Hi, just got back, and a few thoughts....
Yes, you can get bottled water to go at the PM with your meal when you're on the dining plan, and they will fill your refillable mug for you - we did it several times.
Yes, there's shower gel (wish I'd bought a puff for the shower, to really enjoy it - you just can't get the same effect from a face cloth), separate shampoo and conditioner, and a body lotion. They were all grapefruit scented. There was also a bath soap and a facial soap. Our first week our mousekeeper always left extra, the second week we obviously had a new one because she only left an extra shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel our last day. Mousekeeping was good, we had no complaints.
And we had no trouble using our room card for tips at either meal - including dinner. Loved the breakfast and lunch buffets - very good selection, really enjoyed those meals. Dinner (or supper as we call it
) - I can't say we were impressed with it. Maybe if it was a buffet as well, so you could pick different entrees it would have been different, but none of us were happy with it. The staff at PM were great, with no complaints.
The resort itself was beautiful. We were in Casita's 4, and didn't mind the walk to the PM or the Dig Pool. A recommendation for those with kids - bring a few pool toys or a beach ball. There are none at the quiet pools, and only two big beach balls at the Dig Site - they were very much in demand. We bought two beach balls at one of the gift shops off site (couldn't find any anywhere on property) and that really helped keep the boys (15 and 13) occupied in the pool. Less boredom = less bickering for my two
. We had many games of volleyball in the pool, and just gave the balls away to other families when we left.
We really lucked out with the buses - hardly ever had to wait and if we did it was a very short time. We were on bus stop two, and the buses were rarely crowded. Was very proud of my two teenagers
who automatically stood if there were no seats left - they did have to stand a fair amount of times. The longest wait was for a Typhoon Lagoon bus from the Poly after breakfast at Kona - must have been at least 30 minutes.
What else? The drinks at the Dig Site were yummy - would recommend the Rum Runner or the Fieta Margarita
. The slide was good. We saw the alligator and the turtles - in the lake, not the pool
. And saw one of the Osmond boys in Panchitos - I think it was Jimmy. (We were there during the Miracle Children's Network Conference, which the Osmonds started). We also saw Christi and Chloe from Dance Moms while eating at Kona Kafe. A highlight of the trip was Mickey giving my 13 year old a fist bump and doing what the boys called a "gangsta dance" when he read his hat - it's hard to impress teenage boys at Disney, but even they were impressed (it actually broke through the 15 year olds "I'm soooo bored" expression
.
So much for my few thoughts - chatty as always
. If any questions, ask away!
