The Prius & The Poly Trip Report **Updated 10/31 What I Learned...**

[stacikristine]

It sounds like a great night! I feel like our list of "things to do next time" just keeps growing! I'm glad we're not the only ones!

 

[Bridora]

Understandable! I haven't even been back a full month yet! I think I went too fast...I don't want it to end again! I'll probably keep going back and look at pictures even when I am done! I can't wait to go back!

I know! You spend all this time planning, and it seems like your trip is so far off. Then, when you get there, you try to savor every.single.second, but it is still over so quickly! And as soon as you get back you miss it and start planning when you can go back.

It sounds like a great night! I feel like our list of "things to do next time" just keeps growing! I'm glad we're not the only ones!

Thanks! Oh yeah, 'next time' we're doing lots of stuff...

 

[Bridora]

It had finally come--our last day in the parks was upon us. Doesn't it just go by so fast? Our plans for that day were to go back to Epcot and squeeze in a couple more KimPossible missions, and also hit our favorites one more time. After that we planned on heading back to the Magic Kingdom one more time before we left.

When it was time to begin our KimPossible mission we reported for duty and were assigned to France. Loved it! I can't say enough good things about this. I love how you go into the countries and see things you've never even known were there before. For instance, in France, we'd been through the perfume garden & hurried our kids out of the shop (for fear they'd break something!). But we had never been on the otherside of the fountain, around on the left if you are facing France. What a pretty little street setting!

At the end of our France mission we were given the choice of going on another mission in another country or dropping our Kimmunicator off. We chose another mission: China! Let me just say, wow! Another discovery in China! The beautiful building that we though housed only a movie? Nope! I am so glad we were able to explore deeper into some of these places. We will most definitely do some more missions next time.

Some pictures from China:

Each mission we did was different. It wasn't like you did the same thing in another place.

Remember the book Allison had? Well, it had a 2 page spread for each country with a place for you to get a signature from a Cast Member. Allison only had a couple of these, but she had really gotten into filling out her book and wanted to get the ALL! Splitting up the night before had worked out so well we decided to try it again. This time, Max took Allison around the whole WorldShowcase! (they were able to get all the countries in one hour!) Luke (who wanted to ride some rides, which is why we decided to split up) and I took off for Norway. We enjoyed Malestrom and then Luke wanted to sit through the Norway film. We had front row seats! After that, we hit Mexico, and then it was back to Future World. It was getting close to our meeting time, but we still had about 15 minutes. We decided to hop on Space Mountain, which was posted 5 minutes, to which Luke proclaimed: "5 minute wait is no wait!" And we walked on. When we exited, Allison & Max were waiting. We stopped in the Disney Visa Members place in Innoventions (which side?) and met Mickey & Minnie.

Then, it was goodbye, Epcot...

On our 1st trip, in 2003, we did a Leave A Legacy tile with the kids' picture. It's our tradition to take their picture by the tile each year. Here is their tile:

I'm pretty sure we took a Monorail straight to Magic Kingdom, can't waste time today! I don't even know where we ate lunch, either! But I think it was at the Counter Service in China...We went there at some point, and it makes sense that we ate there after we finished our mission.


I'm a little spacey on what we did next.


We saw a beautiful sight later...

Here are a few more shots from our last night:

I snapped that one while walking. It was a last minute don't stop decision on our way out through the castle. I think that was the only time we had walked through on this trip.

Then I did stop, for one more glance...

I am so sad. I sure don't like leaving Disney World. But, it was time to head back to the Polynesian. Max & I usually start packing up and get the car loaded as much as possible the night before we check out to make it easier on us that next morning. That's what we did that night when we got back.

Up next: Check out day.

 

[princess_momma]

Oh no! How sad...your last day!! (Side note: we're at the same place in our posting now...I've been waiting for you to post check out day! ) The KP missions sound fun! I'm going with you guys next time so I can go!! I love the Leave A Legacy tile!! I'm sad I missed that!! How cool though! Do you guys find it every trip? That's so fun!

