Our Poly Dream Vacation - April, 2012 TR *Update 08/26 pg8*

[the_green_machine]

Those birds were everywhere, especially in AK...I think they're called a White Ibis.

 

[204charity]

CONTINUED.....

We exited the monorail and walked through the gates of Epcot. We stopped to take some pictures of the topiaries inside Future World before heading to World Showcase for dinner.

We all really like Asian food, so we figured either Japan or China would be a good choice for our family. I remembered what Daveinfallschurch had said about the ferry to Morocco, so we caught the ferry and walked over to Japan from their. We used the ferry often in World Showcase, and being with a 9 year old, it really helped cut down on the walking. I do think, however, if I was there without kids, the walk would not have been too bad overall. Anyways, we walked quickly through the store in Japan and were really overwhelmed by the crowds in their, (Epcot was the most-recommended park this day too! Yikes!) and even though DD saw some stuff she maybe wanted to buy, we quickly exited as we knew we had an Epcot day scheduled for later in the week.

We had lunch at Katsura Grill in Japan (Quick-Service DP) and found a wonderful corner table near the windows. My dad ordered the Teriyaki Chicken, I ordered the Teriyaki Beef, and my mom ordered the Tempura Shrimp Udon. Dad and I each tried ice-cream, I had green tea and dad had strawberry. DD didn’t order anything, she was nervous about Japanese food since we always order Chinese food at home, but when the food came to the table and she tasted mine, she LOVED it!

Leaving with full bellies and happy memories of a wonderful first meal in Disney, we wandered through Morocco. To be honest, I thought Morocco would be a lot better. We were all kind of disappointed in it. Everything was very repetitious, the same merchandise in ever store, around every corner and the overwhelming scent of incense started to bother us. After taking a couple of pictures (the buildings were beautifully designed though) we headed out and saw Jasmine & Aladdin!

This was very exciting as it was the first character DD had seen on the trip, and it really made Epcot feel more “Disney” to all of us. We were lucky enough that while boarding the ferry we saw The Beast and Belle as well, and we managed to grab a couple of pics of them while we boarded the ferry to head back to Future World.

We wandered through some shops by the gates of World Showcase, but didn’t buy anything. DD seemed to be getting a bit antsy, so I asked her if she wanted to try a ride while we were there anyway and she jumped to chance and said YEAH! So, we walked over to “The Seas with Nemo and Friends” She and I were both extremely excited to try this one out as Nemo is one of our favourite Disney movies.

We walked in and I asked Mom or Dad if they wanted to sit with DD on her first Disney ride since they were the ones that paid for the trip, maybe they would like to experience this really magical moment themselves but they said “No way! You and her are doing this together.” So DD and I hopped into our clam-mobile and started our journey through the world of Nemo. I started to tear up almost immediately. After so much planning and dreaming and anxious days waiting, we were here. Riding in rides in Disney World. Together. I felt very grateful and happy to be there with my DD and my parents. My Dad caught this great shot of us together in our shell, and I think it captures the moment perfectly.

After exiting Nemo, we walked right over to “Turtle Talk with Crush” and waited. I would say nearly every ride we went on was walk-on the whole week, but we inevitably waited 10-20 minutes for every show we saw during the week. But, we always had fantastic seats so it was probably worth it to be early for the shows when all was said and done. After around 10 minutes they removed the rope and let us in. I told DD if she sits in the front she may get picked to talk with Crush, and she did it! Mom and I were both shocked. I never would have done that in a million years when I was a kid. She surprised me this trip, with her independence. I guess she’s just growing up and not needing Mom as much as I thought. LOL

Turtle Talk with Crush was great. So funny, for both kids AND adults! DD put her hand up to ask a question and he said “Hey yah - stripes in the front row in the sea-horse pony tail? You have a question?” and she asked “Where’s Nemo?” ROFL! Crush went all quiet and looked at us like he was sooo annoyed and said “Awe man, is that little dude lost again!?!” LOL I don’t know how they do it - but that show was extremely magical and we loved every moment of it.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Moments like the one you experienced on Nemo is why Disneyworld is so worth it! Love the report so far!

