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

[Poolrat]

Headaches for you too, eh, Pat?? They ARE killer! But sometimes even whites can do it for me. Depends totally on brand by brand.

I generally just stay away from all wine. The only exception would be champagneand well I just don't drink that all that often.

I could not understand why I would get a such "hangoverlike" headache from a little wine until I was told about the sulfites.
Of course "the incident" did not help much either. Makes my stomach turn just thinking about how bad I felt.

 

[Happydog]

Okay this is rather funny, here I am trying to catch up and who would have expected to find her recipe getting all this play on your TR!!! Well, you put it well : a can, a can, and a can! They do go down well And yes, a GG slushie with cream. That is basically what it is!!!

Yeah you all looked HOT, I agree! Ditching family members for a margarita is always a good move in my book Your boys do NOT look amused, however. That is so funny about the snack credits, drinks and the mugs, I have to admit I agree with your logic, we just usually cave and pay OOP Anyhow, seeing Sandie and Paul in the pics, sure seems like they were enjoying themselves and the show! Epcot has something for everyone I think!

 

[cdotla]

All caught up again!

So glad to hear how well the trip is going, and that everything is going so well with Paul.

I have never yet had a baguette in France, but after your description I definitely want one! Coincidentially Chris was talking about wanting to go back here just the other day. (He had a late supper here before watching Illuminations one night).

Sounds like a great (although mighty hot) day in Epcot. Laughing at you for not wanting to use snack credits to buy the kids drinks so close to the resort and the refillable mugs, while at the same time finishing off your "adult drink". That is so something I would do too!

Isn't the ditch great? Like you, I didn't really get my fill of it on our last trip. Must correct that!

So the grand marnier doesn't even come close to the grey goose? Was that a consensus with Jeff too? By appearances the grand marnier looked pretty tasty too!

Can't wait to hear about your experience at O'Hana. And for the record, I have ZERO doubt that you indulged in a Lapu Lapu!

 

[Poolrat]

Coincidentially Chris was talking about wanting to go back here just the other day. (He had a late supper here before watching Illuminations one night).

OOOhhh that sounds like a glimmer of hope for Chris. Maybe a Food and Wine trip will help turrn the hater into a not so much hater.

 

[eandesmom]

You are so right, but red I avoid at all costs. Between the flashbacks of the experience and the killer headache from the sulfites..

I tolerate liquor so much better, usually

Red wine can be brutal, I agree with Liesa it really can vary by brand and whites can do it do (the sugar in some for me)

Headaches for you too, eh, Pat?? They ARE killer! But sometimes even whites can do it for me. Depends totally on brand by brand.

ITA!

I generally just stay away from all wine. The only exception would be champagneand well I just don't drink that all that often.

I could not understand why I would get a such "hangoverlike" headache from a little wine until I was told about the sulfites.
Of course "the incident" did not help much either. Makes my stomach turn just thinking about how bad I felt.

UGH! that's how I feel about Sangria....

All caught up again!

So glad to hear how well the trip is going, and that everything is going so well with Paul.

I have never yet had a baguette in France, but after your description I definitely want one! Coincidentially Chris was talking about wanting to go back here just the other day. (He had a late supper here before watching Illuminations one night).

it was a great lunch!

Sounds like a great (although mighty hot) day in Epcot. Laughing at you for not wanting to use snack credits to buy the kids drinks so close to the resort and the refillable mugs, while at the same time finishing off your "adult drink". That is so something I would do too!

Isn't the ditch great? Like you, I didn't really get my fill of it on our last trip. Must correct that!

So the grand marnier doesn't even come close to the grey goose? Was that a consensus with Jeff too? By appearances the grand marnier looked pretty tasty too!

Can't wait to hear about your experience at O'Hana. And for the record, I have ZERO doubt that you indulged in a Lapu Lapu!

I know, weren't we selfish? Grandma saved the day, or at least tried to! The GM slushie was good, but we both liked the GG one better.

OOOhhh that sounds like a glimmer of hope for Chris. Maybe a Food and Wine trip will help turrn the hater into a not so much hater.

