When: May 1 May 10
Where: Disneys Polynesian Resort
Cast: Too numerous to list over 70 total with the starring roles going to:
DD Fairy Tale Princess
FSIL her Prince
Me Queen Mother to FT Princess, sometimes called MOB (mother of bride or she who writes the checks)
Mom my mother and roommate for part of our stay
Gracely Hectors Mom
Lisa Wedding Event Manager
Thursday, May 3
Lucy had set the wake-up call for 7:30 once again, since she and Hector were meeting Reverend Tim Herring at 9:00 am. They got up and showered and dressed first and headed down to the lobby to meet Reverend Tim. I got up and got ready and started packing up my things Im moving to another (non-lagoon view sigh) room today when my mom arrives. Lucy and Hector returned from their meeting saying that Reverend Tim would not be at rehearsal tomorrow night he has another wedding but he said Lisa has done this many times and can handle it. They went out to Sunset Pointe this morning to review things with him. Hector called some of his family to arrange a meeting time, and the FTC headed out to Epcot for their honeymoon shots. (They told me they almost missed the photographer they were waiting at guest services and the photographer was at the International Gateway. A call to Disney Photographic Services straightened it out. Lucy also said they took some authentic shots in Morocco they dressed them in some of the native clothes.)
Back at the Polynesian, I finished packing my things, then went to the concierge and completed my registration the room wasnt ready yet. Since it was around the time my sister Mo and her family were due to arrive, I grabbed a book and headed over to the GCH lobby. I hung around there for a little while, then came back and enjoyed the view of Cinderellas Castle from the lanai one more time. I checked moms train status (it had left Orlando and was due in Kissimmee on time), so I wandered back to the GCH. I was walking through the lobby when I spotted my sisters ten-year-old twins sons (two of the junior ushers), followed by their mom and dad. I took the boys out to check out the volcano pool while Mo checked in. By the time we returned they were registered and their room was ready, so they went to get their luggage for the brief ride to the Tokelau building. Their room is on the third floor, just a few doors down from Hectors mom, and they have a lagoon view. I headed back to the room just in time to receive the message that mom and cousin Steve had arrived right on schedule around 1:00 and were on their way over to the Hawaii building. We stashed their luggage in Lucy and Hectors room (Steves spending his first night here until his wife arrives tomorrow) and headed over to the pool. Hectors dad and his wife had come over from the Caribbean Beach Resort (they arrived from California late yesterday) and the whole gang had congregated at several tables near the volcano pool. There were introductions all around. Mo got lunch for her family, and I took mom and Steve over to Captain Cooks so they could grab a bite as well.
Everyone stayed by the pool and chatted, and watched the kids swim and volcano occasionally spout smoke for about an hour. I headed back in to see if my room was ready and it was room 1527 about half way down the hall. I moved my bag and my moms and I unpacked for the second time in two days. Lucy also brought some of her things down since shes staying with us until Steve joins Joan tomorrow. We both noticed a strange odor in this room I thought it smelled like a strong air deodorant and Lucy thought she smelled cigarette smoke under the air freshener smell. I called the concierge to complain and within ten minutes, cast member Bennett, who is the manager of facilities and housekeeping at the Polynesian, arrived at our door to check it out. He felt there wasnt a cigarette odor, but rather some of the famous Polynesian mustiness in the room, and he said that housekeeping does indeed spray air freshener to combat it. He offered us several air cleaning options more spraying or a cleaning process where the air is pulled through an air purifier while we are out of the room. Since we were leaving soon after, we opted for the purifier, and Bennett told us if there was anything else to let him know directly, and that he was working Saturday and would be available if we needed anything at all on the FTCs wedding day. (The mustiness was almost entirely gone when we returned that night and I didnt notice it at all for the rest of our stay.)
