Ferb, I know What We're Going to Do Today! - Updated 9/30

[If U Had Wings]

Of all the plans I had made for this trip, today was the day I was most looking forward to. It was the one day in which I was ensured a bit of the solo trip I had originally been planning. I had a morning all to myself!

Originally my friend was planning on taking the Behind the Magic tour this day, but she put off booking it, and by the time she did the tour was full. Instead she was heading off for the Keys to the Kingdom tour. This was to be a solo breakfast as well, but since her tour didn't start until 9:30 she was joining me for breakfast. Bright and early we got all of our stuff together and left our bags with bell services so they could transfer them over to the Boardwalk Inn. I grabbed the small bag I was planning on taking to the spa with me and we were off to the Polynesian.

This was my first time eating at Kona, and it didn't dissappoint. The tonga toast was delicious. I don't know how much it really qualified as breakfast food, but it involved three things I adore - bananas, sugar and strawberries. Deep frying never hurts either.

Soooo good, and lived up to everything I had heard about it. The sausages were tasty too. The strawberry compote really made the meal for me. It cut down on the sweetness of the dish and added a nice flavor to it. I don't drink coffee, but I really enjoyed the lilikoi juice I had ordered. We had a leisurely meal, and my friend was off to the MK for her tour. I had plenty of time before my spa appointment at the GF so I set off on a leisurely tour of the Poly's grounds.

I love the fountain in the middle of the Grand Ceremonial House. I remember it being much taller as a kid, but it's still spectacular.

The Christmas decorations were great too, not as extravagent as some of the other deluxes had, but very beautiful and themed wonderfully to the resort.

 

[micandminforever]

Great start to your day of luxury and peace, now to some alone time.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Great start to your day of luxury and peace, now to some alone time.

It only got better as the day went on.

 

[All7OfUs]

I"m so glad you loved your breakfast! That's one sweet way to start your morning. I hope it gets even better, Crissy!!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I"m so glad you loved your breakfast! That's one sweet way to start your morning. I hope it gets even better, Crissy!!

It did! I've got the next post already to go.

 

[If U Had Wings]

As beautiful as the lobby of the Poly is, I find the grounds even more enchanting. As a kid I loved all the windy pathways, and beautiful nooks around the property. I still do as an adult. One of these days I'm going to have to stay there again.

Some pictures from my walk -

I just wanted to plant myself here for the rest of the morning and people watch.

I watched the ferry bringing everyone to the Magic Kingdom.

The grounds were pretty quiet for it being about 9am. Not too many people were out and about, other than a few of these.

The pool had people in it already, even though it was a bit chilly. I guess kids don't really care.

I love the tiki's at the Poly. This one was one of my favorites on my walk.

I would have loved to take a boat out on the lake later, but I was finding it a bit too chilly. The building on the far right, at the end of the dock, is the first place I ever stayed at on Disney property when I was 8 years old. Funny how that has stayed with me all these years.

The dock heading out to the boats to the park and other resorts.

I was enjoying my walk so much that I forgot to pay attention to my watch. Luckily I looked in time, but I was going to have to hustle a bit to make my spa appointment over here-

 

[miprender]

Ohhh! I just love the Poly. Someday I hope to stay here. We just love this resort and we love walking the grounds too.

I love the picture with all the fog. You can barely see CR.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Ohhh! I just love the Poly. Someday I hope to stay here. We just love this resort and we love walking the grounds too.

I love the picture with all the fog. You can barely see CR.

I was about 17 the last time I stayed there. Back before the rates went out of control. Maybe for a split stay one of these days.

It was pretty foggy that morning. It burned off nicely later, and was one of the best days of the trip.

 

[All7OfUs]

You did the exact thing I'm hoping to do one morning while staying there! Just wander the grounds, soaking in the beautiful landscaping, listening to the BGM, taking lots of pix. How thoroughly wonderful!

EEK! Glad you were roused out of your revelry in time for the spa time!

 

[MRYPPNS]

This has my name written all over it for our next trip!

 

[tinkerbell48]

Loved your trip report. I'm from CT too.

 

[Charleston Princess]

This day is looking like it is going to be fabulous! Tonga Toast, a stroll around the Poly, saying good morning to the Tikis, and headed to the spa -- just an all-around great start to any day!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

What a great start to your morning! The breakfast looks delicious and that hammock looks so inviting.

 

[If U Had Wings]

You did the exact thing I'm hoping to do one morning while staying there! Just wander the grounds, soaking in the beautiful landscaping, listening to the BGM, taking lots of pix. How thoroughly wonderful!

EEK! Glad you were roused out of your revelry in time for the spa time!

It was the perfect morning. Even better as I wandered around they were pumping in Hawaiian themed Christmas music. So relaxing!

This has my name written all over it for our next trip!

I'll be thinking of you relaxing in that hammock!

Loved your trip report. I'm from CT too.

Welcome! Glad to have you joining in!

This day is looking like it is going to be fabulous! Tonga Toast, a stroll around the Poly, saying good morning to the Tikis, and headed to the spa -- just an all-around great start to any day!

It was the perfect spot to the day. I was surprised at how much I was enjoying a non-park day.

What a great start to your morning! The breakfast looks delicious and that hammock looks so inviting.

It was all I could do to not just run over and jump in it for the rest of the morning.

 

[TarzansKat]

Sounds like a wonderful breakfast! I have heard that the strawberry compote really helps make the Tonga Toast. I had it from Captain Cook's and although I loved the fried, crispy sweetness of the outer toast, the interior with the mushy banana just didn't do it for me. I'm wondering if the strawberry really would have been the perfect complement.

