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Mardi Gras in Fredericksburg Texas Whoops I forgot to post
LONE-STAR replied to WannaBeImagineer's topic in Trip Reports
You just blew my mind. Don't you know the song "Let's go to Luckenbach Texas with Willie Waylon and the boys". -
Slinky Dog queue isn't wearing well
LONE-STAR replied to ImDownWithDisney's topic in WDW and Disney Park Discussions
Remember the theme, this is all just a kids toy that has been left in the back yard it's going to fall apart. It's all part of the themeing. Next it gets hit by a lawn mower and they build Frozen 2 land. -
30A Camping in Grayton Beach State Park
LONE-STAR replied to WannaBeImagineer's topic in Trip Reports
We had booked a week at top sail the pool was one reason I picked it. But after 3 days of red flag warnings my daughter was done. So we did what any Fort Fiend would do I mean we were already in Florida let's go to Disney. First time we ever booked a trip on Monday night and checked in Tuesday morning. -
Slinky Dog queue isn't wearing well
ImDownWithDisney replied to ImDownWithDisney's topic in WDW and Disney Park Discussions
I didn't see those problems. In Disney's defense I'm sure they outsourced those to a contractor. They probably wouldn't spec any nondestrutcive exams on handrails. It would be easy for a shop to pump out some bad welds if they had a new guy or some other issue. Visually a bad weld can look like a good weld. - Yesterday
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Today I went to the clubhouse to make breakfast sandwiches. We have a micro in are pop but it is low and small. This was a nice size one on a counter and they also had a toaster oven so I could make a few at a time. I was the only one in there so I turned on the tv while they cooked. The boys worked on my bike tire. After all this we headed out. I must say bikes was way better than walking! The bike rack is past security so they take your bike for you then you walk in and take your bike. Not to bad of a line. I forgot the day before a women in front of me had a knife with her. They quickly pulled her to the side and called for back up. Today we are going to California Adventure. Once we got in had to look at a map it looks like MGM but different it felt strange. Cars land was first on the list. We head over there and can't find fast pass machine? Oh it's in A Bugs Land oh of course it would be. Waited in line about 5 min and helped a family new to Disney with how fast pass worked. They had no idea what they where in line for. Pulled fast passes about by now it was close to 10 the passes return time 9:05 pm! We walked around Bugs land a little and headed out. The park was super busy! We walked around a bit talked about what we wanted to do. We ended up on Monster Inc it had a 35 min wait. We all really liked this ride it was really cute. Next my son wanted the water ride wait time was 70 min. He found the single rider line and they went in. I went to get fast passes for the Incredicoaster. I headed over to Pixar Place and found mobs of people. I was waiting in line when my son texted me they had ridden the ride and where all done. I told them I would meet them back there. Fast passes in hand I met them and said lets do the Redwood Creek trail. This is a great area nice and quiet we enjoyed it. We had hopper passes so we went back to Disneyland. My son wanted Pirates again so headed over there only 20 min wait. We then went on the Riverboat and had a bonus ,Princess Tiana was on board with us. I was the first one in line for a picture. After this I suggested we paddle canoes. They both looked at me and said really you want to do that. I had heard it was fun so I talked them into it. We had a blast are guide was great and kept telling jokes. Now we where getting hungry so we headed out. We went back to the camper and cooked on the grill. After dinner was done we headed back. Without our bikes this would not have been possible. We went back in to California Adventure and my son and I rode the coaster my husband was not feeling it. It was a great ride a lot of fun. My son took my husbands pass and got in line to ride again. He was next to get on when it went down for the night. We got lucky we got to ride it when we did. This area was still a mess so headed over to Cars land. We rode the rides in there with little wait has the parade was about to start. We got in line for Radiator Springs and waited about 20 min has by now the parade was ending. Again we all loved this ride! My husband was done for the night and went back to the camper. My son and I headed back to Disneyland. We took pictures of the castle and rode Buzz again. My husband called me and said be careful a homeless man was yelling cuss words in the alley by the resort when he got back. My son and I walked around Main Street and a few shops and headed out. All was quiet when we got back we did not see or hear the man. Another busy day we went right to bed.
