A skeptical family of First-Timers take on WDW Nov 15-22** NOV 28 update

[4forMe]

Hi there! I love your PTR and can't wait to hear all about your actual trip. I also love the story about how you picked the Poly!

I was 14 years old when we did my first trip to Disney and we also stayed at the Poly. I love, love the Poly! I'm so excited for you and your family.

One of my favorite memories was my dad renting the sea racers (I think that's what they're called) from the Poly beach, and I got to drive it myself. I had so much fun cruising around the lake!

Hollywood studios wasn't even built when we went. If your kids like thrill rides, they will love RnRC and ToT.

Keep writing - we're reading! Great job so far.

 

[FosterA]

I left off describing how we settled on the Polynesian. Like I said, I promptly called and reserved the very next morning before David could change his mind. I chose dates in November but I have since called and fiddled with and changed the dates several times. Usually by just a day or two. I'd have to say that choosing dates is the HARDEST part of the planning. I was getting serious headaches trying to figure it out!

Since "we are only going once", I didn't want to waste the trip on miserable weather dates so that eliminated about 10 months of the year

I also had to deal with the whole missing school issue. I finally came to accept that the kids would just have to miss some school and from there I started to narrow it down. Somehow or another I settled on November 15-22. Ideally I would have liked to do the 12-19th or so but there were glitches with that. I think we'll be ok as far as crowd wise at least the first 4 or 5 days we are there. I think the crowds will pick up for Thanksgiving during our last couple of days but hopefully we'll have gotten our MK days out of the way by then and got a bunch of stuff done before the crowds roll in.

The cool thing is that our school is out the entire Thanksgiving week so when we get home on the 22nd, the kids will still have several days home to unwind before having to go back to school.

We will go to school on Monday the 14th and then fly out early on the 15th so they will miss 4 days of school. We'll probably be arrested by the school district when we get back, but what can you do I'm just kidding, but I'm sure we'll get a letter or call from the school. The thing is that Ian has only missed 3 total days of school in the last 3 years! Obviously we're not the skipper type. Also, (knock on wood), my kids are NEVER sick (and my picky-eater son has never eaten a fruit or veggie in his life, I kid you not. it's freaky I know but he has eating "issues" and we've tried everything). I guess he has some super white blood cells. I think the trick to keeping this kid alive is that we make him drink an Ensure Plus every morning and every night! Anyhoo....I got off track there. The point is that we are missing 4 days of school but if things go well, that's all they'll miss the whole year so that's not so bad.

Stay tuned and my next segment will be all about how I did a "preview" trip to Disney with my BFF. You know, I had to go down and iron out all the details and make sure the Poly looked as good in real life as it does in the photos and so forth and so on. Doesn't everybody take a pre-trip before their "real trip"?

 

[ZFamily5]

Your kids are lucky, getting to miss school! My mom is a teacher, so we don't get to take any school year vacations (unless they're during scheduled breaks). You'll have a great time, especially since it won't be so hot!

 

[elder]

I joining in! Love reading people's reports...Our first time at the Poly is after school in May. I am a school teacher, so I can't take off during those slower months..Looking forward to more!

 

[FosterA]

Ok, still playing catch up here to fill everyone in on how we got to where we are today.
So...the 2 big planning problems were done. Dates picked and resort picked. This was all back around August LAST year mind you. Yep, I was one of those that booked in August the very day they opened up all the packages for the coming year. Whew! Now what do I do..... You freak planners out there, know what I'm talking about. WE just gotta be planning SOMETHING! I knew I couldn't fiddle with switching the resort around (I know alot of you do that 'cause I read all about it on the boards) The Poly was non-negotiable because David has literally not peeped out one request for this Disney trip except to stay there so I certainly can't tamper with that (not that I would want to). Oh..I guess he's had 2 requests. The other is to do the Luau dinner show. Ugh, I've heard not great reviews but again, my husband of so very few demands, really wants to do it so do it we will! I'm wondering if All-you-can-drink and scantily clad women have anything to do with it?
Anyhoo..I picked and planned the other 5 million options so if he only has two piddly requests for this entire vacation, then by all means, I will make it happen for him.

