Trip Report *COMPLETED* Seriously...How is our Luggage Still Not HERE?! An August Trip Report

Hi everyone!

We have been back to reality for a little over a week now and while I still have yet to download all the photos we took during our recent trip to the World, I wanted to get started on detailing what was really an amazing trip.

Now, I must preface this report by saying that while the title of the report does play into our trip, which I will explain throughout, the trip really played out practically perfect in almost every way.

Ok, here we go...Our trip took place between August 3 through the 13th. Here is the cast from our last trip to Disneyland last August during the 60th Anniversary.

From left to right on your screen: Kelly, Lennon, Ella and me (Matt).

Originally we had booked the trip from the 4-13th in a studio at the Polynesian Villas. Upon booking, maybe a month or two later, we decided to add another day onto the trip and booked our first night at All Star Movies resort before moving the the Poly for the remainder of the trip the day after arriving.

I had detailed the our plan in this pre-trip report should you want to see the itinerary we had set out months in advance of the actual trip.

So let's jump in!

August 3 - Travel Day

After months of build up and anticipation the day had finally arrived. We live way up north in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada so making the trek down to Orlando is not always the easiest and definitely not the quickest so whenever we come the WDW we always make sure to stay long enough to really justify the long travel day.

Kelly and I were up around 4 am (MDT) to get ready, pack the vehicle and get the kids up and on the road by 530 to head out to the airport which is about a 45 minute drive from our house. Thankfully the kids were more than happy to get up early knowing they were heading to Disney World and after eating a small snack in the car we arrived well in advance of our 830 am flight from Edmonton to Houston.

Here we are killing some time in the airport waiting to board our first leg.

After small breakfast and some time spent calling the grand parents to say goodbye we were boarding our flight to head down to Houston. We ended up flying United as the options to get to Orlando from Edmonton are pretty limited. United has never been our air carrier of choice but in the spirit of giving credit where it is due this was the first time we took a trip using United that absolutely nothing went wrong and the service was great.

Lennon seemed pretty happy up in the air even if she was up early. We had no doubt that Ella was going to be very well behaved throughout the entire trip but Lenny is a major wildcard. Her mood changes at the drop of a hat so we didn't know what to expect from her while we were gone. Thankfully we were off to a good start!

After close to a four hour flight we touched down in Houston. We departed the plane to find out we would be getting right back on the same plane to head over to Orlando so that made things much easier plus it made for losing our luggage almost impossible. After about an hour layover and a really, really bad airport sandwich we jumped back on the plane for the second leg of the trip. After a four hour flight to get to Houston, the two hour jaunt to Orlando seemed like a breeze. The flight was pretty smooth and soon enough we were descending into MCO!

We touched down around 6 pm Orlando time and made our way to the airport monorail over tot he main terminal to jump on the Magical Express. We have never taken the Magical Express from the airport to the hotel and I must say it was a very nice treat bypassing the luggage carousel and heading straight to our bus.

After a short 10 minute wait we jumped on our bus and were on our way to All Star Movies!

We ended up sitting behind a young family from the DC area that was heading to Movies to celebrate their daughter's 6th birthday. Ella and the young girl started talking through the chairs and asking each other all sorts of questions during the drive. She was happy to have made a new friend!

After stops at Coronado Springs, All Start Sports and Music we arrived at All Star Movies around 730. We checked in and picked up or Magic Bands before making our way to our room int he Toy Story section. We were in a room on the first floor right outside the courtyard with all the big Toy Story characters. It was actually pretty cool to see these types of displays throughout the grounds. Fun hotel though based on the size of the rooms I am glad we only spent the night before moving into larger accommodations.

After a quick look at the room and some pics in the courtyard we made our way to the food court to grab some dinner. I didn't take any pics of this meal, it wasn't overly exciting, but Kelly enjoyed the homemade macaroni, I had the hot Italian sandwich and the girls, who ate dinner on the bus ride to the hotel shared an ice cream and a bag of cotton candy. They seemed happy with that night cap!

