The Princess and the Knave take on the World! Complete with pics!

[Lilo's Mom]

I am really enjoying your trip report, and your pictures are AMAZING! You have made waiting the last two weeks for our Disney trip much easier to take.

Can't wait to see more

 

[DonaldTDuck]

I think I prefer the pictures that James takes. You're hardly ever in the pictures you took.

 

[Timon]

I just found your trip report tonight and read through all 21 pages!!! Incredibly GORGEOUS photos, I am loving every single one of them!!

You guys look like a lot of fun to be on vacation with!!! Can't wait for the rest

 

[irongirlof12]

just spent, ohhhh.... 2 hours or so reading your fab trippie!

 

[christinou]

Thank you, what a great trip report we are leaving tomorrow for WDW and can't wait, you have really helped me pass the last few days.

 

[randy4au]

GoofyBaby, I am thoroughly enjoying reading your trip report (I'm only half way through right now...will read the rest later)! We recently returned from a 5-night stay at Pop Century and loved it!

Okay, I've just realized that I am posting way more pictures in my trip report than many people on the DIS do. I think pictures really help tell the story, so I hope y'all don't mind my doing so! I just love pictures and am so happy to be able to share them with you!

I love looking at photos and am glad you posted a lot of them in your report. Before I started my trip report the other day, I looked at a few other reports for inspiration. Most had only a few photos, so I assumed that was the norm and followed suit. Then I came across another guy's report that was loaded with pics (like yours) and was inspired to revise my first post and began including as many photos as possible with each installment.

You and your kids will really like the rope drop ceremony! It is really cute and there are tons of characters on the train when it pulls into the station! They count down from 10 and fire the confetti all over everyone and off you go! It really gets me in the Disney mood.

I hate that we missed that. My six-year-old son would have loved that. The only rope drop ceremony we got to see was at Animal Kingdom.

 

[jnjusoioa]

Carol, my dear friend, your lastest installment is wonderful!!! I love it!! The Poly is just so beautiful and so relaxing. Your pictures are so wonderful as always, just think we will soon be there together, well at Disney anyway, too bad we can't stay at the Poly but we aren't going to be our hotel anyway that much!!! We are going to be at the World having too much fun.

 

[disneyeeyorefan]

Love your trip report and all the pictures!! Maybe staying at the poly would be enough Hawaii for my husband since that's where he wants to go, but is constantly outvoted by me and our 2 ds who are disney fanatics.

 

[mymainmouse]

Your trip report is awesome! The pictures are fantastic! Even my DDs wanted to see the photos. Can't wait to read the rest of your report!

 

[byoung]

Great report, fantastic pictures.

 

[Elmo888]

I just read your TR today, and I am really enjoying it. I was hoping that it was finished, so I didn't have to wait for installments!

I think that you are doing a great job telling a story through your pics. It really makes me feel like I'm there.

I'm in the DFW area, too.

I'm looking forward to the next installment...Hurry up!

 

[melsmom12]

Carol, I'm fairly new to the boards and spent so much time today reading your TR. I'm your age and as I am reading this I know we would have so much fun together at WDW! I CANNOT believe how many days you were able to spend at WDW, and how many wonderful opportunities you received/made for yourselves! Sounds like a completely magical trip (except yours and James' illnesses, you poor things), one you'll remember forever.

I've loved reading this, and can't wait for the rest. My best friend and I are heading down to WDW at the end of October and I can't wait! Your TR is making the wait a little easier, I feel like I'm there with you!

Thanks for a wonderful TR!

 

[Disneymusicgirl]

Great trip report! I'm finally caught up on reading, and I have to say that yours is one of my favorite TR's.....I love the pictures! Can't wait for the next installment.

 

[GoofyBaby]

Hey everyone,

Thank you so very much for all of you kind words! I apprecaite them so much.

I will have my next installment up this weekend - there are two more to go, so we're almost finished!

I hope you all have a terrific weekend!

 

[TKDisneylover]

Carol,

Thanks so much for posting the beautiful pics of the Poly!! I wish we were staying there this year but we decided on AKL.

And I wish I was going during the MNSSHP Dis meet, it would be great to meet you! But alas we are going for MVMCP for the first time, yippee!

Have a great weekend!

 

[GoofyBaby]

Lifelong_Dreamer – Aww, thank you so much! I am really enjoying writing it! James is so sweet and I wouldn’t trade him for anything. My sister is really causing me pain right now but I just have to believe that everything will work out for the best.

Scottny – Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!

Whogirl’s mom – I am choosing to believe everything will work out for my sister, but I am scared that her new husband is domineering. . .she has changed and not for the better. She and her husband broke the news to us when we picked them up at the airport last week and they were supposed to come back and stay sometime in August, but now they are not going to do that. My sister is really mad at my mom, dad and me because we’re having a tough time adjusting to it. She is not herself at all.

Anyway, you will love the Poly and I highly recommend staying there! You feel like you’re in another world. . .ahhh!

