Practically Perfect at the Poly? **UPDATE 7/28 -- And We're Back!!

[tinacaplan]

Caught up!

I'm still looking forward to my first ride on the refurb'd Star Tours. It oughtta be good!

I hope you get to stay at the Art of Animation resort -- I'm curious to see how people will like it.

Sorry that you had a little moment of disagreement with Mark. I think you're the first couple ever to argue during a trip to Disney. But kudos to you -- you worked it out and it turned into maybe you best ever night at Disney.

I think Mark would argue that the new Star Tours is just about the best thing Disney has ever done.

I would never even consider staying at AofA if weren't for Max. He loves Cars that much.

And I am sure we're the first couple to ever argue at Disney. I've seen some where Mark and I questioned whether or not the marriage would go on once they got home. And, yes, it was a fantastic night for everyone!

Great update, Tina. Glad you and Mark enjoyed your dinner at Ctirico’s. We've never done a signature restaurant (my Mark refuses to dress up even a little on vacation).

I had no doubt that Max would love the kids club.

Thanks! Although, just ask the guy who wore his bathing suit to the Cali Grill about the signature "dress codes." I have no doubt Grumpy would never try and do that.

Well, first.....congrats on switching AKL to the one night @ AoA. Although, you already knew I was in favor of it. I think Max is going to be so excited!

I think he really will. I'm a little bummed about not doing AKL, but it'll be there for years to come, so I know we'll do it eventually.

On to the update.....loved it!

I'm so glad y'all were able to have a wonderful evening even if there were hiccups with the ADR & a disagreement.

Your story of knocking over your Bellini cracked me up.....only because I've done the same thing! Let me tell you....Cajuns are like Italians....we speak with our hands! Ed says all the time that if he tied my hands behind my back I wouldn't be able to speak. Anyway....I did the same thing one night at a very nice wine bar.

Your meal sounds delicious! I would really love to try out some signature restaurants at Disney one day. I've heard soooo many good things about the Neverland Club. Hmmmm.....okay.....you are really making me think how I could work something like that out for our trip this year.

And, one last thing.....I definitely have to agree that us southerners are extremely friendly!

Thanks...it was an update I really looked forward to! Too funny about the hands... And, as we've PMed, try one. Reid wuld probably love the kids' club!

I think that's really cool of you guys to stay at AoA so Max will get to see Cars Land! I bet he's really going to love it!! I agree, 3 resorts would have my head spinning too!

I'm glad your dinner decision resolved itself well! Sometimes it can be hard to plan plan plan, and then want to change your mind, and then it's like, but what happened to the plan?? But your meal at Citricos looks great! DBF had had the same entree as you, and loved it as well.

I'm glad Max enjoyed the kids' club!! Those sound like a fantastic resource to have!

Yeah, like I said, I'm a little bummed to not be staying at AKL...but I do want to make the five year old happy and I think the cars section at AofA, especially as more pictures come out, will really do that.

That swordfish is soooo good. In fact, when I switched our resort reservation plan around (AGAIN!) I also switched around our ADRs and now we're going back to Citrico's!

La Hacienda food looks really good! Yum!

Sounds like my kind of relaxing evening. Glad you got to have adult time.

La Hacienda is great...I highly recommend it!

We had a great night and it was very relaxing.

I see you have a trip coming up soon...I want details!!

 

[MEK]

Tried to power read this morning so I could see the yummy food pictures. I know I missed the fine details but your meal sounded amazing and I'm so glad that ADR worked out for you. I really can't wait to try it in October. I wish I was going there this summer, but oh well, you can't do everything.

So glad that Max liked the Neverland club and, more importantly, that he enjoyed the fireworks from the beach. Sounds like a perfect evening!

 

[eandesmom]

At this point, I was really hoping we’d be told that we didn’t have an ADR at Cali Grill and could go on our way. Possibly over to the Grand Floridian, where my Disney mobile app told me tables were available at Citrico’s. While I am thinking all of this in my head, I had not bothered to articulate any of it to Mark, who was just standing there, waiting, unaware of my thought process. He’s the type of guy that will tend to go for the easiest option in a situation such as this and since we were already at the Contemporary (oh, and there was a sudden, torrential rain happening at this point, too...did I fail to mention that?), why wouldn’t we just stay there?

When it was finally our turn, the swimsuit family was already being whisked upstairs. Seriously? Isn’t there a dress code? Not a particularly strict one, but come on! Anyway... I announced our presence and of course...NO ADR. Nope. Not at all. Sigh. Of course. But the very gracious CM at the desk offered to fit us in anyway. So Mark’s ready to go and I blurt out, no, that’s all right.

