Stroke of Genius or Just Plain Heat Stroke? August 2016 at the Poly!! Update 2/21 180 Days!

[TheLittleKatie]

Yay how exciting! It's kind of annoying that you don't know the school schedules yet... But I've heard late August is the best time to go during school breaks so I think you made a good call

From what I've heard only the 3rd floor rooms have balconies. Please chime in if I'm wrong. I really don't like first floor hotel rooms (this might be a horror movie thing) so my preference would be 3rd floor.

Tikiman says:

"Many of the rooms have balconies or patios (ground level) with the exception of second floor rooms in the original longhouses (Aotearoa, Fiji, Hawaii, Niue, Rarotonga, Samoa and Tuvalu). The newer longhouses have balconies on the second and third floor with a patio on the first."

I know that some of the newer longhouses are DVC only, but I don't know if that's the case for all of them

 

[SarahDisney]

OMG Florida in August ... that will be fun. And by fun I mean hot. But yeah, sometimes you find a deal that's just too good to pass up!

We spent a little time at the Poly last week and I thought it was really nice! I'd definitely stay there, and I'm not wild about some of the deluxe hotels because of the lack of theming. The Poly seems to have a nice balance between themed elements and the quieter look you expect from a deluxe, and hopefully you guys will love it!

Congrats on the new job!

In terms of saving money on food ... we bring a lot of our own meals. We'll bring down a loaf of bed or bag of rolls, some chips, individual peanut butters (we grab jelly from the resort food courts), and individual tuna packets. We pretty much alternate tuna with chips and PB&J sandwiches. The tuna packets are actually usually okay in my bag all day (although that might be different in the August heat) and we rarely have to buy anything for lunch. We also bring a lot of our own snacks - fruit snacks, nuts, dried fruit, granola bars, random sugary foods ... anything we can get cheap at Target and we think we'll eat, we bring as a snack. We also bring our own cereals and just buy milk at the food court. On days when we don't have an ADR, we probably spend around $30 on food, maybe less.

 

[ursalita]

Hey!! Congratulations on the new job!

Thanks, man!

That just means you've obviously been meant for a life of crime.

The knowledge that I could have been knocking over joints without fear of being identified is a little depressing.

Ugh. That's a pain. "Yay! We're first at the tapstile! Boo! We'll be last in the park because my finger won't scan."

Maybe I can get some kind of accommodation for bad fingerprints.

Bag lunches instead of buying.
Perk your own coffee instead of Starbucks.
Stick to the shopping list.

All I got off the top of my head.

Love the idea of making our own coffee. Every year I consider bringing my aeropress, beans, and grinder to make coffee in the room. I might finally take the plunge this year.

Congrats on the new job!

As for pinching pennies at WDW, food is probably the biggest variable, besides adding extras. One thing I did a couple times was ordering a kids meal when I wasn't really very hungry. Of course, we also left the World for a lot of meals since we were off-site, and that saved us a ton of money. But somehow it seems weird to stay at the Poly and then pinch pennies on meals?

And of course, there's the whole DDP or not debate...

ETA:
Oh, wait. You said no DDP. Silly me.

But, anyhow, I guess if I felt we were going to have to scrimp too much on meals in order to stay at the Poly, I'd consider switching resorts and spending the savings on food, if that became the case.

Thank you! It's so strange to be working after 7 years at home but it's been great so far.

Yeah, we're not going to skimp too much once we're at Disney. I'm thinking more about saving before the trip so we can feel more free to spend. I like the idea of ordering a kids meal. I don't think about that because at home you can't exactly go into a restaurant and order off the kids menu. So I don't always think of it as an option at Disney. I think at quick serve place I could order a kids' meal and an adult meal and switch with one of the boys because their appetites are so huge.

Yay how exciting! It's kind of annoying that you don't know the school schedules yet... But I've heard late August is the best time to go during school breaks so I think you made a good call

Oh, yay!! Thanks for coming by, Katie! It's not too terrible not having the schedules since I'm like 80% sure when they're going to start school and I've hedged our bets so it should be good. I'm really hoping for low crowds in late August.

