joedisney
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2000
- Messages
- 70
Saturday, January 17, 2004
We all sleep in late, which gives my tummy a little extra time to recover from the large quantities of meat I consumed at O'hanna's. We are going to spend the day by the pool before meeting up with Caitlin and Bridget for dinner at the Hoop De Doo. Yes, the Hoop De Doo, where they bring you large quantities of meat in buckets. Just what the doctor ordered. I will not let this stomach thing slow me down. I refuse to let this thing get the best of me. Luckily, today is our off day. A day spent relaxing by the pool. Just like in life, a well-planned Disney trip needs to have some down time built in. In life, we have Sunday, the day of rest. A time to relax and unwind after working hard all week. A Disney trip without planned in down time would be like working seven days a week. Burnout would come quick and take no prisoners. With Saturday's being one of the busier days in the parks, it is a perfect day to hang by the pool and rejuvenate.
The Polynesian is a hotel that I've always wanted to try. There is a certain allure that all Disney hotels hold over me until I am able to visit them at least once. I'll never forget the day I first caught site of the Grand Floridian lobby. Its regal grandeur left me pining the days until I was able to save up enough pennies (we're talking lots of pennies) to actually be able to stay there. Ever since I first visited Disney in the early 70's I have wanted to stay at the Polynesian. The wait was long and the anticipation was high. Typically, this is a recipe for disappointment. Like going to that movie that everyone in the office thought was great and walking away expecting more. Part of it is that your expectations were set so high. This was my fear in coming to the Polynesian. After years of anticipation, I was worried I was setting myself up for a big let down. I am happy to report that the Polynesian did not let me down. This hotel was all that I expected and more. The lush surroundings provide a surprising amount of seclusion from the hubbub of the nearby Magic Kingdom. It's hard to explain, but I just like the "feel" of this place. Everyone is friendly. As with everything Disney, it is spotlessly clean. The upgrade to concierge was definitely a smart choice for us. Having drinks and snacks on demand has been great for our family of six. Being smack dab in the middle of Disney, yet providing a feeling of total separation from the parks and their crowds, puts the Polynesian among the top of my list of Disney resorts. My guess is our day by the pool may have been the catalyst that prompted Kathy to proclaim the Polynesian as her new favorite hotel in all of Disney. I still may give the edge to the Yacht/Beach club, but the Polynesian is certainly a very close second.
Before we go down to the pool, we stop at the gift shop to get some post cards. The kids are allowed to pick out one souvenir each. The little ones picked out those wind up Donald Ducks that waddle along the table, Connor got one of the cool viewers that show pictures of the Magic Kingdom and Christopher picked out a really bad travel Monopoly game. It had mini dice and no other pieces. Not sure what you were supposed to do with it. Post cards in hand, we head for the pool
With an upset stomach, I get to rest by the side of the pool while Mom takes the kids in the pool. She trades in our room key for two life jackets for Alex and Caley. Lounging by the pool watching the little ones splashing about is very close to my idea of paradise. Caley is having so much fun "fwimming" with her big brothers. It's not long, however, before my band of soggy swimmers lures me into the pool. The weather is perfect, the water is great and the view of the castle is spectacular. The water slide is just the right size for Christopher and it's not long before Alex talks his Mom into letting him try. The Octopus is in his glory as he climbs the stairs to the water slide with his Dad and older brother. This four-year-old fireball is a chip off his older brother's daredevil block. I, on the other hand, am getting very nervous about sending the little guy down on his own. The Volcano pool slide is actually a pretty big slide with major turns and much of it leaves you in complete darkness. I'm starting to get second thoughts about sending the Octopus down on his own. By the time we get to the top, however, there is no turning back. I send Christopher down first to warn Kathy that Alex is on his way. I notice only the slightest bit of apprehension as Alex waits for the green light that signals it's ok to go. Have I made a mistake? Will he get hurt? Is he too small? Will he be scarred for life, never willing to set foot in another pool again? Yeah right. The Octopus is off like a flash. As he descends into the dark tunnel I hear him yelling, "OH, YAH, YAH!" At the bottom, Kathy thinks she hears screams of fear. Hitting the final curve at full speed, he spins completely around before crashing into the pool going completely under water. Kathy rushes over expecting to pull out a petrified Octopus. She grabs Alex and immediately sees his beaming smile. "Me loved it", Alex yells. The Octopus is hooked. He loves the Volcano water slide! After about his 10th try, he even learns how to remain upright for the entire ride.
