Oh Lord, what's Eddie gonna do? He went to Disney and Universal too! Updated! 1/19/10

[disneyfan67]

OK folks, it Eddie here and I'm going to give the mother of all trip reports. This report will include two quick days at WDW and 5 at Universal Orlando onsite. This report will include detailed pictures and a few Flip videos I took. On a side note:I found doing a flashy or humorous TR title either adds to the excitement or prepares you for a big let down. Either way, there's no turning back. Over the next few days I'll be adding content daily, I promise. I won't let this trip report die a slow painful death like my other one did two years ago. So here we go.


The run down: You got me, my wife and my twin sons age 11, who are both special needs children and make any vacation an experience all its own.

OK lets get this boat moving

After surviving the worst Chicagoland winter since the ice age, I was beyond burnt out. By early February I was in full planning mode and locked on to doing a Universal only trip with one or two days at Sea world. Since I won my free Universal Superbowl commercial ticket, I had to use it, right? I wanted an affordable trip and I only got to do Universal for two very short days back in August 2007. I also figured I had enough of Disney for awhile. I picked my week when I wanted to do it which was the first week of May and the trip would fall on my birthday. I found some pretty sweet, nonstop airfare on Priceline and had everything locked in. Now all I had to do was pick the choice of the 3 Universal hotels I had at my disposal.

I wanted Portofino Bay but my family really had their heart set on Hard Rock. So I booked the HRH for 6 nights and one night at the Hyatt inside MCO airport. I had an early flight home and truthfully, I always wanted to stay there. All done I thought, right? Wrong! As the weeks went by I started changing my plans and thought about doing WDW for a day because I knew I would miss it. As I looked in taking a car over there for a day and it just seemed like a hassle. So we decided to do WDW for 1 day/two nights and move over to the HRH. Easier said than done though and this affordable vacation was starting to grow more expensive by the moment.


My wife and I started going crazy trying too think were we wanted to stay at WDW and since we always stay at the Poly on our previous trips, we wanted to do something different. Lets just say it was becoming work trying to plan this vacation.......

 

[disneyfan67]

I made 2 night ressie at the Caribbean beach resort with a 1 day MYW base ticket. On Sunday, May 3rd MK was going to open until 2am, so I figured it would be my best bet. I could go in the mid morning and leave around 3 ish or so and head back to the resort for a break. Then after a swim and a nap we could go back to MK and close the joint. Well the plan was good, but the resort wasn't just what we wanted. To make this short, I changed my mind a least 6 times and I was getting tired of it. I had waited so long to make a change that a lot of things were booked up, including the standard rooms at the Poly. Finally I screamed, enough! Serenity now! (Seinfeld reference) I called my AAA agent and was able to get a garden view room but it was club level. I didn't want to spend the extra money, but my family and I have some special memories there and what the heck it was my birthday and I deserved it. At least I wasn't paying a Disney rack rate.


With that all set and since I spent more than I was originally, I wanted scale down my other choices. I did originally book a deluxe room at the HRH with the super saver rate of $238 a night. As time went on I started rethinking my choice on that. I had my heart set on the Portofino, but I picked the HRH because of the location. My wife had a good point and said, why don't we stick with the tropical theme on this trip and go with the RPR instead? Plus it was cheaper. I started a thread on these boards and you kind folks helped me make the change. I switched to the RPR at a super saver rate of $151 a night for a standard view room and finally was done with the changes!

Here was the final plan. Fly out on May 2nd and stay at the Polynesian until the 4th. Switch over to the RPR around 2pm and stay until Friday the 8th. Get picked up around 7pm and move over to the Hyatt inside the Orlando airport due to an early departure Saturday morning. I didn't lose on the price and got an AAA rate at the Hyatt for $153 a night, so everything worked out good.

Next up. Vacation day finally arrives!

 

[Metro West]

Great so far....looking forward to more!

 

[disneyfan67]

I picked a midafternoon flight because no matter how much we plan in advance in our household, my family and I are about as organised and calm as a fart in a tornado. Both my dogs made it to the kennel on time, but of course what trip to the kennel isn't complete without making a mess in the car? Got the car cleaned up in a nick of time as this was the mode of transportation to the airport. My friend stopped by to ride with us and then drive my car back to our house. After getting packed and loaded, we were finally off the O'Hare airport and for once the traffic wasn't a bear. Got unloaded and the curbside skycap at American airlines made going through the airport a breeze. Going through security sucked, but doesn't it always? Once we got into the secured area we went looking for a light lunch as we had about 90 minutes to kill. The airport had a "Chilli's Too" as it was called and the menu was way smaller than a normal Chili's, but it got the job done. My one son decided this would be the perfect spot to have our first vacation mini melt down. He wanted McDonald's and I hate eating that crap and it upsets my stomach along with everyone else. After about 10 minutes of dealing with it, the storm passed, but I knew it wouldn't be the last. Oh, well that's a day in the life of special needs children and their parents.

