What Time is the 4 o'clock Rain? -- Updates 11/2-4 -- Tim's surprise and Marco&Recap

[eandesmom]

That pasta looks awful, so sorry you had such a bad meal and service. Onion rings look good though! Hope Mark is feeling better.

 

[afwdwfan]

Of course, we stopped in the dump shop

Star Tours definitely has one of my favorite queues and is about the only dump shop I actually linger in and look around.

We figured since there are rumors of it closing to make way for Carsland, we'd go for nostalgia sake.

No, for nostalgia sake, I'd watch a video of it taken back around 1990.

It was finally time for our fastpasses for TSM. When we got there, we were in shock. The line for standby was at 180 minutes!!! And, not only that, there was a line OUT THE DOOR for the fastpass return. I will say it went quickly, but I have never seen it like that in all of our visits.

Holy crap!!! I'd imagine there must have been some kind of a break down earlier in the day?

We had just finished up our ride on a very, very busy TSM and it was time for our lunch ADR. We were headed here

I always enjoy Sci fi.

I always order the onion rings for an appetizer when we go here

Good call

Mark and I both ordered something new this trip. Mark had the Famous Picnic Burger

Good call

I had the Shrimp Pasta

Wha... ???

Here's my thing. There are people who complain about the food at Sci Fi. It is themed like an old school drive in. Stick with the food that you'd find at a drive in. I don't think shrimp pasta is something that you might typically find at one of those.

Our waiter came to see if we wanted dessert and we said no. He asked how we liked our meals and saw I had hardly eaten anything (thankfully I had those onion rings) and I told him I didn't like it at all. Much to my surprise when he came back with the check, he had the meal removed from the bill. I certainly didn't expect this or want it...I know everyone can have a bad meal. It did kind of make up for his really terrible service (a trend this trip, unfortunately).

Well, at least he made it right for you!

 

[KatMark]

We have not seen the lights!! We went in Dec once before and it rained on our DHS night. Avery will do TOT with you. Maybe you can take Avery to Animation and I can go with Cayley to something else. She is such a perfectionist I know the drawing would not end well for her. I am glad that the waiter took that gross looking pasta off your bill-sorry for the bad service

Well then I'm glad we made no dinner plans...we might end up spending a lot of time there...the girls are going to love it.

That might be a good idea about Avery. We could take her and you and Cayley could do something special; or we can do it in June when it's just the girls.

Sorry about the Sci Fi meal - I think I had that shrimp pasta several yrs ago with my DSIS and I don't think I liked it either. It had a strange seasoning and it was way too salty. Nice of the CM to take it off. I always pretend to like things, even when I don't. I think DH has taught me this because when we were kids and worked at a restaurant people who complained and returned food got "secret sauce."

It had a very strange seasoning, indeed. I picked out the shrimp and tried to scrape off as much sauce as possible. Oh my...that is too funny about the restaurant when you were kids.

Awww, Ms. Kat. I'm so sorry you didn't like your meal, and that the service wasn't great for you this trip.

I know every meal will not be perfect, but this one was just gross.

And yes, you should expect to have the cost of your meal taken off the ticket if it was bad enough that you couldn't even eat it. You are certainly worth it.

It was very nice of him to take off the meal.

Hope you found something yummy later on. I'm a firm believer you get a hamburger while in DHS (at Backlot Express) or a sandwich at Starring Rolls and not much else. At least in my experience.

We love Starring Rolls; not a fan of Backlot Express. This is the first time I've had a bad meal at Sci Fi; in the future (including our December trip), it's burger only!

If they build Cars land there, I'm hoping they bring in the yummier food they have at DL.

I read somewhere that Carsland is now on the back burner at the Studios.

Saying a prayer for Mark, hope he feels better soon, and that you don't get what ever he has.

He had the 24-hour flu bug going around; I hope I don't get it either...I've got a busy day at work tomorrow.

I'm looking forward to reading all about your day in class.

Thanks, Bob.

You know....I was very disappointed in that Villian shop this year. It is always one of my favorites and one of the very few highlights of HS for me. But this year it seemed like they only had one little corner of it devoted to the Villians.