After finishing our meal we decided to walk around the grounds of the hotel and check out some of the other themed areas before killing a little time at the children's playground near the main pool for a little before heading back to our room to pass out.

Our luggage arrived shortly after we returned to the room and after a quick shower we hit the bed to finally get some sleep. No major plans the next day other than switching hotels and we were happy that we didn't have to set an alarm on the first night.

So that was day one, Our very exciting travel day that was thankfully uneventful and really quite smooth. I will have to really get on downloading our pictures to keep this going but will be adding more as the week progresses. Thanks in advance for following along and we look forward to sharing our trip with you!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

We just got back from our trip. We went Monday October 24th until Monday October 31st. I would highly recommend this time of year. The parks were very empty. World showcase was busier then normal because of food and wine but nowhere near unmanageable and food and wine just adds to the whole experience so no complaints there. We rarely were on a bus with more then a few other families at any given time and the weather was perfect. Low 80's during the day and low 70's at night. We rarely needed a coat to transition from day to night and it didn't rain once. I can't say enough great things about visiting this time of year. Halloween at Magic Kingdom is also magical and a must see at least once.

Thanks for sharing your trip with us. It lit a fire to go ahead and post the next section of my trip report.

Thanks for the feedback. Good to know that this would be a good time to visit. I've always wanted to experience food and wine so that would be plus!

Looking forward to reading all about your trip once you get around to the report.

 

[Scoppin]

HAHAHA my reference to "older" is simply in relation to me even though I, too, am starting to creep up there!

Getting old is not a bad thing. As some don't get that honour to do so.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Getting old is not a bad thing. As some don't get that honour to do so.

Extremely valid point, can't argue with that whatsoever.

 

[Scoppin]

August 13 – Heading Home

There was no real urgency for us to get up early as our flight wasn’t until the early afternoon so we had a pretty solid sleep before getting up and getting ready to head back home.

We did a good job of packing the day before so there was no mad rush to try and get the bags ready which was a major bonus. Good planning on our part. We took our time getting dressed before heading to the main building to drop our bags off at the airport check in.

I have absolutely no idea why we have not used this service on previous trips, maybe it’s because I didn’t think us Canadian’s qualified, but man have we been missing out! The gents at the check in desk were extremely helpful and after a few short minutes we had the boarding passes for both our flights and the bags had been checked and sent to the airport. Truly a huge asset to take advantage of, especially with the kids and having to push a stroller around the airport while trying to handle baggage. Such a huge helping hand and I feel ashamed for not knowing more about this service to us on previous trips.

Alright, enough gushing about resort check in…we had one last meal reservation to get to. Thankfully it was a quick walk from the check in area to my favourite breakfast spot, Kona Café. Before we walked upstairs in the Great Ceremonial House we had to take a few parting shots in the lobby.

Then it was up to check in for our breakfast!

Restaurant wasn’t overly busy so we were seated right away and the dilemma then kicked in…should I order the Tonga Toast even though I had already enjoyed it earlier in the trip or should I try something else? One thing I knew I’d be ordering for sure wads the pressed Kona coffee. Had been looking forward to it all trip and, as usual, it did not disappoint. Best cup, well cups, I’ve had all trip!

Finally it came time to decide on our meals. The kids were easy, they ended up ordering the Donald’s Choice kid’s meals as they really wanted the cinnamon toast, Kelly decided on the Big Kahuna and I ended up going with the oatmeal and struck a deal with Kelly to eat her macadamia pineapple pancakes. Not a bad call at all and we all really enjoyed the fare. The oatmeal was excellent which really made me happy.

Ella enjoyed her food so much that she asked for another piece of cinnamon toast which completely made her morning!

After a delicious breakfast it was back to the room to grab the stroller and our carry on stuff before heading back to check out of the room and wait for the Magical Express. It was definitely bitter sweet sitting on the benches outside waiting for the bus. There was lots of reflection on the great trip that was but also a little sense of excitement to get home. Maybe not as much excitement for the plane rides home but I was very much looking forward to sleeping in our own bed that night and seeing our dog the next day when he got home from my parents.

