[Winston]

Dates: July 12 through July 18, 2002

Travelers: Winston Chapman (27) and his mom (66), both WDW veterans who were back for the first time in many years this past February

Resort: Disney's Polynesian Resort

Celebration: Summer vacation, and a surprise trip for my mom!

Epilogue

So now I'm back in Birmingham. It's quiet, dull, colorless, and boring. But I think almost any place would seem that way to me right now. I wasn't ready to leave - not this time, not last time, and not when I was 10. But it always happens, and I'm never ready or prepared for it. No more palm trees outside my window. No volcano pool that erupts periodically. No monorail. No castle. No Dole Whips. No 999 grim, grinning ghosts. And no Mickey. But all of that is still there, waiting for you and me to come back. So I'm not as depressed as I thought I would be, and I'm already wondering what sort of discount codes might appear on Mousesavers.com in the next few weeks!

I guess this last installment will be ramblings and random thoughts, but I hope my opinions and observations will be helpful to those of you heading to WDW in the coming weeks and months. I've tried to include and organize the information below so that it's easy to read and (hopefully) provides some insight into a few aspects of WDW that I experienced.

E-ride Nights: Do one of these if you can! It was worth the extra money to have the MK practically to ourselves for three hours after regular closing time. We enjoyed the short lines, but it was also a treat to be able to wander around the park and just enjoy the light crowds and cooler temperatures. It was also nice to know that staying at an on-property hotel actually has some perks other than just location and theming.

Disney's Polynesian Resort: It had been many long years since I had last stayed in this hotel, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Since the GF opened in 1988, we never went back to the Poly. If this had been a solo trip, I probably would have done the GF again, but mom has such good memories of our stays at the Poly that I felt we should give it a try, and I'm SO glad we did. The hotel is almost 32 years old, but you wouldn't know it from the condition of our room and the grounds and facilities. The landscaping is fantastic, and the flowers perfume the air throughout the resort. I would request our building (Rarotonga) again because of its proximity to the Great Ceremonial House and it's great landscaping. We had a third floor balcony room facing the quiet pool, and although you could hear the excitement from the volcano pool if you were outside, once the balcony door was closed the room was quiet as a tomb. There was an ice machine and elevator at one end of the hall, and exterior stairwells on both ends. I don't regret getting a standard room for this trip as opposed to a concierge room. As I said in my February trip report, I think concierge is ideal for first-time WDW visitors, folks who want or need help with planning their trip, people who will take advantage of the food, and those who want a prime location within the resort (e.g. GF and CR). Mom did one load of laundry while we were there, and I remembered to bring a small amount of detergent and fabric softener so that we didn't have to buy any from Disney. Overall, our experience at the Poly was really fantastic, and I'd have no hesitations about staying here again. Its location, comfortable and spacious rooms, spectacular theming, and commitment to guest service all make it ideal for a stay at WDW.

Daily Tips for Housekeeping: Per the 2002 Passporter, I left $2 per day in printed tip envelopes for our housekeeper(s). Although I expected nothing in return, we began noticing extra bathroom linens and toiletries by the second day. At one point, I think we had a dozen washcloths and almost that many bath towels, and the soap/shampoo dish was brimming over! If you don't normally tip these folks, I suggest that you do it.

Food and Service: I'm happy to report that we encountered no bad food or service on this trip. There were a couple of places where the menu was fairly ordinary, but the quality of the food was still high, regardless. High honors go to Shula's, Flying Fish, Tony's, California Grill, Narcoossee's, Brown Derby, Le Cellier, Kona Cafe, and San Angel Inn. Again, I can't stress enough how great all of our servers were. Fernando (at San Angel Inn) wasn't quite up there with the rest, but he still did a good job!

Crowds: Obviously, the crowds at the parks were heavier than they were back in February, but we still found them manageable on most days. Fastpass worked well for us, and I think the touring plans in Passporter are worth a try if they fit your schedule and interests. Also, I was shocked at how empty the MK was this past Thursday morning from opening at 9:00am until about 11:00am I loooooove to sleep and getting up early isn't my thing, but it's worth it if you want one or two precious hours of little to no waits at the attractions. Like I said, I rode Peter Pan, Pooh, Snow White, and Small World between 9:00am and 9:15am!