The day goes by quickly and before we know it, it is time to get ready for the Hoop De Doo. . The entire crew is cleaned up and ready to go at 4pm, right on schedule. We have reservations for the 5pm show and will take the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom, where we will catch the boat over to Pioneer Hall. We just need to wait for the O'Neill girls to arrive and off we will go. We wait. And wait. And wait. Hmmm, this seems familiar. Like mother, like daughters. We wait until 4:20pm and decide to leave without them. We attach a note to the door and head out. We arrive on time and check in. Christopher and I decide to take a walk over to the dock to see if we can find Caitlin and Bridget before the show begins. With seconds to spare the girls arrive. They would have made their Mom proud! Soon the show begins and the buckets of food start to arrive. Man I wish I were feeling better. At least I'm not gaining any weight. The show is a lot of fun. During one of the songs they ask random tables of people where they are from and include the names of the home states in the song. Our table is chosen and the kids think it is funny as the cast struggles with a word that rhymes with Massachusetts. Things only get better as one of the cast asks Caitlin if she wants to join them in the next number. Caitlin is a blue eyed, blond haired, beautiful seventeen-year-old. We have no idea why she was chosen. Soon she is up on stage doing the cancan with a chubby guy in a tutu. On the way out of the show, people are pointing and smiling at Caitlin. It's like being with a celebrity.
After the show we decide to go over to the Magic Kingdom to ride a couple rides and watch the fireworks. Caley asks if we can watch the "glasses movie", but is fast asleep before we get there. As we sit and wait for the fireworks at a nice spot behind the castle, a friendly cast member comes over and tells me that if we move over about 15 feet we will have a much better view. As promised the view is perfect, we can see fireworks exploding on both sides of where we are standing. Poor Caley misses the movie and the fireworks, but she sure does look cute as she sleeps peacefully in the stroller. How kids can sleep through a booming fireworks show is beyond me. Incredibly, Janet and Mike are actually waiting for us at the entrance to the park to pick up Caitlin and Bridget. You may remember, I was thinking how brother-in-law Mike had such a bad time at the park with us the day before. Today, we chat a bit before heading our separate ways. We tell them about our night at the Hoop-De-Doo and how Caitlin stole the show. We tell them about the girls being late and the fireworks and the nice cast member. As we were about to leave, Janet tells us that, "Mike had the best time he has ever had at the Magic Kingdom." Why did I ever doubt myself? We make plans to meet at Epcot the next day before heading for the boat back to the Polynesian.
The importance of down time should never be underestimated, especially at Disney. Our hectic lives are filled with busy workweeks, housework, yard work, homework, after school sports, birthdays, play dates and more. Every hour of every day is filled from morning until night. The consequence of not taking that important down time often doesn't become evident until it's too late. Burnout, breakdowns or worse. It's easy to make the same mistake at Disney. Let's face it, this mistake is made all too often. We try to plan every waking hour of our trip to squeeze out the most from our vacation dollar. Not taking the time to rest is the biggest mistake you can make at Disney. Pushing the kids, big and small, beyond their limits is a recipe for disaster. How many times have you seen it? The cranky kids being screamed at by the even crankier parents. A day off, if you can fit it in, is nice. A few hours off in the middle of a hot day are crucial.
Today, was our day of rest. We had a perfect day by the pool, which allowed us to recharge our batteries. With everyone rested, we did the Hoop De Doo and a late night at the Magic Kingdom without a hitch. Sure, the little one conked out early, but even that worked out well since she can sleep in the stroller. There have been many times that I wish that I could have slept in a stroller on our way back to the hotel after a late night at the parks. Tonight, however, is not that bad, with just a short boat ride back to the Polynesian. It's not long before the entire crew follows their sister's lead into the land of slumber. Tomorrow, we will be moving to the Beach Club Villas. Although I love the Beach/Yacht Club, Kathy is not the only one that will miss the Polynesian.
