*LIVE* Adventure is out there! Oct 1-9, Poly CL, F&W ~Leaving in 3 hours!~

[TinkerBelle_325]

Adventure is out there!

Our upcoming trip to WDW is a very exciting one! It will be our 5th time attending Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival, our 3rd time staying in Club Level at Disney's Polynesian Resort AND…*drumroll* my best friend's Disney Fairytale Wedding!!

Now, I don't often do trip reports, but to commemorate such an action-packed trip I felt it was only appropriate. On that same note, I felt it fitting to title the report after one of my favorite Pixar movies, Up! After all, I am going to be experiencing an awful lot of adventures during our 9 day stay.

TRIP DETAILS

When: Saturday, October 1st to Sunday, October 9th

Where: Disney's Polynesian Resort – Garden View Club Level

CAST

Meg
I'm 26, and this will be my 42nd trip to WDW and my 5th stay at the Poly, which is now my favorite resort. I am a true foodie and I love trying new restaurants and menu items. I take pictures of everything we eat each trip and love reviewing our meals.
Favorite Park: Epcot
Favorite Rides:
MK = Haunted Mansion & Splash Mountain
EP = Soarin'
DHS = Tower of Terror
AK = Kilimanjaro Safaris
Favorite Restaurants:
TS = California Grill and Victoria & Albert's
CS = Flame Tree BBQ & Wolfgang Puck Express
Favorite Snack: Dole Whip

DMom
Age withheld at penalty of death. It will be her 47th trip to WDW. She is punctual and easy going at the same time (She had to learn to be with my DDad and I who are both well....stubborn and perpetually late)
Favorite Park: Epcot
Favorite Rides: Soarin & Impressions de France
Favorite Restaurants: Victoria & Alberts, California Grill, Kona Island Sushi
Favorite Snack: Champagne!

DDad
Age withheld under the same penalty of death. It will be his 46th trip to WDW. He is as much a Disney freak as me but hides it better. His favorite part of the trip is the food and spending time at World Showcase. As mentioned above...He is stubborn and perpetually late. He also finds it fun to "challenge" me on our vacations, most often by asking me to obtain "impossible" dining reservations with less than 24 hours notice (more on that later).
Favorite Park: Epcot
Favorite Rides: Pirates of the Caribbean, Soarin
Favorite Restaurants: Victoria & Albert's, California Grill, Kona Island Sushi Bar
Favorite Snack: Dole Whip

GUEST STARS

Jaclyn (Belle_373)
She is 25 and one of my very best friends! We met in 1st year university, but the true start of our friendship was in 2005. We were both going on WDW vacations in May, the same week in fact. We jokingly mentioned that we might run into each other….and WE DID! From that point on, we were practically inseparable. We share a love of Disney, Starbucks, anything Coach, Sushi…and many other things. We are also each others DIS-support as anyone that frequently goes to WDW is used to the "You're going there AGAIN?" so we share our obsession and ignore DIS-haters. In September 2009, Jaclyn got engaged at WDW and she and her DF (Chris) asked me to be the Maid of Honour at their Disney Fairytale Wedding. That wedding is taking place during this trip!


Chris (Jaclyn's DF)
He is 28 and also one of my close friends. Obviously we know each other through Jaclyn lol.

BLOG, TWITTER & DINING REVIEW

Outside of a few brief updates, this trip report won't be live. However, I will be updating my blog (www.thedisneyfoodie.com), my twitter (@thedisneyfoodie) and my dining report (~If you are what you eat, then I only want to eat the good stuff~ F&W LIVE Oct 1-9) LIVE throughout the course of my vacation.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Saved for Table of Contents

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

BACKGROUND

My parents and I visit WDW 2 or 3 times per year. For the past few years, one of those trips has always taken place in October. You see, we fell in love with this time of year for many reasons:

1. Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival
2. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
3. Great weather (generally *knock on wood*)
4. and Low Crowds (again, generally *knock on wood*)

Rewind to September 2009. My parents and I were staying at the Polynesian in Club Level and my best friend Jaclyn and her fiance Chris were vacationing at WDW as well. We met up for a morning at the Magic Kingdom and lunch at the Liberty Tree Tavern where Jaclyn & Chris asked me to be the Maid of Honour at their wedding!

Jaclyn had toyed with the idea of a Disney wedding, but wasn't sure it was going to happen. She and Chris decided in 2010 that Disney Fairytale Weddings were right for them and selected October 3rd 2011 as their wedding date.

PERFECT! We were already planning on going in Oct 2011, but now I had the added bonus of attending my best friend's wedding

As the wedding ceremony is taking place the the Wedding Pavilion, I opted to stay at the Polynesian....to be as close as possible....yeah....that's the reason....that and the fact that we have fallen head over heels in love with the Poly and Club Level!