 

[chocolateMinnie]

great start - looking forward to more

 

[mieshie75]

Hey there is this seat taken?... Hope i havent missed much. Cant wait to hear about your trip. I have 2 dd's myself about your daughters age and we went for the first time in July 2011, loved watching there faces.

 

[204charity]

great start - looking forward to more

Thanks!

Hey there is this seat taken?... Hope i havent missed much. Cant wait to hear about your trip. I have 2 dd's myself about your daughters age and we went for the first time in July 2011, loved watching there faces.

Awe, welcome!

 

[puente0629]

Can't wait to hear more! I've always wanted to stay at the Polynesian since I was a little girl. Do you have pics of the room that you can post?

 

[204charity]

Can't wait to hear more! I've always wanted to stay at the Polynesian since I was a little girl. Do you have pics of the room that you can post?

I have some, but not many. I will upload them for you ASAP!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Great report so far! Love the picture with you and your DD in the Nemo ride!

The ducks were a bit funny in that every time we opened our patio door, they waddled straight towards us almost entering our room. Clearly people have been feeding the duckies.

 

[204charity]

Someone asked for some pics of the room we had. So here are the few I have. Room 3012 in the Tahiti building.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

Wow, you take some really great photos! Love the ones of the hammock, etc.

The room looks so nice!

 

[204charity]

Wow, you take some really great photos! Love the ones of the hammock, etc.

The room looks so nice!

Thanks Andrea! Some of them are mine and some are my Dad's. I am proud to say that the hammock ones are 100% mine baby!!!

 

[auprincess]

great report so far!! Love all the pictures!! That first day was windy ~ we had planned to go to a water park as well, but quickly changed our plans! DH and my 6 and 3 year old braved the pool for a bit so baby could nap and I could unpack our stuff.

 

[puente0629]

Thank you so much! I'm obsessed with hotel rooms in Disney, I love the attention to details. I take a million whenever we stay somewhere new.

 

[solana131]

How did I not see that you had started this? I was looking and waiting for it too! Yay!

Well, today’s the day! The sun is shining, the tank is clean! Oh no wait, that’s Nemo’s story, not ours. Let's try this again......

Love Nemo! I have looked and looked for Dory things (shirts, bags, etc) and never find anything other than stuffed animals But I am on the list for a custom Dory backpack a DISfriend is making

As it turns out he is just a tad hyper when it comes to airports and flights to catch. He wants to get to the airport, check the luggage, get through security and breathe. Oh wait, and then when it comes time to pre-board, he wants to get on the plane ASAP so that he can have HIS carry on in the bin above HIS head. Cause God forbid it should be 1 or 2 rows behind him.

Yeah, sorry but I gotta side with your Dad on this one. I am the same way. I love flying, but I get so anxious going through security and boarding. I hardly ever bring a big carryon because of that exact reason. They should not allow people to put their bags in other people's overhead bins. Really the only time I worry about it is when I have a close connection, but it can really make you miss your flight if you have to wait until everyone else is off the plane before you can go back and get your carryon. It is stressful. So I always make sure my carryon will fit under the seat.

Although this logic is completely illogical because if I WAS flying the plane, clearly we would be in a flaming pile of rubble

Walking through the grounds to get to our longhouse was totally surreal. Seeing Cindy’s castle across the lake, hearing the toot of the ferry whistles, the faint whisper of luau music playing over the sound system of the Poly. It was all so completely magical and we hadn’t even stepped into a park yet

Oh you just took me back! You described it perfectly! Once you go Poly, you won't ever stray again. Like someone else on here, I stayed Poly in Feb and said the whole time "I have to get this here and now because I will never pay the money to stay here again".....yeah...look at my siggy. I'm staying there again! Can't help it. It is just so magical

Uh-Oh, pool fouling!!! (AKA poop-in-the-pool) So no swim for us.

Eww!

