Because We're Insane: Driving & Triple Split Stay! Updated 10/23. Pg.16

[JenSop]

Hi everyone! I thought I'd work on an update while I wait on hold to get some of my clients switched to Free Dining! Almost two hours on hold already!

DISNEY DAY 4!!!!!!!


Okay, so we got up this morning at 7am and left just after 8am. But whadda ya know - we JUST missed the DHS bus. UGH!!!

Despite not getting to DHS as soon as we would have liked, we still made it to get a good spot for Rope Drop. Besides, we were skipping Toy Story on this trip.


What!?!?!?


That's right - no TSM.

But perhaps you can guess what priority number one at DHS was......





*Cue the music for a galaxy far far away.....*





The new Star Tours ride!!!!


Once they dropped the rope, we ran over to Star Tours and immediately got Fastpasses. Then we got right in the standby line.

The queue area is essentially the same with a few updates.

Of course, Brian was the most excited for this.

We then rode again from the standby line.


After that, it was off to get FP's for Rock'n Roller Coaster, followed by riding Tower of Terror standby.

Now you all know my absolute LOVE of ToT!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!

We also decided to film our DHS footage for the video project. ToT is on my Top 10 list, and I filmed some intros too. Remember also that it was hot. Nothing like being hot and needing to do a project to make a person extra cranky!


It was time to head back to Star Tours to use our FP's.

And there was a Storm Trooper out and about!

More queue shots.....

Waiting with the 3D glasses!

Brian's R2D2 Mickey ears in the post-ride gift shop.

So here's a summary of our three rides on Star Tours that day:

For those of you who don't know, the new ride has SO many combinations. So each time you ride, it might be different. You visit two different planets, plus a jedi comes and give you a message. The planets change and your jedi changes.

Ride 1: We went to Hoth and Coruscant, and our Jedi was Yoda.

Ride 2: We went to Kashyyk (wookie planet) and the Death Star. Akbar was our Jedi.

Ride 3: We went to Tatooine for pod racing, then Naboo. Akbar was our Jedi again.

And we saw two different opening segments, so those change too.



We then headed back to the other side of the park and got FP's for Tower of Terror. This is when we filmed our Fast Pass demo video.

Next up - use our FP's for RnRC!!! Oh yeah!

Then it was time for lunch. We prefer not to eat at DHS, but it would've taken too long to head over to Epcot for lunch on our timeline. We didn't want to eat too late, as then we wouldn't be hungry come dinner time. So we headed to ABC Commisary and both got Asian salads. (Nope, sadly no pics.)

(And I'm listening to Soarin' soundtrack for the third time on hold!)

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[JenSop]

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After lunch, we decided to check out One Man's Dream. We really admire Walt Disney's vision and everything that he did, so we wanted to check it out.

I'll let the pics speak for themselves.....

I love cool models.....especially when they're castles!

The film at the end of the display area was really good. I'd say it's definitely worth checking out. To think that all of this started with this one man (and a mouse!)


After One Man's Dream it was time to use our Tower of Terror FP's!

I kept the camera out this time and tried to get some shots. Here's a pic from the top of the tower looking out!

You can see me with my camera in the ride photo!

But it was about time to head out of DHS.
Checking out the street performers....

Time to go back to the resort for some swimming.

We thoroughly recommend the pool slide at OKW - super fun.

We stayed at the pool until about 4pm, then headed back to the room to get ready for dinner.

Tonight was gonna be dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse!

Here's my outfit!

And again we drove to dinner. It was just SO much faster to do it this way.

We had never eaten here before. Here are shots as we waited for our table.


Meat!

A look into the other restaurant?

They gave us anniversary menus....

Okay folks, I know this is a crazy place to suspend the TR, but I'm going to have to put a "To Be Continued" message up here. I've been holding for over two hours and forty minutes with Disney, but I have to go and try again later today. I have an important lunch date with my grandmother. I'll pick this up later today - promise!

 

[Shannon84]

I guess all those FD rumors came true and have caused madness!!! Of course our dates in October are blocked out...boo!!

I can't believe you guys skipped over TSM...shocking!! I can't wait to see the new Star Tours and I have never even seen a Star Wars movie

I love that dress you picked out for dinner!!

 

[mousegear]

Jen you look very nice on that white/navy stripe dress! I can't wait until we try Star Tours. It was under refurbishment when we were there last time. I guess constant undates and refurb makes Disney whole new experience even though we've been there over 10 times.
Can't wait to hear about your Yachtsman's review...