Goofyluver – it was yucky being sick, but it’s okay – I was able to make the most of it and still had fun! ‘Ohana was the best! Thank you so much for the hugs. We’re doing the best we can with the situation, but my sister is not herself right now and is really mad at us. Things just have to get better!

Rentayenta – Oh yes, you do have to stay at the Poly! I wish I could live there, it is just so peaceful! I am so glad you are enjoying my pictures. I sure had fun capturing them! You are more than welcome to use my pictures to encourage your hubby to book the Poly for your next trip! James was just wonderful, doing all these little magical things for me on our trip!

KayleeUK – Awww, really? That’s so sweet – I am honored that someone would recommend my TR to read! Thank you so much! I am so glad you’re enjoying my photos and I am so happy to share them!

Lilo’s Mom – Awww, thank you so much! I am so glad you’re enjoying my report! I can’t tell you how much fun I’ve had reliving my trip through writing my report! And I am so happy my report has helped you get through your last few weeks before your trip starts!

DonaldTDuck – Hehehe! Awwww, you’re too sweet! You know, I could take pictures of myself because my camera has a rotating LCD screen. . .I need to practice doing that!

Timon – Awww, thank you so much! I am so happy you’re enjoying my photos! You’re too kind! We had such a blast on our vacation. I just love Disney so much and I really lose myself in the magic! I always make the absolutely most of every WDW trip and I am not afraid to be a kid in Disney – it really makes a big difference!

Irongirlof12 – Aren’t trip reports addicting? I could read them all day! I am so happy you’re enjoying my TR!

Christinou – Thank you so much! I am so happy to hear you’ve enjoyed my TR! You’re in Disney by now and I hope you and your family are having the most magical time! I am so happy I was able to help you through the last days before your trip! Sending you lots of pixie dust for a wonderful time!

Randy4au – I am so thrilled you’re enjoying my report! Wasn’t the Pop Century great? I am going to be staying at the Pop with my wonderful friend Jen in October for a DIS meet and I am really looking forward to it! We’re probably gonna stay up all night giggling like school girls and running on adrenaline all day in the parks because we both so excited and love Disney so much!

I just love taking photos so much. I really do try to capture the essence of Disney in my photos and take pictures of everything. I wasn’t sure if I should include lots of photos when I started my report either, but I know that I just love trip reports that have lots of pictures. . .it makes me feel like I am right there in Disney with them!

Do try to catch the MK rope drop ceremony on your next trip. It really gets me in the Disney mood and is a wonderful way to start the day! Just a bit more of the Disney magic!

Hi Jen! Aww, my sweet friend! Oh how I loved the Poly! One day, you and I are going to stay there together! I can’t wait for October when we get to stay at the Pop together and be princesses together, chasing after Jack Sparrow and making wonderful memories to last a lifetime!

Disneyeeyorefan – awww, thank you so much! It just makes my day to hear everyone is enjoying my report! I tell you, I felt like I was in Hawaii when staying at the Polynesian and I’ve been to Maui before. . .I bet your hubby would just love the Poly!

Mymainmouse – Thank you so much! You guys are just awesome and I am so happy you’re loving my report! I am about to post my next installment so stay tuned!

Byoung – Thank you so much! I am so glad to share them with you!

Elmo888 – I am so happy to hear you are enjoying my report! I’m almost finished and I apologize for taking so long to finish up. The drama with my sister eloping just really threw me off my trip report groove but I am doing my best to adjust to it and I will be posting my next installment here in a few. Thank you so much for your compliment! I am trying to do just that – tell the story of my wonderful trip!

Melsmom12 – it does my heart good to know and see that adults can be kids at Disney and not be embarrassed about it. When I walk through the Disney gates, I am a little girl all over again and I leave the real world behind. That’s what Walt wanted and I always enjoy my trips to the very fullest because of it! I truly wish more adults could enjoy their trips more rather than spend so much time being so serious or upset, which I have sadly witnessed. But then again, I do not know their life circumstances. . .I just wish everyone could be happy in Disney like I am! I truly had a once-in-a-lifetime trip. I don’t know that I’ll ever get to stay at Disney for 15 days again, but I was so blessed and fortunate to get to do it once. The memories that I made will never fade – it was truly the trip of my dreams, even despite our illnesses!

I am so glad you’re enjoying my report! My very dear friend Jen and I are heading down in October as well, to meet with some other DISers for MNSSHP and we can’t wait! I know the DIS really helps me to get through the waiting period, which can seem like forever sometimes!

Disneymusicgirl – Aww, thank you so much! I am touched that my report is one of your favorites! I am so happy to share it with you! Next installment should be up in a few minutes!

TKDisneylover – Awwww, you are so welcome! I just love the Poly and have tried to post pictures that I haven’t seen on the DIS before so people can really get a feel for the resort. I would love to stay at AKL one day. We had dinner at Boma and just found the resort so pretty! I loved the savannah too! It would be great to meet you too, and wish you could join us for our MNSSHP meet in October, but I just know you’ll have a magical time for MVMCP! Hope you had a great weekend too!

