Trip Report: 9/15-9/19 with PICS

[BobLefty61]

Just returned from a GREAT trip....

Will give a full report later today or tonight. Stayed at the Polynesian, which was superb. A lot of construction still going on, but we didn't mind. Crowds were very light throughout the trip, and it did not rain at all on Saturday, Sunday or Monday...something of a minor miracle for this time of year!

Here's one shot of DD at the Magic Kingdom yesterday...we had the park to ourselves between 9AM and 10AM!!!

And here's the "Quiet Pool" at the Poly...it was one of the highlights of our trip...DD loved it!

 

[BobLefty61]

One more shot....

We were able to ride in the front car of the monorail not once, but twice! Here's a photo of the arrival into Epcot on Monday AM...

 

[BobLefty61]

Things are pretty crazy at work upon my return to the "real world," so this might be the shortest trip report ever!

I'll sum it up: DW, DD and I had a fabulous time. We arrived at around 7PM Friday, at the tail end of a rainstorm. We didn't see another drop of rain until we returned to the airport late Tuesday afternoon.

We loved The Polynesian. Here's a quick shot of the room (with DW faking a nap!) and our view of the Wedding Pavilion (from Fiji, room 1302)...

From our room, we could hear the fun going on at the Luau on Friday and Saturday night. It was cool to be close to the "action"!

My wife loves the Grand Floridian...even though we've never stayed there, I treat her to a morning at the GF Spa during each trip. Here's a nice photo of DW and DD walking back to the Poly after spending some time at the GF...

We hit all of the parks and did all of the rides we wanted...Expedition Everest, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain RR, Mission Space, Buzz Lightyear, Haunted Mansion, Rock 'n Roller Coaster, etc. It was truly wonderful to be at WDW during a time when the crowds were so light. We made a very brief (6 hour) visit to Disneyland in California this summer, and the line for PoC was 2 hours. At WDW in September, we walked right on twice.

Here's a shot of DD being greeted by Donald at the 9AM opening of Epcot...

A view of the light crowds at MK...this was on Tuesday morning...

One last shot for now...I made a coffee run to Captain Cook's at 6:30AM on Saturday...here's how the Seven Seas Lagoon looked:

We had a lot of fun and we're very grateful to have had the opportunity to visit WDW again. We count our blessings every day!

 

[nicolemarie]

Thanks so much for your report!

We are contemplating a trip during Sept. 2007 and your pics of the light crowds are enticing.

How was the heat?

Glad you had such a great trip. Thanks again for the report!

NM

 

[OhMari]

wow, I guess the Free Dining really wasn't popular for September. Did you guys do the free Dining?

 

[BobLefty61]

The heat was hot! But I love it that way...I've got four or five months of New England winter staring me in the face, so I'll take a humid, 92-degree day anytime!

We weren't part of the "Free Dining" plan, because I'm a Cast Member (I work for a Disney subsidiary). I get great discounts on the room rates and on the park admission, but the Cast Member discounts for dining (usually 20%) are currently "blacked-out". Strangely enough, however, I WAS allowed to get the discount at two meals (Boma and Ohana). My hunch on this is that, in both cases, our server bent the rules because he was guaranteed an 18% gratuity by letting us use my discount (the gratuity is added on automatically when Cast Members get their 20% off).

The restaurants ranged from busy (Ohana, Boma) to fairly empty (Nine Dragons) to almost empty (Jiko).

 

[stacy347]

Absolutely love your pics ~ thanks for sharing!!

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

I checked these out. Just now. And have three things to tell YOU:

1. Compared to these, my pictures BITE.
2. Compared to any pictures... mine also bite.
3. These pictures are huge and it's all good.
4. I'm quite jealous that you got to stay at the Poly.
5. Looking forward to more pics and trippie.

Work it!

Cheers, Mel.

 

[sheridac]

Holy NoCrowd!!!

Boyo, you guys sure lucked out.

And.

The Poly is my ABSOLUTE favorite!!!!! Were you in Fiji perchance???

 

[DeterminedOne]

Oooh, nice pics! Were you in a lagoon view room?

 

[latoberg]

Pictures are worth thousands of words, and yours are telling a great story. You have a great eye behind the camera. Glad ya'll enjoyed your trip. Please keep sharing if you have more pics.

 

[drebert]

What a wonderful recap in pictures!


(Don't tell latoberg(DH) I kinda wish we were staying at the Poly now!)


A cast member huh? Know any good secrets?

Keep up the story!

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

Lefty ~
great pics! Especially loved the mist on the lagoon at dawn. Beautiful.

Please keep sharing - I love seeing the wonderful pics!

 

[tink38]

Great pics! Wow. I wish I were lucky enough to stay at the Poly AND have such light crowds!

Thanks for sharing with us!

 

[NAB]

Love all the pictures. The parks to yourselves what a dream come true that must have been.

Thanks for sharing hope there is more.....



-

 

[BobLefty61]

Thanks for all of the nice comments, folks!

sheridac...yes, we were in Fiji! Room 1302...

It's a "Garden View" room (as far as I know!)...but if you walk out of the room and take about 20 steps, you can see the castle.

Here are a few pics of the pools at dawn....

And here's the "quiet pool" during the day...

A shot of the Grand Floridian from just outside our room...

More to follow!

 

[BobLefty61]

A few more photos:

First, a school of real "Nemos" (clown fish) at The Living Seas...

Up the big hill on Expedition Everest...

And up the hill on Thunder Mountain, too!...

Light crowds on the Monorail!...

Tommorowland...

Epcot 9AM Opening...

The end of a great trip....we're a lucky family!...

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

More great pics Bob!!!

Looks like you had a fabulous, stupendous, wonderful, magical trip!!!

 

[minnieandme]

You're pics are great!!! I'm getting more excited looking at your pics knowing that I'll be there next year this time. I can't wait.

 

[kaysmommie]

Wow you really had no crowds. We went the first week of September over Labor Day and it was pretty busy most of the week. I guess next time we won't go over a holiday. I love the view from your room. The beach looks really nice and quiet. Could you see EWP from your room? We loved the Poly. Was the main pool crowded when you were there? Great pictures too.