FRIENDS, PHOTOGRAPHS, and Birthday FUN! 3/3 30 Day Photo Challenge Day 21

[DrMomof3]

You can definitely walk to TTC from Poly. Depending on your longhouse, it can be shorter or longer. I'm not a big hot tub person so that's never been a deciding factor for me.

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

Hi guys.....here I am.......already on page 3, I see.......So, I think based on the hot tub and lazy river, I am now going to choose BC!!!! Yep BC, BC, BC, BC!!!!



Oh, don't you remember, Erin??? You and I were planning on hijacking their trip and joining them??!!! So, you can be excited for ALL OF US!!!

Your (very enthusiastic) vote will definitely be taken under advisement Ann!

And the more the merrier!

You can definitely walk to TTC from Poly. Depending on your longhouse, it can be shorter or longer. I'm not a big hot tub person so that's never been a deciding factor for me.

Amanda

Thanks Amanda! What about BC, haven't you stayed there? If so how was the trip to MK? And is one of them more 'adult' than the other (in terms of noise, etc.)?

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ooooh, lots of chatter going on behind the scenes folks! I smell an extra day (or two for me!) and a split stay mod AND deluxe?!?!?! If we typed all of it here, we would fill up the 250 max page limit before the trip even arrives!

 

[-Hope-]

Yep, lots and lots of discussion. First and foremost- we picked a resort!
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The Poly! ​

After weighing all the options and thinking about the things we really wanted to do on this trip the Poly just made more sense. With easy access to both MK and Epcot (our two fave parks) it will make touring on a short trip so much easier.

As for that extra night Karen mentioned... well, if we arrive one day earlier and stay at POFQ we can take the water taxi to DTD that night and then have a full day the next day instead of a half travel/half Disney day. It just makes fitting everything in SO much easier.

 

[Pixiedust530]

Yep, lots and lots of discussion. First and foremost- we picked a resort!
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The Poly! ​

After weighing all the options and thinking about the things we really wanted to do on this trip the Poly just made more sense. With easy access to both MK and Epcot (our two fave parks) it will make touring on a short trip so much easier.

As for that extra night Karen mentioned... well, if we arrive one day earlier and stay at POFQ we can take the water taxi to DTD that night and then have a full day the next day instead of a half travel/half Disney day. It just makes fitting everything in SO much easier.

Congrats on choosing a resort!!! My vote was for the Poly!

I like the idea of adding an extra night! I think taking the water taxi would be so much fun....and you can never beatextending that first Disney day to a FULL day!

So exciting. I can't wait to read more!

 

[DrMomof3]

Good choice! I love the Poly and it's very well themed!!!!

To answer your earlier question (even if it doesn't matter anymore ) we have stayed at YC and at BC (in the villas, actually). I loved them both. I felt that YC was definitely more adult in theming and feel. Loved the very short walk to Epcot and access to the whole Boardwalk area. We took the boat to DHS but some people walk. The bus to MK was fine. Without kids and strollers it was easy. With kids and strollers the bus is slightly less easy but that's true anywhere.

When you go from Poly to DHS or AK, the bus stops at CR (and maybe Grand Floridian too - I can't remember). That was a bit annoying!!!

Amanda

 

[Dizneydaz]

That is all great info, thank you so much!

I'm curious about AKL, we briefly discussed it but I have read in more than one TR that people could smell animal feces while sitting on their balcony. I'm thinking if you loved the balcony you didn't have this experience. Wondering if anyone else has read about or experienced this??

No, we didn't experience that. But we haven't stayed there since 1994 so maybe it's changed. A couple of times when I get up really early (about sunrise-which is really early for us being from California) I would see the staff out there doing some cleaning up and getting the animals up for the breakfast. One time I even saw one of them slowly back their vehicle up to get one of the animals on his feet. Seems he wanted to sleep a little longer. I even video taped this.

Maybe the savannah with the birds is smellier?

Poly sounds great! And you can't beat the location. We love to sit on the beach and watch the fireworks after eating at Kona or Capt. Cooks.

 

[-Hope-]

Good choice! I love the Poly and it's very well themed!!!!

To answer your earlier question (even if it doesn't matter anymore ) we have stayed at YC and at BC (in the villas, actually). I loved them both. I felt that YC was definitely more adult in theming and feel. Loved the very short walk to Epcot and access to the whole Boardwalk area. We took the boat to DHS but some people walk. The bus to MK was fine. Without kids and strollers it was easy. With kids and strollers the bus is slightly less easy but that's true anywhere.

When you go from Poly to DHS or AK, the bus stops at CR (and maybe Grand Floridian too - I can't remember). That was a bit annoying!!!

