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

[brookelizabeth]

I was joking about defecting to another den last night at dinner with some friends (who are in a different one). Hard to do when your son has some best friends in the one you are struggling with and those friends parents are the cause of the problem. It's a LONG story but it was nice to vent to some friends last night and have them agree that I'm not out of line for being upset. In the past 3 days I (and/or Eric) were lectured for

• not doing sit ups properly
• not reading his birthday card before opening the present (bear in mind it was in invented secret CODE and there were other kids present, it wasn't like he could drop everything and figure out the code)
• not being able to swim (well) (and me not being willing to consider noseplugs)

We have another meeting Sunday and I'm not sure I can take it. I need a break. I saw these people 3 days in a row last weekend and the thought of another meeting stresses me out.

I think you have encountered a few people who bring new meaning to the term, "Get a Life".

Mary Ellen said it! Seriously - this is boy scouts! So glad you have friends you can vent to about it!!!

I'm so glad the time with Julie was amazing! Raglan Road sounds, and looks, like so much fun! We'll definitely have to stick that on the "When Henry is older list" along with DQ! I've wanted to go in there, I know my boys would have a blast! Thank you for sharing some pics! Ridemakerz looks like a boys wonderland. They had something in Central Park a couple weeks ago, but we didn't have time to stop - I think it was a setup where you could build your own car, but just less options than in the big store. From the minimal research I have done it's EASY to drop $100 on a car. Now the question is...did he do it? That's a lotta money!

 

[natebenma]

My son did Schoolhouse Rock last year - (he was the Bill). But what I really want to ask is - is there a song in it about Circulation? There was when our kids did it, but it looked kind of out of place, but I think they added it so this one boy who wears leg braces and is a huge Elvis fan, could be in it. They stood him up on a box in his Elvis costume and they sang about Circulation while the were circling around him, and he was doing his Elvis moves. It was cute, and I love that he is as involved in stuff as he is, but it just didn't seem to fit with the little storyline. (Or maybe it just sounded awkward because of the logistics of getting Clayton in place )

Yes, "Do the Circulation". We have double Elvis' (Elvi) performing this song. I don't remember it from the cartoons I watched on Saturday morning tv. It was not one of the "big" ones like I'm Just a Bill, Conjunction Junction or Interjections! And really, who would be able to remember the Preamble without singing "We the People"?

Sorry to jack your thread, Cynthia!

 

[Happydog]

Hey! I really loved this post! SO many details and so many pics! Great! I have never tried Raglan Road, I think one winter I would, I can't eat at Rose and Crown in the summer for the same reason. Pub food, no matter how good, is hard for me to enjoy in the summer! BUT wow loved those photos of DisneyQuest... I could see us going there in a few years, when both boys would be able to enjoy it. You really had a full day! And the RideMakerz store, yup, I really really thought about gift cards to this place over the summer for B-days, but I think we finally agreed that they were still too young to appreciate them. We have remote control trucks, that we got at costco!, and they like them, but these at RideMakerz seem more like collectables! Though I did see tht they are now making movie CARS cars, too! I will probably check out the store this december when we are there after Thanksgiving! I enjoyed this post a lot! Can't wait to hear about your DHS and TSM day!

 

[eandesmom]

Sounds like you had a lovely dinner at Raglan. We ate there last October and had a great meal. I ordered the muscles too and they were phenomenal!!!! Here is my pic and you can steal it if you want!

Thanks for the pic! That's them. YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pretty sure I ate that bread too lol.

We ended up sitting outside.. somehow? It was about 90 degrees but we had a great view of the balloon going up.

that is a great view though that sounds a bit toasty for eating outside
Cool balloon pic.

We are eating at Raglan again in December!

Looks like you guys had a good time in DQ. Too bad you got there on the later side. There seems to be some neat rides in there. I think they have a rollercoaster ride where you make your own virtual coaster then are able to 'ride' it.

I'm curious to see how much the cars from Ridemakerz cost ya.

We are eating there in May Earlier would have been better, I have a feeling there are things I'd have enjoyed a lot more than the 2 I did.

I do know the feeling of being with people who just bring you down. You want to be loving, and it is so very hard. Yet, that is what we're called to do. Hang in there!!

I'm trying! I do confess to looking forward to a weekend off from them next weekend. But I need to get through today and tomorrow first. Sigh.

I really wanted to try Raglan this time too, but opted for something else. Next time, for sure!! I totally would have gotten those mussels as well! They look divine!

It was SO good! And as much because it's a nice change from other dining items and options.

FANTASTIC update, Cynthia. Absolutely worth waiting for!

