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

[GreatBiscuit]

that assumes we all have an inner park beast.

Oh, we all got one. It's just a matter of finding and unleashing it. (I keep mine behind the filing cabinet in the income tax room. That way, it's good and raged up when it's time to come busting out.)

 

[All7OfUs]

Oh, we all got one. It's just a matter of finding and unleashing it. (I keep mine behind the filing cabinet in the income tax room. That way, it's good and raged up when it's time to come busting out.)

 

[MAGICFOR2]

All caught up! I'm glad you liked your room! When I saw the title, "don't lay down" I was sure everyone fell asleep! Waiting to see how your dinner ended up.

 

[TarzansKat]

Oh, we all got one. It's just a matter of finding and unleashing it. (I keep mine behind the filing cabinet in the income tax room. That way, it's good and raged up when it's time to come busting out.)

 

[eandesmom]

Oh, we all got one. It's just a matter of finding and unleashing it. (I keep mine behind the filing cabinet in the income tax room. That way, it's good and raged up when it's time to come busting out.)

Hmmn, if I kept mine there I'm not sure it would be raged up. It might have the life just sucked out of it. I think I need to park it in a different spot.

exactly

All caught up! I'm glad you liked your room! When I saw the title, "don't lay down" I was sure everyone fell asleep! Waiting to see how your dinner ended up.

Oh there was definitely some dozing but they all rallied, at least to get out of the room.

seriously

 

[KatMark]

Great update, Cynthia. Glad to see you made it to AK.

 

[Happydog]

OKAY, I confess, I read your links to your TR posts and skipped all the conversation I AM SORRY!!! I am woefully behind everywhere, I had to get caught up! I will skim now

Great start to the trip, I totally get that time zone dead zone after a red eye from the west coast!!! It is very fuzzy... I hope you get to Sanaa! And I hope you liked it after I raved about it for over a year

Fun to get hair cuts, and glad you got on some rides at MK. The pool probably did everyone some good!

 

[englishrose47]

I don't see that you posted answer to EE !I'm gonna say NO!!!!

I have been super busy this week with the State Inspectors in for their Revoew !!It is pretty nerve wracking !!They are done and we did fairly well I am happy with the few easily correctable things they sighted us on!!The final report won't be in for a while !!!But I guess I am not fired

 

[eandesmom]

Great update, Cynthia. Glad to see you made it to AK.

Hey, aren't you still on you trip? I'm glad we made it to AK too, just walking in it felt great.

OKAY, I confess, I read your links to your TR posts and skipped all the conversation I AM SORRY!!! I am woefully behind everywhere, I had to get caught up! I will skim now

LOL! I totally understand! And besides, that's what the links are for!

Great start to the trip, I totally get that time zone dead zone after a red eye from the west coast!!! It is very fuzzy... I hope you get to Sanaa! And I hope you liked it after I raved about it for over a year

I know you get the red eye zone.... BUT it is worth it!

Fun to get hair cuts, and glad you got on some rides at MK. The pool probably did everyone some good!

it did, even soggy and brief, it was still all good!

I'm sad, they will need another cut soon and that just means we've been back too long.

I don't see that you posted answer to EE !I'm gonna say NO!!!!

LOL! I haven't done my next update yet so you'll have to wait and see

I have been super busy this week with the State Inspectors in for their Revoew !!It is pretty nerve wracking !!They are done and we did fairly well I am happy with the few easily correctable things they sighted us on!!The final report won't be in for a while !!!But I guess I am not fired

Yuck that doesn't sound like fun at all but at least it's over!

I hear you, it's been NUTS at work this week.

 

[Sunset Cliffs]

Hey Cynthia ~ a quick question about getting the haircuts on Main Street. How long would you say that the average wait is? I know that you didn't have much of a wait this last time, but before that?? I thought it might be cute to get Dylan's hair cut there, but I don't know if he will stand in line for an extended length of time. Also, do you think there is less of a line in the morning or later towards the evening? Sorry...I know you are probably not an expert on "all things haircut", but you were my first reference point since you have been there a couple of times. TIA!

Also, I started my new PTR for our November trip. Hope you will get a chance to jump over & read. I am going to need planning help!

