Our 2011 trip was unlike any other trip we had taken. It was the first time in a long time it was just the 3 of us. It was also my first time in October and my first time during the Food and Wine Festival. So much happened on this trip it has taken me months to sort it all out and this is my report of that visit. This was also a special trip to be there when my wife, Disney World and the Polynesian all turned 40 on the same day. 

Live from the Polynesian. Well I am not at the Polynesian now but when I started to post this I was and I wrote my observations live with some details and photos added once I got home. Sometimes I feel different about things once I get home and time goes by but this report will let you know how I felt as it was happening.

 

This was the second Mancation trip for me and was going to be even better then the first because this time I knew the guys and knew what I was in for. Also I knew I would not lose as many balls on the course this time...hopefully.

Well this was my first time I had been to Disney World 3 times in 10 months. Each of the trips were a new experience. The December trip was my first time there with the Christmas stuff up, first time going to Mousefest and the first time I froze while in Florida. My trip in May was my first time being part of the guys golf trip to Disney World called Mancation.  

 

The first week of May 2007 I went on an all guys golf trip to Disney World. The group was made up of 3 Disney Imagineers, friends of theirs and me. I met one of the imagineers at the Polynesian in 2004 after he contacted me through my site for his first trip to the Polynesian with his family. We happened to be staying there the same time and met while there.

This was our first trip to WDW during the winter and was our son Kai’s (22 months old) first trip to WDW. He is a good traveler having been to Maui twice, Michigan and Disneyland (at 5 months old). Each trip to WDW we try a different resort at the beginning to experience other resorts. I have stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge twice (standard room and one bedroom suite concierge), The Yacht Club and the Dolphin. I have been inside the Grand Floridian and Wilderness lodge rooms and prefer not to stay at either (just a personal feeling but very nice resorts). I will be trying the Boardwalk in May. On this trip we booked the Swan.

I got a call from my Disney friend who was out in Florida to pack up Lucky the Dinosaur to ship to Hong Kong Disney. He wanted to see if I would come on out and spend a few days in Disney World. I had to pay for the trip but the idea was to spend some time with my friend while he was not working. I thought it would be a good chance to get to see the new room design at the Polynesian since they were about to open up the new rooms. This would be my first “research” trip without the family.

Our annual trip to Disney World was starting to become bi-annual. In 2003 we purchased a new timeshare in Maui so it looks like the trend is going to be every other year in Disney World but we still make it to Disneyland here in California in the off years. This time we are taking along a friend who has never been to Disney World and that is always fun to get someone who has no idea what to expect. We also met our very good friends the Robb's this trip. This was also the trip Tara was about 2 months pregnant. 

This trip was special for many reasons. It was our first anniversary and our first time staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We has visited the lodge the year before after it opened and ate at Jiko. We really wanted to stay there so we booked our anniversary to be a split stay with the Polynesian. It was also special for us because my Mom and Aunt would be joining us later in the trip. My Aunt was battling cancer and wanted to get back to Disney World and as we suspected it was her last trip. It made our anniversary special to enjoy it with my Mother and Aunt.

This would be Tara's second time back to Disney World and after a great first trip and engagement it was going to be hard to beat her first impression.

We were very excited to get to Disney World and I think we were looking forward to this more then the wedding. We went right from the reception to the airport. Do not pass GO, do not collect $200....