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

[eandesmom]

Well, you are officially invited next weekend, if it works out. Really.

Today was a yard work day, it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO lovely!! 60s, sunny, just perfect!

Yes! Let's do keep GWL on the options list as well. Looks like great fun!

Yeah, my poor younger kids- "AndrRebeMichaHeyYOU!!!"

I like that swoop technique- very nice!!

I hear ya. My mom was always like "Cindytoddphillipmelissakerri...whatever your name is"



Hmmn.. I may just take you up on that.

 

[eandesmom]

It had been a late night for all. As a result, Jeff and I had no illusions about rope drop but rather intended to go over, when we woke up, and not before that. The funny part of it all is that I have NO idea when it is that we actually woke up! What I do know is that we did and all got ready, with coffee for Jeff and I, and now that groceries were there and unpacked some juice and fruit for all of us as well. I don’t think we had yogurt as I needed to go swipe spoons for that to be edible. Thus fortified and trying to keep mostly quiet, we headed out to get our day started.

It was day 6 and our Epcot experience to date had consisted of a visit to the Oasis known as Club Cool, a fabulous Italian feast and some enthusiastic napkin waiving while singing “Ole Ole Ole Ole!” Needless to say, we were raring to go. Apparently because of that, I neglected to take any pictures. Which definitely contributes to my not having a clue what time we actually got there. Was it early? I’m sure not. If I had to guess (and I guess I do) I’d say it was close to 10. Then again, it could have been 11. I know it wasn’t early. A major contributing factor to the lack of am pictures? I went bagless. After the schlep through Epcot with our carryons for the pool I was tired of being a Sherpa. It was HOT out, just as sweltering as the day before and I just didn’t feel like carrying anything heavier than my KTTW and a lipgloss. While I know I gave Jeff the camera to put in the daypack, clearly I didn’t get it out for a bit. And while I’m pretty sure about our activities…the order could well be off! I do know that our first stop was Soarin’ for FP’s and it was something like a 2 or 3pm return time. Which meant there was no way all 8 of us would get to go on it. We could try and come back and get another set but that window would be right during when we were supposed to meet for lunch. UGH. After that, if memory serves, it was straight to Mission Space and Orange for all! Out of the 4 of us, only Jeff had done Mission space before. I was a little nervous but not overly so, mostly just curious to see how it compared to Green. For me, the takeoff was substantially different. In a good way! The rest, not so much. I actually enjoyed Orange quite a bit more, we all did. We had at least one other main thing we wanted to hit, Jeff especially. A special feature if you will and something I’d never seen.

Captain EO!

Honestly, I’m not sure what I expected, I really didn’t. To this day I’m not quite sure how I feel about it other than to say it was, honestly, tremendously entertaining. And a nice escape from the heat. I’m glad we went,. There was something so silly about the whole thing, something that just made me grin (in a transported back to high school kind of way) and other things that had me shaking my head. Sandie had texted us as we were heading in that they were up and heading out for breakfast and wanted to know where they should go.

ARRGH! The whole plan had been to meet for lunch. I had breakfast stuff there for everyone. Jeff almost blew a gasket. But, he calmed down, and let them know where the stuff was to eat, told them to have a snack, then head over and we’d eat right away but to please not go out for breakfast. We had a sinking feeling that if we allowed that to happen we might never see them that day and it would be a case of ships passing in the night. I mean day.

Apparently, and I had NO idea of this before this trip, Paul’s big thing on vacation is to go out for breakfast. Sit down breakfast. Everyday. It’s his thing. Had I known I’d have planned things differently. Oh well.