Luke is so right!! 5 minutes is NO WAIT!! WOOO! What ride did you go on then though? Space Mountain isn't in Epcot...I was so confused! Whatever you did sounds fun though...

Always sad when its the last pics of the castle. I hate last nights!!

P.S. Two weeks from Monday!!

 

[stacikristine]

What a fun last day in Epcot and Magic Kingdom!! We HAVE to try a KP mission next time Your China pics are beautiful! So sad it's your last day, though. Oh, and how was the Norway movie? I've never seen it. I don't want you to post your last update--because that means no more!

 

[Bridora]

Oh no! How sad...your last day!! (Side note: we're at the same place in our posting now...I've been waiting for you to post check out day! ) The KP missions sound fun! I'm going with you guys next time so I can go!! I love the Leave A Legacy tile!! I'm sad I missed that!! How cool though! Do you guys find it every trip? That's so fun!

Luke is so right!! 5 minutes is NO WAIT!! WOOO! What ride did you go on then though? Space Mountain isn't in Epcot...I was so confused! Whatever you did sounds fun though...

Always sad when its the last pics of the castle. I hate last nights!!

P.S. Two weeks from Monday!!

Okay Spaceship Earth! What is up with me? It's because we didn't get to ride Space Mountain, I guess. That, plus I started writing this Thurs. with about 1 hr left before I got off work, which means things kept popping up to keep me busy (with actual work-work!) And by the time 3:00 rolled around I was just trying to finish up so I could post it!

What will we do with no TR's to write? Start PTRs? I must say that if I do this trip reporting again, I'll have to be a bit better organized.

KP Missions were so awesome. We'd have so much fun! And Allison would love to 'babysit' Landon for you...

We find the Leave a Legacy tile every year! We normally have to go look up the location, though.

It's gonna be a good game!

What a fun last day in Epcot and Magic Kingdom!! We HAVE to try a KP mission next time Your China pics are beautiful! So sad it's your last day, though. Oh, and how was the Norway movie? I've never seen it. I don't want you to post your last update--because that means no more!

It was a fun day, even though it was the last...

Yes, you do have to do a KP mission next time--they are so fun!

The Norway movie was ok. I don't really remember much about it, but it was only about 5 minutes long. I though it was cute that Luke wanted to stop and watch it!

I'm glad you've enjoyed reading...thanks!

 

[princess_momma]

Okay Spaceship Earth! What is up with me? It's because we didn't get to ride Space Mountain, I guess. That, plus I started writing this Thurs. with about 1 hr left before I got off work, which means things kept popping up to keep me busy (with actual work-work!) And by the time 3:00 rolled around I was just trying to finish up so I could post it!

What will we do with no TR's to write? Start PTRs? I must say that if I do this trip reporting again, I'll have to be a bit better organized.

KP Missions were so awesome. We'd have so much fun! And Allison would love to 'babysit' Landon for you...

We find the Leave a Legacy tile every year! We normally have to go look up the location, though.

It's gonna be a good game!

I understand!! I always get mixed up too. Mine are usually the "park the garage inside the car" kind!

We will have to start ptrs!! I forget when you are going again? May? When do you get to make adr's? I'm so excited for you!! I'm not even booked yet.

I bet Landon would love Allison...he's SUCH a flirt!! Landon would probably enjoy both of them. He just loves to watch big kids play!

I'm SO excited for the game! And P.S. I'm super glad that you guys beat the Vikings!!

 

[Bridora]

Well, I haven't exactly said when we are going back yet. I'm keeping you in suspense!

I've learned a lot of things doing my 1st Trip Report for sure...

We are also glad we beat the Vikings! It was a bit nerve wracking though. I'm sure it will be like that in two weeks!!!

I'm hoping to finish up this week. Hopefully I can keep it together for that long.

 

[Bridora]

was a sad day.

We didn't want to leave.

But we had to.

I grabbed the little camera and took some shots on our way out. I had to get the floor & ceiling of the elevator we never rode on because we were on the 1st floor. The kids & I hopped in & took a ride up to the 2nd floor & back down.

floor

ceiling

Goodbye Boutiki.