 

[ShesAPirate]

Love the dress!

I'm really looking forward to trying TSM and the new Star Tours. Hopefully it won't be as busy in November and I won't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get us Fastpasses for TSM. I'm just not a crack of dawn kind of person

 

[MEK]

Fun Day at HS. I can't wait to ride Star Wars over and over again with a RnR and a ToT on the side. I hope I love it.

I also love One Man's Dream. So nostalgic.

Cute dress. I hope dinner is great. Love anniversary menus!

 

[JenSop]

I guess all those FD rumors came true and have caused madness!!! Of course our dates in October are blocked out...boo!!

I can't believe you guys skipped over TSM...shocking!! I can't wait to see the new Star Tours and I have never even seen a Star Wars movie

I love that dress you picked out for dinner!!

Haha - madness doesn't even begin to describe it! Yikes!

I'm in shock that you haven't seen a Star Wars movie ever. I'll be honest, I like them, but they're not my faves - I'm a Star Trek and Lord of the Rings girl myself. But Star Wars is an iconic part of our culture! You must see it!
(And thanks on the dress!)

Jen you look very nice on that white/navy stripe dress! I can't wait until we try Star Tours. It was under refurbishment when we were there last time. I guess constant undates and refurb makes Disney whole new experience even though we've been there over 10 times.
Can't wait to hear about your Yachtsman's review...

Thanks on the dress! Yes - refurbs are great when they're good! (That's why we won't talk about Imagination...ahem...) But the Star Tours is totally a great refurb! You'll love it!

Love the dress!

I'm really looking forward to trying TSM and the new Star Tours. Hopefully it won't be as busy in November and I won't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get us Fastpasses for TSM. I'm just not a crack of dawn kind of person

Thanks a bunch about the dress! (I'm so glad everyone likes it - yes, I'm super girly when it comes to that kind of thing and I don't care! Haha!)

TSM FP's are their own animal. Even on my October trip they were gone in the first two hours of being open. I still advise all my clients - if you want a FP for TSM, get there at rope drop. I'd suggest if you don't want to get up as early, definitely don't go on an EMH morning.

Fun Day at HS. I can't wait to ride Star Wars over and over again with a RnR and a ToT on the side. I hope I love it.

I also love One Man's Dream. So nostalgic.

Cute dress. I hope dinner is great. Love anniversary menus!

You will love Star Tours! They were really smart with this refurb. By making the ride have all the different potential combinations, guests ARE going to ride over and over. For me ToT is still the best at DHS, but Star Tours has gone up several notches with the refurb.

To think we had never done One Man's Dream before! I really enjoyed the exhibit.

Thanks on the dress! And dinner was great - that's coming up next!

 

[JenSop]

Okay- I'm back!

So there were some pics that I forgot to include in my post about our time at DHS - our photo pass pics!

On our way out, we stopped for some pics....

Here's our "normal shot"

And in this one, he wanted one of us to jam out on guitar and one to be the diva. Can you guess who's who?

Haha!




So.....we were at Yachtsman showing off our menu......

Our server was a super nice guy from Brooklyn name Al.

We started with some wine and were brought some AMAZING bread. One kind was sourdough and the other was a peel apart onion bread. They were served with butter and roasted garlic.

YUMMMMMM!!!!


We both had the scallops appetizer.

The scallops were new on the menu this very day, so they wanted our opinion on them. They were awesome! Excellent! Supreme!



Our entrees were equally fabuloso!

I got the filet and Brian got the NY strip.

We both finished ALL our steak. I guess that means it was really good....

Then we were brought out an anniversary dish - it was raspberry jelly squares and a chocolate tootsie roll type thingy. (Do you like my awesome technical terms??? haha!) Whatever they were, they were great!

Then it was time for dessert!

Brian got some kind of chocolate thing.... (WHY the heck can't I find that Yachtsman menu when I need it!!! I know I just saw it the other day!)

And I got the dessert trio. It had a blueberry shake, lemon pudding cake, and cheese thing.

That blueberry shake was heaven. HEAVEN!!!

And the lemon pudding cake was so light and delicious.

Now, I'm a HUGE salt lover. I. love. salt. But the cheese was actually on the salty side for me! I couldn't believe it. It was still good, but WOW salt!

After dinner, we walked around.....

