Trip Number 9 ~ It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year ~ Christmastime at the GF & Poly

[T*Bird]

The boys practically had the pool to themselves! I have to say, it looks cold, but maybe that's just because I know it was December. DS14 looks freezing on his way up to the slide! There's no way I would have gotten out once I got in the water!

Your pics from the walk are so pretty. I don't think I've ever walked around outside of the Poly - just the GCH. Everything is so green and lush. And the beach pics, with the view of the GF, and the marina with the sun glistening on the water.....beautiful!

I love the smile on DS11's face with his bri....excuse me, Legos. Totally worth getting him on SM to see that smile!

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Yikes!

Don't worry it was freak circumstances behind it the drain plugs in that log didn't get put back in properly when it had maintenance, it hasn't happened since then

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Pretty Poly Pics!!!

I can't believe they swam that day! I was freezing most of the day- we were at AK. I couldn't imagine being out of the water, wet, at all!


Your view was really really pretty from your room. I liked the tree right next to you-- sort of gave you some privacy and enclosed the balcony.

And in your pics from your walk I can see my old room in Fiji!

Cute pics of your youngest with his "won" Legos. He looks too proud.

Thanks!

I know, I sure wasn't getting in the pool that day. But I was glad they got to! We wrapped them in about 3-4 towels each when they got out and luckily our building was right beside the pool!

Yeah, at first I was like - oh great, I got the only room with a tree in front of the balcony. But I soon learned to love it! It wasn't like it blocked the entire view, and it provided us some shade & privacy. Not to mention the room was super quiet at night. We would love to get that room again sometime!

DS was thrilled with his new Lego's that he had earned!

The boys practically had the pool to themselves! I have to say, it looks cold, but maybe that's just because I know it was December. DS14 looks freezing on his way up to the slide! There's no way I would have gotten out once I got in the water!

Your pics from the walk are so pretty. I don't think I've ever walked around outside of the Poly - just the GCH. Everything is so green and lush. And the beach pics, with the view of the GF, and the marina with the sun glistening on the water.....beautiful!

I love the smile on DS11's face with his bri....excuse me, Legos. Totally worth getting him on SM to see that smile!

Yeah, that was the worst part - getting out to go to the slide. But it sure didn't stop them!

I love taking walks at the Poly! Wait until you see the pics from the walk DS11 and I took the next day!

DS was so happy he had braved Splash when he finally got his hands on those Lego's!

Don't worry it was freak circumstances behind it the drain plugs in that log didn't get put back in properly when it had maintenance, it hasn't happened since then

I hope it was only a one time thing!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Trying to get caught up... almost no Dis time lately.

I love that you could see the volcano from your balcony. I would have spent lots of time out there. So pretty!

I can't count how many times my family has made a cold run back to room while soaking wet. It's no fun, but I almost never pass up the chance for pool time while on vacation. It would have to be in the 60's for me not to get in. That's one thing I love about Disney pools. When they say heated, they mean it. I've stayed at hotels before where they said the pool was heated, but they must have meant heated to 70 degrees because they always feel freezing! And there is nothing better than jumping in the hot tub after a swim in the cool weather season. I stay in until I feel cooked all the way through and it makes the walk back to the room a lot easier! I've never noticed a hot tub at the Poly but I know they must have one, right?

I can't believe your DS rode SM for a Lego set! That is so funny! I don't think I would ride for $100. He must REALLY love Legos! Did he think the Legos were worth it?

I love the pictures from your walk around the resort. It's just beautiful there. That is my very favorite thing to do at Disney now (walk around the resort taking pictures that is). It is such a nice and relaxing thing to do and it helps you notice all the little details that Disney puts into everything.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

My kids would have gone swimming too!

No hot tub at Poly. Believe me, I've checked! Last fall we pool hopped (love DVC) there and we loved the pool - Sarah loved the slide. But sadly, no hot tub.

So glad your DS got the Legos! Like he'd let you forget!!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Just got back from FL today

I think I'm all caught up now but read so much I don't know if I'll remember to comment on everything.

First of all happy belated b-day Shelly!!!

Loved the bribe for Splash!! My DS15 still will not go on that ride again. The bribe would have to be a really good one! Not sure if I'm willing to give that much lol.

