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

[All7OfUs]

aaargh! so many updates behind! but I did enjoy seeing all the photos from "the other side", esp. the ones of you all hanging out by the plane and Margaritavile! I know that was WAY high up on Jeff's list! It really did look relaxing and so much fun!

I am now totally grossed out thinging about stolen underwear??!! YUCK! Someone had to be awfully deserate to have had that much gall. I hope they are found out and fired. And it's sad that Disney wouldn't own up to it. You just can't make that stuff up.

Anyway, I hope Evan is feeling better, and the cast won't be too big an issue! Poor guy! Glad to see he toughed it out and sucked it up- that's part of being a Black Belt. YAY!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I can't believe someone stole your clothes out of the hamper, let alone dirty underwear. But I guess if you are someone who steals things, maybe you don't have the same yuck factor as others

I'm glad you rode ET - they don't have it in LA anymore - I was really disappointed. They put a haunted house in there one Fall, then made that area the Mummy ride.

Sorry about Evan's hand. Poor guy. I hope he heals quickly so he can enjoy his Summer.

 

[KatMark]

I cannot believe someone stole clothes! Obviously someone whose kids/grandkids were the same size as your kids.

Love your arrival at Universal. See now that Mark and I are "older" or "more seasoned" we prefer the Universal side because we like the slower paced stuff.

 

[eandesmom]

I think we ate at Mel's Drive in the last time were there.

I thought the same thing about Twister. The Earthquake one was a bit better but somehow the first time we went on we entered through the exit and missed the "set up" so it made no sense to us. The next time we went on it was like - Hey we didn't so this last time so we spent the time trying to get un-confused.

We'll get to the earthquake one in the next update but we liked it a LOT better. I can totally see how it wouldn't make any sense the way you did it.

How was Mel's? Given how close Citywalk is, I think we should have left and gone back but Louie's was fine.

I'm guessing Windgardeum Leviosa was the spell that worked to get everyone up!

LOL you know your spells

Your post is reminding me, once again, that US and IoA are all going to be new to us, unlike visits to the Disney parks which we know like the backs of our hands.

I really want the kids to watch ET before we go, but they are not having any of it.

Appreciate your reviews of the attractions!

Aww, very sad about ET. Have they seen super 8? It really is kind of the "new" ET. We all really enjoyed it.

HOw nice to feel like you had the park to yourselves, especially after the crowds at IOA. I have only been to Universal in California once and that was years ago. WOuld love to go now, but again I feel like Dylan is just a little too young (if it was just the 3 of us going). I remember loving the ET ride. It wasn't a big deal, but it transported you to a different world and I loved that!

It's just so cute and transports me to a happy place with the movie, riding in the bike, the whole thing. Kind of like riding Peter Pan.

I've got to say that you are making a strong case for staying at the hotels over there. The close walk and the Express Passes are definitely nice perks when the park gets crowded.

They were very very nice! I doubt on the next trip we will be staying over there as I'm a bit inclined to NOT move rooms at all if it's possible but we will see. A bit worried about the crowds but I'm sure we will figure out a plan.

CP, ME TOO!!!! LOL!!! I have so been anticipating this TR, NEVER MIND THAT IT HAS TAKEN almost a YEAR to actually read .... That is what makes me laugh MORE!!!! Sorry Cynthia, just had to slip that in here... Okay okay you didn't go until August, so that is fine, and you had lots of other fun between then and now, bit it still make me laugh!!!

Oh I deserve it, no doubt! PATHETIC it's taken this long. I thought I'd get this one done before we'd be starting the May TR and maybe even do a cruise PTR.

It will be done before the cruise...how much before is another story. Not sure if I get it done in the next couple of weeks if a cruise PTR makes sense or if I should just wait and do a TR.

Alright, so your posts on all of the different "lands/worlds" etc are AWESOME! I am still back a post I think, getting to the next one, but all your comments are going to be very useful, because we are really having the conversation now about next summer, How much Disney, how much Universal, and MAYBE a Key West in there as well!!! Love all this reading I can do!!!

I Key West.

Depending on how the cruise goes I am really hoping to book a spring break cruise for next April, hopefully combine it with Vero. My first choice is the Key West itinerary...which Jeff will want...the boys will want the Dream so we will see who wins! Assuming we book it.

 

[eandesmom]

Okay, gotta go enjoy the beach before the rain comes, but I finished your IOA posts, that park looks GREAT! Mythos sounds like a good place for food for SURE, and LOVE the AAA tip!!!! SCORE! That will get Matt there for certain!!! AND I love Seussland! I remember that from when we went back 10 years ago. SO much fun too cute!!!

