Mishaps & Magical Moments...Day 7 Added!

[my2disneyboys]

Welcome to our trip report, "Mishaps and Magical Moments... The Goody's go to Disney again"

We just got back from Disney on Saturday.... we spent January 30th - February 6th and stayed at the Polynesian Hotel. We had a great trip filled with some... can you guess??? Yes! Some Magical Moments and yes, a few Mishaps too!

Just a little background info for anyone that doesn't know us already! I am Nickie; I am SAHM and have this crazy obsession for planning Disney trips! Wayne is my husband, he is the most amazing and loving husband in the world and also shares my love for Disney! Our two beautiful sons are Myles (6) and Owen (2). We took our first trip as a family to Disney in 2004 when Myles was 9 months old and made the mistake of inviting the ENTIRE FAMILY! We learned from our mistakes, and from then on Disney became just ours! We went back in 2007 and Myles was 3 1/2 and Owen was just 8 weeks and stayed at the POR. We had the most amazing trip ever. I loved every minute of it. In 2009 we went again and stayed at POFQ. We tried the Deluxe Dining on this trip and decided then that we will always be using it going forward!! Myles was 5 and Owen was almost 2 and it was again another very magical trip. We had planned to go again in May 2010 and with the 4/3 deal and our unbelievable urge to get back to Disney we booked the trip for February 2010... just a short 9 months away. We always wanted to stay at a deluxe hotel and this year, thanks to being laid off and a nice severance check we were finally able to do it! The Poly had been a lifetime dream of mine. I couldn't believe we were actually staying here!! I hope you will stay along and read all about our Mishaps and Magical Moments in Disney!!!

Stay tuned for Day One: Dinner at Chef Mickeys and our first Magical Moment ... and yes, Mishap!

[leamom2princesses]

Hi Nickie! I'm in!! Can't wait to hear about your trip!

[wlwilliams9]

Woo Hoo! I'm along for the ride!! Can't wait!

P.S. That is a beautiful pic of the family!!

[longing2Batdisney]

Hey Nicki
I'm hear, looking forward to hearing all about it!!!

great family picture!!!

[wlwilliams9]

Hey again, Nickie! you might want to check out these threads on the WL....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1717127

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2319081

[my2disneyboys]

Welcome to Day One of our trip report, "Mishaps and Magical Moments... The Goody's go to Disney again"

January 30th 2010 - Wow, I really thought this day would NEVER get here! The night before the BIG TRIP we stayed at the Hilton at the Airport. I had "thought" this would be the best way to make things easier for a 6am flight. "thought" is the key word here!! Looking back now, it wasn't my brightest idea! The kids were so excited, and with the 4 of us sharing a room the kids ended up going to bed later than they would have at home. I was sharing a bed with Owen...my little mover in his sleep. We all watched Ponyo and went to bed around 9. In my head I was thinking, "great! I have 7 hours to sleep!" Well as I lay there, tossing and turning on this mattress that made me feel like I was sliding off the bed and my two year old that kept punching me in the head when he rolled over, I ended up watching the clock and my hours of sleep wind down until I last remember saying, "OMG I only have 3 hours to sleep, UGH!!" At 4AM the alarm went off and both boys got right up and were so excited!! We were finally off to Disney!!

Our Hotel View:



And at the Hotel:



The Airport was a breeze and we made it through security and to our gate with plenty of time to get our last cup of dunkin doughnut coffee before the trip!

This picture was taken at 4AM at the Airport- Don't they look so tired!? In my planning, they were to be sleeping in the carriage LOL



Here is a picture of the boys as we were landing in Orlando!





Have to say here, this was our first time using Magical Express (we have always rented a car) and it was AWESOME!!!!! I LOVED not having to deal with the luggage on this trip and not having to drive for the entire week was so cool too!!!!!

We found our way to Magical Express and got in the line for Polynesian. We met some man in line that was talking to his kids about Chef Mickeys and we turned to him and said, "Oh, we will be at Chef Mickeys tonight too!" His reply was, "I will be the drunk guy there!" we were like, "um, ok" we got a little laugh from it anyway! The bus ride was great and so fast. (So much faster than the whole process of getting bags, renting the car and finding your way to the hotel) The boys wanted to sit together on the bus so Wayne and I got to sit together and it was a fun ride with all the excitement and the boys yelling out the characters names as they saw them on the little video. Poly was the last stop.... the first stop was the Wilderness Lodge and we got our first peek at this beautiful resort that you can tell by my signature is booked for our next trip!

Here is a picture of the boys on the bus!



