*PICS!*The 'I-should-really-be-studying-for-finals' Trip Report! *NEW UPDATES*

[CinderellyCinderelly]

Hi everyone! I lurked on these boards for awhile before I ever posted, and then I became addicted! Reading all of your trip reports (when I should have been doing homework!) has helped me plan and prepare for my trip! So thanks for putting up with all of my silly questions about the resorts, theme parks, restaurants, and just everything else I didn't know! Since these trip reports have been so beneficial to me I thought I could at least TRY to write one that might help out someone else!

So here is the cast of characters for our upcoming trip...

Me! (20, almost 21...July is almost, right?!) Spoiled brat, college student, obsessed with baseball, my dog, and Disney World!

The little bro! Typical 5th grader, plays in the school band, loves basketball, baseball, football, rollercoasters and Mickey Mouse!

Mama! The best mom a girl could ask for, really! But, she hates traveling, hates crowded places, hates rides. On the other hand, she loves hotels and loves good restaurants so she is looking forward to trying a new hotel and a whole bunch of new restaurants!

Dad! An AMAZING dad! Wouldn't be the spoiled brat that I am if it weren't for him, LOL! But really, he worked hard and will do anything to make his kids happy...which in this case, is taking us to Disney World!

My other siblings are not coming along this time. My older sister and her husband and kids can't come this time and my little sis has a leadership conference to go to for her high school. She doesn't like Disney World anyways (but I hope it is just a phase)!!!

My parents have taken me to WDW since I was a little kid. We have been lucky enough to stay at GF every single time, except when we did a Grand Gathering and stayed at YC, which was also fantastic. Last year I went with my girlfriends from college and we stayed at CSR and LOVED it! But this time, I told my dad we should try the Polynesian - and he agreed!

So while I sit here and procrastinate all the final papers that I need to write before I actually get to go on my trip, I thought I'd let you all know a little bit more about me and my upcoming trip! If you aren't bored yet, there's more to come...

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

I love your title. Great start!

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

Thanks for responding! I hope that eventually more than one person will read this, LOL!

So last year when I went with my girlfriends I was working at an internship where I had a lot of down time. I told them I would make all of our reservations for meals because they were both very busy with school. Lurking on this website and reading reviews elsewhere I was able to plan an awesome week down at WDW! We used the DDP and at that time it included appetizers and a tip, so it was a really great money saver for us poor college students! (I kid, I kid)

Anyways, this year my dad booked the trip and asked me if I liked doing the DDP last year, which I did, so we booked it. He said that since he has no idea how it works or which restaurants are good that I am officially in charge of planning the ADR's!!! YAY ME!!!

So after changing them about, oh...a million times, I came up with these...

ARRIVAL NIGHT 3/21:

9:15pm at Ohana...We arrive to the Poly around 5pm, but 9:15 was the earliest time I could get by the time I decided that this is where I wanted us to eat! I'm hoping that since we are staying at the Poly that we can walk over and find a cancellation for an earlier time! I ate here last year with my friends and we all really liked it. Despite the fact that I am a vegetarian, I still had plenty to eat. Kind of sad my family's first experience here won't include the potatoes, though.


Day 2...3/22:
6:50pm Coral Reef...I ate here last year with my girlfriends too and we loved it! My brother remembered seeing it in my pictures, so he put in a special request for a meal here during our trip! I hope he likes it!

Day 3...3/23:
7:30am Kona Cafe...Never been here before and after reading so many wonderful reviews and telling my breakfast food loving mom about the famous Tonga Toast and Macadamia Nut Pancakes, we were going! It's Easter morning so I don't know what kind of crowd to expect, but eating breakfast this morning is probably going to slow us down getting into the Magic Kingdom! I know everyone says to avoid it on Easter Sunday but it is the only day that fits into our schedule! More about that later...

7:10pm Whispering Canyon Cafe...Never eaten here either! Looks like a fun time and by the time I decided to actually make an ADR for Easter, this was all that was available!! My shy brother and quiet mom will probably hate it, but I'm sure my dad and I will get a kick out of everything!