Hector was leaving with his family to go to the Disney Studios, and Lucy and I agreed to meet them at the Great Movie Ride at 5:00 pm. (Mom was going to dinner with Mo and family, and Steve.) Lucy and I had one more errand to do meet Melissa from the Island Planning Office at the Polynesian. We called the concierge and they contacted her, and she called us back to say she would come over and meet with us. We headed down to the concierge office to meet her, then realized it was POURING rain. We tried to call Melissa back to reschedule, (she was coming over from her office in GCH) but she had already left. We felt really bad and said so, but Marilyn told us not to worry Melissa would cut through buildings to get to Hawaii. She arrived immediately after, and both Lucy and I thanked her for all the arrangements she had helped me with, and we gave her the small thank you gift we had brought for her. We talked a little more shes engaged but hasnt started planning her wedding yet and then it was time for her to return to work. (She mentioned that Don the concierge staff member that weve seen every trip for years transferred over to Animal Kingdom Lodge concierge. She also mentioned that hes a techie on the side he developed the guest tracking system that the Polynesian is currently using, and Disney is going to roll out to other hotels as well.)
The rain had slowed down as Lucy and I caught a bus to Disney Studios. We wandered through a few stores then went over to look for Hector near the Great Movie Ride. We both agreed the Sorcerers hat is horrible it blocks the Chinese Theater completely. We couldnt find Hector and his family so we tried to reach them on the Cobra radios. After many tries, and hearing many other conversations, we finally made contact and he told us where to meet them. Hectors Aunt Lorraine and her son Brian had joined him, his sister, his mom and his grandmom, and his dad and his wife. (We were now a party of ten.) After a few more introductions, we decided to head to the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. A show was ready to start we were in the back in the wheelchair section and after much jumping and waving Hector was chosen as one of the stunt extras! His performance was Oscar deserving (at least his family thought so), but the show was cut short because of the continuing steady rain they skipped the plane stunt at the end. After congratulations on his performance, the group decided to head over to the Backlot Express for a quick dinner. I had a cheeseburger, Hector had a chicken sandwich, and Lucy had the hotdog she had been craving since we arrived at the Studios. After the entire group had their fill, we headed back out into the steady rain and over to MuppetVision 3D. Lucy ran ahead and bought several ponchos, as it was getting colder along with the steady rain. We got into MuppetVision with less than a five minute wait, and everyone enjoyed the antics of Kermit and Co. After the Muppets, Lucy and I planned to leave the group to see the Great Movie Ride, and then head to Downtown Disney to buy some T-shirts. We went to the Great Movie Ride, and had a fun ride with several families whose pre-teen kids were REALLY into the ride screaming and cheering at all the appropriate places. We got the cowgirl scene, and enjoyed this attraction as much as we always do. It was still raining when we came out, so we decided to cancel our plans for Downtown Disney and look for some princess Minnie hats instead of T-shirts. We browsed the shops on Sunset Blvd. First for housewares and jewelry, and ran into Hectors mom, grandmom and aunt who said the others were in Tower of Terror. We bought a few things (including some frames on sale) and headed out, running into Hector and his cousin Brian, who were just going to join the others. We made one more stop and found ONE princess hat, but since we need two we decided to wait.
We caught the bus pretty quickly back to the Polynesian, and Lucy started some laundry while I started putting the place cards in their silver frames and checked on our next arrivals flight. (My sister Mare and her family and brother Mike and his son were travelling together and their plane was due at 9:40 pm.) Their plane was running late, and I called US Airways several times until it arrived, then called my sister Mo who was going down with us to await this groups arrival. Lucy called me and stopped on her way back from the laundry room at the concierge lounge, bringing me some tarts and a large coffee. Hector and his mom stopped by and offered to finish the place cards, so Lucy, mom, Mo and I headed over to the GCH. After about ten minutes, a white Tiffany van arrived with my sister Mare, her husband Jimmy, their daughters - flower girls Brittany (almost 6) and Shannon (almost 2), my brother Mike and the other junior usher his thirteen year old son Chris. We took the kids to see the new pool while the adults checked in, and Jimmy headed over to Captain Cooks to get some milk and snack food for the morning. They finally headed to their rooms around 11:00 pm, and we passed Hector and his mom headed to the GCH to meet two other guests who were arriving late this evening. We went back to our room, and I updated my trip notes. Tomorrow the rest of our families and friends arrive, and the wedding festivities begin. Time to get some sleep!
