Trip Number 9 ~ It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year ~ Christmastime at the GF & Poly

[lala3291]

Wow!! That stinks! I bet you paid a ton for your airfare for your Christmas trip.

I can't believe you will be at the Poly in 5 DAYS!!!!

Yes, Christmas airfare was ridiculous. I don't think we will be going that time of year again for a long time! Although we had a great time, everything was way more expensive that time of year than other times (resort, airfare, etc.)

I am so excited for Saturday! I heard that Samoa is under construction during our stay. I loved Samoa last time, but I did request Tokelau, with a balcony, this time since I heard about Samoa. We shall see!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Yes, Christmas airfare was ridiculous. I don't think we will be going that time of year again for a long time! Although we had a great time, everything was way more expensive that time of year than other times (resort, airfare, etc.)

I am so excited for Saturday! I heard that Samoa is under construction during our stay. I loved Samoa last time, but I did request Tokelau, with a balcony, this time since I heard about Samoa. We shall see!

I think Tokelau with a quiet pool view would be nice!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

After we were done at the pool we headed back to our room. I gave DS11 some Benadryl, hoping that would clear up his rash.

I took some pics from the balcony before it got dark!

To the right ~

To the left ~

And straight ahead ~

Then we got cleaned up and changed and headed to the main building lobby. We were hoping that the photopass photographer would be there again like he was the night before.

And he was!

After some picture taking we went over to get DS11 a treat from the gingerbread house.

We went back outside and took a few pics outside the back of the main building.

Behind us here is where the quiet pool is, but it was under construction.

Continued in next post....

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Then we headed back to the SL lounge for the Twilight Refreshers (served 5-7pm).

After we got all filled up on tiny appetizers and such we headed back outside. The kids wanted to get to the movie screen in time for Mario Cart tonight!

While the kids did that DH and I took a little walk out to the boat dock.

We went back and the kids were finishing up their last game before the movie started. I don't remember what the movie was, but they weren't interested in staying to watch it.

It had been raining on and off all evening, but not too bad. Jodi and family were still at Epcot and we were texting back & forth and it sounded like they were getting a bit more rain over there.

We walked around the resort a bit more and ended up by the beach pool, which was completely empty.
We ended up playing table tennis for a little bit! And pretty soon Wishes started. We could see it just a little bit from where we were.

When we were done there we made our way back to the lobby and out the front entrance to take a few more pics since we would be leaving the GF in the morning.

When we got back to the SL building they were serving the evening Desserts & Cordials. The lounge was pretty busy and very loud. We grabbed a few snacks and sat down. We soon realized that most of the noise was coming from one table. Well, actually it was more like 3 tables pushed together for a large group of very loud people, right in the center of the seating area. And we soon figured out why they were being so loud, they were drinking like crazy. Apparently the CM is allowed to give you 2 drinks at a time each. So they were each getting 2 drinks at a time and the CM was on a constant run to the back for more. And more. And more. It was a sad display. I felt so bad for the CM. We just sat there in disbelief. They finally all grabbed 2 more drinks each and headed out the back door. And left a huge mess of wine glasses, bottles, and plates all over the lounge. Wow.

Eventually we headed up to the room. I gave DS11 another dose of Benadryl and he went right to sleep. DS13 went to bed too, but was laying there texting and playing with his Ipod. DH and I went out to sit on the balcony for a bit. And pretty soon we heard our neighbors to the left (Jodi) open their balcony door! DH said something to let them know we were out there and then they peaked their heads around the little wall and we had a nice chat and exchanged Christmas gifts!



