Thursday, September 30, 2010

disney’s polynesian resort

Our favorite hotel – no question about it. It is indeed over the top expensive, but there are ways around that. We had a PIN code for this trip. (Sign up for Disney’s emails, etc., and they occasionally email or snail mail discount codes. Forty percent off rack rate? Yeah baby.) How do I love thee, Polynesian? Let me count the ways.

It’s a tropical paradise, truly. I know it’s in Florida and by definition, a tropical paradise, but the Poly is beautifully themed. If you have never stayed at a Disney-owned hotel, trust me, it is worth the price. The magic never ends, as they say.* The lobby is breathtaking. Click to enlarge this photo to see my kids downstairs – we were upstairs. And that, folks, is the magic of having older kids with cell phones. This was the first vacation that didn’t leave me in constant fear of abduction.

kids in poly lobby

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The boy at the top of the volcano pool slide:

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And at the bottom:

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I picked up a hot guy at the pool. It’s Florida; it happens.

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In addition to the hotel’s theme, I can highly recommend the Poly because of its location, the fact that it’s on the monorail loop and because the rooms are huge, relatively speaking. We spend the vast majority of our Disney time at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. The monorail runs right up to the Great Ceremonial House (hotel’s main building) and provides unmatched ease of access to MK. (I know there is a walking path from the Contemporary to MK, but in my opinion, the Contemporary can’t compare to the Poly.) We stayed in the Tahiti building and I highly recommend it. We have stayed there before and couldn’t be happier with the location. It’s far enough away from the luau and the volcano pool to avoid the noise associated with both, but very convenient to everything. It is also quite close to the Ticket and Transportation Center, which has a direct monorail to Epcot. Awesome.

From the Poly’s beaches, you can watch the Electrical Water Pageant and (even better) the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom. White sand beaches, hammocks, palm trees AND fireworks? A little taste of heaven on earth.

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*If I had to choose between staying off-site and staying home, obviously I would be happy to hold up at the Kissimmee Motel or some such place. But if you can, stay on Disney property.

Friday, September 24, 2010

this moment

Participating in Amanda’s this moment project:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual - capturing a moment from the week.

At Epcot:

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

what a thrill

The boys likes thrill rides now.

I can do this one. It’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. (Get a Fastpass if the line is too long. Or go in September, when the line is awesome.)

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I love this one. It’s Expedition Everest. It is lovely in the early morning light, especially when the stand-by line is 5 minutes. All. Morning.

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I tried to convince my husband to let me decorate the house with Tibetan prayer flags (and somehow not insult my beliefs or theirs in the process). I don’t think he’s buying it. But they are gorgeous, no?

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Monday, September 20, 2010

septemberish words

I am late in posting some September links, but here you go. Get ‘em while they’re hot.

Palmetto Parent:

If you live in the Upstate of South Carolina, I also have a local breast-feeding story, a preview of the new Spartanburg Day School and another column running. It’s behind a pay wall online – sorry about that.

In WNC Parent, you can read my take on the New York Magazine story about why parents hate parenting.

and we’re back…

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A wonderful time was had by all. Photos – lots of them – to come.

Friday, September 3, 2010

this moment

Participating in Amanda’s this moment project:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual - capturing a moment from the week.

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(A few more favorites are in the post below.)

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

beauty

Today I went to a very beautiful place.

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I may or may not have taken 307 photos.