That waffle at Sleepy hollow looks delish. Add me to the never been club. Will now have to try it.

DS11 probably would have gone swimming not older DS.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Hi Shelly. I am so sorry to have been MIA for so long now! I have been crazy busy. But I am so looking forward to catching up with your TR!

I have had a nightmare of a day, and went on the DIS to distract me a little from today's events. I was at the Boston Marathon today. I was in the city, waiting for my good friend to cross the finish line when the explosions happened. My friend was less than a half mile from the finish when the bombs went off, and was unable to finish. Cell service in the city was shut off, and it took me a while to get in contact with my friend and her husband. My girls were with me, and they are still terrified. Words cannot describe the horror. Anyways, I wanted to check in. This is not how I wanted to return to the DIS, but I just need to vent! What a scary day.

Off to read now!

We were in MK that day. My sister called to tell me. I couldn't believe it. What was even more scary was he went to school at UMass Dartmouth about 20 min from my house. They shut down the college the other day when they were hunting him down. My sister said there were helicopters everywhere!! Very scary I'm glad that is over with.

Thoughts are with you and your girls. I'm sure that was terrifying for them.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Trying to get caught up... almost no Dis time lately.

I love that you could see the volcano from your balcony. I would have spent lots of time out there. So pretty!

I can't count how many times my family has made a cold run back to room while soaking wet. It's no fun, but I almost never pass up the chance for pool time while on vacation. It would have to be in the 60's for me not to get in. That's one thing I love about Disney pools. When they say heated, they mean it. I've stayed at hotels before where they said the pool was heated, but they must have meant heated to 70 degrees because they always feel freezing! And there is nothing better than jumping in the hot tub after a swim in the cool weather season. I stay in until I feel cooked all the way through and it makes the walk back to the room a lot easier! I've never noticed a hot tub at the Poly but I know they must have one, right?

I can't believe your DS rode SM for a Lego set! That is so funny! I don't think I would ride for $100. He must REALLY love Legos! Did he think the Legos were worth it?

I love the pictures from your walk around the resort. It's just beautiful there. That is my very favorite thing to do at Disney now (walk around the resort taking pictures that is). It is such a nice and relaxing thing to do and it helps you notice all the little details that Disney puts into everything.

I did spend a lot of time on that balcony! Every chance I got!!

Not me, I don't like to swim unless it's about 80+! I like to get out of the water and soak up the sun & heat!!

Nope, no hot tub at the Poly. I'm sure the next time they redo the pool area they will add one. It's a real downside to the resort for a lot of people I'm sure, but we don't use them anyway, so we don't even notice!

Oh yes, the Lego's were absolutely worth suffering through Splash Mtn!!

I love having the time to relax and take a nice walk around the resort and take it all in.

My kids would have gone swimming too!

No hot tub at Poly. Believe me, I've checked! Last fall we pool hopped (love DVC) there and we loved the pool - Sarah loved the slide. But sadly, no hot tub.

So glad your DS got the Legos! Like he'd let you forget!!

I think kids from the north will go swimming as long as it's 60 or above!!

We love the volcano pool and slide! I will miss it this summer.

DS sure wasn't forgetting about those dang Lego's! I think he was afraid I was lying and didn't really have any in the room!

Just got back from FL today

I think I'm all caught up now but read so much I don't know if I'll remember to comment on everything.

First of all happy belated b-day Shelly!!!

Loved the bribe for Splash!! My DS15 still will not go on that ride again. The bribe would have to be a really good one! Not sure if I'm willing to give that much lol.

That waffle at Sleepy hollow looks delish. Add me to the never been club. Will now have to try it.

DS11 probably would have gone swimming not older DS.

Welcome back!

How was FL? How much time did you get to spend at WDW?

Glad you are all caught up. Thanks, I had a nice birthday!

Well my normal bribe (normal bribe - listen to me, sounds like I bribe my kids all the time ) to get DS to try something would be $5. But he wasn't going for that!! No way, no how!! He was playing hardball! And I just happened to remember that I had the Lego set in the luggage that he knew nothing about!

Yep, everybody's got to get to Sleepy Hollow for a waffle now!!

