Trip Report A Poly Girl in a GF World *COMPLETED*

*Gasp!*

Is it true? Tuvalu, the die-hard Polynesian fan, spent 4 recent nights at a different deluxe resort? Didn't she already have three magical stays at the Poly this year? Didn't she take her name from her favorite longhouse at the Poly? Isn't this blasphemy? (Actually it isn't, but you get the point.)

Yep, it's true. Like many of you who have broken loyal ties to a political party (don't worry, I'm not gonna go there) Woody and I decided to try another option for our Food and Wine Festival excursion.

In anticipation of the question, "Why didn't you stay at an Epcot resort?" I will say, "Cause I like the MK resorts better."

Tuvalu and Woody taking a trip to WDW specifically for F&W is a bit ironic, since:
1) We are not foodies and
2) We are not big drinkers
But as we approach our sunset years, we are determined to keep ourselves open to new experiences and embrace change (even when we don't like it.)

And really, who doesn't like to eat?

Now back to the resort. The Grand Floridian. Disney's Flagship resort. The resort people call "too stuffy." Or "I could never be comfortable there." Or "The Four Seasons is a much better resort for the price."

Well, Woody and I were quite comfortable, despite a couple of irritating incidents to be revealed later. We had no problem walking around in our Target and Kohl's clothes. And we got a room rate that wouldn't have paid for the janitor's closet at the Four Seasons. (Okay, a slight exaggeration.)

The deets:
Dates: October 1-5, 2016
Cast: Tuvalu and Woody

Follow along to find out how we filled that "rumbly in our tumbly."

 

[Tuvalu]

Just spotted, in another TR, that Spice Road Table also serves hummus fries (without the topping). Have you tried those?

I have not, thanks so much for the head's up!

 

[Courtney6682]

Sooo...I've been following along and have yet to hear about any drama?! What's going on here @Tuvalu ??!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Sooo...I've been following along and have yet to hear about any drama?! What's going on here @Tuvalu ??!!

I guess the drama-meter didn't spike very high this trip. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.....

 

[Tuvalu]

We sat a little longer at our table after finishing our Moroccan delicacies. The Promenade seemed to have a lot more people on it than just an hour earlier. When we joined the masses it felt claustrophobic....I cannot imagine what World Showcase was like earlier this month for @Longers, @BuddyThomas, @Doc Disney and @prfctlyximprct. Making our way out to catch the monorail would not be fun.

So I came up with an alternate plan.

We exited out the beautiful (and far less crowded) International Gateway.

We climbed aboard a Friendship boat.

We relaxed on a sunset cruise around Crescent Lake.

We disembarked at Boardwalk and went here ~

We shared Ooey Gooey Butter Cake and Dark chocolate ice cream.

And when we were done, we took a romantic stroll. We caught a MK bus from Boardwalk and transferred to a boat back to GF.

It was a delightful way to end our day.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

We sat a little longer at our table after finishing our Moroccan delicacies. The Promenade seemed to have a lot more people on it than just an hour earlier. When we joined the masses it felt claustrophobic....I cannot imagine what World Showcase was like earlier this month for @Longers, @BuddyThomas, @Doc Disney and @prfctlyximprct. Making our way out to catch the monorail would not be fun.

So I came up with an alternate plan.

We exited out the beautiful (and far less crowded) International Gateway.
View attachment 176371

We climbed aboard a Friendship boat.
View attachment 176372

We relaxed on a sunset cruise around Crescent Lake.

View attachment 176373

View attachment 176375
View attachment 176374
We disembarked at Boardwalk and went here ~

View attachment 176376

We shared Ooey Gooey Butter Cake and Dark chocolate ice cream.
View attachment 176377

And when we were done, we took a romantic stroll. We caught a MK bus from Boardwalk and transferred to a boat back to GF.

It was a delightful way to end our day.

Thanks. Now I have Supertramp "take the long way home" in my head.

 

[Tuvalu]

Thanks. Now I have Supertramp "take the long way home" in my head.

Now I do too!

 

[Tuvalu]

Wednesday, October 5

I was awakened at 4:30 am by the constant "beep beep" of a service truck ~ it was so annoying that I began to count the "beeps" and I made it to 70 (yes, you read that right!) before the beeping ceased. Though we needed to get up early and check out (I wanted to be at MK for opening), it did not need to be quite this early!

