Island Hopping: A Highly Inappropriate TR. (Boom.)-- Link to NEW TR! 10/8

[lsenquiz]

I think we must be pretty much the only area off that week in September, because every time we're down there, all the car tags are from our county!! We run into people from Julia's school all the time. It happens so much that I forget to write it into our TR because it is just so normal!

I hope we continue to be the only district with that week off although more are talking about going to it. We jokingly call in Cherokee week(after Jersey week) .

The balanced calendar is awesome:

 

[lsenquiz]

it was Julia's decision not to move out of the classroom. When she got there, she didn't know a soul. She was the only one from her kindergarten class to be in there (how does that even happen!?!). It took her a long time to make friends, and once she finally had one (yes, ONE), she was terrified about starting that whole process over again. The whole situation is just heartbreaking, but I guess you know that.
I think you're right about how sad that is. What is even more sad is that once first-year teachers actually do get a job, they tend to quit within five years. I know I did. Retention for new teachers in the US is horrible, and I think that makes it easier for those who are just there for the paycheck to stay put.
I could really go on and on about this, but I'll stop.
I'm just glad everything has worked out well for you this year; it gives me hope!

I was worried that Gabriel would not want to move classes either as he was in the same boat as Julia (just one close friend in his current class) so I was really nervous when I told him. As soon as I told him that we thought it would be better for him if he switched class rooms his eyes filled with tears. I immediately said "are you upset about leaving Zack?" and he said "No Mommy these are happy tears. Thank you so much for getting me out of there". I still cry when I repeat this story as it just breaks my heart. I will say a little prayer that Julia gets the right teacher for her next year and that she gets her love of school back (we are still working on that with Gabriel). No child should ever have to go through what she has been through this year!

 

[Hulagirlie2003]

Hello there! I'm fairly new to the boards. Thanks for sharing your adventure. One of these days, when grad school is done (this May!!) I'll have to attempt to do a trip report. Maybe I'll do one for our Dec. visit.

 

[lvcourtneyy]

Ah the food looks delicious at Kona! Um does being a mom come with built in patience?! Lol because I don't have kids to entertain and I would've lost it with all that waiting for food and the server!

The photos of your room look amazing. I definitely need to stay at the Poly one day. And being that close to the TTC?! Ah awesome. I'm glad you made sure to walk over all the spit though rotfl

 

[WDWaddictt]

Ohhh the Poly...it is a dream of mine to be able to stay there one day!

Breakfast looked yummy. Kona is a must do for me next time we go!

 

[SoccerDogWithEars]

I am so so soooooo jealous of your Poly pictures!!!! I am DYING to stay there, but my parents just have no interest And while I'm going in December with my boyfriend, our budget simply does not allow us to stay there.

This whole people-entering-without-knocking thing seems to be a theme with TR's this year, as Dani had the same problem. I find this shocking at Disney, but I think some of that also comes from my hospitality major snootiness Joe accuses me of, though I don't know what he's talking about

Can't wait for the next update!!! I am in love with your family, they make me happy!

 

[evabraniff]

Ohhh the Poly...it is a dream of mine to be able to stay there one day!

Breakfast looked yummy. Kona is a must do for me next time we go!

I'd love to stay there. Looking forward to eating at O'hana (twice) NEXT WEEK!

Just finished reading 2011 and what you've got done of this one.. I don't think I would have it in me for a TR. my DD has begged me to watch your video over and over, and is now begging to do the pirate league, my DS is still too young to do it, and it makes him so sad,he loves pirates! He won't be 3 until October though.

 

[rachel09985]

there must be some sort of kid drug on duffy! Every little kid always wants Duffy! My Dis-friend's daughter just got one too. She said they were expensive!

That is the second TR I just read where maintenance came out without knocking! That is a little weird.

 

[sjs314]

Great update! I hope when we have breakfast at Kona's the service is better. We have requested Fiji, I so can not wait to stay there.

 

[GrimGrinningStitch]

Oohhhh, Kona! We ate there for the first time last trip, and really enjoyed it. I got the Tonga Toast, but I was seriously considering the Samoan. I may have to try that next time.

The thumb game sounds pretty fantastic. Definitely a good way to pass the time!

BOOM. I love it.

Clearly the server was operating on Hawaiian time. Every time I've been to hawaii, the general speed of life there (or lack thereof) drives me insane for the first day or so. It doesn't work in WDW, when you need to get going!

What an amazing room! But what is up with people just barging into the room? Definitely unacceptable.

Yay for Epcot! Can't wait to see what comes next!

 

[wiigirl]

Great update!

 

[marDgreen88]

HOORAY FOR POLY-WOOD! (Yeah. )

The food looks great! Too bad the service was slow. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever heard great things about the service at Kona. INTERESTING...