Margaritas and an airplane theme... hmmmm that made Jeff quite pleased I am sure!

I know you aren't still at the beach but I can't wait to hear about it, hope camping is a blast!!!!

Suessland is so cute for the little ones, I rememeber the E's spending hours in the water play area there back in 04.

Not just any airplane, a seaplane. Jeff was in seaplane heaven as you'll see shortly. Definitely use that AAA card everywhere you go, it was wonderful!

BOOOOO on the clothes, how SAD! How ODD! We did laundry on the cruise once. The little "laundrettes" are really easy to use, only two washers, three dryers, really small and you won't lose your hamper, you'd trip on it! People tended to forget about their stuff in the washers, I will say that... MOST irritating! But it was 2 for wash, 1 for soap, and 1 for dryer... so if you bring some soap pellets, you can save a buck a wash... we did one load only, but we were going to DVC after for a free washer etc. so we chose wisely what we were going to wash on the cruise.

Very sad and odd, and icky. You worry about stuff in the laundry itself being stolen, not stuff out of your hamper in your room! Very likely I'll do a couple of loads on the cruise but we will see. I do want to bring the hamper, it saves so much space and keeps things tidy and I'll just trust that one bad apple doesn't make a hamper stealing ring.

Really like all the updates on the trip to Universal, and sounds like January is the time to look for deals! Which is good b/c that is when tax returns become evident!!

What we did was book our room back before the deals came out, and then switched it. And then switched again when we had to tweak our dates. Which really doesn't work as well with Universal, they have all kind of change and cancel fees so it's not like Disney where you can swap things around till the 11th hour.

Looking at it, it looks like the packages for our time period came out in late feb, we switched to the package then (buy more save more) and then changed dates on it in March. The deals weren't nearly as good as a great PIN code from Disney but we ended up saving about $600 over our original package at rack rate. If we'd have stayed longer it would have been a bigger savings but couldn't compete with our Disney PIN. Plus it was just the right amount of nights as it was.

i think the third one came out because it was not only focusing on him, but also the booze on the fridge in the back, i see you guys did good so far for the week, almost have the bottle gone.

We did. Over a 12 day trip with 4 adults, we did finish the big bottle of rum. The small coconut rum was LONG gone by then but Sandie and Paul did leave a lot of gin for housekeeping at the Hard Rock. Rum in the morning though...BLEH!

Bloody mary or mimosa? YUM!

and i love twister, kinda cheezy in parts, but i hav ealways loved it.

I love Twister the movie, we just didn't enjoy the "ride" so much. It was just ok.

aaargh! so many updates behind! but I did enjoy seeing all the photos from "the other side", esp. the ones of you all hanging out by the plane and Margaritavile! I know that was WAY high up on Jeff's list! It really did look relaxing and so much fun!

We just loved (loved loved) that place. I probably should have done a count of how many times we went there. Definitely safe to say it was the one "bar" we went to the most over the whole trip, by a landslide.

I am now totally grossed out thinging about stolen underwear??!! YUCK! Someone had to be awfully deserate to have had that much gall. I hope they are found out and fired. And it's sad that Disney wouldn't own up to it. You just can't make that stuff up.

No, you can't. It really took us a while to figure out what and how it had happened. Major ICK.

Anyway, I hope Evan is feeling better, and the cast won't be too big an issue! Poor guy! Glad to see he toughed it out and sucked it up- that's part of being a Black Belt. YAY!

Getting him to keep it dry is a challenge. Hopefully borrowing some type of special "sleeve" from a friend today that will turn his arm into gumby and he can swim.

I can't believe someone stole your clothes out of the hamper, let alone dirty underwear. But I guess if you are someone who steals things, maybe you don't have the same yuck factor as others

Seriously ick. And imagine, they not only stole but SORTED and picked selectively. ICK! As someone pointed out though, they do wear gloves.

I'm glad you rode ET - they don't have it in LA anymore - I was really disappointed. They put a haunted house in there one Fall, then made that area the Mummy ride.

Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is so so wrong. Makes me really glad we went on it this summer.

Sorry about Evan's hand. Poor guy. I hope he heals quickly so he can enjoy his Summer.

We go back on the 19th and he could probably go without but it makes me nervous for our Whistler trip. I'm thinking though he can maybe get by with a brace for that though so I don't have to try to do a waterproof cast for just 2 weeks. He will have it off by the cruise.