The bus took a little while to get to the resort but finally it arrived and it was time to load up and head home.

Smooth sailing to the airport and I’ll reiterate how great it was to simply roll right to security as opposed to check in with our luggage. From there we took one last monorail ride to our terminal and it was time to say goodbye to Orlando.

I always get a little nervous when I fly United thanks to multiple poor experiences in the past but, like the flights heading to WDW, everything went beyond smooth which was a total surprise and a most welcome change of pace.

Our flight to Houston was quick and easy and after a relatively short layover our flight from Houston to Edmonton, although a bit longer, was just as easy. Not only that but all of our luggage had safely made its way back with no issues whatsoever.

On the ride back home from the airport Kelly and I reflected on just how great everything was from start to finish, even with the small luggage hiccup when we arrived at the Poly. It truly couldn’t have been a better trip and we were amazed at how well the kids acted throughout. We thought we would easily have a few meltdowns but they definitely surprised us.

We walked through the door of our house a little after 8 pm and it was back to reality. It certainly didn’t take long for the kids to ask “when are we going back?” as we put them to bed that night and that’s pretty much all it took for us to start thinking about the next trip! Now the planning begins all over again!

Well, that’s a wrap on the trip that was. We had an absolute blast from start to finish and I hope I was able to convey that in this report.

I thank you all for reading along even if it took me forever to detail the trip. I am going to have one final post of my general thoughts and a look ahead to what could be our next trip. I’d love to get your feedback and thoughts on what’s next so do feel free to provide your insight once I do post.

Thanks all!

Glad to hear your trip home was uneventful. Sounds like everyone should take advantage of the airport check in. Anything to help with the pain of travelling, and by that I mean waiting in lines to check baggage, should always be a nice welcome.

You know you had a great trip with they are already asking when they can go back. No matter where you have been.

I looked like you were able to get a lot done, eat a lot, experience a number of rides and meet a number of characters on your trip. Not to mention, the girls brave a few rides they hadn't before even though they back out of a few others. I would still say a great success. The smiles always tell the true story.

 

[G8rchamps]

Seeing the kids’ faces on the ride pictures always makes me laugh. No matter how many times we went on a ride, especially the Mine Train, the combination of terror and joy never changed. I think the best part is how the grip the side of the car every time! Too good!

Excuse me sir - in the last car. Please remove your hat.

Awesome picture!!

 

[MinnieM123]

Sad that your TR has come to an end. Thanks you for letting us follow along with the fun vacation your family had. Your two daughters are precious. Glad that you, your wife, and the girls all had such a nice time together. Just think of the wonderful memories all of you will have, years down the road from now.

The nice thing, too, is that you have all those wonderful photos. Hope you can find a decorative photo album to put those in, and maybe place it on a coffee table in a livingroom. Your guests would enjoy looking through it. WDW usually brings a smile to most people's faces!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Seeing the kids’ faces on the ride pictures always makes me laugh. No matter how many times we went on a ride, especially the Mine Train, the combination of terror and joy never changed. I think the best part is how the grip the side of the car every time! Too good!

Excuse me sir - in the last car. Please remove your hat.

Awesome picture!!

These pictures were always my favourtie! Made me laugh every time.

I was always told to hang on to my hat but felt like living dangerously...HAHA

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Sad that your TR has come to an end. Thanks you for letting us follow along with the fun vacation your family had. Your two daughters are precious. Glad that you, your wife, and the girls all had such a nice time together. Just think of the wonderful memories all of you will have, years down the road from now.

The nice thing, too, is that you have all those wonderful photos. Hope you can find a decorative photo album to put those in, and maybe place it on a coffee table in a livingroom. Your guests would enjoy looking through it. WDW usually brings a smile to most people's faces!