At any rate, that supposedly settled (you never know right, they could have just decided to eat anyway) we settled in and enjoyed the show. Coming out of the show, sure enough, it wasn’t all that settled. My breakfast stock hadn’t overwhelmed them apparently and they were starving. To be fair I had light snacks. Fruit, juice and yogurt. Foraging for a spoon was too much work and Paul wanted real food. It was noon so hunger was understandable (even though K&T didn’t get up till 11 if I recall) which meant that shortly they’d be on their way and we didn’t have a whole lot of time. I really wanted to check out the Sum of All Thrills. However, there was a problem. A serious DOH that I didn’t even realize until our return. There are TWO parts to Innovations. I know that is a serious DOH but honestly, we’ve always skipped the whole thing. We went in and poked around whichever side it isn’t in (we were in East if it was in West, or vice versa lol) and whatever side we were in, didn’t have much that grabbed us. I was frustrated, bummed and confused and Jeff really underwhelmed and not at all sold on the fact that he would like what it was I wanted to find. And he was worried about our weary traveler and teen brains ability to find the park and get in unsheparded. Which is a bit sad...but true (and a bit warranted but I digress). So….it was off to the WS. The plan was to meet at the International Gateway (and help them through if need be) and from there….lunch!

But where? The WS was the target but with 8 people…how in the world would we decide? Would we traverse the world in search of 8 different counter service meals? Would Sandie and Paul understand how to use their Counter Service Credits? Would I get a picture of this day? How was Paul doing? And how would he handle the heat? Heck, could they even find the IG entry on their own?


From bagless...to the baguette of my dreams

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Oh boy! Now you have me all worried that your day will be chaotic!!
But I have faith, that you will work it all out. But will everyone be happy? That's a lot of people to please!

 

[Poolrat]

I definately should have eaten there when I was IN SEARCH OF A HOT ITALIAN!!!!

The place is CRAWLING with them.

Rosie! I can't believe you haven't been there. You could have your pick! You might be overcome with TOO many options though.

This made me

 

[KathyRN137]

Ah, Cynthia, please forgive my recent absence! I've been a bad, bad DISer!

I'll be caught up soon and then I can comment! (Thank goodness for chapter links!!)


Kathy

 

[MEK]

How the heck did you have time for an update today? Pretty impressive!

Oh My.....Not Knowing that Paul was a big sit down breakfast boy looks its going to be a bit of a snafu! I am curious to see how this all works out. I hope you can find something that everyone likes in the WS.

So, did you ever find SOAT? If not, we will just have to ride it in May.

I have not see Captain EO yet and I would really like to, so that's on my May list.

 

[glennbo123]

Yikes! Don't let 'em mess up the plan!

You did get a few things done...Mission Space (I'm glad you liked the Orange side), and Captain EO.

Yes, finding something in particular in Innoventions can be tricky.

 

[All7OfUs]

doh! Yeah, I can see that would have been some pretty important info to have about someone. I'm so sorry this ended up being a bit of a touring issue for you!

Great you liked the orange side! I like it too.

Once.

Capt. EO. Didn't take it in, but sure have memories of it from my high school years as well. Funny how some things really bring all that back, like Farrah Fawcett do's and Hubba Bubba.

 

[burly]

sounds like the plan is unraveling.............

Hope it all works out.
We did go check out Captain EO, and found it.....entertaining as well. But once was enough!


Hubba Bubba!!!!


KIM

 

[natebenma]

The family is only as strong as the couple. Just sayin' lol. Date night in the middle of a family vacation, if you can swing it, is pretty special (not to mentions restorative) and let me tell you, there is something to be said for strolling around the WS holding hands, with just your guy and a grey goose slushie in the other hand.

I can't tell you how many times Mark and I looked at each other during our July trip and said "Boy, this would really be fun without the kids!" We were lucky that we visited Disney as a couple 3-4 times BC (before children), including a High School graduation trip when we were newly dating.

Apparently, and I had NO idea of this before this trip, Paul’s big thing on vacation is to go out for breakfast. Sit down breakfast. Everyday. It’s his thing. Had I known I’d have planned things differently. Oh well.

But where? The WS was the target but with 8 people…how in the world would we decide? Would we traverse the world in search of 8 different counter service meals? Would Sandie and Paul understand how to use their Counter Service Credits? Would I get a picture of this day? How was Paul doing? And how would he handle the heat? Heck, could they even find the IG entry on their own?

Great update and the cliffhangers are leaving me at the edge of my seat! Plus I'm jonesing for some photos, so I hope you remember to dig out the camera!

Did Paul and Sandie ever find the Captain's Grille at the YC for breakfast? I haven't been but they have both an ala carte menu and buffet. There are so many wonderful places to pick a lunch at WS. Can't wait to hear the place(s) you choose!

