Polynesian Concierge??

[DIXIEDAYS]

Well, I think we have settled on staying at the Poly, again. We are considering the concierge service. Does anyone know what buildings are concierge? Are the rooms larger? Are the perks worth it??

Jim and Donna

[MAKmom]

The rooms are the same. We Love Concierge! But we have always used the AP discount. That said at the Poly I think a lagoon view is a must. Some of the Garden Concierge views are lame.

[Tikiman]

There are two concierge buildings. One is Hawaii (standard size room) and Tonga (suites).

Here is a look at the Concierge.



http://tikiman2001.homestead.com/concierge.html

[MAKmom]

Another facter to concider to decide if concierge is worth it for us is how many guest are in our room. We usally have 4 or 5. So divided between the extra cost it is the best bargin in Disney for my family....for the food alone. The food selections is great. Along with the beverges,canned soda,bottled water & now espresso at the Poly what a deal. I also love the location of the lounge to the rooms & pool....compared to BWI/AKL . Now we use the lounge.... we are not in the parks all day. With the AP the GV concierge was $50.00more per night LV $80.00. Now refillable mugs are $10.00 each... which you do not need in concierge. Also with kids by the time you buy food in the fastfood market & a couple of drinks it adds up quickly. The smuckers prewrapped peanutbutter sandwiches the had for the kids were great! AKL?BWI unwrapped them the Poly kept them wrapped. also at the poly the loungehasgreat lagoon view. My only complaint , it needs a new rug.

[disneyholic family]

i was looking at the pictures at tikiman's website...
that concierge room is enormous...
are any of the concierge rooms at the other resorts as big as at the poly?
i'm seriously considering changing our GF concierge reservation to the poly concierge....
the only thing is, when we popped into the poly last summer (just to look at the lobby and pool) it seemed kind of long in the tooth if you know what i mean....
after all, it's an OLD resort....i stayed there almost 30 years ago....

[MAKmom]

I've stayed at the GF & the rooms are about the same. The GF has seperate sink area with double sinks which we missed at Poly. You may have been looking at the suites...not standard concierge rooms.

[disneyholic family]

i used the wrong term...
i didn't mean the concierge rooms...
i meant the concierge lounge...

the lounge at the poly seems gigantic...
are any other lounges as big as that?..

and how crowded is the poly concierge lounge?

[MAKmom]

The area is 3 floors. 1st floor has 2 desks for staff 2nd floor with food is about same as BWI/AKL area. I would say the size of 2 hotel rooms. 3rd floor is a balconey that over looks food area. They call it the library. THe outside wall is all glass & looks over lagoon. Yes it is crowed during peak food & firework times. Yes the Poly does at first appear to be long in the tooth.My husband said he would never stay there when we did the GF. The rooms are verynice & have been updated. In feb the lobby was getting some work done. After staying there he loved it. It was a totaly differant experience then our other WDW trips. VERY LAYED BACK!

[disneyholic family]

yes...laid back....i have a feeling that's why we might like it in comparison to the GF....
i hate making decisions....

[Tikiman]

I have never found the concierge lounge to be very crowded. Even when we were there on 4th of July and they had out all the special treats, the lounge was not bad. It had a little line but only took about 5 minutes to get through. Most of the time we went to the lounge, we just walked right up to the food and if there were no tables open we just took the stuff to our room.

I know you were talking about the lounge size but the rooms at the Polynesain are larger that the GF. The only standard rooms that are larger are the Contemporary I believe.

Steve

[MAKmom]

I agree with tikiman that the food lines are not bad, but the tables go fast. I love trying a new WDW hotel each time. My favorite is GF. LOVED IT!. My 5& 7yr old DD fav.BWI

[princess angel]

yes, the lounge at the poly concierge is huge! the only concierge lounge larger than that is the GF RPC lounge. actually maybe it is about the same size.

I love staying concierge, everyone has different feelings on whether or not it's "worth it", to me it's worth it to have the convenience and to be spoiled a little! if you mean will you save $$, probably not, but to me, concierge is always worth it! just be careful, it spoils you easily!!! :)

Laura :)

[MAKmom]

It saves us money!

[ContempoSMT]

Room is a bit larger then the average Polynesian Resort. I stayed 1 night concierge at Poly.. It was nice

[VickiVM]

I've been going back and forth between 5 nights at AS or 3 nights As/2 nights Poly ...maybe even concierge. But as MAKMom stated, perhaps the extra cost would be offset. With 3 small kids we easily get nickeled and dimed at Six Flags for about $40 to $50 dollars just in snacks, water, soda. And even when we get food, often some of it gets wasted because portions are unpredictable. Concierge?? I think a definite maybe.

[Dana_Buckley]

I did it! I used the code CIF and upgraded my reservation at the Poly (6/2 - 6/8) to GV concierge & my package went down $200! I am so excited. We are taking our 2 1/2 yo, so we will be at the resort every afternoon, for naps & swimming. I think the breakfast, snacks & water will be great! Go for it!!