Day 4...3/24
5:40pm Jiko...Been to Boma, but not Jiko! Hoping that I can get the much talked about mac & cheese as an entree, since I don't eat steak!

Day 5...3/25

No ADR's! OK, we are staying concierge at the Poly, so I figured we could get away with no reservations for this day. However, I'm starting to think I want a breakfast ressie but there is probably nothing available!

Then we are spending our day off-site watching a Spring Training game between the Yankees and Indians! After we come back I'm hoping to head over to DTD and try Earl of Sandwich and make some yummies at Goofy's Candy Co.!! All in time to watch American Idol back at the hotel room of course...(Don't laugh...you know you love it!)

Day 6...3/26

5:00pm Les Chefs de France...Never been here before either but their vegetarian options looked pretty delish!


I can't wait!!!

 

[IATink]

I am so jealous that you will be there next week! Your ADR's look great! It looks like you planned it out really well.

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

So here is the tentative plan...everything we decided we want to do is on here, in somewhat of the order we plan on doing it!


3/21- ARRIVAL @ POLY!!!


3/22- PARK: EPCOT

1. GET FASTPASS FOR SOARIN
2. RIDE TEST TRACK
3. THE SEAS WITH NEMO & FRIENDS
4. RIDE SOARIN
5. LUNCH @ SUNSHINE SEASONS
6. RIDE SPACESHIP EARTH
7. WORLD SHOWCASE
8. SNACK @ WS
9. BREAK
10. DINNER @ CORAL REEF
11. ILLUMINATIONS

3/23- PARK: MAGIC KINGDOM (Yeah, I know it is Easter and all but we have breakfast at Kona at 7:30am and thought it would just be easiest to head on over to MK afterwards. We're staying @ the Poly so if it is too crowded we can always just come back to the hotel or hit up another park.)

1. SPACE MOUNTAIN
2. BUZZ LIGHTYEAR
3. WINNIE THE POOH
4. PETER PAN
5. SMALL WORLD
6. HAUNTED MANSION
7. SPLASH MOUNTAIN OR FASTPASS
8. BTMR
9. POTC
10. TOONTOWN
11. CS LUNCH @ COLUMBIA HARBOR HOUSE
12. BREAK
13. JUNGLE CRUISE
14. PHILHARMAGIC
15. CS DINNER @ COSMIC RAYS
16. WISHES
17. POTC & DOLE WHIP ----> Did this last year with my friends and it was so fun and not crowded at all!
18. SPECTRO MAGIC
19. ANYTHING SKIPPED EARLIER

3/24-PARK: ANIMAL KINGDOM, DHS

1. EVEREST w/the bro while mama and dad get fastpasses for Kilamanjaro Safari!
2. DINOSAUR
3. SAFARI
4. CS LUNCH @ FLAME TREE BBQ
5. BREAK
6. JIKO DINNER
7. DHS
8. ROCKIN ROLLERCOASTER
9. TOWER OF TERROR
10. INDIANA JONES
11. LIGHTS MOTOR ACTION
12. BEAUTY & THE BEAST
13. FANTASMIC

3/25- SPRING TRAINING!

3/26- Anything and everything day! Anything we want to do again and everything we missed! With dinner @ Chefs de France!



Can't wait to report back to everyone. Like I said, this will probably be boring because it is my first one, but I hope it will help some people plan their vacations like others helped me plan mine!

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

I know there is not much interest in my pre TR, but I think this background info will all make sense once I come back and post everything!

Anyways, some sad news...My aunt (Dad's oldest sister) has not been doing well. She's been in critical condition for about a week now, and any day could be the last. Because of this, our trip could totally just not happen at the last minute, or it could end sooner than it should. Please keep my aunt in your prayers

 

[Somnia]

I know there is not much interest in my pre TR, but I think this background info will all make sense once I come back and post everything!