Up Next: Our GF Departure and Poly Arrival

 

[sjs314]

Enjoyed the update, sounds like your last evening at GF was nice except for the loud guests in SL. Reading about people having expierences like that scare me since I would hate to pay all tht extra money and then have that happen while we were there. I know Bob would leave the lounge and not return again

Can't wait for the Poly!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Shelly, you are really making me want to stay at the GF... which is funny b/c I've always thought it was a snotty sort of place! But for some reason, it doesn't seem snotty at all in your TR! I really think I'd like to stay there sometime now. Maybe I will go with one of the agency exclusive deals one day. Who knows! It is really beautiful in your pictures though. Your view was fantastic and the grounds are gorgeous, especially with the Christmas decorations. I really enjoyed looking at your pictures!

Hope that benadryl took care of the rash!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Enjoyed the update, sounds like your last evening at GF was nice except for the loud guests in SL. Reading about people having expierences like that scare me since I would hate to pay all tht extra money and then have that happen while we were there. I know Bob would leave the lounge and not return again

Can't wait for the Poly!

Thanks!

Yeah, it was an ugly display in the lounge that evening.

Shelly, you are really making me want to stay at the GF... which is funny b/c I've always thought it was a snotty sort of place! But for some reason, it doesn't seem snotty at all in your TR! I really think I'd like to stay there sometime now. Maybe I will go with one of the agency exclusive deals one day. Who knows! It is really beautiful in your pictures though. Your view was fantastic and the grounds are gorgeous, especially with the Christmas decorations. I really enjoyed looking at your pictures!

Hope that benadryl took care of the rash!

Glad you have enjoyed the GF pics! We didn't find the GF snotty at all. Maybe just a little boring for our taste. We really liked it, but nothing like we love the Poly!

The GF is very beautiful, especially at Christmas!


The Benadryl worked for itching, but sadly not for the rash.

 

[T*Bird]

Wow, that is a great airfare! Did you get direct flights, as I think you usually do? And how do you know when specials are released? There must be a science to it, and you are one great scientist!

I see that you have decided to go to Clearwater. I knew you were planning a side trip to the beach, but I didn't know you had decided where. I'll have to go check out a map, because I'm not really sure where Clearwater is. I'm thinking it's on the Gulf, maybe north of Tampa? I have only been to the beaches of the Panhandle, which are beautiful. I would guess any Florida beaches on the Gulf are pretty.

Another great update! Your family PP pics are great. I love how y'all have on coordinating clothes. It looks like a fun, relaxing evening! (Well, except for the obnoxious CL people )

 

[JoBird]

Such pretty pictures!!!! Makes me want to stay there too.

Not gonna lie, the GF is a beautiful resort at Christmas. But then again I think it's beautiful every day.

Y'all had such a nice relaxing night, except for the wankers blush: can I say that word on the DIS?) that ruined the lounge. What a bunch of pigs. I honestly sometimes have no faith in society anymore.

Like I tell my kids-- Just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you SHOULD do it.
Unfortunately we saw the aftermath of the lounge lizards and it was an ugly disgusting display of low class garbage that they left behind.




I am also surprised at how dry it was over at the GF!! We were soaked to the bone and our shoes were completely drenched. The kids didn't have ponchos to wear so they were even more wet than the adults.

Coming back to see ya'll was a lot of fun and it was sad knowing you were moving out the next day.

Fun update!! Hoping to have a lot of relaxing days like that at the resort when I go in August!

 

[khertz]

Seems like you had a really wonderful stay at the GF. What a gorgeous resort! Too bad for people like that loud group in the Lounge who make the experience not so classy though.

 

[rusafee1183]

Great uppdates Shelly. That's cool that they have Mario Cart on the big screen. I always see movies playing at the resorts, but I haven't ever seen games being played. That's really cool!

Those are the kinds of things that make me enjoy going to Disney year after year. You can do the same rides and see the same shows, but there is always something different to do. It definitely makes it easier to want to go back! Always something new to see

Shelly, you are really making me want to stay at the GF... which is funny b/c I've always thought it was a snotty sort of place!

I agree. I always thought it was so much more uptight, but maybe this report just makes it seem much more down to earth and relatable.

Thanks!

Yeah, it was an ugly display in the lounge that evening.