I started to tear up almost immediately. After so much planning and dreaming and anxious days waiting, we were here. Riding in rides in Disney World. Together. I felt very grateful and happy to be there with my DD and my parents.

How do you do it? You bring me right back there. I had this happen so many times that week it wasn't even funny. They were always tears of joy, but I couldn't believe it. This never happens to me. Just seeing the look on my little guy's face at every turn. I even got teary-eyed on the stupid Magical Express bus! Yep, I'm a geek

Love the start Charity! Keep 'em coming!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Thanks for posting the double sink pic! I have always stayed in Tokelau which has one sink. I actually prefer it so I can have the counter space and we've never had an issue using just one sink. But that double sink still looks like it has plenty of counter space! And the single sink bathrooms also have that little shelf above which is SO convenient!

 

[204charity]

great report so far!! Love all the pictures!! That first day was windy ~ we had planned to go to a water park as well, but quickly changed our plans! DH and my 6 and 3 year old braved the pool for a bit so baby could nap and I could unpack our stuff.

Yup - the weather was not too welcoming that day I'm afraid. Oh well - better than the day we left - 6:00 pm, rain pouring down all around us. It was ALOT easier to leave Florida in gloomy weather than it would have been leaving in hot, hot sun!!

Thank you so much! I'm obsessed with hotel rooms in Disney, I love the attention to details. I take a million whenever we stay somewhere new.

No problem. We are probably going to have to stay somewhere else next time too, so I know what you mean about the more pics the better.

How did I not see that you had started this? I was looking and waiting for it too! Yay!

Love Nemo! I have looked and looked for Dory things (shirts, bags, etc) and never find anything other than stuffed animals But I am on the list for a custom Dory backpack a DISfriend is making

Yeah, sorry but I gotta side with your Dad on this one. I am the same way. I love flying, but I get so anxious going through security and boarding. I hardly ever bring a big carryon because of that exact reason. They should not allow people to put their bags in other people's overhead bins. Really the only time I worry about it is when I have a close connection, but it can really make you miss your flight if you have to wait until everyone else is off the plane before you can go back and get your carryon. It is stressful. So I always make sure my carryon will fit under the seat.



Oh you just took me back! You described it perfectly! Once you go Poly, you won't ever stray again. Like someone else on here, I stayed Poly in Feb and said the whole time "I have to get this here and now because I will never pay the money to stay here again".....yeah...look at my siggy. I'm staying there again! Can't help it. It is just so magical

Eww!

How do you do it? You bring me right back there. I had this happen so many times that week it wasn't even funny. They were always tears of joy, but I couldn't believe it. This never happens to me. Just seeing the look on my little guy's face at every turn. I even got teary-eyed on the stupid Magical Express bus! Yep, I'm a geek

Love the start Charity! Keep 'em coming!

Thanks for your enthusiastic responses! I am happy to hear others are enjoying reading about our trip as much as I enjoyed experiencing it first hand!

You guys are heading back to the Poly?! How'd you swing that?!! Lucky girl. We may rent some DVC points for a studio at BLT, that way DH has the views and convenience of the monorail and I won't have to deal with cranky-pants at the parks.

Thanks for posting the double sink pic! I have always stayed in Tokelau which has one sink. I actually prefer it so I can have the counter space and we've never had an issue using just one sink. But that double sink still looks like it has plenty of counter space! And the single sink bathrooms also have that little shelf above which is SO convenient!

Yes - the double sink was AMPLE room for 3 adults and 1 child - with TONS of stuff!!!

 

[solana131]

You guys are heading back to the Poly?! How'd you swing that?!! Lucky girl.

Hmmm...you'll have to check out my TR

 

[mindystar]

Loving the TR so far Can't wait to be there next month Until then I'll live through your TR
What fun to get to go with your parents, and your daughter on her first trip to the World! Beautiful pics too!

 

[carlnix30]

Someone asked for some pics of the room we had. So here are the few I have. Room 3012 in the Tahiti building.

soo funny!! Your DD thought she was hiding!! Lol soo very cute!


Sounds like you are now officially a poly addict!