Dr. Jones and the Spitting Camel - Link to Alaska Cruise TR 9/18

[eandesmom]

I know we would be all about the drugged up gummy candy! I had to take a couple of Dayquil tonight, and it was all I could do to choke them down. Gummies would have been so much better.

I think there is a huge opportunity here for OTC stuff if nothing else!

 

[eandesmom]

We landed at 7:10. By the time we got our coffee, got on our private DME bus and headed into the wilderness it was about 7:30. Which means we pulled up at WL around 8am!

Crazy huh.

First order of business was to send the crew to the couch to chill, while I checked in. I’d done online check in and as some of you may recall had been told by my TA that I’d be getting an upgrade to water view, high level floor (I’d booked woods view and had requested floors 2-5 with an otter pond view hoping to get a glimpse of fireworks at night).

This was the first time for me doing online check in. No one was in line before me. Now what interested me about this whole thing is that it took at least 15-20 minutes to give me all my paperwork. Which seemed odd given that I’d already checked in, theoretically rooms were assigned and it was a matter of handing me a packet. Yet it seemed to take forever. Maybe I was tired or impatient but I don’t think so, I was in a pretty darn good mood thanks to the private DME and a Venti coffee. Long story short (I’ve NO idea why it took so long), our rooms weren’t ready. They took my info and let me know where we could check our bags in. I headed back to the couch, to my rapidly growing impatient crew, and gave them the scoop. I reiterated that we would NOT know when our rooms would be ready and that it might be as late as 3pm so they needed to pull out what they wanted for the pool and the park if we decided to go to the park and that we’d check the rest with bell services.

This was a difficult concept somehow for K&T. Taylor wanting to hang on to his backpack with the skateboard.

Really? I am pretty sure they won’t let us take that into the park with us and you can’t skateboard around the pool.

Ok, I didn’t say it like that but uh…hello Taylor, anyone home? You want to lug that thing all day?

I also gave Kendall and Eric their birthday buttons which befuddled them a little as it wasn't their exact birthday but Eric put his on like a good sport.

So after some rearranging of suits and the likes, all of course into my Tink tote and Jeff’s daypack (meaning heavy full bags for us) we took the E’s suitcases and assorted additional bags up to bell services to check until the rooms were ready. Finding bell services was a bit confusing. Scaffolding and the like were all around the entry so there was a funky make shift desk tucked off to the side and easy to just whizz right by. Either that or I was slow. Probably the latter. Of course I checked 4 bags, went in and then Taylor decided after all that he would check it so back out I went to add it to the pile. By the time we were done with bags stowed away it was about 8:45, maybe a little later. Our ressies weren’t until 9:25.

Now here is a funny thing (at least to Jeff and I) about WCC. We spent a very full day at WL in 2008, using the pool, hanging in the lobby, going to the mercantile and Roaring Forks. Like at least 6 hours in total, maybe longer.

We never even NOTICED WCC right there, overlooking the lobby. Both of us were like, THIS is where WCC is?

Kind of funny and DOH at the same time.

Seriously. If it was more obvious it would have bit us. We sat, literally, in couches practically next to the entry last year and never, ever noticed it was there. At any rate I went up the stairs to see if we could get in early. Not a problemo at all! Which I’d assumed given how busy (about half to ¾ full) it looked and how easy it had been to get an ADR but given that the WL itself was “full” it was still a relief.

We sat down and perused the menu. Rather quickly our CM stopped by and took drink orders, we got started with (more) coffee, OJ and cocoa’s for the kids and then tried to figure out what we wanted. Evan, of course, wanted off of the big menu. Eric on the other hand was quite content with the kids menu. It was an OOP meal

Evan wanted the adult skillet. No way jose. Instead we let him get pancakes off of the kids menu. Eric went for the kids skillet, for me it was the Raisin Bread French Toast. If memory serves Kendall and Taylor got a waffle and Jeff the basic 2 egg breakfast. Which surprised the heck out of me. I for sure thought Jeff would go for that all you can eat skillet. I have the receipt somewhere so I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure that’s what everyone got.

Orders placed, I took this opportunity to change clothes, wash my face and freshen up and reorganize my tote, dump a few more things into the bags at bell services, I had zero intent of wearing what I’d basically slept in, to the park lol!

While we waited for our food, suddenly someone ran over and stuck ketchup on our table. My entire family looked at the guy (probably in his early 20’s) like he was nuts. And then shrugged it off. Soon after a CM yelled that a table needed ketchup and people began flying across the restaurant, delivering ketchup. My entire family at everyone like they were nuts. And then shrugged it off. To say they were a little zoned out, slap happy and sleep deprived is…an understatement. Like eating with zombies. We discussed what to do. K wanted to hit the pool. It was 9am and that seemed a little early to the rest of us. So it was decided that we’d hit MK and then head back for the pool after a couple of hours over there.