I cannot believe someone stole clothes! Obviously someone whose kids/grandkids were the same size as your kids.

That's what we figured. Same size. Messed up.

Love your arrival at Universal. See now that Mark and I are "older" or "more seasoned" we prefer the Universal side because we like the slower paced stuff.

I have to say one of, if not my favorite, shows of the trip was on the Universal Side. Coming up soon!

 

[englishrose47]

Just checking in before work and awaiting the next update !!!

 

[Moira222]

Wow I was so far behind!

Love your park photos and especially your group shot - Taylor looks totally at home with the guitar - and great with no bandana!LOL

totally eeeeewwww on the stolen laundry. eeewww again

The streets of universal do look cool - but are they just for looking, nothing to do there? just wondering.

Love the write ups of the rides, too. will have to work that in on the hypothetical trip I'm working on with DH!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

We did. Over a 12 day trip with 4 adults, we did finish the big bottle of rum. The small coconut rum was LONG gone by then but Sandie and Paul did leave a lot of gin for housekeeping at the Hard Rock. Rum in the morning though...BLEH!

Bloody mary or mimosa? YUM!

well now i dont want to tell you my totals then for our trip, since it was just me who was drinking what i bought, since parker is to young and candi cant have any.

 

[eandesmom]

Just checking in before work and awaiting the next update !!!

Soon! I meant to over the holiday weekend but ended up on a yardwork blitz instead.

Wow I was so far behind!

Love your park photos and especially your group shot - Taylor looks totally at home with the guitar - and great with no bandana!LOL

OMG the bandana made an appearance this weekend. Jeff and I about died. We were taking him out for his graduation dinner and he wore that darn bandana.

totally eeeeewwww on the stolen laundry. eeewww again

major EEWW

The streets of universal do look cool - but are they just for looking, nothing to do there? just wondering.

Combination of shops and attractions and false store fronts. A lot of the false store fronts that are housing parts of attractions I think.

Love the write ups of the rides, too. will have to work that in on the hypothetical trip I'm working on with DH!

I love hypothetical trips!

well now i dont want to tell you my totals then for our trip, since it was just me who was drinking what i bought, since parker is to young and candi cant have any.

 

[eandesmom]

Thanks to my dead camera it’s a little harder to reconstruct our day so things may be a little out of order. Oh well!

We thought about shopping

Or maybe hoping in a cab

Instead, after lunch and dealing with the bank I believe we walked outside to find these guys. I did take a couple of shots with my phone

Taylor was having a hat day, instead of bandana. I still can’t believe that thing has reappeared.

It was a lot of fun. I don’t think the E’s, or maybe even K&T really had a clue who the blues brothers were but the whole thing from the car pulling up with the loudspeaker, to the singing, was a ton of fun. Something must have “stuck” as Evan and his best friend went as Jake and Ellwood for Halloween this year!

Afterwards, a quick visit back to the mummy

Feeling the graveyard love we decided (and the sprinkling that was starting confirmed) that it might be a good idea to visit Beetlejuice and his Graveyard Review.

The CM (not sure what they call them there so I’ll use CM, it’s easier that way lol) directing traffic was a RIOT! In an ECV he whipped around directing traffic, cracking jokes and even played a part at the beginning of the show. So much fun to see someone loving their job that much, and improving the mood of everyone around him.

We weren’t quite sure what to expect.

The man himself (gotta love crummy phone pictures)

Here’s a show synopsis

The show begins once everyone is seated. The Mummy opens up his coffin on the stage to tell the guests their safety precautions. He closes the lid, and then fireworks burst from the top of it and Beetlejuice emerges from it. He goes on to mingle with guests and tell them what he has in store for them, including Paris Hilton live on stage, to which Igor is heard from backstage telling him that she is "unavailable". Beetlejuice looks for a park guest to take her place, and the Universal Monsters, Dracula, The Frankenstein Monster, Wolfman and Bride of Frankenstein, then appear out of doors and corridors from the stage, and Beetlejuice directs guests to say his name three times, and the Universal Monsters are transformed into rock stars. After the first musical segment, Beetlejuice introduces Translyvania's resident Ghoul Girl Cheerleaders, Hip and Hop. The show continues through various other songs and dances with each monster singing their own song. At the end of the show, Beetlejuice has park guests cheer for all of the monsters, especially himself.

The Universal Monsters

The monsters as Rock stars, with Hip and Hop

I have to say it was my favorite show of the whole darn trip. Not that I saw all that many actually all things considered but still, we absolutely LOVED it.