Where: Disneys Polynesian Resort
Cast: Too numerous to list over 70 total with the starring roles going to:
DD Fairy Tale Princess
FSIL her Prince
Me Queen Mother to FT Princess, sometimes called MOB (mother of bride or she who writes the checks)
Mom my mother and roommate for part of our stay
Gracely Hectors Mom
Lisa Wedding Event Manager
Thursday, May 3
Lucy had set the wake-up call for 7:30 once again, since she and Hector were meeting Reverend Tim Herring at 9:00 am. They got up and showered and dressed first and headed down to the lobby to meet Reverend Tim. I got up and got ready and started packing up my things Im moving to another (non-lagoon view sigh) room today when my mom arrives. Lucy and Hector returned from their meeting saying that Reverend Tim would not be at rehearsal tomorrow night he has another wedding but he said Lisa has done this many times and can handle it. They went out to Sunset Pointe this morning to review things with him. Hector called some of his family to arrange a meeting time, and the FTC headed out to Epcot for their honeymoon shots. (They told me they almost missed the photographer they were waiting at guest services and the photographer was at the International Gateway. A call to Disney Photographic Services straightened it out. Lucy also said they took some authentic shots in Morocco they dressed them in some of the native clothes.)
Back at the Polynesian, I finished packing my things, then went to the concierge and completed my registration the room wasnt ready yet. Since it was around the time my sister Mo and her family were due to arrive, I grabbed a book and headed over to the GCH lobby. I hung around there for a little while, then came back and enjoyed the view of Cinderellas Castle from the lanai one more time. I checked moms train status (it had left Orlando and was due in Kissimmee on time), so I wandered back to the GCH. I was walking through the lobby when I spotted my sisters ten-year-old twins sons (two of the junior ushers), followed by their mom and dad. I took the boys out to check out the volcano pool while Mo checked in. By the time we returned they were registered and their room was ready, so they went to get their luggage for the brief ride to the Tokelau building. Their room is on the third floor, just a few doors down from Hectors mom, and they have a lagoon view. I headed back to the room just in time to receive the message that mom and cousin Steve had arrived right on schedule around 1:00 and were on their way over to the Hawaii building. We stashed their luggage in Lucy and Hectors room (Steves spending his first night here until his wife arrives tomorrow) and headed over to the pool. Hectors dad and his wife had come over from the Caribbean Beach Resort (they arrived from California late yesterday) and the whole gang had congregated at several tables near the volcano pool. There were introductions all around. Mo got lunch for her family, and I took mom and Steve over to Captain Cooks so they could grab a bite as well.
Everyone stayed by the pool and chatted, and watched the kids swim and volcano occasionally spout smoke for about an hour. I headed back in to see if my room was ready and it was room 1527 about half way down the hall. I moved my bag and my moms and I unpacked for the second time in two days. Lucy also brought some of her things down since shes staying with us until Steve joins Joan tomorrow. We both noticed a strange odor in this room I thought it smelled like a strong air deodorant and Lucy thought she smelled cigarette smoke under the air freshener smell. I called the concierge to complain and within ten minutes, cast member Bennett, who is the manager of facilities and housekeeping at the Polynesian, arrived at our door to check it out. He felt there wasnt a cigarette odor, but rather some of the famous Polynesian mustiness in the room, and he said that housekeeping does indeed spray air freshener to combat it. He offered us several air cleaning options more spraying or a cleaning process where the air is pulled through an air purifier while we are out of the room. Since we were leaving soon after, we opted for the purifier, and Bennett told us if there was anything else to let him know directly, and that he was working Saturday and would be available if we needed anything at all on the FTCs wedding day. (The mustiness was almost entirely gone when we returned that night and I didnt notice it at all for the rest of our stay.)