I apologize. Pregnant TK = overanalyzing food and drinks.

I'm so excited for your solo morning! It seems to be going really well.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Sounds like a wonderful breakfast! I have heard that the strawberry compote really helps make the Tonga Toast. I had it from Captain Cook's and although I loved the fried, crispy sweetness of the outer toast, the interior with the mushy banana just didn't do it for me. I'm wondering if the strawberry really would have been the perfect complement.

I apologize. Pregnant TK = overanalyzing food and drinks.

I'm so excited for your solo morning! It seems to be going really well.

The strawberry really made it for me. I expected the compote to be really sweet, but it wasn't. It had a slight tartness that helped keep the toast from being too sweet.

 

[aprilisis]

I love your photos!!! I agree about the Poly, too- I want to stay there again & I love walking the pathways & taking in the sights. I can't wait to hear about your spa appointment!

 

[If U Had Wings]

After my walk around the grounds at the Poly I had just enough time to head over to the GF for my spa treatment. I took the monorail over and didn't have any time to really stop and savor the holiday decorations before heading outside to find the spa building which was along the path to the wedding pavillion.

I had scheduled myself for the Citrus Zest Therapies massage. This was to be my first time ever having a massage, and I was just a teensy bit nervous about what to expect. I checked in at the front desk and was brought inside to the changing room. I grabbed myself a locker and changed into the white plush robe and flip flops they gave me to change into. This may have been the one time I was happy for being a bit of a larger girl. It seemed that the robes that the other skinny girls I saw at the spa had on were thin waffle textured robes. Mine was the pillowy plush robe. Positively decadent! Once changed I went out and took a seat in a small waiting lounge with a few other women. They had fruit and water with lemon in it set out for the taking.

I had only waited for a few minutes when my massage therapist came out and led me into a private room. She asked if I had ever had a massage before, and if I had any areas of concern. Then she gave me a few instructions on where to leave my robe and shoes, and how to position myself on the table as she left the room. I did as she asked and positioned myself lying on my stomach under several warm layers of blankets. A few minutes later she knocked on the door and then came back in.

The massage it self was just wonderful. The massuese put me right at ease, and at no time did I feel at all uncomfortable. Any concerns I had vaporized nearly immediately. I carry a lot of tension around in my upper back, and a good portion of my massage was spent working the kinks out of my upper back. I'm a bit sensitive in that area, and a few times it hurt a bit, but once she was done it felt so much looser and better. She joked around with me asking me what I did for a living to have so much tension in my upper back. As I'm typing this, I'm feeling the tension again thinking I should treat myself to another massage. When she finished up with my feet, I was a complete pile of mush. Every muscle in my body felt utterly relaxed. She moved my slippers and robe over to a table near the bed and told me to take my time getting up, she'd meet me outside.

I didn't want to move! Slowly I dragged myself up, and put my snuggly robe back on. When I walked out the door she was waiting for me with a cup of lemon flavored water, and escorted me back to the lounge area. I wasn't having any other treatments done so I was free to do as I liked. I changed into my swimsuit and headed into the jacuzzi area. The hot tub felt glorious. I sat in there for awhile before heading into the sauna, and then the steamroom. The sauna I always enjoy for brief periods of time, but I found I really didn't enjoy the steam room at all. I was afraid that the humidity in there would start bothering my lungs again so I didn't stay very long. I soaked awhile longer in the jacuzzi again before heading into the shower to rinse off and get changed. I headed out of the spa, paying on my way out, sad that I wasn't having some other gloriously relaxing treatment done to me.

I highly recommend a visit to the spa to anyone. I had been a bit nervous about what to expect, especially since I'm not a thin, tiny person. I couldn’t have felt more at ease if I wanted. The one down side was that the spa is a bit pricey, but at the end I felt so wonderful that I thought it was worth every dime. Hopefully I'll be able to do it again on my next trip. At the very least I'd like to go over for a pedicure, for at least a tiny bit of pampering.

I had originally been planning on going over to look around at the Christmas decorations at the Wilderness Lodge afterwards, but I had no desire to rush over there any longer. The fog had burned off, and the sun had come out. It was a perfect afternoon, not too cold, not too hot. I decided to take a walk around the grounds of the Grand Floridian. In all my years visiting Disney World I had never been on the property of the GF so it was the perfect chance to do some exploring.

The grounds at the Grand Floridian were just beautiful. I loved all the pointsettas out on display. I prefered the lushness of the Poly a bit better, but the GF wasn't far behind. After walking around for awhile, I decided to just hang out for awhile like this -

Seriously, best afternoon spent on vacation ever! It was the perfect way to spend my afternoon after the massage - swinging in a hammock without a care in the world, watching people and boats go by. I nearly caught myself dozing off a few times. I finally made myself get up, as I'm one of the palest/fairest people ever and had no sunblock on. It was a mild day, and I knew that if I stayed out any longer I'd start burning up, even if it felt absolutely glorious at the moment. Kicking myself for not throwing the sunblock in the bag I enjoyed the view before heading inside to check out the lobby of the Grand Floridian before my tea.

 

[aprilisis]

What a great day! That spa sounds fantastic. I definitely want to do something at one of the spas in October...you have convinced me!

 

[TarzansKat]

Divine. Absolutely divine. Brings back memories of my own spa experience in September, just lovely.

What a wonderful, relaxing afternoon. Good for you!