 

[Millie12591]

He will, your kids are young still. Just wait till the teen years.

Amen Sista!

Picking your battles is one of the key things to getting you through your childrens teenhood, that and a lot of prayer!


Great post by the way Cynthia! Sounds like things are coming along really well. I don't think we would have been able to hold out as long as y'all did that day....well, and still have all the members of my family live to tell about it any way.

 

[eandesmom]

Hey Cynthia ~ a quick question about getting the haircuts on Main Street. How long would you say that the average wait is? I know that you didn't have much of a wait this last time, but before that?? I thought it might be cute to get Dylan's hair cut there, but I don't know if he will stand in line for an extended length of time. Also, do you think there is less of a line in the morning or later towards the evening? Sorry...I know you are probably not an expert on "all things haircut", but you were my first reference point since you have been there a couple of times. TIA!

Also, I started my new PTR for our November trip. Hope you will get a chance to jump over & read. I am going to need planning help!

I will pop over!!!!!!!!!!

Well the good news is you can take a quick peek and get an idea. It is small in there. I'd say if the room is full (line outside at all) then you are over 30 minutes. If you can walk in, but not sit, 15-30 and if you can sit, 15 or less.

I think we waited about 30 the first time and we were barely inside the room. Barely.

Oh he would be SO cute if you can make it! I'd go early, that's the best bet for sure.

Amen Sista!

Picking your battles is one of the key things to getting you through your childrens teenhood, that and a lot of prayer!


Great post by the way Cynthia! Sounds like things are coming along really well. I don't think we would have been able to hold out as long as y'all did that day....well, and still have all the members of my family live to tell about it any way.

So very very true. Heck it works well at work, had one of those today

Well, you'll have to see if we lived to tell, or not.

 

[KatMark]

Hey, aren't you still on you trip? I'm glad we made it to AK too, just walking in it felt great.

Yes, still on vacation (we're at Marco now)--but I can't lay at the pool all day like Mark so I'm trying to keep up with my threads.

 

[MEK]

OK. I just read your last update. I can't help it. I wanted to stretch it out. But I still have no idea whether you made it to Sanaa or stayed and rode EE.

OK - here's my guess....you rode EE and then you all hopped a cab directly to Sanaa. That's my prediction and I'm sticking to it!

Coconut rum no less - Ok You got it!!!!!! I may have to look like a sherpa again (see tracy's comment on my TR) to get it there, but it WILL get there!

 

[englishrose47]

Evening Cynthia !!!Yet another busy day!!! Can't wait for the 14th only 21 days well actually 20 days and 6 hours before the airport but whose counting

 

[eandesmom]

Yes, still on vacation (we're at Marco now)--but I can't lay at the pool all day like Mark so I'm trying to keep up with my threads.

LOL! I'd be with Mark. But checking them on my laptop.

OK. I just read your last update. I can't help it. I wanted to stretch it out.

I'll have an update this weekend, this week has been NUTS at work!

But I still have no idea whether you made it to Sanaa or stayed and rode EE.

OK - here's my guess....you read EE and then you all hopped a cab directly to Sanaa. That's my prediction and I'm sticking to it!

Interesting idea....

Coconut rum not less - Ok You got it!!!!!! I may have to look like a sherpa again (see tracy's comment on my TR) to get it there, but it WILL get there!

Sherpa's rock. And the cooler doesn't count. But I'm flexible, it doesn't have to be coconut. I'm pretty open on that front!

Evening Cynthia !!!Yet another busy day!!! Can't wait for the 14th only 21 days well actually 20 days and 6 hours before the airport but whose counting

me too! CRAZY busy. Tonight is the first night all week I didn't bring work home.

 

[praisehisname]

When I left you it was 6:30, I was on our lovely balcony enjoying a coconut rum and coke in my refillable mug thanks to the miracles of bubble wrap, plastic bottles and shamelessly copying the great idea to pack liquor from Mary Ellen.

Mmmmm, coconut rum... I usually mix it with pineapple juice, but I bet it would be good with Coke. Is it 5:00 yet?

I'm guessing you go ahead and ride EE, but make different dinner plans because everyone is so tired.

 

[eandesmom]

Mmmmm, coconut rum... I usually mix it with pineapple juice, but I bet it would be good with Coke. Is it 5:00 yet?

