The last week of October 2011 Poly Party starts here!!

[maiapapaya]

Thanks

We stayed at the Poly on our first trip to WDW and fell in love with it. We've only been back once since then. My family are DVC members so we rarely stay at non DVC resorts now. This is a special treat for us and we can't wait! It'll be our first time staying CL. I'm not sure what to expect but I'm pretty sure it'll be hard to stay anywhere but CL after this

This is also our first CL stay and we are afraid of the same thing, especially because DH insists on staying TPV Gotta pray that those 40% room discounts keep coming!

 

[woodkins]

This is also our first CL stay and we are afraid of the same thing, especially because DH insists on staying TPV Gotta pray that those 40% room discounts keep coming!

We have stayed CL before about 3 years ago & since then we have gone back to the Poly every year but our pin codes/discounts never had CL rooms available when we would book...until FINALLY this year!!

I am crossing my fingers for a bounceback offer!!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hey Everyone!!!

This group is really growing!!!!

So many of us are CL we will need to pick a lounge meet-up time!! I will apologize in advance for my two kids. They are lounge lizards in the worst way. They literally spend every moment we are at the resort in the lounge watching TV and eating. At ages 10 and 12 I shutter to think how much they will eat when they are teenagers!!! Normally you would think that lounge snacks on top of the dining plan would be more than anyone could handle food-wise, but the boys are never full. At BC CL in March my youngest would put on his biggest smile and very politely and sweetly ask the CM's for cookies and milk even when they were already put away. I was so mortified I just left him down there and went back to the room to hide. So I apologize now if it causes everyone's kids to ask for milk and cookies on every whim.

54 days to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Am I the only one for MNSSHP on 10/27??

 

[woodkins]

We chose not to the the MNSSHP this year. We have done it a bunch of times in the past and dd is pretty much over it. I really didn't feel like spending and extra $150 for something she doesn't even really want to do & my dh could care less. He spent the entire last party holding a spot for us on the parade route while we trick or treated

Instead, Gianna has decided she wants to get her hair island braided at the salon at the GF and we are doing the Behind the Seeds tour in Epcot.

 

[BreezysMom]

We chose not to the the MNSSHP this year. We have done it a bunch of times in the past and dd is pretty much over it. I really didn't feel like spending and extra $150 for something she doesn't even really want to do & my dh could care less. He spent the entire last party holding a spot for us on the parade route while we trick or treated

Instead, Gianna has decided she wants to get her hair island braided at the salon at the GF and we are doing the Behind the Seeds tour in Epcot.

For us, now that DD is 10 it is $180 but we LOVE the parade and seeing what people wear! We love Disney at Halloween! As a matter of fact, the last time we went in 2009 we went from a Wed to Wed and that year Halloween was on a Saturday and we went to DHS the following Monday and it was all decked out for Christmas already. While it was nice to get a taste of Christmas, it was way too early for me!!

Don't get me wrong! I loved the holiday decorations when we went on our December trip and look forward to going again in December but Halloween is fun at WDW!

Bri is also getting island braids....I think. She keeps wavering back and forth. Her hair is the longest it has ever been so she is in this stage where she is constantly changing up her hair do I told her that I am not spending the $$ to want the braids out in a day or two or even a week! So she is "thinking" about it. Gotta love these tween years.

 

[lmc318]

Hey Everyone!!!

This group is really growing!!!!

So many of us are CL we will need to pick a lounge meet-up time!! I will apologize in advance for my two kids. They are lounge lizards in the worst way. They literally spend every moment we are at the resort in the lounge watching TV and eating. At ages 10 and 12 I shutter to think how much they will eat when they are teenagers!!! Normally you would think that lounge snacks on top of the dining plan would be more than anyone could handle food-wise, but the boys are never full. At BC CL in March my youngest would put on his biggest smile and very politely and sweetly ask the CM's for cookies and milk even when they were already put away. I was so mortified I just left him down there and went back to the room to hide. So I apologize now if it causes everyone's kids to ask for milk and cookies on every whim.

54 days to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Am I the only one for MNSSHP on 10/27??

Aww, don't just do a CL meet because I'm not CL! We couldn't swing it. The Poly was a big jump for us this time so the bump to CL would've been too much.

This will be our first MNSSHP and I'm curious to see how DD reacts. She's got some serious stranger anxiety right now, which she's never had before, so I don't know if that will translate to the characters. The "people" characters she'll be fine with because she knows them, but the costume characters will be the question. Well, lots of kids are scared of the characters, so we'll deal with it if she is. Nothing else you can do, right? I'm really looking forward to the dance parties because DD is a dancing fool and I think she'll really like them, and I just LOVE how they decorate the whole park for the holidays! DH and I went to Disney for our honeymoon in December 06 and it's just beautiful at Christmas. I'm really excited to see how it is for Halloween. Fall is my favorite season!!