 

[GoofyBaby]

Hey everyone, let’s go to Animal Kingdom! But I’m really hungry, so let’s grab breakfast first!

Day 14 - Sunday, May 27, 2007

I was so glad to be able to sleep in this morning because I felt rotten yesterday. But today I was feeling somewhat better, so we got ready and headed to ‘Ohana for our 10:30 breakfast ADR. I was really looking forward to having breakfast with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey & Pluto! We were led right in upon check-in and while we didn’t get a window table, we were still close and we had a great view by the fire pit. Our waitress was so nice – she brought me tons of hot teas and honey for my throat and breakfast was hot & fresh! We had eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, potatoes, assorted fruits & breakfast breads, a wonderful fruit juice and of course, Mickey Waffles – my favorite!

I was digging into my eggs when all of the sudden, here comes Lilo! Yes, I did the “hang loose” sign wrong! I was thinking UT Austin’s “hook ‘em horns!” Oops! Hey, I was sick, so I have an excuse!

Then came Stitch!

And then Mickey, all handsome in his Hawaiian shirt!

And Pluto!

Who was acting rather silly this morning! We loved it! Pluto the baskethead!

I highly recommend this character breakfast! The wait staff was very friendly and brought us what we needed with a smile and we even had one CM chat with us about his moving to Florida with his family because they loved Disney so much and he loved working at the Polynesian! A truly wonderful experience that I cannot wait to do again!

After our wonderful breakfast, we made our way to the bus stop to catch the AK bus. I found this guy at Taratonga Terrace and couldn’t help myself!

I really do wish the busses from the Poly to the AK and MGM were faster, but unfortunately we had to wait around 30 minutes for a bus to arrive to take us to either park. Not a real biggie, however. . .I was able to snap some great monorail pictures while we were waiting!

Finally our bus arrived and we were on our way! I just love how the busses play music representative of the park you are going to. It makes for a more fun ride to the park! Anyway, we made it!

We went straight for the animals. . .I just enjoy watching them and photographing them so much! Next time, though, I am going to write their names down. I wish I could remember what some of these majestic animals were called!

This guy has the right idea on a hot day!

More to come, so stay tuned!

 

[GoofyBaby]

The beautiful Tree of Life! I love all of the beautiful animal carvings on this tree. . .I can only imagine how much effort went into its creation!

This flamingo was showing off for me! He was just walking around until I came up to take his picture! This photo should make the cover of ‘Flamingo Monthly!’

We really enjoyed this wonderful steel drum band in Africa! They were really great and I recommend taking some time to listen to their smooth island sounds! What a great way to relax on a hot day! If anyone knows if these guys have a CD out, please let me know where I can purchase one!

The doorway to Africa! Isn’t it beautiful?

And more beautiful birds. . .I just love them!

And a cute bunny! There are many of these in WDW. . .awwww!

Yep, I wanna live here – Islanders Only! And hey, I got the ‘Hang Loose’ sign right!

Some more beautiful animal carvings on one of the animal trails – but I can’t remember which trail!

To be continued!

 

[GoofyBaby]

These green macaws were just lovely. Hey, is the one on the left waving to me?

Don’t you just love all the details?

A beautiful view of Everest. . .

Welcome to Harambe!

We missed Rafiki’s Planet Watch on our first visit to Animal Kingdom, so we made it a point to visit it today. . .we were not disappointed!

Here comes the train!

Okay, okay. . .for those of you who have no idea why I posted this picture, I’ve read posts here on the DIS that people want to see pictures of the ‘dancing guys’ on the ride safety signs, so here you go!

James and I took a picture while on the train. . .aww, aren’t we cute?

Hi Rafiki!

Follow me!

I really loved that they had several signs posted on how we can help the environment and our precious animals. . .here are just a few. . .

And we were just looking around when all of the sudden, here comes Jiminy Cricket! I really wanted to meet him and was so excited to be able to do so! He was very gracious. . .a true cricket!

Stay tuned for more!

 

[GoofyBaby]

Hey James, quit monkeying around! Or is that gorilla-ing around?

After I pried James away from the gorilla, we made our way to the petting zoo. . .it was so neat to get to pet the goats & sheep! They were really tame and didn’t mind us petting them at all. . .

Just a lazy Sunday afternoon!

They call him MR. PIG!

This guy was very animated. . .

After our wonderful petting zoo experience, we headed back over to Camp Minnie Mickey because I was in a character-meeting mood! I love this waterfall. . .looks like an alligator with big teeth!

Beautiful berries. . .

And Daisy and the nephews! I know I posted this last time, but check out Daisy’s beak. . .someone has made themselves at home!

Couldn’t help posting this again! What a way to spend a hot summer afternoon!

Finally we were at the character trails and of course, I made a beeline straight for Goofy. This Goofy was sooooo interactive and so much fun! He really played off of my excitement to meet him and spent several minutes with me! What a dream come true!

Hey, he gave me bunny ears! You silly Goof!

More to come, so stay tuned!