Disney Trip Report

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We flew in on the 13th EARLY and flew out on the 19th LATE. We stayed 2 nights in a SV studio at AKL Kidani and 4 nights at SV Studio at Poly. 

Hotels: 

Both were great! Seriously, the service I received this trip was ABOVE and beyond my expectations. AKL studio sleeps 4, the room was a decent size, everything was clean and well themed ( even the lace curtains had Simba and Pumba hidden IN THE LACE). This room had an AWESOME wardrobe that was great for keeping organized and stashing suitcases. We were greeted at AKL with a safari hat and coloring book for DS and someone went around the lobby and gave all the kids hats. They had free water in the lobby (infused with cranberries and cinnamon) which was a nice touch. The view from our SV room was of the ME pick up and drop off. Not very noisy at all since we were on the top floor. 

AKL studio sleeps 4, the room was a decent size, everything was clean and well themed ( even the lace curtains had Simba and Pumba hidden IN THE LACE). This room had an AWESOME wardrobe that was great for keeping organized and stashing suitcases. We were greeted at AKL with a safari hat and coloring book for DS and someone went around the lobby and gave all the kids hats. They had free water in the lobby (infused with cranberries and cinnamon) which was a nice touch. The view from our SV room was of the ME pick up and drop off. Not very noisy at all since we were on the top floor. 

We saw lots of animals on the savanna from the general viewing areas and really liked relaxing out there. We stopped by the " bonfire" for a few minutes too. The pool at Kidani is just so awesome and WARM and the slide is fun for kids. DS didn't love the splash pad here as it seemed to be too far away from the main pool and wasn't busy. It was pretty cold when we went swimming here though. Buses were good and I had no issues. We travelled to and from AK and MK from here. 

Poly is GORGEOUS. They have done an amazing job on the lobby and common areas of this resort. I loved the pool, and the pool bar, and the pineapple lanai. We were greated with Leis and are room was ready very early. We spent 2.5 days at the pools and splash pads and it was great. The sandy beach was fun for DS to build sandcastles on. The QS here was better than the one at AKL ( AKL was fine, I just liked Captain Cooks better. The Mara at AKL just kinda " feels" like your in a basement.) and had a good selection. Also the theme of Captain Cook's is " brighter". 

The DVC rooms are big and spacious. Not much storage, BUT there is a closet, a large " suitcase" area a trunk and two drawers under the queen sized bed. Also there are drawers or shelves in both bathrooms. Having 2 bathrooms wasn't as " AWESOME" as I thought because you still only have on toilet and it is a walk from Grand Ceremonial House to your long house and the long houses don't have a lobby with a public bathroom so yeah..... 

You are VERY close to the Grand Floridian here and there is a walking path. I never realized how CLOSE together those two resorts are. You can also walk to TTC VERY easily from the DVC studios. It's nice to be able to access BOTH monorail lines without switching and have a variety of ways to get to MK ( Big Boat, Small boat, Monorail)

We watched Wishes one night from the Beach and it was awesome.

Edited to add that someone gave out FRESH BAKED COOKIES in the lobby of the Poly at 3pm. WTAF??? That is an amazing little bit of pixie dust. YUM

My only 2 complaints about Poly 

#1 My room was straight up construction view ( quiet pool). I called and visited the front desk to ask to switch and they were unable to switch me. Honestly it really wasn't an issue but it made the balcony kind of unusable. It didn't effect my stay too much and the construction was NOT noisy at ALL somehow ( I swear they hired silent construction workers) Honestly my son was SUPER PSYCHED about it and kept looking out of the window saying " Thanks for getting the construction view Mom" " It's like Goodnight Goodnight Construction site is RIGHT THERE" so it was kind of adorable. 
#2 There isn't a " Community Hall" for DVC like there is at OKW or BLT. I don't think there is one at AKL either actually. I like to use those spaces to unwind before we leave on ME and watch some movies, color and play games together. 

I am going to post this now and will come back to talk about parks, dining, crowds, FP plus and meeting @this .  


 

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Parks -

We visited every park ( besides water) at least once.

Ak - We visited twice, but for very short time frames. The first day we were there we visited for like 2 hours. DS played in the playground and went on Triceratops Twirl. My Mom got a spicy chicken and waffle sandwich and DS and I split a Mickey Premium.
We also visited again the next afternoon. We went back to the playground and Triceratops twirl and I did Everest 3 times in a row and got a Margarita.

MK- I think I entered this park at least 5 if not 6 times. We were FAMILY OF THE FREAKIN DAY on 1/14/16 which was awesome and awful at the same time because DS was scared to death and cried. If I am a meme someone let me know okay? We rode almost everything. DS became OBSESSED with BTMRR this trip and rode 9 TIMES.
I got to ride Space Mountain Twice and we did 7 Dwarves, Splash, Peter Pan,. HM , Dumbo, Barnstormer, It's a Small World, Carousel, Tommorowland Race Cars, TTA, Carousel of Progress, Buzz, etc etc.