While we were waiting I handed out pins for trading, the boys were pretty excited about that, Kendall could have cared less but Jeff took a couple of pins for himself. I also handed out cards my mom had made which included a little extra souvie money. Even with gifts at breakfast the gang was pretty mellow. I just kept drinking the bad coffee, we made everyone guzzle water and juice in preparation for the heat.

Finally, our food arrived. I wouldn't say the food was lightening fast that's for sure. I'm guessing at least 20 minutes after we ordered, maybe closer to 30 which seemed long at breakfast. It felt like 30. Then again, we just wanted food.

Let me say this. If you are ordering OOP that kids “all you care to eat” skillet is by FAR the best deal around. Who needs to eat more, the thing was HUGE!l TWO mickey waffles, sausage, bacon, scrambled egg, gravy, and the potatoes. And it's "all you care to eat" so refills on anything. Granted, I doubt they'd let an adult get away with it but still, a 10 or 11 year old? Probably.

You can see Taylor's waffle behind the skillet and the top of hte kids pancake platter.

My French toast wasn’t too shabby looking either!

And yes, it’s true; these were my first official pictures of WL. Food. I realize that I was lame and this makes this part of the TR not quite as cool. No stunning lobby, no check in, no zoned out gang on the couch. The camera was buried alive and I was warming them up as to just how many pictures I’d be taking. I didn’t want to alienate them all early, you know? I did take pictures later but in the spirit of being true to the TR all you get for now is a kids skillet and my French Toast.

While we were eating the horse races started but the kids were not into it. And in all fairness the kids participating were quite a bit younger and had WAY more energy than my kids did at that time. It didn’t seem to annoy them so that was good, I’d been mildly worried bout it. I could tell the sugar in the syrup had kicked in nicely when the next call for ketchup came and both Eric and Evan went flying across the room to get the dreaded bottles off of our table.

Everyone seemed to enjoy all their food, plentiful servings and it all got inhaled. Well except for Evan’s pancakes. Which were TWO pancakes as big as his head. Even though it was the kids meal. They were HUGE It reminded me a lot of my DISmeet with Winkers and poor Hunter couldn’t quite eat all of it. Jeff wasn’t thrilled but heavens, it was too much!

Interestingly enough it didn’t stop Evan from eating more bacon off of Eric’s skillet when they refilled it without asking. More Bacon! Yeah, limp Disney bacon but they didn’t care.

I enjoyed my French Toast. Overall I guess I’d give it a thumbs up. I’d eat there again but it’s not a priority. It was perfect for what we needed and nice to sit down. Would I go there for breakfast if it was a local place? Absolutely. I think I just expected a little more out of the food for some reason.

Calmer might have been good given our zombie state but once a little food was in people I think the energy of the place perked some of us up and amused others. It was good but not earth shattering. Which, granted is hard at breakfast. I did nibble on some of Eric’s biscuits and gravy (with a little scrambled egg) and I enjoyed that more than my French Toast. Which was good but a little rich and sweet for my taste (and I knew that was a risk when I ordered it so shame on me) For some reason I think I didn't expect the cinnamon icing to be as sweet. Hello dork, it's ICING. If I'd have had them leave it off I'd have enjoyed it more I know.

Personally I think they need a biscuits and gravy breakfast that isn’t as giant as that skillet, it would do well. I'd probably have given it a much bigger thumbs up had that been an option, it was really good and I was too fully from my french toast to eat much of it.

Bottom line is it hit the spot, filled us up and fueled us to get us going again! Eric did get a birthday cupcake at breakfast, which was pretty funny. He somehow managed to eat it too!

By about 10 am I think, breakfast was complete, the bill was paid, and it was time for…

The Magic Kingdom!

I was SO excited, on the last 2 trips, MK was not our first stop so this just seemed….perfect to me. Would it be?

Paging Mr. Morrow

 

[KatMark]

Great update. I can't imagine WHY it took so long with online check in for you to get your information? That makes no sense and defeats the purpose of the online check in.

Can't believe you didn't notice WCC when you were there last time (each time we've visited it's been so noisy that you can't miss it). Would you recommend breakfast? We did dinner there in 2008 and did not care for it at all and wouldn't go back, but we might consider breakfast.

 

[vamassey1]

Ahhhh, you're first Disney meal. Good job getting that food porn.

We enjoyed our dinner there in 2009 very much, but we were awake and ready for some fun. Overall it does sound like it served it's purpose.

I wish check in had gone better for you.

Now that everyone is sugared up I'm looking forward to MK!

 

[that's nice]

I can't understand how the online check in line goes slower than the regular line. Not only that but how all your info that is already in a packet takes so long to 'locate' is 'not in the correct area' or 'did not contain all the documents' UGH!

