Easter w/ a Teen at the Polynesian About This Page:

[tkd lisa]

Thanks for writing! Looking forward to more. I LOVE world showcase, and I didn't know you could get a pressed penny in Japanese. Did you ever find the machine, because my DD would love it!

[Kelly66]

Yes I did later find the machine with a pressed penny that said Japan. There is a building at the entrance to the World Showcase-I think she called it a pavilion. It is pretty much a gift shop in the middle of the promenade between Mexico and Canada where there is no-'country'. We went inside and found a pressed penny machine that had two that said EPCOT I think and one that said Japan. Mine pressed really well. I didn't look for the machine she said was near the International Gateway.

[Kelly66]

1:55 PM Italy (2:10 – 2:30 –look in the windows of the restaurant and see them making pasta) This was really neat. We looked in the window and the guy was doing some ‘housekeeping’ stuff. He saw us but kept working. We stood there and chatted about the machinery. When some other people came up he started sending the pasta through the extruder. It was really neat. Next plan (look at the gondolas docked at ‘Venice’.) We crossed the bridge and all of Venice was totally empty. We looked in the lagoon, but we didn’t see a gondola. We decided this might be a neat place to watch Illuminations? The gondola was on the other side between ‘Venice’ & Italy. It looked full size to me. There was even a neat little tunnel under the bridge. We headed back toward Italy and tried to admire the Architecture, but we decided that Gothic buildings in miniature were at least an oxymoron and at most hypocritical.
I had gotten the Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom from the Library and loved it so I bought the one for EPCOT. It is not quite as exciting as the MK one, but it does say the Campanile clock-bell tower is built one-fifth the size of the original. It also says the place I am calling ‘Venice is “the Isola del Lago (Isle of the Lake). It has pictures of the interior concepts of the shop designs. But we never got into the store although the plan was to (SHOP-I was interested in getting a purse or a silk scarf).

2:15 Germany (3:00)- The transition between Italy and Germany before you get to the buildings there is a model train village and countryside with a little bridge so you can walk over and through it. Many people were just walking by on the walkway by the lagoon and bypassing it. We stopped to admire it and found the shade enjoyable.
The next plan (window shop-visit Sommerfest (counter service DDP) and get a pretzel, try to peek inside the Biergarten (Table service DDP) to see the waterwheel) My husband said he would go stand in line to get a pretzel and a bratwurst while we shopped.
Inside one of the shops a man was blowing glass and people were watching. Being short, I couldn’t see over the crowd gathered around, but I had seen it before and I admired the beer steins for sale. My daughter could see over the people and she thought it was really neat. We shopped on through and again if you don’t want to look at merchandise, look up there is a neat display –I think they are puppets. There are cuckoo clocks for sale, all with different times so you stand a good chance of seeing one go off.
We went to the Sommerfest to catch up w/ DH and he had a drink a pretzel and Bratwurst (counter service coupon) for us and had bought a bottled water as a snack. On the DDP. The tables were in an overhang and cool in the shade and we could admire the mural on the all while we ate. I loved the pretzel-it wasn’t sweet like some commercially, but very very good. My DD ate al l the bratwurst. My DH went off to find a restroom while we continued to shop.
The crystal displays were incredible!! Several Disney ones and others. Apparently there had at one time been a book store, but we couldn’t find it.
I had heard that if you are going to do wine tasting to do it in Germany. It was seven dollars for white wine tasting, and we wondered about red, but went ahead and did the white. DH paid cash. She took us to a (stand-up) table and gave us a laminated map of the area and told us about the region and where the wine had come from. She poured from the bottle a sample size into a plastic wine glass. She went back to the counter and checked out some people buying merchandise. DH and I both tasted the wine out of the same glass, and we moved to a shorter stand up table so I could see the map. She came back and chatted with us and wiped up the tables and asked if we enjoyed it. She was so pleasant. She described and poured the next wine then went back and helped more customers and cleaned up behind the counter. There was another German woman there working just as efficiently. My DD shopped by herself-but she is 16 and was out of our sight most of the time-we would have had to have something to occupy a little one as this wine tasting was very leisurely. They were so responsive to our needs though, it may have been faster if they saw we had some antsy little ones.
We shopped our way out of Germany past the Nutcrackers and a Christmas store. I had planned an hour for Germany because it sounded so interesting and we spent just that long.
3:15 China (Dragon Legends Acrobats - length of show 20 min) We could see them from the walkway, but the sun was hot and we decided not to stand and watch. There was a crowd watching, but we still could have gotten a place to see if we had chosen. I saw some kind of character looking lonely and no one going over to her so I went over with my autograph book. She was a ‘person’ character so she could talk, and she commented about my autograph book saying dream on the front and how that was the theme this year. This was so nice. We went into the stores and felt more cool. I can’t remember much about the shopping except wondering how the temperature was so cool in there when there were so many huge opened doors.
3:25 Norway (3:45)–We got a fastpass for Maelstrom with a return time of 3:50. On the way to Mexico, DH asked me what I thought the odds were that they would have the purse I wanted in Mexico. I told him it was a magical place and anything could happen.

