We're Changing The Plan Again?? You mean there's a Plan? New TR Posted/Link Posted

[TinksThree]

Then we get our “future” and Keith doesn’t look too excited about his future! I told him to smile!! I like this little added part. It is fun and for some reason I just think “Jetsons”!!

Thankfully after we exit I see that this camera (that I use constantly and have used constantly for 2 ½ years) has a button that says “disp”. Evidentially when you click this button, the display can be turned on and off. Who knew???

So camera fixed, we head to the buses for a little break before our boat ride to DTD!

I will go ahead and reflect on how “The Plan” went since it basically changes to “on the fly” from here on out!!

Test Track Accomplished!!
Mission Space Accomplished!!
Pixie Hollow???? Skipped but this was iffy anyhow. This was a “just in case” on the plan.
Innovations East/Club Cool Did not make it to this
Sum of All Thrills (East) Did not make it to this
Universe of Energy Accomplished!!
Mexican Pavilion-Viva Mexico 11:30am Accomplished!!
Lunch San Angel Inn Accomplished!!
Gran Fiesta Tour Accomplished!!
Norway Pavilion Accomplished!!
Maelstrom (FPs if necessary) Accomplished!! With Fast Pass
China Pavilion Accomplished!!
Reflections of China Accomplished!!
Germany Pavilion Accomplished!!
Italy Pavilion/Sergio 2:30 or 3:30 Accomplished!! Not Sergio but The Ziti Sisters
United States Pavilion-Voices at 2:45 or 3:30 Accomplished!!
American Adventure Accomplished!!
Japan Pavilion Accomplished!!—well sort of, I saw the drums but we did not explore the pavilion
Morocco Pavilion-France Serveur Amusant 4:40pm Serveyr Amusant Accomplished!! Keith and Chris saw Mo Rockin’ in Morocco but neither pavilion explored.
Aladdin characters-Morocco or 5:45pm Did not make it to this

Add in Spaceship Earth and this was a pretty successful day! The “Plan” was to leave for the Boardwalk around 5:30pm. We left Epcot to head back to the resort around 5pm. So time wise we are “on schedule” but the plan is taking a whole new route now!!

Next up: one last post for Day 3--DTD and Raglan Road!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Once again, you got a lot accomplished in one day! Awesome! And ending it with my personal favorite, Spaceship Earth? Great.

Karamell Kuche is soooooo good. I went in there and was completely overwhelmed by what they had to offer. I love caramel. Love love love it!

 

[TinksThree]

Once again, you got a lot accomplished in one day! Awesome! And ending it with my personal favorite, Spaceship Earth? Great.

Karamell Kuche is soooooo good. I went in there and was completely overwhelmed by what they had to offer. I love caramel. Love love love it!

We did get so much accomplished and it felt so good...just wish I could keep that feeling...!!

Spaceship Earth is one of my favorites too! Love it!

That caramel was awesome!!! We wandered in and I snapped a few pictures and then went elsewhere...then it hit me: That was the caramel store!!!! So I went back. So much to choose from and it smells divine! I am already plotting getting there on my next trip!

 

[ksl5f123]

What an awesome day!

I love the mug from Keith's beer. I like the tall narrow ones.

That caramel shop does smell incredible. Everything in there looks so good.

The pictures your "broken" camera took on Spaceship Earth are great. I love all of the screen shots of your future.

11 inches of rain! Yikes. If we get more than 2 we have a lake in our backyard. I would hate to see it with 11 inches.

 

[TinksThree]

What an awesome day!

I love the mug from Keith's beer. I like the tall narrow ones.

That caramel shop does smell incredible. Everything in there looks so good.

The pictures your "broken" camera took on Spaceship Earth are great. I love all of the screen shots of your future.

11 inches of rain! Yikes. If we get more than 2 we have a lake in our backyard. I would hate to see it with 11 inches.

It was a very fun day! Keith really liked germany...and returns! I was surprised I even got any good ones since I could not see what I was taking pictures of! It made me think back to my days of the 35 mm camera!

