President's Weekend trip review........long, sorry!!!

[Pryncess'mom]

cast members include:

myself - (addicted to all things Disney!!) 42
DH - would like to live in Disney, 43 ( on day 2 of trip!)
DS1- 18 (knows everything, and looks down on the rest of us in superiority)
DS2 - 15 (knows more than the 18 yo. likes to sleep, eat and ride coasters)
DD- 8 (totally miserable the whole trip, as only an 8 yr old can be)

setting: Poly, 2/16 - 2/21 first time at this resort.


First let me say, it has been four years since we were all there together. (and probably will be many, many until we are all together there again!! I have said it will be a long time for DD, or at least until she gets well into puberty!)

I will break this up into sections, but will keep adding to this thread. I know I will not be anywhere near as funny as Mel (1000th happyhaunts go south), but will try to lighten things a little!!


We flew out of Philly Wednesday, Feb. 15, after a long day at work and school. We started out tired, and it only got worse. The limo picked us up promptly at 5:30, we loaded and pulled out of the driveway with all the neighbors watching out their doors and windows. You don't see white stretch limos in our neighborhood often! The kids had never been in a limo before, and it wasn't long before my DD was feeling sort of car sick! But we made it to the airport with no spewing!! Yay, we were off to a good start.

The Philly airport was packed at 6:30 in the evening, and we made it all the way to the end of the concourse to find a full waiting area with MANY kids. Found a couple of seats together, and DS2 and I went back to Sbarro to get a bite to eat. Order came to $17 and some change. I gave the man a twenty and the change, i shoved it into my pocket and he gave me my change and food. We took it back to the gate, and I passed it out. When I took the change out of my pocket to put it into my wallet, he had given me too much change, $7 instead of $3. I know I should have gone back, but was too tired to trudge up the hill. Flight was announced and boarding began, after they asked for 3 to give up seats for compensation. Every seat was full, but flight was smooth. Landed about 10:20. Compared to Philly, every other airport I have been in is a piece of cake. We got our luggage, rental car, used restrooms and were on the road all withing 30 minutes. (Back home at Philly, it took 39 minutes just to get luggage, after chasing after 2 luggage carrels. Philly stinks!!) Anyway, we had booked the Comfort Inn on Palm Parkway for the night. I booked over the internet, a family suite. Queen bed, twin bed and bunk beds, 2 TVs, semi private, for only $80! DON'T GO to this hotel. We had stayed there 4 years ago, and it didn't seem bad then. This time it was cheap. The twin bed was a thin cot mattress on a slab of wood. Very small and tight, dark lighting. It was 11:30 when we checked in and we were starving, so the desk clerk (who had only been in Orlando for 3 weeks and had moved from gloucester, which is just across the river from Philly!) told us about a 24 hr. Steak and Shake just a block away. After a quick bite to eat, we finally got into bed around 1 am. Kind of hard to sleep with all the traffic zooming by but we finally got to sleep.

Day 2, or the beginning of paradise........to be continued.........


deb

 

[MImom]

Thanks for posting.
Keep it coming.

 

[Minniespal]

Enjoyed reading your report ~ Thanx for posting.

 

[TLinden16]

Sounds like you had an easy trip to Orlando. I can't wait to read more of your report.

Thanks for posting.

 

[fizz13]

Gosh, I would have wanted a comfy bed after a tiring day, so sorry this happened. Anyway, on to the good stuff

Claire xx

 

[larklynn]

just bumping to read the rest

 

[Pryncess'mom]

After a short night's sleep, we were up and checked out of the CI by 8:30. A quick stop at Goodings for snacks and drinks and we were on Disney property by 9. Pulling up to the Poly was soooo exciting! We went in and there were 2 CM's working the desk. After only 2-3 minutes it was my turn!!! A very nice older man checked me in. Gave me leis for everyone, began to explain my card and tickets, etc....... Finally said, OK let's see what room we have for you...... I told him I had asked my TA to request Fiji, but would be happy where ever... he said let me see.... hums and clicks keys and say, well, your room isn't ready, but will be well worth the wait. third floor fiji, balcony. overlooking the marina. check back after 3 for room number. I was soo ecstatic! without really knowing why!! (I had spent much time on these boards and tikimans site and finally decided to ask for Fiji thinking it would suit our needs very well) Nice man throws a couple issues of Disney Adventures in my packet, and leis, papers, and packet in hand I rush over to family, Oh my god, we got third floor fiji!!! Family looks at me like I grew three heads. Yea, mom whatever, can we go do rides?