Thanks for reading! This is definitely a trip we won't forget any time soon. Kelly is slowly starting to put together a photobook on shutterfly that we can keep in our living room and look back on from time to time.

We've gotten into the photobook deal as opposed to simply printing pictures and putting them in albums. A much nicer keepsake and something that we actually look at quite often, especially when the Disney withdrawals hit.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Well now that the report is officially over I thought I would finish up with some final closing thoughts on our vacation.

First off, if you read the report I think it’s pretty clear that I was overly positive about almost 100% of the time spent in WDW. I know that outlook is not always shared around this group and some folks are a little more critical of things that they encounter during their own vacations (and rightfully so) but I tend to take the most positive view in most things in life and that is certainly the case when we head to Disney.

We are most fortunate to have the opportunity to take these trips as often as we do, much to the chagrin of many of our friends who can’t quite grasp our love of Disney, and I always see things with rose-coloured glasses as I feel so lucky to get to make memories and share these experiences with my family. Yes, things go wrong and not everything goes as planned but more often than not I can easily overlook those instances to find a positive.

Having said that, I will once again state this was easily the best vacation (Disney or otherwise) that we have ever taken and even with some slight hiccups I couldn’t have imagined it turning out any better.

The weather was terrific all trip but it did take us Canadians a little time to get used to the humidity which we almost never deal with here in Edmonton! And yes, it turned me into a sweaty mess much of the time!

The resort was fantastic. We’ve always wanted to stay at the Poly and it most certainly did not disappoint. It was cool to get a feel for All Star Movies though I can’t see us staying at a value resort for an extended trip…not that there is anything wrong with them, we just need the extra space at this point in time.

The amenities at the Poly were terrific. Great food options, amazing sights, sounds and smells, some of the best ambience around WDW and really good pool facilities. Pretty much everything we could have wanted in resort. That said, while I thoroughly enjoyed the Poly, I still prefer Wildness Lodge as my go-to place to stay. Just something about that place feels right to me.

I think our favourite park was likely EPCOT even if the kids would probably say they liked Magic Kingdom better if they were asked. Being able to ride Soarin’ and Test Track coupled with the new Frozen ride and their strange obsession for Nemo I think put it over the top. Plus the great meals we had around the World Showcase made it tough to beat.

The addition of nighttime hours at Animal Kingdom is awesome. That park is visually appealing as it was already but the new elements you see at night were fantastic. Very much looking forward to the opening of Avatar to see that park take on an even bigger presence.

Beyond happy that the expansion of DHS is taking place. I do like the park because of the big three rides they already have but it’s definitely stale in its current form. Star Wars and Toy Story should provide a real shot in the arm which is desperately needed there.

Our final evening spent at MK simply reinforced how amazing that park is at night time. Even though EPCOT was likely the park we enjoyed the most, MK at night is what Disney is all about.

We had tons of great meals on this trip but Kelly and I both agree that the one we most enjoyed was our lunch a Beaches and Cream. Great little spot and the simplicity and huge flavour of the grilled cheese and tomato bisque was top notch. Rounding out the top three, for me anyways, would be Ohana and Via Napoli. I would most definitely do all three again but hopefully the next time we do Ohana either the girls will be a little bigger and can help us devour all that food or we will have more family members to lend a hand!

Even when we got home and the trip had been finished for a couple weeks; it was a really simple yet totally meaningful gesture by Disney to send this “thank you” for staying with them that brought back some great memories.

Disney really goes the extra mile to ensure your visits at WDW is as smooth and enjoyable as possible what with all the additional value add options you can take advantage of (DME, resort check in, etc). Easy to overlook these things but made such a difference in our trip.

And finally, now comes the time where we start looking at when are we coming back?! Nothing is set in stone just yet but the early idea is to return in later October 2017 for between 10-12 days to catch the final Halloween party and enjoy the Christmas decorations/party.