I'm a little bummed that whenever I get around to staying at the Poly, the turtle comforters will be gone. So I'm with you on the room refurb.

 

[Suelala]

When you said you had to "jump over all that spit" I cracked up! Thanks, I needed that! and I hope you find more time to work on this TR today (hint,hint)

 

[tiggerfan77]

I can't believe you at Kona Cafe and didn't have ANY Tonga Toast! WHAT?!! Anyway, breakfast looked Delicious but sorry that you had sucky service.

I am still jealous that you got to stay at the Poly..Ahhh one of these days it will be our turn...

Great pictures of the room, I love the decor and it looks pretty spacious.

 

[FlaNani]

Love the pics of the Poly! I have ALWAYS wanted to stay there. Hopefully someday my dream will come true!

So glad you're continuing the TR, I've missed reading about your family!

 

[danimaroo]

So I'm posting this from my iPad, and I can't like, easily refer back to your update to comment on everything I wanted to, buuuut it's okay!

Anyway, CBR has a special place in my heart since its the first resort I ever stayed at when I was 6! Just a little Dani fun fact there for ya.

I'm so glad you guys ate at Kona! Even though the service was poop. Ours was actually similar if I remember correctly, but not as bad as yours at the end. But listen lady, where is the Tonga Toast?! Then again, the Samoan sounds amazing, too. We don't have an ADR there next trip but gosh, I kind of wish we did.

Anyway, breakfast looks wonderful!

Your room is perfect! I'm so jealous you stayed there, but like, happy jealous. But I have to ask... WHAT IS IT WITH RANDOM PEOPLE JUST WALKING INTO ROOMS?! I don't understand! I feel like its just become the norm or something. Ugh, thank goodness nothing bad happened. Blergh. Also, my iPad just autocorrected Blergh to Bertha, hahahahaha.

Side note, we are almost at the 4 month mark, lady!!!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

I hope we continue to be the only district with that week off although more are talking about going to it. We jokingly call in Cherokee week(after Jersey week) .

The balanced calendar is awesome:

I LOVE this calendar! Just when you feel like you need a break, you get one!

I was worried that Gabriel would not want to move classes either as he was in the same boat as Julia (just one close friend in his current class) so I was really nervous when I told him. As soon as I told him that we thought it would be better for him if he switched class rooms his eyes filled with tears. I immediately said "are you upset about leaving Zack?" and he said "No Mommy these are happy tears. Thank you so much for getting me out of there". I still cry when I repeat this story as it just breaks my heart. I will say a little prayer that Julia gets the right teacher for her next year and that she gets her love of school back (we are still working on that with Gabriel). No child should ever have to go through what she has been through this year!

I'm so glad that things are going better for him. I am hoping that things work out for Julia next year as well. It just has to.

Hello there! I'm fairly new to the boards. Thanks for sharing your adventure. One of these days, when grad school is done (this May!!) I'll have to attempt to do a trip report. Maybe I'll do one for our Dec. visit.

Please do a TR when you have the time! You will love it. It is addictive!

Ah the food looks delicious at Kona! Um does being a mom come with built in patience?! Lol because I don't have kids to entertain and I would've lost it with all that waiting for food and the server!

The photos of your room look amazing. I definitely need to stay at the Poly one day. And being that close to the TTC?! Ah awesome. I'm glad you made sure to walk over all the spit though rotfl

I do think the patience comes with motherhood, or maybe when you handle more and more challenges. I definitely don't sweat the small stuff, or I'd go crazy!!
LOVED that room! I just don't think there's a better location at all!

Ohhh the Poly...it is a dream of mine to be able to stay there one day!

Breakfast looked yummy. Kona is a must do for me next time we go!

I just love everything about the Poly, really!

I am so so soooooo jealous of your Poly pictures!!!! I am DYING to stay there, but my parents just have no interest And while I'm going in December with my boyfriend, our budget simply does not allow us to stay there.

This whole people-entering-without-knocking thing seems to be a theme with TR's this year, as Dani had the same problem. I find this shocking at Disney, but I think some of that also comes from my hospitality major snootiness Joe accuses me of, though I don't know what he's talking about

Can't wait for the next update!!! I am in love with your family, they make me happy!

I know she did! SO WEIRD!
I'm so happy they make you happy! They make me happy, too !!

I'd love to stay there. Looking forward to eating at O'hana (twice) NEXT WEEK!

Just finished reading 2011 and what you've got done of this one.. I don't think I would have it in me for a TR. my DD has begged me to watch your video over and over, and is now begging to do the pirate league, my DS is still too young to do it, and it makes him so sad,he loves pirates! He won't be 3 until October though.

TWICE! Oh, I'm jealous!
We learned about Pirate's League from watching someone's video, too! Sawyer was sad about it, too, but he got to toddle around in an empty adventureland and got over it pretty quickly . Buy him some dress-up stuff in the gift shop.

there must be some sort of kid drug on duffy! Every little kid always wants Duffy! My Dis-friend's daughter just got one too. She said they were expensive!

