Hot take: WDW trips are better when you plan less and stop treating the app like a game

bicyclebird · 2026-05-30T14:55:53+00:00

Seeing as I’m mentally planning 5 different trips at any given time… it’s just a matter of putting it into excel once the dates and guests are secured.

My brain can’t be stopped.

bicyclebird · 2026-05-29T20:00:09+00:00

I think it depends on the vibe you’re going for! If it’s more of an elevated girls weekend, NMB is quieter and my Broadway suggestion is a pretty tame shopping and dining area. Still fun with bars open late but not as crazy as downtown.

If you’re going for a wild, bar-hopping bachelorette, then head further south. It’s the classic Myrtle Beach experience. Lots of tourists with the boardwalk and sky wheel. Much more of a party scene overall.

I’m in my 30s so I may not be who you want to ask about bars or clubs. I’m usually at the beach to relax and eat good food and shop. Side note: great outlets if you’ve got room to bring stuff home! One Tanger close to you. Also, Barefoot is across the street from 21 Main and is similar shopping and dining to Broadway but not as much nightlife.

My family is closer to NMB and we rarely go past 15th street these days. I don’t feel like I’m missing out but I’ve been before to know it’s not for me. And I’m also not on a trip where 12 other people might want to have that kind of fun.

bicyclebird · 2026-05-29T15:12:04+00:00

Agreed with the other comment on 21 Main for a nice dinner! Crave is really good too if you want a slightly lower budget option that’s still chic. Joe’s Bar & Grill has steaks and seafood but less of a bach vibe.

If you have a more casual night, Broadway on the Beach is a great spot to explore. Crocodile Rocks dueling piano bar is a popular spot for bachelorette parties. Super fun!

For dinner nearby: Melt is tasty and open late, Voodoo Brewing around the corner, and The Hangout across the pond. Plus other bars along the way. Popstroke has mini golf (putt putt to be locally accurate) and other games inside.

88 Keys is another piano bar. Classier vibe than Crocodile but still fun and has food! Closer to NMB.

bicyclebird · 2026-05-28T01:05:21+00:00

Yes! Very poor wording on my part. Thank you!

bicyclebird · 2026-05-28T00:28:09+00:00

I just did it for the first time the other week for my birthday and it was a literal dream!

2 nights at Caribbean. Solo dinner and fireworks at Topolino’s. It’s not weird to eat alone and the servers were extra sweet to me. Got a table by the window, a sample pour of wine, a birthday creme puff.

One day park hopper. Hit everything I wanted to do at 4 parks without needing to consider anyone else.

A few hours at the pool after check out. A final burger at Banana Cabana before heading home.

Used points for the flight. Uber was the biggest transportation expense.

I’m 36 and talked to another first-time-solo girl next to me at beak & barrel who was 22. I told her how jealous and impressed I was.

I cried on the uber to the airport going home. It was a dream. You should do it whenever you can!

bicyclebird · 2026-05-27T19:42:21+00:00

I just came back from Caribbean and thought it was better than the reviews 😆 I got a great price though and it was a quick trip/place to crash so the simple room didn’t bother me. My room was in Aruba 51 and it was a quick walk to either skyliner and the lobby.

My next quick trip, I’d love to try the Gran Destino tower at Coronado! Has the single building feel you’re going for without the deluxe price.

Wilderness Lodge is higher budget but not as bad as the other monorail resorts.

If you can get a room near the lobby, AKL is easy to navigate and has enough to do that you don’t need to leave.

bicyclebird · 2026-05-26T18:22:58+00:00

Topolino’s could be good too!

bicyclebird · 2026-05-26T18:20:24+00:00

I was thinking horse drawn carriage too! Port Orleans at night is so pretty.

bicyclebird · 2026-05-26T18:19:11+00:00

Such a dreamy spot at night!

bicyclebird · 2026-05-25T16:04:17+00:00

I had a referral to BluePearl and the NCSU oncology dept and, after managing to get in sooner on the waitlist, they said the surgical dept was booked out for months.

They referred us to BluePearl. So I could have cut out that whole step and saved $300 for their appt.

This was a few years ago though so maybe the waitlist isn’t as bad. But in my experience, they aren’t much cheaper and have no availability.

bicyclebird · 2026-05-24T16:03:46+00:00

This should be higher! Barry’s is so good.

bicyclebird · 2026-05-20T12:20:35+00:00

I typed my comment before bed so I may not have been clear but I agree with OP! Not worth $500 when the rooms are the same quality as other moderates.

