Jaffa
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2009
- Messages
- 160
ok I have now returned fromour wonderful week WDW.
I was going to wait and gather my thoughts a little better but I will do my best do recap it all....ask any questions you like.
My wife and I went on MArch 1st with our 17 month old son.
We beat it out of Boston and missed a HUGE snowstorm by less than 10 hours.
We arrived in Orlando and got on the Magical Express - we were lucky enough to be the first stop on the buss ThePolynesian.
I have been waiting since I was 6 to stay here and I wasn't disappointed.
We were placed in the Samoa building on the 2nd floor with a partial view of the smaller pool.
I thought it was a great locaion, not too far from either pool nor the GCH.
My biggest complaints (if you can call them that) were I was unimpressed with she linens on the bed, the pillows and the mattresses. Not a huge deal.
I also thought the maid service wasn't the greatest but it was ok.
Also I have seen on these boards that the staff at the Poly is "the best" and most people have to work their way up to work there, I disagee, the service was good, but I wouldn't say it was over the top and there seemed to be a lot of younger people working there, but it was all good.
The location of this resort was great for us with a 17 month old.
the week started off cold but rebounded to the 70s and 80s by mid week.
I found the crowds to be good sized by not over bearing, the only place I thought they were tough to deal with was AK, but I think that has to do with the narrow walkways.
Now before I get into what rides we went on specifically, I want to talk about bringing a toddler to WDW....whenI jonined this board some people said I shouldn't bring someone so young, and there were some very nice people who even sent me PM's saying "don't listen to them, it will be great"
Well IT WAS GREAT! My son loved it! He may not remember everything but I took so many pictures I will be putting together a scrap book for him to remember and get excited about when we go back in a few years.
None of the rides he went on bothered him at all. He only got tense 3 times on rides that used a smoke effect and that wasnt all that big a deal.
As for characters, the first one we found was Donald Duck and he was in Frontierland with no line. My son almost jumped out of his stroller to get at him. When we got to him, he hugged him and had a blast!
We also did the meet and greet for Visa Card members at EPCOT where he got to mee Mickey,Minnie and Goofy in a private room. That few minutes were priceless! He had such a good time and we have great pictures from that too.
He also met during the week....
Snow White
Pinocchio
Jiminy Cricket
Rafiki
Lilo
Stitch
Pluto
Lightening and MAter
Sully and Mike
2 Power Rangers
Captian Hook
Things we rode with our 17 month old son were....(by park)
MK
Magic Carpets
Small World
Peter Pan
Pooh
Snow White
Dumbo
Carosel
Buzz Lightyear
Tomorrowland Transportation
Railroad
Monorail (which he called "choo choo" all week and loved it - we also got to sit in the front once)
Haunted Mansion
PhilHarMagic
EPCOT
Nemo
Mexico Boat Ride
Spaceship Earth (which he would always point to and say "the ball, the ball"!
And he loves exploring Innoventions too.
Studios
Great Movie Ride
Muppets 3D
AK
Safari
Railroad to PlanetWatch
Played with the goats and sheep
all in all he had a great time, he also was up late a few nights and I got a great spot to watch Spector Magic near Splash Mountain and again, he loved it....he pointed and waved!
He also loved the pool.
The best thing I can say is.....do what everyone says.....go early, head back to the hotel for naps, or if your child can nap inthe stroller that's cool too.
We usually did half days everywhere and it worked out well.
As for eating, we were on the Regular place with 1 snack, 1 coutner service and 1 sit down per day.
It was pretty good and I think we actually saved some $$, I started tracking it, but it was weird cause counter service doesn't give you a receipt with $'s on it....but table service does, and I ended up with so many reciepts by mid week, I was like....I'm on vacation I don't need to be filing and doing math!
So here's the GOOD on TAble service we ate at that I would reccomend...
CApe May Cafe @ the Yacht and BeachClub
Tutto Italia - EPCOT
Grand Floridian Cafe - GF Resort- the wait staff was amazing and helpful
Mama Melrose - HS - our server went above and beyond for us, our son orders a full kids meal and he only wanted his fruit that night, he didn't want his chicken, so the server changed the meal to a Fruit Cup only....so nice.....I was amazed, and I asked for the manager so I could commend him and he asked for me to fill out a sheet that they present to people at the daily staff meetings. Disney Magic baby!
Ohana - yes, we were able to squeeze in one night and it was worth it, but bring your appetite
Kona Cafe - breakfast
Ohana Chracter Breakfast - food was good and standard, but it was worth it to see my son react to the chracters!
I don't remember all the counter service places we ate at,but they were all ok....nothing special, nothing bad.
As for BAD table servic I can only say was...
PLANET HOLLYWOOD - terrible service, loud inside and we had an extar person in our party that day NOT on the meal plan and they charged us for the most expensive meal, not the meal that this extra person ordered.
They did this correctly at Mama Melrose and GF Cafe.
I think it was because PH is NOT a proper Disney resturant.
Oh well, I wold not reccoemend going here, I won't ever go back.
I think that about sums it up.
Overall I'd give the Poly an A-
Crowds a B+
Weather a B+
Dining Plan a solid A - we would do this agian
Next time we think we'd like to stay at the Contemporary for a change of pace.
That's all I can rememeber right now, ask away with questions.
Thanks for reading.
Jaffa-
oh yea, don't let anyone discouage you fromgoing with an infant, it can be a BLAST!!!!!