Thanks! I'm so behind on yours, need to pop over there!

Hope your cat is ok. It is so difficut when you don't know what is wrong and he can't tell you.

poor kitty. I need to get him in this week so they can look at the mass that no longer looks like a mass and decide what to do. Evan was sick most of the week and it threw my schedule off quite a bit.

Boo! on the judgemental den leaders. I've been going through issues with my son's flag football coach- not all of the kids are getting the playing time required and I had to speak to him this week (wow, that sounds whiny, but last week's game was unbearable, bad attitudes and unacceptable behavior and language). Coach seemed to understand what I was telling him so we will see how today's game goes.

Yeah, it's not like that, it's more of moral type judgements....not doing xx "right" or yy "right" and then getting lectured about it. Eric and I have been lectured on everything from how to do the proper pushup, why you must read cards before presents (even though said card was created in a made up secret code that required decoding while others were waiting for Eric to open their presents), the value and virtue of noseplugs for swimming and it goes on.

It's all silly stuff but it just piled up. Give me strength for todays den meeting and tomorrows pack meeting.

What play are you performing? When are the shows? My boys are in rehearsal for Schoolhouse Rock Live. They did Peter Pan in the spring.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. They are both Heardmans (Claude and Ollie). Cute play.

Ok, onto your report.

What a wonderful dinner with your friend- great company, great food, great atmosphere. My aunt and cousin had Captain Jack's at DTD booked last month and I convinced them to change to Ragland Road and they really enjoyed it, but I have never personally been interested in going there. Until I read your review. It sounds amazing!

I think you would love it!

My 9 year old loves mussels and would totally order what you got. I guess it's a "good" thing that he will be an adult in Disney years next time we go. Are mussels readily available where you live? I am just a few miles from the coast and I love that you can buy a 2 lb. bag of mussels for $5.

They are available all the time but....stink up the kitchen lol! I can do them on the grill but that's more work. It's funny, I could make them all the time really but not everyone loves them so it's more of a treat. In the summer though we will do clam or mussel or a combo linguine versus jsut the giant bowl of shellfish. Jeff is NOT a shellfish fan or I'd make them more.

Thanks for sharing the info about Ridemakerz- I have never heard of it.

I am not a huge fan of DQ. We went a couple of times last year, and sensory overload is the best way to describe it. The Pirates of the Caribbean virtual game was fantastic, the Jungle Cruise was really difficult for my boys- steering/rowing the raft was not easy, and the Buzz Lightyear thing gave me whiplash. But the worst thing was the behavior of the other guests. There is no time limit for the games, so you can be waiting to use something, and you are at the mercy of the person who is currently using the game to be willing to stop playing. I even had a family try to cut my son and get onto a game he had been waiting for 15 minutes to play when the person playing it finally left. I don't think so!!!

Good luck on the early morning wakeup, but I'm betting against making rope drop, hope you prove me wrong!

UGH! We didn't run into that, both things we did were a one time thing and you had to exit and get back in line but the more traditional ones looked that way which is something I despise about arcades.

My son did Schoolhouse Rock last year - (he was the Bill). But what I really want to ask is - is there a song in it about Circulation? There was when our kids did it, but it looked kind of out of place, but I think they added it so this one boy who wears leg braces and is a huge Elvis fan, could be in it. They stood him up on a box in his Elvis costume and they sang about Circulation while the were circling around him, and he was doing his Elvis moves. It was cute, and I love that he is as involved in stuff as he is, but it just didn't seem to fit with the little storyline. (Or maybe it just sounded awkward because of the logistics of getting Clayton in place )

That would be a fun one, I don't know what's in it though.

 

[MEK]

Cynthia - Your light is ON and I hope that means you are planning your next update!

p.s. thanks for posting our May itinerary. It looks fabulous and I was really tired just reading it!

 

[eandesmom]

Mary Ellen said it! Seriously - this is boy scouts! So glad you have friends you can vent to about it!!!

Venting is good for the soul. To a point!

I'm so glad the time with Julie was amazing! Raglan Road sounds, and looks, like so much fun! We'll definitely have to stick that on the "When Henry is older list" along with DQ! I've wanted to go in there, I know my boys would have a blast! Thank you for sharing some pics! Ridemakerz looks like a boys wonderland. They had something in Central Park a couple weeks ago, but we didn't have time to stop - I think it was a setup where you could build your own car, but just less options than in the big store. From the minimal research I have done it's EASY to drop $100 on a car. Now the question is...did he do it? That's a lotta money!