So long, Hidden Mickeys!

I see you out there!

Please, don't make me go!

Somewhere in all this, I realized I had lost my green sunglasses. I was pretty sure the last place I had them was in Epcot. Max & Allison went to situate the car for the trip home while Luke & I hiked over to the Central Lost & Found, where hopefully, my sunglasses would have been turned in. Max & Allison were then going to take one last Monorail ride to meet us there. I snapped pictures the whole way.

It was hot. We didn't find my sunglasses. I think someone must have wanted them. They were very cute! Luke & I walked back, while Max & Allison rode on the Monorail.

Then we left.

Well, we drove over to Downtown Disney to purchase a few things we had been waiting on. We ran into World of Disney for a couple T-Shirts. Then we hit Disney's Days of Christmas. Wolfgang Puck's Express was our choice for lunch. We usually try to make it go that way! Downtown Disney when we arrive, Downtown Disney when we depart. Ah, a Downtown Disney sandwich! After lunch & a quick trip in that Kitchen Store for a Mickey pepper grinder, we were off! We dashed out to the car in hopes of leaving before an ominous rain cloud burst, and we made it. Too bad. That meant there was no more stopping, no more Disney World.

But it is good to get back home.

 

[Bridora]

I think it's time to debut our Disney plans-in-the-works. We will be going again in May. We will be going home, for the 1st time (!) to Bay Lake Towers!

We have our room booked. We can make ADRs at the end of November. We do not have tickets purchased yet. We are excited!

It makes me want to scream with joy & excitement.

It's time to get serious about ADRs since the 180 day window will be back in effect in time for ours.

Welcome back, Disney planning!

 

[stacikristine]

How sad that it was your last day. And sorry you couldn't find your sunglasses! That really stinks. But WOO-HOO for being able to go "home" for the first time!!! I hear that BLT is incredible! I look forward to hearing about your trip that time around too!

 

[Bridora]

How sad that it was your last day. And sorry you couldn't find your sunglasses! That really stinks. But WOO-HOO for being able to go "home" for the first time!!! I hear that BLT is incredible! I look forward to hearing about your trip that time around too!

Yeah, I really liked them, too. I was able to get some more like them, only in yellow, after we got home, but I still miss the green ones!

I know! We are excited! I keep looking at pictures of it....

 

[princess_momma]

Well, I haven't exactly said when we are going back yet. I'm keeping you in suspense!

I've learned a lot of things doing my 1st Trip Report for sure...

We are also glad we beat the Vikings! It was a bit nerve wracking though. I'm sure it will be like that in two weeks!!!

I'm hoping to finish up this week. Hopefully I can keep it together for that long.

I swear I knew you were going in May!! I think you may have mentioned it...or I'm just psychic! But of course now you told so it doesn't really count.

You snapped a TON of pics on your last day. I'm pretty sure on my last day I took like one picture. I was so sad. But now I can do that day because I won't finish before you now!

Can I go with you in May? I promise I don't take up a lot of room usually!! I'll be good! You guys are going to have so much fun!! Do you have any plans yet of where you want to make your adr's? As you know I have a couple...

That stinks about your sunglasses!! I still haven't gotten my heart-shaped ones back from my friend!! Grr... Maybe you need to bring ugly ones to Disney World so you can be sure if you lose them, someone will turn them into the lost and found!

Who do you guys play this week? I'll go for the Steelers as long as they aren't playing the Broncos!! I'm just so glad you guys won. I want to be the only undefeated team! I was sad about the Dolphins/Saints game! It looked like the Dolphins had it there for a while. We play the Ravens this week and I don't even know how they are doing this year! I need to do some research!!

Hope you're having a good day! It snowed at LEAST 6 inches here last night and its still coming down pretty good!! Here is me all day: It's a perfect Starbucks day!! (Hope Luke is feeling better too! )

 

[Bridora]

I don't know...I may have let it slip, but I'm thinking maybe you are psycic!

