Best graduation present ever! July 2012 PTR

[solana131]

Although I am in the minority by not being a fan of the monorail at all, I do think you made a wise decision for this short trip with your cousin. And she will LOVE the Poly!

I know she will. And I'm so excited to go back!

HELLO!

I am new and just joining in. We are both going to Disney in July I will be there for my honeymoon and I am leaving just before you get there but I wanted to follow along with you.

I think it is great that you are doing this for your cousin that is such an amazing thing to do.

I can't wait to read more. I am happy you are getting to stay in the Poly I have stayed there once and it was ok we were concierge level and I did like it but my heart is at the wilderness lodge.

I do have a question how do people get PIN codes? I have heard of them here on the Dis but I do not know much about them.

can't wait to read more

Teresa

Welcome! Glad to have you along! And congrats on your upcoming wedding....such a wonderful time.

Wilderness Lodge is very nice too and we will stay there in the near future, but I wanted to save that one for the next trip with my hubby since he liked it there when we ate dinner once in Feb. And I think our Christmastime trip would be the best at WL. I hear their decorations are the best on property.

I don't know how I got the PINs. I got 3 of them recently. I have heard that you have a better chance if you sign up for their newsletters and everything online you can find. I went online and saved a vacation in the system. Both of the last two offers were linked to that I think because they both had POFQ on them and the dates I had chosen. Good luck!

 

[anjalee6]

I' here too. So glad that you were able to get a Pin and book the Poly. How wonderful! I still want to stay there again haven't for a long time. We are sort of addicted to AKL at the moment. can't wait to read more.

 

[solana131]

I' here too. So glad that you were able to get a Pin and book the Poly. How wonderful! I still want to stay there again haven't for a long time. We are sort of addicted to AKL at the moment. can't wait to read more.

Hey there! Nice to see you over here

I tossed around the AKL idea too with Dani loving animals so much, but it was really the transportation issue that sold the Poly for me again. And of course Captain Cooks and Kona helped a little

Trying to get my plans organized a little so I can post my ideas of what we will do each day. I'll get there I promise!

 

[solana131]

Ok all you techie people.... I just spent the last 4 hours making up a PowerPoint slide show thingy which outlined all my plans per day, ADRs, and each park must dos. Now how do I get it on here? I kinda thought I could save each slide as a picture and upload it to my photobucket account.

D~ always does such cute little planner pages and mine are kinda like that, but I can't figure out how to get them on here. Help??

Well, at least I will have something to give her at Graduation as a gift. I will put the slideshow on a CD and wrap it up for her along with a fun photo album or something.

 

[jennyjinx3]

OOHHH the Poly! Love it! I know it is so very hard to stray isn't it??? Your niece is going to love it! Poor Bradley...oh well I am sure there will be lots more for him too!

 

[solana131]

OOHHH the Poly! Love it! I know it is so very hard to stray isn't it??? Your cousin is going to love it! Poor Bradey (no "L", lots of people get this confused )...oh well I am sure there will be lots more for him too!

I could easily stay somewhere else because there are so many awesome resorts, but with my hopping plans I think the transportation is the most important factor. And the fact that Captain Cooks is open 24 hrs so we can get breakfast early. My other choice was Port Orleans and their food court doesn't open til 7. So we would've had to get muffins or something to bring back to our rooms the night before. This isn't a big deal, but it helps. But I do love the Poly and I'm excited to be able to share it with Dani. It is an added plus to have the option of watching Wishes from our beach instead of fighting the crowds. I am still holding out hope that we can secure a spot at the fireworks dessert party one night. They haven't opened it up yet for our time. I've been told it opens about 90 days prior, so its coming right up and I am checking everyday.

 

[solana131]

I can't figure out how to upload a slideshow, so I just took pictures of my computer screen and uploaded those. So the image quality isn't too pretty, but deal with it people. At least you can sort of make out my daily plans.

