Downton Disney: the Disney Snob and the Seven Seas Clubs - 5/20 Secret Tonga Lounge

[AGPrincess]

This trip report will include, amongst other adventures: exploring the beautiful new Art of Animation Resort , hammocks at the Polynesian , transformations at the Pirates League , swinging to the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra , and eating dinner at Ohanas for the first time .

It will not, unlike the fabulous period drama Downton Abbey which inspired its name, include: scheming sisters , the British aristocracy, turn-of-the-century outfits (if only people still dressed like that!), a cute Irish chauffeur (I wish! ), or swivel chairs (which Lady Grantham will be glad to hear ).

I really couldn't resist naming this trip report Downton Disney...partly because, like the guy from Modern Family, I find myself calling Downtown Disney, Downton Disney ALL the time (not that DD will be the main feature of this TR - I just like to say Downton Disney!)...partly because I love Downton Abbey...and partly because this was a luxurious vacation worthy of the Downton Abbey family!



We stayed at Art of Animation and the three Seven Seas resorts the Contemporary, the Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian and we got to experience the club levels at all three! (thank you CM discounts!). I can't wait to share all the Downton-like details: the elegant, cosy corners and amazing food at the Royal Palm Club at the GF, watching wishes from the Atrium Club lounge at the Contemporary, and a secret, mini club lounge I discovered at the Polynesian!!



So let's get started!

My name is Emma, and this is my eighth trip report here on the DIS (links to the previous ones are in my signature!). I am definitely a Disney Snob but that's just because I love all things pixie dusted - I'm a friendly snob, not a mean one!



I graduated from Notre Dame in May 2011, and in August I became a cast member, working front desk and concierge at the Boardwalk! Working at Disney World was an absolutely magical experience (to hear more about that you'll have to hop over to my Disney blog!), but when I got the chance this summer to move back North near my family to pursue my passion - a career in writing - I knew it was the right path to take.

My family planned our vacation for just after I finished my days working for Disney, so it was a fantabulous last hurrah before I moved back home. Going into the parks alone on my days off as a CM hadn't been half as much fun without all my crazy family members, so I was beyond excited for this trip.

And who are those crazy family members you ask??

First there's my mom, Betsy, the Mama Snob. She gets just as excited about Disney as I do, and she's the planning expert in the family - meticulously makes all our reservations and ADRs and finds the best deals. When you're travelling with my mom you never know what incredible, hilarious adventures you're going to find yourself embarking on - like singing along to the Electrical Water Pageant at the top of your lungs from your balcony at the Contemporary. Oh yes. That happened this trip.

My dad, Joe, is more of a sedate personality than Mom, but still has a sense of fun. He had his sabbatical this summer, and for part of it we were on this Disney trip; but the rest of it he planned, and we went on a road trip out West to visit historical Oregon Trail sites and lots and lots of fossil sites and paleontology museums. That's my dad alright!

The oldest child in the Snobbish clan is my brother Aramis . If you have a curly-haired fellow seat you at a Magic Kingdom restaurant (he used to work at Chef Mickey's but now he's bouncing around a bit), then it might be him! He had to work some days of the trip, but luckily was able to get time off for most of the fun parts!



The above photo is of the next brother in line, Porthos. He usually has his nose in a book and his trusty cap on his head! He's currently a junior at ND (got to go to Dublin with the marching band a few weeks ago - I was massively jealous). He loves Star Trek and Star Wars and carries around huge books like the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire.



The craziest of the brothers has to be Athos, a high school junior. He has a very eclectic sense of humor and is constantly saying the most outrageous things. For instance, he claims to have invented the type writer with the help of his good friend Wilson President Wilson, that is! Athos loves dinos, Stitch, and all kinds of popcorn.



In my very first trip report, I wrote that my youngest brother, Dart, was just turning four. He turned NINE just before this trip. Where does the time go? Luckily Dart is still adorable and still lets me hold his hand...sometimes. He was still little enough to enjoy doing the Pirates League with me, at least! Dart loves all things LEGO, especially Ninjago.

So that's a run-down of the who, and you already know the why, what, and where. As to the when, we had this trip about the end of July. We took things slow and spent a lot of time at the resorts, avoiding the heat and the crowds as much as possible!

We may have to wait three months for series three of Downton Abbey to come out here in the States (I can't wait!), but you won't have to wait that long for updates to this trippie, I promise! I'm hoping to update every Monday and Thursday.

Stay tuned for lots of magic, and welcome to Downton Disney!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Snobby Post Index! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Contemporary Club

Magical Expressing and Barrel Bouncing: Disney Arrival!.....................p.1 (scroll down!), post 13
Eating Club.....................p.3, post 36
A Quick Splash into MK.....................p.4, post 46
Nighttime Sweets and Sillies.....................p.5, post 61
Bay Lake and Epic Toasters.....................p.6, posts 79+80
Merida Meet and Liberty Tree Lunch.....................p.7, post 91
Pirates and Mermaids, Oh My!.....................p.7, post 103
Last Evening in the Atrium.....................p.8, posts 114+115

Beach Club Photos and Secret Missions .....................p.9, post 126
Snackage around the World.....................p.10, post 137
At the Rose and Crown.....................p.11, post 153
Fun Times at Coronado.....................p.12, post 167
Haircuts by Captain Hook.....................p.13, post 183
Prime Time Hilarity.....................p.14, post 204

Grand Floridian Royal Palm Club

Living Grand.....................p.15, post 217
Taking in the Prettiness.....................p.16, post 229
Teatime and a Quiet Spot.....................p.17, post 244
Getting Hungry.....................p.18, post 257
DESSERT!.....................p.19, post 274

Good Morning, Grand.....................p.20, posts 287+288
Jungle Adventures and the Grand Circle Tour.....................p.20, post 297
Delectable Dining.....................p.22, post 316
Delectable Desserts.....................p.22, post 324
Au Revoir to the Grand.....................p.22, post 325

Art of Animation Resort

Art of Animation Arrival.....................p.23, post 332
Every Bite Took Me to Italy.....................p.24, posts 346+347
Two Disney Snobs Went Up Rocky Top.....................p.24, post 355
Animation Exploration.....................p.25, post 366
A Landscape of Flavors.....................p.26, post 376

An Animated Morning.....................p.27, post 391
The Breakfast Landscape.....................p.27, post 403
Magic Kingdom in the Afternoon.....................p.28, post 407
Life is Better with Ice Cream...and Bread Pudding (OHANA!).....................p.28, post 417
An Evening in Poly Pics.....................p.29, post 429

Polynesian King Kamehameha Club

ALOHA: Club Breakfast + an UPGRADE.....................p.29, post 430
To-Do: Enjoy the Polynesian.....................p.30, post 436
Dinner, Hammock, Desserts!.....................p.31, posts 451+452

To the Magic Kingdom and Merida 2.0.....................p.32, post 468
Getting my Wings and Back to the Poly.....................p.33, post 481

Polynesian Princess for the Morning.....................p.33, post 489
The Secret Tonga Club Lounge.....................p.34, post 497


Bonus Posts!

Disney World Music Video
Magic Kingdom Scavenger Hunts eBook