Weather: It was hot and humid every day, with some days being worse than others. Our solution was to spend part of the day in a park and the rest doing other things (e.g. relaxing at the Poly or driving around). Don't be afraid to take a mid-day break for a swim or nap at the hotel if you need to, because the heat can be brutal if you're not accustomed to it (or even if you are). I realize that some folks want to get the most out of their one-day or multi-day passes, but exhaustion, sunburn, and heat stroke aren't worth it. Also, remember to pack lots of loose-fitting and light-colored clothes. Black gets hotter a lot faster than white or red or yellow, and I was amazed at the number of folks running around with black or dark blue t-shirts and tops - too hot for me!. Besides the heat, there was a little rain, but I think we got very lucky. The day we arrived (a Friday), it showered briefly on and off throughout the day, but nothing major. On Saturday afternoon, the sky fell out and it poured for about 30 or 45 minutes with isolated showers into the night. According to a CM, this was the 26th straight day of rain, but it was the last rainy day we had during our trip! Some advice: BRING RAINGEAR WITH YOU! Ponchos, umbrellas, etc. are a must, and you'll pay a high price to purchase them at WDW. It's amazing how many folks don those yellow WDW ponchos (I think they cost $8, maybe more, and this adds up for a large family) when they could have gotten one for $0.99 at Target or Wal-Mart before they left home.

Money: This trip wasn't cheap, and I knew and accepted that fact long before we left. However, the discount code I used at the Poly saved me a total of $666 (including room tax), and we saved around $28 by buying our park passes from a reliable wholesaler rather than directly from WDW. Driving from Birmingham cost about $125 in gas (roundtrip), while flying to Orlando and renting a car would have been much more. Also, I looked for good deals on the simple motels in Kissimmee and Tallahassee (got nightly rates of $42 and $39 on the internet). My AAA membership got us free maps, Triptiks, and TourBooks. I wish we could have saved more on our meals, and I'll probably look further into vouchers, DC discounts, and Amex discounts for the next trip. I really do like eating at nice places, so there may not be much I can do besides adopt more modest eating habits!

Cast Members: For the most part, the CMs we encountered at the restaurants, parks, resorts, and other places were friendly and helpful. I think many of us (myself included) expect the CMs to be bright and cheerful with a big grin on their faces all the time, and this isn't the case. I've found that it sometimes takes a little initiative on my part to brighten up a conversation or encounter. Remember to keep a smile on your own face as much as possible, and speak to the CMs that you pass in the parks or in the hallways or grounds of your resort. I discovered that a simple "hello," handshake, or smile would often have marvelous results.

Passporter 2002: It's worth it's weight in gold, and Dave Marx told me to look for the 2003 edition this coming January. I also used Birnbaum's Walt Disney World without Kids 2001. It's not as good as Passporter but still contains lots of useful information.

Dress Code: Obviously, there isn't much of one at WDW. I wore a dress shirt and sport coat to Shula's but was fairly casual beyond that. Still, I encourage everyone to dress comfortably but neatly. I realize I'm preaching to the choir about this, but some of the folks in the parks have little or no regard for their appearance, and it doesn't matter if they're staying in a suite at the GF or a simple off-property hotel. Keep in mind that WDW is a public place, but not a place for a public display of how gross and nasty you can look. Be sure to pack plenty of common sense and courtesy along with your clothes, camera, and poncho.

Activities Beyond the Parks: Exploring other resorts, the trail ride, my spa treatments, and our pontoon boat cruise were so much fun! There really is a lot to see and do outside the parks. Next trip, I'd like to try parasailing!

Although the tone and overall feel of this trip was different from our February trip, I enjoyed it just as much. As I've said before, I'm not as happy anywhere else, and WDW transforms me into a total kid every time I'm there. A big, heartfelt thanks to all of you for reading and taking interest in this trip report. You helped me plan both of our 2002 trips, and I hope sharing my experiences will help you plan your next trip.

Next Post: Next trip to WDW - Not soon enough!