3:30 Mexico (3:55 Mexico Donald (3 Caballeros) 4:00 Mexico – SHOP!!!!! Try to find the same purse I found several years ago). There was a sign outside saying the ride was closed for refurbishing, but we could go inside and shop. Yipiee!! I was looking around at the stores in the ‘nighttime courtyard’ when my husband told me that another store off to the side had clothes and I should check there for the purse. I went in and went WAY back into the store and there they were hanging on the wall. Since I had my purse with me I compared them. I love this purse because the strap is just the perfect length for me, and it has an exterior side pocket big enough to hold a water bottle and several zipper compartments. My only complaint is that after several years it has become dirty and it is hard to keep clean. My original one was beige and the ones on display were blue and black. I couldn’t decide which color. My husband looked at the price of $38 and said he thought he had remembered it being more expensive. So I asked if I could buy two?....well it doesn’t hurt to ask. He said yes-so I jumped up and down and clapped my hands like a little kid. We asked if we could have it delivered to our resort and they said the system isn’t working today. My DH said that we had just done it in Japan. The cashier said it was just a problem with Mexico. I quickly said I would carry it. I pressed a penny before we went upstairs. We took a look at the displays on our way out of the Mexico Pavilion.
3:52 return to Norway for Maelstrom -a fun ride on a boat –dark and cool. We chose to walk through the theater instead of staying to see the film. We looked in the Stave Church Gallery. There were some great displays. We each read a different one, and would have liked to see more but it began to get crowded, and there was no real indication of which direction to go so people were bumping into each other and it is small inside.
I mentioned to my family that we could catch The British Invasion at 4:30, but no one was interested. I saw the building at the entrance to the World Showcase and went inside to get a pressed penny for Japan. Sure enough the machine was there. DD wanted to go to Innoventions. We stopped to get a bottle of water at a stand and asked the guy to charge it as a snack to the DDP. Then my husband wanted to pay separately for a bottle strap for EPCOT with cash. But the guy charged it as a snack on the DDP too. Well…ok. Off to Innoventions.

[tkd lisa]

I didn't know they had wine tastings in Germany. How many glasses did you get for the $7? I did the one in France, and we got 3 two ounce glasses, but it was white, rose, and red. I think I'd like one that was just white wine, since I don't care for red.

[Colexis Mom]

Sounds like a great time around the WS

[Kelly66]