We had so much water here and my work/office/department was completely flooded. It smelled like kitty litter and we had fans for a week! It was gross! I do feel so bad for those in Pensylvania and the northeast though because they have really been getting the flooding!


So sorry for being MIA. For those who were reading my PTR, you may remember my concern on my grandmother not eating and maybe not making it through our trip. Well, we lost her this past Sunday. She had really taken a turn for the worse over the last 2 weeks. So I have an update ready to post but I haven't been in the "Disney" frame of mind the past few days. I hope to post the end of Day 3 very soon! Keep an eye out for it!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Did Keith like the beer from Germany? John ended up pouring out more than half of his because he said it wasn't very good.

I so wish I had gotten something from the new caramel store. The caramels that you got looked so good even if you did say they were very rich.

 

[TinksThree]

Did Keith like the beer from Germany? John ended up pouring out more than half of his because he said it wasn't very good.

I so wish I had gotten something from the new caramel store. The caramels that you got looked so good even if you did say they were very rich.

Keith did like it but he always goes for the light beer. He even went back later in the week for more. (That was how I got him to stick around for Illuminations!).

The caramel shop was very good! I love caramel but these were better than anything I have ever store bought! Yummy!!

 

[ksl5f123]

So sorry for being MIA. For those who were reading my PTR, you may remember my concern on my grandmother not eating and maybe not making it through our trip. Well, we lost her this past Sunday. She had really taken a turn for the worse over the last 2 weeks. So I have an update ready to post but I haven't been in the "Disney" frame of mind the past few days. I hope to post the end of Day 3 very soon! Keep an eye out for it!

I am so sorry to hear about your grandma. My grandma is 89 years old and I worry every time the phone rings when I am not expecting a call. Take all of the time you need. We will still be here when you get back.

 

[TinksThree]

I am so sorry to hear about your grandma. My grandma is 89 years old and I worry every time the phone rings when I am not expecting a call. Take all of the time you need. We will still be here when you get back.

Thank you! It has been a crazy, busy and exhausting week! It had gotten where over the past two weeks I worried everytime my dad called that this was "it"!

 

[TinksThree]

Now we go "Off Plan"...sort of like going "Off Road"!! We were supposed to remain at Epcot for the evening, head over to Boardwalk and eat supper at Kouzzinas. That plan was nixed before the day really got started. So, with dinner ADRs now made at Raglan Road, we were off to blaze new and unplanned trails!!

A friend welcomed us "home":

After resting a bit at the resort (I think we watched some of the Casey Anthony trial since it had just began) we head out for one of Keith’s favorite parts of being at POR/POFQ and Disney…the boat ride to DTD! The line to board was fairly long…a wait of about 20 minutes or so and it was still pretty warm. Once on board we had to sit separate so the ride was pretty quiet. I snapped one picture along the way. It seems weird sitting all alone and snapping pictures over strangers, so I did not take too many this trip!

I love the approach to DTD. One day I want to try the Characters in Flight and Cirque de Soleil!

Our dinner reservations weren’t until 9:30pm so we had a bit of time to spare.

Another thing I learned about Keith (at this very moment) is that he really liked watching the entertainment going on stage. Nothing was happening when we got there but we could tell a show would soon be in the works! So we decide to hang out and see what was coming up. The sun was beginning to set and I took the opportunity to snap a few pictures.

Then we watched dance group from New Jersey. They were pretty good and had very cute dances.

Finally it was time to head to Raglan Road. This was our first time to try this restaurant. We find the restaurant and check in.

continued in the next post.....

 

[TinksThree]

They say it will be a 15 minute wait or so (we were early for the ADR). While we wait we meandered into the store but soon we were being paged.
We are seated next to a bar but not in the main room. We could hear the band playing but not see anything. Everyone in the main room was having a wonderful time and we really felt like we were missing out! But it was fun listening and we decided we would return and request sitting in the main room.

We really were fairly tired. It had been a long day and was inching towards 10pm. And we never eat that late!! Ever!! We peruse the menu and try to decide what to order. Then the waiter comes to take our drink order. He is very friendly and gives us the specials and then we tell him that (GASP!!!) we are on the DDP. Evidentally either Raglan Road or this particular waiter does not like patrons using the DDP!