Yeah, you could definitely drop $100. LOL! Both would be great for when Henry is older.

It was a really fun night!

Yes, "Do the Circulation". We have double Elvis' (Elvi) performing this song. I don't remember it from the cartoons I watched on Saturday morning tv. It was not one of the "big" ones like I'm Just a Bill, Conjunction Junction or Interjections! And really, who would be able to remember the Preamble without singing "We the People"?

Sorry to jack your thread, Cynthia!

Double elvis. how fun! I don't remember it from the cartoons either although we do have SCR on dvd so I'll have to check it out. Hijacking welcomed

Hey! I really loved this post! SO many details and so many pics! Great! I have never tried Raglan Road, I think one winter I would, I can't eat at Rose and Crown in the summer for the same reason. Pub food, no matter how good, is hard for me to enjoy in the summer!

I'm not sure you can break away from WPE
But if you ever do I think you'd all really enjoy RR.

BUT wow loved those photos of DisneyQuest... I could see us going there in a few years, when both boys would be able to enjoy it. You really had a full day! And the RideMakerz store, yup, I really really thought about gift cards to this place over the summer for B-days, but I think we finally agreed that they were still too young to appreciate them. We have remote control trucks, that we got at costco!, and they like them, but these at RideMakerz seem more like collectables! Though I did see tht they are now making movie CARS cars, too! I will probably check out the store this december when we are there after Thanksgiving! I enjoyed this post a lot! Can't wait to hear about your DHS and TSM day!

I can totally see you in Ridemakerz dropping some $$. But yes, I'd agree that they are a little on the young side, probably 1 more year and it'd be good for your guys. We've had plenty over the years and they can be a bit hard on them when they are younger to be sure. It was a fully day! Even with late starts they usually are.

 

[eandesmom]

Cynthia - Your light is ON and I hope that means you are planning your next update!

p.s. thanks for posting our May itinerary. It looks fabulous and I was really tired just reading it!

I started it! Hope to get it up today for sure.

I'm SO excited for May!

 

[eandesmom]

Rope drop, to me, is a funny thing. Conceptually it brings to mind hordes and herds stampeding as the rope is dropped. Which really doesn’t sound fun to me. We have never made it to rope drop. I think the earliest we’ve made it into a park, ever, at any age with the kids at any park is….10.
Not really morning people. In a perfect world that’s a great time to get going for me on vacation. Time for coffee, waking up slowly, sleeping in (it is vacation) but then hitting it hard and going, basically non stop till you shut the park down. That’s our normal vacation mode, at WDW or anywhere. For this trip, with the heat, we were going to try to change that up a bit or we knew we just wouldn’t see much and then we’d be crabby. It would be too hot, we’d need to take a break and there’s nothing worse, to me, than getting to a park so late that you need to eat lunch (because most of the group skipped or slept through breakfast) before you hit your first ride. I can’t tell you how many times that happened on the 2008 trip.

Heat + TSM refurb meant I was motivated. I was going by myself if I had to. We got back to WL by 11 and laid it out for the kids. We did, however, had a complication that I hadn’t really factored in.

Kendall.

Soccer.

She would be getting back and going straight into tryouts for HS. She couldn’t just NOT workout for 2 weeks and she certainly wasn’t going to workout unless we made her. So a new plan was devised. I would get up with the boys and we would try to make EMH rope drop. Jeff and Kendall would hit the treadmill while we were out and then meet us at the park, with Taylor, by 11. I didn’t love the plan but it was what needed to happen and it did avoid dealing with making teens get up early when they didn’t see the value.

Here’s an interesting fact though. Of our group, Taylor had never been on TSM. In ’08 he had opted for another turn on RRC with Jeff while the rest of us went on TSM. Thanks to the late arrivals we were only able to ride it once and only thanks to EMH and made it in 5 minutes before park closing. He didn’t know what he was missing. Jeff kind of knew, he went on it in CA but had never done the FL version and seen the queue. On the flip side I knew it would make getting out of there easier and faster in the morning but it did bum me out. Thus began the saga of parallel vacations. By that I mean I think the boys and I had one vacation, Kendall and Taylor had one, Sandie and Paul had one and Jeff had his own unique thing. We were on parallel paths more than once, this was just the first one. And while I’d anticipated it, planned for it, in some respects requested/demanded it, it was still a little sad. Necessary but…sad.