Sure enough as we exited, it had rained.

What to do in a park in the rain, or with more threatening? Inside attractions of course! Up next for us was Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!

Set on a soundstage of a fictitious movie company, Disaster! Studios, Disaster! is a reinvigorated version of the park's former Earthquake: The Big One ride which comically illustrates how special effects are filmed for use in movies.

This was a riot. I don’t want to spoil it but Christopher Walken just cracks us up anyway and the whole thing was a hoot. Though a bit cheesy to adult, the kids really got a kick out of this one. For us, it delivered on what it advertised itself to be. After Twister, we weren’t expecting much so it was a pleasant surprise.

Walking around the backside of the park we decided to check out San Francisco. I'd have rather eaten lunch over here but New York pizza was closer to where we were at the time.

BIG shark

But…due to lightening in the distance…JAWS was closed.

Rounding out the back it was time for…Men in Black.
I think we went on it three times in a row. Gotta love that express pass. VERY fun ride, on the level of TSM if you ask me.

Men in Black: Alien Attack is a spinning, laser-shooting dark ride located at Universal Studios Florida themed to the 1997 film, Men in Black. The building housing the ride was made to resemble a pavilion at the 1964 New York World Expo (similar to the World's Fair but is fictional) while the towers resemble their real life counterpart. Interestingly, the ride uses the same technology as The Cat in the Hat at neighboring Universal's Islands of Adventure, but a more intense, fast-faced, and variable version of the vehicle's capabilities.

At this point we were feeling pretty done for the day and decided to walk over and check out the wait for Rip, Ride, Rock it. As Jeff and I were the only ones who wanted to go on it, our express pass didn’t work on it and the wait was 60 minutes we said…forget it.

Just then…the rain came down. BACK down that is. Rushing out of the park we dashed into City Walk and spent a good hour shopping. Evan and Kendall both wanted shorts and we looked but…didn’t see anything that jumped out at us. Kendall and I did each find a swimsuit so it wasn’t a total loss. Taylor found a starbucks and got a coffee so he was pretty happy about that. While there were checked out the movie times and options and decided to come back after dinner and see Step Up 3D.

Missions accomplished, we decided to head to dinner. It was still drizzling and while it’s a pretty short walk, we still ended up a bit re-wetted by the time we got there.

Continued in next post

 

[eandesmom]

I’d hoped to see this as we went in and walked around

But that’s actually on the back side of the hotel, where you’d catch the boat to head back to Citywalk and the parks. Somehow we entered this way

I really would have liked to tour this hotel a bit more as I don’t feel like we got a good feel for it at all. I like the room pictures, the theming and the price and so my gut is that if we do stay at a universal resort for a night or 2 on the next trip, this will likely be the one. Don’t get me wrong. We loved the hard rock but for the price difference I think this would be just as good and fun to try. I’d love to stay at Portofino but for that one I think it would be more of a resort trip and less of a park trip, given how gorgeous it is. It’s priced ot match though so I don’t see it in the future anytime soon. It took us a minute to orient ourselves in the hotel and then to find the restaurant itself.

Our destination

Actually, I just loved the “story”

The pilot of his own island-hopper airline, Jake also runs this friendly bar that's the perfect place to meet for drinks and lively conversation after your day's adventures. Through a collaborative effort of his friends and co-workers, Jake's American Bar celebrates the life of Royal Pacific Airways most beloved pilot, Captain Jake McNally. Jake's is the perfect place to meet for drinks, food and lively entertainment after your day's adventures. Featuring a variety of appetizers, salads and sandwiches, plus entrees such as the Pacific Style Skirt Steak Skewer, Hickory Smoked Salmon and Jake's Seafood Pasta, there is something for every member of the family to enjoy. If you're searching for the perfect cocktail – look no further than Captain Jake's favorites including Pacific Paradise, Blue Hawaiian, Island Fantasy and many more, plus frozen specialties and after-dinner drinks. Jake's American Bar is open daily from afternoon until late night with entertainment on select nights


We chose this place for a few reasons. Location, the ability to check out one of the other resorts, walkable, menu looked good, theme was perfect and prices seemed fair. Still, I hadn’t heard much about it so it really was a crap shoot based on the fact that it was a pub that was seaplaned themed. Which is about as up our alley as anything can be.

