A Dole Whip in my hand & my toes in the sand: CBR/Poly Split Stay – This Is The Life!

[Momof2Disneyboys]

After our long walk to the GF and back we were all a little tired, hot, and sweaty. So we went back to the room to get showers and rested up. We had no real dinner plans, so we decided that it was time we checked out the evening offerings at the CL lounge. After-all this was our third night there and we had been out at the parks the last 2 evenings!

We got there right when they started the 4-6pm evening offerings. Big mistake! It was so crowded in there. Up to this point we hadn't had to wait for anything there. This time there was a big line! Once we got through the line we did manage to find a seat, but there weren't too many to be found.

It was nearing time for the Torch Lighting Ceremony so after we were finished in the lounge we headed to the lobby!

The Torch Lighting Ceremony was very cool!! The kids just loved it. We were all very impressed!

Afterwards we were trying to decide what to do with the rest of the evening. Jodi & family were having dinner at Ohana later and we were meeting with them after they were done, but that wasn't going to be for awhile.

We weren't hungry enough to go anywhere for dinner. I guess between all the huge meals we had all week and the snacks in the lounge that evening we were getting kind of tired of eating. If that is possible!! The kids didn't want anything. DH and I popped into the lounge before heading back to the room and it was pretty much cleared out. People I mean, not food! So we grabbed a few little things and he got a beer and we headed back to the room and decided to enjoy a little quiet time on our balcony while the kids were inside watching TV and playing video games!

We must have sat out there for at least an hour. It was so nice and relaxing. We didn't want to leave! But it was getting later and we decided that we better get outside and save some seats for us and Jodi's family on the beach so we could all watch Wishes together after they were done at dinner.



Up Next: Wishes on the Poly Beach with Friends!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

We missed the torch lighting ceremony. It just never worked out. Thanks for the pics.
I never found it crowded on the Poly beach for Wishes- weird. I was so surprised! I thought for sure I was gonna have to be there early to get a good seat- silly me.
Nice update!! I wish I could help more w/ restaurants off property, but even though we've stayed off property a lot- we always eat on site.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We missed the torch lighting ceremony. It just never worked out. Thanks for the pics.
I never found it crowded on the Poly beach for Wishes- weird. I was so surprised! I thought for sure I was gonna have to be there early to get a good seat- silly me.
Nice update!! I wish I could help more w/ restaurants off property, but even though we've stayed off property a lot- we always eat on site.

The torch lighting ceremony was very cool!

The Poly beach wasn't crowded at all when we went out that night. But it did get more crowded as the evening went on. Nothing terrible though!

Glad you enjoyed the update!

 

[T*Bird]

It looks like a great selection in the CL - even if you had to wait in line for it! But that's what you almost have to expect anywhere in Disney - lines. I could definitely make a meal out of all that food. I consider that way more than just snacks!

I bet it was so relaxing to just sit and relax on your balcony. That's something you really can't do unless you stay in a deluxe resort, so I know it will be hard for you to go back. If you do the parks commando style and never relax, then I guess it doesn't matter. But for your family, I vote deluxe from now on!

The torch lighting ceremony was so neat! Another thing I never knew about. Of course, I've never stayed at the Poly, so I guess that's no big surprise! I guess they do that every evening?

So up next is your quiet, peaceful beach evening?

 

[Mndisneygirl]

The guy who did the torch lighting is the fire dancer from the luau. I remember him well! He was so funny - he would do something cool and then grin and look at us as if to say, "how was that? Show me some love!"

I love that you guys took it easy, enjoyed the resort and got to relax some. Especially since it was hot.

Do you usually get park hoppers? I haven't been paying super close attention to whether you've been to more than one park per day.

 

[JoBird]

I wonder if Torch Dude feels funny about walking around with no shirt on while everyone else is clothed???
I'm sure that lots of ladies are happy he is half nekk....
ahem.
Never mind.




Glad your early evening was so relaxing. Cause once we hit the beach it was all over.

I'd pay a bazillion dollars to go back to that day....

Your CL offerings that night looked good. Except for the meatball thing that was as big as my head. Holy cow. Literally!
You should have had dinner with US that nite.

Great update! Can't wait to see what happens next!

 

[mickeystoontown]

The fire twirling guy at the torch lighting ceremony performs at the luau. He is amazing!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

It looks like a great selection in the CL - even if you had to wait in line for it! But that's what you almost have to expect anywhere in Disney - lines. I could definitely make a meal out of all that food. I consider that way more than just snacks!

