"So is this when they bring out the Mickey Mouse cattle prods??" Final Thoughts 1/10!

[brookelizabeth]

Beach with Grand Floridian in the back ground. Pictures really do not do it justice.

All these beautiful pictures are making me tear up! I'm such a sap. I'm so excited for our trip!!! This picture in particular is absolutely amazing and just reinforces that HUGE desire to stay at the Poly!!!

Snapped a pic of these babies to try to remind myself to pick some up later in the trip! They looked YUMMY!

Yummmmmmmmy!

I took my time, typing up trip notes on my Droid and just kept smiling. I was in my happy place, it was a new experience for me to be alone and I was enjoying myself!

I sat down in one of those comfy chairs and just soaked up Poly goodness. It was wonderful. I texted my BFF some back and forth, who was finally awake on Texas time. Texted my oldest sister some, checked in on my middle sister who had been having all the health concerns and just people watched. I had a wonderful morning. I was in a fabulous mood and ready to take on the rest of my day.

Wow. What a fantastic morning for you! Seriously magical. Mom's alone time. LOVE IT. You could wander without having to chase a little one. You could shop without them wanting something. And you could eat without having to share your meal. What a treat for you!

Soon enough it was 11am and the phone rang. I answered it and looked over to see Jack Jack sit straight up in bed and smile at me across the room. He knew he was in Mickey's house!!

This is darling!!! I can picture him doing just this. Did your heart just melt? Mine did just thinking about it!

What an excellent start to the trip - a perfect morning complete with a smiling little boy. Ahhhh.

 

[gellybean]

I just love your picture taking! You seem to always notice the little things and capture the stuff that I agree is interesting/funny/important (whatever it happens to be). Part of the reason I LOVE reading your TR's.

I'm so envious of your alone time. DH gets to do that a bit sometimes on trips because he's more of a morning person than I am. I NEED my sleep so I don't rip his head off later in the day (yeah, I'm THAT much of a grouch on low sleep) but I like the IDEA of slipping out earlyish in the morning and checking things out all by myself.

I know this is OT, but can I ask you what the temps were like for you when you went in January? Just starting my research!!

Glad you like the pictures!! I am trying to notice more of the little things and take better pictures. It's kinda boring looking at at the SAME shots from every trip. Photography could totally become a really expensive hobby of mine.

I have never had alone time at Disney ever. It was a foreign concept to me. But it's now a must do. IT was amazing. I'm not a morning person AT ALL. And I need my sleep normally too but at Disney I guess the pixie dust adrenaline kicks in or something. You should totally try to schedule some early morning exploring time for yourself.

You can OT all you want to!!

January... is a crab shoot.

Literally I've gone from multiple layering at the beginning of the trip to shorts by the end of the trip. The last two Januarys we were there they've had record low temps. Go figure. We had lows in the 30s to highs in the mid 70s fehrenheit of course. HTH! The best advice I can give you is pack a little bit of everything and layer. The good news is clothes don't get nearly as dirty in the winter so wearing a sweatshirt more than once is totally doable. Especially layered over a tshirt or something.

just found your trip report and subscribing - your title hooked me in! Love having a little along time on family vacations - your pictures of the Poly are great ... someday I'll get my Disney resistant hubby to stay there! Can't wait to read more

Glad you are reading!! My title is gonna be um interesting to explain. Eventually.

Alone time on vacation is totally a must do for me now. I've always made it a priority to get some couple time, but alone time is important to.

Thanks for the compliment on the pics!! Good luck on getting your Disney resistant hubby to stay there. If my hubby can be converted, anyone's can!

All these beautiful pictures are making me tear up! I'm such a sap. I'm so excited for our trip!!! This picture in particular is absolutely amazing and just reinforces that HUGE desire to stay at the Poly!!!


Awwww!!! I'm glad you liked em!!! That was my favorite picture too and for real... no justice. It is truly a gorgeous resort. If only they could squeeze in some DVC there eh?


Yummmmmmmmy!


I'm gonna have to still take your word on that. I never bought any! I meant to! Just never happened. Next trip!

Wow. What a fantastic morning for you! Seriously magical. Mom's alone time. LOVE IT. You could wander without having to chase a little one. You could shop without them wanting something. And you could eat without having to share your meal. What a treat for you!

It was a treat!! I highly recommend it! And the shopping without boys grabbing or wanting something. Priceless!!!


This is darling!!! I can picture him doing just this. Did your heart just melt? Mine did just thinking about it!

Aww!! Mine did a little yea. It was one of those pictures I took in my head of a magical moment. He did it nearly every morning.

