**It's a Poly-Tastic ExtraVaGanZa!**OR IRENE IRENE GO AWAY!

[QuirkyBelle]

Wow! Three updates!

Looks like you had fun at Magic Kingdom. My family did CP for breakfast one morning on our last vacation and LOVED being able to walk down an empty main street. It was also a lot of fun to have a character breakfast - looks like your kids enjoyed it, who by the way, are just too cute.

Sorry about the Luau, but I completely understand. As a short person I know what it's like to not be able to see. Hopefully the evening didn't put a damper on the rest of the trip.

 

[mikkiwikki]

Oh no! Sorry you weren't happy with your seating at the luau. I haven't been to the luau yet, but based on Hoop de Doo, I think their categories need to be revamped a little....4 tables back shouldn't be the same price as the front. And the bad part is, my family is pushing for the luau next trip.

glennbo123- Well - I don't want to be a total damper...We went 2 years ago....and it was *OK*...but to be fair that time we were literally behind A pole..and our view was seriously obstructed. However I only paid category 2...so I let it slide...

SO you can see my frustration this time possibly..trying to sell it again to hubby, paying a lot of money, and again NOT being poly perfect.

I guess Im spoiled given my clear memory of what the show was like as a child...and I have to say it was pure heaven...very intimate, the dancers would come around the audience and interact with guests..My stoic father was invited on stage to do the hula once...something that had my mother in stitches...and dad blushing beet red afterwards...It was really wonderful

I have to say I REALLY DO love the (SECOND PART) of the luau show...At least the traditional part of it...They have this cheesy LOUD drama story they have slapped onto the front of the luau ....About a girl who moved away from the islands and has forgotten her identity or some such....That is nothing like the original show...The whole show should be hula and fire dancers...that is what people come to see!

Im torn even tho this happened I would still love to see it (at least the second part of it)
Maybe Ill just skip it and go to Aulani next year LOL

 

[mikkiwikki]

Wow! Three updates!

Looks like you had fun at Magic Kingdom. My family did CP for breakfast one morning on our last vacation and LOVED being able to walk down an empty main street. It was also a lot of fun to have a character breakfast - looks like your kids enjoyed it, who by the way, are just too cute.

Sorry about the Luau, but I completely understand. As a short person I know what it's like to not be able to see. Hopefully the evening didn't put a damper on the rest of the trip.

HEY HOWDY HEY QuirkyBelle!

YES WE love the empty Main street..I get chills...walking down it all my myself and with my little fam..

Yea the luau issue totally did NOT ruin the trip...we just make lemonade out of lemons...no reason to get grumpy...It was our choice to leave and much fun will ensue!

P.S. thanks for the cute kid comment!!

 

[Oliquig]

I can't wait to go on the Jungle Cruise again, the last time I went our skipper was lovely but she had a very thick Japanese accent, so the puns were hard to "get " sometimes. Especially over the loudspeaker.

The price and the reviews really left us not wanting to do the luau, I can't believe they wouldn't just move your family. You were a party of four, not fourteen.

 

[mikkiwikki]

What are Tuvalu's neigbouring states... "Federated States of MicroNesia" (There are seven...)
PRIZES AWAIT

BUZZ...! No one answered this trivia question..the answer is..

1) KIRIBATI
2) NAURU
3) SOLOMON ISLANDS
4) FIJI
5) Wallis and Futuna
6) Tokelau
7) WESTERN SAMOA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceania

 

[mikkiwikki]

I can't wait to go on the Jungle Cruise again, the last time I went our skipper was lovely but she had a very thick Japanese accent, so the puns were hard to "get " sometimes. Especially over the loudspeaker.

The price and the reviews really left us not wanting to do the luau, I can't believe they wouldn't just move your family. You were a party of four, not fourteen.

yes I thought of this too..
I really don't think the manager was expecting me to say...forget it...she did look a little shocked...like this never happens to me!

But I was serious..If I could not see the stage and my family could not see the stage it was game over. It was my choice so I didn't take it out on her I just left! Hubby got a little loud..but I never did..lol I try to maintain my composure haha...especially with children present..trying to be the good role model and all

Also can I just say...regarding your loudspeaker comment..I feel like disney feels we are all deaf! I cannot tell you how many rides this trip I literally was sticking my fingers in my ears to drown out the obnoxious volume...haha

 

[ostrom]

Great TR! Really enjoying following along and can't wait to read the rest.

Sorry you had a bad experience at the Luau. We are a party of 10 staying at the Poly at the first part of Nov. and have a ADR for the Luau which now makes me a little nervous since we are cat 3. Hope we can see the stage....

 

[mikkiwikki]

little family of ducks who took a nap right under neath our balcony...beyond cute!

 

[mikkiwikki]

Great TR! Really enjoying following along and can't wait to read the rest.

Sorry you had a bad experience at the Luau. We are a party of 10 staying at the Poly at the first part of Nov. and have a ADR for the Luau which now makes me a little nervous since we are cat 3. Hope we can see the stage....

