As the winter months loom off in the near time frame, what better thoughts to share than those of a tropical paradise. A place where there is a Polynesian theme, incredible lush plants and flowers, two heated luxury pools and sun deck areas, a volcano themed water slide, and the sound of tropical music filtering throughout. These are just a few of the ways to describe the Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World.
One of the original resorts that opened in 1971 along with the Magic Kingdom, this resort has been upgraded, renovated, Disney Vacation Clubbed’ and remains a true piece of paradise.
We shared in our article Lush Waterfall ~ Vintage Polynesian Lobby Photos photos of the recently renovated lobby area with the original waterfall. This photo essay is to share some of the exterior photos and how wonderful the new lobby area looks and functions with the added space.This resort is a must see when you are at Walt Disney World. Whether you are there to enjoy an incredible meal at O’Hana upstairs, to catch a meal with a show such as at the Disney’s Spirit of Aloha, to stay at the resort and enjoy relaxing and playing at the pools, or to just take a romantic walk around and over to the Wedding Pavilion along Seven Seas Lagoon, this paradise needs to be on your list of things to do!!
Walt Disney World Resort Map – Polynesian Village is up and on left side
Walking from the Transportation and Ticket Center is easy
Shady tropical walkways
Beautiful themed guesthouses
There are property maps throughout to keep your directions
My favorite are the tiki’s throughout
The polynesian theme is carried to the top of the buildings
A walkway that takes you to the new bungalos on the lake
Tropical flowers in colorful display
Torch lit paths to lead your way
There are plenty of grassy areas which sometimes have little brown rabbits resting
A covered shelter at the relaxing pool
Lush green foliage with bamboo rattling in the breeze
Recently renovated relaxing pool and shelters
Nearing the Great Ceremonial House
Close up view of the resort layout
Patios and balconies at one of the guesthouses
Beautiful tropical flowers
Decorative signs to each of the buildings
Inside view of the new lobby area
Creative overhead decorations and lighting elements
Spacious and functional with a tropical setting lobby
Gift shops upstairs and downstairs off the lobby
A beautiful waterfall pool outside at the entrance
One of our favorite places at Walt Disney World to relax and reconnect with each other, a romantic paradise.
Check us out at JenGaryNewAdventures.com and follow us on Pinterest.
This has been an exciting ride for us! We are now at the point in our renovations that changes are very minor. Most of the changes are really with the gadgets and items that we utilize to make our life more enjoyable, rather than upgrades to the trailer. So with all that introduction this will be probably the last article on Hoshi Chao unless something major happens (hopefully to the good).
If you have not read the previous Versions of the story of how this fifth wheel became our Hoshi Chao, click any one of the articles below:
There have been several trips taken with our fifth wheel. She has been named “Hoshi Chao”, which means Stars Nest in Chinese, because we felt the need to name her and since she is the nest for us and all of our family and friends on our trips it seems appropriate. All of the systems in the trailer are working well. All the finishes have been completed to our satisfaction, in fact we recently purchased paint to touch-up all the colors since we are now dinging and scratching areas from use.
The title of this article seemed so correct for this point in time as we are now fine tuning the items within and without the trailer making it more and more a good fit to us and our lifestyle. This happens in every home, even if it is a home-away-from-home trailer. Once you determine how you like to utilize the trailer and the activities you will be doing, you find all the neat items to make life easier and better.
We found that we didn’t care much for sitting up at the counter and eating, but as we sat outside and in the family area of Hoshi Chao we needed a flat surface or top. Looking online for TV trays or computer lap desks gave us some ideas. Best of all though, when discussing this with my mom, she shared that she and my dad had purchased a couple from back when they traveled in their RV and trailer down to Texas. She was kind enough to share them with us, now that made it even more special. So each time we pull out the folding lap tables or TV trays, whatever you call them, I can think of the two of them in years past enjoying their travels. Couldn’t be any more special to me!!
Now underneath the tray above you will notice a wine colored soft and comfy blanket that has electrical wires running throughout. With the temperatures getting colder, we felt we needed to upgrade the blankets from just quits in Hoshi Chao to electric blankets. So two were purchased, one for the master bedroom and one for the couch/bed in the family area. Let’s say they were warmly received (lol).
To the left of my extended hand below, you will notice a newer small mid-level shelf has been added to the shelving units. Yes, I know it needs to be painted still, but we found that will all the electrical gadgets we required another shelf that was not as visible to plug in our devices without creating such a cluttered area.
The family resting area needed a little ambiance, and yes since it is getting cooler, another electric heating device is always welcome. It is amazing how quickly and effectively these units can heat up the area! When all the lights are out, the (fake) fireplace offers a very romantic feel.