What an excellent start to the trip - a perfect morning complete with a smiling little boy. Ahhhh.

I remember thinking sitting there that morning after Jack Jack was up, that it couldn't get any better than that. It was the perfect start to a trip and made even better because it wasn't really planned. So I'm trying to take that little piece of knowledge to heart for future planning of trips and remember to stop and smell the roses as well as fly by the seat of my pants.

 

[Jasperann]

I love alone time or almost alone time! On my trip in March I got to explore the whole camp ground with my 13 year old daughter. It was raining and we said that we had to go find umbrellas, but we took our time. It was great!

I can not wait to read more. I think a CS at the Poly this next trip will be a requirement now, food looked good.

 

[2_Eagle_Mom]

Thanks for posting the pictures of the Tonga Toast. I just unplugged my laptop and had to show Brendan. Jim had it at the Kona Cafe but we didn't have ADRs for this trip. Good to know that we can get at the CS restaurant. I was worried that it wouldn't be as good. I'll have to make sure we make it over to the Poly for breakfast one morning. Did you happen to notice if they have it all day long or is it only a breakfast thing?

Hope there are more food porn pictures. Oh, and I love the early morning shots as well. Like I said I have issues with insomnia, if it happens while we are at WDW I'm SO going to pull a Gelly and go for a walk with my camera.

 

[brookelizabeth]

That is the best philosophy to have at Disney I think! Make plans, but allow for room to toss them as well.

Oh goodness, if they would build DVC at the Poly....

 

[SoonerGirl]

Good luck on getting your Disney resistant hubby to stay there. If my hubby can be converted, anyone's can!

Oh, if only this were true, gelly! I'm afraid mine is a lost cause

 

[Dizneydawn]

Ugh! I hate when I read and forget to post! I almossed missed your last update! I am linked and locked so we should be good to go!


Love the pics in the morning and the excitement of the boys is palpable!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh, if only this were true, gelly! I'm afraid mine is a lost cause

 

[gellybean]

I love alone time or almost alone time! On my trip in March I got to explore the whole camp ground with my 13 year old daughter. It was raining and we said that we had to go find umbrellas, but we took our time. It was great!

I can not wait to read more. I think a CS at the Poly this next trip will be a requirement now, food looked good.

Sounds like y'all had a great time!! Great thinking taking your time looking for those umbrellas!

CS at Poly is my 2nd favorite CS next to Pop.... might even be tied with Pop.

Thanks for posting the pictures of the Tonga Toast. I just unplugged my laptop and had to show Brendan. Jim had it at the Kona Cafe but we didn't have ADRs for this trip. Good to know that we can get at the CS restaurant. I was worried that it wouldn't be as good. I'll have to make sure we make it over to the Poly for breakfast one morning. Did you happen to notice if they have it all day long or is it only a breakfast thing?

Hope there are more food porn pictures. Oh, and I love the early morning shots as well. Like I said I have issues with insomnia, if it happens while we are at WDW I'm SO going to pull a Gelly and go for a walk with my camera.

You're welcome! They only have it for breakfast, as far as I know!

There will be more food porn, though I didn't take as many as I wanted to. Kept forgetting.

Pull a Gelly!

I highly recommend it!

That is the best philosophy to have at Disney I think! Make plans, but allow for room to toss them as well.

Oh goodness, if they would build DVC at the Poly....

If they build DVC at Poly we're buying sooner than my 5 year plan!

I definitely agree...... some of my best times have been when we just wung it... winged it... wang it?

Oh, if only this were true, gelly! I'm afraid mine is a lost cause

Awwww Michelle!! Don't give up hope!!

Ugh! I hate when I read and forget to post! I almossed missed your last update! I am linked and locked so we should be good to go!


Love the pics in the morning and the excitement of the boys is palpable!

Glad to have you!!!

Glad you enjoyed the pics and yes the boys were beyond happy!! Gotta love Disney magic!







Pictures are uploaded and resized for Day 2, Part 2. Mr. Incredible works late tonight, so I'm hoping after the boys go to bed tonight, I can get another update posted!

 

[gellybean]

It didn't take long for everyone to start stirring once Jack Jack was up. Jack Jack was quickly out of bed and looking around the room. It didn't take him long to find the chocolate covered Mickey Mouse shaped krispy rice treat that I didn't eat the night before.



He wanted it opened... I guess he woke up starving.

I did what any mother would do on vacation and let her 2 yr old son eat a rice krispy treat before breakfast

I asked him to show it to me... and this is what I got.