Thanks ostrom! I wouldn't totally write off luau..even with this experience..I was being pretty picky..wanting to see the stage an all....it is a nice show..but I just wanted the best, and couldnt get it this time so maybe next time. or just go to aulani where you will get the attention deserved for the price we are paying lol

 

[mikkiwikki]

So after the Luau snafu - we are set for KONA CAFE

adult dinner menu here

Here are the kids just sitting down..starving at this point

Hubby looking all like Yea Im the man that got us this ressie

After my kerfuffle with the poly staff.I needed a bit of enforced relaxation.
The Kentucky Peach ..(my first) fit the bill...LOVED it

Hubbies appetizer..I thought I could share this with him but he ate all of it before I had a chance!
Clearly a favorite -sorry for the blurry pic
Pot Stickers - wok-seared duck dumplings with creamy ginger soy sauce $7.49

MY - Tuna Oscar - LOVED this..everything cooked just perfectly tuna tender, green tomatoes fired in a touch of oil just right perfect compliment. Asparagus steamed just right...I was happy to miss the luau.
Tuna Oscar - served with fried green tomatoes, tempura-fried jumbo lump crab, and wasabi hollandaise $22.99

HUBBIES - Tuna Oscar - he loved it.

DD - mickey ravioli - which she was ok with

DS - Angus Chuck Kahuna Burger - Char-grilled and served with Bacon and your choice of Cheddar, Swiss, or American Cheese 11.99

Banana-Chocolate Creme Brulee - with a chocolate spiral $5.99

after dinner and desert we were off for swiming at the volcanoe pool

my DD at the top

 

[mikkiwikki]

Again we choose to go to the big MK on this date.
Today we were quite wiped out after lots of swimming the night before (we spent about 3 hours in the pool after dinner -Hubby snapped a shot of me after going down the slide) A few quick picks of the night before...

For Breakfast - we decided to use snack credits for breakfast...Hubby & DS had croissants...I just had coffee.

We got there at park opening and went straight to Astro Orbiters (because DD didn't get to go on that yesterday due to an enormous line. She was thilled to be the FIRST in line for Astro Orbitters...and actually we got to go on it with NO ONE else on the ride....TWICE.
Like the first ride finished..and the ride operator said to us....hey no one is here yet would you like to go on it again...My daughter was like YES YES YES! I took a video of this ride because we were so happy the perfect start to a MK day...BUT I CANNOT find it...HARumph!!

After buzz everyone was hungry

We had a ressie for Tony's town Square on this date.
When we arrived DD spotted a picture on the wall - We had purchased a stuffed beaver (no jokes puhleeze- there was no dissuading her ) at Animal Kingdom and she had brought that stuffy to this meal...note the 'HERO' in this picture.

Will Tony's live up to DD's impossible expectations? (she loves Lady & Tramp.) Stay tuned! Pics of Tony's

 

[mikkiwikki]

wow am I that boring? No comments?

 

[mikkiwikki]

Surprisingly in all the trips Ive taken in the past - we had never eaten at Tony's. I think I read a bad review in 2005 and written it off. Let me just say we had a great meal here! Here is the menu from ALLEARS

Restaurant ambiance ...follows I really had no idea how pretty it was inside here! Had I known we would have come here every trip!

Hubby started the meal with some Calamari...
"Calamari - topped with Olive Relish and served with a side of Marinara Sauce $9.99"
He loved it...except for the OLIVE relish..which was very salty BUT *I* loved it...He joked with me that you had to be italian to enjoy it....(which I am - Grandpa would feed me and my siblings various varieties of olives as a child ...I loved all of them! the saltier the better!)

The calimari was cooked just right not rubbery at all. the meat was sweet tasting..and the breading light. The Marinara sauce was not spicy at all (which I would prefer) but a homogenized ragu quality - not bad for the typical palate..I just like pepper and garlic in my marinara. My hubby was pleased with it.

I had the chicken parmigiana - I have to say the sauce was spicy and tasty and the chicken was breaded just right..and was moist...and tasty. Could have used a bit more mozzarella - but other than that it was a ton of food and I could not finish it...but I tried! it was good!

Hubby got the Shrimp Scampi as a entree...
"Shrimp Scampi Linguini - with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Asparagus tossed in a Garlic Sauce $16.99"
He said it was not what he was used to (with the Asparagus but it was listed on menu) , but that it was tasty, and he finished all of it

My Son got the Spaghetti & Meatballs - Menu reads
"Spaghetti - with choice of Meatballs or Sweet Italian Sausage with Marinara Sauce $16.99- Crostini served with all Pasta Dishes"

The meatballs were HUGE..he only could finish one...and I had a tiny taste..they didnt load it up with breadcrumbs which is what I was expecting...but it wasnt very moist, or spicy...Just kinda blah.. He really didnt finish much of this and I can see why. there wasnt enough sauce to properly moisten the rest of the pasta under the meatballs.

DD Got the Pizza...typical Kid menu fare - she ate half.