Tikiman says:

"Many of the rooms have balconies or patios (ground level) with the exception of second floor rooms in the original longhouses (Aotearoa, Fiji, Hawaii, Niue, Rarotonga, Samoa and Tuvalu). The newer longhouses have balconies on the second and third floor with a patio on the first."

I know that some of the newer longhouses are DVC only, but I don't know if that's the case for all of them

Thanks for that info. I think we will probably end up with an original longhouse. It's so hard to know about the rooms. We could end up with a 2nd floor room and no balcony but the location makes up for it. Who knows?

OMG Florida in August ... that will be fun. And by fun I mean hot. But yeah, sometimes you find a deal that's just too good to pass up!

We spent a little time at the Poly last week and I thought it was really nice! I'd definitely stay there, and I'm not wild about some of the deluxe hotels because of the lack of theming. The Poly seems to have a nice balance between themed elements and the quieter look you expect from a deluxe, and hopefully you guys will love it!

Congrats on the new job!

In terms of saving money on food ... we bring a lot of our own meals. We'll bring down a loaf of bed or bag of rolls, some chips, individual peanut butters (we grab jelly from the resort food courts), and individual tuna packets. We pretty much alternate tuna with chips and PB&J sandwiches. The tuna packets are actually usually okay in my bag all day (although that might be different in the August heat) and we rarely have to buy anything for lunch. We also bring a lot of our own snacks - fruit snacks, nuts, dried fruit, granola bars, random sugary foods ... anything we can get cheap at Target and we think we'll eat, we bring as a snack. We also bring our own cereals and just buy milk at the food court. On days when we don't have an ADR, we probably spend around $30 on food, maybe less.

Hey Sarah! I know what you mean about August in Florida, it sounds crazy. I'm just hoping that the boys can get by with afternoon pool breaks. I love hot and humid weather. For the last 5 years or so I've had Raynaud's syndrome so I prefer the heat.

I can't wait to stay at the Poly, it's been a dream since the first time we went and stayed at WL. The ME stopped at the Poly and I hoped to stay there one day.

Thanks! I'm enjoying the job so much more than I thought I would.

Thanks for the advice about saving money. I think this year I'll make an effort to pack snacks to bring to the park. I still want to have ADRs and plan meals but we could probably cut down on snacks by bringing our own!

 

[ursalita]

Turn and Face the Strange

I don't have much for an update tonight. I'm a bit sad about cancer and who it's taken from us this week.

But I was cheered this morning when I opened up Facebook and it had a memory for me from this day in 2011:



I can't believe how small they were!!

I got some Disney mail today but it was for the reservation at AKL in April that I canceled when Poly became available. I'm sure that in the coming weeks I'll get a booklet with the relevant dates of ADRs, FP+, etc. for our current reservation.

I'm not sure when park hours will become available for August. That should help me when I get to make ADRs.


​

 

[irene_dsc]

Yeah, we're not going to skimp too much once we're at Disney. I'm thinking more about saving before the trip so we can feel more free to spend. I like the idea of ordering a kids meal. I don't think about that because at home you can't exactly go into a restaurant and order off the kids menu. So I don't always think of it as an option at Disney. I think at quick serve place I could order a kids' meal and an adult meal and switch with one of the boys because their appetites are so huge.

My favorite kids meal was the salmon at Sunshine Seasons - that was the one that inspired me, actually! It was the perfect small lunch before heading to WS.

As far as saving money now, I don't know enough of your habits to know where to suggest. Food is always a good one - menu plan and only buy the ingredients for the plan, and use items in the pantry so you don't have to buy too many things. Watch price per unit - sometimes the biggest package isn't the cheapest per unit, depending on sales, etc. But only buy more if you will use it before it goes bad, of course. Now that you are working, your cooking schedule will probably change a lot. I love my crockpot because I can come home to dinner already ready. Eating out and convenience foods can add up quickly. I also stock up on some of the cheaper convenience foods so we don't get stuck when I don't feel like cooking, or didn't get around to menu planning.

