It’s a “Wonder” I survived TR: Day 17 – Goodbye to the Wonder & Hello Poly!!!

[Pinky166]

The Cast:

Me, 34 – Disney obsessed, Shopaholic & extremely clumsy!

Lee (DH), 35 – aka the Mad Hatter….



24th September 2009 = Day 17



We woke up when the alarm went off at 7am, I had a pretty rough nights sleep again due to my heat rash.


The ship had already docked and this was our view this morning, it is not foggy but the camera lens had misted up and I hadn’t noticed!





We got showered and packed the last few bits in our hand luggage before saying goodbye to our room (well until August 2011, as I managed to get the same room for our Alaskan cruise although we didn’t know that at the time) and went down to Tritons to meet Chris & Raylyn at 8.15am for breakfast. We arrived at the same time as them so chatted whilst we queued to get in the restaurant. They gave us a gift from Hawaii, a box of chocolate covered macadamia nuts & 2 x Liliko’i bars which were passion fruit flavoured cake bars, here is a picture we took later when at the Poly. It was so very sweet of them.





We were shown to our table and ordered breakfast, I had eggs, hash brown & bacon with coffee, Lee had the same plus sausage & ham. After breakfast we said our final goodbyes to Kate & Balwan (our servers) then disembarked the ship with Chris & Raylyn. We collected our luggage and went through customs, we were directed to the Polynesian bus which was also the same bus Chris & Raylyn were getting as they were staying at Shades of Green which is just opposite the Poly. The bus journey was uneventful until we got to the first drop off Port Orleans Riverside, one family got off and the driver unloaded their luggage & ours??? Luckily I was watching out the window as he started to get back on the bus to drive off, so Lee went running off the bus and told him! He was really old and I think a bit deaf as Lee had to explain to him several times that it was our luggage and we were going to the Poly. The next stop was Saratoga and a few more people got off the bus, thankfully our luggage remained on the bus this time but the driver got back on the bus and drove off with the luggage compartment doors still open! One of the bellboys chased us down the road and banged on the drivers window, thankfully no one’s luggage had fallen out. Next stop was the Poly, I was grateful to be getting off the bus as the driver was awful. We said goodbye to Chris & Raylyn, collected our cases that had amazingly survived the journey, then headed into the Polynesian.





We checked in where the cast member kindly upgraded us from a garden view to a lagoon view, which also included a lovely view of the Grand Floridian. We were given some lei’s, room keys etc and then a bell boy took us in a golf cart around to our room #2224 in the Aotearoa longhouse.





We dropped off our luggage and took some photos of the beautiful room.














Our wonderful view….





Some of the lights/lamps:








We then took a walk around the resort, starting with the Great Ceremonial House, we looked in the Wyland Gallery & the shop, Boutiki:














Continued below.......

[Pinky166]

We were feeling a little hungry so stopped off in Captain Cooks, I had a cheese flatbread:





Lee had a bowl of chicken noodle soup:





We bought two refillable mugs as thankfully they had HOT CHOCOLATE!!! See how happy it made my hubby! Bless him…..simple things and all that!





We also had a dole whip:





After lunch we had a walk around the upstairs of Great Ceremonial House and looked in the shop and took some photos:











We walked out and had a look around the pool and beach but it suddenly came over very overcast and dark so we went back to Boutiki where I bought a few things I’d seen earlier then stopped off in Captain Cooks for a hot chocolate refill and went back to the room.





Once back in the room I called Bell services to ask them to bring up the luggage we had transferred and stored before the cruise, that arrived shortly afterwards and we unpacked the rest of our clean clothes and repacked some of the laundry and shopping. Whilst I was doing this Lee went back up to the shop to buy some bottles of water and found some cream to help soothe my heat rash. We watched tv for a while as it was raining a little. After a while we showered and changed for dinner but first was something I had been looking forward to, we watched Wishes from Poly beach. We also got to see the Electric Water Pageant too.

















Afterwards we took a few night time photos around the resort & of the Grand Floridian which looked beautiful all lit up across the lagoon.














Continued below.....

[Pinky166]

We quickly dropped the camera & tripod back in the room before heading off for dinner at….





We had to wait a while for our table but that was not a problem as we pulled up a stool at the Tambu lounge bar. Lee had a Corona, whilst I had a backscratcher. We were soon called to our table, which had a view of Cinderella’s Castle. Our waitress kept arriving with lots of dishes, first up was pineapple & coconut bread and a large bowl of mixed greens with honey-lime dressing. Also seen in the salad photo is three sauces - Peanut, Spicy Mustard, and Sweet n Sour.








Followed by honey chicken wings, pork dumplings with sweet & sour sauce:








Next was a bowl of noodles & some broccoli:








I also had another cocktail – Very berry something, I can’t remember what it was but it was nice. They had changed some of the drinks menu whilst we were on our cruise and this was one of the new ones.





They then came around with different skewers, turkey, pork , steak & shrimp.





Finally was dessert, Bread pudding served a la mode with Bananas and Caramel Sauce:





The open kitchen area:





After dinner we paid the bill $78 & tip, but we later realised they had only charged us for one drink each not two. We went for a walk around the resort and sat on the beach looking across the lagoon for a while before heading back to the room. Lee popped back down to Captain Cooks for a hot chocolate refill and by the time he got back I was asleep, not that he complained as it meant two hot chocolates for him!



Coming up – Day 18 = Kona Café, DHS, Epcot, Mini Golf & MNSSHP!

[darthtatty]

fab day there
The Poly looks lovely, im sure we'll stay there one time.
I love O'Hanas esp the shrimp

[mandymouse]

What a lovely day Claire. I love the Polynesian, it's such a pretty resort The food at O'Hanas looks delish, we've only ever had breakfast there, but I think we may have to try dinner next time

Fab photos once again

[natalielongstaff]

ooh great day, i love ohana !

[wils]

I can quite understand the delight wrt to the hot chocolate!

[CustardTart]

Another lovely day, Claire - how nice your DCL tablemates were..

I think the only thing that could soften the blow of leaving the Wonder would be to a stay at the Poly!!! Especially after that crazy 'port to resort' journey!!!

Gorgeous room - I just love the theming there...

Dinner at 'Ohana's looks good - my mouths watering!!! Haven't been since 2004 so must make sure I get back there at soon...

[Jets fan]

What can I say, the Poly looks lovely and Ohana's, well the food looks brilliant.
You must have been so happy with your lovely room and view

Tina

[jockey]

LOvely day, I love the water pageant

[saratogagirl]

That driver sounds mad as a badger!!

The Poly looks wonderful, and the food at Ohana looks scrummy, we will have to try it one day

[wideeyes]

The poly looks amazing.

[Snowy-girls]

Lovely pics Claire-i love the one of you+Lee.
The rooms at Poly look lovely-when we went for Brekkie with Stitch we had a look around the grounds and it looks lovely-maybe one day(in my dreams)we will stay at such a beautiful resort .
The food looks great but unfortunatley not something that Emily would enjoy(fussy mare ).
Whoa nightmare driver .Really enjoying your trippie Claire .x.

[buzz for boys]

What a fab day Claire x
I love the look of dinner at ohanas - mmmmmmmmmmmm x

[disney_princess_85]

Really lovely pics Claire.