Here are my kids being silly after the meal waiting for their deserts

For Desert I ordered the Coconut Pinapple Cheesecake...It was a mound of cheesecake with tiny pieces of coconut and pinapple measured on top of a layer of gram cracker crust...it was really pretty tasty..but filling. I only ate half of mine. I loved the brown sugar image of lady and the tramp on the plate - Hubby & DS got the same desert and BOTH finished all of it

DD got the typical kids ice cream sundae

Here are the kids sitting next to the fountain on our exit

Overall - we had a very nice meal here...and even with a few negative observations, I would definitely come back here again

$$$$ We used 3 (Adult) TS credits here and 1 (child) TS credit
Had we paid OOP 102.57 with a 18% tip of 18.53
WE PAID 29.17 with disney reward dollars

 

[mikkiwikki]

After lunch it was a lot of BTM railroad and POTC
Then the kids decided they were too hot, and we left around 3pm to go swimming as we typically do..

I think Ill take this opportunity to critque the Polynesians Pool facilities.
I have to say for the number of people that are in this hotel - the pool simply is NOT big enough. or possibly in August ..EVERYONE has to get into the pool at 3pm...due to the high humidity...whatever the case, on every occasion we used the pool (minus on our exit day when we were in the pool shortly after breakfast at 8am) the pool was very very crowded.

In addition to there being many people in the pool - there were not enough tables and chairs to accomodate the guests looking for one...in addition
They had these crazy plants in the middle of the sidewalk that obstructed your view of the pool. As a parent who maybe somehow successfully secured 1 of 7 tables available to watch my children...and THEN ...to have my table be behind a very large (but beautiful) hibiscus bush ...i can say it was definitely more than a bit of an annoyance. I love the poly for its foliage...don't get me wrong.but there were several tables by the pool where you simply could sit but see nothing in the pool due to your obstructed view via the foliage. I feel like they need a parent who is also a exterior landscape designer to come by and review the layout around the pool for parental supervision because its really poor.

To the degree that Hubby and I were consistently asking tables occupied if we could borrow a chair to sit and supervise our children by the pool. It was really quite silly...Most parents are going to be situated where the slide OFFshoot is...in this location there were like 4 tables that had a good view...all the rest were at the end of the zero entry pool and could not see the end of the slide...a place most tweens spend the majority of their time using....

Ok Im done for now!

Captn Cooks up next for Dinner!

 

[jdd]

wow am I that boring? No comments?

No, not at all!! I'm much more of a lurker, and don't post much on TRs - I just like to see the pictures, and live through someone else's vacation

We really enjoyed Tony's on our last trip - it's always tough to get a place that everyone in the family enjoys and Tony's worked well for that. Nothing spectacular, but basic, good Italian...

 

[ostrom]

We also have a ADR at Tony's...Great pre-trip info for me!!!

 

[mikkiwikki]

No, not at all!! I'm much more of a lurker, and don't post much on TRs - I just like to see the pictures, and live through someone else's vacation .

Oh good I was worried my writing wasnt tantalizing enough...

We really enjoyed Tony's on our last trip - it's always tough to get a place that everyone in the family enjoys and Tony's worked well for that. Nothing spectacular, but basic, good Italian...

Right nothing was like "knock your socks off"...but we did not go there for that. It was hearty italian food, slightly homogenized...and there was lots of it! What I liked about my chicken was that it was a real cutlet you could tell - not some preformed, preprocessed pre-breaded thing. So that made me happy - the fact that the sauce wasn't loaded with garlic and pepper (the way I make it) - was totally expected. If you are fine with Ragu with a few onions and spices ( a *little* oregano, and a *little* basil) thrown in - you will probably be happy here.

EXCEPT - I would definitely ask of a side of sauce, because they give you way too much pasta and not enough sauce

 

[mikkiwikki]

We also have a ADR at Tony's...Great pre-trip info for me!!!

Cool Beans! Glad to help!
I thought the service was great here too...our waitress was very attentive...and brought us drinks multiple times...and checked right after we had a chance to taste our food. Overall this was THE surprise winner for the family. (for the most part minus the blah...meatballs)....but like I said I think we are just a 'spicy' family - My kids have come to expect that restaurants don't cook the way mamma does... so overall they were fine with their food.

 

[mikkiwikki]

I just explained to my daughter how at the Poly they pipe music into the water... She looked at me perplexed and said "mommy sound doesnt go in water?" I told her she was wrong....and can't wait until she discovers Poly's special surprise. I was psyched to hear they still did this because I still remember it as a child. It's funny how the little touches have such an impact...don't you think??

Also - remember all how I told my DD about this before the trip? they totally still do this...and I neglected to mention...the first night we were there DD slid down the slide..came out of the water and said "Mommy - there is no music!"

I was dismayed! Then I asked the life guard...who said oh no there is music! come over here by my Lifeguard chair dive down...by those lights...sure enough we could hear the Poly loop playing...DD went balistic! She hopped out of the pool to go get her father and show him as well...yelling there's music underwater! There's music underwater. it was very cute...and I was so excited she shared my enthusiasm I remember having as a child.

 

[saintstickets]

We've never tried Tony's either. Might have to go for lunch next trip. Keep the TR coming. Really lovin' it!