Glad you have enjoyed the GF pics! We didn't find the GF snotty at all. Maybe just a little boring for our taste. We really liked it, but nothing like we love the Poly!

The GF is very beautiful, especially at Christmas!


The Benadryl worked for itching, but sadly not for the rash.

I have found that our favorite resorts are always over the top with the theming also. We stayed at Wilderness Lodge for the first time this past trip (only one night) and I have a new favorite! We have been there before for dinner once, but we arrived at the perfect time of day and I saw it in a whole new light. They were roasting marshmallows, and the crickets were singing, people were relaxing on the beach next to the geyser.

Now I am desperate to add on more points



It's good that the Benadryl helped at least with the itching. Poor guy

 

[monica23535]

More great pics, yep my son would definitely be down on the beach playing Mario Cart.


Those "wankers" (are you sure you aren't from England Jodi?) in the club lounge sound horrible. Maybe people should have to pass some kind of social behaviour test before being allowed in there lol

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Great update Shelly!! Glad the Benadryl helped the itching. It's to bad that people are so clueless and obnoxious. That can ruin anybody's time. Loved the xmas pics in front of the tree I do remember them from your review. That was a pretty dress. I love watching wishes from that boat dock. When we stayed there we did that a few times.

We ate at Narcoossees Saturday night! It was wonderful!!! We watched wishes while eating our dessert. They brought DH a special dessert b/c I told them we were celebrating his new job.

We also ate at Il Mulino the night before and it was delicious! Very authentic italian food. We then walked on the BW and had a couple of drinks at Jellyrolls. It was a great weekend!!!

Well we made an offer on a condo and they accepted it!!!! It is so CRAZY!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Wow, that is a great airfare! Did you get direct flights, as I think you usually do? And how do you know when specials are released? There must be a science to it, and you are one great scientist!

I see that you have decided to go to Clearwater. I knew you were planning a side trip to the beach, but I didn't know you had decided where. I'll have to go check out a map, because I'm not really sure where Clearwater is. I'm thinking it's on the Gulf, maybe north of Tampa? I have only been to the beaches of the Panhandle, which are beautiful. I would guess any Florida beaches on the Gulf are pretty.

Another great update! Your family PP pics are great. I love how y'all have on coordinating clothes. It looks like a fun, relaxing evening! (Well, except for the obnoxious CL people )

Yep - direct flights. I have always found it best to get the flights the very day they come out. They only seem to go up from there. The ones I bought on Sunday have already gone up.

Clearwater is pretty much directly west of Tampa and a little bit north. Actually only about 30 miles from the Tampa airport. I wanted to go to Cocoa Beach, but the more I researched it, it just didn't look that nice. So I hope Clearwater is worth it!!

Glad you enjoyed the update. We just took it easy that night and enjoyed the rest of our time at the GF. Well, except for the drunk family.

Such pretty pictures!!!! Makes me want to stay there too.

Not gonna lie, the GF is a beautiful resort at Christmas. But then again I think it's beautiful every day.

Y'all had such a nice relaxing night, except for the wankers blush: can I say that word on the DIS?) that ruined the lounge. What a bunch of pigs. I honestly sometimes have no faith in society anymore.

Like I tell my kids-- Just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you SHOULD do it.
Unfortunately we saw the aftermath of the lounge lizards and it was an ugly disgusting display of low class garbage that they left behind.




I am also surprised at how dry it was over at the GF!! We were soaked to the bone and our shoes were completely drenched. The kids didn't have ponchos to wear so they were even more wet than the adults.

Coming back to see ya'll was a lot of fun and it was sad knowing you were moving out the next day.

Fun update!! Hoping to have a lot of relaxing days like that at the resort when I go in August!

Thanks!! Really makes you want to stay there next time, huh?

Wankers

Those people were a bunch of hogs!! I can't believe that mess was still there when you got back that night.

You must have gotten a lot more rain than we did at the resort that night. It just sprinkled on and off most of the evening. Except for once, for a very short time right before Wishes - it rained a steady rain then.