The struggle for us is trying to figure out if we should rent DVC points again and stay in a DVC resort or if we should stay in a regular room and try to take advantage of free dining. Pro’s and Con’s to both and at this point we are holding off on anything firm until the 2017 free dining options are released to see what might work for us.

Your input on this would be greatly appreciated as we try and decide what’s best.

And now I guess it’s that time of year to start getting all the Disney Christmas stuff up around the house to help fill the void!

Thank you all for reading along. I’ve loved the interaction with you and I look forward to reading about your Disney adventures and sharing more about ours in the future!

 

[Scoppin]

Well now that the report is officially over I thought I would finish up with some final closing thoughts on our vacation.

First off, if you read the report I think it’s pretty clear that I was overly positive about almost 100% of the time spent in WDW. I know that outlook is not always shared around this group and some folks are a little more critical of things that they encounter during their own vacations (and rightfully so) but I tend to take the most positive view in most things in life and that is certainly the case when we head to Disney.

We are most fortunate to have the opportunity to take these trips as often as we do, much to the chagrin of many of our friends who can’t quite grasp our love of Disney, and I always see things with rose-coloured glasses as I feel so lucky to get to make memories and share these experiences with my family. Yes, things go wrong and not everything goes as planned but more often than not I can easily overlook those instances to find a positive.

Having said that, I will once again state this was easily the best vacation (Disney or otherwise) that we have ever taken and even with some slight hiccups I couldn’t have imagined it turning out any better.

The weather was terrific all trip but it did take us Canadians a little time to get used to the humidity which we almost never deal with here in Edmonton! And yes, it turned me into a sweaty mess much of the time!

The resort was fantastic. We’ve always wanted to stay at the Poly and it most certainly did not disappoint. It was cool to get a feel for All Star Movies though I can’t see us staying at a value resort for an extended trip…not that there is anything wrong with them, we just need the extra space at this point in time.

The amenities at the Poly were terrific. Great food options, amazing sights, sounds and smells, some of the best ambience around WDW and really good pool facilities. Pretty much everything we could have wanted in resort. That said, while I thoroughly enjoyed the Poly, I still prefer Wildness Lodge as my go-to place to stay. Just something about that place feels right to me.

I think our favourite park was likely EPCOT even if the kids would probably say they liked Magic Kingdom better if they were asked. Being able to ride Soarin’ and Test Track coupled with the new Frozen ride and their strange obsession for Nemo I think put it over the top. Plus the great meals we had around the World Showcase made it tough to beat.

The addition of nighttime hours at Animal Kingdom is awesome. That park is visually appealing as it was already but the new elements you see at night were fantastic. Very much looking forward to the opening of Avatar to see that park take on an even bigger presence.

Beyond happy that the expansion of DHS is taking place. I do like the park because of the big three rides they already have but it’s definitely stale in its current form. Star Wars and Toy Story should provide a real shot in the arm which is desperately needed there.

Our final evening spent at MK simply reinforced how amazing that park is at night time. Even though EPCOT was likely the park we enjoyed the most, MK at night is what Disney is all about.

We had tons of great meals on this trip but Kelly and I both agree that the one we most enjoyed was our lunch a Beaches and Cream. Great little spot and the simplicity and huge flavour of the grilled cheese and tomato bisque was top notch. Rounding out the top three, for me anyways, would be Ohana and Via Napoli. I would most definitely do all three again but hopefully the next time we do Ohana either the girls will be a little bigger and can help us devour all that food or we will have more family members to lend a hand!

Even when we got home and the trip had been finished for a couple weeks; it was a really simple yet totally meaningful gesture by Disney to send this “thank you” for staying with them that brought back some great memories.

Disney really goes the extra mile to ensure your visits at WDW is as smooth and enjoyable as possible what with all the additional value add options you can take advantage of (DME, resort check in, etc). Easy to overlook these things but made such a difference in our trip.

And finally, now comes the time where we start looking at when are we coming back?! Nothing is set in stone just yet but the early idea is to return in later October 2017 for between 10-12 days to catch the final Halloween party and enjoy the Christmas decorations/party.

