First trip....Feb 2012....Polynesian....Yay!

[Lidian]

Be sure to give your DS ample time to warm up to characters. Just because he has a bad experience on day one doesn't mean he won't be running at them for hugs by day three.

Plus, my DS only responded well to Donald, until our last day when he finally met Mickey. So he may respond poorly to some characters, but adore others. Kids are peculiar like that.

Obviously, you know your DS best, but I would hate for you to cancel something prematurely and miss out on a great character experience!

As far as tees goes, I've usually had a lot of luck at our local Walmart for stocking Disney tees. DD has a C&D tee that she got in May from WM. Granted, in this case, it was obvious it was a girl's top -- but I do suggest WM and Target as they do tend to have Disney clothes. (At least my local ones do.) G'luck and I hope you find something!

 

[solana131]

Be sure to give your DS ample time to warm up to characters. Just because he has a bad experience on day one doesn't mean he won't be running at them for hugs by day three.

Plus, my DS only responded well to Donald, until our last day when he finally met Mickey. So he may respond poorly to some characters, but adore others. Kids are peculiar like that.

Obviously, you know your DS best, but I would hate for you to cancel something prematurely and miss out on a great character experience!

As far as tees goes, I've usually had a lot of luck at our local Walmart for stocking Disney tees. DD has a C&D tee that she got in May from WM. Granted, in this case, it was obvious it was a girl's top -- but I do suggest WM and Target as they do tend to have Disney clothes. (At least my local ones do.) G'luck and I hope you find something!

Thanks for the Walmart tip. I never even thought to look there. Our local WM has lots of Minnie things and lots of Cars/Toy Story, but nothing else. Maybe I could check their website. Good call

And also thanks for the advice on the characters. I am hoping he won't have any issues with them at all, thats why I have kept the CM ressie. I know its loud and crazy in there, but you kinda have to do it at least once. I had such a hard time deciding where to eat. I need to go for a whole month to fit in all the great options. But my goal with this first trip is to make it as stress-free as possible. I think too many ressies we just have to make would be bad. And staying at the Poly, I just can't wait to try Kona. I picked out all my choices already for each dinner and breakfast. I think we will wait til next time to do O'Hana. I think it would be too much this trip.

 

[DMGeurts]

I totally agree...

My oldest was afraid of the characters on the first day of our first trip - but then she saw my youngest dd getting all the attention - and she wanted in. So, once they get used to seeing these big characters all over, they get used to it. - I think. Mine did anyways.

I think your restaurant choices are perfect for this trip - definately don't want to overwhelm.

D~

 

[Lidian]

I totally agree...

My oldest was afraid of the characters on the first day of our first trip - but then she saw my youngest dd getting all the attention - and she wanted in. So, once they get used to seeing these big characters all over, they get used to it. - I think. Mine did anyways.

I think your restaurant choices are perfect for this trip - definately don't want to overwhelm.

D~

I agree!

The first characters we encountered were Alice, Mary Poppins, and Peter Pan. He had nothing to do with any of them. He actually cried when Peter asked him to be a Lost Boy. Then at Akershus, he avoided the Princesses like the plague. I felt bad for the girls, but he was terrified! So I found it odd that he took to a "fur" character over a "face" character ... but it was his favorite character. Lemme see if I have a picture....

Ack! I was wrong, first encounter was Pooh and Tigger and he cried. So I thought it was "fur" that bothered him. Then we saw Alice (etc).

But here's a picture of DS with Donald:

Just look at the smile on that face! He still avoided most of the characters, but he loved Donald (and then Mickey) at CM.

So definitely don't give up, but don't pressure either. I'm also hoping some will fall your way for him!!

 

[solana131]

Thanks guys! I am so excited. I don't know how I will make it another 83 days
I was so back and forth with the resort choice. I still kinda think we would be better off staying at POFQ, but I just can't pass up a chance to stay at the Poly.

Lidian, your kids are so cute. Thanks for sharing those pics with me! I guess we will keep the CM ressie for the last day. If he doesn't like the characters, we will just eat and run. I'm sure they have some idea if the kid is scared or not. But I'll take advantage if he doesn't like them...Mommy can get some Mickey Love instead. Can't have The Mouse thinking we don't like him!