And then BAM. Mark just loses it, as much as he ever does. Which is to say that he got pretty annoyed and we walked around the corner into a lounge-area in front of one of the convention rooms to hash it out. Bottom line was that it became an disagreement about our collective inability to make even simple decisions and stick to them. For my part, I told him that this was all why I wanted him to pay more attention when I was making Disney plans. He then came back with the charge that all I want to do is talk and talk until he finally agrees with me. And there may be some truth to that. It was at this point that he brought up how unhappy he was with the Poly and wished we had stayed at the Beach Club, that he had said he only wanted to stay at the Beach Club, but I didn’t listen. But there’s also some truth to Mark just not paying enough attention to my planning, as I had suggested switching to the Beach Club before we left after hearing that the volcano slide at the Poly was being repaired while we were there.

This is so classic! I'm not laughing, not really but I can so relate to feeling one way, leaning one way, in my mind and expecting Jeff to just know it. And so I don't overload him with the detail since he won't recall it anyway!

SO glad it worked out as magically as it did

 

[PopArtGal]

Oh I so can't wait for my trip. I really need it.

It's July 15-25 at the CR!

My PTR's link is in my signature

 

[tinacaplan]

Tried to power read this morning so I could see the yummy food pictures. I know I missed the fine details but your meal sounded amazing and I'm so glad that ADR worked out for you. I really can't wait to try it in October. I wish I was going there this summer, but oh well, you can't do everything.

So glad that Max liked the Neverland club and, more importantly, that he enjoyed the fireworks from the beach. Sounds like a perfect evening!

Citirco's really was that good...so good we're headed back in July! Even knowing I'm going back in July.

It was a wonderful evening!

This is so classic! I'm not laughing, not really but I can so relate to feeling one way, leaning one way, in my mind and expecting Jeff to just know it. And so I don't overload him with the detail since he won't recall it anyway!

SO glad it worked out as magically as it did

Oh, what I put Mark through in the planning department. I came home tonight with a whole new plan...which he shot down, but still. Why can't I ever leave well enough alone?

It was a great night!

Oh I so can't wait for my trip. I really need it.

It's July 15-25 at the CR!

My PTR's link is in my signature

I just checked in on your PTR. Our trips totally overlap, almost to the day. Although you're there much longer than we are. Would love to say hi if it works out at some point.

 

[tinacaplan]

Our final full Disney day dawned with possibility and promise. No...really, it did! We had quite a bit on the ole’ clipboard-of-fun, as Mark refers to any and all itinerary making I do. It is actually a reference to someone we once hung around with who was rather uptight and Mark would always say it was as though she was taking her cues from the clipboard of fun. Ha. Ha. Moving on... there were a.m. EMHs at MK, as well as a 10:30 ADR at Kona, then a visit to EPCOT, a Dismeet, some ice cream, more EPCOT, and, finally, dinner at Via Napoli. Sheesh! Would we do it all? Could we do it all? I realize some of you may be laughing, but that’s a full day for us at the parks. A day with no scheduled nap times? What?

We made it to MK in plenty of time for EMHs, although the park was more crowded than I would have liked. I would also like to say that I remember what we did, but alas...time being what it is and my lousy record keeping have left me with the following pictures:

The only thing I know for sure is that I finally got Max to try the Sword in the Stone.

Certainly, we had a good time and probably hit up Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh...maybe Pirates? Not sure.

We were making our way out of the park and back to the Poly by 10:00, as we had a breakfast ADR at Kona. I must say that breakfast at Kona is legendary on these boards. Every last review of Kona breakfast has had my mouth watering just a little bit... oh, and a pressed pot of Kona coffee...yes, please.

Um...Mark really was much happier than he appears in this picture. I swear.

I know the classic is the Tonga Toast and it is appealing. But...oh...heavens...the sugar. So much sugar. More sugar than I thought I could handle more than a bite or two of, so I opted for the Samoan instead, which I loved. I adore hollondaise and poached eggs and since this is basically trussed up eggs benny, I was surely going to devour this dish. Which I did.

Mark got the hungry man’s platter, and I know that’s not really its name but I’m too lazy to check All Ears right now, which meant that I got to sample the delicious Macademica Nut pancakes.

Max, of course, had the ubiquitous Mickey waffles and we all left full and very happy and ready to do...well..I’m not sure. But, we had an exciting afternoon on the horizon, that was certain.

 

[KatMark]

It gets harder and harder to do these reports as we get older and start forgetting what we did.

I think you did great with the pictures...it told us a lot.