It was fun seeing you guys on the balcony that night!!

Seems like you had a really wonderful stay at the GF. What a gorgeous resort! Too bad for people like that loud group in the Lounge who make the experience not so classy though.

Thanks, we had a very nice stay. Those people were pretty obnoxious but we didn't let them ruin our night!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Great uppdates Shelly. That's cool that they have Mario Cart on the big screen. I always see movies playing at the resorts, but I haven't ever seen games being played. That's really cool!

I had never seen video games on the big screens before either. The kids sure loved it!!

Those are the kinds of things that make me enjoy going to Disney year after year. You can do the same rides and see the same shows, but there is always something different to do. It definitely makes it easier to want to go back! Always something new to see


Definitely!

I have found that our favorite resorts are always over the top with the theming also. We stayed at Wilderness Lodge for the first time this past trip (only one night) and I have a new favorite! We have been there before for dinner once, but we arrived at the perfect time of day and I saw it in a whole new light. They were roasting marshmallows, and the crickets were singing, people were relaxing on the beach next to the geyser.

Now I am desperate to add on more points



I have wondered about the WL. We have had dinner there once and we thought the resort was okay. But I don't think we have ever took the time to properly explore it. We were going to go check it out in Dec but we ran out of time. Maybe next time.

It's good that the Benadryl helped at least with the itching. Poor guy

Yes, at least he wasn't crazy itchy!! Thank goodness!

More great pics, yep my son would definitely be down on the beach playing Mario Cart.


It was a lot of fun for the kids!!


Those "wankers" (are you sure you aren't from England Jodi?) in the club lounge sound horrible. Maybe people should have to pass some kind of social behaviour test before being allowed in there lol

Jodi comes up with some good ones...

I really think they should cut people off once they start acting like that!

Great update Shelly!! Glad the Benadryl helped the itching. It's to bad that people are so clueless and obnoxious. That can ruin anybody's time. Loved the xmas pics in front of the tree I do remember them from your review. That was a pretty dress. I love watching wishes from that boat dock. When we stayed there we did that a few times.

We ate at Narcoossees Saturday night! It was wonderful!!! We watched wishes while eating our dessert. They brought DH a special dessert b/c I told them we were celebrating his new job.

We also ate at Il Mulino the night before and it was delicious! Very authentic italian food. We then walked on the BW and had a couple of drinks at Jellyrolls. It was a great weekend!!!

Well we made an offer on a condo and they accepted it!!!! It is so CRAZY!!

Hey, you're back!! Sounds like your trip was wonderful and successful. Congrats!!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Hey, you're back!! Sounds like your trip was wonderful and successful. Congrats!!

Thanks Shelly!! I decided I'm going to drive down with DH next Friday b/c he starts his job on that Mon. and I'll fly home Tuesday. We have school vacation that week. Do your kids get a Feb. vacay too?

 

[T*Bird]

Yep - direct flights. I have always found it best to get the flights the very day they come out. They only seem to go up from there. The ones I bought on Sunday have already gone up.

Clearwater is pretty much directly west of Tampa and a little bit north. Actually only about 30 miles from the Tampa airport. I wanted to go to Cocoa Beach, but the more I researched it, it just didn't look that nice. So I hope Clearwater is worth it!!

Glad you enjoyed the update. We just took it easy that night and enjoyed the rest of our time at the GF. Well, except for the drunk family.

So how do you know when new fares are coming out? I need guidance!

I did look to see where Clearwater is. I'm not at all familiar with the beaches there, but I have to believe that it is nicer than Cocoa Beach. In general, I think the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico are much prettier than the Atlantic beaches - whiter sand and clearer/blue water.