We pulled into the Poly around 10:30AM I think - about an hour after landing. We went to check in and "hoped" our room was early ready!! They gave us our package and said they would text us when the room was ready. They also said we had a "GREAT ROOM and were SO LUCKY!!" We got Fiji- 3rd floor, exactly as I requested!! I was SO EXCITED!!!! We walked around the grounds and stopped at Captain Cook's for some lunch. We split the Pork Sandwich- it was really good!


We met a friend...


By now it was around 1:30 and still no text.... we decided to make some leis and watch some tv in the waiting area. The boys were really getting restless and we were ALL so tired.


Jeff and Shannon arrived around 2:30 (they were going to stay the night and go to MK with us the next day) and we stopped by the desk to check in and explain how tired we all were and how we would take any room at this point. Well they said "you really are so lucky to get this room, you should hold tight and keep it because its such a great room!" well we decided to head up to the Tambu Lounge and try out some Polynesian Drinks for cocktail hour and wait for our special room!


Around 3:30 I went again to the desk and was like, Ok now it's after check in time. Please help us!!! A manager came over and said we would get the text in the next 30 minutes. And it came around 4:00!! We were soooooo excited to get into our room and it was BEAUTIFUL (besides the pillowcase left on the floor and a dirty towel on the bathroom floor) and we thought at first well worth the wait! But wait.... "Is it especially hot in here???" The Thermostat wouldn't even turn on!! I called down to the front and was told that someone would be up to fix it. We ended up rushing around to get ready for dinner and rushed to Chef Mickey for our first meal!!

We got to Chef Mickey in time for our reservation at 5:25PM and waited in a very long line to check in.... then waited in the waiting area for a very long time!


I went to the desk around 6 and asked if they knew when we would be seated and was given this blank kind of look from the hostess and she said, "we will call your name when your table is ready" I left thinking, "I already knew that!!" I still had no idea when we would be seated and then this woman came over and said "Goodreau? Come this way!"

Dinner was GREAT! We had a great waitress and got to see Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and Donald!! They were all awesome.... I think Pluto being my favorite though.









Guess who was sitting at the table right behind us!?? YES!! The "Drunk guy" from Magical Express LOL!!!







We had A BLAST!!!! The kids loved it and we finally felt like we were in Disney!!!!!!!

We left there around 7:30pm and headed back to the Poly. We had "PLANNED" on watching Wishes from the beach when.... Hold it!!!! MAGICAL MOMENT ALERT!!!!!!!! We were stopped by JT- a driver of a pontoon boat from the Poly Marina and he said, "Would you all be interested in going out on the boat to see the fireworks tonight??" WE WERE LIKE, HUH???? I guess that some people canceled and he had 6 spots open and it was ours if we wanted it!! So Wayne ran and got some beers and sweatshirts and we all went out on this wonderful boat cruise and watched Wishes!! Music was piped in and you could hear the words of Jiminy Cricket like I have never heard them and it brought tears to my eyes!!! What an amazing first night... and we were so happy that Jeff and Shannon were there with us to experience it.







We got back to our room around 9:30. Would our AC be fixed??? Stay tuned!

[hjohnson6]

I am onboard! My dream is to stay at the Poly someday. Now if only I can convince my tightwad DH to do so.

[DevonsDisneyMom]

I'm in and patiently awaiting an update!

[wlwilliams9]

Bummer you had to wait sooooo long for your room to be ready. Whenever we have stayed at the value resorts our rooms have always been ready as soon as we checked in around 11ish, but we've always had to wait for the deluxe rooms. I think the latest we've ever had to wait was at the Poly and our room was ready around 2pm.

How awesome that you were able to do the fireworks cruise for free though! Thank you family who cancelled because those cruises are expensive! What a great start to the magical part of your vacation!

How is Chef Mickey's for dinner? We've only done breakfast. Hey, now that I think about it, are you adding dining reviews to your TR?

[MickeyisBeast]

Joining in
We ate dinner at CM two years ago and LOVED it!
Glad you had a great time
Subbin'

[my2disneyboys]

Originally Posted by hjohnson6

I am onboard! My dream is to stay at the Poly someday. Now if only I can convince my tightwad DH to do so.

good luck with that!! Welcome!!!

Originally Posted by DevonsDisneyMom

I'm in and patiently awaiting an update!

Welcome!!!

Originally Posted by wlwilliams9

Bummer you had to wait sooooo long for your room to be ready. Whenever we have stayed at the value resorts our rooms have always been ready as soon as we checked in around 11ish, but we've always had to wait for the deluxe rooms. I think the latest we've ever had to wait was at the Poly and our room was ready around 2pm.

How awesome that you were able to do the fireworks cruise for free though! Thank you family who cancelled because those cruises are expensive! What a great start to the magical part of your vacation!

How is Chef Mickey's for dinner? We've only done breakfast. Hey, now that I think about it, are you adding dining reviews to your TR?

