Arrived at airport about 1:00pm. No line at DME check in. Waited about 15 minutes for bus. Bus stopped at one hotel prior to Poly. Video on DME bus was very cute, the various characters leaving home to travel to WDW.
Arrived at Poly around 2:00. Checked in to room in Hawaii, first floor, lagoon view. Perfect view of castle. DME delivered luggage before we could get changed to leave for MK. DME worked perfectly. Concierge who checked us in was very polite.
Went to MK. It was raining. Crowds were moderate to high. First time seeing Philharmagic, we all loved it. Walk on Haunted Mansion and Snow white. FP for Peter Pan. All mountains had approx one hour wait. Dinner at Pinocchio, which still has hamburgers and has not yet changed to Italian menu. Which is fine, because the pizza at WDW stinks.
Back at the Poly watched wishes from patio and from the lounge. Great view. Show was impressive, but not overly so.
6/4 Early Morning at Animal Kingdom. Saw the opening ceremony. Walked on Tough to be a Bug and the Safari. It was pouring rain, which was fine because it kept the crowds and the temp down. Walked on Rapids three times. Amazed at how big Everest looks up close. First time in Dino Land. Got FP for spin. Walked on to Dinosaur. Back to spin, which is great. It looks like a small kiddie coaster, but the mouse coaster design (i rode one on the steel pier in Atlantic City) is actually quite scary, not because of the drops which are small, but because the turns are so tight. You see yourself carreening towards the edge. Great fun.
Back to Poly to swim and explore. I had not stayed there in almost twenty years, so it brought back a lot of memories of childhood trips.
Had dinner at Ohana, first time. Asked to be seated in the main dining room, and got a great table near the windows. Food and service were both excellent.
MK after dinner. Walked on Pooh, teacups, Philharmagic, Snow White. Watched wishes from frontierland walkway, and was more impressed. Back to Poly for swimming and sleep.
6/5 Breakfast at Chef Mickey's. Won't do it again, least pleasureable character meal ever. The place was a zoo. Didn't like the way they forced you to pose for a pic and then brought them to your table. Didn't feel the magic. Felt like I was a cog in a money making machine (which is always the case, I just don't want to feel that way)
Went to Blizzard beach. No crowds until we left around one. Did the plunge for the second time and man did my backside hurt. I feel compelled to do it despite the pain. It is probably the most harrowing ride at all of Disney imoh.
Had Fantasmic package for dinner. Ate at H&V which was suprisingly good. Everything I tried was very tasty, and I have fairly highbrow food tastes.
The Studios were as crowded as I have ever seen them. Star Tours had about a fifteen minute wait. TOT and Rocking over an hour. Went to Fantasmic about an hour early and got eighth row seats in the Mickey Section. The show was great (first time). The dragon is quite spectacular.
The crowds for EMH were just insane. No way to get on the thrill rides. I was starting to believe those who said don't do the EMH. I would learn my lesson in a big way at the MK on Wenesday. I suppose the fifteen minute wait to get my wristband should have been a tip off.
6/6 Moving from Poly to Boardwalk. Now a note about Poly concierge service. Not impressed with the personel at all. Had an ear problem after Blizzard Beach. Last night, my wife went to ask for some assistance, just needed someithing from the drug store. Concierge (male didn't get name) looked annoyed at having been disturbed from doing nothing. Suggested that we take a taxi to Wallgreens. I actually lost my hearing completely and went out myself and asked another concierge for help, who advised me that there was a drugstore that would deliver what I needed and charge it to my room. The delivery charge was five dollars. Imagine what I would have paid to take a taxi to Walgreens and back. I called before we went to MGM, and it was waiting for me the next day.
Final thoughts about Poly concierge. I don't think they know exactly what concierge service is supposed to be. It is not about the water and cookies in the lounge, which is nice. It is about treating the guest special. The concierge employees did not make you feel special at all, and seemed to be annoyed if you just asked a question. Not one of them thought to advise me that there was a medical service which would pick me up free of charge and bring me to the clinic, or would make a house call to my room. My room was beautiful, not at all run down. The view was just what I wanted. The hotel was lovely as always. But the concierge service stunk. I would learn the true meaning of concierge service at the Boardwalk, which I will discuss in part two of my report.
