Our First Stay at the Poly - April 2012 PTR!!

[Zuzu03]

Awww, those videos are great!!!! I'm so excited!!! Thanks for sharing them!!!!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I bought a pedometer this week to take to Disney with us. Got the idea from one of the family vacation videos I linked in an earlier post. I figured with all the calories/dining we're planning to have, I should try to at least attempt to make a case for the calories we will burn from all the walking we will do

 

[wakica]

I threw my pedometer into my trip box a week ago too What really amazes me is that we do all that walking (which i normally DON'T do) so you'd think you'd lose a bit of weight or at least keep it even with the eating that gets done but I ALWAYS seem to walk away from a holiday with an extra 5LB on me!!!! lol

I'm so glad i have mine packed this time though b/c I'm DYING to know how many steps etc... i do in each park.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I threw my pedometer into my trip box a week ago too What really amazes me is that we do all that walking (which i normally DON'T do) so you'd think you'd lose a bit of weight or at least keep it even with the eating that gets done but I ALWAYS seem to walk away from a holiday with an extra 5LB on me!!!! lol

I'm so glad i have mine packed this time though b/c I'm DYING to know how many steps etc... i do in each park.

I know what you mean. I'm fully expecting to gain a good amount of weight as you can see how packed our ADRs are.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I'm thinking about buying a backpack for this trip that will double as our diaper bag as well as providing carriage for my iPad. Been looking at a couple of from Swissgear that could work well. Any suggestions or recommendations?

I'm also going to get a couple of kid size headphones and a splitter for the headphone jacks so that both kids can watch movies at the same time on my iPad on the plane or at the airport.

 

[HalloweenNut]

I'm thinking about buying a backpack for this trip that will double as our diaper bag as well as providing carriage for my iPad. Been looking at a couple of from Swissgear that could work well. Any suggestions or recommendations?

I'm also going to get a couple of kid size headphones and a splitter for the headphone jacks so that both kids can watch movies at the same time on my iPad on the plane or at the airport.

We just got one today. It was a bit expensive but we do a fair bit of hiking and camping so it we'll get lots of use out of it later as well. I liked it as it has a mesh back and frame that keeps the pack away from your back and allows airflow so you don't get so hot and sweaty with it on. It also has a built-in rain cover that will come in handy on the wetter rides. It's super-comfortable - I think it's going to work out great.

http://www.deuter.com/en_US/backpack-details.php?category=119&artnr=34201&title=Futura%2022

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

We just got one today. It was a bit expensive but we do a fair bit of hiking and camping so it we'll get lots of use out of it later as well. I liked it as it has a mesh back and frame that keeps the pack away from your back and allows airflow so you don't get so hot and sweaty with it on. It also has a built-in rain cover that will come in handy on the wetter rides. It's super-comfortable - I think it's going to work out great.

Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Dave- Did you get a good rate for your rental car? and from where?

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Dave- Did you get a good rate for your rental car? and from where?

Yes, the current one I have is $285 total after taxes/fees for 8 days on a minivan through Dollar. I used a promotion code that was listed on their website for a city-specific discount (for Orlando) which saved me some additonal money!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Yes, the current one I have is $285 total after taxes/fees for 8 days on a minivan through Dollar. I used a promotion code that was listed on their website for a city-specific discount (for Orlando) which saved me some additonal money!

I thought I read somewhere that you rented from Dollar. We always rent through Dollar too. DH has the express card- a God sent! We just decided to rent a minivan (DH is not happy about this - he hates driving a minivan lol) and we'll split the cost w/ my parents. I booked it today for $271.

If the rate goes down can I get the new rate?

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I thought I read somewhere that you rented from Dollar. We always rent through Dollar too. DH has the express card- a God sent! We just decided to rent a minivan (DH is not happy about this - he hates driving a minivan lol) and we'll split the cost w/ my parents. I booked it today for $271.

If the rate goes down can I get the new rate?

Yes - what I've been doing is each time I see a better rate, I book a new reservation and cancel the old one. It's been pretty easy - have done this four times now as the rates keep dropping.

We rented a minivan during our last trip when my parents came with us, and I absolutely loved it! Having two young children, it was so much easier to get them in and out of their car seats simutaneously. That's why we're doing it again. I was thinking about signing up for an express card once I knew for sure that I was going to stick with Dollar.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Received a call from SeaWorld this afternoon saying that they had to cancel the Penguin Encounter Tour that I had signed-up for. Instead they offered to move our reservation to the Behind the Scenes Tour which includes a short visit with the penguins and has additional animal greets. Not sure if this alternative is still a good option, but for now I agreed to sign-up for that tour. Hopefully it'll be good.

 

[wakica]

OHHH! it was YOU who said you had signed up for that. I went to sign dd up yesterday and I KNOW I saw it on their site awhile back but when i went in yesterday it wasn't there Instead they had as you mentioned the Behind the Scenes Tour. I was dissapointed personally b/c all dd wanted was the penguins and it stated that anyone under 14 had to be accompanied by an adult so we were going to drop her off at the spot and be there before the end to greet her upon her return. Well, now the new one says you have to be accompanied by an adult if you are under 18 Which means we will be paying for two to go instead of 1.

We didn't sign up but I think we are going to go ahead with it. Petting a penguin is on her bucket list. I hope you get a decent amount of time with the penguins still.

