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

[Angies1274]

Catching up again!

That birthday cake towel creation was so cool!! I've never seen them do that before.

I'm so glad you enjoyed Raglan Road! I'll have to look into it for next trip!

Sounds like a fun time at Disney Quest!! We had a lot of fun when we were there as well.

YAY for riding TSM twice! I'm glad you were able to get those fastpasses too!!

 

[Happydog]

Oh great fun! You made it! Those are some sleepy faces in line!! But FPs, that makes it worth it! I have never tried to get a FP for someone who wasn't in the park either... I am impressed that Disney can actually monitor that. But, score on the FPs...

OH I love the writer's stop. The CMs there ARE hugely slow, I agree... I hate to say it, but the retirees there are, well, on a different time schedule Very nice though. We really like going there -- I love me that Carrot Cake cookie, and the coffee is good! The cookies, very good! It is a low key spot! Great place to burn snack credits!

I guess your parallel travels is understandable with such a big party. AND difference of interests, etc.

Looking forward to more!!!!

 

[MaryAz]

Yay for TSM. Bkfst looked yummy!

 

[tinacaplan]

LOVE Toy Story Mania. The crazy thing is that my husband and I got in line last year around ten in the morning during Pres. Week and didn't have a terrible wait. Definitely going to do the whole grab FPs and then ride thing this year, though, as we TSM and I know Max will, too.

I think rope drop is going to be an essential part of our trip this year, but then again, we're going with a three year old!

 

[englishrose47]

TSM is my favorite at DHS!!!!!!!

 

[Escape2Disney]

I'm a habitual lurker, but had to pop in and say I love your writing style! Subscribing now...

 

[eandesmom]

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

me too! I was sweating it for a moment. Had TSM not been going down for rehab I wouldn't have even tried but I'm glad I did!

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.

Needing and wanting are 2 different things. She wasn't crazy about it, hadn't packed socks, complained about her shoes blah blah blah but...she did it. Jeff didn't really give her a choice though.

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

You should! It's fabulous, even with the slow service.

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)

8:20 is DARN good for us in my book!

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 know! So cool!

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?

yes, it's one of the places with real coffee and I'd never have known about it were it not for the DIS!

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???

Stay tuned!

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

it was slow but you know what? I'd rather deal with the slow service there than the crowds at Starring Rolls. It was worth it.

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).

I have no idea, I'm so out of it with the whole Rope Drop thing I have no idea what they do at EMH versus "real" opening. LOL! We were there for EMH so I guess there still was a show at 9?

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

Pixie dust! In the form of a very sympathetic CM who totally didn't have to do that.

 

[eandesmom]

An early start is definitely necessary at DHS for a ride and FP for TSM.

Made all the difference in the world! Much nicer than getting in line at 10:55 on EMH night. LOL!

I haven't tried Writer's Stop. I need to very soon

Definitely! I'll go back for sure.

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.

Thank heavens for magic FP's. If I'd have stalked we'd have had a return time for part 2 of our group at like 3pm. That's how nutty it was.

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

LOL! No worries, I didn't do as well on subsequent rides, it's still my top score. And still, the top score of my family! For whatever that's worth. Which isn't much.

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

Me too! I'm still recovering from the virtual trip to Dawa.

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?

It is so cute inside, despite being rather hideous from the outside. I'll be honest, the exterior almost kept me from going in! Plus they have REAL coffee!

Stay tuned to see when they show up

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

me too! I still need to try the carrot cake cookie, I just couldn't do it for breafkast

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

it will jump start you that's for sure!

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.

DOH! I'm glad I tried. Honestly, had I not, it could have really changed things for some of our group.

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.

It's next to Sci Fi, near the streets of America. I'm going to post some pics I just found. I may have taken more later in the week but am not sure and these give you a better feel for it.

 

[Native NYer]

And, in addition to Writer's Stop, I have to add Raglan Road to my restaurant list

 

[eandesmom]

I found some on a blog and thought I'd share. I wouldn't have known about this were it not for the DIS!

It was originally placed in Hollywood Studios (back when the park was still Disney-MGM Studios) to promote ABC’s Ellen sit-com, representing her book store in the show, “Buy the Book.” The ceiling is still covered with television studio lights as though the shop itself is a TV set, and for quite a while one could find remnants of Ellen strategically placed throughout the store (scripts, etc.).

