first timer TR! POFQ

[casieleigh]

Saturday 10/13 Not-so-magical arrival: DME picked us up after about a 15 minute wait! Went to 3 other resorts before POFQ, but ride was pleasant and it was fun to see other resorts! Checked in at 3pm and reminded them that we requested a Pack-n-play at online check in. Also requested bed rails and a step stool. CM said all would be delivered shortly. CM asked if I was expecting a package (Walmart water and diapers/wipes). I confirmed and she said someone would bring it to our room soon. I was thrilled! Went to room, got LO down for nap. Walked to front desk to ask about picking up stroller from Magical Strollers, was sent to Bell services. Bell Services sent me to an outdoor corner of the resort where strollers and scooters were parked to look for my stroller. It was not there despite a confirmation text from Magical Strollers that it was delivered that morning. Went back to Bell Services prepared to call Magical Strollers. CM said, “Oh, Magical strollers delivers them to our luggage room.” (Why oh why didn’t she ask me the first time if some companies deliver to other places besides that DANG corner?) Found stroller-score! Headed to DTD by boat for dinner and meet up with family. Waited in line for 45 minutes for boat-ugh, but nice ride once it finally came. Great dinner at Rainforest, Both LOs (5yr and 18mo) fell asleep on the way back. Got back to our room at 10:30pm and found: no pack-n-play, no stepstool, no bed rails, no Walmart package. Called desk for help and CM says, “Well, we don’t deliver any of those things until you check in.” I said that we checked in 7 hrs ago and CM responded that she “would put in an order to have someone bring it down” and. . . . we wait an hour. . . until 11:30 and . . . nothing. No response at all. Finally gave up and went to bed, assumed she meant they would deliver in the morning. At 12:20AM, a knock on the door and they have pack n play only. They will bring bed rails in a few minutes--we are all asleep! No package, no stepstool. Baby was asleep in bed already and both kids woke up with commotion of door knock . Why ask if we want a pack n play at online check in if it’s not going to be in our room or delivered shortly after checkin? Why ask me if we have a package and say you'll deliver it if it's not going to be within 7 hrs of checkin?

Day 1: MK was awesome! Lines great, wait times great, fun day all around! Lunch at Cosmic Rays (meh, so-so food), dinner at Chef Mickey’s (NEVER AGAIN!) Food at CM was not good—just warmed over, stouffers style food, super crowded table back in corner. Characters were AWESOME and we loved that part, but it was not worth the TS credit and we won’t do it again. Plus we waited for 40 minutes even though we had ADR! Got back to room after CM to find Walmart package (Thank goodness-diapers were running out!)

Day 2: HS and Urgent Care-not enough to do at this park for our family. Bfast at Hollywood and Vine (AWESOME food and WONDERFUL character interaction—really fun for boys, which is hard to find with all the princess overload!) First in line to meet Phinneas and Ferb, FP'd Toy Story, Rode ToT 3x, Movie Ride, a few other things--so much fun! Just wish there was more to do at HS. Lunch at Catalina Eddie’s (Pizza and Caesar salad—good, just REALLY hot outside and nowhere to eat indoors in this area). LO (18mo) was running around, DH was holding his hand and he jumped and fell down, suddenly crying and not using arm at all. . . SCARY! Went to First aid, needed to see Dr. Centracare was called and they came to pick us up, took us to office. Waited 2.5 hrs and 10 minutes before they called us back, suddenly LO was playing and acting fine. He had nurse maids elbow and fixed it himself! Crazy! Dr got us a full refund and Centracare even gave us a ride back to POFQ for free—fabulous customer service. They were so nice and apologetic for the wait. So happy that LO was just fine!

Day 3: Epcot-FANTASTIC lunch, missed Soarin’. Ate at the much-hyped Le Cellier and it was TO DIE FOR! Totally lives up to all the hype. Best meal and best service we had the entire trip. Soarin’ FP times were evening even around 10am, wait times in the 80-90 min range (not doable w/ 18mo old). BEST part of Day 3??? Pirates and Pals Fireworks Cruise—CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS ENOUGH!!! It was a total blast for everyone in our party from ages 1-82! I recommend this to anyone who has small children and the boys especially liked it with all the pirate stuff. Mini party in ballroom at Contemporary first with Capt Hook and Smee, snacks, drinks, cake, candy, ice cream, etc. Music, limbo, great to finally be someplace where LOs can run around and not worry about them getting away. Downstairs to board boat, saw water pageant and the BEST view for fireworks. This was probably my favorite thing we did the whole trip.

Day 4: AK—our favorite park! Bfast at Tusker House was the best bfast we had so far. Yummy food, the best specialty juice, characters were interactive and wonderful! Rides were perfect, lines short, parade exciting, great day! Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ—our favorite QS the whole trip! Dinner at Ohana (totally YUMMY! 2nd fave only to Le Cellier).

Day 5: Slept in late, swam at POFQ pool, played in arcade, did laundry. Arrived at MK around 2pm. MNSSHP that night, which was definitely worth the money. The MNSSHP parade was fun for the kids. Wait lines for rides were short. Dance party in TomorrowLand w/ characters was a blast for everyone! Stayed til midnight closing! No TS meals this day. QS Pecos Bills for lunch, good-much better than Cosmic Rays, ice cream for dinner at MNSSHP! ☺

Day 6: HS early AM to ride ToT 2x, ice cream at Hollywood Scoops, Rockin Rollercoaster. Straight to MK after that to finish up what we missed. Crowds were very heavy this day at MK even though undercover tourist recommended MK on this day. Lines long, FP times late, we were spoiled the other days! Headed to DTD for last night dinner at Wolfgang Puck Café (QS)—dinner good, service good.

Overall, POFQ totally redeemed themselves b/c the resort is GORGEOUS!!!! Wasn’t a great arrival, but good mousekeeping, great food court, pool, arcade, and laundry. We were on the far end of bldg. 7, which is really far away and although I would have liked to have been closer, it wasn’t that far and the resort was so pretty that it was enjoyable to walk through each day. Bus service was decent, but inconsistent. I gather that it’s probably similar to other resorts. Sometimes waited 30 minutes for MK bus while we saw 4 or 5 HS buses come or vice versa. After some monorail travel, thinking our next stay should be at the Poly, although our budget might disagree. We wasted around 1.5-2hrs of every day on a bus or waiting for a bus.

Not a bad outcome for our first GO at Disney as adults. Only had online research to base decisions on, so things turned out well--fun trip! Only a few things I'd do differently (take less stuff for sure!) and lots that I'd do the same!