Marceline ... is it worth it?

[eeyorethegreat]

I wasn't sure where this should go and if a Mod wants to move it to an appropriate forum no problem, I just couldn't find one that I thought was a good fit and it didn't seem to go on the Community Board either... I figure here there are many and with that various travel experiences.

Anyway onto my question... We were planning on going to WDW in July. Reaearched the Y.E.S. individual enrollment found classes the kids really wanted to take. Researched vacation homes (as this was a trip we were to keep costs to a minimum). Well anyway the Army threw a monkey wrench in a nd we won't be able to go during thost time. We can go towards the end of July but DH was asking if there was someplace else we would rather go... Personally Mickey always wins out for me but since it isn't all about me. I mentioned Marceline, MO . It would be a different kind of trip but about the same distance give or take as it would be to drive to WDW as we had planned. Also woul have a little bit of Walt thrown in there to boot. So anyone ever been there and is it worth the 1500 mile trip to get there?

ETA The reason that WDW is being considered to maybe take off the table is because the classes they wanted to take aren't available during the new time that we now have available.

 

[jpeka65844]

I would encourage you to do some research about what's really there before you travel 1500 miles. Marceline is about 2 1/2 hours east of KC (where I live) and 3 1/2 hours west of St. Louis. It seems to be in the middle of nowhere.


Here's a blog by a visitor....

http://www.startedbyamouse.com/features/Marceline01.shtml

Might be a good place to start!

 

[eeyorethegreat]

Thanks! I did a search and realized it is a little town. Heck even the movie theater has closed. After some more thought we are talking about doing a road trip sort of thing and traveling on Rt 66 detouring to Marceline. Going out to the Mo edge of Rt 66 and following it back to Chicago. then on home. Actually we have always wanted to do a trip out to CA and then DL following 66 but with the Military schedule it really doesn't allow for the time.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Marceline is very small, I can't imagine driving 1,500 to see it, but I do know if I was driving somewhere and could detour through Marceline, I would just to see Walt's Dreaming Tree.

 

[IHeartTink04]

Do not drive 1,500 to see it!! I have been there and while it is neat to think that is where Walt is from and got his inspiration, it is not worth that drive to see!

 

[medicjch]

Let me put it this way......I'm about an hour and a half away from Marceline and I have yet to take the kids there. A month or so ago, I was driving though Marceline for work and after about 10-15 minutes, I was done. Now, I would really like to take a trip back just to see their old train depot that they have made into a Disney museum, but that is an afternoon trip. I would certainly not consider Marceline a destination unto itself. If you are in the area and want to spend an afternoon.....that is about what it might be worth.

Side note......I'm not sure, but I thought I heard the "Dreaming Tree" was damaged or died a few years ago, so it isn't there anymore. Maybe I just need to do a research trip on that one.....

 

[Tigger1]

"I took the kids to Marcelene many years ago I think when they were celebrating Spirit of Mickey,. Marcelene is sorta on the way to my mothers.
It was a small town type celebration. I would do it again but only if I was on the way to my parents house. Like what someone else said, 15 minutes might be all you need to see the town.

 

[scrappinDW]

We went there last year and I loved the little museum. The tour guide was great.
We also went out to Walt's barn and visited the Dreaming Tree. The first one was destroyed but they started a new one with a 'twig' from it.
I think it might be boring for kids (and my husband) but I loved it.

 

[jrtoastyman]

I've never been, but I've lived in St. Louis, KC, and Columbia for collectively 14 years, and I'd never heard of it before I started reading up on Disney. Hard to imagine it being enough of a tourist destination to merit that sort of drive. If you happened to be heading this way anyway, perhaps, but even as Walt's inspiration for Main Street USA, it remains a tiny town in the middle of nowhere.

 

[mnra]

Let me put it this way......I'm about an hour and a half away from Marceline and I have yet to take the kids there. A month or so ago, I was driving though Marceline for work and after about 10-15 minutes, I was done. Now, I would really like to take a trip back just to see their old train depot that they have made into a Disney museum, but that is an afternoon trip. I would certainly not consider Marceline a destination unto itself. If you are in the area and want to spend an afternoon.....that is about what it might be worth.

Side note......I'm not sure, but I thought I heard the "Dreaming Tree" was damaged or died a few years ago, so it isn't there anymore. Maybe I just need to do a research trip on that one.....

Ok I was in Marceline last summer and spent a good part of the afternoon. The dreaming tree was struck by lightning and is still alive and another one put up (by the disney grand kids) The museum is well worth the trip if you are in the area. The lady who runs the museum Knew Walt personnally since her husband was involved in buying the land in and around Mareline for the project that Walt had comtemplated for their before his death. Other then the museum and a quick look at main street it is a small town but does give you a sense of why certain things are certain ways in the parks. We found it very interesting.

 

[Elmo888]

After some more thought we are talking about doing a road trip sort of thing and traveling on Rt 66 detouring to Marceline. Going out to the Mo edge of Rt 66 and following it back to Chicago. then on home.

Although we didn't make it to Marceline, we did take a similar road trip and had a great time (St Louis and Chicago mostly). I actually didn't realize the Route 66 link and had to look it up since we saw so many "Historical Route 66" signs. It was our first family road trip, so we were apprehensive. We were pleasantly surprised!

I did look into going through Marceline, but it just didn't work out.