Hijinks & Shenanigans but not much Mayhem@The Dark Side+Disney:Link to DL/Hawaii TR

[MEK]

Glad Ben's eye got better when you hit the studios.

Lunch looks good. I am supposed to each there during out mini trip in March. I like your idea of splitting a burger and dessert. I think that's the only way I can have both.

That picnic burger sounds disgusting. I'm glad you vetoed that idea.

 

[natebenma]

I'm glad Ben's eye was better when you got to the Studios. Too bad no fastpasses for TSM.

Dee, I have to agree with you on the food at Sci Fi. You can easily share it between two people. Mark and I did that in December (although he wasn't feeling very well the day we went anyway).

And I am so with you on the Shrimp Pasta there...the worse thing I hav EVER

in my life eaten at Disney or just about anywhere else.

Boys will be boys and need their food AND desserts.

The burgers look good and you are always safe ordering those at Sci Fi.

Wasn't that awful?!?

I normally love shrimp and pasta together.

Another friend of mine who ordered this once had the same reaction.

I read a trip report last year and the author had this and said it was the best meal of her trip. I was shocked!

Oh your food does look good! I've only eaten in Sci-fi once and while I too thought the portions were huge we didn't think to share . It's not that common here to share meals so I always wonder if it's really ok or will the waiter just think I'm being cheap We also didn't know that we could get hitchhikers in the back of our car and when we did it kinda spoiled the experience so I think I would agree a normal table is probably best for my family too

A wise waiter will not be bothered by people splitting meals, or at least shouldn't show it!

The portions at Disney are so huge, as are the prices, so it really makes sense to split. Or have one of us order an appetizer and one to order a meal and share that.

Having people we don't know in our car would creep Mark out. We always ask for a regular table.

Haha, even though you already know the result, you still have to check those FP times. You just have to.

I think it's the law!

Never have eaten at Sci-Fi, but I do so get a kick out of the seating in all the photos I've seen. It just makes me giggle to see everyone (well almost everyone) facing the same direction. Just looks strange to me.

It seems most people give this place a thumbs up for atmosphere and an "OK' for food. It appears you continue that trend.

That's exactly it!

I totally agree about Sci-Fi, incredible theming and so cool, but the food... ehh. That candy bar dessert looks good, so disappointing that it wasn't. I think the only thing worse than a disappointing dessert, is a dessert that looks and sounds really good and isn't. Boo.

I totally agree. Strange that the item is no longer on the menu. Maybe we are not the only ones who didn't love it.

Glad Ben's eye got better when hit the studios.

Lunch looks good. I am supposed to each there during out mini trip in March. I like your idea of splitting a burger and dessert. I think that's the only way I can have both.

That picnic burger sounds disgusting. I'm glad you vetoed that idea.

We find ourselves splitting meals a lot lately, not just at Disney but at local places too. Sometimes, Ben, Mark and I will split 2 meals.

We just don't need all that food!

I think half a burger and 2/3 of a hot fudge sundae sounds perfect!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

We are all huge Sci-Fi fans. We eat there at least once a year ( I love saying that... Lol) we haven't been since the beginning of July.
I always get the shrimp and pasta. It has never tasted nasty to me. ???
The boys love bacon cheeseburgers and the shakes. I very seldom have room for dessert at any restaurant. That turtle thing Nate got looks delicious! I may have to split a burger w DH to get that. (Only 31 more days )

I'm going to miss the days of getting a FP at the last minute. I'm still really concerned about our Feb. trip w no more FP machines. I just can't understand why AP holders can't reserve... Yet. I'm hoping it's a yet.... It better be!!! Those things aren't cheap!

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[eandesmom]

I am cracking up at the burger with hot dog and sauerkraut. Evan is famous for wanting burgers like that, and Caesar salad (which almost always has an up charge) and then not being able to finish that. And then Jeff gets mad. Then of course wanting dessert! Of course I can almost never convince them to share. vacation is pretty much the only time we allow dessert anyway...

