Canadians and Americans meeting in Hawaii...An October Poly PTR

[maiapapaya]

I don't really have a lot to add to Teri's top tips, so instead I will give my top ten Poly must-do's. This will be our first time staying CL, so at this point I don't have any advice in that area Disney9.9.10, but I'm sure after our trip I will add my two cents!

So, in no particular order ...

1. Indulge in a Dole whip, or three from CC's. I personally prefer the vanilla twist since I find the full-on pineapple sweetness of the regular Dole whip a little overwhelming.

2. Indulge in a Lapu Lapu. Do not purchase your drink from the Bare Foot Bar by the pool, but rather the Tambu lounge if you want to partake in the full yummy-rum-in-a-pineapple-shell goodness. Experienced Poly peeps will also advise you to bring along a spork in order to scrape every last bit of rum-soaked yumminess from said shell.

3. If a hightest rum beverage is a little strong for your taste I highly recommend the PinacoLAVA (not to be mistaken for the pinacolada). I actually enjoy this more than a Lapu Lapu (ducking now to avoid being pelted with pineapple shells & sporks)

4. Take in Wishes from the Poly beach. While the show is great from inside the MK watching from outside the park gives you a completely different panoramic perspective.

5. Take in the EWP. It is old. It is corny. It's music is synthesized cheeseball goodness, and we love it! We are not at the Poly until we have watched the EWP! The first notes of the theme will send us running to our balcony door everytime!

6. Take some time to sit and enjoy the sounds of the Poly ... the Poly music loop, the boat horns, the steam train off in the distance at the MK ... these are all sounds that evoke a strong feeling of Poly for all of us even months after our trip.

7. Get up early in the morning and take a quiet stroll through the Poly grounds. It is so beautiful and peaceful.

8. Take in the torch lighting ceremony, complete with drums and Samoan fireboy (amongst female Poly peeps aka "Mr. Yummy") See my previous post. 'Nuff said.

9. Take some time to poke around in the shops. While not a huge selection, Boutiki does have resort specific souvenirs.

10. Make sure you include the Poly restaurants in your dining plans. While we haven't had dinner there yet, Kona breakfast is amazing! Here you will find the famous Tonga toast and pineapple-macadamia pancakes. YUM! We always book an 'Ohana character breakfast (Peach is a huge Stitch fan) and dinner - we love everything ... the firepit-cooked meat, the noodles, pot-stickers, bananas foster ... YUM again! If you can't make it to Kona for breakfast you will also find Tonga toast at Captain Cook's. They also have nice flat breads and sandwiches and a noodle bowl for post-breakfast munching.

11. I know I said 10, but I had to add one more ... try to catch the campfire and movie on the beach. During previous visits this was held closer to the GF and shared between the Poly & GF guests. It is now found right on the beach at the Poly. While Pumpkin and I had to bail (long story) DH & Peach did participate in this activity one night on our first trip and loved it. There were smore kits to purchase (I'm not sure what the current status of marshmallows & smore kits is) and the movie is free. A great way to fill a night spent at the resort!

The Poly really is a destination unto itself. So make some time to take in the resort and ENJOY it!!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

1. Never worry about the weather forecast pre trip.

4. Don't sweat the small stuff! Your at the Poly and the happiest place on Earth! Literally take time to explore the resort and look at the beautiful foliage. I fear too many people look for a rip in the wallpaper or a worn chair before or if they realize the beauty that surrounds them and the imagination that goes into the entire WDW resort!

7. Lastly, and this is really important so take note! No where does it say "COME TO DISNEY...GET A TOWEL ANIMAL"

These are my favorite tips. OH SO TRUE!!!!!!!!!

1. Indulge in a Dole whip, or three from CC's. I personally prefer the vanilla twist since I find the full-on pineapple sweetness of the regular Dole whip a little overwhelming.

2. Indulge in a Lapu Lapu.

8. Take in the torch lighting ceremony, complete with drums and Samoan fireboy (amongst female Poly peeps aka "Mr. Yummy") See my previous post. 'Nuff said.