OUR ADVENTURE

Friday, September 30th

This is technically our departure day. DMom, DDad and I will all be working this day, but when we get home we will be doing last minute packing and then heading across the border to Buffalo. We half-considered driving from our house to the Buffalo airport the morning of our flight, but as it leaves at 7am, and we would want to be at the airport 2 hours prior AND it takes 2 hours to drive from our house...that would mean leaving at 3am. If we stay at the hotel we can get a few extra hours of sleep and generally feel less stressed out.

Saturday, October 1st

This is our arrival day. We are flying out of Buffalo bright and early (7am) and should get into Orlando at about 9:30am. We hope to arrive at the Polynesian around 10:30am. We know that there is no way our room will be ready this early but as my first official wedding event is at 2:00 - Bridal Tea at the Garden View Tea Room, I don't want to stray too far from the resort. We will be having lunch at Kona Cafe, hang out in the Club Level lounge a bit and then I'll head out to the tea while Mom & Dad stop by Wal-Mart to pick up a few toiletries and groceries. After the tea I'll head back to the Poly, stop in at the lounge for the evening offering and then we will be off to Epcot to enjoy the Food & Wine Festival and dinner at Via Napoli should we feel like pizza.

Sunday, October 2nd

Our first full day at WDW always means an MK morning. DMom, DDad and I will do our usual MK favorites (rope drop, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates, Hanuted Mansion etc.) I will likely pop into Liberty Tree with them at 11:30 as they have a lunch reservation, but I won't be eating lunch until 12:30 (also at Liberty Tree) with Jaclyn & Priscilla, her other bridesmaid. After lunch and some rides we will all return to our respective hotels for afternoon naps/time by the pool. In the evening I will attend Jaclyn & Chris' Welcome Dinner at Ohana. DMom and DDad are having dinner at the Kona Island Sushi Bar.

Monday, October 3rd

Day of the Wedding! This means a crazy early wake up call for me (4:30 a.m.). I'll be at the Grand Floridian by 5:30 a.m. for hair & makeup in Jaclyn's room. I believe photos start at 8:30 and the ceremony begins at 10. The reception is at The Attic at the Boardwalk and I think it it going to last until 2 or 3. My afternoon plans are to nap and enjoy the pool at the Polynesian. As I missed out on the Kona Sushi yesterday, I might just have to grab a volcano roll at 5pm to enjoy with the evening CL offerings. Later that evening, DMom, DDad and I are off to dinner at Jiko to officially start our vacation now that all the wedding events are over.

Tuesday, October 4th

DMom and I will hit Epcot for rope drop (Soarin, Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth etc.) and we just * have* to stop by La Cava del Tequila when it opens! Lunch will be Food & Wine Festival Booths and a stop in to Chefs de France for French Onion Soup, Wine & Baguette. The afternoon will be spent at the Poly pool. We will stop by the Poly CL lounge for evening offerings and then head out to the California Grill. We have a 7:50 reservation, so here's hoping for a window table for Wishes

Wednesday, October 5th

Animal Kingdom morning. Safari, Everest etc. Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ with a good friend who works backstage at AK. Afternoon at the Poly Pool. Evening at Epcot. Dinner at Hacienda and more booth-y goodness

Thursday, October 6th

Hollywood Studios rope drop with DDad (Tower of Terror, Rock n' Roller Coaster, Star Tours etc.). We will pop over to DHS Epcot closer to 11 to explore World Showcase and continue our tour of the booths. The afternoon will be spent...at the pool . Dinner is early at the California Grill and then we are off to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!

Friday, October 7th

Private Cabana!! Woohoo. Today is our "luxury day" with a half day rental of a Cabana at the Poly. Lunch from Kona brought to our cabana and then the late seating at Victoria & Albert's for dinner.

Saturday, October 8th

MK morning. As we start every vacation with MK, we end it the same way. Likely another lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern. Our last afternoon at the pool. Evening at Epcot with Dinner at Chefs de France and hitting our favorite booths once more.

Sunday, October 9th

This *was* going to be Sweet Sundays with Buddy Valastro of Cake Boss fame, however a CM made quite the error and we ended up shut out of the event. It sold out in under 2 hours. I was really looking forward to this seminar! Ah well. We will be leaving WDW at about 2pm, to head to MCO and catch our 5pm flight home

But we already know we will be back April 20th - 30th 2012...It is rare for us to leave WDW without knowing the next time we will be back

 

[PrincessBetsy]

Joining in! This sounds like an adventure filled trip indeed! It looks like you are going to have a fabulous time.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Joining In! Hope you get your Sweet Sundays tomorrow

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Joining in! This sounds like an adventure filled trip indeed! It looks like you are going to have a fabulous time.