Bummer about the candy bar falling short and the loss of a sundae in the process. We haven't eaten at Sci Fi in years. It is cute in there though, very fun.

 

[natebenma]

We are all huge Sci-Fi fans. We eat there at least once a year ( I love saying that... Lol) we haven't been since the beginning of July.
I always get the shrimp and pasta. It has never tasted nasty to me. ???
The boys love bacon cheeseburgers and the shakes. I very seldom have room for dessert at any restaurant. That turtle thing Nate got looks delicious! I may have to split a burger w DH to get that. (Only 31 more days )

I'm going to miss the days of getting a FP at the last minute. I'm still really concerned about our Feb. trip w no more FP machines. I just can't understand why AP holders can't reserve... Yet. I'm hoping it's a yet.... It better be!!! Those things aren't cheap!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Good to hear you will be enjoying Sci Fi soon. Feb vacation?

I don't know what it was with the shrimp pasta- I think it was 4 years ago, so I don't totally remember. It wasn't bad as in spoiled, but it just wasn't good!

Believe me, as someone who made it a mission to collect as many FPs as possible and who would literally be at a FP machine the minute a new one could be pulled, I'm with you in missing "the good old days"

I am cracking up at the burger with hot dog and sauerkraut. Evan is famous for wanting burgers like that, and Caesar salad (which almost always has an up charge) and then not being able to finish that. And then Jeff gets mad. Then of course wanting dessert! Of course I can almost never convince them to share. vacation is pretty much the only time we allow dessert anyway...

Bummer about the candy bar falling short and the loss of a sundae in the process. We haven't eaten at Sci Fi in years. It is cute in there though, very fun.

The burger-dog-kraut is WAY over the top!

The problem with Ben is not that he orders all the food and then can't finish, it is that he orders all that food and does eat it all.

I love a hot fudge sundae, but I was ok skipping it. What really shocked me is that it bothered Mark so much that he didn't get one. He mentioned it once or twice (or a few more times) during the rest of the trip.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Good to hear you will be enjoying Sci Fi soon. Feb vacation? I don't know what it was with the shrimp pasta- I think it was 4 years ago, so I don't totally remember. It wasn't bad as in spoiled, but it just wasn't good! Believe me, as someone who made it a mission to collect as many FPs as possible and who would literally be at a FP machine the minute a new one could be pulled, I'm with you in missing "the good old days"

Actually I asked DS16 which restaurant he'd rather go to.... Ohana or Sci-Fi?? He picked Ohana. This is gonna be a budget trip so we're only eating once on site. And the reason I asked him is we need to make the teenager happy or he'll make us miserable. I'm sure you know what I mean lol. DS12is just happy to be there so he doesn't care.
We are going for Feb. vacation.

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[JanetMom]

I'm just getting caught up on your Sci-fi update now.

Your report was exactly as I expected. Sci-Fi has been on our list to visit with every trip. We love the place. That said, we don't love the food. I find the food there to be hit and miss, and at the end of the meal it all just averages out okay. Last time we were there we had the turkey sandwich and I remember it being really good but we still just left thinking the food was just okay.

The reason we always go back is the atmosphere. It is just so much fun that we don't care about the food quality. It is fun and entertaining the entire time. I also like sitting in the dark for a bit during the day - it is sort of a break from the general sensory overload at Disney.

I know we will go back there again on a future trip. (and I know that I will never order the All American Picnic Burger )

 

[emmysmommy]

I've learned to stick with the burger from Sci-Fi and Em definitely learned the hard way about that shrimp/pasta dish. She ordered it in 2010 and has remembered to say away from it since!

What a great idea to be seated in regular car tables. Are those called the hitch-hiking tables? I've heard reference to that... I wouldn't think they are the umbrella tables all the way in the back but I don't know. When it is Em and me we are good with the regular car seating. However, when DH traveled with us he sat solo in the back. I couldn't blame him for being a back-seat driver.