He makes a face that prompts me to verify that they did accept the DDP…after all they were on the list. He says that they do but then proceeds to inform us that it is just a very difficult process of doing a receipt through one system and then having to do another and blah, blah, blah…..

Now we planned to order alcoholic beverages and appetizers neither of which are on the DDP. Plus we always tip the 18% of the meal. Plus since we were on the DDP we weren’t focusing on prices and were ordering some pretty pricey entrees. I just say this to bring up the fact that he was looking at a pretty good tip even though we were using the DDP. Well, that tip was slipping away and as the night progressed…that tip was almost non-existent!!

We order our drinks and appetizer: Calamari City - Salt 'n' Pepper calamari and mixed tempora vegetables served with a spicy remoulade

The appetizer was very good!! We always enjoy calamari…except Madison. I just can’t get her to eat it after she found out what it is. She liked it before she knew! I also ordered the sangria and I definitely recommend this drink!

By this time a family is seated next to us with several late teen/early 20s children. They have the same waiter…they do not have the DDP…I think you know where I am going without describing the wonderful service they received!! Yep, that tip is quickly going Buh-Bye !!

We order our food and discuss the day. As you can tell we are beginning to look a little haggard. I can tell by my picture that I am very tired! I can see the tiredness written all over my face!

Our food arrives at 10:20pm and we dig in! All of this was very good! (I am leaving the prices due to the lack of tip…3 months later and this guy’s attitude still ticks me off!! ) CREDIT: Also I got this from the website menus for the descriptions.

Chris got the Mighty Mixed Grill - lamb chop, Guinness banger, sirloin steak, black pudding, chicken drumstick and bacon. $28

Although I must say I am not a big fan of the black pudding. Maybe on another day where I am not so tired I will give it another try! It wasn’t bad but not anything to write home about. Chris barely tasted it so he wouldn’t know if he liked it…it looked like a burnt marshmallow!! But what he really wanted was the lamb. I believe he pretty much approved of everything else on his plate.

My mom, Keith and I got the Serious Steak - 10 oz sirloin topped with Irish whiskey marmalade glaze, with fresh basil oil, mashed potatoes, and topped with crispy fried onion strings $27

This steak is seriously good although mine was overcooked just a bit. It was so late that I just ate it. Besides, by this time I wasn’t real sure what the waiter was doing to our food before bringing it out!

Madison went way out on a limb and ordered the Fish and Chips - Our famous beer battered fish & chips served with our fresh tartar sauce. (tip-sprinkle some vinegar on both-tasty!) $19

No picture on that one--sorry!

She wasn’t too thrilled with them. She said she had definitely had better. I did not try it so I will have to take her word for it. I am generally not big on fried fish…hard to believe since I live in the Catfish Capital of the US!! For some reason people around here say they are going to eat seafood when they are going to a catfish house!? Catfish is not seafood in my book…they taste like mud…oops….sorry for that tangent !!! Went a little off-topic….

So we finish up our meals and order dessert. It was okay but I would not pay for these desserts. Glad they were covered on the DDP!

Bailey's Brulé Tart - Créme Brulé, Irish style $8

Trifle Sinful - kitchen baked Swiss roll, Gran Marnier, berries, custard and cream $8disizourmenu (And no picture of this treat either!--sorry again!)

Finally we are finished with our supper and get our check from the almost non-existent waiter. His tip was very low…in fact, I wrote the tip and we darted for fear he may chase us down! Ages ago my uncle would leave a penny tip for bad service. I had considered this on this particular night! We decide to ride the bus back and we go to wait (forever) at 11:40pm. We get back to the resort and hit the sack! Exhausted!!

One final picture before we depart....

Rating Raglan Road overall: I will remove all aspects of the terrible waiter we had and focus on the food and restaurant itself. We will try this place again. The food was very good and tasty. I thought that the value of what we would have paid fit the cost (had we been paying OOP). I would skip the desserts though (and I am a sweet fanatic so this goes a long ways!!).