Good point- I will need to remember to add in my review for the food! We ate at so many wonderful places!! Chef Mickey is great! I love it for a first night. If you are at WL they have the boat that goes right to the CR too! It is a great way to get those autogrpahs and see the "fab 5" right away. Its very loud- and festive.... the food is ok (nothing special really IMHO) the desserts are really good- the make your own ice cream bar is really yummy!

Originally Posted by MickeyisBeast

Joining in
We ate dinner at CM two years ago and LOVED it!
Glad you had a great time
Subbin'

Welcome!! CM is a MUST do for our first night!!

[my2disneyboys]

Originally Posted by leamom2princesses

Hi Nickie! I'm in!! Can't wait to hear about your trip!

Hi Leanne!! I have some AMAZING pics from the Poly for you and Mary!!

Originally Posted by wlwilliams9

Woo Hoo! I'm along for the ride!! Can't wait!

P.S. That is a beautiful pic of the family!!

Thank you!!!!!

Originally Posted by longing2Batdisney

Hey Nicki
I'm hear, looking forward to hearing all about it!!!

great family picture!!!

Hey!!! Thanks

Originally Posted by wlwilliams9

Hey again, Nickie! you might want to check out these threads on the WL....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1717127

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2319081

I will check those out and start my new obsession for the WL! lol

[my2disneyboys]

Welcome to Day One (continued) of our trip report, "Mishaps and Magical Moments... The Goody's go to Disney again"

Ok, so where was I!??? Oh yes. MISHAP ALERT!!! We got back to the room and could feel the heat the minute we stepped in. The thermostat was on but it was on 80 degrees and we couldnt get it to get cooler. We called again. They sent someone to the room. I was trying to get the kids to bed so we could be ready for our big day at the MK and we wanted to and my plan was for us to be able to sit outside on our balcony with Jeff and Shannon and catch up- I mean they were only here for one night!! But instead we spent the next three hours chatting with this engineer who would explain each step of his progress and the problems. He would talk on his walkie talkie and we wouldnt know if he was talking to us or not.... we really did laugh over the situation and the guy was so nice. Around 11:45PM he had gone to the GF to pick up a part and said he was going to try to replace the unit and would be back. I called the front to talk to a manager because this was just crazy!!!! They said they could move us. I was like, "Are you kidding!!! It is midnight, my kids are sleeping, I had groceries delivered and you told me you could fix this and I have just spent the last 3 hours unpacking." They said they could bring us a fan if we wanted and that we could leave the door open because it was so cool out. I asked about bugs because there are no screens on their doors and he said "oh you may get a lizzard, but it is no big deal!!" I was SO annoyed. I just said a fan would be great. The Engineer got back to the room and I told him that we were so tired and needed sleep and could they fix it tomorrow? Well, he was SO EXCITED that he didnt have to fix it. He said he had access to the supply closet and did we need anything like extra towels? We said sure, thanks... well he brought us 5 tissue boxes and a stack of towels so high that I just put them on the bathroom floor and was just so confused by all of it!!!! He thanked us and said his boss would be in at 8am and it would be fixed for us. After complaining to the front desk, who patches you through to some officer, who then talks to a manager and gets back to you, it went from a 25% discount on our first night to fully paid for.

I am really not one to complain... and this trip I really EXPECTED so much from the Poly that I felt robbed. I really didnt want it to ruin our very fun and special night, or my perfect expectations of the Poly.... but it did a little.

Ok, so done with Day One!! I thought I would give a little review of the dining at the end of reporting on each day!! I will rate these with 1-5 thumbs up...1 being the worst and 5 being the best.

Breakfast at the Airport- Dunks - Coffee and Egg White and Cheese Biscuits!!

Lunch at Ohana's Captain Cook's - Pork Sandwich and Chips
Location/View:
Quality of food:

Dinner at Chef Mickeys - Buffet with Characters
Location/View:
Quality of food:
Character Interaction:

Coming up: Day 2 - MK Day!! Dining Review's for LTT Breakfast, Tony's, and Ohana!!

[longing2Batdisney]

WOW! what an re-introduction to Disney! Myles' eyes look like they are shining from excitment but look like he could barely hold them open.

Great pictures with the characters...I like the idea of starting your trip there...may have to reconsider my meal plans!

How AWESOME! on the boat ride!! sounds like although the room caused a problem and the ressie at CM was behind like the magic started in the right way!

[wlwilliams9]

Ugh! What a way to end the day! It was probably 10 times worse because you were all on no sleep! Fortunately, the problem didn't ruin your vacation! I'm like you with the Poly, it was nice and I'm glad I stayed there, but there are so many other beautiful resorts I want to try and I wouldn't spend the money on the Poly without a great deal! CBR is just as nice and tropical!