Resort Split Stay with MNSSHP (Aug 2025 AKL/SSR)

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Hello!

We got back a week ago from a resort only stay (3 night AKL Kidani and 3 night SSR) with two water park days and 1 MNSSHP. This was our first party and we loved it!!!! First time in Aug and we survived the heat!!! (It actually wasn't too bad since we were inside or in the water mostly)

And I remembered to take pictures!!!

This trip was me, DH (but he mostly worked during the trip), DD6 and DS3

Here is a recent picture of us from our June DCL



We drove from VA but took our time! Usually we drive overnight without stopping while the kids sleep in the car. Spoiler: we preferred taking our time.

Another spoiler: we really enjoyed the laid back style of a resort only (well kinda since we had the party at the end) trip

So here we go!

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Saturday

We left home around 730am. We took my car ...which is the small car. I told everyone they were allowed one carryon and one personal item. And luckily it fit. (We did have DH's much larger car as a back up so it wasn't horribly stressful)





DS3 started on the car snacks before we left the parking lot.

Our first stop was 2.5 hours away: Museum of Life and Science in Durham, NC

We are members of our local science museum which comes with this program that lets us a list of other museums across the country for free so Ive been trying to visit as much as possible basically.

This place was really different and cool.



First we visited the dinosaur garden which had life size statues of dinosaurs. DS3 is currently obsessed with dinosaurs so he was very excited.







The brachiosaurus is his favorite.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Then we visited the animal/nature walk. I liked the bridge down.



It was like a mini zoo around a small lake. There were bears, wolves and lemurs.





DH and I liked this sign and kept shushing the kids and then DS3 thought it was funny and kept telling us to shhhh!





I can't see them in the above picture but I think there's a wolf in there somewhere.

And then there was a metal bridge that went over the lake that I hated because there were bugs flying everywhere. I left the others on it



But then it was lemurs and they were cute.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

DD6 and I were getting too hot and hungry by now so we decided to find a place to eat. Luckily the museum had a cafe and we got a table inside.

DD6 says this was her favorite part of the museum visit.

I regret half of what I ordered. I was in NC so I should have got bbq but I didn't. But at least I got hush puppies for my side and they were amazing! Except they didn't come with honey...
But still so good.

DS3 liked them too. He ate a lot of mine.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Then we went to the bug house.

First up was an enclosed butterfly room. I thought I wouldn't like it because I went to this type of thing with birds before and got freaked out and left. But this was actually really peaceful and cool. They were everywhere! I didn't capture it well in pictures.











I think I liked all the different plants as much as the butterflies. It was just really pretty and serene.

Then we saw this on the way out.....which reminded me of HM.




The next part was pretty gross for me....like cockroaches and spiders but the kids loved pointing at stuff they knew would gross me out.



But at least the kids got to use a microscope

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

It was almost time to get back on the road so we told the kids to pick one last thing so they picked the playground



And then it was gift shop/last bathroom break time.

DD6 had been saving her money all summer and was ready to spend it. And then I bought DS3 a dinosaur but then he said he needed a baby dinosaur so he ended up getting a mommy brachiosaurus and a baby brachiosaurus AND then he said what about the daddy but I said no no she's a single mom. This was supposed to be a budget friendly vacation

They were both happy with their purchases

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

We didn't do everything at the museum. We just kept having the kids pick what they wanted back and forth. I'm guessing there's a whole space exhibit we didn't see since there's a rocket outside???

We had another 2.5 hour drive to Pineville NC. I took a nap on the way while DH drove.

I had reserved a 2 hr time slot (5-7pm) at an indoor playground cafe there.

It was super busy when we first got there but it kept thinning out the whole time we were there. And I got a Spanish style cappuccino which was good.





The kids definitely enjoyed themselves.









Then we got some McDonald's and drove the rest of the way to Jacksonville, FL (5.5 hrs)

Everyone else fell asleep so I got to listen to a Stephen king story

I did get tired at the end though so DH switched with me

Checking in to our hotel was easy. We made it there by 2am





I used my chase points to book the road trip hotels. I am afraid of ending up in shady places but my strategy this time around was to choose hotels with good reviews that were near whole foods grocery stores and it worked really well. This was a nice hotel in a nice area and we felt very safe.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Sunday

We were at the hotel's breakfast by 830am.



And we played some foosball since it was in the lobby.

DS3's baby decided to take a nap while we played



On Sundays we usually study with DD6 so that's what we did next.



Also here are her nails. We went to the nail salon on Friday and then we added stickers.





Then we checked out and went basically next door to Publix to get some groceries for the week. We went in Jacksonville instead of orlando because I wanted the kids to nap on the way to AKL as much as possible.



Then the last 2.5 hr drive to AKL. DH drove and the rest of us napped

And then we were there!!!!

We just checked in and dropped off our bags and groceries because we were headed to Typhoon Lagoon

 

[Counting Stars]

You write such great reports- they are always so much fun to read! It looks like you all had a blast before you even got to Disney- this bodes really well for the rest for the rest of the trip Looking forward to more & thanks for taking the time to share this new trip report!