 

[204charity]

Hey Dave! Saw you were looking for a backpack for the trip. Thought you may want to check out this one. My cousin bought hers for her trip to DW this past December, and she said it was awesome. It has a telescopic handle, so it was great for her carryon as well, but the handle goes all the way inside, and then zips open in the back to be a backpack! She took it all around the parks with them, onto rides too! She had 2 kids with her, a 12 year old and a 9 year old. She had to carry allergy stuff, sweaters, water bottles, the works and it was not heavy at all! Just thought you may want to check it out. I like that it has the option to be both a rolling bag AND a backpack, so if it's too heavy, you can just roll it instead.

http://shop.heys.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ePac_Rol17

Oh - and she HAS lent it to me for our trip, so that's what I'm bringing. I figure I'll use it as my carry-on for the flights, and then that one day we have planned Epcot for the morning and then BB for the afternoon, we'll just bring all the bathing suits, sunscreen, towels etc in it too!!

Called Garden Grocer today, and placed our order for water, Pelegrino for Dad, chips, cream for our coffee, muffins, yogurt & Orange Juice Boxes. They called us back within the hour to confirm our order!! Great customer service.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

OHHH! it was YOU who said you had signed up for that. I went to sign dd up yesterday and I KNOW I saw it on their site awhile back but when i went in yesterday it wasn't there Instead they had as you mentioned the Behind the Scenes Tour. I was dissapointed personally b/c all dd wanted was the penguins and it stated that anyone under 14 had to be accompanied by an adult so we were going to drop her off at the spot and be there before the end to greet her upon her return. Well, now the new one says you have to be accompanied by an adult if you are under 18 Which means we will be paying for two to go instead of 1.

We didn't sign up but I think we are going to go ahead with it. Petting a penguin is on her bucket list. I hope you get a decent amount of time with the penguins still.

Yes, I was a bit disappointed too but hope this works out well. The person on the phone from SW told me that this tour is longer (90 minutes) and gives you more opportunity to touch/pet other animals other than penguins including a shark. But then I was a little confused as to why this one was cheaper than the 60 minute penguin tour.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Hey Dave! Saw you were looking for a backpack for the trip. Thought you may want to check out this one. My cousin bought hers for her trip to DW this past December, and she said it was awesome. It has a telescopic handle, so it was great for her carryon as well, but the handle goes all the way inside, and then zips open in the back to be a backpack! She took it all around the parks with them, onto rides too! She had 2 kids with her, a 12 year old and a 9 year old. She had to carry allergy stuff, sweaters, water bottles, the works and it was not heavy at all! Just thought you may want to check it out. I like that it has the option to be both a rolling bag AND a backpack, so if it's too heavy, you can just roll it instead.

http://shop.heys.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ePac_Rol17

Oh - and she HAS lent it to me for our trip, so that's what I'm bringing. I figure I'll use it as my carry-on for the flights, and then that one day we have planned Epcot for the morning and then BB for the afternoon, we'll just bring all the bathing suits, sunscreen, towels etc in it too!!

Called Garden Grocer today, and placed our order for water, Pelegrino for Dad, chips, cream for our coffee, muffins, yogurt & Orange Juice Boxes. They called us back within the hour to confirm our order!! Great customer service.

Thanks for the tip, Charity! I'm going to go shopping online and at stores next week - work's been pretty nuts this week so hopefully I'll get a bit of a breather next weekend.

That's great that you got your groceries already squared away. Not sure what we'll do for groceries, but since I've lined and packed up our ADRS so tightly, I may not make a trip to the store this time.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Yes - what I've been doing is each time I see a better rate, I book a new reservation and cancel the old one. It's been pretty easy - have done this four times now as the rates keep dropping.

We rented a minivan during our last trip when my parents came with us, and I absolutely loved it! Having two young children, it was so much easier to get them in and out of their car seats simutaneously. That's why we're doing it again. I was thinking about signing up for an express card once I knew for sure that I was going to stick with Dollar.

Thanks for the info. I thought 271 was pretty good for a minivan but I'll check now and again to see if it drops. Get the express card! It gets you out much faster!!!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Thanks for the info. I thought 271 was pretty good for a minivan but I'll check now and again to see if it drops. Get the express card! It gets you out much faster!!!

Thanks for the tip!
I signed up for the Express Card yesterday after reading your post. I'm all about getting us out of the airport as fast as we can so we can get our vacation started!

 

[wakica]

Yes, I was a bit disappointed too but hope this works out well. The person on the phone from SW told me that this tour is longer (90 minutes) and gives you more opportunity to touch/pet other animals other than penguins including a shark. But then I was a little confused as to why this one was cheaper than the 60 minute penguin tour.

I was a little curious of the price difference too??? Oh well - It helps in our case bc instead of 43 times 2 b/c dd can't go alone now it'll be 30x2. Maybe it's just an introductory price for a transition period to make it easier for people to accept I mean if ppl are expecting a 4o some dollar thing and then they find out it's changed but reduced too it's not so hard to take?? Maybe after awhile it will go up.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I made a change in our off-site hotel for the first night - we had been booked at Fairfield Inn at SeaWorld. I decided to look again because that Day 2 morning plans are bothering me. I'm sure it'll work out but it's a lot to do early in the morning - checking out of the off-site hotel, checking in to poly to get our KTTW cards, and driving over to DHS.

DW asked why not just stay that first night at Poly? I thought, hmmmm, why didn't I do that in the first place. When I looked up the pricing, I remembered - I was trying to save some money by avoiding an extra weekend rate during a peak week. Plus, trying to add another night to the package with less than 45 days to go will add another $50 fee. So, decided against it.

So now we're booked at the Buena Vista Suites. Found a nice price for $99 (advance payment) plus taxes for the night. It also puts about 10 minutes closer. So if the kids or the grown-ups take a little extra time waking up, I could potentially drive to Poly myself at 7am while the family eats the complimentary breakfast, check-in and drop off the luggage, get our cards, and come back to BVS to pick up the family and head to DHS.

Any of you have experience with Buena Vista Suites?