And of course, if you have stuff you can sell and declutter at the same time, that could be another one. That hardly ever works for me, sadly, because we tend to buy stuff and use it until it isn't sellable anymore, lol. So, it goes to Goodwill and I get my deduction.

There's a Budget board here where you can get more ideas on saving/selling. I browse there every so often, but haven't posted at all.

Thanks for the advice about saving money. I think this year I'll make an effort to pack snacks to bring to the park. I still want to have ADRs and plan meals but we could probably cut down on snacks by bringing our own!

Bringing a refillable water bottle is a big one for us - then you don't need to keep buying drinks. In August, that'll probably save a ton, and you can spend the savings on Mickey bars and Dole whips, lol.

I don't have much for an update tonight. I'm a bit sad about cancer and who it's taken from us this week.

(((hugs)))

 

[irene_dsc]

Love the idea of making our own coffee. Every year I consider bringing my aeropress, beans, and grinder to make coffee in the room. I might finally take the plunge this year.

Oh, yeah - my dh always pre-grinds coffee when we travel, so we have relatively freshly ground coffee but don't have to take as much stuff with us. We hardly ever go out for coffee.

 

[pkondz]

The knowledge that I could have been knocking over joints without fear of being identified is a little depressing.

Wasted opportunities...

Maybe I can get some kind of accommodation for bad fingerprints.

Well, if that life of crime should happen, maybe you could use your official mug shot as I.D.

I'm a bit sad about cancer and who it's taken from us this week.

I hate cancer.
Hate it.

I got some Disney mail today but it was for the reservation at AKL in April that I canceled when Poly became available.

How confused were you when you got it?

 

[SarahDisney]

I'm a bit sad about cancer and who it's taken from us this week.

Yeah, it's been a pretty crappy week. Cancer is always terrible, but this week it's been especially brutal.

I can't believe how small they were!!

They're adorable! But yeah, so small!

I'm not sure when park hours will become available for August. That should help me when I get to make ADRs.

Probably soon, I think. Unless I'm getting my months wrong, I'd expect them at some point over the next week or so.

 

[kastoney]

1. I GOT A JOB!! I took a training course this fall to become a teacher's assistant. After the holidays I submitted my application to the school department in our city. This of course ensures that I will have the same calendar and snow days that my kids have. I got the last of the paperwork submitted on Friday and tonight they called me with an offer. I start tomorrow morning!

Congratulations!!!!!!!! How awesome to be off the same days as the boys.

2. I took a look at the household budget and I identified some things we can probably live without. Goodbye wine!

Colleen, say it isn't so. Wine??????? Maybe you can just downgrade to a cheaper one rather than cut it out all together. Or milk get rid of the milk, no one needs that anyway ; )

It's not critical but I do enjoy the challenge of saving money and what better motivation than Disney? I'd love to hear any ideas for saving money at Disney.

You already hit my big one and using reward points. We very rarely pay for our airline tickets as we use credit card points and/or miles to pay for them. Do you have a Disney visa card? They usually offer a $200 gift card when you get one.

I also sell a ton of crap on amazon. We always end up with unopened old gifts and stuff and you can sell things for full price less the commission amazon takes, which isn't too much. I also sell a lot of old clothes and purses to ThredUp. They take a while to process stuff and get you payment but if your stuff is in good condition, you can get a decent chunk of change. Think my last closet clean-out got around $80 plus I got another $125 for a purse. They take boys things too.

I can't believe how small they were!!

Can't believe how small they are either. They grow up way too fast.

I'm not sure when park hours will become available for August. That should help me when I get to make ADRs.

If you haven't seen park hours are up now. Easywdw has them up

 

[BibbitybobityLu]

Hello! I'm Colleen

Hi Colleen! I only just realised you had this PTR going!

