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

[natebenma]

Deja-queued! I think you just invented a new word. Love it!

I love the prop room and the hat room! Catastrophe Canyon is pretty cool. It's really amazing that they can pump that much water out and then recycle it all!

The prop room and other stuff that you drive by on the tram are neat, but we have been there, done that.

I am always glad to hear that the water used in Catastrophe Canyon is recycled. I would hate to think of all that being wasted.

Fun pictures!

Thanks!

Poor Ben - missing his fav part of the attraction. Boo!

I know! I wonder if he will ever get another chance if that part of DHS is turned into Cars Land.

 

[HockeyMomR]

Hi Dee - I am officially caught up! I really enjoy your reports.

Rebecca

 

[MeMom]

I have just peeked in on the pictures and haven't had time to read, so someone may have already mentioned this - with the rumor of the hat coming down from in front of the Chinese theater, have you noticed that this is becoming prominent on 2014 items?

 

[natebenma]

Hi Dee - I am officially caught up! I really enjoy your reports.

Rebecca

Congrats on getting caught up!

And thank you for the kind words!

I have just peeked in on the pictures and haven't had time to read, so someone may have already mentioned this - with the rumor of the hat coming down from in front of the Chinese theater, have you noticed that this is becoming prominent on 2014 items?

I haven't noticed the Earful tower becoming more prominent in merchandise, but then again, we spend almost zero time in the gift shops. I do remember the early days of MGM when this WAS the symbol for the park.

And I don't know what will happen when and if the rumored Cars Land expansion takes place where Lights Motor Action and the Back Lot tour are. Is the tower coming down???

Sorry- more questions than answers for you.

 

[natebenma]

We took the Friendship boat from Hollywood Studios to the Beach Club. I can’t remember if it actually rained or not.

A confession here- I have temporarily misplaced my little notebook from the trip. There aren’t a huge amount of details in there, but I do try to jot down a few things from the day. The date/time setting on my camera also somehow got screwed up so I can’t check my photos to confirm the timing of things that way. This is super annoying to me!

I believe it was somewhere around 4 pm when we left Hollywood Studios. We chilled back in our room for a bit- I sat out on the balcony and enjoyed the view














Sky looks pretty ominous in a couple of those pictures and I think the pool is closed!


At 5, the concierge lounge opened and we stopped by to check out the appetizers.

Here are just a couple of pictures of the appetizers specific to that evening, but if you want to see more pictures of the lounge, check out my link here



Hot Appetizers- Selection Changes Nightly


Wed July 17

Bacon-Wrapped Scallops





Spinach & Potato Samosas with mango sauce






Watermelon and Feta with Balsamic Vinegar (actually pretty good)





Catho72 (Cathy) and I were texting back and forth to see if we would be able to meet up:

Me:
4:48 Headed to lounge at 5. Leaving for DTD at 5:30
Cathy:
4:49 We just pulled up via car at DTD. Dinner at Chef Mickey’s at 7
4:52 We will meet up!!! Probably going to SAB sometime tonight if the weather is fine
4:58 We will too. Probably after dinner. Holy moly. World of Disney is packed!
5:27 Are you still in lounge?


We were in the lobby when I got this message and I didn’t have time to reply before Cathy and I saw each other.

We said a quick hello and hugged, but then I had to catch up to my family heading out to the bus stop. My son Nate rolled his eyes, shook his head and mumbled “That’s my mom”




5:35 (on bus)- Sorry we couldn’t stop longer. T-Rex at 6
5:42 No worries


As best I can recall the ride to DTD was uneventful. I’m sure I wrote down how long it took.

Where is that notebook?


Continued in Next Post




.

 

[natebenma]

Continued from Previous Post





It was right around check-in time for our reservation, so we headed right to the restaurant.





This was our third time eating here. When we first started coming, Ben was obsessed with dinosaurs. Not so much as he is getting older, but this is still a must-do for us. The ginormous portions and delicious food may have something to do with that.


These are pictures from our past visits to T-Rex:

I thought I actually had pictures of all of us, but I guess not.




One of the fun parts of the dining experience here is learning where the seating roulette will place you. The ice room? The open kitchen? Next to a wooly mammoth?


This year, we got the coral reef room, with a table right up against the ultra-cool aquarium!!! Ben may have been obsessed with dinosaurs, but tropical fish are my passion! Do you remember back earlier in the report when I was disappointed that we didn’t end up with a seat near the tank at Lombards in Universal Studios?

This more than made up for it!

“We dine with the fishes!”





I took a LOT of pictures of the fish in the tank, but I will try to limit myself to just posting a few. Did I mention that I LOVE tropical fish???













We had a waiter-in-training at our table, and frankly, he could have used more supervision. Service was extremely slow!

While waiting for our food, Ben and I went to explore and take pictures around the restaurant



















Our food is here!