I bet it was so relaxing to just sit and relax on your balcony. That's something you really can't do unless you stay in a deluxe resort, so I know it will be hard for you to go back. If you do the parks commando style and never relax, then I guess it doesn't matter. But for your family, I vote deluxe from now on!

The torch lighting ceremony was so neat! Another thing I never knew about. Of course, I've never stayed at the Poly, so I guess that's no big surprise! I guess they do that every evening?

So up next is your quiet, peaceful beach evening?

It was a pretty good selection in the evenings. We filled up on it!

It was so nice to not have anywhere to go that evening. I know some people think it is a waste of precious vacation time to just sit around the resort, but to us that is vacation. I'll tell DH that you vote deluxe for us from now on!!

The torch lighting ceremony was very cool! I can't remember if it is every night or not. I'm thinking it was like 4 nights a week or something like that...

The guy who did the torch lighting is the fire dancer from the luau. I remember him well! He was so funny - he would do something cool and then grin and look at us as if to say, "how was that? Show me some love!"

I love that you guys took it easy, enjoyed the resort and got to relax some. Especially since it was hot.

Do you usually get park hoppers? I haven't been paying super close attention to whether you've been to more than one park per day.

He is very good at what he does. Very impressive!! DS12 kept saying - how does he do that and not get burned???

Nope, we never get park hoppers. We had them a few times many years ago when they came free with our package and we never used them, so I'd never pay for them. We just aren't a park hoppin' kind of family I guess!

I wonder if Torch Dude feels funny about walking around with no shirt on while everyone else is clothed???
I'm sure that lots of ladies are happy he is half nekk....
ahem.
Never mind.




Glad your early evening was so relaxing. Cause once we hit the beach it was all over.

I'd pay a bazillion dollars to go back to that day....

Your CL offerings that night looked good. Except for the meatball thing that was as big as my head. Holy cow. Literally!
You should have had dinner with US that nite.

Great update! Can't wait to see what happens next!

I think Torch Dude is used to being half naked and all the women staring at him!!

Well once we hit the beach - even before you got there - the kids went wild. Too much excitement knowing that their new BFF's were coming soon!!

The CL offerings were pretty good that evening. But yeah, those meatballs looked kind of gross. DH liked them though!

The fire twirling guy at the torch lighting ceremony performs at the luau. He is amazing!

We should have went to the luau!!! I thought it might be too hot and we wouldn't enjoy it, but now I think we would have!

 

[lala3291]

Wow, the torch lighting ceremony looks really neat! We will have to check at out.
Your night looks like it was so relaxing!

 

[rusafee1183]

Hi!

I have been on the cruise board more than anything lately, so I haven't been over here in forever! You're still going strong over here!

I'm so excited for you and your Maycation. I love traveling to FL in May! It's the best way to kick off and start the summer.

 

[T*Bird]

I wonder if Torch Dude feels funny about walking around with no shirt on while everyone else is clothed???
I'm sure that lots of ladies are happy he is half nekk....
ahem.
Never mind.




Glad your early evening was so relaxing. Cause once we hit the beach it was all over.

I'd pay a bazillion dollars to go back to that day....

Your CL offerings that night looked good. Except for the meatball thing that was as big as my head. Holy cow. Literally!
You should have had dinner with US that nite.

Great update! Can't wait to see what happens next!

I agree! I'm not a meatball fan anyway, so that bowling ball made me a little

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Wow, the torch lighting ceremony looks really neat! We will have to check at out.
Your night looks like it was so relaxing!

Definitely check it out! It only takes about 15 minutes.

It was a great night.

Hi!

I have been on the cruise board more than anything lately, so I haven't been over here in forever! You're still going strong over here!

I'm so excited for you and your Maycation. I love traveling to FL in May! It's the best way to kick off and start the summer.

Hey! Long time no see!! Are you all ready for your cruise?

We are very excited about going in May!

I agree! I'm not a meatball fan anyway, so that bowling ball made me a little

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I want to go to the torch lighting ceremony! Do you remember what time they do it?

The CL food looked really fresh and good. And yes, you CAN get tired of eating. By then end of our cruise, I felt that way too. What a problem to have though!

 

[204charity]

The fresh fruits and veggies look so yummy at the CL lounge! It seems funny to me that you guys had time to just relax and rest at the hotel - most TR's are GO GO GO GO GO the WHOLE week, but you guys (maybe cause your trip was more than 7 nights) really had quite a bit of down time, and I like that.

 

[ronnmel]

Half-naked fire twirling guy looks mighty fine!

The Poly beach was not too crowded when we went to watch Wishes. It was so nice!