Current televisions are based on the concept of bouncing their sounds off the lower back portion of the wall or surface out. This does not always work well enough in the trailer, and too many times means you have to turn the volume up to levels which are annoying, don’t allow you to communicate, and on the outside of the trailer are obnoxious. Enter old technology in the form of computer speakers. Yes, I know they make wireless and wired sound bars and speakers, but when you have free outdated speakers laying around, what a simple solution. Now the volume is half of what it used to be and you can easily listen and carry on a conversation.
While we love abandoned bird’s nests, we realized that there were just too many to take care of, and a couple that were falling apart. Poor construction techniques and didn’t meet Codes (lol). The remaining ones we elected to clean up with some sprucing and pulling of broken and items falling out and then spraying with a lacquer. This sealed and protected the remaining nests and gave a very nice appearance. Also we had to bring into Hoshi Chao my grandfather’s lucky horseshoe that was purchased back in the early 70’s from Dollywood!
Though we would show you a look at how well the trays worked for an impromptu steak dinner.
Lastly, we realized we needed a little more light in the family resting area, and the overhead lights can be a bit too much when you are not trying to read. Some white icicle lights were threaded into our mesh netting and shell display and that provided a very special touch.
Like I stated in the beginning, these really did not alter our Hoshi Chao, but definitely made out time living and resting within a much better ex0erience!
Check us out at JenGaryNewAdventures.com and follow us on Pinterest.
Now that our first big trip is behind us, we are working on improving our Stars Nest (Hoshi Chao). After a five day trip to Florida, there were things we realized needed to be upgraded and improved. Taking the trailer away from your home and out on the road is the best way to determine what needs to be made better to make it a “Home away from home.”
If you have not read the previous Versions of the story of how this fifth wheel became our Hoshi Chao, click below:
We were very pleased with the working flow of the kitchen area, but realized that the desk area was not needed. We now work both on laptops and needed both more counter space and large appliance storage.
First obvious change was to make a better kitchen counter top, no need for a desk area.
There was a “dead” area between the built-in shelves and the counter that we decided to link together to make a useful area. The key was measuring all of our appliances and making certain the width of the extension would service anything that would use the space. Ended up that the width of 14″ was perfect for anything in our kitchen to sit on this long narrow surface.
Though the stove has always worked well, with the advent of the George Foreman grill and various other appliances, we needed a place to store each electrical gadget. Once the desk was removed, we realized the depth of the shelving would be almost 24″ which gave us the much needed storage area!
Small appliances need easy access and storage
Several color chips and alternative materials for the top was brought home to review. Take your time in this process and make certain you know the pro’s and con’s with each material. We ultimately preferred the plastic laminate. Though there were other nice possibilities.
The gray colors blended with the white and red very well
Yes, we Love Lucy. It has been one of our favorite shows. With the purchase of the fifth wheel we already had the back splash ready. We did look at several glass and ceramic tiles and metal wall panel products, but Lucy ultimately won out!
We love Lucy!
The counter top even displayed well against the new colors. Take your time when selecting a new counter top as this a major color factor in the kitchen area. Taking the time to make certain that new elements do not make drastic changes to the feel or theme you are working towards is critical.
Still thinking about the right side of the stove for a different texture
The refrigerator and freezer worked well once we were home and even on this side trip, though we knew this was eventually going to need repair. Sometimes I drag my feet a little longer than I should.
Gray , red, black and white looking good together!
Even the television blends with the color scheme
The setup for the fifth wheel was becoming very comfortable. With time, and practice the backing up and connections become more of a second nature. We decided to take a quick weekday trip near our home to enjoy our Hoshi Chao and checkout life on the lake.
Setup at Cedars Creek State Park
Notice we are now flying our Marine colors ~ OORAH!
Our outside gear worked so well with the lake setting .
The lake is just off in the distance with the geese and ducks our morning visitors
Setting up camp and getting ready for the first evening is so special. We have started to realize that the first night makes a big impact on your trip. Focus on what you are wanting to achieve for the evening and work together!! Once we arrive my beautiful adventurer prefers to sort out all of the breakable items that we pack away safely into totes before we travel, while I handle getting the utilities connected, the relaxing gear setup and awning extended.
Getting ready for our first night, seeking romance…
Once you have worked so hard to make a place your own with decorations and paint, you feel such a sense of pride! Nothing that can take that away!! This project taught us a lot about ourselves, but it gave us something we did together.
Looking back towards the family room, bath and bedroom area
The bedroom area became such a comfortable area that we relax and sleep so well. Find your comfort items that are near and dear, then make certain to include them in your design.
A few candles, some low lights, and a few pillows
Bathroom area with no changes, doesn’t this photo look rustic with the bad lighting?
Okay, so I am a romantic, and had to photograph the areas with candles instead of lights. Doesn’t it feel nice!!! Now we are all ready for the first night on the lake.
Watching King of Queens with my baby!!