I wish you has a pic of your family chillin' on the couches in the lobby.

Nice to see there were some antics at WCC. I didn't realize they had a breakfast skillet. Interesting.

Can't wait for the MK!

 

[Flossbolna]

I am slowly catching up on my DIStime. And finally get around to comment! Red-eye flights aren't fun.

We have them usually travelling back from the US to Europe and with the time difference on top it is rather exhausting. But last time I found out that using earplugs makes such a difference! And if you manage to get some sleep I agree it is the perfect way to adjust quickly to the new time zone.

I don't understand why online check-in took so long for you. I think for us it was a 5 minutes procedure and I loved it.

It sounds like you are a perfect example that it is possible to eat at WCC without taking part in any of the fun stuff there. The good thing is that it is optional and that nobody is forced to participate. I guess they realized that you looked tired and therefore did not play it up too much for you. But a long wait for the food does not sound very good...

 

[Charleston Princess]

I think you were all doing pretty well considering how little sleep you had gotten. I would have been asleep in my french toast, for sure. Too bad your rooms weren't ready, but I guess 8:00 is a tad early for that. Breakfast sounds like it was just what you needed, and I am glad Taylor decided to go ahead and check his bag with bell services. That's okay that you didn't take many pictures -- I wouldn't have even managed the french toast and kid's skillet! Onward to the Magic Kingdom!

 

[natebenma]

Thanks for the info and pictures of breakfast at WCC. My youngest son, the eating machine, would be all over that skillet! We have never eaten there or in fact visited the WL. We wanted to checkout the lodge during our trip after one of our MK days, but the boys did not want to go to look around. So I will be very interested in seeing photos once you, and your camera wake up!

 

[natebenma]

doble post! oops!

 

[englishrose47]

My impression of WCC was much the same it was okay and I would eat there again but is not top of the list!!We had supper and the skillet is HUGE!!!
As for online check in !!The first 2 times I used it GREAT!!The last time it was awful!!4 CM's on the counter 1 on the phone , 1 left for lunch the3 rd was held up with a dang online check in that had 2 million ???'sThe 4th finished her check in and went to lunch I waited and waited and the regular line moved quickly!! I was MAD!!There I stood !!! Finally #3 was done and apologised but I really think they need to do something NO way should that 2nd CM have gone to lunch leaving me in line !!!

 

[eandesmom]

Great update. I can't imagine WHY it took so long with online check in for you to get your information? That makes no sense and defeats the purpose of the online check in.

Can't believe you didn't notice WCC when you were there last time (each time we've visited it's been so noisy that you can't miss it). Would you recommend breakfast? We did dinner there in 2008 and did not care for it at all and wouldn't go back, but we might consider breakfast.

I'm guessing we didn't notice it because we were in the lobby in the middle of the day so in between meals for the most part. It was good but not earthshattering. If I was staying there I'd do breakfast again and probably pick that over the dinner menu but I wouldn't likely make a special trip for it.

The online check in CM seemed to take so long because it was 2 rooms? I don't know, it seemed like he went back and forth gathering things a million times. There was no line on either side so regular check in couldn't have been any slower.

Ahhhh, you're first Disney meal. Good job getting that food porn.

We enjoyed our dinner there in 2009 very much, but we were awake and ready for some fun. Overall it does sound like it served it's purpose.

I wish check in had gone better for you.

Now that everyone is sugared up I'm looking forward to MK!

I have a feeeling it's a little more mellow in the mornings, it didn't seem as "anticy" lol as I was expecting, which was actually good. I don't think we came across as grumps, just a bit quiet. I did just recall a couple of things we did during the long wait for food so going to go edit.

I can't understand how the online check in line goes slower than the regular line. Not only that but how all your info that is already in a packet takes so long to 'locate' is 'not in the correct area' or 'did not contain all the documents' UGH!

I wish you has a pic of your family chillin' on the couches in the lobby.

Nice to see there were some antics at WCC. I didn't realize they had a breakfast skillet. Interesting.

Can't wait for the MK!

Exactly! It was the located and "all the documents" thing that somehow took forever and was complicated by the 2 rooms...

That kids breakfast skillet was something else, I can only imagine how gargantuan the adult one is.

I'd have gotten the evil eye if I took a pic of anyone on the couch at that moment in time.

 

[eandesmom]

I am slowly catching up on my DIStime. And finally get around to comment! Red-eye flights aren't fun.

We have them usually travelling back from the US to Europe and with the time difference on top it is rather exhausting. But last time I found out that using earplugs makes such a difference! And if you manage to get some sleep I agree it is the perfect way to adjust quickly to the new time zone.

I don't understand why online check-in took so long for you. I think for us it was a 5 minutes procedure and I loved it.