The struggle for us is trying to figure out if we should rent DVC points again and stay in a DVC resort or if we should stay in a regular room and try to take advantage of free dining. Pro’s and Con’s to both and at this point we are holding off on anything firm until the 2017 free dining options are released to see what might work for us.

Your input on this would be greatly appreciated as we try and decide what’s best.

And now I guess it’s that time of year to start getting all the Disney Christmas stuff up around the house to help fill the void!

Thank you all for reading along. I’ve loved the interaction with you and I look forward to reading about your Disney adventures and sharing more about ours in the future!

I don't think it is a bad thing to be positive, well maybe overly positive is a different thing. There can always be a positive spin to everything. Even if it is only lesson learned. I would rather be positive but sometimes you need to point a few things out or 'stand up' for yourself. It is not about being negative but maybe enlightening others.

Not everyone can afford to go as well, not even once, at least not at the current rate. Memories come in many shapes and sizes. It is not always about the money spent, but on the time spent with the person you are making the memory with. It doesn't hurt to have others help you make the memories. It would be a totally different trip/memory if you had to work through the whole trip and send the girls off on their own. It just won't be the same without you. You have made some amazing memories this trip with your girls and I am sure they will remember them for a very very long time. I am sure you will get an extra hug or two when tucking the girls into bed or maybe just randomly. Got to love random hugs.

Glad to hear this was you best trip ever to this point. There are also some issues, question is how you/resort deals with them and how you let it affect your trip.

We did have an overly warm, okay hot, and humid summer ourselves in Ontario. I was thinking, great warm up for our trip to Florida. I was mistaken as it was even hotter and more humid. I am sure there are pictures of me looking wet and it didn't rain that day. But still better than being back home working.

We got one of those 'thank you' cards as well. The kids were all excited about it. It is currently on our fridge. It is always nice to be treated well and respected. There are many people there who go the extra mile in order to ensure your stay was magical and that counts for a lot.

Sorry, can't help you with your next trip. Only been there once so no experience to share which would help you. Just let me put this out there, if the girls are not big enough or no one wants to go with you, we would be more than willing to become a part of your adopted family for your next trip in order to help ensure all of your food was eaten.

You and Kelly put together a great trip you can be proud of for the girls. Something they should be able to remember for a very long time and remember who they did it with. You can never get back time. What matters is how you spent it. You sir had an awesome time with your family and that shows in your pictures. Positive memories like that are priceless.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

I don't think it is a bad thing to be positive, well maybe overly positive is a different thing. There can always be a positive spin to everything. Even if it is only lesson learned. I would rather be positive but sometimes you need to point a few things out or 'stand up' for yourself. It is not about being negative but maybe enlightening others.

Not everyone can afford to go as well, not even once, at least not at the current rate. Memories come in many shapes and sizes. It is not always about the money spent, but on the time spent with the person you are making the memory with. It doesn't hurt to have others help you make the memories. It would be a totally different trip/memory if you had to work through the whole trip and send the girls off on their own. It just won't be the same without you. You have made some amazing memories this trip with your girls and I am sure they will remember them for a very very long time. I am sure you will get an extra hug or two when tucking the girls into bed or maybe just randomly. Got to love random hugs.

Glad to hear this was you best trip ever to this point. There are also some issues, question is how you/resort deals with them and how you let it affect your trip.

We did have an overly warm, okay hot, and humid summer ourselves in Ontario. I was thinking, great warm up for our trip to Florida. I was mistaken as it was even hotter and more humid. I am sure there are pictures of me looking wet and it didn't rain that day. But still better than being back home working.

We got one of those 'thank you' cards as well. The kids were all excited about it. It is currently on our fridge. It is always nice to be treated well and respected. There are many people there who go the extra mile in order to ensure your stay was magical and that counts for a lot.