Here's a picture my one son decided he was going to take. Here is a shot of me and my other son waiting inside O'Hare. BTW, I'm not great at getting my picture taken.

My wife got in the act as well. We always seem to fly with our Mickey Hawaiian shirts, I notice.

The flight only was 2 hours, but time seemed to stand still. Finally we made it!


Next up. Check in at the Poly and our highs and lows that first night.

 

[Darcy03231]

Great report so far. Keep it coming!

 

[tlinus]

Great report so far!!!

Can't wait to read more

 

[ky07]

Great report can't wait to hear more

 

[disneyfan67]

I really can't complain about the flight, even though flying nowadays has become a major pain the you know what. The plane wasn't that full, but my family, me included, were chomping at the bit to get settled in at the Polynesian. My one son Sam, who is autistic and has a limited vocabulary can get locked on a subject and won't let it go. He was fixated on getting to the Volcano pool at the Poly and I would have to say he mentioned the same phrase at least 30 times in two hours. I have learned to communicate with him in a special kind of way that probably sounds funny to outsiders, but it's something that works. He cracks me up at times with his unique view on life and I can only imagine what goes through his head. I do love him dearly as I do my other son, Dean. They both are truly different children with problems and difficulties all their own and they make for a unique parenting challenge, to say the least. We survivors though and somehow we make it work. Sorry for the detour there, but I felt you should know our background because we have to plan the trip around the limitations our kids can sometimes impose on us.


At last we touchdown at 7pm and we're headed toward luggage pick up. This may sound funny to some, but I love the Orlando airport on arrival day and hate it when it's time to leave. I love the feeling that comes with the beginning of the vacation and the knowledge that we have a whole week of great weather, good times, and that our problems are back in Chicago. We get our luggage with no problems and our trusty limo driver Bob who along with his partner Roger, have made our last two trips and transportation to our resorts, problem free. Those guys are great, Period! Next thing we know we headed down the road and pulling into Disney property. It's always interesting to see what changes happen from what you see on the way to Mouse. Bob gives us me updates on what's new in the area and I'm always full of questions and ready to talk. Just ask anyone who knows me for a long period of time.


We pull up to the Polynesian and as we do, Bob offers to go to the store with a list of stuff we need for our Universal side of the trip, instead of making the stop on the way. I think it's a great idea and he writes everything down, gets our luggage out and we part ways ways until the 4th. Finally we are at the Polynesian and I have to confess and this sounds corny comming from a 42 year old man, this resort is my happy place. I love sights, sounds, and smells the lobby and entrance always seem to have. This building is filled full of WDW history and on of the two original resorts built back in 1971.

This is out by the front and where we were waiting for the bellman to take us to our club level building. Normally you walk into the lobby and check in there, but the club level building (Hawaii longhouse) they take you in a golf/luggage cart, like this below. My wife jumped out and took the picture before we took off.

The driver of the cart is a long time employee and he was giving us the rundown of the resort as they're supposed to do. I told him this was my 4th stay there and I knew my way around resort. He was a chatty guy and nice, but he said something that didn't sit well with me. He informed me that Disney quit heating their Volcano pool now that the warmer weather has arrived. I'm like what??? No one told me this at the time of booking and I certainly didn't see the room rates get any cheaper. Not a good way to start my trip, I said to myself. FYI, I'm not a fan of cutbacks in service, yet an increase in prices. I was told the second pool, AKA "the quiet pool" was heated though. What can you do??

We got to the Hawaii building and here's the signage below.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Really enjoying your Trippie! What a happy-looking family!

 

[disneyfan67]

I'm posting about my experience at the Polynesian on this board for 3 reasons. I want to show the comparisons between this and the Royal Pacific. I want to show the levels of service between the two which was different and important, IMHO. Plus I don't want to make a separate page for all of this because I don't want to lose focus on this report and let it turn into a job or task I dread doing. I will say though and I thought I would never say this in a million years, the Royal Pacific blew the Polynesian out of the water in service, amenities, cleanliness, and overall guest satisfaction. As a die hard lover of the Polynesian and a former staunch defender of it on the Disney resorts board, I am still stunned in the difference in the two and kind of sad. More on that later.


Our check in at the Hawaii building was quick, but the guy behind the desk was someone I had never seen before and truthfully and in my wife's own words, a doofus, (she said worse, but this a family friendly website). The guy was about as warm and welcoming as wallpaper paste. I asked him about the Volcano pool and he confirmed what the bellman said, but dismissed my worries and said it's been pretty hot lately so the water should be fine. I missed some of the employees that I met on my 7 night trip to the Poly 2 years ago and this guy, IMHO, just didn't cut it. Good lord, I knew more about the Poly and could have checked myself in. Loews hotels and their employees from my experience with them, could run circles around that guy. I'm not kidding.