Our day overall was over the top. It went way better than I had planned it. I think Epcot is one of the easiest parks to plan. As long as you have more than one day to tour, you can easily cover a lot of ground!! This day still brings a smile to my face!!

Up Next: The Best/Avoid Parks from touringplans.com is WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pinkxray]

Raglan Road has been at the top of my list but I always push it off when I add the dining plan. I have just heard too many times that certain items were excluded and will wait until we are oop.

The steak looks good. The server sounds awful

Your towel animal was so cute

 

[IheartDDuck]

I'm very sorry to hear about your Grandma. I worry about my Grandma every day too.

I am so sorry about your experience at Raglan Road! That's an element of the DDP that I don't love. For some reason, some waiters just seem to get so bent out of shape about it. I just don't get it! You're still getting a tip dude!

I'm glad though that the food was good. I'm surprised that you weren't impressed with the desserts. I haven't eaten there, but I have heard that they are really good.

 

[saintstickets]

Glad to hear you are willing to try Raglan Road again. We are thinking about going there during our May, 2012 trip. I know what you mean about the disappearing tip! If I have received bad service, I will decrease the tip and write on the ticket the reason why I left a less than normal tip. (Maybe it's a Mississippi thing?! ) My sons worked at a restaurant during college and they said that will get a managers attention REAL quick!

Keep the great TR coming. Y'all coming down south tomorrow night to see the Eagles rip SELA? We might have to have a Disney/USM/Saints meetup sometime!

 

[TinksThree]

Raglan Road has been at the top of my list but I always push it off when I add the dining plan. I have just heard too many times that certain items were excluded and will wait until we are oop.

The steak looks good. The server sounds awful

We were able to order anything we wanted on the menu. I hadn't heard much about Raglan road before going but it was all good reviews. There isn't much to choose from restaurant wise in the DTD/DDP department!

Yes he was! I wish I had not been so tired and I would have written a complaint. Maybe I should check my receipts?!

I'm very sorry to hear about your Grandma. I worry about my Grandma every day too.

I am so sorry about your experience at Raglan Road! That's an element of the DDP that I don't love. For some reason, some waiters just seem to get so bent out of shape about it. I just don't get it! You're still getting a tip dude!

I'm glad though that the food was good. I'm surprised that you weren't impressed with the desserts. I haven't eaten there, but I have heard that they are really good.

Thank you so much!

I don't get it either on the DDP. Maybe they get cheated too much by others? But at least give others a chance. Regarding the desserts: It could have been that I was so tired and by the time desserts arrived we were really just ready to go to sleep. Maybe a 2nd chance is in order!

Glad to hear you are willing to try Raglan Road again. We are thinking about going there during our May, 2012 trip. I know what you mean about the disappearing tip! If I have received bad service, I will decrease the tip and write on the ticket the reason why I left a less than normal tip. (Maybe it's a Mississippi thing?! ) My sons worked at a restaurant during college and they said that will get a managers attention REAL quick!

Keep the great TR coming. Y'all coming down south tomorrow night to see the Eagles rip SELA? We might have to have a Disney/USM/Saints meetup sometime!

It is definitely worth going to Ragaln Road! That is a great idea on the tip! I never thought of writing the reason for the low tip!

A Disney/USM/Saints meetup sounds cool! We are heading down there after soccer games. I hope to make it in time for the Eagle Walk! I really hope they rip SELA. They haven't looked too great against LA Tech or Marshall...but the defense looks like it is making a comeback!

 

[POLY1985]

Enjoying your TR. Too bad about the waiter at Raglan Road. Nothing turns me off more than a server (or cashier) that complains to a guest. Looking forward to hearing more about POFQ. I am hoping to stay there on our next trip.

 

[mickeystoontown]

The boat ride from Port Orleans to Downtown Disney looks lovely and I can see why everybody raves about it. The sunset pictures are so very pretty.

I had to laugh when you said that Madison won't eat calamari any more since she now knows what it is. We ate at Mama Melrose's and Hunter had no idea what John and I ordered as an appetizer (calamari). I told him I'd give him $5 if he would eat a piece. He did and then I told him what it was.