That is the second TR I just read where maintenance came out without knocking! That is a little weird.

I think it was $30? And the clothes are nearly $20 an outfit! Drugs, I tell ya!
Yeah, that pretty much creeped me out. I'm not sure what's up with that lately, but it needs to stop!

Great update! I hope when we have breakfast at Kona's the service is better. We have requested Fiji, I so can not wait to stay there.

They are on island time there . The food was great, though!

Oohhhh, Kona! We ate there for the first time last trip, and really enjoyed it. I got the Tonga Toast, but I was seriously considering the Samoan. I may have to try that next time.

The thumb game sounds pretty fantastic. Definitely a good way to pass the time!

BOOM. I love it.

Clearly the server was operating on Hawaiian time. Every time I've been to hawaii, the general speed of life there (or lack thereof) drives me insane for the first day or so. It doesn't work in WDW, when you need to get going!

What an amazing room! But what is up with people just barging into the room? Definitely unacceptable.

Yay for Epcot! Can't wait to see what comes next!

I was really torn between the Samoan and Tonga Toast. In fact, I didn't decide until just that second and had food remorse immediately after ordering. Tough life we live.
I called it "island time!" I just wanted to see my new room, so I wanted her to hurry even more!
Epcot's always good. Always.

Great update!

Thank you! I love getting to live this again through the pictures!

HOORAY FOR POLY-WOOD! (Yeah. )

The food looks great! Too bad the service was slow. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever heard great things about the service at Kona. INTERESTING...

I'm a little bummed that whenever I get around to staying at the Poly, the turtle comforters will be gone. So I'm with you on the room refurb.

I totally went with that Poly-wood thing. I like it.
I don't know if I have heard any great server stories from there, either. At least the food was yummy!
The refurb is too generic to me. Bring back the turtles!

When you said you had to "jump over all that spit" I cracked up! Thanks, I needed that! and I hope you find more time to work on this TR today (hint,hint)

Bahahaha! Glad you got a laugh from our redneck habits!

I can't believe you at Kona Cafe and didn't have ANY Tonga Toast! WHAT?!! Anyway, breakfast looked Delicious but sorry that you had sucky service.

I am still jealous that you got to stay at the Poly..Ahhh one of these days it will be our turn...

Great pictures of the room, I love the decor and it looks pretty spacious.

I KNOW, I KNOW! But I assumed I'd just get it at Capt. Cook's later, although you don't get the strawberry sauce there. I still regret my food choice. SIGH....

Love the pics of the Poly! I have ALWAYS wanted to stay there. Hopefully someday my dream will come true!

So glad you're continuing the TR, I've missed reading about your family!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you! It really was amazing.

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

So I'm posting this from my iPad, and I can't like, easily refer back to your update to comment on everything I wanted to, buuuut it's okay!

Anyway, CBR has a special place in my heart since its the first resort I ever stayed at when I was 6! Just a little Dani fun fact there for ya.

I'm so glad you guys ate at Kona! Even though the service was poop. Ours was actually similar if I remember correctly, but not as bad as yours at the end. But listen lady, where is the Tonga Toast?! Then again, the Samoan sounds amazing, too. We don't have an ADR there next trip but gosh, I kind of wish we did.

Anyway, breakfast looks wonderful!

Your room is perfect! I'm so jealous you stayed there, but like, happy jealous. But I have to ask... WHAT IS IT WITH RANDOM PEOPLE JUST WALKING INTO ROOMS?! I don't understand! I feel like its just become the norm or something. Ugh, thank goodness nothing bad happened. Blergh. Also, my iPad just autocorrected Blergh to Bertha, hahahahaha.

Side note, we are almost at the 4 month mark, lady!!!

I totally get that way about our first, Pop. Totally.
Listen, the Tonga Toast was a mistake. I wasn't feeling like sweet, but I totally should have gotten it. STILL sad about that one. But I was all, "I'll get it at Capt. Cook's later..." DUMB.
RANDOM. They need to get over this barging in business. I did want the new mattress, though, so I didn't want to terrify them too much...
FOUR!!! OMG! So close. SO close. I can't handle it.

 

[Lalabubbles]

Just joining in

 

[LifeIsDis]

UGH your room at the Poly is gorgeous. And this is why I love deluxe resorts. I call myself a deluxe snob. I mean, I started being a deluxe snob at a very young age. Two to be exact on my first trip to WDW. I walked into one of the All Stars and I said "EWWW what is this place?!" Of course I dont remember that, but my mom does. Then we switched over to AKL and I said "Ooooooh I like it here!"

At two years old.

Anyways, welcome to the dark (and expensive) side! Not really dark but you get the point...