Before we hit the hay we swung by the fitness center to see if they could get in without a key card. The plan was for me to take all the cards and get TSM FP’s as if they came late, I was totally paranoid they’d never get on it at all. They could so we were set and headed to bed. I slept like a rock.
Wake up came FAR too early for me. I didn’t give myself much time to get ready, if I’m getting up that early, I’m wearing a hat and we are out the door. I think I got up at 7, woke the E’s at 7:15 and at 7:35 or so we were on our way to the bus which arrived about 7:45. On the bus I checked my phone, and Facebook, and saw this

Ring. Ring. Ring. .........Mickey says " Wake Up Pal!"

LOL! Heidi had given me my own wakeup call! I loved it! I got such a kick out of it Heidi, you have no idea. That you remembered our touring plan was so cool! And even more cool was that we were actually on the bus! TIRED kids though. They were not exactly pumped about the whole thing at that moment.

Of course, as had been the case the day before, we had a stop to make first. Heaven forbid we have our own bus. For some reason, and I could be confused, I think this route was shared with FW. Now here is what is weird to me. I’ve now stayed at both FW and WL. They actually connect though FW is HUGE (it’s own state park, really). It seemed to take forever to drive to it from WL. All other things aside, sometimes the routing of things is just a bit wacky to me. So at 7:54 we were loaded with Fort Fiends and ready to hit the Studios. Which meant one thing.

We wouldn’t make rope drop. And really, I was ok with that. We missed the RD crowds and the opening show but I don’t think my kids cared about the show at all anyway, nor do I honestly know much about the DHS version. I’d like to see the AK and the MK one but the show itself was not a driving factor in trying to make the DHS rope drop.

In fact, by the time we made it through bag check it was easily 8:20. We headed straight to TSM, plan being to grab FP’s and then do standby. Now here is where I had one of my DOH moments. DOH as in the fact that park tickets are bio scanned. DOH as in the “park” knew only 3 out of the 6 of us had actually entered. DOH as in that’s why it wouldn’t give me FP’s for all 6 of us when I tried. I had everyones key cards with me. Which was risky with them working out and all that but Taylor was basically held hostage while they went to the gym so they could get back in.

A very nice CM explained why some of the tickets wouldn’t work and gave us some magic fast passes that would work for the rest of the group and didn’t even yell at me for trying to break the rules.

DOH!

As you might imagine, this took a bit and finally, finally, we were in the standby line. About this time I heard from Jeff that they were up and headed to the treadmill. Good news! For the first ride we decided the boys would be together and I’d be in my own car.

The kids were still not quite awake. I didn’t get a ton of pics as the line went rather quickly. By the quality of the shots clearly I wasn't awake enough either! LOL

Don’t they look excited? Eric is wearing the same shirt from the night before complete with the Ridemakerz sticker still on it.

Thankfully it wasn’t a quick line and there is nothing like a round of Midway Mania to wake up the sleepiest of kids.

My score?

147,400!

It’s not LL or jenbear worthy I know but it’s my best score. And yeah, I beat the pants of the kdis. Which isn’t saying much but it made me happy.
What do you do when it’s still just before 9 and you get off of TSM? Turn around and go on it again of course! Which we did! I honestly can’t recall but I think we kept it the same, kids together and me alone. That way no one could complain about not being with me. I did not beat my previous score though. Wah.

It was now exactly 9 and the crowds were pouring in. The difference in that standby line was mind boggling. We stopped to check out the dump shop, eye some pressed pennies and determine our next plan of attack. We had one item on our mind.

BREAKFAST! And more coffee for me. While Starring Rolls was closer, I knew it would be insanely busy and we had another place in mind. The Writers Stop. Now here’s an interesting thing about Writers Stop. It doesn’t even show up on the map there as a food and beverage place. I’d never been there, or seen it, so wasn’t quite sure where it was. So we wandered. For quite a bit. FINALLY finding it. It’s rather easy to miss if you ask me. It was however, worth the effort. Absolutely adorable inside , though that is not at all obvious from this outside shot.

it’s like a typical coffee shop but complete with a book selection, small reading nook, selection of games and some unique merchandise (as well as some of the standard fare). Medium length line but nothing like starring rolls and essentially the same pastry selection as best I could tell. And they had espresso! However they also had the SLOWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSTTTTTTT service possible. They could figure out how to make an Americano for me, despite it not being on the menu, but not how to actually ring it up! It took forever. On the positive side though, it was long enough for one of the 2 little window nooks to open up. Which is a great nibbling and people watching spot while escaping the heat! Only two seats but that was ok, I loved this nook.

Giant Chocolate Chocolate Chip muffins for the boys with a milk and an Americano and some type of honey bran muffin for me. You can see mine on the counter. You can also see where much of Eric’s muffin landed. Despite the slow service for a rather simple order it was a great respite for us and we absolutely loved it. My drink could have used 1-2 more shots and more ice but that was my bad for not ordering it that way..I didn't want to confuse them more!