Sorry my first post was a too big font.-I hope people are still reading. Remember in the above those within parenthesis are my planned times so we finished WS in a shorter time than I expected.
The free picture session for Disney Visa was available form 1-4 PM. It was before 1 when we entered WS and after 4 now so we missed it. I mentioned as we walked that there was an Innoventions West and East. One was video games and the other was the products of the future. My DD decided on the products of the future. Innoventions was empty! We weren’t too terribly thrilled, but it was like a display at the state fair. The restrooms were great, not crowded and clean.
My DH suggested going to Spaceship Earth before we left. It was a long, leisurely walk, but practically a walk on. This ride loads quickly. There were some good changes, but my favorite monk that writes tediously is still there. It was quite pleasant and by 4:30 we were on the way to the monorail to go back to the Poly. Coming up next. The moment many of you have been waiting for…..The Polynesian.
I mentioned the 6:00 torch lighting ceremony, but we were having so much fun doing other things we missed it. We went back to the room and MAGICALLY found our luggage awaited us. The room was beautiful and updated with a flat screen TV that gave a lot of counter room on the dresser. Above it were three little towel animals even with eyes on them, one was an elephant….. There was a chair and an ottoman. Even if you don’t usually sit in it-sit in the chair it has this great lumbar cushy thing! It had a little drum side table thing, but I thought no table until we went to check out and I thought I was opening a drawer, but it was a pull-out table under the counter by the dresser. There was a floor lamp that confused my hubby because the switch was on the floor. Sconces on either side of each bed on a dimmer. Great drapes as usual -room darkening and sheers. Bathroom had the toilet around a corner and no cabinet underneath that went to the floor, but some open shelves under there that went half way down. Two light switches, one with the fan that added a bunch of light and one by the mirrors that was very dim. A fabulous deep bath tub. Notice the pull out string thing that becomes a clothes line-we needed because the bending shower curtain rod is great for showers but not hanging things. My daughter reminded me that there was a full length mirror on the back to the bathroom door. Bath products are great with Mickey soap, and blue shower gel that looks remarkably like the blue shampoo in the shower without your glasses on. If you absolutely have to have more bath products, I found some large sizes for sale at The Fort Wilderness Trading Post.
The closets had ….well an awesome surprise. There was a higher counter area between them with a coffee maker (4 cup) and a mini fridge underneath. On the side of it were some deep narrow shelves and pull out drawers, just enough space for the mini cereal boxes, nutria-grain bars, and breakfast protein bars, and the way too many packages of trail mix that I brought. We decided since this was a luxury trip to unpack. I went to Captain Cooks to get a refillable mug.

Captain Cooks is a 24 hour snack/table service food store. The Grill was opened from (usually 7:00 am) 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM. For this you go to a computer console w/ a touch screen and place your order. Then it prints a receipt and you take it to the cashier where you get a light-up buzzer thing. My food was usually ready right away. 6:30 was usually too late for us to eat Breakfast and get to AK or MK, but one time on the way to another park I noticed a woman waiting eagerly for the computer terminals to allow her to order at around 6:35 AM. They had some great fruit and cheese boxes. I was told I couldn’t charge it as a snack because it along with the sushi and a drink was considered a counter service meal, so we just paid cash! There was a sign/menu that listed what you can get as a snack this included juice, milk, soy milk, water, fruit, many others-I think even ice cream bars.

Sidebar: I brought my own soy milk in juice box type containers. TSA left a note in my luggage saying that they had inspected it. They opened the outer plastic and took one of the boxes and unfolded the box at the bottom….ok. I also had a little cardboard binoculars advertising MT. Dew that I had gotten at a race track, and they opened that too! I must have really confused them. Don’t bother putting things in a neat and orderly way into your suitcase because they won’t come back that way anymore.