We had a rental car, so we put what we didn't need into that, and trekked over the TTC to catch the monorail to EPCOT. This is always our first stop. Monorail is fairly empty, by now it is about 10:15. Through the gates quickly, (though the finger thing is a bit of a pain) and straight onto SSE! No line. DD begins whimpering and whining (I don't want to do this.........)Heard this line ad nauseum, through out the whole trip!!! This was her 4th trip to the world, and she has probably done SSE at least a dozen times already. You would have thought we were torturing her! She cried the whole time, softly whimpering in her despair. As we get off, she looks at me and says, "I never want to do that again." end of discussion. Oh well, toots, deal with it, I say. this trip is the whole family together. From there we rush over to TT and grab fastpasses. Standby is about 30 minutes already. DS1 and 2 head to MS and DH, DD and I go to UoE. Again, DD is melodramatic, and whines throughout the whole thing. Although, upon leaving, she does say I did like the long neck. We just learned about dinosaurs. Later on, told one of the boys, oh yea, I liked it!! What a liar!! 1/2 way through UoE, DS2 hits me up on the nextel to tell us they are done. (when those things vibrate they really vibrate!!) we met up with them, and sit outside while they go through TT. Then it was DH and my turn. this was my first time on TT, and I LOVED it!! But it needs to be longer. I felt just like Tony Stewart zooming around the track. Needs about 4 more loops around the building!! (A quick aside about children. The oldest and youngest are very much alike. He was 10 when she was born, and fell in love with her then. Has always doted on her, and she is close to him when she wants to be. Man, you have to love an 18 yo son who will take his sister to his side as she whines and cries!!)

By now, we are really hungry, so we head over to the Land, grab FP for LwtL, and then lunch. I hope to begin dining reviews over the weekend. We were on the dining plan, and loved it.

Sorry, guys, I really am about to keel over.........I will finish the rest tomorrow!!


deb

 

[Pryncess'mom]

We enjoyed our lunch at Sunshine Seasons. The lines were terribly long for check out, and I honestly think this is due partly to the dining plan. First the order must be entered into the computer, then the card is swiped and you must sign the first receipt, and then get another one to keep. It only takes a few minutes, but add a few minutes for each person, and voila, longer lines!!

After lunch, we went on LwtL. FP wait about 5 minutes. My DD really enjoyed seeing the Mickey head shaped pumpkins they are growing!

After this, the lines were really long for Soarin' and the kids didn't want to wait, so we headed over to JiI. The original Figment ride was so neat, we really were disappointed when they changed it. But now that Figment is back, it is alright. We walked on that, then played around after for a little bit. I like emailing pictures home!! We decided we had had enough of FW, and headed out to WS. Mexico first stop. Crowds, but maneagable. Wait for RdT only a few minutes. Now DD has done this one many times also, and last trip begged to do it. This time it was: insert whining pattern here. I do really agree with others that it is time to update this ride. After looking through the bazaar for a little, we headed over to Norway. Less than a 10 minute wait for Maelstrom. DD sat with 2 brothers behind me and DH. Insert whining pattern HERE, only add a softly whimpered Help, help..... right when the boat looks to go out the hole in the wall. While not really funny that she was petrified, it was funny enough to last the whole trip. Especially when she has done it before, and remembered that it did that! GGGrrrrrr, pre-pubescent girls!! It's going to be a rough trip folks!! After this one we also got "I NEVER want to do this again." We left Norway and headed over to the African Outpost. It was quite warm, so DD and DS1 got frozen coke and lemonade. Yum, so refreshing!! We looked around here for a bit, and decided to head back to Poly. It was 3 by now, and I knew the room would be ready. By 3:20 we were back, so I called the number to get our room. We were given room 3321, so we headed to car to unload, and found the room, just across from the elevator. Noisy in the morning and at night when people came back but otherwise quiet. The rooms there are nice. This is a refurbished room, and I really liked the dressing, closet, fridge area. My only complaint is that they really don't put alot of hangers in the closets. Everybody was tired, so they all rested while I unpacked. I really liked the little shelf over the vanity area. And the curved shower curtain rod was really neat. We have shower doors, so I haven't seen shower curtains rods for a while. It seems to give you so much more room in the shower. The shower head wasn't too impressive. The water pressure wasn't really strong in the "rain" setting. I also thought the shower head somewhat low. We are not tall people, but the shower head wasn't way up over my head. Any tall people that can comment??