Cherry Limeade & Shark Water:
Sprite with a splash of cherry and lime juice
Sprite with a splash of blue coconut syrup




Ben ordered the Jurassic Salad and Pangaea Pasta







Nate, bless his arteries, ordered the Chicken Fried Steak





Mark and I split the Triassic Trio
Dynamite Shrimp and Scallops, Shrimp Skewers with Chimichurri sauce, Flat Iron Steak with Raptor Rice




Dessert- No we didn’t get the Chocolate Extinction. The boys each got a Chocolate Tarpit




The Dynamite Shrimp and Scallops were excellent and Ben's pasty was very tasty.

Total bill was $106.39 before tip.

As always, the portions were huge and the food was yummy!



Next Up: My Precious!

.

 

[JanetMom]

I could go for a chocolate tar pit right about now. Looks yummy!

I would have been quite happy to have your seat by the fish tank. I love watching the fish too.

 

[mickeystoontown]

We've eaten at T-Rex several times and always seem to be seated in the ice cave. Wait, I take that back, before our cruise, we were seated in the room with the firepit. Your view of the tropical fish tank was perfect for you.

I'm going back to read your Universal posts. We are thinking of spending a day, possibly two, there next trip.

 

[natebenma]

I could go for a chocolate tar pit right about now. Looks yummy!

I would have been quite happy to have your seat by the fish tank. I love watching the fish too.

Have you been to T-Rex? I'm thinking not.

We probably wouldn't have gone here initially if it hadn't been for Ben's love of dinos, but we keep coming back for the food.

And now the FISH!

We've eaten at T-Rex several times and always seem to be seated in the ice cave. Wait, I take that back, before our cruise, we were seated in the room with the firepit. Your view of the tropical fish tank was perfect for you.

I'm going back to read your Universal posts. We are thinking of spending a day, possibly two, there next trip.

I know this is one of your favorites!

We haven't been seated in the ice cave, but I had a really great view facing it from where I was seated on this visit.

I just updated my Table of Contents. I stopped writing about US/IoA on this report so I could start the Disney portion, but I did continue over on the Universal Trip Report Subforum.

Here's the link to the continuing report: Link to Universal Studios 2013 trip report

I got through all of Universal Studios, but I haven't started Islands of Adventure, which is the better park in my opinion.

Not sure when I will get to that, but my Welcome Foolish Muggles covers IoA

 

[catho72]

I completely forgot we were texting! Too funny! And yes, World of Disney was insanely crowded. It honestly looked like they were giving away free merchandise! We sure were in and out quickly probably because a) they didn't have what we were looking for (a Mine! Mine! Mine! iPhone 4 case) and b) we didn't buy anything since I dropped a small fortune at the Polynesian gift shop that afternoon.

I am also glad your family didn't encounter my crazy nephews at T-Rex. They were there at the exact same time as you were and to say they are a handful would be the understatement of the year! Your dinner looked so nice and it would've been ruined had you been seated near them.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[MEK]

Continued from Previous Post







.

Love it!

First of all - your pictures from your room are lovely. What an absolutely perfect view! LOVE IT!

I have never eaten at T Rex. It's still on my bucket list. I will get there. The interior looks so perfect. That fish tank is amazing. How great that you scored a seat there.

Love the flash back pictures of the boys! How cute!

 

[teekathepony]

Hope you find your trip book soon!
Love that balcony view, even if the sky is a little ominous. Glad you managed a quick Dismeet!
We ate at T-Rex last year for the first time and loved it, I can definitely say we will be back. You got an awesome table! I'm fairly obsessed with fish too, I'd love to sit by the aquarium!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[catho72]

I just went back to look at your pictures and the one if your family seated at the table is simply marvelous! The aquarium is a beautiful background and everyone looks happy to be there! Just gorgeous!!!!!!!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Hehe, I guess that's why I never take any notes. That way I can't ever lose them. Well, I guess a knock to the head might do it.

your comics never fail to tickle me.

I have always wanted to eat at T-Rex. Party because I just want to see inside. That place just looks so very cool. And hey they also serve food, so Win-Win!

 

[natebenma]

I completely forgot we were texting! Too funny! And yes, World of Disney was insanely crowded. It honestly looked like they were giving away free merchandise! We sure were in and out quickly probably because a) they didn't have what we were looking for (a Mine! Mine! Mine! iPhone 4 case) and b) we didn't buy anything since I dropped a small fortune at the Polynesian gift shop that afternoon.

I am also glad your family didn't encounter my crazy nephews at T-Rex. They were there at the exact same time as you were and to say they are a handful would be the understatement of the year! Your dinner looked so nice and it would've been ruined had you been seated near them.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I hope you didn't mind me posting our conversation!

You gave me a warning about them in a text. Truly, T-Rex is so loud and rowdy, I'm sure they fit right in!