Glad that Ben's eye issue resolved. I liked your comment about pixie dust.

 

[natebenma]

Actually I asked DS16 which restaurant he'd rather go to.... Ohana or Sci-Fi?? He picked Ohana. This is gonna be a budget trip so we're only eating once on site. And the reason I asked him is we need to make the teenager happy or he'll make us miserable. I'm sure you know what I mean lol. DS12is just happy to be there so he doesn't care.
We are going for Feb. vacation.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I totally understand about keeping the teenager happy!

Ohana is a great choice. Our one meal there was not fantastic, but I think it was because we were so tired at the end of a very busy, commando vacation. Ben loves all of the food offered and he really wants to go back.

I'm just getting caught up on your Sci-fi update now.

Your report was exactly as I expected. Sci-Fi has been on our list to visit with every trip. We love the place. That said, we don't love the food. I find the food there to be hit and miss, and at the end of the meal it all just averages out okay. Last time we were there we had the turkey sandwich and I remember it being really good but we still just left thinking the food was just okay.

The reason we always go back is the atmosphere. It is just so much fun that we don't care about the food quality. It is fun and entertaining the entire time. I also like sitting in the dark for a bit during the day - it is sort of a break from the general sensory overload at Disney.

I know we will go back there again on a future trip. (and I know that I will never order the All American Picnic Burger )

That's pretty much Sci-Fi in a nutshell!

Definitely on the Picnic Burger. Heck, I would subject myself to the shrimp pasta before I ordered that!

I've learned to stick with the burger from Sci-Fi and Em definitely learned the hard way about that shrimp/pasta dish. She ordered it in 2010 and has remembered to say away from it since!

What a great idea to be seated in regular car tables. Are those called the hitch-hiking tables? I've heard reference to that... I wouldn't think they are the umbrella tables all the way in the back but I don't know. When it is Em and me we are good with the regular car seating. However, when DH traveled with us he sat solo in the back. I couldn't blame him for being a back-seat driver.

Glad that Ben's eye issue resolved. I liked your comment about pixie dust.

The reactions I have heard about the shrimp pasta have been on both ends of the spectrum, and never "just ok". You love it or hate it. I am done with it and will stick with a burger or the Rueben sandwich which was good too.

I don't know what the regular tables are called, but since it is Disney, I am sure there is clever name. We just say we don't want a car or we want a regular table.

It was a HUGE relief that Ben's eye was doing better by the time we got to HS.

 

[pas130]

I'm here Dee Thank you for the invite, I came to check out your Hard Rock thoughts, and from your first posts I am hooked...I better make some coffee and get comfy. The 10 reasons to go to Disney, your DS did awesome, how can you not go Your TR is our upcoming trip, this is perfect. And the shot of you and DH at the dessert party SAAWWEEETTTT Ok, back to pg. 1 for me

 

[natebenma]

I'm here Dee Thank you for the invite, I came to check out your Hard Rock thoughts, and from your first posts I am hooked...I better make some coffee and get comfy. The 10 reasons to go to Disney, your DS did awesome, how can you not go Your TR is our upcoming trip, this is perfect. And the shot of you and DH at the dessert party SAAWWEEETTTT Ok, back to pg. 1 for me

Glad you enjoyed the intro!

Ben's Power Point cracked me up. My favorite slide is "You don't know what I might do" with the flooded house.

Now here's a little bit of a warning- I started out with the Universal side, but then got sidetracked with the Disney portion of the trip. Over on the Universal TR boards, I did get all the way through Universal Studios, but I haven't started the Islands of Adventure part yet.

This gap in the story is driving the OCD part of my brain crazy, but I have to let it go!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Glad you enjoyed the intro!

Ben's Power Point cracked me up. My favorite slide is "You don't know what I might do" with the flooded house.