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Only been here two years. It didn't find it that bad but would have been easier taking it at our own pace without worrying about the cousin. Looking around the loop I would say there were less tents than March but still some, most with some kind of A/C rigged. A lot of Pop up campers, truck campers and A frames. Also saw a lot of dogs including dogs in tents, and the usual array of Disney rule breaking. Ok, headed off after breakfast July 1st, after a slight rearrange to get the cooler in. Got there about 11am, good thing my kids weren't paying attention as we went through the gate as the guard confirmed the names of everyone on the reservation, not that he could pronounce Sinead correctly. No text so drove up to the window, first time I've done this. I'd faxed a request in previously but they didn't have anything assigned me, fortunately, they had 1513 free. I was hoping for something around 1504 closer to the comfort station like last time, but it's quite a small loop so wasn't that bothered. Got unloaded and the kids helped me setup with tents before heading off to the pool with my wife, while I finished setting up. Last time we camped at the fort I bought my 4 man tunnel tent. Learnt from that and this time I had a 4 man instant cabin tent, which we'd used on a couple of scout trips and a 10 man instant cabin tent, which was new. Getting the rain flies on and everything staked down took longer than I thought. Next time I'm bringing a small step ladder instead of the kitchen steps I had with me, getting the rain fly over the large tent was a challenge. Also had to chase a squirrel out of the car as my son had left a packet of chips on his seat. Took the hint and dumped out the box I had decorations in and made sure I had all food in the sealed box after this. Eventually got set up and headed over to the pool to meet them. I was kind of dreading the pools thinking they would be warm and over crowed. I don't think they were much busier than when we were there in March last year. After that, we headed back to the tents, got the A/C units set up or so I thought. Had a few problems with the portable one and managed to collapse the smaller tent. Changed it to vent out of the vent at the top of the tent rather than the door and it seemed to work. Hadn't had a chance try out the big tent before, using the window A/C worked but next time I will bring some small steps so I can secure it better. It was the big portable unit that I kept having problems with. Doing this again I think I would probbaly consider a second window unit, was glad of what we had the first two nights. Hadn't planned much originally for the first day but we'd heard that Lilo and Stitch's playhouse was closing, and wanted the kids to try it so had booked them in that evening. Was probably more nervous about this than camping in the heat, my son is autistic and has mixed results with these kind of things. We'd booked 'Ohana for dinner as we wanted to stay close just in case, considered Kona Cafe but the menu at 'Ohana appealed more to my wife who isn't big on steak or fish. I thought we'd left plenty of time to get there, but the monorail was down so took a boat from MK to the Poly. Should have gotten the kids there by 5:30 to order food, I think it was more like 6:00 when we checked them in, not a problem though. We headed to 'Ohana, I've done breakfast there before but not dinner. Really enjoyed it, plus we get very few chances to go out without the kids so that was good. Not a huge fan of cocktails but was intrigued by the Lapu Lapu Sinead had gotten in early, talked her through using the magical express and told her to meet us at the campfire. We finished up dinner, looked around the shops for a bit then went to check on the kids. They said they wanted more time, which was great and then about 30 seconds later we got a call saying they had changed their minds. Really glad we tried this, and a shame it's closing. I'm a little more concerned about the Pixar one at the Contemporary because it seems less free flow. Given the monorail was down and we had Sinead waiting we decided to take a minivan straight to the meadows. First time using one and was impressed, worth the cost with a tired child and I decided not to rent a gold cart since I knew we'd be using them instead.
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We have done it in June and August and we did not find it that bad with just fans. Family members with that might bring a little stress. Thanks for the report.
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We drove by DS on I-4 Sunday and saw how far along the next garage is. Those garages are a far cry from the old parking lots where you circled endlessly trying to find a spot. I'm glad that Disney has another hit on their hands, but because it's so crowded that's just another reason I will steer clear of the place. We went over there about a year ago, it was so mobbed we fought our way from the boat landing (which had a huge line of people trying to leave) over to the bus depot and left. I think we went in the Mis-Matched shop and that was it. It was almost as crowded at the premium Outlet Mall on Vineland!
