And all at once, everything was different. Literally. *WDW NYE 2019 TR* Updated 4/11x2*COMPLETE*

[xlsm]

Joining in!

Woof, it doesn't get rougher than that! I'm sorry you had so many travel issues. Seeing that WDW sign must have been like hearing angels sing!!

It was like all of my worst travel nightmares rolled into one, LOL!! I'm always excited to see the sign, but yes, this time it felt like a miracle!!

Always great to see a new xlsm trip report!

Welcome aboard!!

Yay, a new TR! Sorry about the stressful travel day, that is always a nightmare!

I can’t believe how unhelpful the airport staff were, yikes!

Wow, crazy uber driver, glad you all made it!

It was the perfect storm! Matt is usually so calm and understanding, but even he was angry with the airport staff that night!!

The uber driver, omg. All I could think was that the airport would have the dogs out and the smell from her car would cling to us, LOL. Although it wasn't her car that smelled so much as her hair. I mean, at least she had good music playing?? We also told her we needed to go to the south terminal and she turned into the lane for north terminal It didn't make much of a difference, but I just couldn't believe everything that was happening.

I'm here! I'm sorry that y'all had such stressful travel day! I would have been emotionally drained after that. At least y'all got a little sleep before having to be back at the airport. And at least they gave you that. That was nice of them. It does seem to be looking up for y'all. Praying that is the case.

It does get so much better!! Rough start but wonderful trip, thank goodness!!

I was following along, and I couldn't believe it!





I sure hope so! You sure earned all the good luck after that start. Looking forward to hearing about happier times to come

Lots of happier stuff coming The weather was so drastically different than our frozen adventure last year, and I think that helped our attitude once we finally arrived!!

Following along!
Wow! What a crazy arrival. Glad you finally made it!

Hello, hello!!

It was awful! We'll always have a fun story to tell though

 

[xlsm]

I'm planning a wdw trip in July and have been binge-reading trip reports. I somehow started on your first TR and have basically read them all now! So I'm here for the newest one! Sorry that your travel day was so incredibly stressful. It's amazing that there are still jobs where you can get away with slamming doors in customer faces .

I hope you enjoyed the other reports!! We are thinking about going back this summer in June or July - it's hot, but it's so much easier to manage than the holiday trips we've been doing lately. You'll have an awesome time!!

I was so frustrated at the airport, there were so many people on our flight who missed important connections. One girl was trying to get to Boston to catch a flight to Japan for her brother's wedding. I swear at least once a day one of us will say, "I wonder if she ever made it?" We were so glad to find one desk that was open for 24 hours, but I really was shocked they didn't have a better plan in place to help stranded passengers that late at night.

 

[xlsm]

Good morning!! The kids are back at school today, finally. Kind of weird to be a full week into January before sending them back. X has a rearranged schedule b/c of his electives, so I'm hoping nothing crazy happens and he makes it everywhere ok.

I came home from WDW with a cold (luckily it didn't hit until on the way home!), so I've been really dragging the last couple of days, but trying to still get things put back to normal around the house. I've managed most of the laundry, but my house is still Christmasy. I've got a meeting in a couple hours, but hoping to get some of it put away this afternoon.

I thought I'd pop in and do a really short update of our arrival and first day...our dinner for this night will be its own thing.

Chapter Two: Throwing plans out the window. Or into the Pool.

So we had finally arrived at the Polynesian!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/89161658@N04/

I always think the Poly lacks in its Christmas decorations, but today they were the most beautiful things I'd ever seen!!

As soon as we got our bags from under the bus, I went to the check in desk to see if they could do anything about a room for us - we were willing to take anything, we just wanted to shower!!