I really didn't pay much attention to what they had. I guess I was too busy telling Mark he could NOT have a sword.

Toy Story. Yeah, still haven't tried that. I just don't like HS enough to get there at the crack of dawn so I can get a good position in line. And by the time we get there (usually around 9:30) the FPs are way too far into the evening. We never stay a full day here, so we just don't bother with the ride. Since I don't know what I'm missing....the MK one is fine with me. Maybe someday...

Suzi, you must do it someday. It is different from Buzz and so much fun.

Well that was nice of your Sci-Fi waiter. Gotta try that place sometime too.

Yes, it was very nice of him. We will be back in December but I won't be ordering that again.

Well that stinks that the pasta was so bad!! I have to say I found my meal there to just be okay. Thank goodness for the yummy onion rings at least!

The onion rings were the saving grace for me. I'm sorry your meal was just okay. Mark really enjoyed his.

That sucks that the pasta dish was awful, but really you shouldn't have to pay for something that is too nasty to eat. I am glad he credited you.

Thanks, Jen.

 

[KatMark]

Oh NO! Boo on the bad pasta! I'm so sorry! last time we were there i had the same and it wasn't bad! pasta was cooked well and the chicken was moist and yummy! so BOOOOO on that yet YAY on the removal of the bill!

Mo, no worries. It could have just been an off day. The pasta was not cooked well, the sauce was gross. It happens though

Even with the the bad Disney always does GOOD!

Yes, they normally do.

All caught up, Kathy! Hope Mark feels much better today.

Thanks, Christine. Mark went to work today feeling much better.

As always, love the TR...a pictorial visit to WDW for those of us at home. You and Mark look fabulous!

Thank you.

OKW looks as beautiful as ever! What a great room location - was it walking distance to the boat to DTD? I've wanted to stay at OKW since it opened but it is so big - would want to be close to the Hospitality House and/or walking distance to the boat to DTD. It is so tropical!

Yes, it was. We were the building right across the street from the Hospitality House and the boat dock is on the back side of the Hospitality House. It is very difficult to get Hospitality House; but there is an internal bus that will drop you off at HH or any park bus can drop you there as it is the last stop picked up to go to the parks.

That SciFi shrimp dish looks darn awful! Glad the server removed it from the bill without being asked. (I would not have asked either - it just happens sometimes).

It was darn awful; and, you are right, it does happen sometimes. I know never to order it again.

Looks like the December Grannie trip will be a reality for me - hope you'll still have room for one more Dis Meet!

Oh, Christine...that will be wonderful. I have to hook up with Rosie closer to the dates. We have so many DIS meets this December. Although a lot of them will be a five minute hug, quick chat, etc., as it is a short trip and the girls will want to be on the go with all the Christmas stuff.

Good Morning!!
TSM was crazy like that both trips this August. I guess that is where the summer crowds hang out. But I do love that ride! You two are very competitive with one another. Too cute. I'll have to share my secrets with you so you can whomp his bootie next time!

Isn't that weird? I just don't get it. Please do share your secrets with me...I'd love to know.

I am not a huge fan of Backlot either, but you have to do it every once in awhile. I do like to hang out looking at the props and stuff. Just wish they didn't rush you through that area.

I'm glad we did it, but I won't feel bad if I don't go again. Yes, I don't like the rushing through that part at all.

Wasn't a huge fan of SciFi either. I hadn't been there in so long that I just wanted to try it again. Sorry your meal wasn't edible. Very nice of them to take it off your bill. The atmosphere is pretty cool in there, though.

I love Sci Fi and have always had decent meals; it was what I ordered and should have known better.

I'm sorry about your poor service and terrible meal at Sci-Fi, but it was nice of them to remove the meal from your bill.

Yes, it was very nice of them.

I hope Mark is feeling better!

He is, thank you.

All caught up! I really lose ground on this TR over the weekends.

And I only did a mini update this weekend because I was with your friend Barry on Saturday.

Sorry Mark is sick. Hope he rebounds soon.