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Mardi Gras in Fredericksburg Texas Whoops I forgot to post
Grumpy and Grandma replied to WannaBeImagineer's topic in Trip Reports
Good job. We loved our trip there in 1977, beautiful in the summer. I thought it was funny to find a German community in the middle of Texas. -
Mardi Gras in Fredericksburg Texas Whoops I forgot to post
Tri-Circle-D replied to WannaBeImagineer's topic in Trip Reports
That's another excellent video, Nick. Luckenbach Texas might be world famous, but I haven't heard of it before. That was a long way for you to go! The food all looks great! TCD -
Tri-Circle-D reacted to a post in a topic:
Mardi Gras in Fredericksburg Texas Whoops I forgot to post
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Slinky Dog queue isn't wearing well
Tri-Circle-D replied to ImDownWithDisney's topic in WDW and Disney Park Discussions
Blake- I'm surprised you didn't mention the failed fences and railings. They have already had to block off an overlook that they built for the Slinky Dog attraction because the welds on the railings failed. Also, they are only operating one exit gate for the Aliens ride for the same reason. They have Castmembers posted at all of the other exit gates blocking them off, and one gate that another Castmember opens and holds open for all of the guests to exit. It is definitely slowing down the capacity for the ride. It's unbelievable how cheap they went, and the dummies are already paying for it. Sadly, I don't think they can afford to shut the whole place down to fix the problems, so it's going to be that way for a while. TCD -
I just got back from spending some time in northern Michigan in our motorhome. We had a great time, and one of the reasons we had a great time is that the weather was beautiful. Highs in the 70's, and low humidity. And even with that, we still ran the A/C in our RV. We chattered our teeth away all night and we loved it. You people that camp in Florida in the summer are nuts. You know, they have these things called interstate highways. Find one with an odd number....those run north/south. Get on it, and drive north until you stop sweating. That's a summer vacation. And in the winter, just do the opposite. That's when you'll find me in Florida.
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I was just at Disney Springs the night before last, and I saw the construction walls for the new Wolfgang Puck location, and the size of the Jaleo and NBA buildings. I honestly can't believe how much has already been built, and how much is about to be added. But, you know what else I saw on a Monday night? Huge crowds of people. Like it was a holiday or something. But, it was a Monday night. And most of them had shopping bags. And the bars and restaurants all had customers in them. I thought Disney Springs was a huge mistake. But, it's just another thing that I was dead wrong about. TCD
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Yup. I've tent camped in July. And, I've been involuntarily without AC in summer months courtesy of hurricanes. I know how brutal it can be. It's not for the light of heart, and especially not for cousins from MA. TCD
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đź‘Ť looking forward to the trip report
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Aww, c'mon, you're a Floridian, no problems tenting in July! We did it for a week 2 years ago for the 4th. No A/C, just fans (and a lot of pool time). Waiting to see the rest of the story!
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30A Camping in Grayton Beach State Park
Tri-Circle-D replied to WannaBeImagineer's topic in Trip Reports
It's really mind boggling to think about the amount of construction we've seen in Seaside and along 30A over the past 20 years that we've been visiting. When we first visited, Rosemary Beach was just empty roads, and Watercolor was an untouched forest. Over the years, we've seen plans for moving the Post Office, and developing the shopping/restaurant area across the street. There have been a lot of plans that were abandoned. It's really interesting how things have still evolved, and are still evolving. We really were hoping to get to Seaside this summer, but with all the girls working, our schedules never aligned. My oldest will be traveling the panhandle for work this fall, and we are hoping for at least a weekend trip to see her. TCD -
https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2018/07/17/disney-springs-has-tons-of-new-stuff-but-some-of-the-biggest-additions-are-yet-to-open Disney Springs has tons of new stuff, but some of the biggest additions are yet to open Disney Springs has seen dozens of new shops and restaurants open as part of the massive update to the former Downtown Disney complex. The crowds have discovered all the new offerings ranging from new retail shops, to new themed dining experiences, to a complete overhaul to the World of Disney store, but some of the biggest additions have yet to open. At least five major new additions are still in the works for the shopping district with various smaller ones, including a reimagining of the Basin store, currently in the works. The first of the five additions to open will be the Chicken Guy counter service restaurant on the ground floor of the Planet Hollywood Observatory. The location, tucked in beside the Planet Hollywood retail shop, was initially rumored to be a burger joint but is now focused on fried chicken, a signature item on the Planet Hollywood menu. Hiring is already underway for the new fried chicken fast-casual concept