**a note on our luggage: The night before, one bag had already been sent to Orlando. The other three were held in cold storage at the Atlanta airport. After I walked away from the lost luggage lady and DH took over that conversation, she reassured him that our bags WOULD end up in Orlando at some point on our arrival day, maybe even on our flight. We knew there was nothing we could do about the bag already in Orlando, but we were really anxious about the others. When we boarded the flight to MCO, I got an alert on the Delta app that our bags had been loaded on our plane!! I was so relieved!! Once we landed at MCO, we grabbed them from the carousel and went to check on the fourth bag - they told us it was already at the Polynesian!! We didn't use the yellow tags, so I have no idea how they knew?? Maybe from the regular luggage tag on the suitcase? It was a Disney tag and had our names on it, so maybe they checked it with Disney reservations when no one picked it up the night before?? Whatever it was, I was happy for that bit of Disney magic!**

It was just after 11:00 when we arrived, and the CM at the front desk said they'd make a note to give us the first room that became available. I told her my previous requests (Rarotonga third floor) didn't matter, we just wanted anything. She was sympathetic to our exhaustion, and I felt confident we'd get into a room soon.

DH wanted to go change clothes since we now had our luggage, and while he did that I stopped in to BouTiki and picked up some Potion Purple ears. I swore I wasn't going to buy more ears...oops.

DH came back, and we all decided our first priority was food!! We'd figure everything else out after that.

We paid a visit to Captain Cook's, and I didn't get a single picture of the food I did get a picture of this tiki, though

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I had the Polynesian Salad, L had the pork fried rice, X had the pepperoni flatbread, and DH had the pulled pork nachos. We felt like new people once we'd finished!!

I never get room ready texts for some reason (even though they always take my phone number, and it's already on file anyway) but I do get emails, so as we were leaving I checked to see if we'd been assigned a room. Yes! We had! Our check in CM had come through for us!!

And better yet??

It was 3rd floor Rarotonga, just like I'd wanted!! We had the best room location ever, 3801, right off the elevator and close to EVERYTHING.

Scruffy post-flight excited selfie:

I https://www.flickr.com/photos/89161658@N04/

Some room pics:

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/89161658@N04/

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I know a common complaint is that the Polynesian rooms are starting to look tired and worn, and after my October 2017 trip I'd have agreed, but this room in particular looked great!

We had booked a garden view room, and I have no idea if this room was actually garden view or pool view, but here's what we could see from our balcony:

To the right:

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And to the left, zoomed in a little:

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I had to zoom in, come on! That view of the Grand Floridian is awesome!

We were thrilled to just BE somewhere, and be comfortable!!

Our plans were to spend the day at Epcot, seeing the last Festival of the Holidays day. Sadly, we'd already missed two of our fast passes, and even though I'd been trying to swap them all day the day before while we were stuck in the airport, I had no luck. We made the decision to skip the park altogether and just spend the whole day at the pool.

We have NEVER done this before!!

L and I got our suits on and went down to find chairs, DH came down not long after, and eventually X joined us.

The roaming waiter stopped by and dropped off a menu for us, and we spent the next few hours relaxing!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/89161658@N04/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/89161658@N04/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/89161658@N04/

I had two Pago Pago Painkillers: Myer's Original Dark Rum, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, and Cream of Coconut

I think this was my favorite drink of the trip, I had at least one more during the week.

DH had a Lapu Lapu (minus the pineapple), and a Frosty Pineapple: Pineapple DOLE WHIP® blended with Captain Morgan Private Stock Rum

L had the Lava Smoothie, which was raspberry puree and frozen cream of coconut and pineapple juice. I LOVED this and had my own on our last day.

This was one of the best days ever. It was so nice to sit and relax. I never relax, I am just terrible at it. At home, if I "relax", I'm usually still thinking about everything I SHOULD be doing instead. It was just what we all needed after such a crazy travel day.

That's all for right now!! The next update will be our first dinner of the trip: The new Snow White dinner at Artist Point!!

Have a great Tuesday!!

 

[missangelalexis]

I don't blame you for buying those purple ears, they look sooo pretty!!

I'm glad you got a room so quickly!

You deserved some relaxation at the pool! SOunds like you made the right call skipping Epcot.

 

[TNGirlwCamera]

Ugh what a terrible travel day! Can't wait to read about Artist Point!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Following along! I remember seeing your insta and facebook and just could tell your exhaustion! But a tropical pool always helps!