Kona...I can't wait to be there in September. I believe what your Mark had was the Big Kahuna!

Love that pressed pot coffee.

 

[amandaw]

Sounds like y'all definitely had a full day planned! "Clipboard of fun"...I love it! The breakfast at Kona does indeed sound delicious!

And even if you don't remember exactly what y'all did....at least you have pictures to prove you were really there!

 

[tinacaplan]

I also wanted to sneak in a quick life/July trip update in here. We went to West Hartford today to pick up Max’s new glasses, which he is not wearing in these pictures:

Incidentally, West Hartford was home to Noah Webster, of the dictionary Websters and Max is actually standing at the base of a giant statue of him.

I spent a good thirty minutes or so chatting with a delightful CM earlier this week to finally straighten out our resort reservations for July. I had no idea making the changes would be so complicated, but they were. We are officially staying at AofA in a Cars suite on July 19th and then moving to the Beach Club for the remainder of our trip. I am a bit sad not to be staying at AKL, yet again, but I know that I will someday. Max has seen pictures of what he is calling the Cars hotel and he is just blown away, although not so much that he doesn’t want to also stay at the Beach Club.

This change necessitated a new look at my ADRs and general touring strategy, of course. It also seems (please cross your fingers that I’m right...dear lord...) that Max is forty inches, which is a definite game changer, too.

The first day, we should be at the resort by noon. The plan is to just explore, take pictures, try out the pools. The Big Blue looks incredible and there is no way Max is going to miss the Cozy Cones that comprise the cabanas at the Cars pool. I’m also pretty eager to try out the resort’s CS. The menus look really great. One of the things I think is so cool about some of the more diverse CS menus at Disney is that you can get something pretty healthy and delicious if you want, or you can still go the traditional hamburger route. Its as though they’re trying to please everyone!

The next day we move to the Beach Club, but not until we’ve stopped in at the Animal Kingdom. This will likely be our only day here. Its Mark’s least favorite park. I have to say that Lauren and I had a spectacular day here in April, but I’ll save that story for later. I am hoping to finally get Max on Kali River Rapids and Dinosaur, which he’ll either find terrifying or he’ll love. We shall see. We also have an 11:30 lunch ADR at Tusker House so Max can meet some characters, and we can try the place out for lunch. That afternoon, we’ll head over to the Beach Club and get ourselves settled in to our home for the next six days! I can almost smell the lobby from here... or maybe its just my new Bath and Bodyworks candles that are a reasonable approximation of that heavenly scent.

I’m sure we’ll swim and nap some in there, too. We have an 8:40 ADR at Kona. I think we will set out a bit early, stop and do Spaceship Earth, and take the monorail to the Poly. And, yes, in case you can’t tell, I have really enjoyed Kona. I went back again in April and had another wonderful meal. Plus, Lapus Lapus are becoming something of a trip tradition for me. After dinner we will either stick around and watch Wishes from the beach or take the boat over to MK, depending on the timing. I’m really hoping that Max takes a good nap later in the afternoon because I would love for him to see the MSEP and maybe take advantage of evening EMHs that night. If not, I’ll be the selfless person that I am and send Mark and Max back to the BC and I’ll just hit up some rides by myself. BTMRR will FINALLY be open again. Its been down my last two trips and it might be my very favorite ride in all the world.

Saturday is a resort day, due to our late night the night before. We have a 10:00 breakfast ADR at Kouzzina, which hasn’t changed. What has changed, however, is our anniversary dinner. Originally, I had us set for Yachtsman but when we moved to AKL, we were going to go to Jiko. Well, when plans changed again, I realized that one restaurant and one restaurant alone was truly calling my name. And its Citrico’s. Which closes for renovations a couple of days later, so we’ll celebrate a little early. Max is going to the Sandcastle Club that evening, which I’m sure he will love as much as the Neverland Club at the Poly.

Sunday has us at EPCOT in the morning, where I am hoping that Max will get his first ride on Soarin’. We’ll spend the rest of the morning in EPCOT, go back and swim, and then head to Hollywood Studios that evening. We’re going to have dinner at 50’s Primetime, which I think Max will really enjoy. We had a good meal there in April, so we’re headed back. Plus, Mark is in love with Star Tours and, again, this is another ride that Max should finally be able to do! I really hope it works out because Mark is looking forward to sharing his Star Wars obssesion with Max.

Monday and at long last we’re going to the Magic Kingdom in the day light. We’ll try and make rope drop and then see where the day takes us from there. We have an ADR that night for all of us at Flying Fish, which I may cancel. We’ll see what kind of mood we’re in...red snapper or Beaches and Cream? Hmm....we’ll have to wait and see.