 

[rusafee1183]

OK, I am shocked at how many people hate Splash Mtn It is a fan favorite for everyone in my family. I don't know what it is, but to us Splash IS Disney. That's hysterical that it ended up being a "bribe worthy" ride for your family.

To each his own I guess! This is why Disney is great

And, I agree - the view from your balcony is lovely, and I also would have been out there relaxing and soaking it all in as much as I could have

I can't believe that there's no hot tub at the Poly That's crazy to me! We definitely like to have a little bit of pool/hot tub time on vacation depending on how cool it is outside. We were in the pools at Animal Kingdom in January, and it was in the mid 70's - that was about as low as I can tolerate.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

We were stuck on Splash last September. We had to climb out of the log & walk out of the ride. Now that was an unusual way to enjoy that ride!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Welcome back!

How was FL? How much time did you get to spend at WDW?

Glad you are all caught up. Thanks, I had a nice birthday!

Well my normal bribe (normal bribe - listen to me, sounds like I bribe my kids all the time ) to get DS to try something would be $5. But he wasn't going for that!! No way, no how!! He was playing hardball! And I just happened to remember that I had the Lego set in the luggage that he knew nothing about!

Yep, everybody's got to get to Sleepy Hollow for a waffle now!!

Thanks!! I wish I was still there. Driving down really shortens the trip. We only had 5 full days instead of the normal 7 or 8.

We went to Epcot the night we got there to pick up our APs I can't believe I wasn't to tired but the Disney adrenaline kicked in.

We had dinner at Via Napoli. I didn't even have a ressie and we were seated in like 10 min.!!!

We did MK one day and Epcot one day with my parents. The other 2 days we cleaned the condo and unpacked stuff and the boys went swimming and we went out for lunch.

It was really HOT!! I felt like it was August. Between 88-92 all week!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

OK, I am shocked at how many people hate Splash Mtn It is a fan favorite for everyone in my family. I don't know what it is, but to us Splash IS Disney. That's hysterical that it ended up being a "bribe worthy" ride for your family.

To each his own I guess! This is why Disney is great

And, I agree - the view from your balcony is lovely, and I also would have been out there relaxing and soaking it all in as much as I could have

I can't believe that there's no hot tub at the Poly That's crazy to me! We definitely like to have a little bit of pool/hot tub time on vacation depending on how cool it is outside. We were in the pools at Animal Kingdom in January, and it was in the mid 70's - that was about as low as I can tolerate.

I love the ride, just hate walking around in wet clothes. Gross!

We can take it or leave it when it comes to a hot tub! Last May we soaked our feet in the hot tub at the BC. I just can't get in one for more than a few minutes or I start to get dizzy.

We were stuck on Splash last September. We had to climb out of the log & walk out of the ride. Now that was an unusual way to enjoy that ride!

Well that must have been quite the experience!

Thanks!! I wish I was still there. Driving down really shortens the trip. We only had 5 full days instead of the normal 7 or 8.

We went to Epcot the night we got there to pick up our APs I can't believe I wasn't to tired but the Disney adrenaline kicked in.

We had dinner at Via Napoli. I didn't even have a ressie and we were seated in like 10 min.!!!

We did MK one day and Epcot one day with my parents. The other 2 days we cleaned the condo and unpacked stuff and the boys went swimming and we went out for lunch.

It was really HOT!! I felt like it was August. Between 88-92 all week!!!

Sounds like you had a nice time! I saw it had been really warm down there already! I wonder what August will bring?

 

[mickeystoontown]

You could tell that the air was chilly because even the lifeguards had on jackets. Your boys are braver than I would have been to go for a swim. I can think of no better place to have dinner than on the balcony at the Poly.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

You could tell that the air was chilly because even the lifeguards had on jackets. Your boys are braver than I would have been to go for a swim. I can think of no better place to have dinner than on the balcony at the Poly.

Yeah, that's my sign that it's too cold to swim -- when the lifeguards are wearing jackets!!

That balcony was awesome, I think of it often!

 

[danceintherain]

I did spend a lot of time on that balcony! Every chance I got!!