Sorry, can't help you with your next trip. Only been there once so no experience to share which would help you. Just let me put this out there, if the girls are not big enough or no one wants to go with you, we would be more than willing to become a part of your adopted family for your next trip in order to help ensure all of your food was eaten.

You and Kelly put together a great trip you can be proud of for the girls. Something they should be able to remember for a very long time and remember who they did it with. You can never get back time. What matters is how you spent it. You sir had an awesome time with your family and that shows in your pictures. Positive memories like that are priceless.

Terrific post and it is most appreciated. Humbled that you've read along and I intend on doing the same with your report, though I do admit I am falling behind and need to catch up!

If we were ever to be at WDW at the same time I'm sure we'd have a great time together!

 

[Scoppin]

Terrific post and it is most appreciated. Humbled that you've read along and I intend on doing the same with your report, though I do admit I am falling behind and need to catch up!

If we were ever to be at WDW at the same time I'm sure we'd have a great time together!

I was really nice reading along. It was amazing to see how similar some of our days were.

You shouldn't have a hard time catching up. It is mostly pictures.

I would have to agree.

 

[MinnieM123]

And now I guess it’s that time of year to start getting all the Disney Christmas stuff up around the house to help fill the void!

Oh my! GORGEOUS Christmas tree! Hope you and your family have a nice Christmas and a happy new year.

 

[catmandoo]

Thanks for reading! This is definitely a trip we won't forget any time soon. Kelly is slowly starting to put together a photobook on shutterfly that we can keep in our living room and look back on from time to time.

We've gotten into the photobook deal as opposed to simply printing pictures and putting them in albums. A much nicer keepsake and something that we actually look at quite often, especially when the Disney withdrawals hit.

I've been doing the shutterfly book thing for a few years now and it's SO much easier and nicer than just putting the pictures in an album. I usually stick with the standard 20 pages, but this year it kind of took on a life of its own and ended up being nearly 60! I think I have 4 from Disney World and one from Disneyland at this point... Make that 5 from WDW... just remember I made a second one this year.

I enjoyed your report very much! Glad you had such a great time.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Oh my! GORGEOUS Christmas tree! Hope you and your family have a nice Christmas and a happy new year.

Thank you so much! We've had to move to two trees these days. The one pictured houses all our Disney ornaments and the other is adorned with typical Christmas stuff.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as well!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

I've been doing the shutterfly book thing for a few years now and it's SO much easier and nicer than just putting the pictures in an album. I usually stick with the standard 20 pages, but this year it kind of took on a life of its own and ended up being nearly 60! I think I have 4 from Disney World and one from Disneyland at this point... Make that 5 from WDW... just remember I made a second one this year.

I enjoyed your report very much! Glad you had such a great time.

Thanks for reading!

Those books are definitely the way to go! I have a feeling ours will likely creep up to that 60 page mark this time around. Far nicer to have something like that sitting around to thumb through from time to time.

 

[Princess Leia]

Well now that the report is officially over I thought I would finish up with some final closing thoughts on our vacation.

First off, if you read the report I think it’s pretty clear that I was overly positive about almost 100% of the time spent in WDW. I know that outlook is not always shared around this group and some folks are a little more critical of things that they encounter during their own vacations (and rightfully so) but I tend to take the most positive view in most things in life and that is certainly the case when we head to Disney.

We are most fortunate to have the opportunity to take these trips as often as we do, much to the chagrin of many of our friends who can’t quite grasp our love of Disney, and I always see things with rose-coloured glasses as I feel so lucky to get to make memories and share these experiences with my family. Yes, things go wrong and not everything goes as planned but more often than not I can easily overlook those instances to find a positive.

Having said that, I will once again state this was easily the best vacation (Disney or otherwise) that we have ever taken and even with some slight hiccups I couldn’t have imagined it turning out any better.

The weather was terrific all trip but it did take us Canadians a little time to get used to the humidity which we almost never deal with here in Edmonton! And yes, it turned me into a sweaty mess much of the time!