On New Years Eve I booked the Polynesian Village Resort for August 15 - August 22!!

Woohoo!!

We're going to Disney in August. We might die.

I for one hope that you don't die!

I love this!

We're now confirmed for August 19 - August 26.

Woohoo for different dates!

Urg! I don't get why the second floor rooms don't have a balcony?! We are staying in a Lagoon view and there are only like two Lagoon view rooms on the third floor that aren't DVC! What is up with that!?

I GOT A JOB!!

Congratulations! Hope it's all going well!

I identified some things we can probably live without. Goodbye wine!

No wine?

I'm a bit sad about cancer and who it's taken from us this week.

Cancer sucks

Awwww so adorable!

 

[cinderkelly]

Aren't you going when they often offer free dining? I'm really looking forward to experiencing Disney this way, in a much more relaxed manner.

Yes, we are going when they typically offer free dining. The original plan was to take advantage of that and just pay for the upgrade to the DxDP. But since we've now decided to buy annual passes that makes us not eligible for the free dining offer. It's ok though, I'm looking into renting DVC points instead, so that will save us some $

So basically I have 7 months to come up with the funds. I love a challenge so I'm excited to see how much we can save.

Ooh I love that too! I'm constantly looking at ways to get a better rate for stuff, it's like a sickness

I GOT A JOB!! I took a training course this fall to become a teacher's assistant. After the holidays I submitted my application to the school department in our city

Congratulations on the job! How great that you will have school holidays and snow days off with your boys.

One of the things I had to do was go to our Attorney General's office for fingerprints for a National background check. I get called into this room and this huge guy has to fingerprint me. So he takes my fingers and presses them against this glass reader. I guess I don't have very good fingerprints because he was smashing my fingers against the glass and the computer wasn't accepting the images. He rubbed them on a moisture pad and then smashed them some more and it still wouldn't take. Finally he had to put it through manually after three tries.

I had to do that when we moved from TX to CO to get my massage therapy license. I totally understand the necessity of it, but it was still kinda weird getting fingerprinted!

Those are some of the ideas I have for saving money on this trip. It's not critical but I do enjoy the challenge of saving money and what better motivation than Disney? I'd love to hear any ideas for saving money at Disney.

How are you at energy saving? Such as turning down your thermostat a few degrees at night, changing our your lightbulbs to energy efficiency ones, reducing the heat setting you your hot water heater a bit? Making sure lights are turned off when people aren't in the room? You'd be surprised at how doing these small things can lower your energy bill! Stepping off my Aveda environmentally friendly soapbox now

I don't have much for an update tonight. I'm a bit sad about cancer and

I'm with you. It's been a BS week for cancer.

I can't believe how small they were!!

So adorable!

 

[Elevationist]

I don't have much for an update tonight. I'm a bit sad about cancer and who it's taken from us this week.

Yeah, I spent that week pretty dang bummed out too.

But I was cheered this morning when I opened up Facebook and it had a memory for me from this day in 2011:

Yay! I love when Facebook flings Disney memories at me!

I'm not sure when park hours will become available for August. That should help me when I get to make ADRs.

Tsk. Your travel agent needs to get on the ball! You're welcome... https://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/ParkHours/WDWTravelAgent_August.pdf

 

[chunkymonkey]

Hi Colleen! Seemed to have missed a few updates! But congrats on the new job! That is great!

You are on the right track to saving money by getting the Southwest card...I do a lot of amateur travel hacking and I usually fly for free on different airlines. In the past few years my DH and I have flown to Hawaii, Florida, and California multiple times for close to nothing. I even flew to Bali, Indonesia round-trip in first class for just 80 bucks in taxes. Soo...the credit card points can really add up and save you lots of money, even if you don't use it for this particular trip. It allows me to splurge on the lodging, excursions, and meals when I'm in a destination. Do you have the Disney Visa card? It can save you 10% at Disney stores and you get points redeemable in gift cards that you can use in WDW!
Also, do you have a card that earns multiple points or cash back at gas stations, supermarkets, or office supply stores? You can go there and purchase your Disney Gift Cards. You won't get a discount on them but you'll be earning points and cash back and a great rate. For example I have a card that earns 6% cash back at supermarkets so I'll go there and get some Disney GC. Good luck with everything!

