Is That a Raincloud Over My Head? EMTPEJ's Land & Sea Adventure **Updated 10/28** - Page 6 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I had a migraine most of the night and started out not feeling well, so my DW drove for a good bit while I napped. I think it was brought on by the stress of the previous day, but I’m no doctor, so what do I know?
If only you had stayed at a Holiday Inn Express!
I love the boys' Passporter pouches!! It sounds like you were still able to get some things done even with all of the rain, but what a bummer that Spectro and Wishes were cancelled.
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I love the boys' Passporter pouches!! It sounds like you were still able to get some things done even with all of the rain, but what a bummer that Spectro and Wishes were cancelled.
Can't wait to hear more!!
Thanks, Cheryl
Quote:
Originally Posted by mom to 3 princesses and 1 prince
Wow, I have so much to say about this terrific TR! First, I'm enjoying the heck out of it!
Second, what time did you arrive at MK? The streets were practically empty!!! Was it the rain that kept them all away? Fabulous!
So sorry about your van trouble, but I'm so impressed with the arrangements you were able to make! We visited the Ft. Bragg area once- dad was career military - and I'm so glad that you were able to benefit from the perks of being near a military base!
You are making me very homesick for the Poly! Something tells me that our upcoming stay at the All Star Music is just not going to match up to our Polynesian stay!
Lastly, have you ever known anyone else named EJ? Well, now you do! My mom's best friend and her family have always called me EJ, for Elizabeth Jane, although nobody else calls me that!
Looking forward to more!
Thanks Beth!
The timestamp on my photo of Main Street is 6:30 PM. There was a show going on near the Castle at the time. We watched the fireworks, etc. from the porch at the CP. I think the rainstorms encouraged many to leave for the day.
I think we were supposed to be there in Lumberton for a reason, but I haven't figured it all out yet, if I ever do, and probably won't until someday I go to my final home and can ask Him..
The people at the shop were very nice, I hope they did all they said they would -- the van seems fine, now. The time scale seems a little compressed in the re-telling - we did a lot of waiting around. Thank goodness the boys had their DS games. At least we were not really out in the middle of nowhere... It could have been worse.
You see why I was so interested in reading your TR! I think staying at the Poly is a once in a lifetime experience for all of us! I think I will always be homesick for the Poly! I think next time we will stay at a moderate, even if we need save up a little longer than with a value. But we might stay at the Swan or Dolphin as they are close to DHS and Epcot... and we can get one of the discounts.
I have met one other EJ, but mostly DJs! That's pretty funny to hear about you! Small world!
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I think we were supposed to be there in Lumberton for a reason, but I haven't figured it all out yet, if I ever do, and probably won't until someday I go to my final home and can ask Him..
Not to hijack your thread... but a little side story (I DO believe things happen for a reason!) My DH and I (when we were young and stupid and still dating) thought it would be a good idea to drive from MA to TN to pick up his amp. He had been on the road with a band and came home for a long weekend. While he was home the band broke up! They still had his amp so we were going to drive 18 hours down, pick it up, sleep a few hours, turn around and drive 18 hours back! We got as far as southern CT (about 2 hours!) and had decided enough of this! Turned around and came home. We found out the next morning a FREAK snow storm came up and several cars were stranded and a couple people DIED. It was right at the point WE WOULD HAVE BEEN if we had kept going! The band guys sent his amp home on a grayhound bus and all was good!
Not to hijack your thread... but a little side story (I DO believe things happen for a reason!) My DH and I (when we were young and stupid and still dating) thought it would be a good idea to drive from MA to TN to pick up his amp. He had been on the road with a band and came home for a long weekend. While he was home the band broke up! They still had his amp so we were going to drive 18 hours down, pick it up, sleep a few hours, turn around and drive 18 hours back! We got as far as southern CT (about 2 hours!) and had decided enough of this! Turned around and came home. We found out the next morning a FREAK snow storm came up and several cars were stranded and a couple people DIED. It was right at the point WE WOULD HAVE BEEN if we had kept going! The band guys sent his amp home on a grayhound bus and all was good!
Okay... back to your TR now please!
That is exactly what I am getting at!
But sometimes the reason is not made clear until later, if ever...
Episode 4: Mon. 7/14/08:
Since I got up LONG before everyone else, I started our laundry in the Laundromat near the ‘Neverland’ club / Tangaroa terrace. The only problem I have with it was the dryers were gas powered and did not really have a ‘low’ setting. I went over to Capt. Cooks and purchased resort mugs for everyone and filled them and took them back to the room. They were all still asleep, of course. Momma HAS to have her diet cola when she wakes, you know. Since I knew no one else would be interested, I managed to get a table for one at Kona and enjoyed a press pot of coffee and an order of Tonga Toast.
There was a very large group waiting to have their breakfast with the Best Friends… And wouldn’t you know it, they were from --- Mexico! Gotcha! You thought I was going to say Brazil, right?