I managed to get about half of it away from him and put it back in the baggie for later.

The boys watched cartoons for a little bit while FGM took her turn getting dressed.

*take note of the bunny in this picture for future purposes*

We got the boys in the tub, cleaned up, and dressed.

I changed out of yoga pants into a more appropriate lunch outfit.

It was kinda pandamonium honestly, in and out of the bathroom but I'd given us an hour and half to walk 5 mins to the GCH. So we had enough time but just barely.

I took time to snap a picture while we waited for Mr. I to get dressed

then we all headed to our lunch ressie at Kona.


We had enough time to take a family picture or three (how many shots it took to get one where we were all eye opened and forward looking)

and then hit the stairs up to the 2nd floor.


We checked in about 5 mins early and were told it would be just a moment.

I snapped a few more pictures of the gardens below while we waited

then it was time to be seated.


We were given a half booth half regular chair table where you could reach behind you and touch the people sitting on the other side of the booth bench.

I was terrified Jack Jack was gonna reach back and touch someone with sticky hands the whole time.

We tried to keep him busy... I took a lot of pictures.

The boys entertained themselves with the chopsticks

while we decided on what we were gonna order. Since I had a big breakfast already, I wasn't that hungry. Plus we all had 'Ohana later that night. So lunch was gonna be light.

We shared two noodle bowls and one plate lunch with the steak.

Between all 5 of us.

It worked well. The boys both loved the noodles. I shared the steak with Dash and Mr. I. Mom ate most of the vegetables out of the noodle bowl that the boys didn't eat and she ate the macaroni salad from the lunch plate. Mr. I ate most of the other noodle bowl and I had a few bites of noodles as well. We kinda just passed it all around. The server brought some extra plates.

It was just the right amount of food and not something we could have ever done on DDP. So we were happy.

The kids had spotted the Kona Kone on our way in the restaurant.

We ordered this bad boy

for the boys to share and one coconut pie thingie for the three adults.
I had just bragged on how neat and clean the boys had stayed.

The last bite of the Kona Kone chocolate ice cream landed right in the middle of the only pair of khaki shorts I had packed him.



I didn't have enough outfits packed to change his shorts that afternoon so he went around everywhere with chocolate spots on his pants.

Poor kid.

As far as Kona fare goes, it was good... though not as good as 'Ohana. I would try the dinner but probably wouldn't be in a hurry to book lunch there again. Nothing was bad... just didn't wow me either.

After we settled the bill, we headed over to the Pin station on the 2nd level of GCH and finally got Dash a lanyard. He picked out the Pirates one and was beyond happy. We also picked him up a skateboard pin. He was on

Mr. I was kinda grumpy, borderline crabby even, and I guess still really tired. He had been up since 5:30am central time the day before and up til 2am central time the night before so he was really in need of some more shut eye. He was near meltdown and I could tell, even if he couldn't. I didn't want to try to push him into going with us when I knew we had majorly fun plans that night that I wanted him to be there for.


So..... I gently nudged him into staying back at the room so he could nap and FGM, the boys and I would set out to explore without a grumpy Mr. I!

Thankfully he listened to his wise ol wife and did just that. FGM, the boys and I went back to the room with him to get the stroller and so I could change shoes.

Then we headed out. The plan was to resort explore!

Up next:
Just how many modes of transportation can we ride in one 24 hr period?
Would Mr. I's nap help his mood?
Would I get a nap?
Would we enjoy 'Ohana this time around?
Would we make it to the beach in time to catch Summer Nighttastic?


STAY TUNED!!!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Love the update! I'm all for a rice krispy treat for breakfast!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Great update!!

That kona kone is super messy. I had it in 2008 and it was challenging to eat.

Glad Mr. I decided to listen and take a nap. Sometimes we wives know what our husbands should do.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I have no problem with Rice Krispy treats for breakfast - it's cereal after all! And we have different rules on vacation too. Normally I don't allow my DD to eat Chicken nuggets 8 times in a week.
I felt the same about Kona lunch - it was good, not WOW-good. But for the wings. Those were awesome.
I like the idea of letting/encouraging your DH nap so you could go explore without him. Everyone would be happier (I hope!).

 

[Queenofallthings]

Vacation is absolutely the time for a rice krispie treat for breakfast Great update, looking forward to your next one!

 

[gellybean]

Love the update! I'm all for a rice krispy treat for breakfast!

I'm all for them too.... ON vacation! LOL Thankfully he hasn't asked for them for breakfast since we've been home.

Great update!!