The counter top extension provided a nice surface for the candles
Who left the fan light on?
Continuing on with our project means only making it better at this point!! If you are not up to speed please check out the previous Version of the articles to understand our whole journey from initial purchase to where we are now. Keep reading, there are more versions to come as we keep fine tuning and making it better and better!!
Check us out at JenGaryNewAdventures.com and follow us on Pinterest.
Guess where we are? 🙂 I will give you a hint. We are visiting a mouse! Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, being so established with so many amenities, proved to be a wonderful place for us to start learning how to travel in our Hoshi Chao.
This is the continuing story of how we took the journey of traveling in a fifth-wheel. Starting with purchasing an older model trailer and enjoying turning her into Hoshi Chao, which is translated Chinese for “Stars Nest”. Our little nest as we begin traveling around this wonderful United States. Many lessons learned as we headed out, and patience being the best thing in our toolbox!
If you have not read the previous Versions of the story of Hoshi Chao, click below:
These sites are great! Every one is level, spacious and clean. There are variations of of coquina shell sand and pavement, depending on Disney’s level of amenities and pricing.
The first lesson I had to learn on this trip happened as soon as we left the driveway. Notice the truck tool box in the back of our truck? Well, the distance from the center of the ball to the edge of the toolbox was not as great as we needed once we turned a corner and immediately our first repair happened. The front bottom metal received a ding, crimp and trear, which I fixed the first day in camp. Yay!!! Learn from my mistake. Make certain you can have a tool box. Each truck is different in the length of the truck bed and the center ot the rear axle. I found out I could not have a tool box, the hard way!
Note: Our grandbabies and daughter have already started their artwork with chalk. The art we appreciate the most!
Once Hoshi Chao was set up and leveled, it was time to relax. We decided to NOT bring our computer with us, which really made it clear that our “desk” idea was not that good to function as a kitchen extension. Too many levels, so plates, cups and accessories had a hard time using that corner. Seemed like a good idea at the time…
Second item requiring repair appeared on the second day when the refrigerator quick working properly. For several months in our backyard it worked great. The freezer was keeping cold, but the fridge was not cold at all. We had to pull out our old cooler and work in that mode. Not a vacation killer, but when you are geared up to have a fridge it means storing things differently and getting ice daily. This will be repaired after this trip.
The “working” side of the trailer with the water, seweer and electrical connections and storage bins. Everything worked well, no concerns with hookups or panels.
I would recommend to all adventurers that you consider purchasing one of these folding, extendable ladders. They are great for just about anything you need to access you trailer, and fold down so small and convenient.
A closer view of the sewer hose and connection. Making certain it is secure and sloping properly is a key element to a carefree vacation. This is something you want to take care of when you are setting up and packing away. Do a good job so you do not have issues while you are camping.
A little glory shot of our truck and Hoshi Chao, so proud we are out on an adventure!
The awning looks much better than before, but there are many tiny holes in the fabric that we worked on throughout the stay at Fort Wilderness Campground. Duct tape is a beautiful thing, especially in colors that match! Our outside setup was comfortable and convenient for the two of us, our daughter and her three children. Plenty of room to move around and tables to sit and store items.
We purchased a lazy susan for the corner spice cabinet, and could not have been happier. Look around your trailer and I can bet there are locations one could make finding things much easier.
Hope you enjoyed seeing the images from our first learning experience. It was quite different than camping out in our backyard. Sure there were a couple of fails, but those can be fixed and hopefully not repeated! All in all a very wonderful time together, very happy with our fifth-wheel. Hope you are enjoying the ride!
Check us out at JenGaryNewAdventures.com and follow us on Pinterest.
First order of business-Removing all the built-in cabinetry in the eating and family areas. Once that began, the carpeting needed to go, as it was outdated and in worn condition. The removal of the bench seat and carpeting made it clear there was a leak from the outside access storage hatch.
As the hatch was not needed any more, that was closed, locked and sealed around the perimeter. Then replacement of the damaged wood supports and subfloor could take place.
If you have not read the previous Versions of the story of Hoshi Chao, click below:
A little better picture of the extent of damage from the water leak.
When you are looking at an older trailer, take all the time it requires to check all outside walls, especially at connections of outer walls to the roof, penetrations from equipment and pipes, and any openings on the sides. Better to know and ensure that these areas are all secure and sealed. If you need to re-seal now is the easiest and cheapest time to repair!
Minor cleanup at the couch location. Be careful of the gas and water lines that run behind and along your areas. A little damage can go a LONG way down the road when everything is back in place.
The resilient flooring was acceptable for now, while we determined what type of flooring materials we wanted for the lower level. The carpeting was kept on the bathroom and bedroom areas as the sun had not faded, nor were there worn areas as in the kitchen and family areas.