I'm guessing you go ahead and ride EE, but make different dinner plans because everyone is so tired.

I'd be all over the coconut rum and pineapple juice! That's vacation in a glass right there.

 

[eandesmom]

When I left you it was 8:05 and we were standing in front of EE with a posted 15 minute wait.

Should we try it?

How risky is it?

Jeff and I conferred, meanwhile 3 of the kids really wanted to do it, one not at all.

We added. 15 minutes for the wait. The ride itself added another 10 we guessed. Hoofing it back to the bus, another 10. Waiting for the bus, who knew but could be up to 15. Bus ride to Kidani, probably 10.

That would put us at Kidani at 9:05. 10 minutes late.

We had an 8:55 ressie. We did not know how late they served. And thanks to the intricacies of the Disney Dining empire, you can’t really just place a quick phone call to the restaurant to check. We did know that Tusker had nothing available aver 7:35 when I’d booked it months earlier so had no real hope of a walk up. With FTB closed, having eaten at YYLF the year before all we could see as a CS option was Roaring Forks. Which we also didn’t know how late it was open. While I guess technically Mara was an option, that sounded like even more work. Assume, for example, we went for it. Then got to Sanaa and got shut out. We then would have to figure out how to get to Mara and hope it was still open. Ok sure, Sanaa could have told us if it was but still, you get the point. And what if it wasn’t? What then?

Did I mention we were hungry?

Did I mention running through my mind was a VERY vivid scenario of not being able to find food, anywhere. It was in my mind, I didn’t say it out loud, determined to let the collective weigh in. At the end of the day, I could have gone either way but it WAS stressing me out inside. Someone else had a different approach. A dictatorship if you will. Veto power exercised, and in force. Who could have such power? Jeff of course. But what did he dictate?

The responses to our quandary really intrigued me. So much so I had to add it up.

• 71% of the respondents thought we went for it. And you were pretty firm in your opinion. Even betting one million imaginary Disney dollars on the outcome.
  
• 20% of you abstained. You just want to know what happened and might have hoped for a certain outcome but you didn’t really give a firm opinion one way or another.
  
• A mere 9% decided to buck the trend and say we bagged it

While I hate to disappoint the majority of you and risk our status as brave and intrepid travelers the reality was this. We’d been up for 37 hours at that point, basically without sleep, all we’d had since a 9 am breakfast was a smoothie and piece of flatbread pizza.

When it comes to the battle between your inner park beast and the roar of Jeff’s stomach….The Yeti was defeated.

Just not in the way most of you hoped.

Jeff was ABSOLUTELY not willing to risk it. Not going there, not at all. He wanted a nice, filling sit down meal. End of story. So with minor disappointment for most (minor as we planned to be back at AK, at least twice and assumed there would be other chances to defeat the Yeti) and mild relief from me as not having to be the one that made the final call (and face any wrath) we trudged off. Had it been any other time of day, or really any other night, I think we wouldn't have even thought twice about being 10 minutes late to a ressie. I KNOW we wouldn't have. We just REALLY didn't want to end our fabulous day on a starving scrambling stressful note. So decided that not pushing it was by far the more stress free way to go.

Tanya, Rosie and Dan win a prize. I’m not sure what the prize is other than apparently realizing even we have a breaking point!

In some ways, I’m glad we did. Had we not, we’d have gotten to dinner even later than we did. With leaving when we did, between the walk out, the bus wait, and the bus ride, we didn’t get to Sanaa until 9pm anyways. The bus ride seemed to take way longer than we were expecting and it went to Jambo first, which confused most of the bus. Having never been to Kidani but expecting it to be the first stop threw me off, and then of course made me paranoid somehow the bus would go back to AK and skip Kidani entirely. It didn’t of course. It did seem to take quite a long time to drive between the two. While I know you can walk it and imagine it’s faster than the way the roads are actually routed, they are not close. I did get a lovely view of the hideous parking garage I’ve heard referenced. What I hadn’t realized is how many of the rooms face the parking lot. I’ll say this, if I ever stay at Kidani, which is likely at some point, it will be Savannah view or forget it. Far too pretty of a resort to look at a parking lot.