I hate that you ran into a rude/non-existent water at Raglan Road. Fortunately, we have never had a problem with the wait staff and the dining plan. At least the food was good so you enjoyed something about the dinner.

 

[TinksThree]

Enjoying your TR. Too bad about the waiter at Raglan Road. Nothing turns me off more than a server (or cashier) that complains to a guest. Looking forward to hearing more about POFQ. I am hoping to stay there on our next trip.

Thanks!! He was the worst waiter I have ever had but the food and atmosphere over shadowed him.

I have a future update showcasing POFQ a little more so hopfully you will enjoy it! We really like it there!!

The boat ride from Port Orleans to Downtown Disney looks lovely and I can see why everybody raves about it. The sunset pictures are so very pretty.

I had to laugh when you said that Madison won't eat calamari any more since she now knows what it is. We ate at Mama Melrose's and Hunter had no idea what John and I ordered as an appetizer (calamari). I told him I'd give him $5 if he would eat a piece. He did and then I told him what it was.

I hate that you ran into a rude/non-existent water at Raglan Road. Fortunately, we have never had a problem with the wait staff and the dining plan. At least the food was good so you enjoyed something about the dinner.

I think the boat ride is what won Keith over, or at least started swaying him. It is such a peaceful trip to DTD!

Too funny how you tricked Hunter! I have to fool Madison a lot to eat things. Maybe I can use cash for her to eat venison!!

The food was very good there! Thank goodness because aside from the waiter and being tired we thoroughly enjoyed the night!!

 

[TinksThree]

Day 4-May 30, 2011 Memorial Day

I have contemplated since this day how to report. Do I report the Good, the Bad, the Ugly or all Three? Well since it is after all vacation and we are at “The Happiest Place on Earth” I have decided to report the Good, skirt around the Bad and briefly mention the Ugly!

Even though the night before was a very late night, we had an early morning because we were headed to DHS….and Toy Story Mania!! There is a strategy here and you must be there for Rope Drop to accomplish the strategy! Keith learned this last year and does not delay us.

Last year after our trip, Keith and I were talking about something and through the conversation I discovered something that he would never, ever in a million years admit…he actually enjoyed going to Disney! Oh there were things he didn’t like but more importantly, there were things he did like and through my carefully timed interrogation I learned that his favorite park on the June 2010 trip was DHS and that he really liked TSMM and Indiana Jones along with Lights Motors Action! I also discovered some other things but these pertained to this particular day!

Rope Drop was at 9am so I wanted to be there only a little after 8am. See my strategy is one I learned here on the DISBoards and it has not disappointed! #1: Get there early! #2: Send one person ahead to get FPs for TSMM #3: Rest of group follows the masses to the stand-by line where said “runner of the FPs” joins in #4 Ride Stand-By (never has been longer than a 15 minute wait) #5: Go to the other favored rides….Rock-n-Roller and Tower of Terror of course! #6: Usually by the time we ride one of the #5 rides, we can get a FP for another ride…usually we grab for ToT!! (My favorite ride in all of the Disney World Kingdom!!!!)

Originally, I had thought I would do Epcot on Monday due to it being a holiday and Epcot can spread more people out but since I have used Touring Plans for all of my planning and it has gone off without a hitch…I figured I should follow the “BEST” park for that day: Disney’s Hollywood Studios rated a 6.2 crowd level.

Hmmm…………………….Does this look like 6.2???

No?? Well, what about this one?????

At this point I should have seriously considered the $54 to get Park Hoppers but we only had 3 days left and really didn’t think we would use it again after this particular day (and we would not have). Back tracking slightly….maybe because of the late night/early morning, or the lack of breakfast thus far but we had some attitudes going on in our group! Or something, it couldn’t be figured out but whatever evil forces were reigning on our day….it made for a very unhappy ending. This day had its fun moments but sadly, the magic from the previous three days was definitely missing!!