 

[SoScary'09]

I'm giggling to myself because EVERY TIME WE GO we say we are going to break away from all our usual things and try to shake things up a bit. But we fall into those old patterns so fast!!! One example for us is Teppen Edo, we eat there EVERY TIME we try to break away but we can't do it.

We love Casey's too! Here is a pic you'll enjoy of my kids at MNSSHP in 2006 chowing down on Casey's!!!

Great picture! I guess we like Casey's so much because it's simple and really does kind of taste like ballpark food. Maybe we'll just eat there on the last day or something?? lol We're gonna try our best but who knows.

 

[KinziePooh]

This is also our first CL stay and we are afraid of the same thing, especially because DH insists on staying TPV Gotta pray that those 40% room discounts keep coming!

Love the 40% discounts! When we don't stay on DVC points we always use an AP discount.

We have stayed CL before about 3 years ago & since then we have gone back to the Poly every year but our pin codes/discounts never had CL rooms available when we would book...until FINALLY this year!!

I am crossing my fingers for a bounceback offer!!

I'll keep my fingers crossed that you have a bounceback offer waiting in your room!

Hey Everyone!!!

So many of us are CL we will need to pick a lounge meet-up time!! I will apologize in advance for my two kids. They are lounge lizards in the worst way. They literally spend every moment we are at the resort in the lounge watching TV and eating. At ages 10 and 12 I shutter to think how much they will eat when they are teenagers!!! Normally you would think that lounge snacks on top of the dining plan would be more than anyone could handle food-wise, but the boys are never full. At BC CL in March my youngest would put on his biggest smile and very politely and sweetly ask the CM's for cookies and milk even when they were already put away. I was so mortified I just left him down there and went back to the room to hide. So I apologize now if it causes everyone's kids to ask for milk and cookies on every whim.

So when all the food is gone in the lounge we know who to blame I also now know to ask for cookies and milk even though I'm far from a kid

Don't get me wrong! I loved the holiday decorations when we went on our December trip and look forward to going again in December but Halloween is fun at WDW!

Agreed Up until last year we had been almost every December since '05. We decided to switch things up a bit and try October so we could do the Food and Wine Festival and MNSSHP. My parents and I absolutely loved it!

This will be our first MNSSHP and I'm curious to see how DD reacts. She's got some serious stranger anxiety right now, which she's never had before, so I don't know if that will translate to the characters. The "people" characters she'll be fine with because she knows them, but the costume characters will be the question. Well, lots of kids are scared of the characters, so we'll deal with it if she is. Nothing else you can do, right? I'm really looking forward to the dance parties because DD is a dancing fool and I think she'll really like them, and I just LOVE how they decorate the whole park for the holidays! DH and I went to Disney for our honeymoon in December 06 and it's just beautiful at Christmas. I'm really excited to see how it is for Halloween. Fall is my favorite season!!

I hope your DD does well with the characters. You never know how they'll react and it's hard to prepare them for something like that. Good luck!

 

[OhdahLolly]

Midwesterns take over the poly. I it! Now, lets hope for some nice 60 degree weather....

Welcome to the party!!

You are driving from Chicago?? Wowza! Good luck my friend! I will look for you on arrival day Of course I will be leaving the next day so hopefully we wont miss each other

Where do you live in Chicagoland?

Halloween is a great time to be at WDW. I hope you enjoy Poly CL

I am! Looks like we are going to be driving straight through. It's something I always say never again, but when it gets down to brass tacks.. my cheapness won't let me spend 800-1000 on airfaire when we can put another few days in disney!

You shouldn't have any problem finding me. I'll be the one looking like I need a few lapu lapu.

I live in the northern burbs of chicago, so we're about 30-45 minutes away from the city depending on whos driving.

What about you?

 

[BreezysMom]

Aww, don't just do a CL meet because I'm not CL! We couldn't swing it. The Poly was a big jump for us this time so the bump to CL would've been too much.

This will be our first MNSSHP and I'm curious to see how DD reacts. She's got some serious stranger anxiety right now, which she's never had before, so I don't know if that will translate to the characters. The "people" characters she'll be fine with because she knows them, but the costume characters will be the question. Well, lots of kids are scared of the characters, so we'll deal with it if she is. Nothing else you can do, right? I'm really looking forward to the dance parties because DD is a dancing fool and I think she'll really like them, and I just LOVE how they decorate the whole park for the holidays! DH and I went to Disney for our honeymoon in December 06 and it's just beautiful at Christmas. I'm really excited to see how it is for Halloween. Fall is my favorite season!!

Never! There is always the pool and the Tambu lounge. As we get closer I will be willing to share my cell, via PM, and we should all post pics of our families right before we leave so we can recognize each other. Maia and I were at Disney for a whole week together in 2009 and never spoke ONCE I will not let that happen again!