11. I know I said 10, but I had to add one more ... try to catch the campfire and movie on the beach. During previous visits this was held closer to the GF and shared between the Poly & GF guests. It is now found right on the beach at the Poly. While Pumpkin and I had to bail (long story) DH & Peach did participate in this activity one night on our first trip and loved it. There were smore kits to purchase (I'm not sure what the current status of marshmallows & smore kits is) and the movie is free. A great way to fill a night spent at the resort!

Love these too! Just want to say - THANK YOU for explaining the spork. I missed the one day y'all were talking about it and then I had no idea what all the spork comments were about! And first I ever heard of Mr. Yummy (I thought I LIVED on the Poly thread but I must be sleeping through most of it )

And where is the movie on the beach now?????? I'm so excited to hear this!

 

[maiapapaya]

These are my favorite tips. OH SO TRUE!!!!!!!!!

Love these too! Just want to say - THANK YOU for explaining the spork. I missed the one day y'all were talking about it and then I had no idea what all the spork comments were about! And first I ever heard of Mr. Yummy (I thought I LIVED on the Poly thread but I must be sleeping through most of it )

And where is the movie on the beach now?????? I'm so excited to hear this!

I believe last fall when I posted after our trip, when we discovered (much to my & Ambriel's delight) the same very lovely young man who had done the torch lighting during our 2009 trip was still at the Poly heating the place up, I shamelessly gave him the name (not very politically correct, I know, but common, look at the guy!) Not everyone calls him that (eg. Teri calls him "fireboy") but if you mention "Mr. Yummy" most of the Poly ladies definitely know of whom you speak!

I haven't been to the Poly since they moved the movie this year, but I believe it is on the main beach between the volcano pool & the lagoon.

 

[Disney9.9.10]

Thanks for the reply maiapapaya! I will be following along with your trip plans anyway, and hopefully you like Poly CL. I have been doing some reading and am still deciding (I don't even have dates picked yet lol) but it is probably something that you just have to try and see if it is for you

 

[maiapapaya]

Thanks for the reply maiapapaya! I will be following along with your trip plans anyway, and hopefully you like Poly CL. I have been doing some reading and am still deciding (I don't even have dates picked yet lol) but it is probably something that you just have to try and see if it is for you

There were two big factors for us in choosing CL. The first was the extra space that you get with having access to the lounge - even though the Poly rooms are big it gets a little claustrophobic being in a hotel room with two kids for a week! The other was the food. DH really doesn't like the dining plan, he feels that it's too much food. So this time we are going to try CL, having breakfast there (except for Peach's Stitch breakfast at 'Ohana) and then a big meal at lunch (either TS or CS, depending on the day) and then we will just have a "snack" with the CL offerings at dinner time.

 

[DebbyLof428]

Just subbing to this thread - totally enjoying it! Wish I was joining you in October because you sound like a really fun bunch Perfect name for the fire dancer btw - he is quite the studmuffin

 

[BreezysMom]

Just subbing to this thread - totally enjoying it! Wish I was joining you in October because you sound like a really fun bunch Perfect name for the fire dancer btw - he is quite the studmuffin

I think we will rename him Mr. Yummy fireboy

Actually, there are a few young men in the SOA show that will turn your heads. The girls are not so bad looking either. They pulled DH on stage to teach him to hula. He is painfully shy so this was an experience for DD and I big time!!!

I am planning some chores this morning but with the freezing cold day I plan on coming back later to work on our PTR with some of my trip plans and recaps It will be a nice break from LIFE

Thanks to everyone who joined us so far

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

This is me and DH. At MNSSHP in 2009 DH and I went as Jack and Sally; this year we are going as the Red Queen and Stayne.

I've always loved Disney and go to the extreme. 99% of my clothing and shoes are Disney and I've started on some Disney tattoos.

Your costumes are GREAT! I hope you post a picture of you guys at this year's MNSSHP! Those sound like awesome costumes.

Everyone teases me about my jewelry - it is ALL Disney. And I love all my Disney clothing too! It just makes me happy. I have a tattoo but it isn't Disney but everyone asks if it is Tigger on my arm. It's just a tiger but I guess they think a girl needs a 'girly' tattoo - not a big bad tiger I LOVE the steamboat willie tattoo - that is so cool!

