Not ready yet???!!! A February trip report! Update 10/25 Day 9

[MAGICFOR2]

Thank you, Ann!
As far as the buses go ........ we hate using them. Might be that we only used them a few times, but every time we did it took us forever to get from A to B. Then you have to queue up before the bus arrives, it takes forever to load those wheelchairs and a hord of people claim to be with the wheelchair person, then the shoving and pushing once you are allowed to enter and you will most likely have to stand on your way back to the resort at park closing.

Now let me explain the procedure when using a car. You park, you walk to the tram, take a photo of the row you are parked in, hop on the tram and off to the entrance. Once you return, there is always an empty seat, no stops until you get off - that's the way I like it!
But we all have different tastes ..... thank goodness!

Food coming up right now!

Yes, that is so true! Although it is a nice benefit and savings if you choose to use it, we feel the same way - I feel like we waste half our vacation waiting for the bus routine, and it kind of ruins the magic of the day - so we also rent and

 

[kathleen27]

We were there the same week as you! Also our school vacation. It is neat to see your experiences, what was going on elsewhere. I think there were times you had less wait times. I am wondering if we ever crossed paths, so far we were nowhere near each other.

It was great to see your Wild Africa photos, we did that one on 2/20 and loved it!!!

You had lots of great food! I've especially enjoyed seeing your desserts.

Looking forward to seeing if you found a watch, and what it looked like.

 

[Disneyfreak616]

That sandwich at Starring Rolls looks delicious, but it might be a little overkill on the ham for me. And that cupcake =

 

[dizneeat]

I love the Disney shirt with the rat as Mickey Mouse. I have never seen that before. I must find it and buy it asap.

It is so funny that you considered leaving DHS b/c you were at the end of the new parking row. We had that happen at one of the parks too and I kind of considered the same thing.

I never really understand the wait time for TSM. I do love the ride and it is great, but I wouldn't wait in a huge line just for a fastpass. There are plenty of other great rides to check out instead.

We actually found the shirt at one of the Disney outlet stores. When we saw it, we both knew, we need to have it!

Oh, leaving a parking lot and trying again is a thing we very often do. It usually scores us a spot closer to the tram!

Tell me about the wait times at TSM. You either catch it first thing in the day or right after they open back up after it has been down - no other way! I am NOT waiting for 90 minutes in a line to ride it!

Tom's Ham Sandwich has me drooling !!!TSM is crazy to get on and FP's go so quickly in the morning !!

If you love a good ham sandwich - you would love this! LOADS of ham!

TSM is crazy all day long - we love the ride, the lines not so much!

Great update, TSM sounded crazy busy, but then whats new with that.

That sandwich looks amazing from Starring Rolls and can't wait to try all the cupcakes from Starring Rolls, the chocolate peanut butter looks awesome!

Thank you, Stefy!
I am sure you'll find more than one cupcake at Starring Rolls! They have lots of variety and don't forget to pick up one of the carrot cake cookies at the Writer's Stop!

Look! We can learn something every day! I'm going to write that one down - some day my grandkids will want caramel sauce on their ice cream or cake, and I'll have a way to make some! (although not so quick ) Sounds yummy - like the dulce de leche cake!

 

[dizneeat]

Hi Karin! I guess I missed a couple of updates and didn't realize it. You always have so many good food pics - my list of "must haves" gets longer and longer. Do they actually have food in the Ditch, or just bar food? I must have one of those margaritas!

Then there's the Orange soda that Tom had - like a Creamsicle when we were kids - must have that too

I love the Mickey Rat shirt - that is too

Oh, and back to your DHS day - I've never thought about going around again to get a closer parking spot - good one!

Great score on getting ont TNT and RNRC so quickly. That is always a big problem for us - I just don't have DHS figured out in a way to make it a good touring day for us. I'm going to re-think it next time. I'm surprised that TSM is still so crazy busy now that it's been open so long.

I love your updates and your photos!

They served small things, like appetizer size at the Ditch. I know we had crab tostadas the first time around and I think they have a few other "small items" no full menus though.

We often drive around and try again when we don't "like" where they want us to park!

We don't have much plan of attack at DHS either - IF we make rope drop than Tom joins the rush and picks up a FP for TSM and we try and get in line before FPs are getting into effect. Then there are two more rides we really like and they are RnR and ToT. Mostly we will pick up a FP for one and get in line for the other. Everything else we pretty much play by ear and there isn't all that much we want to do at the Studios anyway - half day park for us!

And even more updates coming soon!

Great update, Karin. I'm with Ann on the busses, but you know that. I've never had any bad experiences on them. DHS is hard if you don't make rope drop there first thing, especially if what you really want to do is ride TSM! I swear its the most popular ride in the parks.