I just went back to look at your pictures and the one if your family seated at the table is simply marvelous! The aquarium is a beautiful background and everyone looks happy to be there! Just gorgeous!!!!!!!

Thank you! I really like that picture, too.



You are featured in an upcoming update, too- either the next one or the one after that. In that update I will reveal the stupid, embarrassing thing I did right before we met at the pool. I don't think I told you when I saw you.

Love it!

First of all - your pictures from your room are lovely. What an absolutely perfect view! LOVE IT!

I have never eaten at T Rex. It's still on my bucket list. I will get there. The interior looks so perfect. That fish tank is amazing. How great that you scored a seat there.

Love the flash back pictures of the boys! How cute!

Glad you enjoyed the comic.

That room had an amazing view! Stormalong Bay! Boardwalk! Crescent Lake! Swan! Dolphin! Lighthouse!



I was PSYCHED when we were seated at that table! There's a lot of great stuff to look at there, but I can't think of anywhere I would rather be.

The boys look so young!!! I was so disappointed that I don't have any pictures of the 4 of us from the past two visits

Hope you find your trip book soon!
Love that balcony view, even if the sky is a little ominous. Glad you managed a quick Dismeet!
We ate at T-Rex last year for the first time and loved it, I can definitely say we will be back. You got an awesome table! I'm fairly obsessed with fish too, I'd love to sit by the aquarium!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Me, too! I know the notebook is here in the house somewhere, and there are a couple of piles of "stuff" I need to tackle, but I have a lot of other projects with deadlines that I am working on, so the archaeology will have to wait!

T-Rex is such a fun restaurant and the food is good, so what more can you ask?

I have seen pictures of your fish tank and I am jealous! Ben just got a 13 gallon freshwater tank for Christmas, so we are enjoying watching the fish and frogs.

Hehe, I guess that's why I never take any notes. That way I can't ever lose them. Well, I guess a knock to the head might do it.

your comics never fail to tickle me.

I have always wanted to eat at T-Rex. Party because I just want to see inside. That place just looks so very cool. And hey they also serve food, so Win-Win!

I'm trying to keep you amused! I have a few more killer cartoons coming up, but a few duds, too!



I hope you get to check it out sometime. The restaurant is totally over the top!

T-Rex-o-rific!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

I've never made it to T-rex to eat though we have pottered around the sandpit and store. You scored a brilliant table and I love the photo of you all (Ben looks soooo young in the past photos). Food looks great-think we will have to pay a visit on our next trip

 

[ddluvsdisney]

We really like T-Rex too but haven't been in a year or so.
We always seem to sit in the same area though. I would love to sit in the coral reef room or ice room.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[KatMark]

I take a day off last week from work, go out of town for the weekend, and get behind EVERYWHERE!

Great pictures around the BC; it does look gloomy and as if the pool is closed.

We've never eaten at T-Rex. We don't like Rainforest Café and I assumed it was very similar. Plus without young kids anymore, we just figured it wasn't something we had to do. But your food looks so yummy and very tempting now.

 

[natebenma]

I've never made it to T-rex to eat though we have pottered around the sandpit and store. You scored a brilliant table and I love the photo of you all (Ben looks soooo young in the past photos). Food looks great-think we will have to pay a visit on our next trip

T-Rex is such a fun place!

I LOVED that table!

I know. I was shocked at how little Ben looks in those pictures (2009)

We really like T-Rex too but haven't been in a year or so.
We always seem to sit in the same area though. I would love to sit in the coral reef room or ice room.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

The seating here always seems so chaotic that I haven't dared to ask for a particular seating area. But I suppose it couldn't hurt.

I take a day off last week from work, go out of town for the weekend, and get behind EVERYWHERE!

Great pictures around the BC; it does look gloomy and as if the pool is closed.

We've never eaten at T-Rex. We don't like Rainforest Café and I assumed it was very similar. Plus without young kids anymore, we just figured it wasn't something we had to do. But your food looks so yummy and very tempting now.

I hear you about getting behind. I have lots of reports to catch up on too. I try to remind myself that I DIS because it is fun, not to stress myself out!

I thought that view was beautiful, even under dark skies.

Honestly, the food is delicious, and the portions are huge, but the price tag is ginormous, too, like the dinosaurs that surround you!

The restaurant is fun, but it is not a place for a quiet, romantic dining experience!

 

[tiggerfan77]

I haven't been on the Backlot Tours in so long! We didn't get to do it on our last trip so it was nice to see pics from yours! It seemed like those dark skies were around for so long that week so glad you were able to escape it for a little while. Our pool seemed to be closed most of week because of it too.
We LOVE T-Rex, especially EJ (of course!) We were seating in the ice room last time we went which is so cool! (Hee, hee bad pun) I love the lighting they do in there and the asteroid show. The food is pretty good there as well. We definitely had more then we could eat!