that will include made-to-order sandwiches, salads, wraps, and soups. Just across the pathway from Chicken Guy will be another new restaurant, though this one will be notably finer dining. The Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill will be the second Wolfgang Puck restaurant for Disney Springs after the, now closed and extremely dated, Wolfgang Puck Café in the West Side district. The new Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill has moved from the West Side to the newly created Town Center section and has shed the 1990’s cartoon-like aesthetic for a sleek, California inspired modern design similar to the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Brill in L.A. The former Wolfgang Puck Café location was leveled entirely and, in its place, another new restaurant is rising. This waterfront site will be the sixth location for Jaleo by Chef José Andrés and the first in the southern U.S. The multi-level tapas-focused restaurant will be the largest and, according to the restaurant's official website, the most spectacular Jaleo yet. Jaleo should open this fall in its brand new glass and metal clad building. Caddy-corner to Jaleo is what will be the most substantial addition yet to open at Disney Springs. According to the Disney Parks Blog, the new NBA Experience will include “immersive experiences, a retail store and an adjacent restaurant” in a high-tech venue that draws inspiration from NBA arenas around the nation. Slated to open summer of 2019, the NBA Experience replaces the now-closed DisneyQuest, but like DisneyQuest, this attraction will include interactive games alongside the new restaurant and retail shop. The final new addition to Disney Springs is an original show at the Cirque du Soleil location next to the new NBA Experience. No details on what the new show will be or when it will open have been shared, but late last year Cirque did confirm the new show will focus Disney's animated films. The show will be a collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Disney. (Now that sounds interesting!) With the new show still likely a year or more away some have speculated that a temporary show might fill the live entertainment demand in the meantime. According to WDW News Today, the original plan was to open the touring show this summer, but parking concerns pushed it back until this upcoming spring after the third parking garage, currently under construction, opens. In the same blog post, WDW News Today points to Luzia as the potential temporary show headed to Disney Springs. The Mexican culture-inspired touring show has no scheduled shows after December 23. Currently, Luzia uses a giant whimsical looking circus tent for its shows. The tent might be used in Orlando allowing for extensive remodeling on the current Cirque Du Soleil theater while still meeting the demand for the show in Orlando. According to WDW News Today, Luzia should open at Disney Springs sometime in the spring of 2019. Past the five additions that have been confirmed other additions to the Disney Springs area includes a new hotel tower at the Best Western Lake Buena Vista on Hotel Boulevard, for which new public documents were just posted on Orange County’s website despite no announcements from any groups involved, and a rumored overhaul to other pre-existing establishments, including both Bongo’s and the Rainforest Café. There’s plenty of new things to check out already at Disney Springs, but the plan looks like Disney wants to keep that fact alive for years to come.
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30A Camping in Grayton Beach State Park
DaveInTN replied to WannaBeImagineer's topic in Trip Reports
Good information....thanks! -
Well, maybe...
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Yes did wonder if I was insane, attempting this. Took two tents this time and really wish I hadn't as it meant taking two AC units, which was mostly why the car was so packed. I already had a portable 1000 BTU unit, and also picked up a 5,000 BTU window unit.
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I''m in, but... "I've got a bad feeling about this" lol hope the cousin made it ok WBI
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30A Camping in Grayton Beach State Park
WannaBeImagineer replied to WannaBeImagineer's topic in Trip Reports
Thank you! We did and we'll be there next year! -
30A Camping in Grayton Beach State Park
WannaBeImagineer replied to WannaBeImagineer's topic in Trip Reports
Thanks TCD! Yeah we're hooked on the Great Southern Cafe happy hour mojitos! Plus all the food there is great! Last summer when their with the inlaws my father-in-law decided we could eat every meal there and be perfectly happy! Oh wow that's a great memory! I bet it was even better back then with a little less crowds! I think we'll end up having years of memories there too, we love it there and I don't see us not going anytime in the near future. Speaking of the trees, in the 7 years I've been going there it has had some changes, but a big one is happening now, have you seen that they are moving the post office? I guess its not the first time, but this time it's moving to where the ATM is, they are going to block that road off completely and add a couple bathrooms. Plus they are changing up Bud & Alley's area, moving the walkway towards the beach instead of through the buildings. Oh and they built a new stage by the school. A lot is happening right now! Do you have any plans for a Seaside trip? WBI -
I'm in. Tent camping in Florida in July? You're a brave man. I can't wait to hear all about it! TCD