I know you like the buses - we don't! And just to give you an example ..... in 2009 we met with Mary Ellen and her family at the MK. After the park closed we went back to CBR where we stayed to have a glass of wine and chat some more. Not all of us fit into the car which was parked in the MK lot. We joked who would be at the resort first, since 5 of us had to get on the Monorail, then a tram, then drive, while the others could hop on the bus right outside the MK.
Well, let me tell you that we (car riders) had already finished a bottle of wine when the bus riders arrived! Took them an hour and a half to get to our room!
That, my friend, is just too much time for me to waste! I'd rather sit with a glass of an adult beverage in hand and chill.
But if it works for you ......... it's fine for me!

As for DHS ...... we go often enough so we do not have to get on a particular ride that particular day. If we can easily get on, okay, if not, we'll try another time!

subscribing!

Welcome! How exciting to have a new reader!

I was telling them yesterday that I saw your pictures and found it really neat that despite the fact that I don't ride it, I got to see a glimpse. Ya wanna know what they said??? "You do know you can walk with us inside and then just not ride, right?"

Ok... so I guess I still have lots to learn.

 

[dizneeat]

Yes, that is so true! Although it is a nice benefit and savings if you choose to use it, we feel the same way - I feel like we waste half our vacation waiting for the bus routine, and it kind of ruins the magic of the day - so we also rent and

I am GLAD, there is someone out there who thinks the same we do! The buses may be a really nice perk, just not for us!

We were there the same week as you! Also our school vacation. It is neat to see your experiences, what was going on elsewhere. I think there were times you had less wait times. I am wondering if we ever crossed paths, so far we were nowhere near each other.

It was great to see your Wild Africa photos, we did that one on 2/20 and loved it!!!

You had lots of great food! I've especially enjoyed seeing your desserts.

Looking forward to seeing if you found a watch, and what it looked like.

Nice to have you check in here!
So many DISers seem to have been the same week we went, but it is very easy to miss one another by the size of WDW!

The Wild Africa Trek is such a great tour, isn't it! We were really impressed.

I think it shows that we love some good food! But WDW does offer some amazing food, and desserts too!

Well, I don't want to give anything away, but I WAS able to tell the time again lateron in the day!

That sandwich at Starring Rolls looks delicious, but it might be a little overkill on the ham for me. And that cupcake =

I am the same way when it comes to the amout of ham! So whenever we share, Tom gets a huge layer of ham and I just a little and the lettuce - that's more the way I like it!

 

[dizneeat]

Day 6, February 24

Rides and shows, run Forrest run, and lots and expensive shopping - Part 3

I still wanted to look at watches in the larger stores at the entrance to the park before we made a purchase and so we finally started walking towards the Tower of Terror.

When we came close to the Beauty of the Beast theatre

we noticed that the next show was about to begin in less than 10 minutes time, so we headed inside, found a nice spot at the far left of the stage and waited for the show to begin. The theatre was filled to capacity and the show was as wonderful as we remembered it. We have not seen Beauty and the Beast in a few years and it was an awesome show.

The Cast Members who perform in the show do a great job. Once the performance was over we were “swept” out of the theatre with the rest of the audience and since our second Tower of Terror Fast Pass was good by then, we made our way over to the Tower.

The standby line had picked up quite a few guests and being in the Fast Pass lane let us bypass a lot of people.

We walked right into the library and the boiler room was only half full of people, so we got on the elevator quite quickly.
After the ride we decided to leave, but wanted to pick up a carrot cake cookie and still look for a watch. So we went through the stores in search for a watch and we did find a nice one I liked. And like always it was the most expensive one of the ones they had hanging on the racks!

(my new watch)

(my old watch - I had the battery replaced back home, can anyone guess WHY I love this watch? )

We picked up a few more other things and we made good use of our Annual Pass, as they now give you a 10% discount on mostly all merchandise in Disney operated stores. Having done all the shopping we completely forgot about the cookie, so I guess that will have to wait until the summer. Loaded with all our shopping we left the park, the tram pulled out just as we were approaching the waiting area and the next one went out of service, so we waited for quite some time. Then finally the tram that had pulled out when we arrived came back in and we were good to go.

They didn’t wait too long and we were on our way to our car.

 

[Disneyfreak616]

I love the Beauty and the Beast show! It's so good!

Those watches are soooo cute! I love them both. I have a Mickey Mouse one that's pretty generic but I love it all the same.

 

[annmarieda]

I love the Beauty and the Beast show! For whatever reason, it makes me tear up EVERY time. And... I NEVER tear up at things. So I am not sure why this does it to me.

I love the watch!

 

[dizneeat]

I love the Beauty and the Beast show! It's so good!

Those watches are soooo cute! I love them both. I have a Mickey Mouse one that's pretty generic but I love it all the same.

The Beauty and the Beast show never fails to amaze me! The auditioning that must go into these productions is just amazing!

I have quite a few Disney/Mickey watches but the DCL one has been one of my favourites, but when I saw the pink one I knew I had found another one I would love!

I love the Beauty and the Beast show! For whatever reason, it makes me tear up EVERY time. And... I NEVER tear up at things. So I am not sure why this does it to me.

I love the watch!