We all sleep in late, which gives my tummy a little extra time to recover from the large quantities of meat I consumed at O'hanna's. We are going to spend the day by the pool before meeting up with Caitlin and Bridget for dinner at the Hoop De Doo. Yes, the Hoop De Doo, where they bring you large quantities of meat in buckets. Just what the doctor ordered. I will not let this stomach thing slow me down. I refuse to let this thing get the best of me. Luckily, today is our off day. A day spent relaxing by the pool. Just like in life, a well-planned Disney trip needs to have some down time built in. In life, we have Sunday, the day of rest. A time to relax and unwind after working hard all week. A Disney trip without planned in down time would be like working seven days a week. Burnout would come quick and take no prisoners. With Saturday's being one of the busier days in the parks, it is a perfect day to hang by the pool and rejuvenate.
The Polynesian is a hotel that I've always wanted to try. There is a certain allure that all Disney hotels hold over me until I am able to visit them at least once. I'll never forget the day I first caught site of the Grand Floridian lobby. Its regal grandeur left me pining the days until I was able to save up enough pennies (we're talking lots of pennies) to actually be able to stay there. Ever since I first visited Disney in the early 70's I have wanted to stay at the Polynesian. The wait was long and the anticipation was high. Typically, this is a recipe for disappointment. Like going to that movie that everyone in the office thought was great and walking away expecting more. Part of it is that your expectations were set so high. This was my fear in coming to the Polynesian. After years of anticipation, I was worried I was setting myself up for a big let down. I am happy to report that the Polynesian did not let me down. This hotel was all that I expected and more. The lush surroundings provide a surprising amount of seclusion from the hubbub of the nearby Magic Kingdom. It's hard to explain, but I just like the "feel" of this place. Everyone is friendly. As with everything Disney, it is spotlessly clean. The upgrade to concierge was definitely a smart choice for us. Having drinks and snacks on demand has been great for our family of six. Being smack dab in the middle of Disney, yet providing a feeling of total separation from the parks and their crowds, puts the Polynesian among the top of my list of Disney resorts. My guess is our day by the pool may have been the catalyst that prompted Kathy to proclaim the Polynesian as her new favorite hotel in all of Disney. I still may give the edge to the Yacht/Beach club, but the Polynesian is certainly a very close second.
Before we go down to the pool, we stop at the gift shop to get some post cards. The kids are allowed to pick out one souvenir each. The little ones picked out those wind up Donald Ducks that waddle along the table, Connor got one of the cool viewers that show pictures of the Magic Kingdom and Christopher picked out a really bad travel Monopoly game. It had mini dice and no other pieces. Not sure what you were supposed to do with it. Post cards in hand, we head for the pool
With an upset stomach, I get to rest by the side of the pool while Mom takes the kids in the pool. She trades in our room key for two life jackets for Alex and Caley. Lounging by the pool watching the little ones splashing about is very close to my idea of paradise. Caley is having so much fun "fwimming" with her big brothers. It's not long, however, before my band of soggy swimmers lures me into the pool. The weather is perfect, the water is great and the view of the castle is spectacular. The water slide is just the right size for Christopher and it's not long before Alex talks his Mom into letting him try. The Octopus is in his glory as he climbs the stairs to the water slide with his Dad and older brother. This four-year-old fireball is a chip off his older brother's daredevil block. I, on the other hand, am getting very nervous about sending the little guy down on his own. The Volcano pool slide is actually a pretty big slide with major turns and much of it leaves you in complete darkness. I'm starting to get second thoughts about sending the Octopus down on his own. By the time we get to the top, however, there is no turning back. I send Christopher down first to warn Kathy that Alex is on his way. I notice only the slightest bit of apprehension as Alex waits for the green light that signals it's ok to go. Have I made a mistake? Will he get hurt? Is he too small? Will he be scarred for life, never willing to set foot in another pool again? Yeah right. The Octopus is off like a flash. As he descends into the dark tunnel I hear him yelling, "OH, YAH, YAH!" At the bottom, Kathy thinks she hears screams of fear. Hitting the final curve at full speed, he spins completely around before crashing into the pool going completely under water. Kathy rushes over expecting to pull out a petrified Octopus. She grabs Alex and immediately sees his beaming smile. "Me loved it", Alex yells. The Octopus is hooked. He loves the Volcano water slide! After about his 10th try, he even learns how to remain upright for the entire ride.