Anyways, some sad news...My aunt (Dad's oldest sister) has not been doing well. She's been in critical condition for about a week now, and any day could be the last. Because of this, our trip could totally just not happen at the last minute, or it could end sooner than it should. Please keep my aunt in your prayers

I hope everything turns out ok for you and your family.

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

Thank you. My aunt passed away this morning, but we are still going on our trip. She was a great lady and inspired everyone she met. She will be in my heart forever

We leave in about 1/2 hr for the airport...Hopefully despite the circumstances we can have a good time.

 

[IATink]

I am so sorry to hear about your aunt. It sounds like you could use a little magic in your life right now. I hope you enjoy your trip. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

Just ate at Coral Reef and watched illuminations! Then came back to the Poly and watched wishes from the balcony....by myself! my family doesn't get into the whole Disney thing, but they put up with it most of the time for me!!! I have an update on the first page as well! Breakfast tm at 7:30am!!!! Happy Easter everyone!

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

OK I am back to the cold, depressing, weather and am SO sad that my trip is over! I took a ton of pics though so I will post those shortly!

 

[TDISFAMILY]

Can't wait to read about your trip and see some more pics of the POLY

 

[PirateFish989]

I'm so sorry to hear about your aunt!

Hopefully, you still had a wonderful time! Waiting to hear more about your trip!

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

Thanks everyone

Trying to decide if I should post without pictures for now...left my camera cord @ school but I won't be back there now until April 7th (since I am staying in town another week for my Aunt's memorial service.)

I can post now without pics add them later, or do it all at once when I get back...Any preferences?! What do you all usually do?

 

[DisneySouthernChick]

Sorry to her about your aunt. Hope the magic of Disney lifted your spirits.

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

Thank you

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

So on Friday morning the 21st we got some very sad news that my aunt (dad’s oldest sis) had passed away. The service is not until next weekend and therefore we decided to still go on our trip. I guess WDW is a pretty good place to be when you’ve got some cheering up to do.

Our flight landed at about 5:00pm. My mom, little brother, and I headed down to baggage claim with my dad and waited for our bags before taking an empty shuttle to the rental car pick-up. I was expecting it to be packed, but so far, so good!!

We got to the Poly and waited at the club arrival desk out front. There was some sort of delay so impatient dad was getting frustrated. We then got a ride from the cutest bellhop ever, Iggy. I was sad that I didn’t see him during the rest of the trip because he was pretty good looking!! I had some guava juice in the lobby before Iggy took us up to our rooms while my dad checked in.

At first I was a little disappointed with the hallways. They looked old and dark and I started to worry that our room would be like this, too. I guess I am just used to staying in GF and YC where everything is very white and bright. When we got to the rooms I was in paradise! It was just like all the pictures I saw from all you fabulous people on these boards but better!

And, did I mention we were in Hawaii with a lagoon view?! It was AWESOME! We were also given a cute note with a chocolate bar that welcomed us to the Polynesian Ohana! All was going well until my dad came up to the room… (Now my dad is not a Disney person to begin with- he doesn’t like crowded places or long lines and all that, but he goes to make us kids happy! He is very impatient and likes to be right. He is also kind of King Triton-ish!)

Anyways, Triton requested adjoining rooms, but after reading the DIS I told him that he needed to request CONNECTING rooms if that is what he wanted. Of course, he told me HE was right and I was wrong. He was also so upset that he told them he didn't want lei's!!! So no lei's for us I’m sure you can guess what happened next…

 

[MomofCKJ]

I am sorry about your Aunt. That is hard news to get as you are about to leave on your trip.

King Triton-ish Dad, what a great description! I have travelled with some impatient, not so Disney lovin' folk, it can be hard! I am excited to hear how your week went!

And the adjoining/connecting thing, I used to work for Marriott and SO many people make that same mistake. They think adjoining has the door in between and are sadly mistaken when they check in. Poor Dad.

Allyson

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

OK so my dumb self left the memory card with the first 1/2 of my trip at home!!!!! I promise I'll eventually do this!!!

 

[megal0331]

I'm curious to hear all about your trip, too! I'm sorry to hear about your aunt. Thoughts are with your family....