Seals

On 9/21/2018 at 10:07 PM, rtguy007 said:

He was really cool when we were there. He did some cool tricks for the kids and talked with us for a little bit. We were at the Edison around 4pm and it was pretty dead so I think we got a little extra attention.

One thing if you dont know, they will tack on an entertainment fee on your check. Wd didnt know that until the bill came. Was a noce surprise they snuck in there.

Disney Parks Blog says cover charge after 10 pm when it becomes an adults only venue:

The Edison is now open Sunday-Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Thursday-Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Guests at The Edison must be 21 years or older starting at 10 p.m. Thursday-Saturday nights. There is a cover charge of $15 per guest beginning at 10 p.m. Additionally, The Edison has an enforced dress code Thursday-Saturday evenings beginning at 10 p.m. (men must wear slacks, jeans or dress shorts. No ball caps, sleeveless shirts or flip-flops are permitted. Jackets are optional). 

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/01/the-edison-is-now-open-at-disney-springs/

From January but I couldn't find anything that says otherwise. You should get your $ back.

On 9/21/2018 at 6:08 PM, keith_h said:

Now just imagine a kid who talks like that and listening to them about a year later after moving to the south. Would you call that a South Boston accent?

Where'd y'all pahk the cah, bless your heart?

My Mom lived in NJ for over 50 years and never completely lost her Boston accent.  I've lived in the South for over 30 years and haven't completely lost my NJ accent, although I have been known to say "all y'all" instead of you guys.  

3 hours ago, Travisma said:

, or got directions from some local that you could only understand every 3 words.

It's not too fah. Get back in your cah and go past the pahk and then turn by the bah.

(I've got lots of Boston relatives!)

On 9/18/2018 at 9:55 AM, Specularius said:

The Lower Algiers ferry for 4 people should have been about $5. $2 if they didn't charge for the extra passengers.

 

Yes, it wasn't expensive and was actually fun.  But it did throw us even further off schedule (we were going to "make a short stop at the park and then head out").

On 9/18/2018 at 7:40 AM, DaveInTN said:

I was thinking cost prohibitive for the customer.   How much must the dog sitting cost?  Aren't there local dog sitters?  The whole thing makes no sense to me, but I find that to be the case a lot lately.  

Apparently some people do it for the chance to stay free in another location. Win-win.   I’m 26 and Travel Around the World as a House Sitter. Here’s How I Make It Work

Ours wasn't treacherous, just funny.  It was a few years ago and we were using our gps. We were in New Orleans and trying to get to Chalmette Battlefield National Park. We'd gone the wrong way because of traffic or something and were having our usual arguments about directions, whose fault it was, the boys were of course bored and wanted to get out of the car, etc. Finally the gps said the park was only a mile or so away.  We followed the turns and came to the Mississippi River and a sign for a ferry!  The park was on the other side. And so was the ferry at that point.

The gps had names for the voices and the one we used was called Michelle and one of my sons had nicknamed "her" Shelly.   So we had a lot to say to Shelly about that one. Although it was sort of cool to cross the river that way.  

Dollywood announced its expansion called Wildwood Grove that will open next year. It will be part of the current park rather than a separate park. Looks great especially for little kids. I may have to borrow one and go.

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/2018/08/03/dolly-parton-announces-new-largest-dollywood-park-expansion-wildwood-grove-pigeon-forge-37-million/827969002/

LOL   Hadn't seen this before either. I love it.    “No trip to Disney is complete without everyone in your party losing all emotional self-control.”    Not that I've ever experienced this either as a child on family trips  or as a parent.   And, thankfully, the memories are always magical.

Following along. The Olaf photo is great!  I think the more people one feels responsible for making happy on a trip the harder it is.

I just texted this important information to the rest of my family and immediately got back a picture from one of my sons already drinking one ! 

LOL I hope you brought some other food. Reminds me of the commercial where the father and daughter are fishing and he says he guesses they'll be eating cereal for dinner.

Looks like a nice location. 

On 6/17/2018 at 12:44 PM, AuburnJen said:

4.) Red hero phones – Winston tells some of the heroes about red phones which were direct lines to supers when his parents needed them. Those phones are exactly what was used to call Batman and Robin in the old Batman TV series.

 

Saw Incredibles 2 on Saturday. I noticed this!   (I'm old). 

12 hours ago, Cortezcapt (Derek) said:

Tide Tables and Star fish Company are the restaurants I'd most recommend, both are very laid back/come as you are type places run by locals who were born and raised in Cortez. Star is located in part of a old fish house and located next door to a working fish house. Tide Tables is located right on the intercoastal waterway and actually occupies the building we ran our party fishing boats out of for 25 years before moving to the north side of the bridge and later getting out of the business. If you like to fish check out Captain Sam with Legend Fishing Charters.

We ate at Starfish Company.  Food was excellent, staff was friendly and eating right on the water and watching the birds and boats was perfect. I love places like that.    I'd like to explore that whole area more some time. 