That kona kone is super messy. I had it in 2008 and it was challenging to eat.

Glad Mr. I decided to listen and take a nap. Sometimes we wives know what our husbands should do.

I think I was prepared for them to make the mess immediately and then got my hopes up that they made it so far into it without getting messy and then boom splat last bite of ice cream hits the lap.



I'm glad he listened to me too. Apparently he's figured out that sometimes I do know best.

Or at least he pretends I know best to shut me up.

I have no problem with Rice Krispy treats for breakfast - it's cereal after all! And we have different rules on vacation too. Normally I don't allow my DD to eat Chicken nuggets 8 times in a week.
I felt the same about Kona lunch - it was good, not WOW-good. But for the wings. Those were awesome.
I like the idea of letting/encouraging your DH nap so you could go explore without him. Everyone would be happier (I hope!).

That's right! It's cereal!!

We eat totally different on vacation that we do at home. That's part of what makes it vacation.

I'm glad someone agreed with me about Kona lunch. I felt bad not loving it after all the DIS love it gets.

I wanted the wings... but didn't dare get them knowing I'd be eating wings out the wazoo that night at 'Ohana. I was kinda scared they'd be yummier than 'Ohana's and then I'd be disappointed that night. I'm weird, I know.

It was a good decision for Mr. I to go back to the room that day, definitely.
He needed the sleep and I could tell.

Vacation is absolutely the time for a rice krispie treat for breakfast Great update, looking forward to your next one!

Vacation is the only time for it! He definitely enjoyed it. All over his face.

Glad you enjoyed the update!

 

[Dugette]

Looks like a good start to your day (well, for the rest of the family, at least, since you'd already had a good start to the day wandering around the Poly).

I see no problem with a rice krispy bar for breakfast. I remember eating candy-coated marshmallows from Goofy's Candy Company for breakfast in January!

Nice family pic at the Poly!

For what it's worth on Kona, we had all three meals there during our January trip (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and lunch was my least favorite. Nothing wrong with it, but the dinner and breakfast were both super yummy. Loved the bread (and butter) at dinner!!!

Looking forward to more!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Hey, there is nothing better than a chocolate covered Mickey rice krispy treat for breakfast!

Sorry your Kona lunch didn't live up to your expectations. I've never been there for lunch, but have been twice for dinner and loved it both times.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Love the chocolate rice krispy Mickey for breakfast! It's completely OK on vacation! And I bet Jack-Jack was thrilled with his Mommy!

The boys are adorable in their matching outfits. Too bad about the chocolate though!

 

[praisehisname]

Finally had time to get caught up... Absolutely love it so far and can't wait for more!!!

 

[gellybean]

Looks like a good start to your day (well, for the rest of the family, at least, since you'd already had a good start to the day wandering around the Poly).

I see no problem with a rice krispy bar for breakfast. I remember eating candy-coated marshmallows from Goofy's Candy Company for breakfast in January!

Nice family pic at the Poly!

For what it's worth on Kona, we had all three meals there during our January trip (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and lunch was my least favorite. Nothing wrong with it, but the dinner and breakfast were both super yummy. Loved the bread (and butter) at dinner!!!

Looking forward to more!

Glad to know that you had a least favorite lunch time meal. We definitely need to try dinner at some point. Just hard to pass up 'Ohana in favor of an unknown but similar taste profiled meal.

I think I may have to adopt the chocolate covered rice krispy breakfast theory for myself a morning or two.


Glad you liked the family pic! We got quite a few this trip since we had mom along for the ride !

Hey, there is nothing better than a chocolate covered Mickey rice krispy treat for breakfast!

Sorry your Kona lunch didn't live up to your expectations. I've never been there for lunch, but have been twice for dinner and loved it both times.

Nothing better! Yet I can't imagine making them at home for breakfast.

I knew dinner was the Kona meal that got the most buzz, just couldn't fit it in our schedule. It's on my Disney To Eat list.

Love the chocolate rice krispy Mickey for breakfast! It's completely OK on vacation! And I bet Jack-Jack was thrilled with his Mommy!

The boys are adorable in their matching outfits. Too bad about the chocolate though!

Never would have thought I'd get two trips out of those matching shirts. And they may make it to our Christmas trip!

Jack Jack was very happy with Mommy... like Mommy had a choice.

Finally had time to get caught up... Absolutely love it so far and can't wait for more!!!

Glad you're all caught up! Gonna start uploading pics for part 3 today and hopefully get the update up tomorrow.



Anyone reading and not commenting, please don't be shy!! I'd love to hear from you all!!