Tuesday we’re back at Hollywood Studios during the day and EPCOT in the evening. We have an 8:30 at La Hacienda. Hope Max appreciates the view of Illuminations!

Wednesday is our last day and we have an 8:20 ADR at Crystal Palace, somewhere I’ve been trying to get back to for several trips now, so I’m hopeful it will work out. We have no other plans until we head to Via Napoli that evening for our final Disney dinner.

I’m very much looking forward to this trip for so many reasons, but I am also trying not to wish away my days right now. The trip is the week before I start school again, so I definitely don’t want to wish my summer away, as it were. I’m actually heading into my final week of teaching, then I chaperone our class trip to Washington D.C., then we have a final week of tests and my tenth year of teaching will be drawing to a close. Hard to believe!

 

[tinacaplan]

It gets harder and harder to do these reports as we get older and start forgetting what we did.

Notice I have no problem remembering the food!

I think you did great with the pictures...it told us a lot.

Kona...I can't wait to be there in September. I believe what your Mark had was the Big Kahuna!

Love that pressed pot coffee.

Yep..you're right. It was the Big Kahuna! And getting that great coffee at the Poly is such a nice treat after not being able to get decent coffee almost anywhere else in Disney. So thrilled about Starbucks coming!

Sounds like y'all definitely had a full day planned! "Clipboard of fun"...I love it! The breakfast at Kona does indeed sound delicious!

And even if you don't remember exactly what y'all did....at least you have pictures to prove you were really there!

Kona is great. I highly recommend it, regardless of the time of day. It was a great day!

 

[amandaw]

Your July plans are looking great!

I hope for everyone's sake that Max does get to 40"! I'm sure he'll be very excited to ride some "big boy" rides. I know Reid is really looking forward to the new rides he can try this year, especially Star Wars.

And it sounds like you have some great ADRs lined up!

 

[eandesmom]

That Kona breakfast looks YUMMY!

I remember when I had to make changes to our YC ressie in 2010 it was ridiculously complicated and took forever as well, glad you got it all figured out.

After such a magical Citrico's dinner, it seems perfect for an anniversary visit!

Plans look really really good. I'm starting to feel that we are all going to be a little bit sad we don't have more park and dining time on our summer trip, hopefully Vero and the Dream truly will erase any wistfulness once we are there.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Hahahaha the Clipboard O Fun!!! My dad ALWAYS used to make little itineraries for each day for our family vacations when I was younger! I bet ice cream time would have been planned too!

The hungryman's platter = the Big Kahuna! It looks great! I've never had that one before, it looks like WAY too much food for me!!

Your July plans sound great!! Fingers crossed that Max loves Dinosaur and Kali!!

 

[MEK]

You really don't have much of a summer break from teaching, do you? Is that because you work for a Charter School. I know the charter schools here end really late and start really early. They literally must have a month longer school year than my kids do. Nick is already done for the year and doesn't go back till.....oops - better check and see if its before or after labor Day.

Your plans look great. Are you going to be tired of Citricos when we go again in October? If so, we could change and do FF. I know one thing for sure, Cynthia and I are both really looking forward to eating there and its the only reason I didn't schedule a dinner there for Denny and I.

Max looks so cute in his latest picture. He has definitely grown since your last trip.

Your July plans look great and yeah for booking the Cars suite. You know - it is quite possible that Max won't want to leave.

 

[KatMark]

Tina, the July plans sound perfect.

We've never done Kona for dinner. What kind of food do they have?

 

[PopArtGal]

We changed our ADRs. We I'll update today. Maybe we can meet up if you have a dining ressie at the CR?

 

[tinacaplan]

Your July plans are looking great!

I hope for everyone's sake that Max does get to 40"! I'm sure he'll be very excited to ride some "big boy" rides. I know Reid is really looking forward to the new rides he can try this year, especially Star Wars.

And it sounds like you have some great ADRs lined up!

I really hope he makes it and I'm not just kidding myself here.

That Kona breakfast looks YUMMY!

I remember when I had to make changes to our YC ressie in 2010 it was ridiculously complicated and took forever as well, glad you got it all figured out.

After such a magical Citrico's dinner, it seems perfect for an anniversary visit!

Plans look really really good. I'm starting to feel that we are all going to be a little bit sad we don't have more park and dining time on our summer trip, hopefully Vero and the Dream truly will erase any wistfulness once we are there.

I was really kind of surprised that the whole res change was as complicated as it was. Its also weird because I'm not booking packages at this point, because of the APs, so there's more upfront money involved.