This is where there was cabinetry and shelving for the small TV. So much better to open up. We looked at several ideas online and were weighing the options for what fit our needs best.
Still-Undecided on what to do with the couch. It was not at this time something that we loved. We began looking for options and also, to determine what theme would be used in each area. So important (And Fun) to match all items to the theme!
I think NASA might have wanted the refrigerator and freezer, but we elected to keep. SORRY NASA, you can’t have it! I don’t think the silver will stay though…
We removed the cover to the over stove cabinet and measured to find that new microwaves require more space than back in the 1980’s! Who knew?
The range hood came off easy, and the disgusting look was mostly from surface rust. Time to spend cleaning, sanding and painting. Then Magic. Looks brand new!
The old microwave location proved to be a whatever type of space. It did not have a door, and we were uncertain if we wanted to install one. Time again where we started thinking of what would serve best up in this space. That is the fun of working together and taking your time. At this point we are really just removing the old, repairing or replacing, so, who knows what it was to become!
The cabinet space continued to be amazing as we opened each door and realized how they would function. We didn’t think we would use all of them, but trust me, we did! A girl can not have too many cabinets in her kitchen 🙂
This phase of the repairs and renovations took a few weeks as our evenings were just too busy. That actually made it so much better for us to take our time and work on areas together and discuss the potential. I encourage you to not rush through this phase either, once you know what you want the finishes move fast, but this is where you make it special.
Her is one of our little ones, bless all of them, they love to be close to us. Our beautiful granddaughter was a tremendous helper and she loved to dance to the music while we worked (lol).
This is the state of our awning. We kept it rolled out so that the sun could dry it and take away some of the stain. We reviewed various options from replacement to repairs and thought it best to see where the overall budget fell before making any final decisions. Thankfully, with some minor taping and caulking, most of the leaks are sealed and with some cleaning it looks much better.
This is fun! We are in the process of staging the walls for new paint. Picking out colors together!
Our thoughts at this time was for a computer/work area on the front left where the old bench sat, using an office chair with rollers.
More preparations filling holes and cracks. Take your time, it is so easy to miss a few here or there until you have the paint brush in your hand!!
The leak in the kitchen floor was fixed, dry and getting ready for new flooring. Still working on the final touches for the outside wall cover paneling.
The computer/work shelf was a nice addition, unfortunately, for me, I spent too much time gazing out the side window (lol).
We started to cover the entry area wall in the family area, still thinking through what we felt was needed. There are so many possibilities for storage and decorating your home. Shelves, bins, cabinets, or nothing at all! Since we took the time to remove the original, we wanted to be very certain before adding back into the space.
The weather proved to be fantastic! Beautiful, sunny, hot summer weather. Windows open, fan on, and music playing. Prepping and sanding the walls for paint.
Whatever type of furniture we felt would cover these pipes and duct.
Once we determined where the wall mounted television would be installed, additional plywood wall backing was installed. These exterior walls are really not sturdy enough to hold that much weight, so plan ahead when remodeling yours. Remember the old corner cabinet up there, so much cleaner!
The medicine cabinet was removed, not something Jennifer wanted, and we decided to order custom mirrors to fit both sides. We kept the cute little sink and cabinet below as is.
The wall paper was decided to stay, and we would paint over. A test area was completed and it looked great, so why bother removing and having to patch?
This is the corner shelf that was in the family room minus the front screen cover. It was too nice and handy to toss. Jennifer needed a little more storage, (who knew),:) so it is in our room.
The previous owners had replaced the roof, but the damage from before needed to be remedied. We utilized for all the ceiling areas Kilz paint. This paint is great for painting over areas where there is a discoloration or mold.
Not much to do in the bedroom corner.
All of the little storage knick knack (is that a real word?) items and things to hold small items were taken off the walls and set aside to recondition once we determined the themes and colors.
We hope you are enjoying these articles on our journey to make this fifth-wheel Hoshi Chao, OUR star’s nest! Version 4.0 will be coming soon with the application of the themes and colors!!
Check us out at JenGaryNewAdventures.com and follow us on Pinterest.
From V1.0, we explained how the name Hoshi Chao is taken from Chinese traditional language, meaning “Stars Nest.” This is the continuation of the story of how she came into our lives and what it has meant for our adventures!
If you have not read V1.0 please take the time so you can get up to speed. Now that she is home, we are getting very excited and can’t wait to start working on her. As promised earlier, these photos are going to really impress the look and feel of the original vision.Continue reading →
Ever thought about traveling as a way of life? Not waiting until retirement, but as soon as possible, heading out to new and exciting places!! Changing the seasons by moving around the country? Seeing more of this great land and the entire world we live while we still are able and full of energy.
How would you want to travel? Do you fly and hotel it everywhere? What about taking your own custom home with you?To feel the freedom of travel and adventureand still have the comforts of home!!