Of course, never having been there, we had NO idea where Sanaa was. Personally, I do not think it is well marked at all but then again that could be the reason we went down a hall and an elevator instead of realizing we could actually walk straight and down some stairs. DOH. Kind of the long way around. A prettier way though I think. It’s about 9:05 at this point so we are 10 minutes late. Given the lateness of the reservation I’m expecting to be seated right away and am surprised to see other parties waiting. After receiving our pager we settle in.

And wait.

And wait.

And wait.

Shades of Glenbo’s lunch wait are flashing through my mind.

The entry is pretty. I (of course) didn’t take any pictures. I PROMISE this gets better. Day 1 loser, what can I say. So I stole some as I KNOW you are all getting tired of me just yapping away!

Of course nearby the entry is this

What do you think these look like two tired little boys?

Don’t lay down!

I may as well have been shouting into the wind. When you are that tired, it’s really hard!

Taylor went to use the facilities.

“You HAVE to check out the restroom”

"Why?"

"It’s the coolest bathroom I’ve ever seen!"

Interesting what makes an impression on a 17 year old. I have to agree, they are gorgeous! And I don’t have a picture, nor could I find one elsewhere to shamelessly steal. We tried to wake kids up by making them go wash their hands. It was a momentary wake up but soon enough it was back to the head bob.

Sigh.

At 9:30 we were seated.

9:30.

I kid you not.

But at that point all that mattered is we were being seated, dwelling on the what if’s just wasn’t worthwhile to me, we’d moved on when we made the call to ditch the Yeti.

This is a seriously pretty restaurant and a great first night choice. We couldn’t see the savannah of course, it was dark, but we could imagine. I stole more pictures (besides, in those lighting conditions with as big as their windows are, mine likely wouldn’t have turned out anyway We were seated in the middle/back of the restaurant, not that close to the window but it didn’t matter, at a large round table. With those giant chairs! A few little boys needed help being pushed in.

Now we LOVE Indian food. At least 4 out of 6 of us do so when ordering our drinks we immediately added one of these.

Indian Style Bread Service
Choice of 3 breads and 3 accompaniments
Serves Two $8.99
Breads - Naan, Onion Kulcha, Paratha, Paneer Paratha
Accompaniments - Red Chile Sambal, Cucumber Raita, Coriander Chutney, Mango Chutney, Garlic Pickle, Green Mango Pickle, Roasted Red Bell Pepper Hummus, Tamarind Chutney

We chose the Red Chile Sambal, Hummus and the Mango Chutney. A sweet, a savory and a spicy. We did plain Naan, our favorite. One order. Not on the dining plan but there was NO way we could say no to Naan!

After consulting with our CM, I ordered this to drink

And no, that picture isn’t from that night either but at least it’s my own picture! Jeff went for a Kingfisher, from India. We compared. I liked mine better. Brownie points for our server! At least 2 of the kids went for this

Mango Lassi Smoothie - frozen blend of mango puree with nonfat yogurt $4.69

And I think the teens went for soda. BORING!

The bread arrived. It was INHALED. We ordered a second one. Without the sauces as we still had some left. I really liked the Chile Sambal in particular, but they were all good. While we were ordering more naan, we ordered our food. There are a lot of yummy things on the menu. We however were very focused on what we wanted.

Slow Cooked in Gravy, Simple and Well Seasoned
Choice of two served with Basmati Rice or Five-grain pilaf
$18.99

Chicken with Red Curry Sauce
Shrimp with Green Curry Sauce
Beef Short Ribs
​

4 of us ordered this. It was funny to us to have it say it was cooked in gravy but then it said sauce below. Jeff thought the use of the word gravy was really wierd. I tried to explain, and gave up. Talk about overanalzying! I think everyone but me got the basmati, I figured I'd pretend to be healthy instead.

Eric probably would have ordered the same thing but the kid was stuck with the kids menu. Kendall went for the fish of the day, which was Salmon. Which was kind of funny since we eat that all the time at home but, whatever. A far better choice than a burger, which is what we were expecting.

Today's Sustainable Fish - served with seasonable vegetables in a light curry broth $18.99

Eric got this.