Back to Captain Cooks-there are some large refrigerator type things with glass doors where you can get all the refrigerated stuff listed earlier along with a yogurt cup sprinkled w/ Granola. You go through like a buffet and then pay. I asked, and you pay for the refillable mug first and then they cut off a yellow strap and you can use it. There are two ‘dining areas’ inside and one outside. One dining area has the place where you can get refills in your mug-only soda, tea and coffee -NOT milk or juice. It even has a “Mug wash Station” with a wet bar type sink and a high pressure faucet. This is right by the door to go to the outside dining area and can get a little congested. On the other side is a more quiet dining area with bigger tables, booths, pretty things on the wall and a nice view out the window. The outside area is very nice and occasionally I saw a cat –not approaching people, but scattering the many ducks, birds and geese that come to take your left overs. The pretty Mallard ducks are quite unafraid of people-as are the birds. A sign warns against feeding them for their own protection. Some of the outdoor tables allow you to peek through the greenery to see the Volcano swimming pool and hear the joyful noise, but probably not a good perch for keeping an eye on very little ones. However, the Volcano pool does usually have a lifeguard. My husband was unimpressed w/ Captain Cooks as the Polynesian’s only counter service (Outside of Kona Café which operates as a coffee bar in the AM) restaurant, but as a 24 hr. snack shop it is great.
DD napped and I tried to catch up w/ DH at the pool. The Volcano Pool looked tiny to me with lots of people and many many children. The adjoining beach was crowded as well. I walked around once and didn’t see DH so I went off in search of the quiet pool. I found a sign/map of the resort by the Marina behind the volcano pool and made my way over to the quiet pool. It was much bigger. The children there had parents playing in the water with them, and it was very much more conducive to swimming laps, but no DH. I walked back past the concierge building and peeked through the glass of the lobby to see an exquisite view of the castle. However, I thought I could always just go out back and stand on the beach there. I walked around and checked and I could! I found DH with a frozen drink on the beach by the Volcano pool. He had already gone down the slide! He liked it and insisted we go together before I take him to the quiet pool. He didn’t know there was one. By the time we got to it-it wasn’t quite so quiet anymore. There was a pre-teen there blowing some kind of duck lips and more kids. I was surprised DH didn’t want to do laps, but he said it was a little cool. The quiet pool is much more shaded and the sunny spots there less intense. There is a restroom there, and there is a changing area for sure by the Volcano pool with big lockers and a sign that says to ask at the desk if you are a Polynesian guest and you want a locker key. There are small square lockers out back by the marina for non-Poly guests. visiting the marina.
We noticed that even though our second floor room had no balcony, just a big picture window (my daughter said we could open the door but I never did figure out how) some buildings did have balconies on the second floor and most had them on the third floor. With the resort explored, we headed back to get dressed for our 7:30 reservations at ‘Ohana’s.

‘Ohana’s –my husband said he heard that there was 2 hr. wait if you didn’t have reservations. I asked my DH to ask for a table by the window. My DH came back and told me our reservations were for 7:45 not 7:30. Woops-sorry family. I asked if DD and I could go to the gift shop on the same floor and DH said no. Before he got it out of his mouth our beeper lit up and our table was ready! We did get a great seat for 3 right at the window with my seat facing directly out the window. The table was pushed smack up to the window which was fabulous for us since the coconut races and the birthday parade would have otherwise gone right next to our table. The view of the castle was exquisite!! My plan was to be eating when the electrical water pageant came by at 9 PM, but it wasn’t even dark yet. Our waiter took our drink orders and we explained we were on the DDP. I asked for unsweetened Iced tea-even though I have been told previously that in Orlando they don’t do the sweet tea thing. He asked if I wanted lemon and I said yes. The tea was a good strength, not as strong as real southern unsweetened tea. He brought time a whole plate of fabulous lemon slices. I was already in heaven.
Salad was served in a big bowl with dressing already on it. I usually do dressing on the side but this was nice & light. Before we were finished with our salad they brought out some (tortilla-ish) chips with fruity dip, wings and something else. It was all just a blur from there, more and more food, they left the previous course there until they were sure we had finished. There were pork sausages I think, beef kabobs that they brought the skewer to the table and scooped off as much as you wanted. Steak and chicken that I took even though I thought I couldn’t eat it, I was glad I tasted it. I figure in Walt Disney’s World there are no children starving anywhere. My daughter always says that eating all your food doesn’t help starving people elsewhere anyway. We were THANKFUL for our fabulous meal. I asked DH if I could order coffee and pay for it before desert and he said no. However, the aiter asked if we wanted coffee and said it came with the meal. Even DH had some. Desert was bread pudding with sauce I think.
As it got darker, the view of the castle became overpowered by the bright lights that shown on the swimming pool, so I would suggest for a great view getting something as the sun sets. We were done by 8:30 and I went to the Marina dock to catch the water pageant and the family went back to the room to freshen up or change and met me at the bench I was saving right at 9:PM. They missed the music that accompanied the parade as it left the MK, but caught the lights as it went by the GF and the Poly. I knew what was coming and had fun seeing their surprise. The dock had begun to be swarmed with children, and one boy kept speculating aloud about how it was done. It was cute. We then saw the fireworks and I headed to MK (also not an EMH park) which was open until midnight alone and everyone else went back to the room to sleep.
Another sidebar. DH had a cold and had put Nyquil in a ziplock bag. It had spilled all over everything in our food bag. He said that couldn't have happened because it was in a bag and he had made sure it was closed tightly. We speculated that TSA had inspected it. This also happened to my big bottle of expensive hair stuff.
Coming up next. A magical night in the MK.