So onto “The Plan” for this day! The main goals to see are:
Toy Story Mania-get FP and ride stand-by
Rock-n-Roller Coaster-stand-by or FP later
Tower of Terror-stand-by
One Man's Dream
the Animated Tour
lunch at 50's Primetime Café at 11:15
Backlot Tour
Streets of America
Lights Motor Action (1:20pm show)
leave for resort to swim
boat to DTD
T-Rex Reservations made; ck-in 5:15pm
bus to DHS
Great Movie Ride
MuppetVision 3D
Star Tours
ToT, RnR, Little Mermaid and TSMM???

Let’s see how we do!!

On the way to the bus stop I snapped this picture for the 100th time:

The bus ride over was great. We had a huge Disney Cruise Line bus and I had the best conversation with a lady from Virginia. I wish this Pixie Dust had carried over into the park…. We arrive, as I stated before, a little after 8am.

We get into the already huge building masses. We are sandwiched into the wall of a souvenir shop.

Then some cutesy little lady dressed as a director appears and begins a sweet little presentation which ends in the fact that none other than the winner of the American Idol (Scott McCreery—still unsure if that is his last name! I really need to look into that!) will be singing at 10am!! What?!?!? You have got to be kidding me!!!

My mom gets all excited because if you recall way back in the beginning, the night prior to our leaving we had watched the finale of American Idol. So we make tentative plans to try and get to the stage area so she can see him.
I am beginning to see that this day is not going in my favor! First: sour faces, Second: massive, breathtaking crowds, and now Third: Scott McCreery and a throng of excited fans! I am beginning to see that today’s Plans will be changing!

Well, the rope is dropped and we begin to file in like a herd of cattle during the biggest cattle drive of the Old West to TSMM. Along the way we passed this cactus…I mean the cutesy little sweet lady that has pretty much confirmed my day in the slaughter house.

We make our way out of Texas, through Oklahoma and slowly we get to Kansas (AKA TSMM). We go to get in Stand-By and realize Keith is nowhere near us. He followed the wagon train to the new Star Tours and is now lost. I try talking him to where we are. We step to the side and then I tell him to wait (since I know where he is) and I will go meet up with him. I go to meet up with him and while I wait under the Sorcerer’s Hat I talk to two CMs who said no one in management had planned on this big of a crowd. They were calling in reinforcements….GREAT!!!! After a few minutes, I call Keith and find out he found his way to TSMM so I go back over there….but by this time the Stand-by line is 120 minutes!! Well, it will be one ride for us today! At least Chris got the FPs!! So now that we have managed to at least get a FP we decide to find a watering hole and I know just where to go!!

Starring Rolls!! I hear people always bragging on this place so we head over and get some wonderful treats!! We sit in a relatively calming area….you would never know that there were 999,999,999,999,999 people roaming the great and mighty small area we all know as Hollywood Studios!

Our Yummy food!!!

A Chocolate Croissant

An Apple Turnover

And a Cinnamon Roll

After we finish eating we decide to head over to RnR. I see a, uhm, tour group and know immediately this would add lots of time to the wait. I try to explain what this means but Keith does not comprehend! I make the kids high tail it and tell Keith and my mom we will meet up when the ride is over. We get to RnR and the wait is 30 minutes, which I don’t consider too terrible. We make it just ahead of the 150 people in orange shirts and as we circle around, the wait time flips to 60 minutes. I call Keith and told him “I told you so!!” Our wait was right at the 30 minute mark.

I managed a picture of Tower of Terror!!

And then we get inside the wonderful air conditioned building!

Me trying to get all artsy...

We are READY!!!!

We race through the dark alleys of Hollywood way too fast! I love this ride!! It is so much fun!! We exit and I snap two pictures before locating my mom and Keith.

Next: We take on The Tower of Terror and the other adventures of a Pixie-Dust(less) day....

 

[IheartDDuck]

Okay, I just about died when I saw your pictures of the swarms of people that were there. Darn that Scotty McCreery!!!

You know, we've all had a little bit of ugly happen on our WDW vacations. It's okay that you share your experiences with us. When I read though that you didn't have a PH, I felt really bad, cause if it was me, I would have just left.

I have to say though, that picture of the chocolate croissant made me drool on my keyboard.....