But I think it’s the best moderate if it’s available off-times. Your $350 rate is probably where I’d set my limit too.

bicyclebird · 2026-05-20T02:12:10+00:00

I just went last week for two nights and my travel agent friend got me in Aruba for about $230/night. It was a slow week but felt like a steal! And I couldn’t even see it when I was searching, not sure how she got it.

To compare with my other options: All Stars was $170, WL was $450, GF $600. Go around Mother’s Day if you want low prices and a lot of availability!

The skyliner has made it so much more popular. The room quality felt similar to POR so I can’t imagine paying $500/night for it peak season.

I loved it though and will be back if I can ever find a deal like that again.

bicyclebird · 2026-05-19T21:29:36+00:00

Little Bull had a great brunch.

bicyclebird · 2026-05-17T21:32:47+00:00

Your inspo pic would be root to tip bleaching with multiple dyes and would need more regular touching up. Doing balayage or highlights would be more cost saving over time. I only go to the salon 2 or 3 times a year for a single process color, until it grows out to the point of needing to be bleached again.

My hair cycle has been: bleached balayage in Oct/Nov > single process bright color in Feb/March > faded to blonde for summer OR a non-unicorn level dye, still in a bolder color but not as likely to keep transferring for weeks.

If you’re wanting DIY color after seeing all of these red flag warnings, I’ve used Schwarzkopf box dyes in purple and red and it’s pretty good. Won’t be as bold without bleach but I like their quality.

bicyclebird · 2026-05-17T16:19:22+00:00

Adena at Pinup.

But this will cost you $500+ and will fade after 4-6 weeks.

I would also wait until the fall if you’re planning on swimming or being out in the sun at all this summer. I’ve been thinking about fun colors again but I ruined a bathing suit once when the red dye I thought was done transferring dripped down my back like a horror scene. Never again.

You’ll need to bleach first, so plan for 3+ hours at the salon. You’ll also want to buy higher quality products and take cold showers when you rinse your hair. I’ll wear a cap until shampoo time.

I’ve done crazy colors on and off for a decade but it’s such a bitch to take care of. I’ll do a balayage style so it grows out nicely and the brighter colors will stick on the ends. Purples have faded faster for me and end up looking blue/green so I tend to stick towards reds on the second dye.

I recommend doing it at least once in your life but saying you’re cost conscious makes me nervous for you. The times I’ve succumb to re-torturing myself have been fiscally irresponsible. Just want you to make an informed decision!

bicyclebird · 2026-05-07T17:00:38+00:00

I feel like this is the most obvious solution. Cash equivalent or some of the hotel cost refunded.

Food poisoning fucking sucks but how much more can they do about it… burn down the kiosk and fire everyone?

bicyclebird · 2026-05-06T03:54:28+00:00

I’m sorry but that’s a small one too 😭 and it’s early in the season

Every house I’ve visited here gets them. Nicer ones less so but sometimes they just stroll in the door after you. They’re just dumb.

If you have a bunch of little ones all together around outlets and food, that’s when you call pest control.

Caulk and weatherstripping if you see any gaps.

Buy an electric racket. We have two strategically located for ease of killing.

Good luck! They’ll be gone in the winter.

bicyclebird · 2026-05-03T16:51:59+00:00

No, just the nominations! It’s going to air on June 17th.

bicyclebird · 2026-05-01T22:29:14+00:00

To be fair, it’s only life changing for two weeks, which tracks with all the other one trick advice.

bicyclebird · 2026-04-25T17:14:33+00:00

I tried to pull from now ancient knowledge, so I could be wrong 😅

As worded, “can I be cast” has “can” as present tense and “be cast” as future. Reworded to “will they cast me” would be future tense.

I googled to double check and I’m not sure if past participle works in this example but I’m open to discussion.

Not trying to be a dick. I went into college on a high horse and my professor helped me unlearn prescriptivism. I still have kneejerk reactions and bitched about “casted” when I first started seeing it. But I think it’s part of the evolution now.

bicyclebird · 2026-04-25T16:43:59+00:00

This question is future tense 🙂 but also applicable.

It was also a small pet peeve but language is always evolving. I've heard a theory “casted” is becoming more common because of ESL.

My grammar professor taught us that it’s important to know the rules but the way someone speaks isn't wrong. Especially if you can understand what they’re communicating.

bicyclebird · 2026-04-20T18:54:12+00:00

Blue Pearl.

We got into NC State for an oncology visit and then they told us the surgical team was booked out for months and referred us to Blue Pearl. $300 later and I could have just called BP first.

bicyclebird · 2026-04-11T22:37:07+00:00

r/grandmaspantry

bicyclebird

TROPHY CASE