All right enough of that and on the room. Are original plan was to go to Ohana's and eat, but my kids were in "full tilt got to get to the pool crazy mode" and were damn near undressing as we got into our room. I knew taking them to a full service restaurant wasn't going to work, so I changed gears and got them to the pool. I figured we could get some counter service food from Captain's Cooks in the resort and eat by the pool. Here's the room below.

To speed this up and not waste anymore time on Disney, let me say this. The Polynesian still has it's charm, but the cutbacks were evident. The room did show some wear on the walls, furniture, etc. A few things stood out to me. Internet isn't free on club level which I knew, but my room the connection didn't work after several tries, even with help by the front desk crew. When I put my laptop on the desk in the room, I noticed how dusty is was. Honestly, I wasn't looking for dust, but it was clear as day. Secondly, the shower head in the bathroom was partially plugged with hard water deposits and the pipe that held it was caulked in place with all the care of a 10 year old. I noticed it that night after taking a shower to get the chlorine smell of me. The Polynesian used to use a different pool sanitizer and it didn't have that strong chlorine smell. Times change apparently and it was noticeable.

I told the front desk in the morning about my room and they said it would be taken care of, but it never was. Lucky I was only there for another night and there's no way I would have put up with it. I am writing a letter to Disney and it's a work in progress. I should have demanded a room change, but we were already settled in and with my kids, it's a hassle. Never again will I accept this type of service though. Here's the shower head that didn't work in a 500 dollar a night resort.

Here's how I found the sink and it never got fixed either.

On a side note, I'm not a picky person, nor do I look for problems. After staying at the Poly previously 4 times in a row, I know how the place should be. Don't get me wrong, there was some good employees there and I did have a fairly good time, but I will never stay there again for the price I paid. I paid only $151 a night at the Royal Pacific Resort and felt like I got ripped off by Disney. The RPR was smaller room wise, but superior in every other way. I call it the way I see it with and with no bias. I am shocked that as a Disney fan, I'm writing this. Next time when I go back to WDW, I'll book two connecting rooms at a Value resort and have twice the room at half the price. As a long time loyal Disney customer, I deserved better and I won't accept this at the price they charge. Sorry for the mini rant and long post.


Next up my day at MK and our move to Universal and the Royal Pacific.

 

[jewell]

I'm really enjoying your trip report! Looking forward to the rest of it! I've only stayed at Disney's value resorts, and by the look of the room at the Poly, I'm glad I saved my money!

 

[disneyfan67]

I'm really enjoying your trip report! Looking forward to the rest of it! I've only stayed at Disney's value resorts, and by the look of the room at the Poly, I'm glad I saved my money!

The Polynesian is a beautiful resort, fun to tour, and the monorail access is a great feature. It just has gotten way, way too expensive for what you get and Disney is cutting corners in places and I could tell. The Royal Pacific was affordable, clean, beautifully themed, and I was treated well by their staff. The room was smaller, but very nice and cleaned well. I could find a thing wrong with it. I spent time at all 3 Loews resorts on Universal property and the Portofino along with the RPR is now my favorites. Hands down!

I'll go back to WDW and do a spilt stay between them and Universal, but I'll take my car and book two value rooms at Pop or at All Star Movies. This way I'm not flying which I hate and I don't have to rely on WDW bus service which can be a pain the rear as well. The way I look at it is, I'll still come out ahead and then when I'm done at Disney, I'll enjoy the beauty and style of the RPR or the PBR.

 

[tlinus]

Loving the report.

You are not the first Poly fan who has enjoyed RPR better than the Poly.....I am sure (sad to say) you will more than likely not be the last.

more trip report please

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Enjoying your report! Can't wait for more!

 

[wannabeinfl]

Loving your report and your family! Ready for more..

 

[Bluer101]

Great trip report so far, I want more!

 

[disneyfan67]

We got up a little late due to the fact that we had moved over to the quiet pool which was heated, unlike the volcano pool. It was warm, relaxing, and very quiet. The problems of check in and the overall stress of the day seemed to melt away. Unfortunately we stayed up a little late and overslept. We had a 9:30 am ressie for Kona cafe inside the Polynesian. For those of you not familiar with the Kona cafe they have great food for breakfast including their famous Tonga toast. Breakfast for the most part went off without a hitch and we proceeded to the monorail platform and on to MK.

I love riding the monorail and still think it's cool. It was a pretty big crowd that day and the station was packed and it was only 10:15 in the morning.

As I thought it would be, it was standing room only, but I didn't mind giving up my seat to any of the women who didn't have one. It always cracks me up when I see elderly people or women with children looking for a seat, while young guys are sitting and pretend to look at floor like no one notices them. It just doesn't feel right to me and as long as I have two working legs, I'm going to stand. Sorry for the public service announcement.