I'm not certain I fell back asleep before the alarm sounded. I had mixed emotions about today ~ sad that it was our last day in the world, yet glad we were leaving before Hurricane Matthew's arrival. Packing and getting ready was stressing me out and Woody couldn't help but notice my fretful face.

"This is the part that trip report readers don't get to see," he said, trying to make me laugh.

It worked.

We dropped our carry-ons at Bell Services and visited the Resort Airline Check In desk. MK opened at 8 am and we had allowed ourselves plenty of time to make the Welcome Show.

Until we got to the monorail and learned it did not begin operating until 8:30 am!

We power walked to the bus stop but when we saw the monitor, we knew there was no chance we'd make it to the MK in time. I distracted myself by observing a rude man push his double wide City Mini (which only held one toddler) past a bunch of people who had arrived at the bus stop first. When the MK bus pulled up and opened both doors for exiting passengers, rude man attempted to push his double wide through the rear door.

"Sir, you have to fold your stroller before boarding the bus," the driver said.
"Dude, it makes more sense to just roll it on than collapse it," rude man retorted.

Thus began a curt back-and-forth between rude man and bus driver. In the end, rude man collapsed the stroller but still entered through the rear door (the driver had not yet made it to the front to close it.)

And for the duration of the ride, we passengers were subject to rude man's diatribe about the "stupid driver's rule."

MK was prepared for a busy day as additional screening tables were being used.

We did miss the Welcome Show. But my mood was lifted once I saw this beauty.

(Look Ma, no crane!)

A wonderful fall morning on Main Street.

 

[Gabe1]

Jaw drop time - . First, for a (supposedly . . .) top hotel like the Grand (not to mention, way overpriced . . .) to have such ridiculously late day guest room cleaning is really unacceptable. Not even done after 4 p.m.?? Call to the housekeeping manager's office and getting put on hold for so long? Hell, I've had better service in a Motel 8. As for the spotty turndown service, that also lowers the standard of a Disney "deluxe" (that's an oxymoron . . . ) hotel?! If they can't handle that, they should never advertise that as an upscale perk. In other words, if their rating goes down, they deserve it--sounds like they're shooting themselves in the foot.

Now, about that 8-year-old kid having a fit on Soarin . . .

It has been a while since Disney cut hours, put a freeze on hires, omitted overtime in busy times and with all this we can't expect things to run smoothly. The monorail is to the point where we all know it is a fail for transportation for many years now, more a Disney novelty but certainly not anything to intelligently every plan on as reliable. One word, Uber. Security lines are a cruel joke in comparison to how Uni has it down to a science now. I am older so I remember when Disney was cutting edge. There is no incentive for Disney to fund any of this. We go, we all go frequently enough and still keep going despite the service, the monorail. Lo-Jacking the CMs and sensors on the garbage cans isn't likely to change things when they can't up with the service of your Motel 8. You are likely the oddity, you stay at a Non-Disney on site resort that is lovely and has yet to loose its customer service values. And our goal is to follow in your footsteps our next trip. I'll give up the Disney Magical Express for that.

 

[Longers]

We sat a little longer at our table after finishing our Moroccan delicacies. The Promenade seemed to have a lot more people on it than just an hour earlier. When we joined the masses it felt claustrophobic....I cannot imagine what World Showcase was like earlier this month for @Longers, @BuddyThomas, @Doc Disney and @prfctlyximprct. Making our way out to catch the monorail would not be fun.

So I came up with an alternate plan.

We exited out the beautiful (and far less crowded) International Gateway.
View attachment 176371

We climbed aboard a Friendship boat.
View attachment 176372

We relaxed on a sunset cruise around Crescent Lake.

View attachment 176373

View attachment 176375
View attachment 176374
We disembarked at Boardwalk and went here ~

View attachment 176376

We shared Ooey Gooey Butter Cake and Dark chocolate ice cream.
View attachment 176377

And when we were done, we took a romantic stroll. We caught a MK bus from Boardwalk and transferred to a boat back to GF.

It was a delightful way to end our day.