Then it was time to get back to the hotel and get ready for our night at MK! Even though it wasn't EMH, it was going to be open until 1am, so we were all over that!

Right before the trip, Brian had gotten a new Tshirt. And some of you might remember the Tshirt I got last year in Disney......

That's right......

It was COKE Tshirt night!!!!

(For the last few remaining people in the world not to know this - I LOVE Coke. I drink it every day. It is awesome and good and wonderful. It is my elixir of life.)

COKE!!!!!!!!



We got to MK around 10pm as Wishes was playing. But we went straight to Big Thunder! There was NO line - it was walk on! Yes!

After BTMR, it was Pirates - another walk-on! Score!

Then Haunted Mansion. We wanted to play around in the interactive queue some more....

But once we got inside - PAST the stretching room - the line was insanely long. Couldn't figure that one out.

We eventually got on, but there must have been an issue with the ride.




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[JenSop]

....continued.....

Once we were done on HM, we walked to Fantasyland and decided to ride Snow White again. Who knew Brian would be so into Snow White?

While we were in line, we were talking to the people behind us about being a TA. But of course, did I have any cards? No. ugh. lesson learned.


Then it was off to Tomorrowland. Brian had not done the Carousel of Progress before. I remembered bits of it from when I was little - and remembered not liking it. But hey, it's Disney history, so we should do it.




I'm sorry, but I just don't like it. I understand why it's important - it was Walt's own creation. But it's just so dated and cheesy - but not in what I would consider a good kind of dated and cheesy.

Here I present to you..... A great big beautiful tomorrow!

(cue music!)

Then we were off to Main Street for our super Photopass-athon!

We stopped at EACH Photopass CM!

I'll spare you all the pics, but here are some....

(COKE! YAY!)

Then we decided it was Splash Mountain time!

I got wet - my hair and the left side of my butt. I was soaked and had to go into the bathroom to try to wring out my skirt. Good times.


So of course to make myself feel better, it was time for a treat. You KNOW what I'm talkin' 'bout!!!!

Oh yeah!

Dole Whip Float baby!

Then it was time to head out of the park.

MK was clearing out pretty well, so I suggested we finish eating in the cute little alley way off of Main Street!

Brian was not feelin' it. I told him - look behind you - act like your dwarf!

Prettiness in MK at night...... aaahhh....

AND for your viewing pleasure - the random Donald and Daisy pic that came on our photopass CD. Enjoy.

As we left the park with the four other passengers on the bus, we found it strange that the bus driver asked us where we were going. Apparantly there was some confusion. But we let him know we were ALL going to OKW. And that's where we went - off to get some much needed sleep!

 

[JenSop]

Hi readers!

So I have my "first draft" video for How To Use Fastpass up on the web.

But the DIS is SO strict with posting anything that names a specific travel agency! (And I introduce myself and my agency in the clip.)

It's on my Disney facebook page, which is called Destination Mouse (NOT my agency name - just a fun name I came up with to have on Facebook). You can search for it and the video will be on the page.

You can also PM me if you would like me to just send you a link or additional information!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Yup I was on hold with Disney for 45 minutes yesterday - I definitely can't imagine for as long as you were! It's funny you mentioned the Soarin' song - that's the one they finally picked up during! Long wait...but worth it...

Your day sounds like it was a lot of fun! I've never been to Yachtsman, but those little rolls tempt me every time! I think we pass it up because we're pretty close to some great steakhouses here though!

Love your MK photopass shots - I have to remember to get some in the evening this time!

 

[mousegear]

Yachtsmans is one of my fav restaurant in Disney along with CG and Shula's. I just love good food and cannot pass it up. Anyways, Jen it looks like you had much fun at MK.

 

[Sooze]

YAY! What a great update. Your obsession with Coke is just hilarious!! Your dress for dinner was beautiful. And the food pictures were awesome.

I saw the FP video on Facebook this morning and it was GREAT! Being the Disney experts that we all are, we sometimes take for granted what FPs are and how they work. I've had many non-Disney friends ask me how they work... now I can direct them to your FB page!

 

[JenSop]

Yup I was on hold with Disney for 45 minutes yesterday - I definitely can't imagine for as long as you were! It's funny you mentioned the Soarin' song - that's the one they finally picked up during! Long wait...but worth it...

Your day sounds like it was a lot of fun! I've never been to Yachtsman, but those little rolls tempt me every time! I think we pass it up because we're pretty close to some great steakhouses here though!