Are you flying into Orlando and then renting a car to drive to Clearwater? Recently, I could have gotten a super airfare to Tampa. I got a Southwest email and did a little checking. It was $63 each way from New Orleans to Tampa. DH and I could have flown RT for about $240! I was really trying to cook up a trip to Disney, and then I let it get away without following through.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

We have never actually set foot on a florida beach, but I could see all of Cocoa Beach as the ship sailed out to sea. It is the beach right next door to Port Canaveral and when you are on the top deck of the ship, you can see for miles down the beach. As far I could see, the beach looked exactly like our beaches here in NC... meaning dark blue water. Not that it wasn't a nice beach, but after seeing the Bahamas and Castaway Cay, there is NO comparison to that cyrstal clear turquoise water. No comparison at all! I hate to say it, but I don't even really want to go to our beaches here anymore. Yes, I admit I have become a beach snob. Anyway, I have some extended family that lives on the gulf side and from the pictures I've seen from them, the beaches there look more like those in the Caribbean. I think you'll enjoy it! Maybe it will convince you try out DCL!! Yes, over two years later, I am still trying to talk you into that cruise!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Thanks Shelly!! I decided I'm going to drive down with DH next Friday b/c he starts his job on that Mon. and I'll fly home Tuesday. We have school vacation that week. Do your kids get a Feb. vacay too?

That will be so nice for you to be able to go down with him when he starts his job!

We get a short "winter break" next weekend. A Friday & a Monday.

So how do you know when new fares are coming out? I need guidance!

I did look to see where Clearwater is. I'm not at all familiar with the beaches there, but I have to believe that it is nicer than Cocoa Beach. In general, I think the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico are much prettier than the Atlantic beaches - whiter sand and clearer/blue water.

Are you flying into Orlando and then renting a car to drive to Clearwater? Recently, I could have gotten a super airfare to Tampa. I got a Southwest email and did a little checking. It was $63 each way from New Orleans to Tampa. DH and I could have flown RT for about $240! I was really trying to cook up a trip to Disney, and then I let it get away without following through.

Well, I'm not sure. You just have to stalk them!! Airfare had been out through August 9th for awhile. One of the websites - either AT or SW (I forget which one) had it posted somewhere on their site that in January they would be releasing fares for after Aug 9. So I just kept checking and checking, and then we ran out of January. Then Jodi read somewhere (maybe on here - there are usually threads with lots of people stalking airfares and making speculations as to when they will be out) that they would be out this Monday - Feb 4. So I just happened to check on AT on Sunday and they were out. I almost missed it. And then SW came out on Monday.

I hope we enjoy the beach!!

We are actually going to fly into Tampa. It was the same price as Orlando and it's a lot closer to the Gulf, so we decided to go for it. It will all be a new experience, but hopefully a good one.

Wow that was awesome airfare you came across. I can't believe you didn't grab it!!!!! You should keep watching, maybe they will do it again!!

We have never actually set foot on a florida beach, but I could see all of Cocoa Beach as the ship sailed out to sea. It is the beach right next door to Port Canaveral and when you are on the top deck of the ship, you can see for miles down the beach. As far I could see, the beach looked exactly like our beaches here in NC... meaning dark blue water. Not that it wasn't a nice beach, but after seeing the Bahamas and Castaway Cay, there is NO comparison to that cyrstal clear turquoise water. No comparison at all! I hate to say it, but I don't even really want to go to our beaches here anymore. Yes, I admit I have become a beach snob. Anyway, I have some extended family that lives on the gulf side and from the pictures I've seen from them, the beaches there look more like those in the Caribbean. I think you'll enjoy it! Maybe it will convince you try out DCL!! Yes, over two years later, I am still trying to talk you into that cruise!

Well my kids have still not seen the ocean!! Can you believe that???

I do hear that the water and beaches are so much nicer on the Gulf. So I guess we are going to go for it and hope for the best!! And yes, maybe this will be the push my family needs to venture out and try a cruise! You never know!!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I received a notice of round trip on AirTran from Dayton,oh to Orlando for $178! However the dates are only out to sometime in June. Won't work for me.