I was going to wait and gather my thoughts a little better but I will do my best do recap it all....ask any questions you like.
My wife and I went on MArch 1st with our 17 month old son.
We beat it out of Boston and missed a HUGE snowstorm by less than 10 hours.
We arrived in Orlando and got on the Magical Express - we were lucky enough to be the first stop on the buss ThePolynesian.
I have been waiting since I was 6 to stay here and I wasn't disappointed.
We were placed in the Samoa building on the 2nd floor with a partial view of the smaller pool.
I thought it was a great locaion, not too far from either pool nor the GCH.
My biggest complaints (if you can call them that) were I was unimpressed with she linens on the bed, the pillows and the mattresses. Not a huge deal.
I also thought the maid service wasn't the greatest but it was ok.
Also I have seen on these boards that the staff at the Poly is "the best" and most people have to work their way up to work there, I disagee, the service was good, but I wouldn't say it was over the top and there seemed to be a lot of younger people working there, but it was all good.
The location of this resort was great for us with a 17 month old.
the week started off cold but rebounded to the 70s and 80s by mid week.
I found the crowds to be good sized by not over bearing, the only place I thought they were tough to deal with was AK, but I think that has to do with the narrow walkways.
Now before I get into what rides we went on specifically, I want to talk about bringing a toddler to WDW....whenI jonined this board some people said I shouldn't bring someone so young, and there were some very nice people who even sent me PM's saying "don't listen to them, it will be great"
Well IT WAS GREAT! My son loved it! He may not remember everything but I took so many pictures I will be putting together a scrap book for him to remember and get excited about when we go back in a few years.
None of the rides he went on bothered him at all. He only got tense 3 times on rides that used a smoke effect and that wasnt all that big a deal.
As for characters, the first one we found was Donald Duck and he was in Frontierland with no line. My son almost jumped out of his stroller to get at him. When we got to him, he hugged him and had a blast!
We also did the meet and greet for Visa Card members at EPCOT where he got to mee Mickey,Minnie and Goofy in a private room. That few minutes were priceless! He had such a good time and we have great pictures from that too.
He also met during the week....
Snow White
Pinocchio
Jiminy Cricket
Rafiki
Lilo
Stitch
Pluto
Lightening and MAter
Sully and Mike
2 Power Rangers
Captian Hook
Things we rode with our 17 month old son were....(by park)
MK
Magic Carpets
Small World
Peter Pan
Pooh
Snow White
Dumbo
Carosel
Buzz Lightyear
Tomorrowland Transportation
Railroad
Monorail (which he called "choo choo" all week and loved it - we also got to sit in the front once)
Haunted Mansion
PhilHarMagic
EPCOT
Nemo
Mexico Boat Ride
Spaceship Earth (which he would always point to and say "the ball, the ball"!
And he loves exploring Innoventions too.
Studios
Great Movie Ride
Muppets 3D
AK
Safari
Railroad to PlanetWatch
Played with the goats and sheep
all in all he had a great time, he also was up late a few nights and I got a great spot to watch Spector Magic near Splash Mountain and again, he loved it....he pointed and waved!
He also loved the pool.
The best thing I can say is.....do what everyone says.....go early, head back to the hotel for naps, or if your child can nap inthe stroller that's cool too.
We usually did half days everywhere and it worked out well.
As for eating, we were on the Regular place with 1 snack, 1 coutner service and 1 sit down per day.
It was pretty good and I think we actually saved some $$, I started tracking it, but it was weird cause counter service doesn't give you a receipt with $'s on it....but table service does, and I ended up with so many reciepts by mid week, I was like....I'm on vacation I don't need to be filing and doing math!
So here's the GOOD on TAble service we ate at that I would reccomend...
CApe May Cafe @ the Yacht and BeachClub
Tutto Italia - EPCOT
Grand Floridian Cafe - GF Resort- the wait staff was amazing and helpful
Mama Melrose - HS - our server went above and beyond for us, our son orders a full kids meal and he only wanted his fruit that night, he didn't want his chicken, so the server changed the meal to a Fruit Cup only....so nice.....I was amazed, and I asked for the manager so I could commend him and he asked for me to fill out a sheet that they present to people at the daily staff meetings. Disney Magic baby!
Ohana - yes, we were able to squeeze in one night and it was worth it, but bring your appetite
Kona Cafe - breakfast
Ohana Chracter Breakfast - food was good and standard, but it was worth it to see my son react to the chracters!
I don't remember all the counter service places we ate at,but they were all ok....nothing special, nothing bad.
As for BAD table servic I can only say was...
PLANET HOLLYWOOD - terrible service, loud inside and we had an extar person in our party that day NOT on the meal plan and they charged us for the most expensive meal, not the meal that this extra person ordered.
They did this correctly at Mama Melrose and GF Cafe.
I think it was because PH is NOT a proper Disney resturant.
Oh well, I wold not reccoemend going here, I won't ever go back.
I think that about sums it up.
Overall I'd give the Poly an A-
Crowds a B+
Weather a B+
Dining Plan a solid A - we would do this agian
Next time we think we'd like to stay at the Contemporary for a change of pace.
That's all I can rememeber right now, ask away with questions.
Thanks for reading.
Jaffa-
oh yea, don't let anyone discouage you fromgoing with an infant, it can be a BLAST!!!!!