 

[siestakeys04]

Geez you guys were in the pool? How hot was it weather wise? We are looking at going the week before Christmas and was wondering about the temperature.

 

[xlsm]

I don't blame you for buying those purple ears, they look sooo pretty!!

I'm glad you got a room so quickly!

You deserved some relaxation at the pool! SOunds like you made the right call skipping Epcot.

I just saw a post on Disney Style (I think) this morning that said they're going to have the purple potion spirit jerseys too. I'm going to have to have one to match my ears. They really are pretty, I love them!

It was like a switch was flipped when we finally got on property - things started going right for a change!! Skipping Epcot has a ripple effect on some other days of the trip, but it was definitely the best choice for us on this day.

Ugh what a terrible travel day! Can't wait to read about Artist Point!

Usually I'm terrible at reporting on dining, but I took pictures of eeeeeverything for Artist Point, LOL!! I was proud of myself. Can't say the same for the rest of the meals we had, but for this one, I did a good job

Following along! I remember seeing your insta and facebook and just could tell your exhaustion! But a tropical pool always helps!

I don't even know if there's a word that exists to describe how tired we were. I was also feeling pretty defeated, you know? It was like the hits just kept coming. Thank goodness for Disney magic turning things around!!

Geez you guys were in the pool? How hot was it weather wise? We are looking at going the week before Christmas and was wondering about the temperature.

It was in the low 80s every day we were there, except our departure day, which was in the 60s but sunny and beautiful (but WINDY!!)

Last year on our NYE trip it was freezing and we were in fleece/hats/gloves for the whole trip. In 2016 we did the week before Christmas (12/16 - 23), and we had two record heat days near 90, but the rest of it was low 70s to mid-80s. It's so variable there! We were able to be in the pool every day of our trip this year, the weather was amazing

 

[starousse]

So funny, we were in room 3803 back in August. It was a great location!

 

[MeghanEmily]

I'm here! So excited to hear about your trip! Sorry we couldn't make a Dismeet happen this time, but hopefully next time will work out.

Wow! What a nightmare!! Your travel day was so horrific! I'm so glad to hear that things turned around with your awesome relaxing pool day and perfect room location I almost bought the potion purple ears, too. They're so awesome, but the Disney ones give me a headache. I also almost bought the new SE ears at Epcot with the bubblegum-wall-colored bow, but again, I refrained.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

So sorry your trip didn't start out so well. Hopefully now that you've arrived it will be magical. Having drinks by the pool is definitely something I never do but really should. I never relax at Disney.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

I came home from WDW with a cold (luckily it didn't hit until on the way home!),

Sh ususually does this.

I always think the Poly lacks in its Christmas decorations, but today they were the most beautiful things I'd ever seen!!

It def seems like the Poly has stepped up the hoiday decorations.

Once we landed at MCO, we grabbed them from the carousel and went to check on the fourth bag - they told us it was already at the Polynesian!! We didn't use the yellow tags, so I have no idea how they knew?? Maybe from the regular luggage tag on the suitcase? It was a Disney tag and had our names on it, so maybe they checked it with Disney reservations when no one picked it up the night before?? Whatever it was, I was happy for that bit of Disney magic!**

That really is some Disney Magic!!!!

It was just after 11:00 when we arrived, and the CM at the front desk said they'd make a note to give us the first room that became available. I told her my previous requests (Rarotonga third floor) didn't matter, we just wanted anything. She was sympathetic to our exhaustion, and I felt confident we'd get into a room soon.

Being nice goes a long way, I think.

DH wanted to go change clothes since we now had our luggage, and while he did that I stopped in to BouTiki and picked up some Potion Purple ears. I swore I wasn't going to buy more ears...oops.

Ha! You hadn't even gotten in a park yet. You deserve it after that travel day.

It was 3rd floor Rarotonga, just like I'd wanted!! We had the best room location ever, 3801, right off the elevator and close to EVERYTHING.

Amazing!!!!

