The CiavoFamily's Rockin' Polynesian Birthday Festival ~ PreTrip (5/3/07) - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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The CiavoFamily's Rockin' Polynesian Birthday Festival ~ PreTrip - The Plans (updated 5/5/07)
Okay, I think I got all of the events in the title
Not many of you probably know me so I'll do a quick intro. I'm Karen, a stay-at-home homeschooling mom of three wonderful boys. I have a musician/artist husband who is a reluctant WDW visitor (although I'm beginning to suspect it's all a ruse ) This will be our 6th trip together as a family. Our last one in September 2005 was lovely while we were at the World; we stayed at the cabins in FW, had free dining, finally went to Hoop De Doo and the Campfire, but during the course of driving home we was robbed! We had stopped for the night in NC and were a victim of a smash and grab. They took everything including all my videos and photos of our trip and I had such wonderful ones too.
So, here we are in May of 2007 thankful that we get to go back and make more memories and here are the stats:
Cast:
Karen (42) - have loved WDW ever since Walt brought it to my living room as a child.
Lou (43) - my wonderful dh who is begging me not to go all commando on him
Ben (13) - oldest ds who turns 14 during our trip. Like many teenagers he loathes syrupy attention from adults (somehow he equates this with them thinking he's a child when actually he was born a 30 year old man in a baby's body), but he has promised to wear the birthday pin.
Zach (12) - middle son who loves noticing the less than obvious, I learn a lot from him.
Ethan (4) - his motto could be said to be, "happy, happy, joy, joy; happy, happy, joy, joy," he always has a smile and can't wait to meet Mater and Lightning McQueen.
When:
May 22 - May 30
Where:
We are splitting our stay this trip, 6 nights at the Poly and 2 nights at the Hard Rock.
Why:
Ben's birthday, the Flower and Garden Festival, and to enjoy our life and time together as a family.
Next up: our plans
Thanks for reading,
Karen
__________________
Next up: Half Marathon at my Happy Place
Last edited by Bellaciavo; 05-05-2007 at 08:29 AM..
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Your plans look wonderful!
How awful about the smash and grab! But you will have the memories forever and now you can make new pictures! Can't wait to hear all about it!
I hope that you and your family have a magical time at the world.
__________________
Heather - "I'm Tinkerbell's biggest fan!"
WDW - August 1997 Off Property
WDW - January 2005 AKL
WDW - May 2006 Pop Century
WDW- november-dec 2007 pop century
WDW- dec/jan 2009/2010 pop century
WDW- oct/nov 2012 art of animation
WDW- sept 2013 port Orleans riverside
WDW- july 2015 beach club
Background: We bought a fixer upper home in September and I did not think we would make it to WDW until 2008 or 2009. My dh Lou owns an ad agency (one way for an artist to support his family, although it leaves little time for fine art ) and he is the worship leader at our church and has been working on his 2nd album so needless to say the poor guy has been working his fanny off He needed a break! I thought he would want to go on some quiet, restful vacation at the shore or something and was shocked when back in March he brought up Disney. We were lounging about and a Southwest "You are now free to roam around the country" commercial came on with $49 fares. Lou made the comment, "Let's go to Disney this year, what do you think?" Immediately all these thoughts ran through my brain, "Is he serious? I'd better not overreact. I need a new kitchen and laundry room, should I respond sensibly or follow my passion. I miss Disney and really, is the kitchen that bad? Isn't that what duct tape is for? Can he really rest at Disney when I'm such a commando? I can resist the commando mode, I can, really. Be casual Karen." So I said, "Hmm, well, I really hadn't thought about it honey. I suppose we could go." It just so happened to be the last night for the promotion and when I pointed that out Lou thought I'd better go book the flight right away. So I did I was in such a rush and wanted to get it booked that I made an error when booking our return flight. Normally we go for 7 nights/8 days so that's what I was planning on booking, but my quick thinking skills were off and due to an error in figuring out dates we are actually going for 8 nights/9 days. Not the worst mistake to make.
So, as stated earlier we are going from May 22-30. We usually go when the best deals are to be had, September, and I knew we would be in for some sticker shock when I went to book the trip. Plus we had missed the non-AP codes. I originally booked us through our travel agent with an AP code at the Beach Club as the Poly wasn't available except at rack which I could not bring myself to pay. I have a thrifty nature that even Disney can't squash totally. We had stayed at the villas before and they were nice. We were content. Then Disney released the travel in May code so I had that applied, but it wasn't coming up for the Poly. On day 45 when we had to pay our balance I asked my agent just for the heck of it to try the Poly one last time, and it came up as available with the May code Lou loves Universal and I love Front of the Line Access so we changed our ressies to May 22 - May 28 at the Poly with the dining plan and park hoppers and May 28 - May 30 at the Hard Rock.
Our "tentative" daily itinerary looks like this: Tuesday, May 22
5 AM - Arrive at Philly airport for a 7:10 AM direct flight
9:30 AM - Arrive at MCO, quickly gather luggage and pick up rental car
11:00 AM - Check-in at Poly, requested and hoping for Tokelau 3rd floor, quiet pool view.
Hoping to be in MK by noon for a couple of quick rides.