I have a feeling the Dream will more than make up for the parks. I really hope I get to try a cruise sometime soon.

Hahahaha the Clipboard O Fun!!! My dad ALWAYS used to make little itineraries for each day for our family vacations when I was younger! I bet ice cream time would have been planned too!

The hungryman's platter = the Big Kahuna! It looks great! I've never had that one before, it looks like WAY too much food for me!!

Your July plans sound great!! Fingers crossed that Max loves Dinosaur and Kali!!

Planning is good... I really, really, really hope that Max can make the height requirements.

You really don't have much of a summer break from teaching, do you? Is that because you work for a Charter School. I know the charter schools here end really late and start really early. They literally must have a month longer school year than my kids do. Nick is already done for the year and doesn't go back till.....oops - better check and see if its before or after labor Day.

Yep...its because we're a charter school. Our training for the new year starts July 29 and the kids come back mid-August. They're in school for almost a month longer than the regular public schools here. Plus, our day is longer. But it works with the kids I work with.

Connecticut, in general, also goes really late into June. Most districts have two breaks (February and April) and I don't know of any that are done yet. Most don't go back until the very end of August or after Labor Day.

Your plans look great. Are you going to be tired of Citricos when we go again in October? If so, we could change and do FF. I know one thing for sure, Cynthia and I are both really looking forward to eating there and its the only reason I didn't schedule a dinner there for Denny and I.

Max looks so cute in his latest picture. He has definitely grown since your last trip.

Your July plans look great and yeah for booking the Cars suite. You know - it is quite possible that Max won't want to leave.

Nope...I just love Citricos. It also helps that we got such amazing service when we were there. Plus, I think I've developed a crush on the Grand Floridian. That lobby is just so incredible. Unfortunately, I'm not sure (based on the pictures I've seen) that the rooms themselves match that lobby, but its fun to visit. So, in short, I'm quite happy to be going there twice in such rapid succession.

Tina, the July plans sound perfect.

We've never done Kona for dinner. What kind of food do they have?

Thanks, Kathy! I'm really looking forward to it. We'll see if I managed to get our plans just right this time.

Kona has sorta Asian-ish food, if that makes sense. Kind of similar to 'Ohana, minus the meat and the family style. I really like it there and its reasonable, too.

We changed our ADRs. We I'll update today. Maybe we can meet up if you have a dining ressie at the CR?

We don't know...but who knows? Maybe something will work out.

 

[annmarieda]

Plans are coming along nicely! I am jealous you are going to stay at AoA! I can't wait to see how you like it and see all your pictures.

 

[tinacaplan]

Hello everyone! Well, I put together quite a spreadsheet detailing various options for our lodgings for our October trip.

For those of you who have not follow this, or have forgotten ... my October trip began quite innocently as my "extra" I have an AP, so why not trip to check out Food and Wine. I could have easily done this on my own for a quick weekend. But I decided to invite my mom along because, well...she rather enjoys wine and I rather enjoy her company and she doesn't get to travel much because my dad has some health issues. And she agreed. So far, so good. Then my godmother, who has been my mom's best friend since they were five years old, decided to come, too, along with her two daughters. They were pretty much raised like my first cousins and we've all been pretty close. Now I was suddenly trying to plan for five people! Four of whom don't know much about Disney planning. I wanted to stay at the Beach Club because, well...its Food and Wine and its probably my favorite resort, so it was a no-brainer. Plus, splitting a room would keep overall costs down, right?

Well...not so much. This has lead to discussion and feet dragging and we don't have a resort...yet.

In my research, I discovered that a two bedroom villa at Old Key West was surprisingly affordable. I had figured out its location while I was staying at SSR and thought it was pretty close to EPCOT and MK (who knew?? ). I also thought it looked beautiful as I drove past it in various Disney busses. Plus, my mom loved the real Key West when she visited there many years ago.

So, a two bedroom villa would give us a ton of space, not to mention space where we could all gather and hang out, which would be fantastic on this type of trip. I'm pretty much all in favor, as I don't think the Beach Club is gonna happen.

I'm just curious, since I know several of you have stayed there, are there any major drawbacks? Also, is it that tough without a car? That's the essential question. We don't need to be near the main pool, just a pool, and a quick walk to a bus stop would be key, as well. Would we likely be granted such requests?

Thanks for any and all info on this one.

 

[amandaw]

Well, I haven't stayed at OKW yet so I can't really help you out. Although, it does sound like a very good option for y'all. We'll be staying there a bit during our trip. But, since our trip is just a little bit before yours, I won't really be able to help you out then either. So, I guess I'm just basically saying that I'm useless on this topic right now.