Something in that show is just very moving! We saw it on Broadway too and seeing it at DHS always brings back those happy memories.

 

[englishrose47]

Love your new watch !!! Let me think why you loved the old one hmmmmm

 

[dizneeat]

Love your new watch !!! Let me think why you loved the old one hmmmmm

I think you can guess it ..........

 

[dizneeat]

Day 6, February 24

Rides and shows, run Forrest run, and lots and expensive shopping - Part 4

They didn’t wait too long and we were on our way to our car. Once back at the car we debated what to do next and we thought that going back to the resort for a short break would be nice.

Maybe today our room would be ready by 12.30pm. So we drove back to the resort, parked the car, walked over to the room, mousekeeping is nowhere to be seen, we opened the door and

SURPRISE - NOT ready, yet!!!

By that time we started to laugh it off, but it is quite annoying if you come back to the same old dirty room during the day. And it was the first time and first resort this has ever happened to us. One day when the room is done late, okay, but EVERY day?
We decided to be ready to head out should mousekeeping want to come in and just relaxed on the beds for 20 minutes and finally headed out again.
We got into the car, hit the freeway and drove over to Universal Orlando.

No, we did not want to go to the parks, we just wanted to go there to have lunch. We arrived at the Universal Parking lot about 20 minutes later, followed the many signs all around their parking lot and finally got a space WAY down the row.

Oh well, it would mean that we would work off some of those Bubba Gump calories. Once we had trekked over to Citywalk we headed right for Bubba Gump. We were greeted at the entrance and told to follow the footprints, which we did.
Inside the restaurant we met a very nice and chatty greeter who made the time we had to wait, fly by. And then we were seated at one of our all time favourite restaurants. We had a nice table for four, were briefed on the signs on the table and when we told the server that we had been to Bubba Gump before, she left with a smile and told us to “just use the sign” when we were ready to order.
There are signs on the table that say “Run, Forrest, Run” and “Stop, Forrest, Stop” which indicate to the server to either just walk right by a table or stop, according to what the sign says.
We took our time, studied the menu and when we knew what we wanted we turned the sign and the next server who came by, stopped right at our table to take our order.
Tom ordered some Diet Coke and there is one drink I always need to have,

the Strawberry Speckled Lemonade, which is just so good. Tom ordered

Lt. Dan’s Drunken Shrimp, large chargrilled Shrimp and Andouille Sausage with Mashed Potatoes and Bourbon Sauce. It looked and tasted fantastic and was a really good choice. Even though there are a lot of things that appeal to me on the menu, I always order the

Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp, served with Cajun Marmalade and Fries. They are just too good to not order them! While we were sitting and waiting for our food we were given the usual little Forrest Gump quiz and even though we have done it a “million” times, it was still fun and helped to pass time while waiting for some shrimp yummies. Both portions were huge and we were too stuffed to order dessert and we had another place we wanted to try for dessert.

 

[Queenofallthings]

I think we will definitely have to try Bubba Gumps when we go to IOA...that dish Tom had looks so good to me and the drink you had...yup, that's what I'll be having

 

[annmarieda]

I can't believe you luck with getting mousekeeping to have your room done. Course, I think I still have you beat with our stay at POR Feb. 2010... where they didn't know we were in the room for days and hence didn't even come to the room. not until the hair dryer caught fire. After that we had our room taken care of each day. It was a good thing it was an eleven night stay!

 

[jenseib]

I need a new watch too. The one I have I bought at WDW in 2007. I love it, but have been through 3 bands and a battery. The latest band I bought doesn't work right and keep falling off. So I might break down and buy a new watch all together. I actually was palnning on it this past trip, but never made it to the watch store.

 

[englishrose47]

You know Bubbas is on my list when Carol and I do Universal next year !! Now I can impress her with my knowledge of the signs

 

[IheartDDuck]

I know exactly what you mean about coming back to a room that you're expecting to be all nice and clean. I'm on the same page with you, one day is one thing, but every day?

Your food pictures at Bubba Gump are making me very hungry. Honestly, we have one in Chicago at Navy Pier, and I always forget that it's there.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Hi Karin! I love BATB! The first time I saw it, I was so surprised at the caliber of performance in a theme park!

I love the letters in the bottom of the TOT board! I will have to look for those - I never even thought to look!

YUMMM Bubba Gump!!! I would choose the coconut shrimp too!

I'm thinking that they have probably cut the housekeeping staff in the resorts due to the economy and not having our room made up until late is probably going to be the norm. Once they find out that we will accept it, they will continue even when things get better. Did you try to put the "please make up the room" sign?

We usually make our own bed and hang up our towels for a day or two, because we don't really want people in our room much - so we put out the "do not disturb" sign.

 

[KatMark]

I so want to see the Beauty & the Beast show this trip as we've not seen it for a couple of trips but don't think we can fit it; so thanks for the pictures.

Sorry about the room again...but from what I have read, that has been pretty typical at a lot of resorts due to the cutback on staff.

There you go again with those Bubba Gump shrimp photos.