 

[Charleston Princess]

My stress level always ratchets up when I read about plans unraveling. Really and truly. I hope lunch comes off relatively easily.

Yeay for seeing Captain EO -- doesn't it just scream the 1980s to you?

I am very envious of your bagless morning. Someday I hope to skip blithely through the park gates with nothing more than my KTTW card and a lip gloss.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I try to travel light in the parks but don't think I could go bagless. Maybe I'll try it in May.

I haven't seen Captain Eo either, so I'll go w/ you Mary Ellen, assuming it's still there.

Ugh to the breakfast issue. Hope everyone recovers quickly and that you all have a lovely afternoon in WS. It's too bad but I think that our family members just don't get that a LOT of planning is required to really do the Disney thing "right" and so they tend to throw a lot of wrenches in our plans.

I am not a breakfast eater but I am looking forward to seeing the gang in their beach gear at Cape May in May!

 

[Native NYer]

I'm on the edge of my seat!

Oh no! Paul likes a big, sit down breakfast. That does change things.
That is definitely something that needs to be mentioned during the trip planning stages.

Trying to coordinate CS lunch with a group of 8 is no easy task. I hope it was painless.

I can't wait to see what happens next

 

[eandesmom]

Oh boy! Now you have me all worried that your day will be chaotic!!
But I have faith, that you will work it all out. But will everyone be happy? That's a lot of people to please!

It is a lot of people to please. My life is chatoic this was just symptomatic of daily life and honestly the fact that we'd made it that far without any of that was really more of the exception, this is more of the rule if you will. I'd been expecting it once they arrived, just not maybe quite as soon as it actually happened.

This made me

I should have taken pictures, just for Rosie.

Ah, Cynthia, please forgive my recent absence! I've been a bad, bad DISer!

I'll be caught up soon and then I can comment! (Thank goodness for chapter links!!)


Kathy

Hi Kathy! Welcome back!!!

No worries, I've been pretty bad myself and am just now feeling a bit more current everywhere. It's hard without chapter links, I'm grateful to anyone who does it. I can't wait to hear more about your adventure.

How the heck did you have time for an update today? Pretty impressive!

Well, it was a short update...no pictures will do that. But I can't even tell you how freeing bagless is! In the past I've tucked my point and shoot into my cargo pants but even that felt too heavy, that's how hot it was.

Oh My.....Not Knowing that Paul was a big sit down breakfast boy looks its going to be a bit of a snafu! I am curious to see how this all works out. I hope you can find something that everyone likes in the WS.

Yeah, I'd have tweaked a few things to be sure to address that. The funny thing is I'd had another breakfast booked at CG as I loved the look of the menu and really wanted to eat there and then due to other changes, decided it didn't work. Should have gone with my first instinct. But then again, I was struggling with park time versus breakfast. dDay 6 and we really hadn't had a ton of park time at any one park at all. MK and DHS were in far better shape but we hadn't seen or done anything in AK or Epcot to speak of yet. And while we still had 4 full days, it was weighing on me a little.

So, did you ever find SOAT? If not, we will just have to ride it in May.

I have not see Captain EO yet and I would really like to, so that's on my May list.

No and yes, I really want to do SOAT in May!!! And the thing Glenn just did...the Tron-ish thing, whatever it's called. I'm not a gamer at ALL but I want to do both of those. Lets see, I think I have 4 Epcot must do/never dones. SOAT, Tron (whatever it's called), Maelstrom, and....hear Voices of Liberty (which I know I can count on you for).

Yikes! Don't let 'em mess up the plan!

You did get a few things done...Mission Space (I'm glad you liked the Orange side), and Captain EO.

Yes, finding something in particular in Innoventions can be tricky.

I had a feeling plans might go out the window once they arrived, it was rather shocking we'd stuck to the plan before that as it was. I just wasn't expecting it the minute they woke up.

Orange was great! I'm not sure I can go back to green. Then again, not sure if any of my May mates are up for Orange. Ladies?