And...my nook!

 

[Flossbolna]

Great update! But I got so nervous for you when I read about you taking these tickets with you! I knew that they would not work! How wonderful that the CM was so nice to give you the tickets.

The Writer's Stop is a nice place, but in my experience it is one of the coldest shops to be in! They love their A/C!! And your experience about slow service reminds me of our experience there... Three extremely friendly ladies taking an hour to make two coffees! It is very good that it is not very well known!

 

[KatMark]

Great photos. I have to say that those cappucinos are REALLY small for $3.19. Thankfully, I used the DDP for mine at that stop.

 

[eandesmom]

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.

FUN! Talk about worth getting up for. Who knew there was even such a thing as splash family. We hadn't been going commando (in my opinion lol) but they were a bit tired.

Oh and those honking chocolate muffins looks divine.

Honking is an understatement. Evan could only eat half. Too much chocolate

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!

Me too! Scared there for a minute. Of course in the moment it didn't occur to me why some were working and some were not.

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!

it did! I actually think the 15-20 minutes after RD was better for us.

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!

We were pretty acclimated by then though the E's would have loved another hour of sleep.

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!!!

I still need to try that cookie!

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!

for pixie dust and magic fast passes and lovely CM's.

Those muffins are huge!!!

I really should have made them split one but both assured me they could eat the whole thing. Eric handled it with zero issues but it was wayyyyyyy too much for Evan. So I made him cart it around for Kendall. Who didn't end up wanting it but it was more the principle of the thing.

 

[eandesmom]

And, in addition to Writer's Stop, I have to add Raglan Road to my restaurant list

Yes you do!

Great update! But I got so nervous for you when I read about you taking these tickets with you! I knew that they would not work! How wonderful that the CM was so nice to give you the tickets.

Pixie Dust!!!!!!

The Writer's Stop is a nice place, but in my experience it is one of the coldest shops to be in! They love their A/C!! And your experience about slow service reminds me of our experience there... Three extremely friendly ladies taking an hour to make two coffees! It is very good that it is not very well known!

Exactly! but they were all so sweet!

I have to admit I didn't notice the cold but it was HOT out. Sweltering hot.

Great photos. I have to say that those cappucinos are REALLY small for $3.19. Thankfully, I used the DDP for mine at that stop.

I used DDP too and iced it was fine (didn't seem too small) . I had an iced Americano, really just a double espressso on ice. I shoudl have gotten 2, but on ice. I will in May! Or maybe not, that would get pricey not on the DDP!

 

[creativeamanda]

I think I've found a great place for real coffee in Disney! I've given up all sodas, but I still have to have a cup of coffee every day!

 

[All7OfUs]

I love learning about out of the way places in the parks! Thanks for your write up on The Writers Stop. That little nook is just adorable!

Ugh! for tickets that make you say 'doh'! Great to have a friendly CM work with you!

 

[mom3sonstt]

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!

Thanks!

And - sorry for the detour there Cynthia!

 

[carissanboys]

Love the Writer's Stop! Never knew it existed. Wonder if they could make me a Mexican Mocha. If I get over to DS on this trip, I will have to check it out.

 

[vamassey1]

I'm sorry but I'm way behind on all the reports I read. Live has just been too busy.

I'm all caught up on your now.

TL-Great Day! We had plans to go there in 2007 but never made. We hit BB, but I really wanted to try TL too.

Loved the towel Bday cake, how original.

RR-It's really great that you got to meet up with your friend and her mom. I want to try RR someday but I would have to stay on the safe side on my food ordering, but I know I would love the entertainment and atmosphere.

I don't remember seeing the car place when we went in Feb. My guys would love to build their own car, although they are 47 and 25.

DHS-Good effort for making rope drop! I was on pins and needles waiting to find out how the ticket/fps worked out. As I was reading I was thinking "I know this won't work out." I'm so glad you had a nice CM who helped you out and didn't fuss. I'm dying to try the Writer's Shop after reading about it on several reports. DH and youngest DD love the Disney carrot cake so I know they'll love the cookie.

Looking forward to more!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I have the sneaking suspicion that if you tried to publish pics of me from rope drop they would be banned due to the "gesture" I might be sending your way. I am SO not a rope drop person despite all the great things I hear about it.