Hector was leaving with his family to go to the Disney Studios, and Lucy and I agreed to meet them at the Great Movie Ride at 5:00 pm. (Mom was going to dinner with Mo and family, and Steve.) Lucy and I had one more errand to do meet Melissa from the Island Planning Office at the Polynesian. We called the concierge and they contacted her, and she called us back to say she would come over and meet with us. We headed down to the concierge office to meet her, then realized it was POURING rain. We tried to call Melissa back to reschedule, (she was coming over from her office in GCH) but she had already left. We felt really bad and said so, but Marilyn told us not to worry Melissa would cut through buildings to get to Hawaii. She arrived immediately after, and both Lucy and I thanked her for all the arrangements she had helped me with, and we gave her the small thank you gift we had brought for her. We talked a little more shes engaged but hasnt started planning her wedding yet and then it was time for her to return to work. (She mentioned that Don the concierge staff member that weve seen every trip for years transferred over to Animal Kingdom Lodge concierge. She also mentioned that hes a techie on the side he developed the guest tracking system that the Polynesian is currently using, and Disney is going to roll out to other hotels as well.)
The rain had slowed down as Lucy and I caught a bus to Disney Studios. We wandered through a few stores then went over to look for Hector near the Great Movie Ride. We both agreed the Sorcerers hat is horrible it blocks the Chinese Theater completely. We couldnt find Hector and his family so we tried to reach them on the Cobra radios. After many tries, and hearing many other conversations, we finally made contact and he told us where to meet them. Hectors Aunt Lorraine and her son Brian had joined him, his sister, his mom and his grandmom, and his dad and his wife. (We were now a party of ten.) After a few more introductions, we decided to head to the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. A show was ready to start we were in the back in the wheelchair section and after much jumping and waving Hector was chosen as one of the stunt extras! His performance was Oscar deserving (at least his family thought so), but the show was cut short because of the continuing steady rain they skipped the plane stunt at the end. After congratulations on his performance, the group decided to head over to the Backlot Express for a quick dinner. I had a cheeseburger, Hector had a chicken sandwich, and Lucy had the hotdog she had been craving since we arrived at the Studios. After the entire group had their fill, we headed back out into the steady rain and over to MuppetVision 3D. Lucy ran ahead and bought several ponchos, as it was getting colder along with the steady rain. We got into MuppetVision with less than a five minute wait, and everyone enjoyed the antics of Kermit and Co. After the Muppets, Lucy and I planned to leave the group to see the Great Movie Ride, and then head to Downtown Disney to buy some T-shirts. We went to the Great Movie Ride, and had a fun ride with several families whose pre-teen kids were REALLY into the ride screaming and cheering at all the appropriate places. We got the cowgirl scene, and enjoyed this attraction as much as we always do. It was still raining when we came out, so we decided to cancel our plans for Downtown Disney and look for some princess Minnie hats instead of T-shirts. We browsed the shops on Sunset Blvd. First for housewares and jewelry, and ran into Hectors mom, grandmom and aunt who said the others were in Tower of Terror. We bought a few things (including some frames on sale) and headed out, running into Hector and his cousin Brian, who were just going to join the others. We made one more stop and found ONE princess hat, but since we need two we decided to wait.
We caught the bus pretty quickly back to the Polynesian, and Lucy started some laundry while I started putting the place cards in their silver frames and checked on our next arrivals flight. (My sister Mare and her family and brother Mike and his son were travelling together and their plane was due at 9:40 pm.) Their plane was running late, and I called US Airways several times until it arrived, then called my sister Mo who was going down with us to await this groups arrival. Lucy called me and stopped on her way back from the laundry room at the concierge lounge, bringing me some tarts and a large coffee. Hector and his mom stopped by and offered to finish the place cards, so Lucy, mom, Mo and I headed over to the GCH. After about ten minutes, a white Tiffany van arrived with my sister Mare, her husband Jimmy, their daughters - flower girls Brittany (almost 6) and Shannon (almost 2), my brother Mike and the other junior usher his thirteen year old son Chris. We took the kids to see the new pool while the adults checked in, and Jimmy headed over to Captain Cooks to get some milk and snack food for the morning. They finally headed to their rooms around 11:00 pm, and we passed Hector and his mom headed to the GCH to meet two other guests who were arriving late this evening. We went back to our room, and I updated my trip notes. Tomorrow the rest of our families and friends arrive, and the wedding festivities begin. Time to get some sleep!