We relaxed for a bit, and headed back to EPCOT about 4:30. DS1 &2 had ADR for Rose & Crown, and DH, Dd and I had ADR for Le Cellier at 5:10. Again, we walked to TTC (this was a long walk, but really worked well) to catch the monorail. We stopped in Canada and the boys continued on. When we checked in about 5:00 the really nice CM explained they were running about 10 minutes behind. We found a seat on a bench and a nice CM named Heather came over and began chatting. She gave my DD a child's menu with That's So Raven on it. We waited about 15 mintes, and then were seated. This was our favorite meal of the whole trip!! About 6:10 the boys beeped us up, and told me they were heading to the MK, after they stashed leftovers in the room. We were still eating. When we finished about 6:45, we leisurely walked back to the monorail. We took a different path when we got back to the POly, and it lead us down to the Volcano Pool. When I saw the blue and white striped cabanas I had to sit in one!! DH took leftovers back to room, and DD and I snagged a cabana with direct view of the MK, for the fireworks. She played in the sand, and tried a hammock. DH came down about 8:45 to watch with us. The boys had beeped me about 8:30. The had been riding BTMR, and Splash M several times. They said they wre waking on, riding, then walking back on. The crowds seemed to be low Thursday evening. They too came to the cabana, and all 5 of us sat there watching Wishes from the beach. What a perfect end to the day! The POLY is a wonderful resort. It gives you such a feel of relaxation. My only complaint is the musty smell in the hallway by Captain Cooks. If you walk out CC, and go straight down the hall toward the marina, there is a really long folding door that is locked. I don't know what used to be in there, but the musty smell is very strong!

We all settled down for the night. We were heading to MK tomorrow!! DH and my favorite park!!!



Day 3, or more boat ride terror.......... later



deb

 

[lookingforward]

Great reports! Lookingforward to more!

 

[Pryncess'mom]

Hey, lookingforward, see you are in Boca! My mom lived there a few years ago, she worked at THE BOCA!! It was the first time I ever saw a grocery store with valet parking!! My aunt and uncle still live there. Neat place!!

deb

 

[Pryncess'mom]

Day 3 began (actually it was Day 2 of the parks, but the third day of our trip. I am confusing myself here, sorry everybody!!!)

it was bright and sunny. DH, DD and I got up, rode the boat to MK (what a convenience this is! Never a very long wait, and so relaxing on the water!), in the gate about 9:15, right to Buzz. About a 5 minute wait, or so. This was DH first time on Buzz, and I loving DW that I am, let DD ride with him!! I beat him!!

Over to Indy Speedway, about a 15 minute wait. Over to Toontown. Waited about 5 minutes for rope drop. Followed Goofy and a family over to Barnstormer. Rode the second train. Back around, and on again. Saw Kim Possible and Rod Stoppable right in front of Minnie's house. by now it is only 10:20!