 

[ariane37]

Hello Colleen! "Aug." and "Poly" in your title caught my eye as we've gone twice in August and DH and I just returned from a trip & stayed a few nights at the Poly for the first time I get being concerned about the heat. I DETEST summer, hate sweating and generally avoid sun as much as I can, and when we decided to go down in Aug. 2014 (due to older DS starting Jr. high that Sept) I was dreading it. We definitely had to change our touring style and IMO summer trips are different trips, but we had a great time and did it again last Aug. In fact, DH and I were wearing GLOVES and HATS last weekend, and we both said we rather sweat than freeze!

Totally awesome booking the Poly It's been a dream of mine, too and I'm really glad we got the chance to stay there. FWIW, our first few nights we were at AKV, also our first time there. DH wasn't excited b/c he felt it would be too far out but we both ended up absolutely loving it and want to stay there next trip w/ the kids.

 

[ursalita]

My First Attempt at a Spreadsheet

So I was working on this post and somehow my stupid computer made me post before I was ready. Sorry for any confusion if you read it before I changed it or you came across a blank post.

We're getting hit by our first snow storm this winter. The forecasters can't decide how much we're going to get. First it was 12 in.+, then 1-3 inches, now it looks like 4-8 in. RISD cancelled Sam's art class which ended before it even started snowing. I understand they want to be cautious but this is ridiculous.



Of course this weather has me thinking about Disney in August. I can't wait! Thanks to everyone who let me know that Disney released their August schedules. So based on the schedules and easywdw and touringplan's recommended parks I'm trying to decide on Park days so I can start planning my ADRs.

Here's the spreadsheet I started to help me with this whole process:



We have 6-day base tickets (no park hopping) and a bonus admission to a water park or Disney Quest. So here's my thinking about park days:

Friday, arrival day: I was thinking we wouldn't do a park on this day. Instead we'll check out the resort and pool. Taking it easy on this day will get the trip started off well.

Saturday: Since this is supposed to be the busiest overall day I thought we could do a water park or Disney Springs on this day. I hate not even getting to a regular park until the 3rd day so I might make our water park day towards mid-week. This is my biggest question mark.

Sunday: Magic Kingdom, finally.

Monday: Both sites agree on Epcot for this day.

Tuesday: Hollywood Studios.

Wednesday: Magic Kingdom. We've never spent a lot of time at MK at night so I really want to take advantage of the evening Magic Hours.

Thursday: Animal Kingdom. By this late into the trip I hope they'll be agreeable to going to the "zoo."

Friday, departure day: We'll try to hit whatever we missed at Epcot earlier in the week.

What do you guys think?

Next time I'll post about the ADRs I hope to get.

​

 

[pkondz]

I'm a little annoyed that RISD decided to cancel all their classes today which means that Sam's art class this morning was cancelled. IT HASN'T EVEN STARTED SNOWING YET!! I understand that everyone wants to take an abundance of caution but can we be reasonable?!?

Did they shut down busses, etc there too?

 

[Elevationist]

Love your spreadsheet! Makes my heart go thumpa-thumpa!

 

[ursalita]

Love your spreadsheet! Makes my heart go thumpa-thumpa!

MY computer was messing with me and made me post too soon. I'm trying to edit my post, I wish I could just delete it and start over.

 

[pkondz]

I'm trying to edit my post, I wish I could just delete it and start over.

You can.
Sort of.
Delete everything and just put a "." there (or something)
or put "I'll be right back with a new post!!!!"

Then try again.

 

[ursalita]

You can.
Sort of.
Delete everything and just put a "." there (or something)
or put "I'll be right back with a new post!!!!"

Then try again.

Thanks for the suggestion. The edited post is up if you want to take a gander.