Love your MK photopass shots - I have to remember to get some in the evening this time!

One of the things I was doing at first while being on hold yesterday was to look at the DIS and see all the other people reporting on how long they were on hold too. Crazy stuff. I would totally recommend Yachtsman - it was such a great meal!

Thanks on the Photopass shots! We always try to get as many as possible to get our money's worth!

Yachtsmans is one of my fav restaurant in Disney along with CG and Shula's. I just love good food and cannot pass it up. Anyways, Jen it looks like you had much fun at MK.

Well, I am also now a new convert to Yachtsman! We have a Schula's here, so I wouldn't do it at Disney. (And it's so pricey!) But I hear ya about good food!

YAY! What a great update. Your obsession with Coke is just hilarious!! Your dress for dinner was beautiful. And the food pictures were awesome.

I saw the FP video on Facebook this morning and it was GREAT! Being the Disney experts that we all are, we sometimes take for granted what FPs are and how they work. I've had many non-Disney friends ask me how they work... now I can direct them to your FB page!

Mmmmmmm...... Coke...... I just got up - won't be long until I have one!

Thanks on the video! I was playing around with iMovie a lot to put it together. But I wanted to do that one right away, as I'm having a lot of clients who are asking me about Fastpass - some people don't get it at first. So I whipped this puppy into shape! The next one I do will be Photopass!

 

[Shannon84]

Sounds like late night MK is the best bet!! I can't believe everything was practically walk on...I have never been during the summer but I always here how crazy busy it is...but doesnt sound it!

Love the coke shirts...Im a diet coke gal...but still in the same family The photopass pictures at night are awesome, it looks like you guys are the only ones in the MK!!

 

[MEK]

Jen -

I have to apologize for commenting out of order. l can't see pictures at work, hence I tend to half read. I got really turned around on your report doing that.

Anyway -

good luck if you decide to do an audition tour. You definitely don't want to look back and regret that you didn't.

I used to shake like crazy when I first starting playing guitar in front of people. I took a really small dose of a beta blocker and it helped, but then my heart rate got too low so I stopped it. I finally got over the shakes on my own. Yeah!

Your meal at the Mara looks so good. I swear they have the best CS. I wish they had a Mara at AK park! Dinner in Italy also looks divine, especially that big picture of sangria. YUMMMMMMMMMM!

OK - I think I am back on track now.

And if you ever want to post a link to anything you have recorded vocally, I am seriously all ears. I would love to hear you sing!

 

[JenSop]

Sounds like late night MK is the best bet!! I can't believe everything was practically walk on...I have never been during the summer but I always here how crazy busy it is...but doesnt sound it!

Love the coke shirts...Im a diet coke gal...but still in the same family The photopass pictures at night are awesome, it looks like you guys are the only ones in the MK!!

You know, we always do late night MK EMH. And it's not as crowded as the daytime, but you can still have some lines. BUT - it was even LESS crowded on the really late non-EMH night. It was awesome!

I can't do Diet Coke, as I don't like the after taste of the fake sweetener, but yes, it's totally in the same family. I feel a kinship with all my fellow Coke lovers!

Jen -

I have to apologize for commenting out of order. l can't see pictures at work, hence I tend to half read. I got really turned around on your report doing that.

Anyway -

good luck if you decide to do an audition tour. You definitely don't want to look back and regret that you didn't.

I used to shake like crazy when I first starting playing guitar in front of people. I took a really small dose of a beta blocker and it helped, but then my heart rate got too low so I stopped it. I finally got over the shakes on my own. Yeah!

Your meal at the Mara looks so good. I swear they have the best CS. I wish they had a Mara at AK park! Dinner in Italy also looks divine, especially that big picture of sangria. YUMMMMMMMMMM!

OK - I think I am back on track now.

And if you ever want to post a link to anything you have recorded vocally, I am seriously all ears. I would love to hear you sing!

No worries!

And yes - the Mara is awesome! It's crazy good! I think it would be a great addition to AK.

Thanks for the good luck wishes on the audition tour. At this point I'm set on it happening - no more if's. It's goin' down!

I got in trouble from the DIS for posting a link to my website, so I won't post a link. Hopefully I can tell you what it is? (Gee, I'm always thrown off by moderated forums - the singer forums are the wild west and you can post and do anything.) Just go to jennifergraf dot com. (Obviously I'm spelling it out to make it not look like a link - don't type out the word "dot" in the url - use regular ol' .com)

Or google my name, Jennifer Graf. My website should come up first.