He did; now he better not have given it to me.

Can't blame you there. Them's good eatin'.

I love them...they are cooked just perfectly.

Is that the one with the hot dog on it? I remember being intrigued, but Julie wouldn't let me order it.

Yes it is; Todd has had it too and enjoyed it. Maybe next time Julie will let you try it.

Uh oh. Sorry it was lousy.

No worries...I didn't starve.

Glad to hear that at least. It could have been worse.

Yes, it could have been worse.

Hope Mark is feeling better today!

Yes he is...thanks.

Caught up on your HS day so far

...glad you are caught up.

That is incredible how far out your time for TSM after getting the FP first thing.

I could not believe it.

Nice photos from ToT- glad you had a short line.

I am too...especially since it is my favorite ride.

that Mark did not get to ride RNR.

He'll get a couple of rides in with the girls in December, I'm sure.

Too bad Muppets was closed, too. I love the Muppet hat Mark is wearing. Animal is my favorite muppet.

Yes, it was too bad as I really enjoy it, but it does need a refurb (I wonder if they are editing it at all?)

We try to do the Backlot tour once each trip- my younger son really enjoys it. Last time we were there, they didn't have volunteers for the Pearl Harbor scene because of storms in the area. The AFI display in the dump shop is awesome. There was some Hobbit/Lord of the Rings hatchet thingy there that my son was UBER excited to see.

That's too bad they didn't do the Pearl Harbor scene. I'm with you...I love the AFI display in the dump shop; they had some Oz stuff when we were there.

My youngest son wanted to order the picnic burger (plus a milkshake plus a Caesar salad plus dessert), but we talked him into a regular burger.

How old is your younger son? That's a lot of food he wanted.

We always have lunch at Sci Fi. On my first visit there, I ordered that shrimp pasta. I love shrimp!

I agree with you. It was the single nastiest thing I have ever had at Disney.

Thank God it wasn't me. It was probably the second most disgusting thing I've ever eaten at Disney (WCC was even worse to us).



I got zero sympathy from my family "Why did you order shrimp at a burger place?"

Yeah, I got that from Mark too.

I don't know, but I won't make that mistake again!

Neither will I, neither will I.

From what I heard, if you do not like your entree, Disney has an unspoken policy to remove it from the bill.

Nini, I did not know that; learn something new every day.

I know one night we were at H&V, and the Grand Princess slept through the meal in her stroller (she was 4). Since it was a buffet I did not expect them to remove it, but they did. (of course since we were on free dining, it really didn't matter since we never were able to use that extra TS credit)

Nini

That was very nice of them to notice and to not charge you. Hey, an extra meal to split is a good thing.

 

[KatMark]

I love pasta but that looked bad. Glad they took it off your bill. To be honest we stopped going to sci-fi because last time we were unhappy with our meals. DHS could use some new options. I like mama Melrose and 50s prime time but not every year. We like variety. We did the Hollywood and vine lunch last year for Connor who was 3 and it was a good buffet. This year we are doing mama Melrose as it has been a few years and Andy picked it. We are looking forward to the Osbourne lights as this is our first Christmas trip.

I love pasta too, but it was really bad. We really like Sci Fi...this was a once in a lifetime of going there bad meal; we'll be back in December. We did H&V twice...never again. I love Mama Melrose, but we've not been there in five years. Maybe we will rectify that with Mark and Alisha next year.

Sorry to hear that Mark is sick. Hope he feels better soon!

Thanks...seems his 24 hour bug was only about 18 hours.

Yum! I love Sci Fi. Haven't eaten there since 2011 but have it scheduled for one of my upcoming trips. Bummer your meal wasn't good. Glad they took it off your bill!

I love it too, I just won't order the pasta again.

Sorry you had such a disappointing entree at Sci-Fi. I had some pretty disgusting ribs there once, they were all fat and very little meat, yuck! I've stuck with burgers or sandwiches since and had better luck. I don't think anyone really goes to Sci-Fi for the food, it's more for the theming, it's so much fun! Sadly, I think it may be the only opportunity some children will have to experience a "drive-in". They're going the way of the dinosaur.