Food and Wine can work magic.....

 

[eandesmom]

Okay this is rather funny, here I am trying to catch up and who would have expected to find her recipe getting all this play on your TR!!! Well, you put it well : a can, a can, and a can! They do go down well And yes, a GG slushie with cream. That is basically what it is!!!

It's a darn good recipe!

Yeah you all looked HOT, I agree! Ditching family members for a margarita is always a good move in my book Your boys do NOT look amused, however. That is so funny about the snack credits, drinks and the mugs, I have to admit I agree with your logic, we just usually cave and pay OOP Anyhow, seeing Sandie and Paul in the pics, sure seems like they were enjoying themselves and the show! Epcot has something for everyone I think!

They were NOT amused. Often we cave as well but we knew we were leaving any minute and going straight to the pool so...being cheap. Sandie and Paul were enjoying it, somehow they look far less hot than the E's and Jeff, very impressive.

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Cynthia just checking in !! Next Sunday I can make my ressies for August!!!!

 

[eandesmom]

Hi Cynthia just checking in !! Next Sunday I can make my ressies for August!!!!

Whoo hoo!!!!!!!

So fun to make ressies!!!!

 

[eandesmom]

Some VERY hot people had finally cooled off with at dip in SAB. Others had cooled off in the room AC, probably enjoying an hour plus of quiet. For some, maybe not as cool as we’d have liked, even the pool water seemed rather warm, but still far cooler than we were while watching Off Kilter!
At about 6:30 we begrudgingly headed up to the room to shower and get ready for dinner. As you might imagine, we were pushing it on the time. When we got down to the YC lobby we headed out, hopeful our cab would be there as Sandie had called ahead. With 8, we needed a van, or two cabs. There was a van there but we were told it wasn’t ours. It sat. And sat. And sat.

We waited.

No van.

Still no van.

Plenty of regular cabs.

I’m starting to panic, it’s Ohana and I do NOT want to be late.

Still.

No Van.

Cabs keep pulling up and we tell the nice bell services CM that we are just going to grab 2 and take off. He tries to get us to wait but we need to go!

So we do!

Funny arriving, it really was like herding cats, they all start wondering off into different directions and I’m trying to get them all to follow me but give up and just say, I’m going to go check in, it’s upstairs, knowing that they will figure it out. We were basically seated immediately so taking the 2 cabs was definitely the right call.

First things first of course, a never done and a must!

The infamous Lapu Lapu!

YUM! I was worried it would be too sweet and it wasn't. I'm glad I tried it and would have one again.

Food arrived quickly

The fire was roaring

Soon, the entertainment began, along with the lei giveaways. Somehow Sandie convinced our less than engaging CM server to get us all leis. Not sure how she managed that and the pushed back at first, but she did.

Evan had a lot of fun with his

The E’s did go up and participate in the activities but man, my shots didn’t turn out at all, so dark and blurry they aren’t worth sharing.
Soon, dessert arrived. The infamous bread pudding. I was very curious to see how it would compare to the Raglan Road bread pudding.

Jeff…who is a caramel freak, was pretty happy about the sauce on the side

All too soon, and I mean soon, we were done. The entire meal, which I’d allotted 2 hours for, took only 1!

Sandie, using her charm again, convinced our server to take a picture

You can see Taylor still sporting that fabulous look. I’m so glad that phase is over!

What I can I say about Ohana? We loved it! It did feel a bit rushed, but not horribly so. The E’s are about past that kind of entertainment but enjoyed it and the big kids, even though they didn’t participate, didn’t seem to be annoyed by it, which is always a good thing. Almost all of the food was outstanding. The pork was dry but everything else, delicious!!!! The entire gang loved it.

The bread pudding? Delish! I do think I like the RR one better but…just a smidge. So now the question was, what to do?

It was about 8:15. My original plan had looked like this.