Into Fantasy Land.......into Philharmagic, about a 15 minute wait for next show. DH had never seen this either (it has been 4 years since his and DS's last trip). Very enjoyable show. Fun to watch people try to grab things out of thin air!! by now, DS's have arrived and beeped us. We met in FantasyLand. All on the Small World. this was our first time since the rehab. I like the clock they added in the beginning. New queue are nice too. Much more room in the shade!! After SW, fastpass for Peter Pan. By now it was about 11:15 or so, and the wait was already 60 minutes. Everybody decided they were hungry, so we headed over to Pecos Bill's for lunch. Lunch crowd was still small, so right through and found many tables available. After a stop in the restroom (I'm sure we hit at least 1/2 of the restrooms in the place!! DH goes alot!!) we were on to BTMR. I really like this and so does eveeyone except DD. She had been talking about riding this with the boys since Christmas, so we FP it, then rode the train around the park to kill time. When we got back to BTMR, she changed her mind. We sent the boys on, while we waited, then changed places. DH and I were in the last car!! Our fav. place to ride. This ride always seems too short when you are on it! Standby line for Splash Mt. was about 60 minutes so we headed ove to PoC. This is my all time favorite, and everybody always used to love it, too. Until this trip and the prepubescent DD!!Through the left turnstile, (always the left one in our family!!)Down the hall, on the boat in 5 minutes. DD has begun the whining sequence. Love DS1 for holding her against him. After we are down the drop and into the town areas themselves, she is fine. See Mel, (1000thhappyhaunt) I am not a brutalthisismyvacationdealwithit Mom. I know she really likes it, but she is having trouble dealing with the anxiety levels right now. We wants the redhead!! Classic stuff. DD likes the kitties drinking grog, and the pigs grunting in tune! Just as we round the last curve and are by the last scene of the ride, it stops. Breaks down. Three boats of people in front of us. CM comes to the end of the walkway and yells, it will be a few minutes. At least the dimwit in front of us stopped taking pictures! What is it with people who think the rules do not apply to them. It was very annoying to ride my favorite ride with someone flashing their camera every 10 seconds! Even when a CM came over the loud speaker and said "yo ho, yo ho no flash pictures please" completely ignored it! We were stopped about 15 minutes. When we finally did get off, DD proclaimed in her very best drama queen voice, "I NEVER want to do this...yada yada" Yeah, we know! DS left us, and we went to Tiki Room. This is always enjoyable to us, even though I really liked the old version better. Waited about 10 minutes for show to begin. DD fine with this show. No whining sequence! No ending proclamation! Yeay!! DD wants to do Swiss Family, so DH takes her and I take the left line in the Dole whip line! My first Dole float!! YUMMMM...............by now it is about 3:00. The sun is very hot (I loved it!!) the crowds are very large, and we are very tired! I realize our FP for peter pan is during our dining time, so we head back to the POLY to rest.

.........................later

 

[lookingforward]

HI Pryncess'mom...I know the supermarket you are talking about! It is right near my office on Federal Highway. Boca is an interesting place, thats for sure. The winters are getting a bit too crowded here but it is only for about four months. Can't wait to get to WDW in March!

I am enjoying these trip reports! Thanks.

 

[byoung]

Thanks for the report.

 

[EjandMD]

I'm cracking up here about your DD. My niece was with us on our trip. She is 10 and a total Pain in the *ss! She was difficult the enth degree and was worried about her outfits always matching so she wouldn't carry a sweatshirt, in the evening. She wore sunglasses on the top of her head everyday, just for the look, and when her mom asked if she could wear them, she said no. Then my Sister-in-law had a complete melt down with her, after we all left the park early to go back to the hotel to swim. She decided to stay in the park with her mom and get autographs. Her mom didn't want to stay but she did for her daughter. On the way back my niece begged to go swimming and my sil told her that she had made her choice and there was no time to swim. After they got off the bus, my niece was so mad, that she sat down in the middle of the sidewalk with all these people gettin off the bus. my sil ordered her up, and my niece refused and my sil had to start pulling her hair to get her moving. Later my SIL insisted on an appology from my niece..she refused saying she had nothing to be sorry about.

Lets put these girls in the same room together and see who comes out alive!

 

[Pryncess'mom]

You know, Ejand MD, usually Jordan is a very easy going lovable little girl.......however.....I have noticed a very definate swing in her emotions in the last several months. She has always tended to be a bit whiny when tired, but now it runs the gamut...from overly dramatic to buckets of uncontrollable tears. I tell my DH is it retribution for all the years of just me in a household of 3 males, (untold toilet seats left up, belching and all other forms of bodily releases ) the boys will more than likely be gone on their own when she is a teenager. but now I am wondering if I will make it!!

anyway......to continue....we headed back to the POLY to rest. We had a 5pm ADR for Ohana. We were celebrating DH's birthday, and he and the boys had never been here before. When we got back to the resort, Jordan and I decided to hit the pool for awhile, and DH decided to hit the bed for awhile!!