Well....like I said, the dates are picked, package booked, resort settled on and the dang trip is still more than a stinkin' year away. I'm tearing out my hair needing something to do and plan and then.....like an angel sent from above, my BFF announces to me that she's going to do the Princess Marathon again this year (she goes to WDW ALOT!). She's like, "hey, you ought to come with me to Disney and sort of do a scouting, preview trip before dragging the family down in November". I himmed and hawed over it for a few days because I felt a little guilty about jetting off with my BFF and leaving my poor kids and husband home. Julie was literally only going to be going on a Fri night and back on Monday morning so it would be 3 nights and only 2 actual park days. She had already reserved a room for herself at Value Music and said I didn't even have to cough up any money towards anything but food and plane tix!! Yep, she's a super duper friend and I love her So....I justified going on this trip by thinking it would really be better for my family in the long run. I could iron out the transportation questions I had, check out the Poly, etc etc. You know....us moms have to make such sacrifices for our family. I'd hate for them to be lost and overwhelmed when we go in November, so I felt it was my duty and obligation to do a scouting trip and work out all the kinks first

So...my next segment will be sort of a "trip report inside a trip report". I'll give you a little mini report of my 2 day commando, crazy, legs almost fell off, hardly slept, but fantabulous whirlwind trip to WDW.
Here's a pic of me and Julie checking into the Music Resort
That would be me on the right with the sweaty melted off makeup.

 

[ZFamily5]

Yay for a trip with your BFF! When my best friend and I were 5, our parents planned a trip together. We got there before them and were sitting in the lobby when she and her family walked in! We stayed at the Poly too! Can't wait to here all about it!

 

[swwake]

You and Julie are so cute! I do believe that early scouting trip was a necessity. So glad you did it and excited to hear details!

 

[FosterA]

shoot me your email address and I'll send you a tip list I have created.

cool. Aimeelouise@austin.rr.com

I would have private messaged you but for some reason I couldn't find how to do that. duh?
that's ok. I don't care who emails me anyway

 

[Nissi]

Love, love, love your PTR, but I really love that I have found my next hairstyle!! This is one of the prettiest haircuts I've seen and I am looking to cut alot of my hair off. Keep up the good work - you rock!!:

 

[FosterA]

So in my last segment I explained how my BFF was heading over to WDW to do the princess 1/2 marathon and invited me to tag along. Of course I'm not going to do the marathon, I'd rather do Splash Mountain

I'm going to give you a little mini-trip report here but remember, this isn't the "real" report. As a matter of fact, I didn't even really know what DIS trip reports were when I went on this trip which means I didn't really take any particular photos to document but I'll work with what I got.

So, like I said, Julie had the room and everything covered and all I had to get was the plane ticket and food. I got a great deal on Jetblue, nonstop. I think I paid $250 total which includes all the tax and fees and such. Julie actually flew SW because she had already ordered her tickets a long time ago before we thought about me coming along.

We didn't get to Orlando until probably 6 or 7 pm and we pretty much just Magical Expressed right on over to the All Star Music Resort. Oddly enough, though we each flew in on different carriers, we arrived within 30 min. of each other so that was good. I was pretty pumped up because I had NO preconceived ideas whatsoever about what to expect in this Magical Place that everybody talks about. Once we unloaded at the resort, I was like WOW, this place is so shiny and clean and sparkly and colorful! Our room was waaaaaaaay back in the country western section (I'm guessing since we're from TX, they figured we'd feel the most at home there). One of the things I couldn't quit talking about was how nice and clean the outside corridors were. No skuff marks or gum or weather beaten paint. That's crazy. Usually outside corridor hotels are pretty junky feeling. I hadn't even set foot in a park yet and I was already going goo goo. Julie was laughing at me because I wanted to take pictures of everything. She's been so many times that she's forgotten how a newbie must feel about the "Disney quality"
We settled in a little and then Julie wanted to go to Downtown Disney and eat at Rainforest Cafe. I wasn't lovin' that idea because I wanted to eat somewhere exclusive to Disney but it really wasn't THAT big of a deal. I've eaten there before in other cities and I really like it so it was ok. Plus, Julie was so kind to let me crash in at her room and she paid for so much so if she HAS to go to Rainforest that's ok with me
It was pretty darn crowded downtown but I was totally enthralled by everything so even the crowds didn't bother me. I was mesmerized by the displays in the windows and the giant Tinker Toy icons and all that! We went in that giant gift shop because Julie is a huge shop-aholic. I'm really not into shopping I've gotta admit. I bought a couple odds and ends though for the kids to bring back to them. Plus I bought myself a nice big coffee mug because I had packed a cheap coffee maker into my suitcase so I could have coffee in bed at the resort. I left it behind when we came home so some housekeeper out there got a pretty cute red coffee maker. HELLO!!how can I walk to the food court to get coffee if I haven't had coffee yet?? Thank God we will be staying at the Poly when we go because I believe they do have a coffee maker in the room.
WE didn't do all of Downtown Disney because it was getting late and we were pooped out. We did swing by Goofy's Candy Co. and bought a couple cookies for breakfast I thought this place was amazing and all the stuff in the display case looked so nice and too pretty to be real. Here's a couple photos from my first night.