9:00 head to Magic Kingdom
9:30 - Kiss Goodnight @ 9:30pm - Cinderella Castle light show.
10:00 - Wishes fireworks at 10
Evening EMH (open till 1)

However, we had learned that there would be a second showing of Fantasmic and after some discussion, and a VERY strong wish by Taylor to try for a run at TSM. DHS was closing at 9, F! was at 9:30 and it all seemed doable. So… why not!

For some reason, we had a hard time finding the bus stop at the Poly. I’ve only taken the monorail there so had no clue and it was literally the blind leading the blind.

I don’t know if it was because it was after 8 and DHS was closing at 9, or because we were at a resort or what but there were NO buses in sight. We waited and waited and waited for what seemed like forever. It wasn’t but you know how it is, when you have a deadline (the 9pm park closing) and anxious kids (Taylor really really really wanted to go on TSM again and it would be closing the next day) then everything feels like it just takes that much longer. Finally one came and we piled on. I can’t recall if it stopped at another resort but for some reason, I think it did, adding to our dwindling time window. As we pulled up we agreed, Taylor and Evan would make a run for it and try to get on, the rest of us would just start heading towards F! We had bags and such and would never make it through the gates on time. It was perhaps 8:55. Maybe even later. They RAN. We did not.

Sadly they didn’t make it. Taylor was hugely disappointed, but, it was what it was and nothing to be done. They’d chosen this option over the MK so that’s what we were doing. We piled into the theater which was pretty darn full, even for the “late” show. I’m not sure why but it sort of fascinates me that this second show actually starts after the park closes. I’d only been to F! once, in 2004 and the boys didn’t remember it at all so we were all looking forward to it. What I did not expect was the heat and the fact that despite the fact that it was now after 9, that amphitheater has zero circulation and it had not cooled down at all. It had seemed fine when we were waiting for the bus but now, inside the theater, it was like sitting inside a bowl of dead hot air. Absolutely miserable. Of course, I was (again) wearing silk. It had been perfect for dinner and is usually a very cool dress but sitting there, feeling the sweat trickle down my back, I don’t think I’ve ever ever ever been that hot in my life that late in the day. Melting. I’m melting, that’s all I could think and my family seemed to feel the same way. It honestly crossed my mind to just leave, that’s how hot we were, but I didn’t voice it out loud.

We sat and waited for it to start, and felt a bit claustrophobic, people were packing in and when it’s that hot, personal space becomes that much more important. I love my family but I don’t love sticking to them.

Finally, we saw this guy! These are blurry I know, seriously I only had one Lapu Lapu! My camera sucks at night shots.

Continued in next post

 

[eandesmom]

Enjoy the show!

The thing about F! that I’d forgotten is…fire.

OH man did that make the heat even worse if such a thing was even possible!

Finally, the show was over.

Which sounds like we didn’t enjoy it. which isn’t true, we did but the heat did impact our enjoyment considerably and we were glad to see it end. We walked out with the masses, more than a little wilted and decided to call it a night. Blessedly there was a boat waiting for us and we walked right on. Soon we were back at the Yacht Club, headed into our cool oasis of AC and white linens to rest and rejuvenate for the next day. Before we did that, we were all rather slimy so it was down to the quiet pool for a quick dip to cool off but again, the water was really not all that cool and honestly, with it as shallow as it is, it just wasn’t all that interesting to hang out so that ended almost as soon as it started

Our talk turned to the next day and what to do. My original plan had been to hit DHS, then have some pool time, then to AK for a few evening rides, dinner at Tusker and then if I we finished early enough, a few more rides as it was evening EMH.

However….some of the crew weren’t all that excited about the idea of going anywhere first thing in the morning. Some were bitter about TSM, everyone was still reeling from the heat and associating it pretty directly with DHS which did lessen the appeal at that exact moment, and still others had agendas that wouldn’t become clear until later the next day.

Up next. The Drifters

 

[MEK]

I am going to advise you not to bring one silk shirt in May. It can be pretty hot then as well. It was last year. Still not as bad as August.

I agree that the theatre is ridiculously stuffy. I thought it was just me because I hate to sit and wait.

I enjoyed your pictures. They turned out pretty good considering how hard it is to get a good shot in there.

