July 31
Went to Epcot and Test Track shut down just as we got to the ride. We went to Boma with David and Karen that I had been in contact with via email before the trip. It was great to meet them and we all loved Boma. It is a must do when in WDW!! IT was great to finally meet David after we talked quite a bit about the Polynesian and the upcoming trip. In the lounge that night was spring rolls and a pulled pork that I was told was awesome!!
August 1
We went into Epcot in the morning and then over to Magic Kingdom where the park was way too full!!! Never seen it that bad. We headed back over to the Polynesian and the lounge had a great pasta salad (cold) with apple and pineapple and some sort of sweet cream dressing and hot pasta with marinara meat sauce that I could have eaten all night but we were going to the Rose and Crown with the Robb’s. It rained hard just as we got off the monorail at Epcot so we headed over to the Rose and Crown in England to meet up with the Robb’s. We had a beer in the bar and than got seated inside because of the rain. The food was great and the service was slower than any place I have ever eaten but since we had great company and Illuminations was going to be soon it was not a big problem that our food took like an hour. We headed outside to watch from the restaurant and it was the best spot in Epcot. I have never been so close even with the Illuminations Cruise. We had desert and headed back to the Polynesian. I think we were the last to leave Epcot.
August 2
We headed over to World Of Disney for Tara to get her shopping in. When I got back to the Polynesian I finished filming around the resort and headed to the pool where the Robb’s were already at. A little girl was talking to Darby and asked her if she was staying at the Polynesian. Darby said yes and the girl said her and her whole family were staying at another resort and just liked to use the pool. They not only were using the pool but once a few people found out they started to talk about them and glare at them. They soon left and we noticed they took up all the first row of lounge chairs. I have been told some days they have started to check the resort ID’s and I was told a story about a family that was beyond embarrassed when they were asked to leave and others were making comments to them as they were leaving.
I have to tell you that the lifeguards were better than ever this trip. They got people involved in pool games and the ones watching out for safety were very alert. I noticed they paid very close attention and even knew who to watch for. One kid who they noticed was not a good swimmer they watched like hawk and when he went down the slide and was not doing well they went to his father and told him that he will catch his son at the bottom of the slide!
The lounge had sushi and we got a beer from concierge as we sat with the Robb’s and just talked and relaxed. Next thing you know a few people came over to the table and asked if I was Tikiman. The first lady (whose name I wish I could remember and she was a CM at a different resort) was so nice to talk to and while we were talking another lady (Tammy) who also chatted with Sean Robb came over and we talked and met her husband. It was a nice little gathering in the lounge.
We headed for California Grill that night for dinner and the food was excellent but the service was not very good. In fact the food took a while and our server would not even say anything to us since he could tell we were wondering where are food was. Another server actually asked us how we were doing as our server eyeballed us from the corner. The second server actually brought our check and the first guy never returned. I wish I could have left the tip for the second guy.
When we got back we had desert with the Robb’s up at Kona. The coffee from there and the lounge I could drink all day and I am not a regular coffee drinker. Even when it was hot I got coffee and watched the fireworks from the patio. We did see Wishes from inside the park and it was great but way too crowded.
Well the next day we relaxed at the Polynesian and checked out after Tara got her Tonga Toast. We got to see David and Karen at World of Disney before we headed out and we said goodbye to the Robb’s as well as the staff at the Polynesian. We told the Robb’s we would meet up with them at Disneyland and if not, Maui next summer.
I am sorry it is sort of a long read and I hope it does not sound too negative in some areas. I just wanted to report what I saw and was told but my trip was one of the better ones and I am so glad I spend some days mainly hanging out at the Polynesian. I could easily just stay there and not go into the parks. The staff at the Polynesian was better than ever and the new CMs seem to fit right in with the friendly staff.
I did forget to mention one thing. There was an issue with Captain Cook’s. Our last trip we had a very angry and rude CM at at Captain Cook’s. This time a friend of ours had a very rude CM in Captain Cook’s again but at least the manager got involved and did try to make the situation better. So it was a good sign that management is trying to resolve issues.
I also forgot some BIG NEWS!!!!
There are plans to totally redo and rearrange the GCH. They are planning on moving all the stors up to the front along the side across from the Front desk so all the shopping that is down near Captain Cook’s will be up front. That they plan to expand Captain Cook’s across that back wall. I have no idea when this will happen and I am sure there will be some changes in the idea they have but that was what I was told will happen.
Aloha
Steve