Carol, I heard the ribs weren't very good, so I've stayed away from them. You are right, the theme is great and just stick with burgers. We have one drive in by us that is open during the summer. I miss those days.

Love the pic of you and Mark in your car!

Thank you; I actually like that one too...despite my hair looking like it does (and I don't normally like pictures of myself).

Sorry to hear Mark is unwell, hope he feels better soon!

Thanks...he's all better.

I love Sci Fi...It's a wonderful concept but the food is just always lacking unless you stick to the burgers.

Yep....I know that now.

Hope Mark is feeling better!

Jill in CO

He is, and thank you.

hope Mark is feeling better

Lisa, he is...he's at work today.

your pasta does look yucky! I would of returned it and gotten it off my bill, no reason to pay for gross food! sorry about the bad service too!

It happens sometimes; just glad it is not an all the time occurence.

its a date then! yes we do ride Primeval, I don't mind the spinning rides, taking other friends kids on tea cups, love to get those going! will be fun for Megan to have the girls to hang out with at AK!

We are all looking forward to meeting you. I will talk to Mary closer to the date to see what time we are all going to be there. I think AK has EMH's that morning, but I'm not sure. I don't know if Mary and the girls will make it for that (the girls are not morning people). But we will figure it out closer to the time.

That pasta looks awful, so sorry you had such a bad meal and service. Onion rings look good though! Hope Mark is feeling better.

Cynthia, awful is what it ws. I love the onion rings. Mark is much better...thank you.

Star Tours definitely has one of my favorite queues and is about the only dump shop I actually linger in and look around.

It's a great shop; I love stopping in there too...although it does take me awhile to get my husband away from the toys.

No, for nostalgia sake, I'd watch a video of it taken back around 1990.

You are too funny!

Holy crap!!! I'd imagine there must have been some kind of a break down earlier in the day?

That would be my guess, but we never heard anything.

I always enjoy Sci fi.

We do too.

Good call

Absolutely!

Good call

Absolutely again!

Wha... ???

Here's my thing. There are people who complain about the food at Sci Fi. It is themed like an old school drive in. Stick with the food that you'd find at a drive in. I don't think shrimp pasta is something that you might typically find at one of those.

It was recommended to me. Obviously, they had a bad day with that dish.

Well, at least he made it right for you!

Yes he did.

 

[KatMark]

So after finishing my rather unpleasant meal at Sci Fi, we departed the restaurant. We decided to go check and see how long the line was for Animation Class.



They had just let a class in so we waited in line. There was a good chance we wouldn't make it in for the next one either, but at least it was cool inside.



The door opened and they cut it off with two groups ahead of us...a group of four and a group of six. They asked if there was a group of 2 and that was us, so in we went. We didn't get a desk, but had a lap pad and were happy as clams. That is until we had to draw. We got Rapunzel. Seriously? I love Rapunzel, don't get me wrong. But I wanted Mickey or Eeyore or someone like that.

Let's just say that our drawings were so poor that I did NOT take pictures of them and they ended up in the trash.

We walked around after class and I took a few pictures:







Then we went to see this guy:





After class and seeing Mickey, we headed outside to see what we wanted to do next. Since my lunch was not all that great, I decided I needed a little something to hold me until our dinner ADR. So I got what every health conscious person would get:



After I finished my yummy (but extremely salty) popcorn, we went here:



It said it was a 20 minute wait, but we were through and on the ride in less than 10 minutes.





Look familiar from a picture earlier in this TR?

















After enjoying the movies, we decided to head out to our next destination where we would be having dinner. Of course, someone had to stop for a NEW hat picture:



Continued in the next post

 

[KatMark]

We left the park, walked to our car and drove here:



We parked here:



We had some time before our dinner ADR, so we hit up a few attractions. We knew fastpasses for Soarin' would be gone, but we knew we could take a ride and Listen to the Land:
















Then we hit one of Mark's favorites:











We visited the manatees:





Then we went to see my favorite purple dragon:











Dump Shop photo:



Up next, one of our BEST meals of the trip

 

[PhoenixStrength]

You got some great shots on both The Great Movie Ride and Living with the Land!!

