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

[dizneeat]

Tina, enjoy your girls trip. Have a safe flight!

 

[tinacaplan]

Hello! I'm at the airport, ridiculously early for my 1:30 flight. I had a very odd thing happen yesterday when I went to check in for my flight on-line. I'm flying SW, by the way. When I went to check in, they would only allow me to print a security document, not an actual boarding pass. I have been freaking out ever since that I was going to end up bumped from my flight. But....I have my boarding pass now and its just a matter of time until I'm in the air on my way to MCO!!!

I think my trip reporting for this trip might go one of two ways. I have my laptop, so I may come home with the whole thing written already, or I won't do...since its taking so long to do this one!


Also...my friend is already there and she texted me our room number and we're in the Springs, in the building that's as close to the main buildings and main pool as you can possibly get. Apparently, we have a lake view! I'm so excited!!!

So glad that all went well with Max's surgery How is he doing now?

He's fine. There was no external wound or anything and the "really red eye" that the doctor had warned us about never materialized. I mean, its got some blood in it, no doubt, but nothing like what I had expected. It was really pretty minor, but he's probably going to have a follow up surgery sometime in the next few months.

Your trip is so close. I can't wait to hear all about SSR. I having been daydreaming of staying there soon. Something about the DTD view and the short walk to WPE draws me in. The pool looks like so much fun but I do worry about the size and the buses.

Yes...my trip is HERE! Admittedly, when my friend first told me that's where we were staying, I was a little disappointed. I had a secret hope that maybe we'd be at BWV or BCV or BLT or AKL or Kidani.... but...alas...nope. And I absolutely cannot complain because its free! I was mainly worried about the size and the bus situation, too. It always seems to take so long to get to DTD from anywhere, but hopefully it won't be too bad. I'm in the minority of people who really don't mind the busses.

I am really loving your honest Poly reviews. All the little things that seem to bother you are the reason that I always end up dropping the Poly off my top resort choice. The pool is so tiny and seriously, no hot tub? We spend too much time at the resort and the pool is very important in our choice too.

Thanks. Just wait until my wrap-up at the end when I REALLY let loose. And I have the pictures to back me up, too! I just think that for what you're paying there, the pool should be a LOT better and, overall, the resort should be in better shape. The area right around the GCH is slightly misleading; the rest of the resort is not as nice, IMO.

You know we're also big resort people and I was so expecting to love the Poly....oh well. If nothing else, it has made my husband an avowed BC lover, which is not a bad thing.

CHH looks great. You know, I have never had a lobster roll. I don't like mayo and it just seems gross to me to ruin lobster by putting mayo on it. I will have to keep an eye out this summer for lobster rolls with butter. Mmmmm.

CT is the only state in New England that makes them w/ butter. Don't know why. I'd never had one with mayo before, actually. I usually like my lobster straight up with a bit of butter. Don't think it needs much more than that. And CHH is wonderful.

Just stopping by to say HAVE A GREAT GIRLS TRIP! Don't forget the FB pictures.

We will be making the October Saturday night ADR for 5 for Flying Fish!!!!!!

HAVE FUN!

Thanks, MEK! I'll take plenty of FB pictures, I promise!

Hope y'all have a safe & fabulous trip!

Thank you Amanda!

Just getting caught back up. I'm so happy to hear Max's surgery went well.

I enjoyed your morning doing such adventurous things. We love Tom Sawyer Island but skipped it this trip. Just too short of time and no little ones. We ate at CHH too. Just love that place. DH would have preferred Cosmic Rays but the girls and I over ruled him. I had the Tuna and DD had the Lobster Roll. She prefers the ones with butter too but enjoyed CHH's. My niece had the fried shrimp and I must say it was a good size portion and good.

Enjoy your girls trip.

Thank you...we're all relieved, too. I was really happy that CHH turned out to be as good as everyone says it is. It was nice and cool and quite upstairs when we ate, too. It was a great morning!

Tina, enjoy your girls trip. Have a safe flight!

Thanks, Karin!

 

[dizneeat]

Lake view - perfect! Springs - perfect! NO trip report - so NOT perfect!

Have fun, Tina!

 

[amandaw]

That's so exciting that y'all got a great location with a great view!

No TR? Well, that simply won't do!

You could just finish your current TR, then tack on the TR for this trip & then when you finish it, you can add on the July TR! You have to keep me occupied with TR's until my trip.

 

[tinacaplan]

Lake view - perfect! Springs - perfect! NO trip report - so NOT perfect!

Have fun, Tina!

Thanks, Karin! Sounds like we got the best possible room! I will likely do one.

That's so exciting that y'all got a great location with a great view!

No TR? Well, that simply won't do!

You could just finish your current TR, then tack on the TR for this trip & then when you finish it, you can add on the July TR! You have to keep me occupied with TR's until my trip.