It was now about 9:15. Jeff and Kendall were supposedly done with their workout and making their way to the showers and then park, along with Taylor. What to do next? When would they get there?

Next, Lights, Motors and...RAIN?

 

[creativeamanda]

I could see that starting to be a problem with the fastpasses, so I'm tickeled it worked out for you!

I totally get Kendall needing to be at the gym. I'm training for theprincess half marathon in Jan 2012, and I traded for the Beach Club so I could go to the fitness center.

My plan, though, is to be there at 6am. What can I say? I'm a morning person.

I've never been to the Writer's shop. I think I need to try it.

 

[natebenma]

Congrats on making it to HS as early as you did!!! Not quite rope drop, but close enough for government work, as they say (hope I am not offending any federal employees following your report)

Two rides on TSM and Fast Passes in the hopper. That's a good thing. What a nice CM to give you the extra passes!

I am not familiar with the Writers Stop, but now that you mention it, I recall that being one of the places in Disney that has "real" coffee. Good to remember that piece of info! Sounds like a really cute place.

Hope you are able to hook up with the rest of the family soon! Can you imagine trying to do Disney without cell phones?

 

[KatMark]

Great update, Cynthia! I was wondering how you were going to get FP's when the others hadn't gone through the turnstyle. Now I'm wondering how they are getting in the park without their Key cards???

Glad you were able to do TSM standby. We went to the Writers' Shop in September and the service was extremely slow.

I'm not sure what they do at the Studios for Rope Drop? I've never seen it there (we usually go for EMH's and miss the "real park" opening).

 

[englishrose47]

Yes how did you get Fp's without them being there ???!!!

 

[Native NYer]

An early start is definitely necessary at DHS for a ride and FP for TSM.
I haven't tried Writer's Stop. I need to very soon

 

[MEK]

Yes....that was totally a DOH moment - what were you thinking? However, if I had known they gave out magic FP's I would have tried that trick with Brian and Josh last summer. Instead I stalked the FP machines like crazy so I could get enough FP's for 6 people with only 4 tickets.

Very nice score. You have me beat by about 20K. I'm not riding with you in May!

Has Tracy been texting you drink pictures today???? Between Tracy, Melissa, and Christine I have had many virtual drinks this week!

The writer's stop looks so cute. I have never really been in there except to peak in the doorway.

So - what time does the rest of the gang show up?

 

[TarzansKat]

What I wouldn't give for a baked good from that coffee shop right now...



Sounds like a productive and exciting morning all around! And who doesn't want to start their day with a little TSM?

 

[glennbo123]

When I read this update I was thinking, "you can't use their tickets in the fastpass machines if they're not there!" But that's where the "Doh" came from in the title. (Doh! on my part.) I'm glad the CM at the fastpass machine took pity on you.

Where exactly is the Writer's Stop? I'm not familiar with it...that's a great thing about TR's, learn something new and get entertained at the same time.

 

[rentayenta]

Your intent to make rope drop reminds me of our last day in 2007. I was hell bent on making RD even if it meant going alone and before bed the night before, that was the decision made. After 9 days of going commando, my family was spent. That morning I set the alarm super early, got ready, and right as I was about 10 minutes from leaving Gabby woke up and told me that there was no way she'd let me go alone. Thank goodness she didn't because we were Splash Family as well as got FP for Spalsh and BTMRR for later during the day. We got to ride the first Spalsh log of the day, alone, and they also gave us our 8x10 photo.


Oh and those honking chocolate muffins looks divine.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Yay - I'm so glad you made it to the park around opening... at least half of you. I'm glad the FPs worked out too!

We had never been through the stand-by queue until last spring. We knew we had to get there for rope drop to make it happen... but we missed it. It worked out really well though. We arrived about 15 minutes after rope drop, avoided the mad dash to TSM yet still made it through the line in no time. Sounds like it worked out really well for you too!

 

[jenjolt]

YAY for making rope drop (well at least some of you)!! I'm a morning person so rope drop is a little easier for me to make and you guys have to deal with the time change!

Hmmmm....Writers' Stop! I love that little shop! I think on my first morning at DHS I'm going to stop there and enjoy a carrot cake cookie for breakfast!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I made the same mistake a couple of years ago thinking I could take Charles' ticket with me and getting his TSM Fast Pass while he slept in. It didn't work for me, either! How nice that the CM gave you some Magic Fast Passes, though!

Those muffins are huge!!!