The day goes by quickly and before we know it, it is time to get ready for the Hoop De Doo. . The entire crew is cleaned up and ready to go at 4pm, right on schedule. We have reservations for the 5pm show and will take the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom, where we will catch the boat over to Pioneer Hall. We just need to wait for the O'Neill girls to arrive and off we will go. We wait. And wait. And wait. Hmmm, this seems familiar. Like mother, like daughters. We wait until 4:20pm and decide to leave without them. We attach a note to the door and head out. We arrive on time and check in. Christopher and I decide to take a walk over to the dock to see if we can find Caitlin and Bridget before the show begins. With seconds to spare the girls arrive. They would have made their Mom proud! Soon the show begins and the buckets of food start to arrive. Man I wish I were feeling better. At least I'm not gaining any weight. The show is a lot of fun. During one of the songs they ask random tables of people where they are from and include the names of the home states in the song. Our table is chosen and the kids think it is funny as the cast struggles with a word that rhymes with Massachusetts. Things only get better as one of the cast asks Caitlin if she wants to join them in the next number. Caitlin is a blue eyed, blond haired, beautiful seventeen-year-old. We have no idea why she was chosen. Soon she is up on stage doing the cancan with a chubby guy in a tutu. On the way out of the show, people are pointing and smiling at Caitlin. It's like being with a celebrity.
After the show we decide to go over to the Magic Kingdom to ride a couple rides and watch the fireworks. Caley asks if we can watch the "glasses movie", but is fast asleep before we get there. As we sit and wait for the fireworks at a nice spot behind the castle, a friendly cast member comes over and tells me that if we move over about 15 feet we will have a much better view. As promised the view is perfect, we can see fireworks exploding on both sides of where we are standing. Poor Caley misses the movie and the fireworks, but she sure does look cute as she sleeps peacefully in the stroller. How kids can sleep through a booming fireworks show is beyond me. Incredibly, Janet and Mike are actually waiting for us at the entrance to the park to pick up Caitlin and Bridget. You may remember, I was thinking how brother-in-law Mike had such a bad time at the park with us the day before. Today, we chat a bit before heading our separate ways. We tell them about our night at the Hoop-De-Doo and how Caitlin stole the show. We tell them about the girls being late and the fireworks and the nice cast member. As we were about to leave, Janet tells us that, "Mike had the best time he has ever had at the Magic Kingdom." Why did I ever doubt myself? We make plans to meet at Epcot the next day before heading for the boat back to the Polynesian.
The importance of down time should never be underestimated, especially at Disney. Our hectic lives are filled with busy workweeks, housework, yard work, homework, after school sports, birthdays, play dates and more. Every hour of every day is filled from morning until night. The consequence of not taking that important down time often doesn't become evident until it's too late. Burnout, breakdowns or worse. It's easy to make the same mistake at Disney. Let's face it, this mistake is made all too often. We try to plan every waking hour of our trip to squeeze out the most from our vacation dollar. Not taking the time to rest is the biggest mistake you can make at Disney. Pushing the kids, big and small, beyond their limits is a recipe for disaster. How many times have you seen it? The cranky kids being screamed at by the even crankier parents. A day off, if you can fit it in, is nice. A few hours off in the middle of a hot day are crucial.
Today, was our day of rest. We had a perfect day by the pool, which allowed us to recharge our batteries. With everyone rested, we did the Hoop De Doo and a late night at the Magic Kingdom without a hitch. Sure, the little one conked out early, but even that worked out well since she can sleep in the stroller. There have been many times that I wish that I could have slept in a stroller on our way back to the hotel after a late night at the parks. Tonight, however, is not that bad, with just a short boat ride back to the Polynesian. It's not long before the entire crew follows their sister's lead into the land of slumber. Tomorrow, we will be moving to the Beach Club Villas. Although I love the Beach/Yacht Club, Kathy is not the only one that will miss the Polynesian.
Keep 'em coming!