Amanda

Thanks for all the info Amanda. Anyone who follows along with Karen and I when we're planning knows that just because we've made a decision doesn't mean we don't still have our wheels turning so it's always good to have more info.

That is a bit annoying that the deluxe resorts are sharing buses. At least we won't be spending much time at AK or DHS so it won't be an issue often.

 

[-Hope-]

No, we didn't experience that. But we haven't stayed there since 1994 so maybe it's changed. A couple of times when I get up really early (about sunrise-which is really early for us being from California) I would see the staff out there doing some cleaning up and getting the animals up for the breakfast. One time I even saw one of them slowly back their vehicle up to get one of the animals on his feet. Seems he wanted to sleep a little longer. I even video taped this.

Maybe the savannah with the birds is smellier?

Poly sounds great! And you can't beat the location. We love to sit on the beach and watch the fireworks after eating at Kona or Capt. Cooks.

Fireworks from the beach is one of the things I'm looking forward to most.

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Um, guys…how is it that I only missed a few days and you all are already on page 4 of a PTR that is for 2013? Yeah, you’ll hit that 250 mark in no time That is awesome!

And, Ann, you told our secret!:

Oh, don't you remember, Erin??? You and I were planning on hijacking their trip and joining them??!!! So, you can be excited for ALL OF US!!!

I guess now you guys know we’re going to crash this little party! Especially since my 40th is a few days earlier on the 21st! Oh sheesh! I’m going to be 40 in 2 years! JK, 40 is the new 30, right, Karen? Seriously, though, I think Poly is a fantastic choice!

 

[-Hope-]

Erin, you have NO idea! The emails and chats going on behind the scenes are actually really funny when I step back and consider how far away this trip is. :

 

[-Hope-]

Completely OT but wanted to share...

Today we celebrated 95 days until our Chicago trip. I'd wanted to do 100 but forgot and missed it. No big deal though, we didn't have plans today so it worked out pretty well. I decided to try to surprise my kids by having everything all set up when they woke up this morning. My kids do NOT do well with surprises.

First of all, yesterday I borrowed a cup from Karen for the table that Kya saw and wanted to know why I had it. Then she found the food I'd bought and wanted to know what it was for. The nosy little brat. I managed to put her off well enough that she knew something was up but she didn't know what. Crisis averted, right?

Umm, no. This morning Jace woke up and saw the stuff sitting on the table and was MAD that I had borrowed his stuff without asking. I told him it was for a surprise (which he hadn't really put together because he was too mad to notice the theme of the table) and he said he didn't ask for a surprise and he was just mad that I took his stuff without asking. Well, in hindsight he had a point and I should have asked but in that moment I was just irritated that he wasn't being appreciative of my gesture. After I calmed down I realized that we just aren't surprise people and that in the future I need to give my kids the chance to warm up to an idea instead of springing it on them.

So, after everyone calmed down and was happy we were able to start the fun!

I had the table themed with lots of the destinations we'll be visiting on our trip.

In the background you can see the ferris wheel that is there to represent the one at Navy Pier. (This ferris wheel, btw, is one of the things Jace was upset about, lol.) Kya's American Girl dolls were there since we'll be visiting the store.

I also called and made our dining reservation for lunch at the American Girl Cafe. They have high chairs for the dolls that clip to the table so they can "dine" with you- Kya is SO excited about this!

We'll be taking the Amtrak (which we already have tickets for) when we go so we had to have a train on our table.

Of course we'll have to stop by Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower). You can see my pitiful construction paper replica in the background.

We'll also be visiting Rainforest Cafe... (which I need to call and see if they take reservations at the Chicago location... oops, almost forgot!)

Those are individual molten lava cakes- my version of a mini "volcano". And that's Karen's RFC cup- the one that nearly gave me away to Kya.

Here's the tell-tale cup again with my postcard from my trip to Chicago a few years ago. (And if you look closely you can see the bottom of the DVD case for the movie we watched later... can you guess what it is??)

In addition to the mini volcanoes we had Chicago dogs and mini Chicago style deep dish pizzas.

I found lots of pictures on Google image to put on strips to make a countdown chain. My printer was running low on ink so they came out kind of pink but the kids still had fun going through them and seeing pictures of the places we'll be going. I had pictures of all the places represented on the table plus a few of the hotel where we'll be staying and some of Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue which are both within walking distance of our hotel (which I have confirmed reservations for).

In this picture of the kids you can see that we also had Legos in honor of our planned trip to Legoland Discovery Center and a stegosaurus book to represent our trip to the Field Museum.

