First Trip Report: 1st Ever Stay at Poly and Beers around World Showcase?

[Disney Lover JJ]

OK so I will have to apologize in advance for not knowing the tricks of the trade (and the acronyms) in posting here on Dis boards. I scarcely posted a couple of years ago and have decided to do my first trip report. Will probably need some guidance on how to post pics once they become available but will only go through the trouble if I get readers interested

I must admit the report will not all be ALL Disney for we are only spending 3 days at parks and 3 nights on-site...but I'm guessing as long as there is SOME Disney then all is OK and allowed.

First....Intros of who will partake in this journey.

Dad: That's me. 35 years old and typing on Dis boards at 2:15 am local time when I should be sleeping. Born in Puerto Rico, was living in Cincinnati Ohio since 2006 until company relocated me to Sao Paulo Brasil last year. Will be here for another year or so. Been loving Disney since my parents took me first time when I was 4 years old. I have to guess that I have been to Disney about 15-20 times (including Disneyland as part of Honeymoon) but this will be the first much anticipated and long awaited stay at the Poly.

Wife: 37 years old. Thank God I married a person who loves Disney as much as I do....I'll say I love Disney a bit more than she does but don't tell her that. I dragged her from Puerto Rico to Ohio and now to Brasil. She's struggling with our move to Brasil (frankly so am I) which is part of the reason why instead of touring Latin America during our 2-3 year assigment we opt to go back home and get a taste of our homeland....and well what better way than to go to Disney!

Daughter: 6 years old...scared of bugs...scared to sleep alone...but put her on a roller coaster and she is a wild one. That girl is not afraid of ANYTHING when it comes to rides. Last year she rode Space Mountain back to back (CM gave us back our FPs as pixie dust). The entire ride I had my hands on her chest to ensure she was still breathing I had to help her do a Disney count down poster that she put up on her wall. 3 Days Left!

Baby: 19 months old and a handful. We're going to pay with this one. Lots of energy and very demanding. Running around and eats like an Animal Kingdom resident, but not speaking much still. Hey...we speak to her in Spanish, her sister speaks to her in English and the nanny speaks to her in Portuguese... I'm surprised she understands us to this point. She has already been to Disney once, but this will definitely be the first time that she gets to say "wow". She makes a hobby of finding our mickeys around the house...and she's a big dog fan so I'm expecting some serious Pluto Love.

Mother-In-Law (MIL): 62 and crazy as a nut but I love her to death. She calls me her official Travel agent and we laugh like crazy at each other's jokes. Plus...who wouldn't love a MIL that bought a house in Kissimmee? The house is in Lake Marion but I call it Lake FARion. It might be 26 miles from the parks but it takes us 55 minutes to get there...hence why ocassionally I splurge and stay at a hotel when we hit Disney parks. Believe me...driving 2 hours can be exhausting with a full park day worth of park. Plus we always get to parks late and wifey wants to leave early due to drive...so I have to take matters into my own hands to maximize Disney experience at Park. Aaaaaanyways, gotta thank MIL and her second home for ensuring we go to Disney once every year for past 6 years. That said, real estate agent must have injected her with sleepeing agent while taking her to house the first time cause MAN than thing is far.

Grandpa (My Dad): 67 and a kid at heart. Lives alone now in Miami so he's ecstatic he gets to spend time with us and the granddaughters. Haven't seen him since May (usually see him once a year) when he splurged for us to go to Disney Fantasy Cruise...God bless him for that...what an awesome cruise that was. He's still giving me a hard time for booking the Poly (he wasn't counting on paying $300 a night) but he wants to maximize his time with us and agreed to play along. That said he called me today and said he's thrilled about the trip and especially about our nights at the Poly...hey..who wouldn't?

 

[Disney Lover JJ]

Ok so here goes the Agenda:

Friday November 9th: Travel Day. We fly from Sao Paulo Brasil and get in at MCO at 4:55 pm. MIL travels from Puerto Rico and gets in at 3:59 pm. Grandpa drives up from Miami and meets us at airport. Plan is to eat at Chili's at airport (you have NO idea how much we miss Chili's and a Molten living in Brazil ), grab our minivan (wanted to rent a car to fit everyone even though Grandpa will have his car with him), and head to Lake FARion home. Will have to do a quick stop at grocery given that once we go in the door it's cleaning time Plus...the house is exactly 13 minutes from ANY commercial establishment...so better buy some essentials before getting in.

Saturday November 10th...Free-Day for shopping. Might hit some outlet malls. Daughters are having their picture taken at Millenia mall at 11 am. Hey EVERYTHING is uber expensive in Brazil. I'm thinking a Five Guys dinner will be in store...man I miss those burgers.

Sunday November 11th...another Free-Day. Will have to do some X-mas shopping to save down the road...that was part of the plan to go to US. Toy prices in Brazil are out of this world...a single Bey Blade is $37 US. and don't get me started on electronics.

Monday November 12th...Legoland. Daughter loved this park last time and actually and surprisingly is close to MIL's house...about 20 minutes

Tuesday November 13th...Checking in at POLY!! Yeah Baby...have been looking forward to this since I knew hotels existed at Disney. Have stayed at other Monorail resorts, but have always targeted Poly. Parents wouldn't pay it...so had to take matters into my own hands. Been told to request Tokalau Longhouse..let's see if I get it. Plan is to check is as early as our 55 minute drive will allow and hit MK. I just heard about FLE AP previews..which has but a damper in my plans...but I'm sticking to my schedule regardless...too much trouble to change now...heck I might take advantage of 1 am closing time who knows Ah...dinner at 'Ohana at 8:35 pm..that's a first too.

Wednesday November 14th...EPCOT Day! Bummed at Test Track being closed...but still ecstatic about EPCOT Day. Will have Daughter try P-Adventure and see how that is. We have dinner plans at Via Napoli at 7pm (also a first). Now...my wife and I are not drinkers..we rarely drink at all if any...but I have ALWAYS wanted to try and have a beer at every single EPCOT country pavilion. That would be 11 beers total...in one walk around the lagoon...let's see how it goes. Wife is up to the challenge...and thanks to the Poly we are NOT DRIVING...It might get interesting

Thursday November 15th...Hitting AK early (not our favorite but Baby loves animals and Wife has not been on EE). Early Dinner at BOMA at 5:05 (also a first) then hitting MK and X-mas PArty at 7 pm. I think this is where apparantly we will get to experience FLE. If that is the case we're PUMPED!

Friday November 16th...check-out day at Poly Heading over to DTD for the best shopping and having lunch at T-Rex at 12pm. Daughter LOVES Dinos.

Saturday November 17th...depends on our spirits and energy...this is the day we have reserved for a potential Islands of Adventure visit (sorry Disney!). Grandpa already bought a yearly pass so I'm sure he will encourage us.

Sunday November 18th...it's "Relax" day and prep the MIL house for hynernation until the next Disney adventure...this is when we start getting depressed.

Monday November 19th...back to reality...travel day for all.

Any suggestions and comments welcomed...tweeks will surely be made.