 

[FosterA]

Love, love, love your PTR, but I really love that I have found my next hairstyle!! This is one of the prettiest haircuts I've seen and I am looking to cut alot of my hair off. Keep up the good work - you rock!!:

Well, that's awful nice of you. I always keep my hair "medium", more or less grazing my collar because that way I can pull it up in this TX miserable heat yet it's still pretty short. It's pretty layered but sort of "bobish" too I guess. I usually cut and color it myself I mean I am a licensed hairdresser but it's pretty darn hard to do it myself. In this photo, I think it was more or less "scrunched" with lots of Paul Mitchell Freeze and Shine spray. I usually do more of round brush smooth effect. Lately I've been curling it on a curling iron though so I guess I got 3 styles in one!
Come on down to TX and I'll cut yours

 

[FosterA]

my dad was the one who ended up loving Disney the most, so hopefully he'll be just as big a fan!

Can't wait to keep reading!

That is great! I hear that from alot of people about how the most "skeptical" one becomes the biggest fan. I told my husband that he can't be stubborn and has to admit to me how awesome it is if that's what he thinks. I just must have the last word!

 

[swwake]

I love hearing about your arrival at ASM and DTD through a first-timer's eyes!!

 

[FosterA]

I love hearing about your arrival at ASM and DTD through a first-timer's eyes!!

Thanks. Sometime today I'm going to update and talk about my first day in the parks and how I went
I was alreadyjust at DTD, let alone the actual parks. haha

anyway....does everybody see my photos ok? I see alot of trip reports where the photos don't really show and hoping mine is not one of those. I use a Mac so sometimes things are different on my computer than everybody else's anyway.

 

[swwake]

Your pics appear just fine!

 

[FosterA]

Alrighty, so I left off my last segment talking about my arrival night in Disney. All we did that night was check into the All Star Music and take a bus to downtown and I was just all giddy by that! I just could not believe how clean that resort was. I remember making the comment to Julie that those huge icons outside didn't even have bird poop or chipped paint on them and they looked like they were just painted that afternoon! She informed me that it was just the Disney way
Here's a couple pics in front of our Country Western Section

Oop, there's me under the banjo. Didn't even see myself in this photo until I loaded the giant picture on here. I can't seem to size them just right on photobucket. Either big like this or too small. anyhoo.....

Now, I'd have to say everything so far was above and beyond my expectations of Disney EXCEPT for 2 things. I guess I thought the Magical Express would be more "magical" or something?? I mean it was nice and the driver was really friendly but it was just an ordinary bus. I don't know why, but I guess I conjured up an image of it being more plush and fancy or something. No worries though, it was still a very nice perk. Also, our bags were delivered to our room by the time we got back from dinner at DTD. The second slightly disappointing thing was the actual buses from the resort to DTD and such. When we first boarded to go downtown, that sucker was packed!! We had to stand up and it was actually pretty hard to hold on tight with all the whipping around corners and stuff. I can not imagine holding babies and stuff on these buses standing up. It was honestly not the best first impression of the bus system. BUT....that was really the worst I ever saw on a bus the whole trip. It WAS a friday night going from Value Music to Downtown so that's probably expected. There were times I had plenty of room on the buses and times they were crowded, but I think that night was the only time we actually had to stand.

So the room was just right for the 2 of us.

Loved the comfy beds. I love firm mattresses and am starting to hate the really soft one we have at home so I really slept way better there than I have been at home! We didn't use the pools or really even the food court there (well, just one quick breakfast at food court on our last day) so I really can't comment on those. Oh, we did have some little towel critters made up though so that was cool.

Ok OK, what have we here? Now that I load the giant photo, I see CHIPPED PAINT on the windowsill. Ok, I guess I spoke to soon about the lack of chipped paint at Disney. That's ok, I still give the place a 9.9 out of 10.

