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

*Gasp!* :jawdrop:

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." :D

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

IMG_4333.JPG


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

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Wishes and Celebrate the Magic were both the same, no changes for the 45th. Apparently there was a special stage show in the beginning of the day, but we missed that. So really, nothing was different on this day other than an insane line out the door of the Emporium :p
I think Disney should be ashamed of letting the 45th pass by without some sort of big celebration. A short "talking head" morning show, plastic buttons and extremely limited merchandise is just sad.
 
think Disney should be ashamed of letting the 45th pass by without some sort of big celebration. A short "talking head" morning show, plastic buttons and extremely limited merchandise is just sad.
I wonder if it's because they had the 60th anniversary for Disneyland this year?
I know on the Keys to the Kingdom tour they talked about having a big celebration in 5 years for the WDW 50th anniversary.
 

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
I think Disney should be ashamed of letting the 45th pass by without some sort of big celebration. A short "talking head" morning show, plastic buttons and extremely limited merchandise is just sad.

They better up their game for the 50th. I experienced the 15th celebration as a kid and I thought it was fantastic that they gave away a prize every 15 seconds, even though I never won. Maybe they can do something like that again.
 

Scoppin

Well-Known Member
Saturday (con't)

Who would have thought we'd have difficulty passing through the train tunnel in the afternoon? We'd quickly discover that MK was crazy crowded. Since the anniversary fell on a Saturday, locals probably flocked to the park in droves. (No hate for the locals, just an observation.)

I told Woody I wanted to check out the anniversary merchandise first. I had seen pictures of the special t-shirts online, the grayish green Passholder and the crimson red "regular guest." I preferred the red (even though we are passholders) and had made up my mind that was the color I'd purchase.

So we headed here.
View attachment 172004

I have NEVER seen the Emporium so crowded! Remember those DME crowds? They were nothing compared to the wall-to-wall people in this store! Claustrophobics, this was your worst nightmare.:jawdrop: It took me a bit to figure out that the line for the t-shirts began by the door we entered (nearest Town Square) and that the shirts were being sold at only one register in the center of the huge Emporium complex. I overheard someone say the Passholder shirts were sold out and only XXL and 3XL remained in red.

We couldn't get out of the store fast enough.

"Let's get a snack," I suggested. We had not eaten since breakfast and my blood sugar levels had dropped, leaving me perilously close to the hangry stage. Something sweet was in order, and I couldn't decide between ice cream or a cookie.

Then it hit me. I could have both!!!! A Sleepy Hollow Ice Cream Sandwich would solve my dilemma :hungry:.

There were only a few people ahead of us in the ordering line and I was paying for our treat in no time. Cookie Sandwiches are typically huge, with 2+ scoops of ice cream, so we planned to share one. We moved from the ordering window to the pick up window.

Actually, we attempted to move to the pick up window. There were at least a dozen guests gathered around the pick up window. We could tell by their frustrated expressions they had been there awhile. And it was hot in that small area which was not helping matters. I told Woody to go find a table and I would wait.

So I waited. And waited. No one was moving and no orders were being filled. I heard a CM say that there were some problems with the waffle maker. Okay, but I don't want a waffle. Can't someone make my cookie sandwich?

Another CM came to the window with a powdered sugar waffle and announced, "This is the last one. Waffle maker is broken. Everyone will need to go back to the register for a refund." He took the receipt from the man who had ordered the powdered sugar waffle and said, "Wow, sir, you have been waiting 37 minutes for this waffle! Here's a free bottle of water to go with it." :in pain:

Before things got really ugly, I managed to squeeze my way to the front of the pick up window. I waved my receipt at the CM and said, "I ordered an ice cream cookie sandwich."

"Oh. We thought everyone was waiting on waffles." :banghead:

So here is that "giant" Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich I expected.
View attachment 172006
One. Measly. Scoop. And the bottle of water? Not free.

View attachment 172005
Woody did a nice job of preventing me from blowing a gasket.

37 minutes, oh my. That is a long time to wait for an ice cream. Were they trying to install a part or rebuild the machine/ Maybe they should have called Phineas and Ferb, I am sure they would have souped it up for them and been dishing out 37/minute.

What they weren't linked to the order desk? I guess inflation or should I say deflation has hit the giant ice cream cookie as well.
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
I wonder if it's because they had the 60th anniversary for Disneyland this year? I know on the Keys to the Kingdom tour they talked about having a big celebration in 5 years for the WDW 50th anniversary.

They better up their game for the 50th. I experienced the 15th celebration as a kid and I thought it was fantastic that they gave away a prize every 15 seconds, even though I never won. Maybe they can do something like that again.
In my opinion, it shouldn't matter that DL had a year long 60th celebration. I visited the MK during the 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th and 40th anniversary years and there were many special things to mark the occasion.
But I was NOT a fan of this:
We got the 25th Birthday Cake castle, wonder if they'll try that again?
images

First year I ever went to Disney it looked like this - thank goodness it's never been like that since.
Couldn't agree with you more, @Longers!
 
In my opinion, it shouldn't matter that DL had a year long 60th celebration. I visited the MK during the 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th and 40th anniversary years and there were many special things to mark the occasion.
But I was NOT a fan of this:



Couldn't agree with you more, @Longers!

I agree with you. I guess I was just too young to really notice any of the past celebrations.
 

Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
In my opinion, it shouldn't matter that DL had a year long 60th celebration. I visited the MK during the 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th and 40th anniversary years and there were many special things to mark the occasion.
But I was NOT a fan of this:



Couldn't agree with you more, @Longers!

I liked the cake the first year. When we returned the following fall and the castle was still a cake I was not amused

Same with Epcot Wand long term engagement and the Dang Hat at the studios. Somethings at Disney overstay their welcome
 

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