extra family member overview trip report

[Mouselander]

Just a note to let everyone know that I survived the trip with "the extra family members" (my DB and his GD)! Thanks to all of the great suggestions that I received here!

Although we (dh,ds15,dd13, aunt and me) really tried to make the trip a magical one for my db and his 8yr.old granddaughter...she was NOT impressed with Disney!!!!!

We started our stay at the Swan (3 days). First park we visited was MGM Starwars weekend!!! Our teens were really excited! Tried to get photos with lots of characters! Did a few rides then ate lunch at the Sci-fi! All 8yr gd wanted to do was go back to the Swan and swim. So we brought her there and spent hours at the pool. Tomorrow will be better. WRONG!

We started our day with a concierge breakfast then off to MK! Surely we can find something that the gd likes there! She turned into a drama queen! EVERYTHING was too scary!!! All day she had a long face and only wanted to know when we were going back to the pools to swim! Did not like the rides, shows, or parades.

Third day was much of the same...long face when can we go swimming etc.

Time to change hotels. We moved to the Poly! WoW! It is one of our fave hotels at WDW. It is a toss-up between Poly and AKL!!! They are both sooo awesome!!! The concierge staff was so friendly. The Chef had special carved fruits and veggies that looked like boats, swans,fish etc. Dear little gd only wanted to swim at the pool our entire stay at the Poly! Although she did like some of the animals at AK...hated bugs life and the dino-land rides. Sad to say that we missed the Lion King this trip. (thats a 1st) Back to the Poly for swimming and water parade!!!

After 5 days at WDW it is time for us to go to Universal HRH for 3 days! (Okay we like to hotel hop! LOL) Our "family" is stressed out trying to make sure db and gd have a magical time. At the last hour db decides not to join us at HRH. He has to make it home in time for another gd's high school graduation! PHEW!!! We all let out a *sigh*.....now "our" vacation can really start!

The Hard Rock Hotel (3 days)was really special! We had two rooms on the 7th floor. Our teens really loved the whole "rock star" image. Visited both IA and US and city walk too. Ate a birthday lunch (dd13th) at Emerils!! It was fantastic! Emeril was in the kitchen cooking!! WOW! Think I had goose bumps! LOL About 15 waiters and staff sang happy b-day to dd (she glowed red)!

Although the trip was not exactly as we planned...things worked out okay. Really thanks to everyone here who let me rant and rave about it before hand! bfn


1999 Dixie Landing
2000 Dixie Landing
2001 Port Orleans Riverside
2002 Royal Pacific, Animal Kingdom, Polynesian
2003 Swan, Polynesian, Hard Rock Hotel

 

[>>^..^<<]

Wow.... that little girl needs a pool at home!

I can understand you being mystified at her displeasure at the parks - I am glad she didn't drag you all down with her.

Can you tell me a little more about the club level at hardrock.. how was the lounge & the food/drinks.. your room and the view.?

I bet you loved front of the line access...

Thanx

>>^..^<<

 

[Mouselander]

Just got my PC time once again. Had to share with DD and DH.

The HR lounge is great. Open from 7:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. The staff is very friendly staff and helpful. Heather surprised my DD on her birthday by decorating her room with balloons, party hats for her plush animals (the kid takes a dozen wherever we go), and a chocolate HRH gift.

Continental breakfast includes lots of fresh fruit, a large variety of donuts, fresh baked breads, jellies, Philly cream cheese, juices, coffee, tea, milk, cereal, etc. Evening appetizers always included at least one hot dish, a cheese tray, and a vegetable tray with dips. Each evening is named after a rock star. Our first evening there it was "Bonjovi night" featuring delicious meatballs. The second night was "Santana" and the third "Wang Chung". Their evening wine selection was excellent, however, their evening desserts were not as good as the AKL and Poly, but about the same as the Swan.

We had two connecting rooms, one with a king bed for the "birthday girl". The view included portions of Universal Studios. It appeared that most of the pool view rooms were suites.

FOTL is really FANTASTIC!!! It was so amazing just to walk on the rides with little or no wait time!!!

So...the last half of our trip was really special. We did survive the WDW part without any major "hurt feelings". LOL Even though gd was a "little mermaid" for the whole time!!!! You are right...she NEEDS a pool of her own!!!!!



Mouselander

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for sharing!!!