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Post by wildhuney on Apr 26, 2015 20:56:35 GMT -5
don't know the area or gig, helpful tips and answers would be great! Not festival virgins  |
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Post by wildhuney on Apr 26, 2015 20:58:12 GMT -5
First question: can you watch the festival from the water or is it off limits?
Best suggestions for where to stay , there are 18 of us
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Post by moten33 on Apr 27, 2015 12:18:35 GMT -5
Lats year was the first year that they allowed water access. It is at two points on the beach. Not particularly close to the stage but you can still hear/see a bit. The allow about 100 people per area from what I've read.
The only way to stay at this fest is condos (or houses, which you will need for that many people). I would recommend using vrbo.com as I have found them much cheaper than the brokers in the area but you may be able to find a good deal with Kaiser/Wyndham/Meyer/Brett Robinson. And stay as close to the fest as possible. Walking distance is so helpful for condo trips during the day. And then you wont need shuttle passes as well.
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Post by wildhuney on Apr 28, 2015 9:26:14 GMT -5
Any idea on how many the festival accommodates?
Best restaurants in the area?
Must do tourist stops?
Where do people go after 11 pm?
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Post by wildhuney on Apr 28, 2015 9:27:45 GMT -5
From hoard to coachella and hundreds of DMB we've done it all, looking forward to the beach experience with our crew.
I'm the "clipboard of fun"
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Post by moten33 on Apr 28, 2015 11:16:17 GMT -5
Any idea on how many the festival accommodates? Best restaurants in the area? Must do tourist stops? Where do people go after 11 pm? The limit is 40k people. Last year it was 35k which was up from previous 30k. From what we are assuming, they won't sell out htis year and probably be around the 35k number. The draw of the area is the beach. White sandy beaches, roaring Gulf, great for anything. We had a blast boogie boarding one day. There is some other stuff in the area but if you're there to watch music, party and hang out, a lot of it is probably not worth your while. I do recommend at least one trip to the Florabama to experience it. It is about a 5/10 minute drive up the east side right on the Florida/Alabama boarder. Huge bar with about 7 or 8 stages and live music inside and out. You can get seafood from a takeout window, Bushwackers to drink and get lost exploring all the rooms of the place. It's tilted towards country music but we saw a couple good cover bands there and some singer/songwriter stuff. We'll probably make it there Thursday night since we are skipping the pre-party. After 11pm, there are a few bars right outside the fest. The Pink Pony is usually hopping. We had a good time sitting on the porch of the Gulf Island Grill Sunday night drinking beers and watching them start to tear down the fest. But in general everyone goes to condo or beach parties. You will find people raging on the beach until 4 or 5am. I'm not big on the restaurant knowledge but there are quite a few options. BeachBob and some others can give recommendations. I will just say avoid any of the buffets. We didn't find a decent meal at any of the ones we tried (especially Hazel's). |
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Post by zaj128 on Apr 28, 2015 11:17:35 GMT -5
Any idea on how many the festival accommodates? Best restaurants in the area? Must do tourist stops? Where do people go after 11 pm? Nice to see another DMB fan :thumbsup: -The festival holds 40k, just bumped up from 35k last year -Best restaurant could be answered by some of the guys/gals that are more local. I've come down from Chicago the last 4 years and we usually either jus eat stuff from the grocery store at the condo or get food at Hangout Bar or Sea N Suds. -Tourist stops again I couldn't tell ya. We just come down for the beach, the fest, and the party. -After 11 pm most either head to the small bars along Beach Blvd or hit up the beach itself. People are usually out partying on the beach till like 3-4 in the morning. |
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Post by beachbob on Apr 28, 2015 19:01:36 GMT -5
I am a DMB fan as well. Answers to questions are;
Depends on when you arrive and leave. I arrive Tuesday evening and leave following Tuesday. From Thursday til Monday afternoon traffic and crowds limit what you can do off-site. I park at the condo Thursday and don't move it unless out of beer til Monday afternoon.
Florabama is probably the biggest bar/tourist site and it is about 15 miles east on the beach at the, guess, Florida - Alabama live. They have live music from about mid-afternoon til? Google their website.
Gulf State Park is pretty cool. You may be able to rent a bicycle or just walk the trails. Nice scenery.
Fort Morgan is an old civil war fort with neat stuff to see and I think we saw a tour and history movie.
Lulu's is at the canal bridge on HWY 59. Lulu is Jimmy Buffet's sister so if you are into Buffet, stop in and get a Cheeseburger in Paradise and maybe see dolphins swimming in the canal. Doc's seafood is a good locals place. Cobalts and Cosmos are pricey but, great food and atmosphere. Tacky Jacks is reasonable and also good food and atmosphere. Mud Bugs (bar and dancing) is close to the festival on HWY 59 so it is walking distance from the festival, but the crowd can get pretty crazy. Not for the kids for sure.
Foley has a big outlets mall that is a good place for a rainy day which we hope not to have.
Finally, The Wharf is a mall with outfitters and some good eating places. Toby Keiths if your into a country atmosphere. Check out The Wharf on the internet. The Carmike movie theater is a nice theater and I usually try to catch a new release or two while visiting.
If you stay in Pensacola you might catch a Blue Angels Team practice early in the morning. It is worth getting up early and free to the public. The Naval Aviation museum there was awesome. Walk up and down Palafox street and you will find some outdoor bars, music, nice way to spend and evening.
Hope that helps.
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Post by wildhuney on Apr 29, 2015 18:36:32 GMT -5
Thanks guys! all great info and very helpful.
How's the security? What are they looking for? The usual? Weapons and glass? Or is it a tight bunch?
If anyone would like to give away their favorite place to stay I'd love to hear it, also places to avoid? We are in for the long haul when it comes to being in the heart of the action. When in Gulf shores right?
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Post by beachbob on Apr 29, 2015 20:35:13 GMT -5
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Post by zaj128 on Apr 30, 2015 9:31:20 GMT -5
Yeah finding a beachside condo this late in the game is damn near impossible. A lot of us book up our stuff in the fall the year before.
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Post by moten33 on Apr 30, 2015 10:41:57 GMT -5
I booked my condo the day of last years fest. Last I looked there were some within a semi walking distance still on VRBO.
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Post by zaj128 on Apr 30, 2015 11:23:47 GMT -5
That is insane moten. I actually had like zero luck with VRBO this year and I've used it the last 2 years before. I messaged like 10 diff condo owners and none responded and that was in June last year to get on it early. Im also looking for big units though cus I got such a huge group so that could be it too.
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Post by moten33 on Apr 30, 2015 12:24:02 GMT -5
Yeah a lot of one bedrooms last time I looked. We got an 8 person one. I didn't go last year so I was sitting at home watching the live stream and wishing I was there and found an insane deal on a condo and had to go for it.
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Post by wildhuney on May 4, 2015 12:50:02 GMT -5
what is your favorite part of the festival and what do you think needs to change?
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