 

[Lidian]

Thanks guys! I am so excited. I don't know how I will make it another 83 days
I was so back and forth with the resort choice. I still kinda think we would be better off staying at POFQ, but I just can't pass up a chance to stay at the Poly.

Lidian, your kids are so cute. Thanks for sharing those pics with me! I guess we will keep the CM ressie for the last day. If he doesn't like the characters, we will just eat and run. I'm sure they have some idea if the kid is scared or not. But I'll take advantage if he doesn't like them...Mommy can get some Mickey Love instead. Can't have The Mouse thinking we don't like him!

Thanks for the compliment.

And you can probably tell before you even get to CMs if he'll be okay. There's ways to see the characters in the parks, and you can probably base it on that. And if he isn't doing well with characters, explain to the server/hostess that he's terrified (or however he feels) and I'm sure the staff will be as accommodating as possible. And if he's really bothered, he can hide under the table (it's what DS did at RFC). Sometimes, they may need to warm up ... and it may take Mickey crawling under the table, too, for him to get past any issues and love a big ole Mouse. (And obviously, you can explain to any characters that he's shy, or scared, or whatever.) I admit, those characters really know how to read and handle kids well! They do an amazing job at interpreting a child's body language and know how to respond ... And sometimes seeing Mom with a character helps then understand that its a friend and its okay. I'm very much looking forward to hearing about his experiences.

 

[solana131]

My new park bag! I know, its not a cool duck butt bag or very Disneyish, but I love it! It is a Vera Bradley "Lizzy". Perfect size for my little camera and a photopass and room keycard.

Very adjustable crossbody. Front flap with seethrough holder for photopass. Back zippered pocket for credit cards, license, etc. Center zip compartment with 2 pockets for cell phone/camera. It won't hold alot, but we will have the understroller storage also.
Speaking of stroller storage...if I don't have a bag one day and we just have things under the stroller (water bottles, change of clothes, etc not in a bag) do I still have to go through the bag check line?

 

[Lidian]

My new park bag! I know, its not a cool duck butt bag or very Disneyish, but I love it! It is a Vera Bradley "Lizzy". Perfect size for my little camera and a photopass and room keycard.

Very adjustable crossbody. Front flap with seethrough holder for photopass. Back zippered pocket for credit cards, license, etc. Center zip compartment with 2 pockets for cell phone/camera. It won't hold alot, but we will have the understroller storage also.
Speaking of stroller storage...if I don't have a bag one day and we just have things under the stroller (water bottles, change of clothes, etc not in a bag) do I still have to go through the bag check line?

Totally love your new bag!!! It's pretty, and looks great! I love all the pockets. I'm a pocket junkie because I love to organize ... so my purse is still lacking a bit ... but I'm proud that I made it myself. lol

I'm not 100% certain on the stroller question. I would think you could skip baggage ... but I can't vouch for sure. They may want to glance in the bottom to make sure there's no bags.

 

[DMGeurts]

My new park bag! I know, its not a cool duck butt bag or very Disneyish, but I love it! It is a Vera Bradley "Lizzy". Perfect size for my little camera and a photopass and room keycard.

Very adjustable crossbody. Front flap with seethrough holder for photopass. Back zippered pocket for credit cards, license, etc. Center zip compartment with 2 pockets for cell phone/camera. It won't hold alot, but we will have the understroller storage also.
Speaking of stroller storage...if I don't have a bag one day and we just have things under the stroller (water bottles, change of clothes, etc not in a bag) do I still have to go through the bag check line?

Totally love your new Lizzy... Super cute bag. I am still a Vera girl at heart and I love most things Vera! That will be a great park bag!

D~

 

[solana131]

but I'm proud that I made it myself. lol

I'm not 100% certain on the stroller question. I would think you could skip baggage ... but I can't vouch for sure. They may want to glance in the bottom to make sure there's no bags.

You should be proud...your bag is adorable! And thats kinda what I figured on the bag line question. Oh well, we will just go with the flow and see what happens. I don't forsee me not bringing a bag anyway, so its probably not gonna come up.

80 days to go!

 

[solana131]

Thanks D~. I went to the store looking for the Hipster to be cool like you But decided on this one instead for a smaller size. I figured we would have enough storage in the stroller and the less I have to actually carry, the better!