 

[POLY1985]

Finally catching up on your TR. The last I had read was the day you switched over to Poly. I love all the pics around Poly. It really is a pretty resort.
I love the water parade. That has been there forever. I remember watching it from the beach at Ft. Wilderness when I was a kid. The music is still the same. I don't know what music is played during the King Neptune part but they play "You're a Grand Old Flag" during the flag part.
As for Legoland, your boys should love it. We took our boys to the one in California back in 2002 and it is such a cute place. They were 7 and 12 at that time. The 12 year old was the huge lego fan so even though he was older at the time, he loved it. I kinda miss stepping on all those Legos - my babies are now 16 and 21

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I want to go to the torch lighting ceremony! Do you remember what time they do it?

The CL food looked really fresh and good. And yes, you CAN get tired of eating. By then end of our cruise, I felt that way too. What a problem to have though!

Hmm....I'm thinking it was at 6:00 maybe....I'm not sure. I'll have to find my Poly activities sheet and let you know for sure.

Yes, what a problem to have -- too much food!!

The fresh fruits and veggies look so yummy at the CL lounge! It seems funny to me that you guys had time to just relax and rest at the hotel - most TR's are GO GO GO GO GO the WHOLE week, but you guys (maybe cause your trip was more than 7 nights) really had quite a bit of down time, and I like that.

The fruits & veggies were a nice change from all the other "stuff" we had been eating all week!!

We wanted to take full advantage of our time at the Poly! Who knows when we will get back there again! Plus DH is not a GO GO GO kind of guy, so if I want to go back every year I have to make sure his vaca is nice and relaxing!!

Half-naked fire twirling guy looks mighty fine!

The Poly beach was not too crowded when we went to watch Wishes. It was so nice!

Yep, lots to do & see at the Poly -- Dole Whips, Wishes, half naked fire guy...

Finally catching up on your TR. The last I had read was the day you switched over to Poly. I love all the pics around Poly. It really is a pretty resort.
I love the water parade. That has been there forever. I remember watching it from the beach at Ft. Wilderness when I was a kid. The music is still the same. I don't know what music is played during the King Neptune part but they play "You're a Grand Old Flag" during the flag part.
As for Legoland, your boys should love it. We took our boys to the one in California back in 2002 and it is such a cute place. They were 7 and 12 at that time. The 12 year old was the huge lego fan so even though he was older at the time, he loved it. I kinda miss stepping on all those Legos - my babies are now 16 and 21

Glad you are all caught up! The Poly is wonderful.

I hope DS12 will enjoy his time at Legoland even though he's not the Lego enthusiast in the house! Somehow I don't think I will miss stepping on the Legos! Of course I said I wouldn't miss all the little Thomas the Trains everywhere, but I do.

 

[sjs314]

The torch lighting ceremony looks like something nice to catch if staying at the Poly. It is after 7pm and I need to get some supper, I have to say the CL offerings looked good, I would probably take stuff back to the room and enjoy it on the balcony too if the lounge was busy. Once again you and DH look so nice and relaxed sitting on the balcony

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

It was still daylight when we got down to the Poly beach. The kids enjoyed playing in the sand while waiting for Jodi & family to arrive. They were setting up the movie & campfire stuff down the beach closer to the marina. DH and I enjoyed sitting there watching day turn into night. The beach was starting to get a little crowded and I was worried we were going to have to start fighting people off for the chairs we were saving! But pretty soon Jodi & family arrived! The kids ran off to play and we enjoyed our time visiting and talking about our trips so far.

Continued in next post....

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Continued....


We visited quite awhile. DH and Jodi's DH really hit it off and seemed to have lots to chat about!! It was almost time for Wishes to begin, so we gathered up the kids and we all watched. The EWP was also going on!

After Wishes Jodi and family headed back to the GF. They had to get up early to head out to the Florida Gators game the next morning!

We stopped into the lounge and grabbed some snacks before heading back to the room.

Jodi had given the kids some goody bags when we met up and the kids were finally getting to open them. It was like Christmas morning!!

Lots of goodies in there!!

DS12 wanted some more snacks, so him and I walked back to the lounge before they closed for the night. When we got back to the room this is what we found!!

DH & DS10 had gotten into the robes!

DS10 looked so hilarious!!

So pretty soon DS12 thought this would make a good picture to send to his friends.

He labeled it – "The Party King"!! Keep in mind this is the kid who doesn't even like pop. I think he enjoyed being able to get it for “free” and opening it and taking a few sips and then letting it sit there.


And with that, the Party King and the rest of us went to bed, dreaming of what our last full day at Disney would bring us tomorrow.



Up next: One More Trip to -- which park ???