Now here's a little bit of a warning- I started out with the Universal side, but then got sidetracked with the Disney portion of the trip. Over on the Universal TR boards, I did get all the way through Universal Studios, but I haven't started the Islands of Adventure part yet.

This gap in the story is driving the OCD part of my brain crazy, but I have to let it go!

Why does this not surprise me!!!

 

[natebenma]

Why does this not surprise me!!!

Then it probably doesn't surprise you that I moved my trip report chapter so I could reply to this post before the update!

 

[natebenma]

duplicate post

 

[natebenma]

Today was a “bonus” day at Hollywood Studios. We would be coming back on our last day, when HS has early Extra Magic Hours and hit all of the biggies, so today was our day to do some of the other attractions.

One of Ben’s favorites is the Backlot Tour. I am not sure why. But it is really hard to fit it in because it is so long and the hours of operation are limited (much like Ellen’s Energy Adventure at EP). This would be a good time to do this, so we headed there.









I love the fountain from Splash!











We made it into the queue for the Backlot Tour, in the room with the Pearl Harbor and Pirates of the Caribbean artifacts, but when they opened up to start the next show, we didn’t make it in. We had FP for ToT to use, so bailed.

Time to hit the streets, again!





Apparently we are the only ones!


On our way, we stopped for a Star Tours FP



"You must now learn the ways of the Force, young Jedi"

And we arrived at the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Things are really going down around here!















Picture fail!!! I always try to take a picture when the doors open, but we were in the very back row, and my timing was off.






Not world's greatest redneck photo!





*FLASHBACK* *FLASHBACK* *FLASHBACK*

Here are some of the pictures from previous years on Tower of Terror


Class Trip (2012)






2010




2009









Next Up: Catastrophe!

 

[pas130]

Glad you enjoyed the intro!

Ben's Power Point cracked me up. My favorite slide is "You don't know what I might do" with the flooded house.

Now here's a little bit of a warning- I started out with the Universal side, but then got sidetracked with the Disney portion of the trip. Over on the Universal TR boards, I did get all the way through Universal Studios, but I haven't started the Islands of Adventure part yet.

This gap in the story is driving the OCD part of my brain crazy, but I have to let it go!

All good! We have been to US/IoA a time or six.... It's the resort I am always interested in, maybe find an area or activity we would otherwise miss. You know, kinda how I didn't know about the walk from BCV to Epcot

 

[momabbate]

I never knew they had regular tables at Sci Fi. I agree I would only get a burger there. The cucumber salad would keep me going back. It was nice a refreshing in the middle of the week. Although I never ordered it myself. I ended up eating most of my DD’s she was trying to eat more of her burger. To bad the candy bar thing didn’t taste better. It looks good.
After seeing your TOT pic I am rethinking that wearing white shirts help to stand out in photo. I tend to stay away from white shirts due to rain.

 

[KatMark]

Too bad you missed the tram for the Backstage Tour. Mark and I did this for the first time in a very long time in August. Andy went in December to coach a baseball team, and for the second time in two baseball trips, he was picked to me in the show in Pearl Harbor.

I would have booked it too...especially since TOT is my favorite.

Wow...you really were the only ones on the Street.

I never thought to try to get a picture when the doors opened...I like that idea.

 

[dtr_angel]

I'm caught up again! Bummer your Sci-Fi dining experience was just okay. We ate there for the first time back in May and LOVED it! We were on the DDP, so we got a sundae, that candy bar thing, and the cheesecake. I honestly don't remember anything about the candy bar I guess it was okay. I'm with you on the DDP! I'm looking forward to having freedom without it on our next trip. I hope this trip convinced Mark! My DH was a skeptic too but is finally on board.

 

[MEK]

Yup - I would have bailed on the back lot tour for ToT. I like that picture of the service elevator. It turned out great! And not really a picture fail on the inside shot. I am never brave enough to take my camera out at all!

You also got some good shots in the queue. Looks like things moved along really fast.