Trudy here. As Nanea mentioned in the first installment of her “Florida Trip”, we’ll be publishing her diary entries with Sarah’s trip photos in the next several issues of The Islandshire Gazette. So, let’s get on with the show and join Benny & Nanea on their “Dream Vacation”! Just click on any photo to enlarge!
After lunch at the Pineapple Lanai, it was check-in time. I should say “dessert” at the Lanai, because we’d brought a special picnic lunch with us that tasted better than anything they could have served here: Grand-Champion Egg Sandwich on King’s Hawaiian Bread. That’s our breakfast of choice back home, but Flossie’s been so happy since we got here that she’s been laying six eggs a day instead of the usual three. She’s such a good chicken! Since we don’t like to waste her special eggs, we thought we’d pack another sandwich before we left GreatGrammy’s house to eat when we got here. Back to the Dole Whip, though. Ooh! I gave it away! Guess you figured out what we had for dessert: PINEAPPLE DOLE WHIP! My most favorite food in the world. And it’s so good for you, too. (Benny just said,”You made that up.” I told him it’s my diary.)
After our delectably delicious Dole Whip, we went to the lobby to check in to our room. Grammy asked me if I was excited. I was getting a little worried about Grammy. She’s been asking the silliest questions today. Like “Aren’t you excited, Nanea?” and “Isn’t it all so beautiful, Nanea?” I just answered “YES!”, to be polite, but Auntie says not to worry, that it’s just Grammy’s way of being happy. Auntie says just being with me on my Dream Vacation makes Grammy happy. And I love to make people happy! Benny says he didn’t think there was anything to worry about, so I’m not worried anymore.
On our way to the lobby, we walked another path that wound through several plants that we don’t have back home. And we saw a Kukui Nut tree! It didn’t have any nuts on it today, but one of my favorite necklaces is made of kukui nuts. They make a wonderful fashion accessory. Some people paint the nuts, and Auntie says she’ll do that for me. I wonder if we could grow one of these trees back home. [Editor’s note: It’s the very tall tree in the background to the right of center.]
Benny was so impressed with the tall stands of old bamboo that he’s going to plant some around our lagoon house. He had to have his picture taken every time we passed one. I’m glad he had on his Hawaiian shirt and lei, or we never would have been able to see him. I like the clacking noise the bamboo tops make when you rustle them around. Maybe Benny could grow some bamboo and make a wind chime for our yard. I’ll have to ask him some time. After we talk about the remodeling. Maybe I could make the wind chimes seem like a good part of the redecorating. I’ll put that on my list. As usual, Benny didn’t say much while we walked around, but I could tell by the gleam in his eyes that he was very happy!
When you approach the lobby from the front door, you pass through what has to be my favorite part of The Polynesian Resort. An amazing little wooden bridge crossing over waterfalls and pools on both sides really tells you your dream just came true. I could have stayed there all day. It was cooler than anywhere else, and the sound of the running waterfalls reminded me of my Ariel doll at home. They should have shown Ariel in a place like this. I held onto Benny’s arm, hoping he’d feel how happy I was. It wouldn’t take much to turn our own yard into an amazing place like this. I asked Benny if he wouldn’t like to live here forever. He didn’t answer but just stood there staring into the little pool under us. Was he looking for pearls? Trying to figure out why people had thrown their old money in the water? Or just enjoying the sounds and smells . . . He didn’t say, but I think he was really happy. I wonder if Omera could get a couple of those red bromeliads for us. Grammy said that the rainwater sits in the little flower cups and that’s how the plant gets a drink. I hope the pictures turn out, just so that I can look at them over and over. And I mustn’t forget to mention to Benny how nice the tiki torches look. I can just see a row of them leading up to our house . . .
Now that I’m not worried about Grammy, I can say that I’m so excited! I can hardly believe that my dream is coming true. And “beautiful” doesn’t really describe the Disney Polynesian Resort. It’s like being in a world far, far away. Where everything is so clean and wonderful. It’s been everything I hoped for, and there’s still our sleepover and another full day tomorrow before we drive back to GreatGrammy’s! Oooh, I’m so excited! The lobby was decorated just the way I’d like our lagoon house and yard to look. I dropped a lot of hints, and I hope Benny’s getting the idea. Orchids everywhere, and palm trees, and ancient carvings. Even the painting on the wall and ceiling parts looked Hawaiian. I’m sure Bethany and Jill could paint like that for me . . .
“Minnie, meet Minnie!” It’s a kind of family joke. Grammy and Auntie always tell me that I remind them of Minnie Mouse. I don’t know why, but they sound happy when they say it. It’s probably because they know that I adore Minnie Mouse. Because she’s just so perfect. Fashion and fashion accessories are important to her, too. I told Grammy she could call me Minnie while we were on vacation. Then I told her she could call Benny “Mickey”. And she did! We’ve had ever so much fun, with a lot more to come! The other Minnie had on a hula skirt. I had mine with me in my luggage, but I had to decide between my real Hawaiian dress and my hula skirt for today. I’m glad I chose the dress, because the hair flower that goes with it is one of my favorite fashion accessories. And I wear my hula outfit a lot at home. That reminds me, I need to make sure I do my hula routine every day while we’re on vacation. A girlie can’t afford to get out of practice, just because she’s away from home. I think I’ll just do them in my jammies before I turn out the light. Benny won’t mind. Ha! Benny could sleep through a hurricane!
Before we left the lobby, we did our first pin-trading of the day. It’s what they call a Mystery Box. I didn’t really care for it much, but Auntie doesn’t mind trading one of her good pins for something she can’t see. So, she gave me one of her trading pins that didn’t match any of my collections, and I picked number 22. I couldn’t believe it, but there was one of my favorite ALOHA Hula Girl pins inside! Everyone was so happy! It’s going on my board in a very special spot, because it’s the first pin I traded for on my Dream Vacation. This is a real memento, and I’ll never forget this time.
Benny & Nanea’s story will be continued in our next issue. They look so happy! I think we all agree that it couldn’t have happened to two nicer people . . .