Yup, totally agree. We took our kids on many road trips starting when they were very young. We visited most of the major cities on the east coast and went to Canada twice, including an adventure to Niagara Falls, Toronto and Cedar Point last summer. This summer I felt I had to give my now college student the option of going with us on a road trip to a wedding  and he chose not to (although I'm not proud to say I'm now trying to guilt him into it).  As for them remembering. every so often I pull out a photo album and show my kids a trip we took when they were younger and they actually enjoy seeing the photos and hearing my stories (if they are brief) as long as they are in the photos and the stories are about them. 

Enjoyed your trip so much. The photos are stunning. I can only imagine the real views were even moreso. 

To me this just says "you picked the wrong time to come to Hollywood Studios.  But spend your money today. And then come back and spend more money when all the fun stuff has opened."  And also, isn't it weird that it says  "is in the midst of a multi-year expansion, where Guests can have their own adventures together in the immersive worlds of ..." instead of "will be able to have their own adventures..." Because you can't have that adventure during the expansion only when it's done. 

On 5/30/2018 at 3:32 PM, Travisma said:

Did you do the mermaid show at Weeki Wachee?

Been to Clearwater aquarium.  Did you go to their building in downtown?

Did you go to Anna Marie Island.  When the weather is good, the water is a beautiful aquamarine color and crystal clear.

Desoto is where we purchased our senior passes.  There isn't a lot to see there, but the path thru the woods is interesting.

We been in Tampa for 40 years and haven't been to the Plant Museum.  Have been to UT for a lot of functions.

Tampa finally got their act together and have a semi-decent riverwalk.

We did both mermaid shows. We went to the main? aquarium at Clearwater Beach. Is there another one downtown? We ate at a seafood resaturant in Cortez, drove across a bridge to Bradenton Beach, drove north and then across the next bridge. That's Anna Maria Island right? but we didn't stop. I liked that area though. I (half) jokingly said I'd found my retirement location.  I was quite full from dinner so we didn't walk on the path at Desoto but it looked pretty. It was very peaceful there. 

I still want to do a trip report. I'm going to try to figure out the photo thing. I closed my Photobucket account when they changed their rules, but didn't they change it back to free again? I also need to figure out how to get my photos back from the icloud.  The ones on my phone are lower resolution versions. My older son is home from college now so maybe he can help me. 

I keep thinking I might do a trip report, but with no time and no photo posting service, I'm not sure that's ever going to happen. But my husband and I took a Spring Break trip and visited several "other Florida attractions" in early April.   I was going to call my trip report  "Dolphins and Mermaids and Florida History, Oh My."   We visited the following places:

Weeki Wachee State Park

Indian Rocks Beach to see the sunset (2x)

Clearwater Marine Aquarium + Dolphin Adventure Tour

beach town driving tour from Clearwater Beach to Pass-A-Grille Beach 

Ringling Museum in Sarasota

DeSoto National Memorial in Bradenton (it was closed since after 5 pm but could still visit the grounds)

SS American Victory, Tampa

Henry B. Plant Museum at University of Tampa

Ybor City Historic District, Tampa

I enjoyed and would recommend all of them, especially if one is interested in dolphins, mermaids, beach towns and Florida history. 

When we went to Universal in 2012 it said Mythos was the best restaurant in a theme park.   i remember because that made me want to try it but we never did. I'm doubting one restaurant can hold that title for that long.

Unfortunately, you're probably going to get wet either way.   Dollywood 100x over Six Flags, but Atlanta has Aquarium, Coke Museum, College Football Hall of Fame you can do indoors. And possibly walk from your hotel?  vs driving Knoxville to Dollywood.  I'm sure you'll have fun whichever you choose.  

1 hour ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

It's pretty amazing how fast the ship moves away from the island when it's time to go. Docking is a slow process that seems to take forever, but when it's time to go, they go. These next three photos were taken one minute apart, beginning at 5:01 pm:

 

Like ripping off a band aid.  It lessens the pain of leaving when it goes quickly.

1 hour ago, Beckers said:

At night they also have a fire pit for s’mores. For $10 you get 2 Hershey bars, a sleeve of graham crackers and 10 marshmallows.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great S'mores faces!

I'm really enjoying this trip through your pictures. I've never been to that part of the country. I think I'd have a hard time staying awake driving through West Texas though. And that eerie campground...  I think I'd be sleeping with one eye open. 

13 hours ago, slices said:

Looks like most MK Table Service restaurants are serving acholol now.

On 5/14/2018 at 2:38 PM, GaDawgFan.....Kelly said:

Or maybe you'll care less? 

Most restaurants serving alcohol now; everyone cares less about everything = another win for Disney!

4 hours ago, twiceblessed....nacole said:

WAIT...forgot to mention ROADS.  The roads in Louisiana as we drove through Bossier City and Shreveport on our way to Waco... that stretch was HORRIBLE.  I actually slowed down to 40 mph on I20 and considered slowing down to 35.  Remember this.  This point, could end up being an important part to the trip. 

More on that... later. 

I'll be looking for this. I just looked at Google maps and we'll be going that way on our way home from a wedding next month.  But in a minivan not a motor home.

And severe thunderstorms/tornados  and running out of gas are two of my biggest travel fears. I see you got those out of the way on your first day!

In and I'm already impressed !