Oh Innoventions made me a bit cranky. Not the place to try and find something quickly if you are already feeling pressured and rushed.

doh! Yeah, I can see that would have been some pretty important info to have about someone. I'm so sorry this ended up being a bit of a touring issue for you!

It made me a little cranky, Sandie knew we'd made one breakfast ressie for later in the week and never mentioned that more than that would be good. I get that there are usually only 2 of them and they might not think of breakfast ressies as being a requirement but it is a different ballgame with 8, not to mention the touring plan impact. Not that I'll ever need to worry about this again in the future but if we do go on vacation again with them, it's good to know! I'd have leveraged it actually, I love going out to breakfast but also have a hard time giving up park time for it.

Great you liked the orange side! I like it too.

Once.

Capt. EO. Didn't take it in, but sure have memories of it from my high school years as well. Funny how some things really bring all that back, like Farrah Fawcett do's and Hubba Bubba.

Bonne Belle....

 

[englishrose47]

I hate it when plans go askew !!!! That is why I really like going solo !!

 

[eandesmom]

I can't tell you how many times Mark and I looked at each other during our July trip and said "Boy, this would really be fun without the kids!" We were lucky that we visited Disney as a couple 3-4 times BC (before children), including a High School graduation trip when we were newly dating.

I've been twice without kids as an adult, but never with Jeff. I'd hoped to have a full date night in August but once they changed their dates we didn't want to ditch them for a whole night.

Great update and the cliffhangers are leaving me at the edge of my seat! Plus I'm jonesing for some photos, so I hope you remember to dig out the camera!

There are pictures coming up.

Did Paul and Sandie ever find the Captain's Grille at the YC for breakfast? I haven't been but they have both an ala carte menu and buffet. There are so many wonderful places to pick a lunch at WS. Can't wait to hear the place(s) you choose!

I love the look of the CG ala carte menus. I don't love the interior though.
There are a lot of places to choose from for lunch to be sure in the WS. Sometimes...too many!

My stress level always ratchets up when I read about plans unraveling. Really and truly. I hope lunch comes off relatively easily.

Well, it was a plan redo as it was so at that point it wasn't exactly unraveling...just threatening to.

Yeay for seeing Captain EO -- doesn't it just scream the 1980s to you?

Major HS flashbacks. We had a cheerleading routine to Thriller...

I am very envious of your bagless morning. Someday I hope to skip blithely through the park gates with nothing more than my KTTW card and a lip gloss.

It's SO freeing! Of course only really possible if your DH decides to take on sherpa duty and carry a small daypack with your glasses case, sunscreen, ponchos, your wallet and the camera. In the past though I have managed it with cargo capri's. Problem is that the camera can weigh down the pants and then I'm always tugging them up. Thus I'm always in the search of the perfect vacation cute cargo capri that can actually hold things in the pockets without falling down or looking bulky. Which is a lot to ask out of an item of clothing.

I try to travel light in the parks but don't think I could go bagless. Maybe I'll try it in May.

It is the BEST feeling. And if we are at Epcot or DHS, really there isn't anything you couldn't go back for if you absolutely had to. I hope to go bagless in May at least once.

I haven't seen Captain Eo either, so I'll go w/ you Mary Ellen, assuming it's still there.

I'd see it again. Although maybe I'll go see living with the land while you guys see EO as I've never done that either.

Ugh to the breakfast issue. Hope everyone recovers quickly and that you all have a lovely afternoon in WS. It's too bad but I think that our family members just don't get that a LOT of planning is required to really do the Disney thing "right" and so they tend to throw a lot of wrenches in our plans.

I am not a breakfast eater but I am looking forward to seeing the gang in their beach gear at Cape May in May!

I love breakfast, though I do prefer menu to buffet. But Cape May is special I have to agree. And I had booked that for our last morning, but Paul wanted breakfast now, and daily! They think they get it and I must have been thanked a bazillion times and told I should be a travel agent but...it didn't stop them from wanting to do their own ad hoc thing at times and didn't see how it might mess other things up.

I'm on the edge of my seat!

Oh no! Paul likes a big, sit down breakfast. That does change things.
That is definitely something that needs to be mentioned during the trip planning stages.

In all fairness, I really don't think it occurred to Sandie to tell me. But yes, it would have been hugely helpful.