[JaimeandChad]

Wow, what a great day. Sorry about TSA. My DMIL 'lost' the bottoms to a pair of pajamas. Can't wait for more!

[TroianRae]

WOW!!! Can't wait to read more.

[Kelly66]

Oh wait I almost forgot at 'Ohana's after they brought the wings, they brought warm wet towels to wipe our fingers!!! The service was excellent. Remember in the DDP tips are included, but that didn't keep him from doing everything he could to serve us well-refills-whatever.

[Bellaciavo]

Great report! In fact, I'm changing my ADRs after reading your Ohana report

[saremca]

Great report! I love Ohana.

[snoozin]

Amazing TR! Keep going.

[SouthernBelle]

Kelly,

Great report, I can't wait to read the next installment.

[Kelly66]

you wrote:
I didn't know they had wine tastings in Germany. How many glasses did you get for the $7? I did the one in France, and we got 3 two ounce glasses, but it was white, rose, and red. I think I'd like one that was just white wine, since I don't care for red.

Three 'tastes' in wine glasses for $7.. I don't know 3 oz. sounds about right-it wasn't a full glass of wine but enough for both of us to take a taste and then decide who should finish it.

[Kelly66]

I went back to the room to get my stuff organized so I wouldn’t have to wake up anyone when I came in and then rode the Monorail over to the MK. I love Main Street at night-everything is lit up. I got a coke and used it as a snack on the DDP. I went to Tomorrowland because this is my favorite place at night. I walked in and saw Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. I went pretty quickly through the winding indoor queue. Then I was taken as the very next group into the pre-show area. We stood and watched the overhead TV’s which mostly said to text in your jokes with your cell phone. We went into the theater and saw the show. I loved it! I didn’t remember much about Monsters Inc., but they gave me a synopsis, and I still got a lot out of the show. Obviously several people had been there before because they were trying to manipulate it, but that only added to the fun.
I walked right onto TTA-Tomorrowland Transit Authority. That is also fun at night! But the ride got stuck while I was over Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. I kind of wish they would have little toon villages-Goofy’s Gas station or Pluto’s Dog house or something in the grassy areas of The Indy Speedway. They already have so many people queuing up to ride it-more people would probably want to ride it then. There continued to be announcements telling us of the status of the TTA. Fortunately I had a bottle of water and a coke, a neat view of the inside of a gift shop so I could people watch, and the view of the ins and outs of Space Mountain while we were stuck. Eventually we got underway. When riding the TTA, be sure to listen to the instructions at the point when your car is going toward TTA cars going the other way.
I was just trying to think of things that my family wouldn’t want to do with me, so I decided to go to The Carousel of Progress, which I was surprised was still open. In times past when I have been there-even if it was operating that day-they would shut it down at night. I went on the Carousel of Progress definitely my favorite ride. I think I noticed some changes. One piece of exercise machinery seems to have changed decades. It was a great time and I was singing along, but after those two rides. I was very very relaxed and decided to go on back to the room to get some sleep. I either got back or left Tomorrowland at 11:30 PM. Tomorrow morning would be EPCOT EMH and an opportunity to do the thrill rides there.