I'll do my best!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Have a great trip!!!!!

 

[Moira222]

Hi Tina!I just found your Tr - holy cow how do you have seven "chapters" already? looks like I will get no work done at all today

BTW just Love your hubby's attitude of "why, you will change and then I will get mad" sounds like my hubby

reading on!

OH YAY you are at WDW right now with your friend. Having a blast no doubt while we live vicariously through your TR

First, So glad that Max's surgery went well. Hopefully it is the only one needed and the muscle issue is resolved. nothing worse than having to worry about our little ones!

What a huge contrast you have in your early morning MK pics vs your first trip there and later the next afternoon. I can totally understand ditching for some pool & R&R time. We "learned" to do this as well (its hard for me, I want to go commando all the time but also relax. I am so conflicted) anyway love the mid day break. and what I love (and will work more when Max gets bigger) is that a mid day break means you can hit the parks early when they are empty and still do the evening EMH hours.

So TSI is really a kids place eh? We still have not been here, so maybe we will skip in June and save it till we go with Katie in '13. I agree about the SFRTH - its a one time deal. those steps really killed me and I felt like I could not stop for too long because I was holding up people behind me.

I hope that you decided to do Kona + Wishes on the beach - sounds very relaxing, let your dinner and drink digest, and you can watch the Water Parade -- I love that silly water dragon parade!

You have me even more excited to be at Yacht Club in June - and SAB was totally the draw!

Hope you are having a great time at Saratoga Springs!

 

[eandesmom]

I absolutely adore CHH, one of my favorites. Yes, it's just a tuna sandwich but a DARN good one!

Major bummer about the pool. You really can't compare any other pool to SAB as they will all fall short. SAB is really a mini waterpark to me, not a pool.

That Stroller parking.

Love love love TSI, I hope the next time we go that the E's haven't gotten to old for it.

I hope you are having a magical time!!!

 

[annmarieda]

I am sorry that I missed your send off. I hope you have a wonderful time. Sounds like a great room location.

 

[PirateKate]

CHH is so good! I love eating there. Haven't tried the tuna yet, but I've never had anything bad there.

Have a great trip!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I just got here. A little behind! I know you are at WDW right now and likely enjoying every minute! I'll try to catch up before you get back!

 

[natebenma]

Could I please scream from the roof tops that Storm Along Bay is the greatest???? We were totally spoiled and I wish I had realized that before we made this reservation. Now, keep in mind, it did not ruin our trip and in many ways we had more magical moments during this trip than any other trip so far...just not necessarily at the resort.

That would be perfectly fine with me. As long as you are shouting it from the rooftops and not shreiking in the shrinking room at Haunted Mansion!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I'm caught up! Thanks for the links, that helps a TON!

SO glad Max's surgery went well!!! Whew!!!!

When we stayed at BLT we loved being on the monorail too, it is a huge benefit about those resorts, and helps me overlook the few things I didn't like about BLT. I'm interested to hear if it helped bring the Poly up a bit in your book, or not. I'm thinking it didn't make it win out over the BC because of your ticker!

 

[tinacaplan]

Well, I’m back.

And it was wonderful.

OK...in all fairness I realize I've been back for over a week, but I've had a tough time getting back into the groove on the Dis and have been short on time.

I’m still not sure if I’ll be doing a full fledged trip report, but...I definitely have plenty of experiences I’m eager to talk about and share.

SSR is a beautiful resort and the rooms were lovely and in excellent condition. We had a one bedroom in the Springs overlooking the small lake. I was intrigued by SSR’S location. I had thought we’d be much further form EPCOT and MK than we were and had never been down the street that POR, POFQ, OKW, and SSR are on. Everytime we went to MK, I thought we were taking some secret short cut to get there. My only complaint is how much you have to walk to get anywhere there. The bus, the pool, the counter service place... all a hike. Not anything horrendous, but I have to say I think that being so near to the lobby at the BC spoiled me forever. And the Poly is pretty compact, too. I can see that staying in a villa has its benefits and really wanted to walk into the DVC Preview Center, but I never did.

We had some wonderful meals and a truly incredible day at AK. We spent one day at the pool, where I got a sunburn worse than any I can remember in years. Call me crazy, but I neglected to use any sunscreen. I know...I know...skin cancer..bad. But, I’m Italian. I was already sorta tan when I showed up. Who needed sunscreen? Uh...yeah, this girl. Sigh... it did not ruin our trip at all, thankfully.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to go to Disney without a kid. I know how that must sound to some people...for one, I’ve gotten plenty of strange looks along the lines of, what do you do at Disney as an adult...without a kid? Not to mention the, you left your kid at home while you went to Disney? Well...um...yes! And I’d do it again. OK, maybe not tomorrow or anything. I did miss Max and Mark and would have been happy if they had shown up a couple of days in, but we’ll be there all together soon enough.