I have had all sorts of sausage, including home-made country sausage from people who raise the pork themselves, and this was the best I EVER HAD. Excellent flavor, and texture and not the least bit greasy. Have you ever had sausage like that? The Tonga Toast was crisp and great and not soggy or anything. You know how a lot of deep-fried foods taste like old fish? This didn’t! It is coated in cinnamon sugar. Scrummy! It did not need any syrup, but I tried them anyway, and both the regular and strawberry syrup were wonderful, too. I wish I had some of that right now….(sigh).
My server was Samad. He knows how to treat new guests who have not had their morning coffee, yet. I usually take my coffee black, and the 100% Kona did not disappoint, it was as rich and fantastic as the TT.
I was all fueled up to fold the laundry and haul it back to our room as it was too early for the shops to open so I could pick up some cards so I could play FGM…
Finally, it was time to rouse the family for some time in the MK. They got going pretty quickly! They all had the CS breakfast from Capt. Cooks. Not much you can say about it, but the CM at the register helped me figure out the dining plan so we did not waste credits – thanks again passporters -- we got some bottled waters for later as our beverages and packed them in our soft cooler. The plate they serve the kids meal in is in the Mickey head shape, but the portion does not seem to be any smaller… Very good eggs and bacon. I finally got a resort mug for meself and filled it with something to drink on the way. I had gotten a labeler and made labels for stuff like our cell phones (our new ones are identical) and our resort mugs (same story) so we would be able to tell whose mug was whose as we wouldn’t want our wee junior pirates having (too much) rum, now would we?? And no one else in my party likes coffee, or whatever you call that dark stuff that comes out of the Nescafe taps in Capt. Cooks. Yikes!
Since it was not raining (for a change), we decided to take the resort launch across the Seven Seas Lagoon, and were well transported and entertained by Captain Woody.
The boys called their PassPorter pouches their ‘passporters’ and they kept their cell phones and KTTW cards in them without any problems. We went down main st. USA and hung a left by Casey’s and then went in the hub side entrance to Adventureland as our first stop was the Tree House of the Swiss Family Robinson. My BIL has been a huge fan of the film since he first saw it, many years ago.. I must say, for as old as this attraction is, Disney keeps it maintained very well and it is still popular – at least for something to do while waiting for FPs to ripen.
We grabbed FPs for the incredible Jungle Cruise, and went over to Liberty Square, via the long way, past the twin mountains, just to see the sights. As the Liberty Belle Riverboat was just docking, we decided that we would ride that and enjoy ol’ man river for a while (I guess we are working up to the more exciting rides).
A ‘Toy Story’ cowboy (and girl) event was firing up, so that was fun to watch from the riverboat. As it was hot and the boys had enjoyed it before, we decided to tour Master Gracie’s Haunted Mansion again. When we were done with that, our JC fast passes were ripe, so we went back over to Adventureland – via the marketplace shortcut. After elbowing our way past numerous tour groups, we waited about 2 minutes at the dock and saw that one of the CMs had a very nice Mickey watch
and he said he had been receiving compliments on it all day and that it was available as a special in the shops in the parks (what a coincidence, huh?). We vowed to look for them as Kendra was a little too weighed down with the special price tote bags the resort shops were offering. We boarded and were piloted and entertained by the guide Capt’n Todd of Bellwood, PA. We managed to survive the very deep corn and the ‘wild’ animals, and good time was had by all, as being punny is part of my job description and my son, Tim, is a chip off the old block.
It was getting increasingly hot and humid, we checked out the wait time / FP time for Splash Mountain as it appealed to our entire party, but it was not fitting in with our plans. So we moved along and stopped for refreshment at a stand in Frontierland and had the soft frozen lemonade. I don’t know how many chemicals they put in that stuff, but it is MUCH better than the solid frozen popsicle-like stuff you might find elsewhere, that you have to wait forever for it to melt, or you break your spoon trying to enjoy it. Of course, it is also conveniently located next to a souvenir stand, so DW had to get a few things (surprise, surprise).
This fellow entertained while she shopped / bought...
We then went into the Hall of Presidents to cool off and see the show we had never seen before. It was nice, but not as moving as I had hoped. I did like that they introduced President Carter as ‘Jimmy Carter’ and not with a high-falutin name like some of them have (such a down to earth guy). It was after the middle of the day so we decided to head back to the resort, but we happened to be in the right place at the right time for David to get some photos with Dale and Chip. David likes to get character photos on his cell phone camera, too. David (age 8) is almost as tall as the CMs performing Chip and Dale! Where do they find people that can fit those costumes? Not around my house!
Since we had a little time, we decided to take the launch back to the Poly, but of course, you have to stop at the GF on the way back, so it was good we had a little time. The launch was not packed with guests. When we returned to the room, we saw this
and we saw this same thing every day. I never did find out our mousekeeper’s name??? (cash for daily tips, people)
We went to the ‘quiet’ pool for little while, but were pretty disappointed that it had lots of leaves and stuff in it. I am sure our rash guard shirts looked very strange to the other guests, but none of my fair-skinned family got sunburn this trip, either (so there! ). I had to work on arrangements for when we got our van back, so I booked a night’s stay in Lumberton NC, for the way back, cancelled the Auto-train reservation, and made a one-way reservation for a van to take us home, just in case ours was not in good order.