Yeah, I had the camera out & going crazy--the reality of leaving & not being there & seeing all that everyday anymore...

I'm sure we'll have room for you in May! We are thinking of a few places for ADRs. Allison has requested Boma. We'll be going there for sure because we haven't been since 2007 & she hasn't been since 2006. She has got a great memory, that girl!

Yeah, we usually find our things at Lost & Found--I think we've lost a couple hats & sunglasses that we went to find.

We have a bye this week. But football will still be on all day on Sunday!

I am sooooo jealous about the snow! I want snow so badly! We never get much, enough to get the kids out of school for maybe one day a year. It stinks. We've been having lots of rain, though this year & it's been cooler overall, so we have our fingers crossed! You'll have to put a picture up on your TR. I need to go read that--after lunch!

Luke is all better & back at school--thanks!

 

[princess_momma]

Once, I had this HUGE psychic moment. It's been a few years though, but every once in a while I'll get a real one. So my friend and I were sitting in my car eating ice cream. We were talking to each other and we were both sitting with our backs against the door so that we were facing each other. At one point I say, "we should lock the doors in case anyone tries to open it, so we don't fall out." Don't know why, it just crossed my mind. Then not even 10 minutes later, this old lady tries to open my door!! Once she sees me, she says "Oh sorry", then yells "Honey! Where'd we park?" It was hilarious.

Once Landon is older and/or I'm married, I don't know if there will ever be a moment when pictures aren't being taken! Right now I'm always either pushing the stroller or holding Landon while someone else is pushing the stroller and my parents just don't get the need to document every second of the trip! Clearly, they don't Dis!

We had a bye last week! That's really the only way I really knew about what happened with the other teams! If you don't happen to watch the Broncos game, you can get all the highlights from my FB because I update my status every time something big happens! I love watching games!

You are more than welcome to take our snow!! I'm NOT a snow person, and I've lived here my whole life. Go figure. I'll be sure to have pics so you can live vicariously.

 

[Bridora]

Thanks! I just looked at your pics--I think they are beautiful!

I know how hard it is to get pictures with older kids & someone else around to help, so I can't imagine you trying to push & take photos. I usually end up walking around with the camera around my neck and the video camera in one hand!

 

[klacey1]

Hi! Can't wait to read this-- I'm subscribing now to read later!

 

[Bridora]

Hi! Can't wait to read this-- I'm subscribing now to read later!

Hi! Hope you enjoy it!

 

[Bridora]

As much as I don't want this to be finished, I think it's time...

Some things I learned:

* It is necessary to have some method of recording the day's activities. I started out with a journal, planning to write down what we had done that day while back at the hotel that night. That did not work. I need to have a small flip notebook in my backpack. Then I will be able to write down the order we did things, wait times, meals, etc. Sheer memory power cannot be relied on months afterward. Picture order doesn't always work out either, especially when you took more than 1 camera and had pictures in several folders.

* A good trip report is detailed. I felt like such a moron each time I had to write "I don't remember..."

* A good trip report has a many pictures as you can squeeze in.

* A good trip report takes time and attention. If I do another one, I must make time to post more frequently.

* I will have to go all or nothing on food pictures. If I go all out I'll need to remember to take those pictures. And I'll have to be prepared for grumbles and looks of "who is this crazy woman and what is she doing?" from my family and complete strangers! (unless, of course, they DIS)



Thank you (however many of you there are left!) for reading. Thanks for keeping up with me and having patience with my long lag between posts. I have really enjoyed talking with you all, recounting our Disney adventures, and making plans for future trips. Let's keep an eye out for each other, eh?

 

[princess_momma]

Aw man!! I'm so sad you're done!! Now where's the ptr?!

I actually did write down what we did that day in a journal every night, but I still feel like I was lacking a lot of details. I need to bring a small notebook like you suggested!!

And I need to go all or nothing on food too. I did take quite a few pics of it, but often forgot too!

Guess we both need to go on another trip so we can have a do-over on tr's!