 

[BreezysMom]

On our first trip to Disney in 2007 we had no intentions of going to MNSSHP. My official line was "who does Disney think they are trying to charge me above and beyond what I already paid in park tickets to go to a 5 hour party".

Well then we got to Disney and saw the park decked out in the Halloween/Autumn decorations. It was fabulous! One day as we walked in the park there was a sign in front of city hall saying "Tickets Available for tonight's Party" and DH asked me if I thought we should buy some and go? Why not! We were having a great time and despite the cost, the party looked like it would be fun.

Fun is a understatement! We had an awesome time! DD dressed as Belle. I wore some Minnie ears and we had so much fun. We rode rides, got lots and lots of candy, loved the music and atmosphere throughout the park and the parade is the BEST It was well worth the money spent in our opinion!!

This is from 2007- Sadly Stitch was no where to be seen in 2009

The second party we attended in 2009 we really did not bother with the candy lines too much. We tried to do some character meet and greets but again, the lines are long and we like to spend out time doing other things! Hallowishes is an amazing fireworks show which we get to see a lot of from the Poly beach since there is a party about every other night. We love the party so much we ended up buying tickets for another night and went twice that trip. Like I said....Disney knows a sucker when they see one

The other big debate is which party is better MNSSHP vs. MVMCP? Well call me crazy but we like the Halloween party better. I would have to say it is the park atmosphere at night and the parade that is the big draw for us and the Halloween party.

We had fun at the Christmas party and that parade is cool too but it just was not the same for us!

While I take issue with the "tip" that the second party is less crowded than the first. In my experience they both are fairly crowded. DD is determined to stay until midnight this year which she almost did in 2009. I am sure she will be able to hold up...I am not sure I will be able to

 

[maiapapaya]

So here we are at 37days out. We're paid in full, Mickey mail is starting to roll in (we received our ME package yesterday! ) While I would love to start packing I'm afraid DH would have me committed, so what's a girl to do to fill the time until I can get out the suitcases without threat of hospitalization?

A countdown calendar ...

I made this last weekend for Peach & Pumpkin. It goes on the fridge and Stitch & Aurora are glued to little magnets so the girls can move them every morning. Having a marker for each girl goes a long way to maintaining the peace in the household!

Then I made the girls their autograph books ...

Every trip I make the girls a personalized autograph book (I've blacked out their names here). We have the characters sign just one side of the pages and after our trip I glue the girls' picture with each character opposite their autograph. These are always one of the girls' favourite souvenirs. They love to just sit & look through them over & over.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but Peach's book has 3D stickers, while Pumpkin's (who didn't want "scary stickers") is covered in fairy dust. The little "tails" are book marks to make it easier to find which page has the last autograph.

Another fun project I've been doing to keep busy is to collect little things to make the girls goody bags for our arrival. The girls have Mickey Mouse trick or treak bags that I made for our last MNSSHP. I am filling these bags with things like, glow necklaces, a Minnie Halloween charm, 40th anniversary pin, Sally (Nightmare Before Christmas) lipgloss, plush Halloween Stitch keychain, funky toothbrushes, and a 2011 WDW Halloween plush - warewolf Mickey for Peach & witchy Minnie for Pumpkin.

Of course all of these little projects haven't prevented me from starting a discrete little pile of clothes in the spare bedroom ... just don't tell my DH!

 

[BreezysMom]

You are a crafty girl Miss Tracey

I also am making a little welcome surprise for Breezy. With some of the same things. I like you autograph book idea? Are those little scrap books? I was going to get her the 40th anniversary autograph book.

Also where did you get the Halloween stickers? I should probably hit Walgreens but I am almost afraid to because they always have so much Disney Halloween stuff and knowing me I will go overboard Maybe sometime next week.

As far as packing. DH and I were just discussing tonight how we have to swap out the warm weather clothing and bring out the cooler weather stuff. We will just keep the stuff we want to bring in a laundry basket in the closet until it is really time to bring out the suitcases

My packing rule this year is that if I did not wear it this summer, it is not going in the suitcase. I am on the prowl for some decent lounging outfits, or nicer sweat suits. I usually sleep in old t-shirts and pajama pants which is not appropriate for the lounge so I looking for something more public appropriate It is nice to have something comfortable on when hanging out in the lounge chatting or while eating breakfast or whatever.