The last week has been busy with getting back into the swing of things with school, so I haven’t been around much, but hopefully there will be an update soon!

Our first night in the Magic Kingdom!

 

[tinacaplan]

Have a great trip!!!!!

Thanks! I did!

Hi Tina!I just found your Tr - holy cow how do you have seven "chapters" already? looks like I will get no work done at all today

BTW just Love your hubby's attitude of "why, you will change and then I will get mad" sounds like my hubby

reading on!

I wish I were almost done... These things take quite a bit of itme, especially when you take two week breaks in between.

My husband drives me crazy with planning sometimes. For one, I really do want a sounding board sometimes and its like he doesn't care what we're doing...until he cares!

OH YAY you are at WDW right now with your friend. Having a blast no doubt while we live vicariously through your TR

It was a great, albeit brief, trip!

First, So glad that Max's surgery went well. Hopefully it is the only one needed and the muscle issue is resolved. nothing worse than having to worry about our little ones!

Thank you...and no, there is nothing worse than knowing your baby is in pain, that's for sure.

What a huge contrast you have in your early morning MK pics vs your first trip there and later the next afternoon. I can totally understand ditching for some pool & R&R time. We "learned" to do this as well (its hard for me, I want to go commando all the time but also relax. I am so conflicted) anyway love the mid day break. and what I love (and will work more when Max gets bigger) is that a mid day break means you can hit the parks early when they are empty and still do the evening EMH hours.

That's why we love rope drop! Especially at MK! I don't mind the breaks, at all, although this means we miss a lot of the shows and things like that because we don't have time.

So TSI is really a kids place eh? We still have not been here, so maybe we will skip in June and save it till we go with Katie in '13. I agree about the SFRTH - its a one time deal. those steps really killed me and I felt like I could not stop for too long because I was holding up people behind me.

TSI is definitely for kids and if it weren't for Max we never would have stopped there.

I hope that you decided to do Kona + Wishes on the beach - sounds very relaxing, let your dinner and drink digest, and you can watch the Water Parade -- I love that silly water dragon parade!

You have me even more excited to be at Yacht Club in June - and SAB was totally the draw!

Hope you are having a great time at Saratoga Springs!

Hmm...you'll have to wait and see.... You are going to love the YC. Its a beautiful resort and that entire area is gorgeous. And, yes, SAB really is THAT awesome. So is being able to walk to EPCOT. You are going to have an amazing trip.

I absolutely adore CHH, one of my favorites. Yes, it's just a tuna sandwich but a DARN good one!

Major bummer about the pool. You really can't compare any other pool to SAB as they will all fall short. SAB is really a mini waterpark to me, not a pool.

That Stroller parking.

Love love love TSI, I hope the next time we go that the E's haven't gotten to old for it.

I hope you are having a magical time!!!

CHH was great. I agree...SAB is a mini water park. But I've been at SSR's pool and CSR's and well...the Poly's is just...ugh. Lame! It would be great for an adults trip, when adult beverages are key. Its very romantic.

I am sorry that I missed your send off. I hope you have a wonderful time. Sounds like a great room location.

I'm back! It was great. SSR is beautiful!

CHH is so good! I love eating there. Haven't tried the tuna yet, but I've never had anything bad there.

Have a great trip!

Thanks!

I just got here. A little behind! I know you are at WDW right now and likely enjoying every minute! I'll try to catch up before you get back!

Not a problem...I'm super behind, too! Just means that we all have full lives.

That would be perfectly fine with me. As long as you are shouting it from the rooftops and not shreiking in the shrinking room at Haunted Mansion!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to go to Disney without a kid. I know how that must sound to some people...for one, I’ve gotten plenty of strange looks along the lines of, what do you do at Disney as an adult...without a kid? Not to mention the, you left your kid at home while you went to Disney? Well...um...yes! And I’d do it again.

Can you tell I agree??? I was just thinking of my solo/girlfriends trip a year ago...sigh. I LOVE my boys, but Momma likes...no, NEEDS, some girl time too!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I'm so glad you had such a great time on your trip!!! That's weird that SSR and the MK were so close together - I never realized it either!

 

[MEK]

I'm glad you liked SSR. It's one of those places that is Disney enough but would also be a great home base for visiting any part of Orlando.

They do go a back way to MK. It's a route that is not advertised by the road signs, but it is definitely the most direct route. I think a gps will route you that way as well.

No sunscreen???? Are you crazy?????

 

[tinacaplan]

I also wanted to share that, as of an hour ago, we're booked for July at...

I know...SHOCKER! I can't wait to be back there!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Congrats on another trip...and the Beach Club-again!

How many trips are you making in 2012???