Meaty Macaroni - ground turkey with marinara sauce topped with mozzarella served with seasonal vegetable or fruit

Food ordered, finally, at this point in the day, it occurs to the kids they have NO idea what we are doing the following day.

“Oh we thought we’d do something different”
“Something we said we weren’t going to do”
Kids perk up, look at us, Evan starts to get a big grin on his face

"How would you guys like to go to one of the water parks tomorrow?"
“You said we weren’t going to!”
“I just said that””
“Whoo hoo!”

I’m glad I waited until then to tell them, the food wasn’t lightening fast and chatter about slides, rafts and wave pools kept them happily occupied. Of course it was followed by a “what time do we have to get up?” and huge looks of relief when we told them we weren’t planning on rushing out the door, thinking of leaving maybe around 10am or so.

Taylor’s choice: Short ribs and chicken

My choice: Chicken and Shrimp

Evan went for Shrimp and Short Ribs and Jeff for….Chicken and Chicken. What can I say, the man likes his chicken and his red curry! Eric said his was fine but it looked pretty bleh to me. I don’t think he cared at that point. Their kids menu is pretty lame. They did have fish of the day but it was salmon. He eats salmon all the time. Apparently the turkey macaroni sounded more exotic. Go figure. I thought about seeing if they’d do the chicken curry instead of the kids grilled chicken breast but Eric was happy with this as an option and didn’t want me to ask. Kendall inhaled, and I mean inhaled, her salmon. And it was a huge piece. Our food was…OUTSTANDING! So yummy yummy yummy! And some really great service, once we were seated that is. Everyone loved it. Everyone.

We didn’t really want dessert but you know how that dining plan goes….use it or lose it. So we had it packed to go. One Chai Cream, One Mango Pudding and 4 chocolate cakes. Who knew you could get Chai Cream to go? Or mango pudding for that matter.

It was now…..11pm

I kid you not. The thought of a bus to AK, and then back to WL was more than we could bear. Time for a cab. I’d never taken one before. At WDW that is. I've read horror stories. And non horror. I wondered what our experience would be. The valet at Kidani was super helpful. “It will be just a minute, one should be around the corner” “Yes, all the cabs take credit cards”. I had cash, just not much, and it was for other purposes, I didn’t want to use it on a cab. Ok cool.

5 minutes go by

Another family comes out, this one a group of 4

A cab pulled up

The valet ushers them in

"Uh…but we were ahead of them"

“Oh I know, yours is on the way, it has to be a van”

Uh

Ok

Being a family of 6 is a real pita sometimes.
I could sell two kids cheap....I think to myself...will anyone notice if I leave them here?

5 minutes goes by

And 10

We’re hanging out here

Not much in the way of places to sit.

Kids are trying to lay down on the fake stucco bench/wall

Finally the cab pulls up.

It’s a van.

With a cranky, crabby driver who ushers us in, seemingly impatient that sleepy kids aren’t moving faster.

We get in

Cranky crabby driver is also a maniac. I despair of arriving safely.

Magically, we do. Jeff takes off with the kids so I can pay, in our experience credit card and cabs equals forever to settle up.

I go to give him a card.

Wild gesticulating commences. NO CARDS! He barks. I have flashbacks to a very bad incident on a ferry in greece getting yelled at because I didn't have my passport with me...it was out on deck with my friends in my backpack, how would I know they were going to do the mandatory check when I decided to use the restroom?.

Barking.

Seriously.

I step back he’s so in my face

Fine dude. Whatever.

Here’s your cash.

Give me back all my change.

ok, I'm not that bad. But it wasn't my normal tip.

Goodnight!

At midnight…we all crawl in bed. Worn out beyond belief but pretty darn content.

What time will the wiped out crew wake up? In pursuit of a time change did we shoot ourselves in the foot? Will lightening threaten our water park day?

Locked out and casting away

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Well, with you getting there after 9 and waiting so long I'm glad you didn't risk it!

I'm glad that the food was so good and the kids were so excited about a water park! It must have made the late dinner much more enjoyable!

Ugh for the awful cabby! That is no fun!!! Jerk! I've taken a cab twice at WDW! Once going from DTD to Epcot and once from Kidani to GF! Both times were good experiences! I wouldn't hesitate to take one again!