Arrived at Poly around 2:00. Checked in to room in Hawaii, first floor, lagoon view. Perfect view of castle. DME delivered luggage before we could get changed to leave for MK. DME worked perfectly. Concierge who checked us in was very polite.
Went to MK. It was raining. Crowds were moderate to high. First time seeing Philharmagic, we all loved it. Walk on Haunted Mansion and Snow white. FP for Peter Pan. All mountains had approx one hour wait. Dinner at Pinocchio, which still has hamburgers and has not yet changed to Italian menu. Which is fine, because the pizza at WDW stinks.
Back at the Poly watched wishes from patio and from the lounge. Great view. Show was impressive, but not overly so.
6/4 Early Morning at Animal Kingdom. Saw the opening ceremony. Walked on Tough to be a Bug and the Safari. It was pouring rain, which was fine because it kept the crowds and the temp down. Walked on Rapids three times. Amazed at how big Everest looks up close. First time in Dino Land. Got FP for spin. Walked on to Dinosaur. Back to spin, which is great. It looks like a small kiddie coaster, but the mouse coaster design (i rode one on the steel pier in Atlantic City) is actually quite scary, not because of the drops which are small, but because the turns are so tight. You see yourself carreening towards the edge. Great fun.
Back to Poly to swim and explore. I had not stayed there in almost twenty years, so it brought back a lot of memories of childhood trips.
Had dinner at Ohana, first time. Asked to be seated in the main dining room, and got a great table near the windows. Food and service were both excellent.
MK after dinner. Walked on Pooh, teacups, Philharmagic, Snow White. Watched wishes from frontierland walkway, and was more impressed. Back to Poly for swimming and sleep.
6/5 Breakfast at Chef Mickey's. Won't do it again, least pleasureable character meal ever. The place was a zoo. Didn't like the way they forced you to pose for a pic and then brought them to your table. Didn't feel the magic. Felt like I was a cog in a money making machine (which is always the case, I just don't want to feel that way)
Went to Blizzard beach. No crowds until we left around one. Did the plunge for the second time and man did my backside hurt. I feel compelled to do it despite the pain. It is probably the most harrowing ride at all of Disney imoh.
Had Fantasmic package for dinner. Ate at H&V which was suprisingly good. Everything I tried was very tasty, and I have fairly highbrow food tastes.
The Studios were as crowded as I have ever seen them. Star Tours had about a fifteen minute wait. TOT and Rocking over an hour. Went to Fantasmic about an hour early and got eighth row seats in the Mickey Section. The show was great (first time). The dragon is quite spectacular.
The crowds for EMH were just insane. No way to get on the thrill rides. I was starting to believe those who said don't do the EMH. I would learn my lesson in a big way at the MK on Wenesday. I suppose the fifteen minute wait to get my wristband should have been a tip off.
6/6 Moving from Poly to Boardwalk. Now a note about Poly concierge service. Not impressed with the personel at all. Had an ear problem after Blizzard Beach. Last night, my wife went to ask for some assistance, just needed someithing from the drug store. Concierge (male didn't get name) looked annoyed at having been disturbed from doing nothing. Suggested that we take a taxi to Wallgreens. I actually lost my hearing completely and went out myself and asked another concierge for help, who advised me that there was a drugstore that would deliver what I needed and charge it to my room. The delivery charge was five dollars. Imagine what I would have paid to take a taxi to Walgreens and back. I called before we went to MGM, and it was waiting for me the next day.
Final thoughts about Poly concierge. I don't think they know exactly what concierge service is supposed to be. It is not about the water and cookies in the lounge, which is nice. It is about treating the guest special. The concierge employees did not make you feel special at all, and seemed to be annoyed if you just asked a question. Not one of them thought to advise me that there was a medical service which would pick me up free of charge and bring me to the clinic, or would make a house call to my room. My room was beautiful, not at all run down. The view was just what I wanted. The hotel was lovely as always. But the concierge service stunk. I would learn the true meaning of concierge service at the Boardwalk, which I will discuss in part two of my report.