We had to wait about 15 minutes I think, time enough for everyone to try to tidy up in the restroom and for Jeff and I to get a beer, but not finish it.
I honestly can’t recall what everyone else got, but I had this

Jake’s Seafood Pasta $18
Local Shrimp, Scallops, Mussels, N oodles, Linguisa Sausage, Lobster Broth

One of the BEST meals of the trip for me. SOOOOOOOOO yummy! And while I can’t recall what anyone else got, the reactions around the table were unanimous. YUM YUM YUM.

The entire place is aviation and seaplane specifically, themed. Jeff was in heaven and as we ate, looking around at the cool vintage posters it struck me.

“Hey babe?”

“Yeah?”

“What would you think about doing something like these posters on the wall in our family room?”

“Really?”
“You’d let me do that? “

I found that funny as it was my idea.

“That would be SO cool!”

And so we did.

Check it out.

3 new pieces

And 1 we already had in there.

The “new” room

Who knew a bar could inspire a room remodel? I know they are trimmed a bit close but hey, I wanted all 3 in matching frames, at the same size at a price I could afford. not to mention if I'd actually matted and custom framed them, they wouldn't have fit. It's made for a very inexpensive redo.

After dinner we headed to the movie. It was STILL raining. With the threat of lightening so no boat, must walk. On the way there and back. It’s funny. I can’t recall ever going to a movie on vacation before but boy, with the rain, was it the perfect solution and made for a fun end to the evening.

After our long full day we were all pretty wiped out and decided to head back and came up with the following plan.

The E’s and I would head to Hogwarts first thing in the am. Jeff and K would get in a workout and then pack up. If it worked out they’d meet us in the park but either way we’d all meet for lunch, have some afternoon pooltime and then Jeff and Kendall would head to the airport for their 6:25 pm flight. As you may recall we were on 2 flights heading home. K needed to be back on Sunday for Monday soccer tryouts. The Sunday flight was considerably more so the rest of us weren’t heading back until a full 24 hours later. The only bummer to this plan was it meant that the 3 day tickets that 3 of them had, would only get 2 days worth of use. That annoyed me slightly but I was still glad we’d gotten 3 day tickets and I hoped that maybe Taylor would want to go the park in the evening after Jeff and K headed out but figured we’d just play it by ear.

Brooms and Butterbeer

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

the pictures look good, and htose are some big honken rocks outside.

 

[KatMark]

Great updates, Cynthia. We LOVED Beetlejuice and his Graveyard Review...we thought it was the best "live show" we've ever seen!

Love the family redo...very nice. And your hubby is so funny that he questioned you AFTER you offered. Typical.

 

[Poolrat]

A bit behind but all caught up now.
Mel's was typical hamburgers and fries fare. Teh kids were younger and pickier so I think they all ate so it was probably Ok food.

They turned Earthquake in to disaster? I guess that makes sense since I think there were several things going on during the Earthquake.

Sounds like you had a wonderful dinner and got a room refurb to boot.

 

[englishrose47]

Loving the TR !!Is gonna be sooo helpful next year !!I have even told Judy and she didn't freak that I was going and not her !!!

 

[Happydog]

Great fun! LOVE all those photos!!! Matt says if/when we take the boys to Universal they will NOT want to give up Universal and will leave Disney in the dust. I DO NOT think this is the case, to be honest, but I know that Universal sure seems to cater to the boys in, well, my boys!!! (all three!!! LOL!!) I love taking a print or art and building a room around it!! So fun. AND I love the retro flair! Very nice!! Is that hotel of choice the Portofino? It looke stuffy to me... is it nice?

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Love the room! Especially those black and white pics of the kids! That was from your photo shoot right?

Also love the window treatment. I want that for my sliding door!

 

[natebenma]

Thanks for your very detailed description of the US attractions. We are not big show people, but it sounds like Beetlejuice is worth watching. I love the Blues Brothers, so I hope we are able to catch their performance.

Great Halloween pictures! What fun costumes!

Your family room looks fantastic. I loved that you made Jake's a one-stop eating/shopping/interior design location.

 

[MEK]

Reading at the wrong time, because I can't see your pix.

One question - Did you do the Simpsons ride? Did I miss an update (probably). Did you like it? I've never done it and I would love to try it.

I agree that MIB is a fun ride. My kids did that over and over again on our last Universal trip.

Glad to see you liked Jake's. We ate there when we stayed at RP and I remember it being very good.

Looking forward to seeing your room redo.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Fun, fun, fun day at Universal! We have always loved Beetlejuice around here, so I bet that show was a blast!

Love the room redo! I have always adored vintage travel posters!