Well my normal bribe (normal bribe - listen to me, sounds like I bribe my kids all the time ) to get DS to try something would be $5. But he wasn't going for that!! No way, no how!! He was playing hardball! And I just happened to remember that I had the Lego set in the luggage that he knew nothing about!

Yep, everybody's got to get to Sleepy Hollow for a waffle now!!

I love that you bribe your kids to get them to ride stuff.
I'm really hoping we can do Deluxe next time for the balconies.

OK, I am shocked at how many people hate Splash Mtn It is a fan favorite for everyone in my family. I don't know what it is, but to us Splash IS Disney. That's hysterical that it ended up being a "bribe worthy" ride for your family.

To each his own I guess! This is why Disney is great

And, I agree - the view from your balcony is lovely, and I also would have been out there relaxing and soaking it all in as much as I could have

I can't believe that there's no hot tub at the Poly That's crazy to me! We definitely like to have a little bit of pool/hot tub time on vacation depending on how cool it is outside. We were in the pools at Animal Kingdom in January, and it was in the mid 70's - that was about as low as I can tolerate.

I love Splash...but I hate being wet. The last time I rode it, I wore my poncho, but of course that's not even a guarantee, because you can get stuck sitting in someone else's puddle....gross!

I think the rain picked up over the last few days, so it's been a bit cooler, but the week we were there it was pushing the 90s every day. Usually I can count on the rain driving people away from the parks, but not so this time.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Afternoon everyone!

Just a quick update while I'm in-between jobs!! I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but I took a long term job at the school for the rest of the school year. I am used to only working when I want to, so this is really kicking my behind! And then I get home and have vacation quote requests waiting, so I work on those in the evenings.

Plus DS's spring soccer season has started. And I'm sick with some kind of sinus junk!! So I've been very busy lately and very tired! But, I plan to continue to finish up this TR if everyone is still interested!



We had no real plans for the evening and eventually decided to go to DTD one more time!

We debated taking a cab since that DTD bus ride is so awful with all the bus sharing. But we decided that likely the bus had already gone to the CR, so hopefully the ride wouldn't be too bad.

So we got ready and headed out to the bus stop. And thankfully the ride wasn't bad at all. The bus had already been to the CR and didn't even go to the GF!!

Took this pic on the way.

And before we knew it we were there.

By this time DH & I were getting hungry!! So we went into WPE!

We hadn't been there in a few years or so, so we weren't sure what to order.

I ended up going with the Chicken Aioli & fries and DH went with the Cavatappi Chicken Alfredo. We both really liked our meals. Very good!

And pretty soon DS11 decided he would like a dessert. So DS14 took him up. He came back with chocolate ice cream with cookies on it! DS14 said he couldn't find anything he wanted.

Total Bill: $26.63
Rating: 10 out of 10



Up Next: More DTD and Poly

 

[sjs314]

shelly Sounds like you are really busy these days. I been suffering terrible from my allergies which are so bad this year DTD gonna have to get back there someday and try WGPE. Wish DS good luck with his soccer and of course we are still interested in your TR

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

shelly Sounds like you are really busy these days. I been suffering terrible from my allergies which are so bad this year DTD gonna have to get back there someday and try WGPE. Wish DS good luck with his soccer and of course we are still interested in your TR

Things are crazy busy here!! But spring and fall are like that - busy times at the school and soccer season. DS is having a great soccer season so far!

My allergies and sinuses are a mess.

Yep, you should get back to DTD on this trip and eat at WPE! It's so good!

Do you have your ADR's picked out yet for November?

 

[sjs314]

Going to try for BOG and 'Ohana the rest should be easy to get, Kona B&D, Wave not sure which meal, GF Cafe, Via Napoli, and if the new one near Morroco is open I want to eat there for Illuminatons. Thinking about doing SOA too we did it many years ago and Bob likes the idea of renting a Cabana for 1/2 day so we will see.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Going to try for BOG and 'Ohana the rest should be easy to get, Kona B&D, Wave not sure which meal, GF Cafe, Via Napoli, and if the new one near Morroco is open I want to eat there for Illuminatons. Thinking about doing SOA too we did it many years ago and Bob likes the idea of renting a Cabana for 1/2 day so we will see.

Sounds like quite the line up!!