The resort was fantastic. We’ve always wanted to stay at the Poly and it most certainly did not disappoint. It was cool to get a feel for All Star Movies though I can’t see us staying at a value resort for an extended trip…not that there is anything wrong with them, we just need the extra space at this point in time.

The amenities at the Poly were terrific. Great food options, amazing sights, sounds and smells, some of the best ambience around WDW and really good pool facilities. Pretty much everything we could have wanted in resort. That said, while I thoroughly enjoyed the Poly, I still prefer Wildness Lodge as my go-to place to stay. Just something about that place feels right to me.

I think our favourite park was likely EPCOT even if the kids would probably say they liked Magic Kingdom better if they were asked. Being able to ride Soarin’ and Test Track coupled with the new Frozen ride and their strange obsession for Nemo I think put it over the top. Plus the great meals we had around the World Showcase made it tough to beat.

The addition of nighttime hours at Animal Kingdom is awesome. That park is visually appealing as it was already but the new elements you see at night were fantastic. Very much looking forward to the opening of Avatar to see that park take on an even bigger presence.

Beyond happy that the expansion of DHS is taking place. I do like the park because of the big three rides they already have but it’s definitely stale in its current form. Star Wars and Toy Story should provide a real shot in the arm which is desperately needed there.

Our final evening spent at MK simply reinforced how amazing that park is at night time. Even though EPCOT was likely the park we enjoyed the most, MK at night is what Disney is all about.

We had tons of great meals on this trip but Kelly and I both agree that the one we most enjoyed was our lunch a Beaches and Cream. Great little spot and the simplicity and huge flavour of the grilled cheese and tomato bisque was top notch. Rounding out the top three, for me anyways, would be Ohana and Via Napoli. I would most definitely do all three again but hopefully the next time we do Ohana either the girls will be a little bigger and can help us devour all that food or we will have more family members to lend a hand!

Even when we got home and the trip had been finished for a couple weeks; it was a really simple yet totally meaningful gesture by Disney to send this “thank you” for staying with them that brought back some great memories.

Disney really goes the extra mile to ensure your visits at WDW is as smooth and enjoyable as possible what with all the additional value add options you can take advantage of (DME, resort check in, etc). Easy to overlook these things but made such a difference in our trip.

And finally, now comes the time where we start looking at when are we coming back?! Nothing is set in stone just yet but the early idea is to return in later October 2017 for between 10-12 days to catch the final Halloween party and enjoy the Christmas decorations/party.

The struggle for us is trying to figure out if we should rent DVC points again and stay in a DVC resort or if we should stay in a regular room and try to take advantage of free dining. Pro’s and Con’s to both and at this point we are holding off on anything firm until the 2017 free dining options are released to see what might work for us.

Your input on this would be greatly appreciated as we try and decide what’s best.

And now I guess it’s that time of year to start getting all the Disney Christmas stuff up around the house to help fill the void!

Thank you all for reading along. I’ve loved the interaction with you and I look forward to reading about your Disney adventures and sharing more about ours in the future!

Your Disney tree puts my little Disney tree to shame (btw, the Disney store online is having a pretty good sale on their sketchbook ornaments)

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Your Disney tree puts my little Disney tree to shame (btw, the Disney store online is having a pretty good sale on their sketchbook ornaments)

Very good to know! I'll have to check it out and see if we can find something new to add to the mix. Running out of space but I'm sure we can make it work!

 

[Princess Leia]

Very good to know! I'll have to check it out and see if we can find something new to add to the mix. Running out of space but I'm sure we can make it work!

There's a Disney store in the city I work at, and luckily a) they also had the sale (the woman working there said it would go all week), and b) they had ornaments in stock that were sold out online.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

There's a Disney store in the city I work at, and luckily a) they also had the sale (the woman working there said it would go all week), and b) they had ornaments in stock that were sold out online.

Really good to know. I should be able to swing by one of the Disney stores here in town tomorrow to check it out. Thanks for the head's up!