I had two Pago Pago Painkillers: Myer's Original Dark Rum, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, and Cream of Coconut

I think this was my favorite drink of the trip, I had at least one more during the week.

Yum!

DH had a Lapu Lapu (minus the pineapple), and a Frosty Pineapple: Pineapple DOLE WHIP® blended with Captain Morgan Private Stock Rum

Wait... I can get a Lapu Lapu just sitting at the pool? Could he get in a pineapple if he had wanted?

At home, if I "relax", I'm usually still thinking about everything I SHOULD be doing instead. It was just what we all needed after such a crazy travel day

I do this too. I hate yoga because of this... All I do is think about the things I could be doing instead of yoga!

That's all for right now!! The next update will be our first dinner of the trip: The new Snow White dinner at Artist Point!!

So glad, your travel woos didn't effect this dinner reservation!

 

[SweetSerenity]

I'm glad everything worked out! Relaxing by the pool sounds perfect.

 

[disneyAndi14]

I’m so glad you got a room ready alert early on after everything you all had been through!

We were on the 3rd floor of Rarotonga in 2017 and loved it, similiar area as you!

The pool looks so relaxing and this is what you all needed!

I love the pulled pork nachos, my favorite at Captain Cooks!

 

[Jenn_28]

I'm here for all of the adventure! I'm so sorry to hear about y'alls rough start but glad to see things are turning around. Those drinks look super yummy and a poolside reset sounds like just what y'all needed at this point in the trip.

 

[phins_jazy]

joining in on the trip report. what an awful travel day! Glad you got to relax poolside. that makes everything better. Can't wait to hear about Artist Point. This is on our list of things to try in October.

 

[Slick519]

Following! We are going to the poly in a month and I’m SO thankful for your information on drinks!

 

[Bama Mom]

Sorry about all the flight troubles. My daughter went on a mission trip to Ukraine and they had a connecting flight in Amsterdam. On the way home, they missed their connecting flight in Amsterdam because their plane from Ukraine was delayed due to weather in Washington State and they was their plane. So even though they got a hotel voucher from the airline, they chose to sleep on the airport floor because by the time they would have caught a bus and got checked in they would have only had a couple hours to "rest".

 

[xlsm]

So funny, we were in room 3803 back in August. It was a great location!

Woo! Poly neighbors...a few months apart, lol. We loved our room location so much!!

I'm here! So excited to hear about your trip! Sorry we couldn't make a Dismeet happen this time, but hopefully next time will work out.

Wow! What a nightmare!! Your travel day was so horrific! I'm so glad to hear that things turned around with your awesome relaxing pool day and perfect room location I almost bought the potion purple ears, too. They're so awesome, but the Disney ones give me a headache. I also almost bought the new SE ears at Epcot with the bubblegum-wall-colored bow, but again, I refrained.

I was sad we couldn't make it work, and that my dumb messenger wouldn't open - it still won't btw, which I don't understand - but yes, next time!

I want to crumple that travel day up and throw it in the garbage!!

Um...so I caved on the bubblegum wall ears, too They might actually be my favorite of all time. Maybe.

So sorry your trip didn't start out so well. Hopefully now that you've arrived it will be magical. Having drinks by the pool is definitely something I never do but really should. I never relax at Disney.

thankfully it became MUCH more magical as the trip progressed!!

I never relaxed at Disney either!! Well, I did on my solo trip, but even then I'd find myself rushing when I had no reason to. This trip was a game changer for me, we spent so much time at the resort and it was a breath of fresh air!

Sh ususually does this.


It def seems like the Poly has stepped up the hoiday decorations.


That really is some Disney Magic!!!!


Being nice goes a long way, I think.


Ha! You hadn't even gotten in a park yet. You deserve it after that travel day.


Amazing!!!!


Yum!


Wait... I can get a Lapu Lapu just sitting at the pool? Could he get in a pineapple if he had wanted?


I do this too. I hate yoga because of this... All I do is think about the things I could be doing instead of yoga!


So glad, your travel woos didn't effect this dinner reservation!