the pool/ beach area was always crowded (weather was in the low 80's) and I thought the water was cold. Jordan liked the zero entry end of the pool and began to swim and play. I noticed the pool bar was open!!! I had her stay in the end, and found the house phone. told DH to come down, the pool bar is open (Translation: honey, I need a drink and I don't have any money or room key on me!!) Loving DH that he is, he understood right away!!
I had the strawberry daquiri, and he had the lava flow (pina colada and strawberry daquiri.) About 4:30 we went to change and get ready, boys met us at room. When we checked in for Ohana, the place was packed, but we checked in, found seats and sat down. right away DD comes over and says she can smell throw up. DH gets up and begins to walk around. I smell it slightly, but not too bad. We get called after about 15 minutes. Our table is right in the corner behind the bar, disappointing, but from my seat I can see the castle. Very nice cousins wait on us, DH really enjoyed this meal. Both boys liked the turkey very much. I love the chicken wings and the salad. Potatoes not that bad, just don't seem to fit the meal. I prefer the pineapple to the bread pudding, but the ice cream was good. My travel agent had listed on the ADR that it was DH birthday, and the hostess had marked it on the slip, so Cousin brought DH a birthday cupcake! I wasn't sure what they would do, but this was very appropriate for him. He does not like to be the center of attention (unlike me!!) and graciously accepted this.

After dinner, we went back to the MK. Boys went off, and DD, Dh and I went to Adventure Land. I think DD and I did Swiss Family again. I didn't remember how may steps there were!! Boy was I huffing and puffing on the way up!! Too much Ohana!! DH said he had to use the restroom (of COURSE you do honey!) so he went in the one right at the end of PoC. He no sooner went down hall and DD said she had to go. We went in and stood by entrance of mens room to wait for dH, to let him know where we were. Waited, waited. Dd says can't wait anymore. We both go in Family restroom. come out, go down end of hall. No DH! look all around adventureland, no DH. Jordan and I decide to head over to Peter pan, because we were going there next, and maybe he thought we already had gone over. she and I used our FP for peter pan, and upon leaving the nextel beeps. It's DH. he found the boys at splash mt. and used the phone to track us down. He heads over to meet us. We make our way to tomorrowland, FP buzz, ride the CoP (this is another fav of mine. I really like the other song better though. Now is the time, now is the best time, now is the best time of your life.......) then TTA. This is DD favorite!! Go back for Buzz. By now the parade is over, and the crowds have picked up again. We make our way back to Adventureland, and DD and I hit Aladdin's magic carpets. There are not many people on this, and when it ends the CM says if you want to ride again sit tight. Now the fireworks had started while we were on and were so pretty from the air. DD says no lets get off. OK. As soon as we cleared the exit gate, she changes her mind!! GGGRRRR! Back around, wait until it stops, on again. Fireworks still going on. when we finally exit this, we decide to leave. DD is tired, DH is tired, I am tired!! Although we do stop at the ice cream parlor on Main Street to take waffle bowl sundaes out with us. Yummm. Boys were back at the room by 11:00, everybody settles down for the night. All in all, a really great day at the MK, even with the crowds.

tomorrow........the boys tackle EE, otherwise known as Jordan doesn't want to do anything again.....Surprise!

 

[lookingforward]

I am SO enjoying your trip report installments! I too have similar home circumstances, boys ages 13 and 15 and a daughter age 7. My friend an I were just commenting that boys are in general, easier! The whining and drama are new to me and it seems to escalate as she gets older. I just realized that she will be going through puberty when I am going through menapause. I will have to take medication and I told my husband he will have to move out in order to save himself!

 

[winniedapooh]

LOL this is so funny...My 8 yo DD is glued to her older brother too, DS 17. She will be 9 in June and the moods are in full swing...of course she has had many lessons from DD,15, already! Love this trip report.

 

[tubachick]

Sorry about all the whining!!!

but sounds like you're having fun just the same. Can't wait to hear more.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

wonderful trip reports !!
cant wait to read more

 

[hfrink13]

Really enjoying your trip reports. Have a DD 8 too. She can be very whiny also, hopefully we won't experience too much on our upcoming trip in May.