, Sier de Monts, Jordan Pond
Hiking. I don’t have the trail names with me but they were some of the easy hikes due to my bad knees. None of the ones with ladders.
Have fun!
I did one when I went to Chicago for work and agree it was awesome!The architecture cruises are AMAZING, if you think he might like that. So fascinating.
This! Absolutely. I loved the architecture cruise!The architecture cruises are AMAZING, if you think he might like that. So fascinating.
We are going to Bar Harbor Maine on August 9th. Can’t wait!!My payment on my package was due yesterday and I cancelled. Everything looks like a mess, the lines seem long and I would’ve been paying more than ever for less than normal. Not worth it.
Now trying to plan a road trip to Maine on 3 weeks notice
If you plan to go to Acadia National Park, you need to make reservations in advance for Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach and Thunder Hole. They started requiring reservations a few years ago because there are so many people. I already have reservations for my trip. Last year Cadillac Mt. was booked solid and we weren’t able to do it. Stewman’s Lobster Pound is a great place to eat on the water. We love doing the Nature Cruise. We saw porpoises last time we went. Southwest Harbor is nice too and close to Bar Harbor.So far I have 3 nights in bar harbor to visit Acadia national park. This is just at a little motel, booked through the UR portal. It claims it just bought by new owners and the rooms have all new interiors since April. Not fancy, but clean, walking distance to bar harbor and a mile from the 3 to Acadia. then 3 nights at the Sebasco harbor resort which looks awfully nice. Trying to hunt down 2 nights in Boothbay harbor and a reservation for the cabbage island lobster bake.
A different trip than Disney, but hopefully fun. I rescheduled Disney to spring break in hopes things will really be normal by then. Bonus of far better weather than august.
If anyone has suggestions for Acadia or bar harbor, I’d love them.
I want an earlier toppolinos. Mines at 11Ugh just got the text for a Chef Mickey's ADR from TP and I literally still missed it. I was on my phone when the text came in! I really shouldn't complain since I have a 9:20 ADR that morning but wanted something a little earlier. Sigh...to activate another search stat!
I was in Lincoln over the weekend and basically missed most of this outside of them asking for help setting things back up for HS Rodeo finals. ObliviousHopefully they made it back... Storms here were pretty strong, 200k without power, 80MPH winds... Sirens were going off just for the winds alone.
This is at a small airport not far from me...
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Then this one from Epply Airport downtown...
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Another Lincolnite!!!!Is that top one Millard? I'm down the road in Lincoln, I don't think we got hit as bad as you all did. Though I may have slept through the bad stuff, I don't know, lol.
So far I have 3 nights in bar harbor to visit Acadia national park. This is just at a little motel, booked through the UR portal. It claims it just bought by new owners and the rooms have all new interiors since April. Not fancy, but clean, walking distance to bar harbor and a mile from the 3 to Acadia. then 3 nights at the Sebasco harbor resort which looks awfully nice. Trying to hunt down 2 nights in Boothbay harbor and a reservation for the cabbage island lobster bake.
A different trip than Disney, but hopefully fun. I rescheduled Disney to spring break in hopes things will really be normal by then. Bonus of far better weather than august.
If anyone has suggestions for Acadia or bar harbor, I’d love them.
Our Epcot plans depend on if they open earlier or not and how many naps Ds is taking. He currently takes 2 but might only take one by September. I was planning to go in the morning to see what we can get done then try again after his naps in the afternoon. I also wanna eat some food from the booths if the lines aren’t too long. We’re very go with the flow. It’s more about Ds walking around and enjoying being there. He could care less about the rides. We’re staying in a family suite at AoA! I’m so excited. We’ve never stayed there. I hope Ds likes the skyliner. I have a breakfast at toppolinos scheduled