 

[Lidian]

You should be proud...your bag is adorable! And thats kinda what I figured on the bag line question. Oh well, we will just go with the flow and see what happens. I don't forsee me not bringing a bag anyway, so its probably not gonna come up.

80 days to go!

I'm jealous for your 80 day countdown!

Thanks D~. I went to the store looking for the Hipster to be cool like you But decided on this one instead for a smaller size. I figured we would have enough storage in the stroller and the less I have to actually carry, the better!

Just remember, never put anything valuable in the stroller. I know the WDW ones have a tendancy to "walk off", and I'm sure personal strollers sometimes grow legs as well (but not as often). Plus, someone could potentially rummage through your belongings. (Yes, I have trust issues and I'm paranoid, but I work hard for what little I have and would like to keep it.)

But totally digging your bag! It's very pretty and looks perfect for me!

 

[solana131]

(Yes, I have trust issues and I'm paranoid, but I work hard for what little I have and would like to keep it.)

I don't think you are paranoid at all! I would NEVER leave valuables in my stroller, thats why I got the little Vera Bag. I plan to keep a change of clothes, water bottles, etc in the stroller. Those little bins under the strollers don't hold much anyway

Speaking of strollers....one other thing I was wondering about. On the Magical Express, do they take your stroller to put underneath with the carry-ons, or do you have to hold it? While we are at it, do they take your carry-ons for you? Really wish I didn't have to bring a stroller, but just not sure how DS will do and better safe than sorry.

BTW: 75 days to go....but whos counting

 

[DMGeurts]

I'm sorry - I can't answer your stroller question... I've never ridden ME. I would think that they would have to stow it under the ME bus though.

Yay for 75 days!!! Whoo-hoo!!

D~

 

[solana131]

Thats alright D~. It doesn't matter either way...just wondering. I was going to hire a car instead of the ME so we wouldn't have one more line to stand in, but DH can deal with the line. As soon as I get on my plane at MHT, I am on vacation and I am not going to stress about it. We will just take it as is comes. I am paying alot to go for the week, so any little freebie they throw at me...I'm in!
A little nervous about letting them handle the luggage, but I think we will get there early enough that even if it takes a few hours to get our bags to the room, we will be fine. Not planning any parks that evening, and we will have a big carryon as well as little bags, so we will have bathing suits etc.

 

[dilligaf212]

Im in going back to read.. I would love to stay at the Poly so hopefully you will do a TR after this to let me know how you liked it.

 

[solana131]

Im in going back to read.. I would love to stay at the Poly so hopefully you will do a TR after this to let me know how you liked it.

WELCOME! Its not a very exciting PTR, but thanks for joining in. I'm not really sure what else to put on here until it gets closer. I am planning on turning it into a full blown TR when I get back. I think the DIS could use a couple TRs from first timers to add to the more experienced ones. I read some of them and don't have a clue what people are talking about because I don't go every year and don't know all the ins and outs of the place.....yet

So if anyone has any other ideas of what I should put in my PTR, let me know

Oh....I bought new luggage last week and can't wait to use it. Is 55 days too early to start packing?

 

[FosterA]

Just wanted to let you know that I'm in!! I may have to wait til my weekend to really read through everything though. I do know that you will love the Poly though. The rooms are very comfortable I think and with plenty of room and storage space.

I'll write more later. Just wanted to subscribe for sure though!

Us chicks with Disney resistant husbands need to stick together!

 

[Lidian]

Us chicks with Disney resistant husbands need to stick together!

AMEN! Sorry, I gotta jump in on this, too. My DH swears every year we're never going back. He'll eventually learn that I will get my way.

 

[DMGeurts]

Just wanted to let you know that I'm in!! I may have to wait til my weekend to really read through everything though. I do know that you will love the Poly though. The rooms are very comfortable I think and with plenty of room and storage space.

I'll write more later. Just wanted to subscribe for sure though!

Us chicks with Disney resistant husbands need to stick together!

AMEN! Sorry, I gotta jump in on this, too. My DH swears every year we're never going back. He'll eventually learn that I will get my way.

Yup - agreed. Hense, the reason we are going with out him this time... He even bought our plane tickets.

D~