Epcot- We did Epcot twice. The first time was a rainy morning and we got a late start but with FP plus and Soarin being down we did all we wanted to in Future World by 3pm. Also I got us a fly by the seat of your pants dining reservation for Garden Grill from INSIDE SPACESHIP EARTH!! WOW!! The second time just DS and I went to World Showcase. We rode Mexico Donald, Did a P&F Adventure and played by the train station in Germany. I had a Margarita and we had treats from the caramel shop as well.

HS- We only spent one afternoon here, but were able to accomplish everything " on our list" between 12-6:30 WITH fp PLUS. We didn't do the whole park though, just the stuff we were interested in. DS was so proud of himself for riding TOT.

[Deleted]

Sounds like a great trip! It makes me long for the days when my kids are old enough to do coasters. What is HS like now that the hat is gone?

[bcarp30]

How fun!! That's awesome you were family of the day, I've always wanted to be picked!!

[ilikedonuts]

All the reports make me want to stay at poly soon! I have to figure out our point situation for the next few years.

[lishie]

Jan 21, 2016 12:12:22 GMT -5 @savestheday said:

k and two drawers under the queen sized bed. Also there are drawers or shelves in both b
#2 There isn't a " Community Hall" for DVC like there is at OKW or BLT. I don't think there is one at AKL either actually. I like to use those spaces to unwind before we leave on ME and watch some movies, color and play games together. 

I am going to post this now and will come back to talk about parks, dining, crowds, FP plus and meeting @this .  


 

Sounds like you had a great trip!

AKL does have a community hall. We used it on our last day while killing time before going to the airport. I'm amazed Poly doesn't have one.  We're checking into boardwalk villas today. So happy we're flying out before the snowstorm.

[kittycatlove]

I'm a bad Disney person (to be fair my obsession is only a couple years old) and didn't know what the Family of the Day was. I just googled and that looks awesome.

As a side note, one of the blogs I was reading about their experience as the family of the day I realized I went to high school with the dad, LOL.

[Deleted]

Jan 21, 2016 14:00:46 GMT -5 @starry said:

How tall is your son? What is family of the day?

Charlie is 42.5 inches tall. He is a big guy. 

Family of the Day is the family that gets to open MK up on top of the train station with Mickey and the Mayor of Main St. USA. So basically I was living every Disney Dorks DREAM while my kid was scared to death. But the show must go on right? 

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Jan 21, 2016 13:31:13 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Sounds like a great trip! It makes me long for the days when my kids are old enough to do coasters. What is HS like now that the hat is gone?

There is just a " cleaner" look to the park, and a lot more SPACE to move around there. I really don't miss that hat AT ALL.

[Deleted]

Jan 21, 2016 14:16:51 GMT -5 lishie said:

Jan 21, 2016 12:12:22 GMT -5 @savestheday said:

k and two drawers under the queen sized bed. Also there are drawers or shelves in both b
#2 There isn't a " Community Hall" for DVC like there is at OKW or BLT. I don't think there is one at AKL either actually. I like to use those spaces to unwind before we leave on ME and watch some movies, color and play games together. 

I am going to post this now and will come back to talk about parks, dining, crowds, FP plus and meeting @this .  


 

Sounds like you had a great trip!

AKL does have a community hall. We used it on our last day while killing time before going to the airport. I'm amazed Poly doesn't have one.  We're checking into boardwalk villas today. So happy we're flying out before the snowstorm. 

Huh? I guess I never noticed because I have only stayed at AKL at the beginning of our trip and not the end

[Deleted]

Jan 21, 2016 13:33:46 GMT -5 @bigreddog said:

Sounds fun! And that's incredible you were chosen as Family of the Day! Do they just choose one family? How do you get picked for that?

We were there really early ( like an hour before 8am rope drop.) I walked through security and was asking my Mom if she wanted to line up or watch the show from the middle of the area ( to get a better view) and then BAM " the plaids" aka managers approached me and asked. 

It was surreal. 

[curbsideprophet]

Glad you had a good trip!

[stephm0188]

OOOOOMG. I want to be FOTD SO FREAKING BADLY. We've managed to do it at both waterparks but have been unsuccessful at MK. That's awesome you were picked!

[lishie]

Jan 21, 2016 14:54:57 GMT -5 @savestheday said:

Huh? I guess I never noticed because I have only stayed at AKL at the beginning of our trip and not the end

It's on the main floor, right near the laundry room and arcade.

[cincodemayo]

Thanks for the report! We leave in 5 days!

[underwaterrhymes]

I'm dying at, "thanks for getting the construction room, mom!" LOL.

[bronxgirl]

That sounds awesome! Post some pictures.

[turkletsmom]

OMG-- This makes me want to request a construction view! LOL. Too cute! We leave next week and I can't waittttttt!!!