Yummy, Disney popcorn! Can't wait to hear where you ate dinner

 

[dizneeat]

I am FINALLY all caught up here too.

Too many things to comment on, so I leave it for now. Just wanted to say -180 minutes for TSM - NO way would I wait that long for it (and I love the ride).
Your SciFi pasta reminded me of the one I had some years ago - it's good they took it off the bill.

I haven't (quite) started our new TR yet, but I am working on it and will hopefully post it tonight or tomorrow morning. I'll let you know!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Wow Kathy, you are the update queen this week! Too bad you had to draw Rapunzel - I think it would be extra hard to draw a person, but then I can't draw anyway.

I haven't seen the purple dragon for a really long time - I have to admit this ride REALLY annoys me, so I never mention it, and no one else remembers it exists. shhhhh.

Nice update!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Loved the updates!!! Glad I was off today and kept up!
Too bad on Rapunzel. I stink at people drawing. Much better with the characters.

GMR must be done at least once a year. Got the Gangster side, of course. Wonder when they do the cowboy tale?

I love to doing LWTH in Epcot. Love how it smells in there. We did it once during EMH this summer. Really neat in there at night.

Hope Mark is feeling better this afternoon.

 

[afwdwfan]

They asked if there was a group of 2 and that was us, so in we went. We didn't get a desk, but had a lap pad and were happy as clams.

Woohooo!!! Lucky break!

That is until we had to draw. We got Rapunzel. Seriously? I love Rapunzel, don't get me wrong. But I wanted Mickey or Eeyore or someone like that.

Hmmm... maybe you should have just kept quiet and enjoyed the wait in the A/C for another class.

Let's just say that our drawings were so poor that I did NOT take pictures of them and they ended up in the trash.

Oh, come on! It can't be that bad!

So I got what every health conscious person would get

Even bathed in salt and butter, that is definitely healthier than about 99% of the other snack options, for sure!

Then we went to see my favorite purple dragon

Figment! Your ride sucks, but we still love you!!!

 

[Janet B]

Hi Kathy,
It’s been too long! At least I’m getting on you TR before it’s in triple digits. Looking forward to reading and getting caught up in all the fun. Loving the pix I’ve seen so far…btw Happy belated anniversary!

That's a shame about your meal at Sci Fi. Happy that Disney took your meal off, we had to ask at a CS once and they did with no problem; Disney is great that way.We are hitting up Sci Fi this December and think I'll stick to the burgers which I know I like.

Wow... cannot believe TSM was 180 min at one point...the most we've seen is 90 min. Yikes! I finally kind of like TOT after 3 trys.. although I do feel the terror part on the ride. Whenever I read about you guys doing the animation class it reminds that I must do this next time I'm in Disney. I KNOW I wouldn't be able to even come close to drawing Rapunzel either. Please let me have Minnie or Mickey when we do!!

Hoping that Mark is feeling better. btw us Grannies and wannabees will be in Disney so hoping for a DISmeet.

Back to catch up...

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Nope, no waiting 3 hours for any attraction!

Bummer about the shrimp pasta. Those onion rings looked good though! I might have to eat there one of these days. Never have yet.

Rapunzel? Really? I would like to see the CM's drawing of her!

Epcot - my favorite! Wonder where you're going to eat?

 

[solana131]

Wow...Rapunzel huh?? Boy, they sure do have some faith in their guests! I'm sure mine would've ended up in the trash too

 

[emmysmommy]

Bummer about horrid food! We've had some questionable stuff there as well but we don't go for the cuisine.

Man your illustrator was hard core giving you Rapunzel. I'd have drawn a balloon instead.

And did you get the robber or the cowboy scene in the Great Movie Ride?

What I like about Figment is the upside down house. Other than that the song really gets to me.

You had an eye out for the hidden Mickey's I see in Living with the Land. Good job!

I wonder where you are dining tonight....

 

[petals]

Emma, why is that?