I was so mad to have this dumb cold when I got home!! It just seems to be hanging on, but today I had a lot to do so I fought through it.

They seemed nicer this year, I don't know if it was b/c I was just so happy to be there or what

Yeah, I don't know how that bag got to the Poly ahead of us, but I am so grateful it did. Everything just seemed to work out perfectly as soon as we landed, it was like karma helping us out after such a rough start. LOL, yep, those ears were in my hot little hands before I even left the lobby!!

I was really impressed with the drinks we got at the pool! And yes, you can get the Lapu Lapu in the pineapple!! It's not on the menu, but the waiter told us it was an option. He was going to get it in the pineapple, but they were out and would have had to go inside to Tambu to get one, so he said he was fine without it. It was still tasty in the little plastic cup!!

I'm so glad I'm not alone in always thinking about other things I should be doing!! We should learn to stop doing that, but it's so hard!! I think it's b/c I'm used to being the person everyone relies on, that when I'm not actively doing something I feel guilty. I'm trying to be better about that, and am cutting down on outside responsibilities over the next couple of years.

I'm glad everything worked out! Relaxing by the pool sounds perfect.

It felt so restorative!!

I’m so glad you got a room ready alert early on after everything you all had been through!

We were on the 3rd floor of Rarotonga in 2017 and loved it, similiar area as you!

The pool looks so relaxing and this is what you all needed!

I love the pulled pork nachos, my favorite at Captain Cooks!

I swear that room was a miracle, and the location was perfect!!

Sitting by the pool is so far outside of my norm, but I ended up loving every second of it. I think this trip changed how we'll vacation there forever, honestly.
the nachos are soooo good!! DH ended up with them twice and I never got them!! I was so annoyed with myself. We have a local restaurant that has some almost identical, I might have to go there this weekend (if my sense of taste comes back, I've lost it with this cold I have!)

I'm here for all of the adventure! I'm so sorry to hear about y'alls rough start but glad to see things are turning around. Those drinks look super yummy and a poolside reset sounds like just what y'all needed at this point in the trip.

Welcome!! The pool was just what the doctor ordered!! I'd be lying if I didn't feel some regret about missing the last day of holiday stuff at Epcot, and I know L was sad to miss our fast pass for Mission Space, but overall it was the best thing for us on that day. I feel like the rest of the trip would have been miserable if we didn't take that break right away.

joining in on the trip report. what an awful travel day! Glad you got to relax poolside. that makes everything better. Can't wait to hear about Artist Point. This is on our list of things to try in October.

Welcome aboard!! Artist Point was so fun, I can't wait to share!! The Evil Queen is perfect!!

Following! We are going to the poly in a month and I’m SO thankful for your information on drinks!

Haha!! I'm happy to help inform you about drinks!! We don't usually drink much on vacation, but we tried several this trip. We tried Trader Sam's, too, and found some good ones there as well!!

Sorry about all the flight troubles. My daughter went on a mission trip to Ukraine and they had a connecting flight in Amsterdam. On the way home, they missed their connecting flight in Amsterdam because their plane from Ukraine was delayed due to weather in Washington State and they was their plane. So even though they got a hotel voucher from the airline, they chose to sleep on the airport floor because by the time they would have caught a bus and got checked in they would have only had a couple hours to "rest".

Ugh, that is so frustrating for your daughter!! I was almost to the point of just staying at the airport, but my family would have declared mutiny!! Most of our flights are routine and boring, but when we have problems they seem to be crazy!

 

[suse66]

DH came back, and we all decided our first priority was food!! We'd figure everything else out after that.

You must have been so hungry after your exhausting travel day!

I had the Polynesian Salad

My favourite! Hope you enjoyed it!

The roaming waiter stopped by and dropped off a menu for us, and we spent the next few hours relaxing!

Best. Day. Ever! Glad you were able to relax and enjoy the pool.

That's all for right now!! The next update will be our first dinner of the trip: The new Snow White dinner at Artist Point!!

Looking forward to hearing all about it!