Never mind the crowds, the ice cream took my attention here!

 

[MinnieM123]

Thanks. Now I have Supertramp "take the long way home" in my head.

Now I do too!

Tell me about it, Tony. Now I also have that crazy song in my head, and it's not even 5 AM here yet. (Leave it to Tuvalu, that little rascal, for being the cause of this!! )

 

[Tuvalu]

The castle was not roped off this morning. Perhaps Princess Elena of Avalor was performing someplace else?

Shall we go inside? But of course!

First a glance at the exquisite moat. Swan boats, how I miss you!

I have mentioned several times how much I love the mosaic mural. Photos do not do it justice, but I'd like to give it a try.

So many tiny tiles.....

What a happy ending!

 

[Tuvalu]

Woody and I would have been foolish not to use one of our bonus fastpasses on the most-coveted-FP attraction. And it gave me the opportunity to receive something I had lacked thus far on this vacay.

TA-DA!!!!!

Red card, red card, woot woot woot!!!!!

This pic is much better in the LIVE format!

When in Rome.....

So happy this scene from Snow White's Scary Adventure was saved.

 

[Tuvalu]

Breakfast time!

There was no one waiting to order when we entered the tavern. As I turned to confirm with Woody what he wanted, a lady walked up to the counter with authority and announced, "I want my FREE cup of water." (Gee, read internet tips much?) Personally, I have never been in a counter service restaurant anywhere that did not give free cups of water. I don't know when this became a Disney "thing." Been going to Disney for decades and never had an issue getting cups of water (for FREE).

No water for us though. Coffee and a LeFou's brew to accompany the cinnamon bun and chocolate croissant.

I paid the price for my condescending thought though. The LeFou's Brew gave me a wicked cold headache!

After we finished breakfast we went Under the Sea. A person in the clamshell ahead of us took FLASH PICTURES the entire ride.

 

[Tuvalu]

My #1 priority for the morning was to see the new Muppets "Great Moments in American History" show. The first one was at 9:30 am and we got to Liberty Square several minutes beforehand.

We had no idea what to expect but assumed something would happen here ~

While waiting, I glanced over at the Liberty Tree. Thirteen lanterns for 13 colonies.

Suddenly I was startled by the Town Crier.

But even more startled by Sam the Eagle in an unexpected place.

Then our other Muppet friends appeared to tell the story of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

We loved the show ~ so funny and creative!! There is something special in watching a live Muppet performance, even if the audio is pre-recorded.

I definitely plan to catch the show again!!

 

[myhappyplace]

One of the things I'm looking forward to is the Muppets as well

 

[Tuvalu]

We had time for one more MK attraction. We used a bonus FP on my favorite.

I am looking forward to the refurb FP lane so the merge with standby doesn't occur so early in the queue.

I'm pretty sure a happy haunt followed us out of MK and spooked the express monorail CMs, as the line was closed and the train not operating. We'd have to take the ferry to the TTC.

Hello GF ~ we're not ready to return to you yet!

We were first in line.

Our ship has come in!

Even from the water, the bungalows ruin the Poly views. (Sorry @lostpro9het and @imahistorygeek )

Thankfully views of my namesake remain unobstructed.

We jumped in a rear car of the Epcot monorail and I was able to take this shot.

 

[LadyBelle]

Two things: (1) I can't believe I missed that cinnamon bun as Gaston's Tavern! And (2) I so want to see the Muppets in Liberty Square. It looks awesome.

I'm mentally adding all this to my list for next time....

 

[Tuvalu]

We found a Photopass photographer and he took two pictures of us.

But he took three pictures of this lady.

I have no idea who she is. But I do like her Minnie shirt!

 

[lostpro9het]

Even from the water, the bungalows ruin the Poly views. (Sorry @lostpro9het and @imahistorygeek )
View attachment 176499

 

[Tuvalu]

The GF front desk manager had told me that the bonus fastpasses were valid on any attraction except Frozen Ever After. However there was no mention of a Frozen exclusion on the "Pinocchio Pass" we were given at The Plaza. Though we had a Frozen FP for later, we decided to give the Pinocchio Pass a try for an additional ride.

And it worked.

Selfies?

Woody thought the Maelstrom makeover was well done.