You can also see their smiles in that picture and know that even though it takes them time to adjust to surprises they still both had fun.

After eating and playing with some of the fun stuff on the table we settled in to put the countdown chain together while we watched... Chicago of course!

So, not a Disney day but still really fun!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I love your Chicago day!!!!! It was pretty strange reading about a themed day without being involved! You guys are going to have so much fun and I'm jealous that you get a countdown chain already! I'm resisting doing ours!


oh yes, I'll do it before 100...I think in 2009 I did it at 130? That sucker hung all the way from one window to another, across the room, in our living room!

Erin, I can't believe you would even doubt that we would fill 4 pages already! We're going for the record...longest PTR EVER!!!!!!!!

And now that I know you are turning 40 just mere weeks before me, you must come! We must celebrate in style b/c ... well, I'm not sure why I need to celebrate... but it seems like a good idea!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Um, guys…how is it that I only missed a few days and you all are already on page 4 of a PTR that is for 2013? Yeah, you’ll hit that 250 mark in no time That is awesome!

I guess now you guys know we’re going to crash this little party! Especially since my 40th is a few days earlier on the 21st! Oh sheesh! I’m going to be 40 in 2 years! JK, 40 is the new 30, right, Karen? Seriously, though, I think Poly is a fantastic choice!

My buddies here seem to have forgotten I will be 44 in May this year, so I don't want to hear how, "oh poor me...I'm gonna be 40!!!!"

 

[-Hope-]

I love your Chicago day!!!!! It was pretty strange reading about a themed day without being involved! You guys are going to have so much fun and I'm jealous that you get a countdown chain already! I'm resisting doing ours!


oh yes, I'll do it before 100...I think in 2009 I did it at 130? That sucker hung all the way from one window to another, across the room, in our living room!

Erin, I can't believe you would even doubt that we would fill 4 pages already! We're going for the record...longest PTR EVER!!!!!!!!

And now that I know you are turning 40 just mere weeks before me, you must come! We must celebrate in style b/c ... well, I'm not sure why I need to celebrate... but it seems like a good idea!

You need to celebrate because A) You may be turning 40 but you'll still be fabulous and B) You'll be at WDW... with ME, it really doesn't get much better than that now does it.

Erin and Ann, you better start preparing yourself if you want to roll with us!

My buddies here seem to have forgotten I will be 44 in May this year, so I don't want to hear how, "oh poor me...I'm gonna be 40!!!!"

Still fabulous though.

 

[Pixiedust530]

Your Chicago day looks like so much fun! You are so creative! I would love to do a countdown chain or Disney Days, but since I'm surprising Caden and he is too smart for his own good I will have to save all that fun stuff for the NEXT trip!

 

[DrMomof3]

Love the Chicago day! Too funny about the kids not being good at surprises...

Amanda

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Oh, Hope, I just LOVE your Chicago themed party! I loved how everything tied into an activity you’re going to do when you’re there. I especially liked the ferris wheel, even if Jace didn’t really appreciate it at first Too funny. I know it wasn’t funny at the time but I can relate because it sounds like something that could’ve happened in my house

My buddies here seem to have forgotten I will be 44 in May this year, so I don't want to hear how, "oh poor me...I'm gonna be 40!!!!"

Well, Ann, you’re just lucky to already be in the Fabulous Forties Club! And if 40 is the new 30, then 44 is the new 34, and I am 38, so technically you will still be younger than I am on your birthday! Yeah, that sounds right. I’ve been doing Disney Fuzzy Math for so long that I can’t do real math anymore

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

So, you all know that Hope and I are photographers and both have our own businesses. We are a PERFECT match for Disney together!

We've begun to discuss (I'm sure Hope has already started a list! ) of how we will tour based on our photographic NEEDS!

When we have been with our families, we really haven't been free to stop and shoot the way we normally would, now we will be allowed to do that! I think Hope is even more die-hard than me, I may be lucky if I get her on any rides other than Soarin'!

For me, it's a toss up between the drinks.

In any case, we're really excited about being able to photograph freely, take our time, and work on getting some shots that we really love. Hey Hope, I think we should start posting our fav's and making a list of what shots we want! Here's one of my favorites:

BTW, it took me quite a few shots to get this, I was content to stand in WS and shoot the WHOLE sunset, in fact, I'm positive if I had more time I would have gotten some more reds in there, but my family wanted to forge ahead...not on our girls trip! I'll stand there all day if I have to!

 

[-Hope-]

GREAT IDEA!!! I have to fix supper (these kids, always wanting to eat when I'm trying to DIS, sheesh) but will be back later to post a pic.

And whatever would make you think I might have a list...