As far as MNSSHP, the Dance Parties are my favorite after the parade. We were moving and grooving with the Evil Step Monster and step sisters last time. DD had so much fun. I also love the atmosphere of the park. It is fun being in there before 7pm and see how the park slowly transforms into party mode. I love listening to the "Ghost Host" tell non party ticket holders to scram by 7pm

Agreed Up until last year we had been almost every December since '05. We decided to switch things up a bit and try October so we could do the Food and Wine Festival and MNSSHP. My parents and I absolutely loved it!

Even though we went in 2007 during F&W I truly did not discover how fabulous it was until our 2009 trip! I plan on spending a lot of time at Epcot eating and drinking my way around the world...that is if I am not in the lounge eating and drinking my way through there too

Midwesterns take over the poly. I it! Now, lets hope for some nice 60 degree weather....

I am! Looks like we are going to be driving straight through. It's something I always say never again, but when it gets down to brass tacks.. my cheapness won't let me spend 800-1000 on airfare when we can put another few days in Disney!

You shouldn't have any problem finding me. I'll be the one looking like I need a few lapu lapu.

I live in the northern burbs of chicago, so we're about 30-45 minutes away from the city depending on whos driving.

What about you?

I live in LaGrange now but I grew up in Wilmette.

I don't think we would make it to Indiana without me wanting to toss hubby and DD out of the car. The 90 minute drive to our lake house is sometimes painful

But, if the two of them want to go for a longer trip in the summer and do UOA and Disney we are going to have to make the drive. The money we paid for this trip to fly was obnoxious in terms of what we have paid for in the past. Also DD wants to bring one of her cousins so that will be more $$ to fly but keep her company if we drive so we will see

 

[BreezysMom]

I think I need to update the list...who is missing?

Also, if you want to be part of the LIVE TR page on Facebook, let me know via PM. I will probably set it up closer to trip time.

OK, too much time on computer today Off to get some chores done!

 

[BreezysMom]

I always look to our 45 day mark as the true marker to start a official countdown! Since that is Thursday and we have a busy week ahead I let DD make our countdown calender last night after a long day of shopping!

It is considerably cooler today and we are exhausted after the first week of school so we are chilling today at home catching up. I am going to start my to do lists and get things organized. Not just for the trip but in general. I don't know why the house gets so trashed during the summer Since the pool is closing tomorrow I plan on putting the stuff in our pool/beach bag needed for Disney in our "Disney box" and of course made some Disney purchases while shopping the last few days

Here is our calender for this trip. Very similar to our last one but I think DD did a great job

 

[maiapapaya]

Looks like Bri raided Home Depot!

 

[BreezysMom]

Looks like Bri raided Home Depot!

You know it? We wandered around the store while we were getting a set of keys made and we would loop around the paint section and we both grabbed a few (or more) each loop

She initially wanted to draw all the Mickey Heads the night before but then I think she realized that it would take her forever! I have glitter all over my dining room

We actually still need to add the stickers we bought for it but they got left in the car but we had storms last night I refused to run out and get them much to her dismay

Starting tonight she will get to cross off the first number

 

[lmc318]

LOVE the calendar Teri! It looks great! We're going to put one together this week so DD can start putting stickers on each day to count down. She's been talking about it forever and I think a calendar will give her a good way to have an idea of when we are really going since she doesn't have a good grasp on time yet at 3. Stickers and countdowns she can handle, though!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I want to be on the Facebook group!!!!!

 

[woodkins]

Love the countdown calendar!! We are doing a weekly disney movie night to get us in the disney spirit (like we need any help LOL)!

Is anyone else getting nervous about the recent less than stellar reports about the CL food and service? I can tell you dh will not be happy is we get to the lounge and there is no food. Well, if there is lots of beer he might be okay with it

 

[SoScary'09]

Your countdown calendar looks great! 52 Days out and we are also paid in full. There's no turning back now!

Creepy guy!

 

[maiapapaya]

Your countdown calendar looks great! 52 Days out and we are also paid in full. There's no turning back now!

Creepy guy!

Yep, time to just sit back and wait for the Mickey mail!

 

[BreezysMom]

Yep, time to just sit back and wait for the Mickey mail!

Oh, there is much more to do than that!! All the Halloween stuff is out at the stores! Although I am bound and determined not to over pack

But I have to say, after Thursday I will be much more interested in what is in my mailbox than normal I love getting Mickey Mail.

I remember last year after we had to cancel our trip ME still sent us tags It was a cruel, cruel thing to open that envelope and see those see those tags

I need to buy our MNSSHP tickets before they sell out! I totally forgot about them I was holding off when our trip was on the ledge but now that we are a go it totally slipped my mind