I don't do thrill rides.. i do small world and peter pan. Peter pan is a thrill for me. I'm dangling in the air on a boat like

You want me to send one to you?

OMG Would love one. I'm broke though. How much are they?

Luvin all the updates. Sorry your meal at Sci fi was bad
Sorceror Mickey is the best
I love the Manatees. They were missing in Seaworld the last time we were there. So happy Disney had the.


Hope Mark feels better soon

 

[DisneyTeacher01]

I'm here! very late but

(Jumping over from D~'s TR)

~Jennifer

 

[Deesknee]

Hi!

I admit it... I only read your posts. BUT, I am loving your TR!!! We found the wait staff was less than stellar our recent trip also.

The hat pictures are a hoot!

OKW, ah.... when I got to your OKW pictures I commented to my DH, we are going back to OKW next trip. I miss it. I love the atmosphere of that place. Your pictures brought me right back to that relaxed feeling.

sorry your meal was horrid at Sci-Fi. But, good you atleast didn't have to pay for it. Last time we ate there we decided since we all order burgers, that we won't be going back there (although I do agree about the onion rings, well...dh agrees even more. ). We feel it tends to be a VERY expensive burger joint for a family of 6. lol

Looking forward to see where your Epcot ADR is.

 

[KatMark]

We finished with Figment and it was 4:00; we still had an hour until our ADR but started to slowly walk over to World Showcase.

A few pictures along the way:







And right after taking that picture, it decided to rain. This would be the FIRST of our 4:00 rain days (it did this every day of the trip but one )

We stopped in Canada for a little while to get out of the drizzle. We looked in the shop for a few minutes. It had lightened a little bit, and we made our way to the United Kingdom where I found Mary Poppins:



We were then at our dinner destination:



We were too early for dinner and tried staying under the awning to stay dry. Finally right at 5 p.m. of our ADR time they called us to our table.

We were given an outside table right against the building so we wouldn't be getting wet if it continued to drizzle.

Our view from our table against the building:



Mark ordered a beer. I really don't remember which kind he got nor does he. I know I didn't like it:



You can tell how hot he was in that picture...and tired. It was the first full day and we weren't quite used to the heat and the humidity yet.

Before our appetizers came, so did the rain. Or shall I say the monsoon? The staff hurridedly closed all of the side panels to keep everyone inside that was sitting outside dry.

Mark started with the Scotch Egg. He wasn't sure if he was going to like this but I told him it had received high praise on reports I read so he wanted to give it a try.



And what did he think? He loved them and can't wait to go back again to have them (please don't take them off the menu).

I started off with the Roasted Sea Scallops:



Let me just say they could have cancelled my dinner order and just brought me three or more plates of these. They were out of this world. Probably THE best sea scallops I have ever had.

For dinner, Mark had the Rainbow Trout. Now he doesn't normally order a fish that might have a stray bone or where the skin may not come off easily. He didn't find a single bone, the skin peeled away like a glove and he was in heaven.



I had the Fish & Chips:



Now, there was nothing wrong with them. They weren't greasy like the last time we ate here in 2008, but after the scallops they were a let down. I think next time I might just ask them if I can have the scallops as my meal with a few more on the plate and to add the charge.

Mark has informed me that Rose & Crown now goes back on the must do list for every trip. He'll get no complaints from me.

By the time dinner ended and we settled the bill, the rain ended. We decided we were too tired to go on and that we would head back to the resort and just relax until bed time.

However, on the way, we cut through Mouse Gears and looked at some of the Halloween stuff already out for sale:





Mark found a friend:



We made it back to the car and drove to Old Key West. Mark decided he wanted an ice cream bar (which I failed to take a picture of). I really didn't want dessert, so I had a favorite beverage of my fellow DISer's...MEK and eandesmom:



Yes, I had the first of a few Turtle Crawls of the trip. It was as yummy as last year.

We took my drink back to the room. Mark took a quick shower and hit the sack. I downloaded my pictures, got things organized for the next morning and I wasn't far behind him. I think this night we were probably both snoring.

Up net, Sunday the 18th and we are back to the Magic Kingdom