It sounds like you are a perfect example that it is possible to eat at WCC without taking part in any of the fun stuff there. The good thing is that it is optional and that nobody is forced to participate. I guess they realized that you looked tired and therefore did not play it up too much for you. But a long wait for the food does not sound very good...

I have a hard time with earlplugs but Jeff swears by them. My ipod worked pretty well although I've got to get new pad things for them so I'm not lopsided!

I think breakfast was a little more mellow. I didn't feel like we were being scrooges, just quiet. Our CM was super nice and chatty without being too obnoxious. Seriously check in, especially given that our rooms weren't ready and I didn't have any questions for them, took WAYYYY too long.

I think you were all doing pretty well considering how little sleep you had gotten. I would have been asleep in my french toast, for sure. Too bad your rooms weren't ready, but I guess 8:00 is a tad early for that. Breakfast sounds like it was just what you needed, and I am glad Taylor decided to go ahead and check his bag with bell services. That's okay that you didn't take many pictures -- I wouldn't have even managed the french toast and kid's skillet! Onward to the Magic Kingdom!

It's not impossible to have the rooms ready so I was really hoping but wasn't entirely surprised either. It had been a huge bonus in 2004 when they were ready that early and it did make me wonder what time they'd be ready at the YC later in the week.

Breakfast hit the spot. I do think it's the right thing to do right after the red eye for sure! I might pick something more mellow next time but this was about as convenient as it could have been so was definitely the right choice.

Thanks for the info and pictures of breakfast at WCC. My youngest son, the eating machine, would be all over that skillet! We have never eaten there or in fact visited the WL. We wanted to checkout the lodge during our trip after one of our MK days, but the boys did not want to go to look around. So I will be very interested in seeing photos once you, and your camera wake up!

The skillet was cool! It would have been the perfect size, or even too big, for me!

My impression of WCC was much the same it was okay and I would eat there again but is not top of the list!!We had supper and the skillet is HUGE!!!
As for online check in !!The first 2 times I used it GREAT!!The last time it was awful!!4 CM's on the counter 1 on the phone , 1 left for lunch the3 rd was held up with a dang online check in that had 2 million ???'sThe 4th finished her check in and went to lunch I waited and waited and the regular line moved quickly!! I was MAD!!There I stood !!! Finally #3 was done and apologised but I really think they need to do something NO way should that 2nd CM have gone to lunch leaving me in line !!!

the funny part is there wasn't even a line, I walked right up!

 

[manntra]

Mmmmmmm I do enjoy breakfast.... I don't think I would have been awake after your flight to care about the whole ketchup charade!!! I rarely eat breakfast in my real life but when I am there I do like the breakfast buffets....I have a serious problem with the scrambled eggs It's the only time I ever eat them
I need a nap now thinking about your flight and then breakfast and now you are on your way to MK

Tracy

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

wow that was a good amount of food for the skillet...i know we had plenty of food inour adult dinner skillet when we went, and i liked almost allof it...

what was different in the adult skillet compaired to the kids one?

 

[glennbo123]

Cynthia, nice update.

I understand easing your fellow travelers into the idea of being photographed a lot...but that's what the plane ride is for. (I suppose it's reasonable that nobody wanted their picture taken after a red-eye flight.)

I don't get the online check-in. They're really pushing it -- there were a bunch of questions about it on the after-trip survey that Disney sent me, but I have seen very few posts where people thought that it helped them have a faster/better check-in. Most of what I've seen have been experiences like yours.

Bell Services got their hands on your bags too! They demand to handle your luggage, I tell ya!

I can't believe you didn't know where WCC is!

That kids skillet sounds great. I wish I could get that!

 

[praisehisname]

I'm joining in and all caught up!

 

[tinacaplan]

Great update! When I thought we were going to stay at the CR, I wanted to make an ADR for Whispering Canyon. Sounds like fun, particularly for little kids.

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

That is so funny that you missed seeing the WCC, because we did the same thing. We went to WL years ago during the holidays to see the lights & there was a bad storm outside. We sat in the lobby & looked at the tree for a while, but didn't wander the resort very much.

When we went back on our last trip, we walked in & went right towards the gift shop. Only when we returned a lot later did I hear some loud people coming from that area & realized that it was WCC. I kept looking at it, saying, "Is that really a restaurant?" I don't know what was so hard to comprehend about it.

The breakfast pictures look great! Hopefully everyone got a good energy boost for the MK!

 

[winkers]

 

[MEK]

It took me like 60 seconds to check into the VWL and then 30 seconds to lose the key cards. What the heck took so long?

Your french toast does look pretty darn good and that kids skillet - yum. I am getting pretty hungry now looking at your pics. No grand lobby, no totem pole, no fire place - NOPE -FOOD!

That's OK you are forgiven....you were sleep deprived and not your usual self.

Taylor and the skateboard - yikes!

At least you didn't lose anything!