These daily plans may be about to change. I thought it would be best to hit the EMHs and take breaks during the day. But I have since heard to skip parks with EMHs because they are always busier. What do you think? Should I stick with my plan, or change things around so we hit parks at opening but not EMH??

I am thinking park opening for all parks. MK 2 days, Epcot one morning to hit the rides and 1 evening for the World Showcase. Last trip we kinda hurried through WS, so I really want to take my time this trip and shop around in all the countries. HS and AK each one day. This will give us one rest day which will be used to resort hop. I really want to check out Coronado and Art of Animation at least. Probably will hop over to AKL since Dani loves animals so much.

 

[Lidian]

I'm going to comment on the AM EMHs....

IF you can get up and get there for EMH RD, then they're worth it. If not, it may be better to choose another park. AM EMH parks tend to be more crowded than other parks ... but if you can get there for EMH RD, then you can get SO MUCH DONE! It won't matter as much about the crowds, since you'd have finished most everything in the first two hours of park opening.

We aren't morning people ... so an AM EMH visit for us isn't as worth it ... we usually miss it, arrive late, etc. However, when we HAVE arrived for RD for EMH ... we finished everything in the park before it officially opened. We actually had to stand and wait for the rope to drop in Adventureland at MK ... then we were first there, so no waits for those attractions. Granted, this wasn't on weeks that had lots of 9s and 10s ... it was for averages of 7s ... but truly, I think the same principle would apply.

So just weigh it out.

 

[solana131]

See, that was my thought process. I know the EMH parks will be more crowded later in the day, so I planned on getting there early then heading out mid day when it got too crowded. I think I will just stick with my plan. The only bad thing I can think of is that I have heard the monorail doesn't run for the evening EMHs, so that might be an issue. I mean really, staying at the Poly and having to take a bus *Ick * with the common folk?

 

[Lidian]

See, that was my thought process. I know the EMH parks will be more crowded later in the day, so I planned on getting there early then heading out mid day when it got too crowded. I think I will just stick with my plan. The only bad thing I can think of is that I have heard the monorail doesn't run for the evening EMHs, so that might be an issue. I mean really, staying at the Poly and having to take a bus *Ick * with the common folk?

Shame on us common folk ruining your vacation.

 

[KatMark]

We always go to the park that is having morning EMH's and we get everything done in that first hour or so...especially in Fantasyland at the MK and then at Epcot we get Soarin' and Test Track done and a few other things (Mission for hubby, etc.).

I think using morning EMH's are a must.

 

[solana131]

Seriously thinking about switching to the Royal Rooms at POR. It is about half the price of the Poly. Buses and breakfast will be an issue, but probably not an $800 issue. I think we can deal, and when else am I going to get to stay in a princess themed room? I have a boy! If I do decide to switch, it won't affect my daily plans or ADRs, so I might decide last minute. I booked room-only, so I don't have to have it paid for 45 days in advance. I'll think a little more about it. I really want to stay POFQ, but I guess I should go for the Royal Rooms if I can this trip. Who knows, I might decide to stay put at the Poly. Time will tell. I like to change my mind

 

[jennyjinx3]

Seriously thinking about switching to the Royal Rooms at POR. It is about half the price of the Poly. Buses and breakfast will be an issue, but probably not an $800 issue. I think we can deal, and when else am I going to get to stay in a princess themed room? I have a boy! If I do decide to switch, it won't affect my daily plans or ADRs, so I might decide last minute. I booked room-only, so I don't have to have it paid for 45 days in advance. I'll think a little more about it. I really want to stay POFQ, but I guess I should go for the Royal Rooms if I can this trip. Who knows, I might decide to stay put at the Poly. Time will tell. I like to change my mind

Oh it is hard isn't it? As much as I love the Poly, I vote for POR Royal Room! It is a great opportunity to do this, and maybe next family trip you can get back to the Poly?? The $$$ savings is significant isn't it? I know I have been struggling myself with some resort changing demons myself!!

 

[DMGeurts]

I agree - the royal rooms at POR would be awesome! And a huge savings! It was a nice resort when we were there, but I was surprised at how HUGE is was. Thankfully there were lots of bus stops! I would go for it!