Thanks for reading!

Joining In! Hope you get your Sweet Sundays tomorrow

Thanks! Sadly, I didn't get the Sweet Sundays....due to a CM error *grumble*...anyways! I'm not going to let it ruin my trip!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

11 Days to go!!​

Woohoo! Only 11 days until I return to my happy place. As my mind is wandering a bit at work (shh...this tends to happen at the 2 week mark right up until the day I leave...)...I am listening to live365 (sorcerer radio) and going through my vacation confirmations and packing list!

CHECKLIST
Print the following:
- Disney Resort Reservation Confirmation (Disney's Polynesian Resort, Oct 1st - 9th, Club Level!)
- Holiday Inn Express Buffalo Airport Reservation Confirmation, Sept 30th
- JetBlue Air Travel Reservation Confirmation
- AVIS Rental Car Confirmation
- Annual Pass Will Call Claim Receipt
- Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Claim Receipt
- Itinerary & Dining Reservation Confirmations
- Packing List (including Wedding Day Emergency Tote Bag List)

TO DO
- Stuff at work
- Wal-mart shopping for basic last minute needs (Snacks for plane, magazines, new SDHC card etc.)
- Organize clothes, toiletries and make-up

I love my best friend Jaclyn dearly, but I don't think I've ever listed so many clothes to bring to WDW I have 4 dresses (Bridemaid Dress, Sundress for Bridal Tea, Cocktail Dress for Welcome Dinner and Black Dress for Victoria & Albert's) and 3 pairs of heels (Wedding shoes, Tan sandals and Black slingbacks). Thank god we do laundry at the halfway point of our vacations or I would fear the baggage fees I might incur!

 

[OhMari]

Got you moved.

I'm glad your best friend wasn't one of the couples that got notified the wedding had to be moved because of construction. I only got to read someone elses pre-trip that was having a complete melt down. Please don't say it was your friend, I'll be so embarassed.

Can't wait for the pictures.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Got you moved.

I'm glad your best friend wasn't one of the couples that got notified the wedding had to be moved because of construction. I only got to read someone elses pre-trip that was having a complete melt down. Please don't say it was your friend, I'll be so embarassed.

Can't wait for the pictures.

Thanks for moving my thread!

I'm so glad she wasn't moved either! Don't worry, she hasn't done a planning journal or pre-trip.

I can't wait for the trip to start so I can start taking pictures lol.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

5 days!!​

​

Wow! Time has absolutely flown by! I can't believe we are going back to WDW in just 5 days! (Actually...closer to 4 days now!)

We are so looking forward to our 3rd stay in Club Level at the Polynesian.

Here are some pics from our last stay there in September 2010:

Lemonade, Iced Tea and Lilikoi Juice

Afternoon Snacks - Cookies, Goldfish, Gummy Candy, Popcorn

View from the Lounge

Room 3507

Most Amazing View in "the World"

The Best Longhouse!

Volcano Pool

Hallway

Great Ceremonial House

Sunset

Breakfast (Pastries, Bagels, Muffins & Oatmeal)

Cereal

Juice & Milk

Rare Sight - Totally empty!

View of the Polynesian from the Wedding Pavilion Boat Dock!

 

[Nicole786]

I may see you on Monday! (from a distance of course!) My brother and I arrive to check in at the Boardwalk on the 3rd around 10-11am! If i see a wedding party, I'll know its you!

Looks like a lot of our plans intersect, fun! We'll be at the same MNSSHP (I'm going dressed as a purple parrot from legends of the hidden temple, and my brother is going as quailman from Doug) and we are doing a lot of the same parks!

 

[Belle_373]

YAY! So excited that you're doing a TR for this trip!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

I may see you on Monday! (from a distance of course!) My brother and I arrive to check in at the Boardwalk on the 3rd around 10-11am! If i see a wedding party, I'll know its you!

Looks like a lot of our plans intersect, fun! We'll be at the same MNSSHP (I'm going dressed as a purple parrot from legends of the hidden temple, and my brother is going as quailman from Doug) and we are doing a lot of the same parks!

Cool!! I think we'll be at the Boardwalk around 11.

I'm not dressing up for this MNSSHP, but I LOVED Doug. It was such an awesome cartoon show

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

YAY! So excited that you're doing a TR for this trip!

Hey!! It's the bride-to-be herself

Of course I'm doing a TR for this trip We've only been talking about it for 2 years

See you on Saturday!!