Also, do you have Walmart there in Canada? I was at ours today. You have to tell Shari that they have Disney PJ's galore!! PJ pants and tops and even Halloween ones too! I thought of her right away when I saw them

Also, if anyone is interested in checking out their local Target here in the States. They have an awesome Halloween countdown calender in their Halloween section. If we had not made ours I would have bought it and made it more Disney. It was kind of cool. It is for the fridge and I believe was a whiteboard type that you write in the days.

How pathetic that every store I go into I have this Disney trip on my mind But I am sure I am not alone

 

[maiapapaya]

The autograph books are actually small sketch books. I've found it really difficult to find plain autograph books or blank notebooks. These books have way too many pages, but I thought maybe at the end of the autographs I could just add a bunch of girl's favourite trip pics, kind of like a small photo album. The stickers came from Michael's - I don't know if you have them in the US, they are a big craft supply store. The stickers are in the scrapbook supply section.

Yes, we have Walmart in Canada, and yes, Shari has already discovered their Disney pj selection! Although I didn't know that they have Halloween pj's ... I might have to take a run up to the nearest store and take a look!

 

[BreezysMom]

Do you know what that means????

We got some real Mickey Mail today

Our ME luggage tags came!!

DH and I were out and Breezy was home here with my MIL and she called and said "Mom, we got Mickey Mail" She was so excited!!
Today was just a gorgeous day here in Chicagoland so DH and I hit my favorite mall which is an outdoor mall. We just wanted to get a Starbucks, walk around and "window shop" while taking in the sunshine

We hit the Disney store and I was so disappointed in the merchandise these days! Of course they had all the gowns and costumes which sadly Breezy would not even consider wearing any more! No biggie, we will be shopping at Disney World very soon

Tracey, We have Michaels here too! I was going to get the 40th Anniversary Autograph book but Breezy loves to scrapbook so I may give her the option and see if we can find something similar.

Every trip I get her a journal so she can write about what we did each day. I have been an avid Journal writer since I was a teenager and I love going back and reading about when I was 15, 16 and so on! It is half so she can chronicle the trip and read it when she gets older and half "school work" since she is missing school. I am thinking we may be able to find a smaller scrap book and then maybe she can use it as an autograph book/journal/scrapbook/photo book.

I did go to Walgreens this morning and got a few things for her welcome package. They had a big blow up Mickey Pumpkin Head for the yard and some Mickey Trick or Treat Lawn signs I picked them up for the house! When I came home DH was like "you are not dragging that stuff on a plane and where the heck do you plan on putting that huge blow up pumpkin"? Silly man!

I already have our Disney stuff from our trip in 2009 that I am going to drag on the plane

The above pic is the "Welcome Back" surprise left by Mickey and Minnie on our last trip. I totally went overboard!! I found the majority of the stuff at Walgreens. In addition the Poly IPO got me a Autograph book, the Mickey and Minnie Plushes and some of the Snacks. The Mickey Pumpkin bucket I got here at Walgreens and shipped most of the stuff down in a box with a lot of our toiletries and sunscreen and other stuff. It was awesome not to have to drag 99% of that stuff in our suitcases

In the pumpkin head bucket was also glow sticks and pumpkin and ghost light up necklaces. Breezy loved coming back to the room and finding that treat waiting and the nice turn down service I plan to scale back the welcome surprise a bit this year but I am bringing with the pumpkin bucket and the little Mickey ghost and pumpkin to decorate the room again. DH thinks I am nuts but we are flying Southwest so my luggage flies free

We got the above bag on our first trip in 2007 and Breezy still loves it and plans to bring it back and use it at MNSSHP and when we get home for Trick or treating on Halloween! Our tradition is to get a balloon at the MK the day we get there so we can have it in the room the whole trip since we can't bring it home. It is great decoration and also helps to trip the air conditioning on during the night!

This was our decorated the room! The Mickey Pumpkin towel animal was a surprise addition from Mousekeeping!

Other than some toiletries and of course the very last minute stuff I feel like I am ready for this trip! The whole family got new shoes today so we would have time to break them in and aside from a few things I might run across here and there we are good to go

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

That's the first time I've seen a Mickey pumpkin towel - VERY cool!!!