Nap
5:50 ADR at Cape May Cafe
EMH at Epcot (I don't know if we will actually make this, we'll see)
Wednesday, May 23
8 AM - EMH at AK
That's it, no ADR's this day. We may head over to Trail's End for dinner.
Thursday, May 24
9:00 AM - MGM
11:15 ADR at Sci-Fi Dine In (my boys love this place)
I'd love to stay till the parade so Ethan can see all the characters
Rest, maybe Epcot for the evening (EMH)
Friday, May 25
9:30 AM - Breakfast at Boma
Nothing else planned this morning.
Rest, swim
2:30 PM - Return to MK (pick up birthday badge for Sunday)
4:00 PM - Crystal Palace for early dinner
EMH at MK until 2 AM
Saturday, May 26
Probably will be a non-park day. We'll sleep in, swim or shop. Maybe grab some SeaRaycers for a few hours.
6:00 PM Drop Ethan off at Neverland Club and Ben and Zach stay at our room while Lou and I go for a romantic dinner at Narcoossee's. We have never left the boys alone at WDW before, but we have done so at home all the time. They are very mature and responsible and I will not be worried nor will I call them on the cell every 5 minutes (trying to convince myself here.)
We may go out afterwards not sure yet.
Sunday, May, 27 Ben
8:00 AM EMH Epcot
Midday Break
7:00 PM - Birthday dinner at the Concourse Steakhouse
EMH at MK until 2 AM
Monday, May, 28
Sleep in
Late breakfast at Captain Cooks
Check out
Drop the boys off at a water park
Ethan and I go check in at Hard Rock
Come back to Disney for more fun and to pick up the guys in the afternoon
Showers and rest
Dinner at The Hard Rock Cafe
Movies: Shrek or Spiderman or Pirates (I'm bummed these parks close so early)
Tuesday, May, 29
FOTL at IOA
Break
Universal in the late afternoon.
Watch Universal 360º
Dining plans are up in the air, although I would love to try Mythos
Wednesday, May, 30
Check out
Universal
IOA
3:30 PM - Leave for airport
9:30 PM - arrive home, hopefully tired, but satisfied.
Thanks for reading,
Karen
Next up: Goals and Missions
__________________
Next up: Half Marathon at my Happy Place
Last edited by Bellaciavo; 05-08-2007 at 04:16 PM..
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Sounds like a wonderful trip! Your signature picture is absolutely adorable! I assume this is the one who's 4 now? You can just see his personality shining through that picture.
Sounds like a wonderful vacay. I always remind DH Pat that the kids won't remember how wonderful the kitchen looked, they will remember him screaming like a girl on Space Mountain. Choose the family memories first!
Wow what luck, $49 flights and the Poly in May. Perhaps the Disney Magic is already working wonders for your family, especially after your last trip. My wish for you is to have the best trip and the most wonderful pictures ever, and don't worry about the kitchen. I will save you and the boys a Dole Whip
Tons and Tons of for your trip and may every moment be magical
Sounds like fun. I love how you casually told your husband that you hadn't thought about going to Disney. My son is also 4 and can't wait to meet Lightning McQueen and Mater. He did seem a tad disappointed that all the other cars wouldn't be there, but I think he'll survive.
About This Page: 
The CiavoFamily's Rockin' Polynesian Birthday Festival ~ PreTrip - The Plans (updated 5/5/07)
) This will be our 6th trip together as a family. Our last one in September 2005 was lovely while we were at the World; we stayed at the cabins in FW, had free dining, finally went to Hoop De Doo and the Campfire, but during the course of driving home we was robbed! We had stopped for the night in NC and were a victim of a smash and grab. 
They took everything including all my videos and photos of our trip and I had such wonderful ones too. 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
]
) and he is the worship leader at our church and has been working on his 2nd album so needless to say the poor guy has been working his fanny off 
He needed a break! I thought he would want to go on some quiet, restful vacation at the shore or something and was shocked when back in March he brought up Disney. We were lounging about and a Southwest "You are now free to roam around the country" commercial came on with $49 fares. Lou made the comment, "Let's go to Disney this year, what do you think?" Immediately all these thoughts ran through my brain, "Is he serious? I'd better not overreact. I need a new kitchen and laundry room, should I respond sensibly or follow my passion. I miss Disney and really, is the kitchen that bad? Isn't that what duct tape is for? Can he really rest at Disney when I'm such a commando? I can resist the commando mode, I can, really. Be casual Karen." So I said, "Hmm, well, I really hadn't thought about it honey. I suppose we could go." It just so happened to be the last night for the promotion and when I pointed that out Lou thought I'd better go book the flight right away. So I did 
Not the worst mistake to make. 
We had stayed at the villas before and they were nice. We were content. Then Disney released the travel in May code so I had that applied, but it wasn't coming up for the Poly. On day 45 when we had to pay our balance I asked my agent just for the heck of it to try the Poly one last time, and it came up as available with the May code 
Lou loves Universal and I love Front of the Line Access so we changed our ressies to May 22 - May 28 at the Poly with the dining plan and park hoppers and May 28 - May 30 at the Hard Rock.
Ben
is already working wonders for your family, especially after your last trip. My wish for you is to have the best trip and the most wonderful pictures ever, and don't worry about the kitchen. I will save you and the boys a Dole Whip
Hybrid Mode