Trying to coordinate CS lunch with a group of 8 is no easy task. I hope it was painless.

I can't wait to see what happens next

I'm not sure painless is the right word It was fascinating to see how our plans and touring style changed, and had to adapt, once they arrived. Not bad mind you, not saying that at all, just really different. With the occasional time out for deep breathing a few other ways Jeff and I found to cope/keep us sane.

 

[Happydog]

If you can get some lunch, I am sure things will right themselves!

We have STILL not done all there is to do (and that means we have hardly TOUCHED) Innovations... EITHER pavillion. I hope to do more of them the next time we go!

 

[eandesmom]

I hate it when plans go askew !!!! That is why I really like going solo !!

Well on the positive side, had they not changed, we probably wouldn't have seen EO or had the first morning stroll straight into the park. Those were 2 pretty cool things right there. Maybe not what we'd planned but cool nonetheless.

 

[cdotla]

Bagless????

Orange MS????

You, dear lady, live on the wild side.

Well you have convinced me to give Orange a go next time. I get motion sick in the car just looking backwards, so I always erred on the side of caution not wanting to waste an afternoon of park touring being sick. But I have to admit....green is far, far too tame. I need some more excitement so Orange it will be!

Your dinner at Tutto sounded lovely. Was dying to see exactly what Taylor wore. I think we can all laugh at our clothing choices from our younger years every once in awhile, can't we?

Oh dear about Paul and the sit-down breakfast dilemma. I am right with him on that, but shudder the thought of trying to do sit down breakfasts at 7:30-8am (so as not to miss rope drop) with people who aren't used to it, like your teens. Hopefully he considers the Beach Club Marketplace and/or the Boardwalk Bakery a good compromise while the others are still getting ready.

Dying to hear how things work out for your unscheduled lunch for 8 in WS.

 

[eandesmom]

If you can get some lunch, I am sure things will right themselves!

Food, and other things, have amazing restorative powers!

We have STILL not done all there is to do (and that means we have hardly TOUCHED) Innovations... EITHER pavillion. I hope to do more of them the next time we go!

I've always skipped it on purpose but then I see all this cool stuff on Glenn's TR and I'm like..I need to go there and check it out! But then of course I couldn't find it. It is SO not well marked.

Bagless????

Orange MS????

You, dear lady, live on the wild side.

that's me, a wild child!

Well you have convinced me to give Orange a go next time. I get motion sick in the car just looking backyards, so I always erred on the side of caution not wanting to waste an afternoon of park touring being sick. But I have to admit....green is far, far too tame. I need some more excitement so Orange it will be!

The takeoff is intense, you really feel the g force but to me that's just pressure more than motion, if that makes sense. The rest of it seemed pretty much the same to me but the take off was cool and surprising. I really liked it.

Your dinner at Tutto sounded lovely. Was dying to see exactly what Taylor wore. I think we can all laugh at our clothing choices from our younger years every once in awhile, can't we?

Oh my goodness, isn't that the truth? And I think for most of us, senior year of high school is the height of our fashion faux pas. Right now he has the Mr. Rogers thing going on, cardigans over white t's with skinny jeans and espadrilles. I'll admit, for the most part he pulls it all off and it suits the rocker cool factor he's got going on but there are days where we are like

Oh dear about Paul and the sit-down breakfast dilemma. I am right with him on that, but shudder the thought of trying to do sit down breakfasts at 7:30-8am (so as not to miss rope drop) with people who aren't used to it, like your teens. Hopefully he considers the Beach Club Marketplace and/or the Boardwalk Bakery a good compromise while the others are still getting ready.

Well, that would imply he's up and wanting to eat that early. No, Paul's idea of vacation breakfast is a leisurely 9 or 10 am sit down feast. Which I'm with him on, I can't eat earlier than that no matter how early I'm up, but it's really not conducive to early park time at all.

Dying to hear how things work out for your unscheduled lunch for 8 in WS.

I was too, it was a bit of a concern with the some picky, some not so picky eaters to see how we could manage to avoid 8 different locations for food as well as walking too much between the heat and the gout I didn't want it to be a huge production.