Finally we arrived at MK and got through the bag search. We stopped by City hall to get a GAC (guest assistance card) which helps out greatly with the wait times on the rides for my sons. My one son who is autistic just has a hard time getting through the long wait times and while the card isn't a super fastpass, it does help out greatly. Thank you Disney for that. We had a pretty good morning and we always follow our standard routine which is board the train at Main Street, ride it through a complete loop back to Main Street station. Then we get out walk down MS and start clockwise through the hub and enter through Adventureland first. It seems to work for us.

Here's MK above at 10:30 in the morning.

We did all the favorites and I was finally able to talk my wife into riding BTMR and believe it or not, she liked it. She's a chicken when it comes to thrill rides and we have had many discussions about this over the years. I was proud of her for giving it a try. We stopped at Pecos Bill's for a light lunch and to cool off. For a economy that supposed to be bad, we had a hard time finding a seat any where. We stayed around til 3pm and saw the new Celebrate parade, which I have to say was lame, IMHO. Honestly, it was 15 minutes of my life I want back. Brrr.... I get the shivers just thinking about it.

We headed back to the Poly so we could swim and take a much needed break because we had 8pm dinner ressies at Crystal palace and it was EMH night as well. The 90 degree weather definitely helped the water at the Volcano pool and it was a good day for swimming. Finally the Poly started feeling like the place I remembered.

Next up our last Character meal in MK ever and the move to the dark side. Royal Pacific, here we come!

 

[wen8jr]

Awesome trip report!!! Looking forward to hearing more!

 

[jcc0621]

I found your TR today. I'm really enjoying it!

AFter looking at your pics, I'm glad I never splurged on the Poly. We are staying at Pop (for the 3rd time in August) and we have never had any problems there.

I can't wait to here about RPR. We are going there after our Pop stay!

 

[disneyfan67]

We had a great day swimming and the Poly does offer a fantastic view from the pool and great time can be had.

Afterwards we took a little nap because it was extra magic hours and we wanted to take full advantage of our day at MK. After getting cleaned up and on our way we were at MK by 7pm or so and our ressie was for 8:15 at CP (Crystal Palace).

We had never ate there before and this was the only remaining table service place we hadn't tried. I'm not a fan of charcter meals and my kids getting a little old for it, but my wife had talked about eating there for sometime, so I booked it 2 months ago. I really didn't know what to expect, but it was in MK, I didn't have travel anywhere and Wishes would be starting soon after dinner was done. We had ridden every ride that was open to us during the day and my plan was after dinner and wishes, we would hit our favorites and walk around. MK does take on whole new look at night.

We got to CP 20 minutes before our ressie as was told by the dining reservation operator and I didn't realise thee was a check in window outside until I got there. The line was huge and the person behind the desk told me upon check in that we probably wouldn't get seated until 20 minutes past scheduled our reservation time. I wasn't told that when I booked it, but you got to go with the flow and wait. You are told not to leave the waiting area on the porch because you could get called at anytime. Here's the view from the porch of CP.

Man, you should have seen the cranky, hungry kids, along with their parents waiting in that line. My two boys were chomping at the bit and I was getting tired of the wait. I had got there early than normal and was regretting doing so. I bet I waited a total of 45 minutes before I got inside and the waiting line at the check in window was long.

Here's us waiting on the porch area.

We finally got seated and were beyond thirsty and hungry, but I saw they had decorated the table in honor of my birthday. Now I'm going to post a picture, but I need all of you to take a deep breath and try to contain your excitement at the vast amount of decorating that was done.

We had a guy named Kip from Australia who was our server and he was quite the charcter himself. He explained all the foods that were available to us and got our drink order. I have to be honest here. CP is a nice place inside, but nothing super fancy and the food is OK in some spots, but not worth the hype, IMHO. The characters do come around on a set pattern and you do get plenty of time take pictures with them, but to each their own I guess. It's nothing I would ever do gain and found it not worth the money. It's very expensive and I don't know how a regular family affords it. This was our big meal for this portion of the trip and while had a good time, there was a case of buyers remorse afterwards. FYI, we don't have credit cards and work off a cash/debit card basis in my house. So we save in advance for the big items we want to do and it makes a difference in the spending. So when something doesn't measure up, you feel it immediately. There's no credit card card to put it on and forget about it. Anyways here's some pictures.

My kids didn't like a lot of what was offered and some of the food choices were either very strange to us or not just not that good. My kids ate like birds and while we enjoyed the atmosphere of CP. it's just not worth the $152 dollars for a family of 4 including the 18% gratuity automatically added on. Never again and lesson learned!

I could have paid for another night at the RPR for what I paid for that meal. Oh well, time for Wishes and riding some more of our favorites.