So Julie and I crashed out and finally went to bed that night. We discussed the plan for the next day and basically she was going to be tied up getting registered for the marathon and all that and some sort of Expo she had to go to so I was going to be on my own. I'm ok with that. I'm an independent woman! She said she'd try to meet up with me that evening or afternoon and to keep my phone on in case she called to figure out where to meet. I did my research before we left and knew that Studios was having EMH so I thought that to get the most bang from my buck and only having 2 days, that I should go to that. I set my alarm (phone) for like 5:00!! I'm a freak and can't stand to be rushed in the morning plus I have to sip my coffee in bed so I wanted to allow plenty of time. I wasn't going to bother with breakfast because I had a Goofy Candy Co. cookie for that And I wonder why I don't lose weight?? Julie thought I was insane for setting my alarm for that early but I had places to go and things to do! She has been to Disney a million times so she doesn't get it.
Ok. I'm going to start a new chapter on my waking up at 5:00 and heading to my first park ever. It was quite the experience for this country bumpkin!

 

[FosterA]

So I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 5 am. I was actually quite exhausted after really only 4 or 5 hours of sleep (I'm pretty sure we didn't go to sleep before midnight). But I felt like a kid on Christmas and could not WAIT to get to these parks I hear so highly about. I fired up my coffee pot (that I packed in my suitcase) and tried to tip toe around the room to not wake up sleeping beauty (Julie). Somehow or another I managed to get ready but I remember not really doing hair and much makeup because I didn't want to turn on the light and wake her up. There was a time I would have died before leaving home without hair and makeup but I've either matured or gotten lazy because I really don't care anymore I knew I would never see one of these souls again in my life. Now I suppose, it hinders wanting to be in photos but I hate being in photos anyway so that's ok. So...quiet as a mouse, I grabbed my bag, my big Goofy Candy Co. cookie, and snuck out of the room.

I headed straight to the bus waiting area and that was the first weird thing. I knew Studios was having the extra hour so I expected that waiting section to be full of people but there was nobody there. Yet the other stops were full of people I'm starting to worry that maybe I read the schedule wrong and Studios was NOT having the extra hour so I whipped out my schedule and I was still right. I still don't know where everybody was going on the other buses but the more I thought about it, I think they all had breakfast ADRs at places. I saw one family of 4 freaking out and rushing all over dragging their kids into line all the while talking about making it to their breakfast ADR. I'm so glad we didn't have any ADRs! Julie and I just ate soft pretzels and hotdogs and such on this trip.
So, as I was standing in line to board a Studio's bus (there were only like 4 of us in line) I struck up a conversation with a nice lady and her teen daughter. It was just the two of them doing a quick weekend trip and they go all the time and have passes. We sat by each other on the bus and they invited me to tag along with them into the park and they'd get me "started". How nice is that? We bused on over to the Studios and got into the gates.

The ladies that took me under the wing wanted to go to Rock Coaster or TOT first but I said, "hey how about Toy Story first"? These ladies go all the time but I guess they don't read the DIS boards like me and didn't realize how bad Toy Story would get if you didn't go there first You know how us Dis Board planning freaks are They were like "ok, that's cool, let's do it". The mom suggested her teen daughter ride with me and that was great so I didn't feel like a loner. That ride was really cool but I thought the queue was cooler than the ride! That's sort of my ongoing theme w/ the parks. I think I really like the queues better than the rides
We then did TOT and Rock Coaster. I LOVED LOVED LOVED Rock n Roller Coaster the best of all. TOT had an amazing theme and so did the Coaster but I just love the Aerosmith music and all that. I was jumping out of my skin after these rides because they were really the coolest "rides" I've ever done my entire life. After TOT, I got off and texted my husband telling him how freakin' unbelievable it was!

So....ALL I did at this entire park was those 3 rides. Didn't even really walk around anywhere else. Probably was only there like an hour!! I really didn't want to watch any shows and was on a mission to get to AK that day so I said my goodbyes to my new friends. I felt satisfied doing those 3 headliner rides at this park and I know when I go back with the kids, we'll hit up the shows and all the other stuff. I really just wanted to get my feet wet with how to use fast passes and stuff so mission accomplished. Stay tuned for my next chapter which is my Animal Kingdom segment. I really LOVED this park!!

 

[ZFamily5]

Sounds like you had a great time! How nice of the lady and her daughter to show you around!

 

[swwake]

Well if you're only going to do 3 things at DHS, you picked the right ones. But now there is so much to look forward to on your upcoming trip! There are so many little gems at DHS. Don't miss the streetmosphere performers, Fantasmic! and LMA. I am dying to see Beauty and the Beast, but haven't ever gotten to. Hopefully this trip...

 

[acf_1991]

How nice of the mother and daughter to take you under their wing! I've loved your ptr so far. It's nice to hear everything through a first timer. It just gets me more and more excited. can't wait to read more.