D~

 

[Chicago Mo]

Again i am jealous the POLY!!!!!
awesome power point!

 

[solana131]

Oh it is hard isn't it? As much as I love the Poly, I vote for POR Royal Room! It is a great opportunity to do this, and maybe next family trip you can get back to the Poly?? The $$$ savings is significant isn't it? I know I have been struggling myself with some resort changing demons myself!!

We probably won't go back as a family. Too expensive if I'm paying for everyone. This was just myself and Dani, so it was kinda doable.

I agree - the royal rooms at POR would be awesome! And a huge savings! It was a nice resort when we were there, but I was surprised at how HUGE is was. Thankfully there were lots of bus stops! I would go for it!

Yeah, the "hugeness" really scares me. And there are alot of bus stops, but the Royal Rooms are in Oak Manor and Parterre Place. Those are the last two on the Mansion side (closest to main building, but at the last bus stop). I'm afraid the buses would all be standing room only by the time they got around there. We could walk over to the main bus stop I guess.

Again i am jealous the POLY!!!!!
awesome power point!

I know, I love the Poly so much! And all of this is just going on the credit card anyway, whats another $800?


Another concern of mine about either POR or POFQ is the food courts. With our early morning plan we won't be able to get much at either food court. Only a few things are open before 7 and we need to be on a bus by 7, so I'm not sure how that would work. Captain Cooks at the Poly is open 24 hours and the grill is on after 6:30. Plus there would be alot less travel time from there to the parks.

Oh the decisions!!! Anyone that has stayed at Port Orleans (either one) what do they have early morning for breakfast? Just muffins??

 

[solana131]

Sorry, I just can't do it. I am now officially a Poly snob, but I just can't make the switch! The convenience, the food, the room size, the balcony, the beach for Wishes, I just can't give it up. Guess we are staying put at the Poly. I'll have a couple yard sales this spring to save up some money I picked up the phone 3 times last night to call and change it and I just can't do it. We are staying at the Polynesian and we are going to love it!

 

[Chicago Mo]

Sorry, I just can't do it. I am now officially a Poly snob, but I just can't make the switch! The convenience, the food, the room size, the balcony, the beach for Wishes, I just can't give it up. Guess we are staying put at the Poly. I'll have a couple yard sales this spring to save up some money I picked up the phone 3 times last night to call and change it and I just can't do it. We are staying at the Polynesian and we are going to love it!

our first year there we stayed at the Poly last year stayed at POR.. I did love it the food was fine same breakfast food as anywhere no tonga toast
But it was beautiful. have to get the right room.
Yet like you i am a poly snob and POR isn't the POLY.

 

[solana131]

our first year there we stayed at the Poly last year stayed at POR.. I did love it the food was fine same breakfast food as anywhere no tonga toast
But it was beautiful. have to get the right room.
Yet like you i am a poly snob and POR isn't the POLY.

I'm just worried about surviving the heat and I think the convenience of the Poly can't be beat. And I am a breakfast person, so not having the food available until 7 isn't an option for us. The parks don't have much for QS breakfast options, so we will have to rely on the food court. Capt Cooks isn't anything wonderful for breakfast, but its more than just muffins A Mickey waffle and that wonderful Poly sausage and I will be good until dinner. I know with the heat we won't want to eat much mid-day, so I have planned most of our meals for breakfast and a late dinner with just snacks in between. I am on a mission to try some of those yummy pretzels (the cream cheese ones and the jalapeno ones), and a few cupcakes too.

 

[Lidian]

Sorry, I just can't do it. I am now officially a Poly snob, but I just can't make the switch! The convenience, the food, the room size, the balcony, the beach for Wishes, I just can't give it up. Guess we are staying put at the Poly. I'll have a couple yard sales this spring to save up some money I picked up the phone 3 times last night to call and change it and I just can't do it. We are staying at the Polynesian and we are going to love it!

I don't blame you one bit!