Way to go Sandy - getting those leis and all. I love how the boys used them as headbands. Surprised Taylor didn't try that. Seriously, just kidding!

I can't believe you were done your entire meal in an hour. The last time I ate there I was begging them to speed up so we could get back to the MK.

I have to say - I love the broccoli and the noodles and the wings. I could make a meal of just that. Throw a few shrimp on top and I am good to go.

 

[Poolrat]

For some reason, we had a hard time finding the bus stop at the Poly. I’ve only taken the monorail there so had no clue and it was literally the blind leading the blind.

I don’t know if it was because it was after 8 and DHS was closing at 9, or because we were at a resort or what but there were NO buses in sight. We waited and waited and waited for what seemed like forever. It wasn’t but you know how it is, when you have a deadline (the 9pm park closing) and anxious kids (Taylor really really really wanted to go on TSM again and it would be closing the next day) then everything feels like it just takes that much longer. Finally one came and we piled on. I can’t recall if it stopped at another resort but for some reason, I think it did, adding to our dwindling time window. [/I]

We had the same experience NYE. I have since figured something out.

Walk to the TTC and there is a bus to DHS ( and AK) there. I have no idea why it took me so long to figure that out but I have figured out that from any of the monorail resorts, that may be the best way to get to those parks. It just seems like the shared busses and them being far and few between at the resorts, the best thing is to go to the TTC.

 

[glennbo123]

I'm glad you liked Ohana. Their bread pudding is so good, I knew that the Raglan Road version couldn't be toooo much better, if at all. I think it can be a quick meal there because people aren't ordering from a menu...they just keep pumping out the same items.

Sorry that Taylor and Evan didn't make it to TSM. That would be a bummer to miss it by just a few minutes.

Uh oh -- hidden agendas.

 

[tinacaplan]

Another exciting cliff hanger! I have to admit that I cried a little inside when you all decided against EMHs at MK. Although for TSM...maybe. We did not do Fantasmic on our last trip and aren't doing this time, either. Someday... Point is, I have absolutely no idea what I'm missing and I think I'm OK with that. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed Ohana, as we're headed their in about a week!! And I, too, might have to drink out of a whole pineapple. Something tells me that one will be right up my mom's alley.

 

[KathyRN137]

Oh, Man! so sorry TSM didn't work out!

Those 'Ritas sounded wonderful and I don't even drink 'em!

`Ohana turned out great... that Sandie sure has the power of persuasion!

Your description of the oppressive heat makes me glad we're not going in August!


Must tune into your East meets West PTR ASAP!



Kathy

 

[englishrose47]

In August once again I have plans for the Family to see Fantasmic !!! I have seen it twice and really enjoyed it , one time in Feb and it was a little chilly the next time it was rained out as I was sitting there and then the second time I saw it I made my infamous entranceI plan on getting a Famtasmic package at MM for August!!!

 

[All7OfUs]

UGH! I can just feel how hot you all are sittng there with no air!! NO THANKS! See what I mean? F! is just not worth the crowds and seating arrangement. I won't be hurrying back.

Such a bummer for the kids! I can see that tainting their opinion of the plan.

Oh-HOT-nas. Good one! The food is so yummy there- as are the Lapus! Mmmm mmm! Slurp!

 

[natebenma]

So glad you enjoyed the meal at 'Ohana. What a perfect, spot on description of the Fantasmic amphitheater. We saw the show in July 2009. Pretty much all my family remembers is how HOT it was. At 9 PM.

 

[creativeamanda]

It seems like the heat from the fire for Fantasmic makes things 20X worse. I'm glad ya'll got to Ohana--it's still one that comes on and off our list--our daughter has a banana allergy and I don't want to attempt the different dessert.

That Lapu Lapu looked yummy! 111 days until I have one!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

That heat sounds unbearable! 2 years ago at F&W in Oct it was 100+ w/ humidity. Not fun.

Glad you enjoyed O'Hana and the lapu lapu.

Sorry TSM didn't work out. I have never seen Fantasmic. I can't say your description of the theater has me wanting to try it anytime soon.