As we had an ADR at Tusker House, we freshened up and hopped on a bus to AK. It was a lot later than we had planned when we got there, so we could not catch the last 2-week Kilimanjaro safari of the day (awww) with out giving up our ressie, so we reported for our experience early and were called to our table just after getting a margarita for me and a strawberry daiquiri for my DW at the Dawa bar. Those were good, but nothing special, at least they were cold! I didn’t get photos because the one was green and the other red. Oh, and in the meantime, Kenny ducked into the shop and got some stuff for hos friends back home…
The experience at the Tusker House was wonderful, but for some reason, I can’t find any photos of the food (sorry foodies)! I must have been busy eating and getting seconds of everything, Caesar salad, Vegetable samaosa, Spiced Tandoori Tofu, Jollaf rice, Salmon filet, Root veggies, Prime Rib, Coffee rubbed pork loin. There were so many yummy desserts, I forgot them all, but the chocolate brownies and the baklava stand out in my memory. Oh, and some kind of mini tart that had rocks in it…
Our son David loved the kids Selections: PB&J sandwich, Corn dog nuggets, Mac & Cheese, Corn medley, Chicken Drumsticks, Green beans, and Mashed potatoes. The palce was not packed, so they were taking walk ups, as we found out after we were seated, Oh well!
We wound up going back to the Poly, as even though it was an EMH night, everything we wanted to see was closed for the day or, there were no more shows that day. I did not plan ahead enough to have a copy of the schedule – silly me! Since we planned on coming back the next day, we were not disappointed.
Kenny noticed this very fowl adornment on one of the booths on the way out. I also noticed this guy’s t-shirt, too (why do you never see girls wearing crazy t-shirts?).
These shirts are omnipresent and /or ubiquitous on Maryland’s eastern shore – Ocean City and elsewhere, this kind of shirt is one of those things that EVERYBODY has at least one of to show they have been to the store or the bars. Except for me. I like Big Dogs and Big Johnson…
MR Ducks.
MR Knot!
OSAR!, CM WANGS?
LIB!, MR Ducks!
HYuk, yuk, yuk!
When we got back to the poly, by way of typhoon lagoon and the contemporary (tap, tap, tap) it was starting to get dark. I went to the shops with my DW and we got some nice stuff, including matching Hawaiian shirts for the luau tomorrow night – they only set us back $$$$ (its only money, right?). Plus it would be something a little nice to wear for Parrot Cay and Pirates night on the cruise later in the week. They also have some clues to ‘sunken treasure’ at Castaway Cay! They also kind of go with the color of everyone’s eyes – everyone but ME, that is!
We did back in time to get available seats to watch the Electric Water Pagent and then Wishes from the hammocks on the beach back at the Poly, along with some FBs. We got drinks from the Barefoot Pool Bar as my BIL really liked the Pina Coladas and I tried the Orange Creamsickle and they were both great! Everybody else got some drinks from the fountain in Capt. Cooks.
After wishes concluded, we turned in.
Today the weather was: Cloudy & humid and one thunderstorm. The best thing about today was: Doing the greatest number of things we had ever done in the parks. The worst thing about today was: Missing out on the stuff I planned at AK. The funniest thing about today was: Today we tried: The resort launch. And the result was: It was a nice way to see the area in a different way. The most magical moment today was: Watching Wishes from the beach at the Poly with my family and a FB.
Fabulous updates EJ. Sounds like a great start to your vacation.
I love the feeling of seeing the arches for the first time. Makes me all soft and gooey inside.
Hope the rain calms down for ya but glad to see it's not hampering you.
Hurry back. Can't wait to hear more.
I the picture of the boys in the hammock!! They look SO HAPPY!!! Great Update! Love your breakfast!! I'm thinking I might be in for an early morning adventure alone myself on our sleep in days... we shall see!
Here is a little better shot (maybe) of Eeyore's tail. I'm sure Cheryl P. has one that's better...
Of course this is just my opinion, but that kinda looks like a TACK instead of a NAIL!!
I almost spewed Coke out all over my new monitor when I read your M R DUCKS/M R NOT!! That's a running joke in this neck of the woods too-so thanks for the much-needed laugh!!
You are REALLY Making me yearn for the Poly-that has to be a trip I book in essence a LONG way out so I have a LONG time to pay for it.......you're giving me ideas, though, Erik-perhaps my 40th birthday will be spent there!!
Fabu update! Love the MR Ducks, my kids are looking at me like a loon since I was giggling so hard. That breakfast you had looked absolutely wonderful.
Why is it that the bus rides from AK to wherever it is you are trying to go are the longest rides on the planet? The only time we were ever running late for anything on our trip was when we were trying to get somewhere from AK.
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It sounds like you were still able to get some things done even with all of the rain, but what a bummer that Spectro and Wishes were cancelled.
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My mom's best friend and her family have always called me EJ, for Elizabeth Jane, although nobody else calls me that! 
Hurry back with more 
the picture of the boys in the hammock!! They look SO HAPPY!!! Great Update! Love your breakfast!! I'm thinking I might be in for an early morning adventure alone myself on our sleep in days... we shall see!
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