 

[MEK]

Jen - You are AWESOME!!!!!!! I totally wish I could sing like that. Your classical stuff is clearly the best!!!!! I am so impressed by people who can sing like that. WOW!

And good for you for starting your own business with the carolers. Very cool.

I wish I lived closer to you. I would love to take lessons.

Awesome!!!!!!

 

[JenSop]

Jen - You are AWESOME!!!!!!! I totally wish I could sing like that. Your classical stuff is clearly the best!!!!! I am so impressed by people who can sing like that. WOW!

And good for you for starting your own business with the carolers. Very cool.

I wish I lived closer to you. I would love to take lessons.

Awesome!!!!!!

Awww.... thanks so much!

 

[JenSop]

Disney Day 5!!

Alright folks - I'm determined to get this TR done in a timely fashion!

We're on to DAY 5!



Okay - so we got up on Day 5 (which was Wednesday, June 22nd) at 7:10am, and we left the room by 8:10am. But our bus didn't come until 8:30am. Argh.

Our plan was to head to DHS for rope drop, ride Star Tours a few more times, then head over to MK for some video taping.

When we got to DHS, all we could notice was the smoke in the air. It was HORRIBLE. We ducked into those gift shops on the left to work our way closer to the rope and so I could ask a CM about the smoke. Apparantly the brush fires in the pan handle were really bad and on certain days the wind blew the smoke all the way down to where we were. Crazy stuff. It was really hard to breathe, though.

We headed over to Star Tours and immediately got FP's. Then we got right in the standby line.

On this ride, we got Tatooine and Curascant as our planets.

After riding, we crossed the park so we could ride ToT standby.

Dude - I freakin' LOVE ToT!!!!!!!

Then we crossed the park yet again to go back and use our Star Tours FP's. This time, we visited Tatooine (again!) and the Death Star.


It was then time to leave DHS. We got some Photopass pics on our way out.

We took a bus to the TTC to get to MK. It was a really long wait. And today was feeling hotter than all the other days already.

Once we got to the TTC, the line for the direct monorail was INSANE!

But there was no line for the resort monorail! (Dude, I hesitate to give out that secret, as I truly like those times I need to take the monorail from the TTC and DON'T have to wait thanks to the resort monorail!)

However......there was a downside. The AC was broken in the monorail car. It was a sauna!

I was NOT happy.


Seriously, it was SO hot this day. I was already wondering how I was going to hold up. How would I get through all the taping that we had to do that day in MK?!?!?!??


We started with taping at Swiss Family Treehouse. I love this attraction. When I was a little girl, I wanted to live in the treehouse. It's all about pure child-like imagination!

Here are some pics!

(Can't you just hear that Swisskapolka music playing?.....)

Our next stop was Columbia Harbour House - for lunch, followed by taping.

We got seats by the window that overlooks Liberty Square. I have to say I was quite perplexed by the sheer number of Brazilian tour groups we were starting to see already. Seriously - there were a lot - and we were still a week away from July. Strange.

Anyway, we got our Lighthouse sandwiches.

Yummy as always.

Before leaving, we got our footage about CHH, then walked outside and got our footage for Haunted Mansion (Top 10!)

Then - it was over to Tom Sawyer Island. This was TOTALLY on my list of Hidden Gems. I feel like so many people just don't get around to doing it, and it was one of my favorites as a kid. There's just so much to explore here. And if you get crazy from the crowds, it's a nice escape.

We did our filming and exploring....

Sigh.... this is all that's left of Polly's.....

....a soda machine.



While on the island, we also filmed some stuff for my segment on Summer Tips.



Okay guys, it was so hot. SO. HOT. I don't know how I didn't pass out - that's how hot it was. I really thought I would just die from the heat. I'm not being overly dramatic - it was really that hot. (Thank God for those anti-sweat wipes that I used on my face or I would have looked really horrid for the filming. Although I have to say, my make-up was already melting off my face - it was inevitable.)


Next stop was the Emporium, being that it was on my list of Top 5 gift shops.

We also just went there because we needed some inside time to cool off.

After feeling a little bit better, it was off to Adventureland to do film my segment on Dole Whip Floats. Yes - they are on my Top 10 list. I can't go to Disney without getting them - and many of them at that.

(Stopping for a pic on the way back to Main Street.)

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