[MAKmom]

The Poly Conceirge is perfect....how much more was lagoon view...if it was available. Make sure you asked for a 3rd or 1st floor room infront of quite pool. Some GV face the entrance of another longhouse. Hawaii is right next to the pool so it will be great with the baby.I also liked how they have pool towels for you .... instead of going to the other side of the pool,bythe boat rentals for them. They also have juice boxes for the kids but you need to ask for them...they will give you some every morining to take to the park with you..grab water bottles for your self. You can make meals out of the evening offerings...if you still want dinner make PS for 7:30ish, which should work for your 21/2 Bwith the time zone difference.

[ktleyed]

We were staying at the Poly Concierge the 2nd week of February. I thought the lounge got very crowded during breakfast hour, almost impossible to find a seat and total mayhem! It was nice to get a quick breakfast there before going off to the parks, especially since we got pretty tired of eating 3 huge meals everyday! By our last day, I was back to my old schedule of just having coffee for breakfast. The mini muffins in the concierge were the best, though! We watched the fireworks once from the lounge, I never took advantage of the cordials, and they had coffee, but I was disappointed that they didn't provided decaf in the evening, that would have been a nice touch. Now about the rooms. The first room we were given, I found totally unacceptable, it was on the the 2nd floor of Hawaii with a garden view and there was mildew on the shower ceiling and the whole room smelled awful, I couldn't bear to be in it! I turned right around and went downstairs to the conciege and they gave me the same room, only on the 3rd floor with a balcony looking over the quiet pool and this room was much better, although there was a very strong smell of the rug shampoo! Once the shampoo smell died down it was fine, but it took a few days. This is an optional smoking floor, and I didn't detect a single smoke smell in the room, but I did notice it in the hallway. I also did not notice anything wrong with the water, and my hair was fine. I've noticed that you must be assertive when you go to resorts. Many times they will try to stick you in their worst room (which I feel the first one we had was!) and you must tell them that it's unacceptable or else you'll be stuck with it. I can't remember exactly what the number was but it was about midway down the hall looking out at the quiet pool, I think that it was 2072, but I could be wrong. I had been reading these boards right before we left, so I was acutely aware that there could be a mildew problem, and sure enough! Once we were settled in our new room everything was fine at the Poly from there. I think one of the best things about the resort was the convenience of taking the water launch to the Magic Kingdom, from the Hawaii building this is by far the quickest way, and also riding on the water mice, which my 7 yr. old son and husband loved, they did it twice! One time on our way back from the MK in the evening on the launch, we had to stop and wait for the electrical water pageant to finish, and it was truly magical to watch it from the water, on the opposite side that everyone at the Poly saw! That was our first night there and it was the best! The Poly was a very nice resort, but I don't think I'll stay there again, the buildings, IMO, did look drab and there were places in the Hawaii buliding that definitely looked run down, especially the elevator! Next time it's the Yacht Club concierge, now THAT place was just my speed and their pool was really cool!

[DIXIEDAYS]

Thanks for all the replies!! I have stayed at Poly once, but must admit we never paid attention to the concierge. Am I understanding correct that food and drinks, ( water, soda ect ) are available and included in the price?
Also...what room would you recomend....the two of us and 3 kids.....11 - 16?

Jim and Donna

[MAKmom]

Yes Breakfast,snacks,Bev,Wine,coordials,appitizer & desert buffet are all included. They have PB& Jelly for the kids,gummyworms,M&M's Ect.

Just make sure you get 1st or 3rd floor.

[Dana_Buckley]

Where exactly (phone #) do you send a request for a room? Through your reservation #, or the Poly directly?
I would like the first floor, any suggestions on more specific request?? Thank you!

[MAKmom]

Call the # you made your reservations with & list your request in the order of importance to you. If you have a GV ask to be in front
of the quite pool. Bring some zip lockbags with you to put snack in for the kids in the parks. Concierge will also give you a stroller to use.

[workin4vacation]

Planning to bring my Mom to DW for her 70th birthday.
Would like to stay at the Poly.
Considering the concierge level, but would like more info. Have read that concierge includes breakfast, water, soda, etc. Is there an appetizer hour at dinner time? Are alcoholic beverages included? Any additional information from people who have been there, done that would be greatly appreciated.
Also, opinions? Is this the best Disney resort for my family w/Mom? I want this to be special. My mother is in fine physical shape, so that is not a concern.
Also, how would I go about finding the "best deal" for the Poly? I've read people mentioning certain codes. Where does one get these "codes"? Can 5 people stay in one room?
What can I expect to pay for a night at the Poly w/concierge? We would be going in October. Thank you for any insight out there!

[VickiVM]

I'm hoping someone with more first-hand experience will chime in...but, as far as a few of your questions, working4vacation:

There are snacks in concierge during the day and appetizers at supper time. Some say the appetizers can make a meal in themselves (depends on your appetite).

There are also desserts and cordials available in the evenings.

I've heard that this is one of the best concierges for families because of the generous spirit there...supposedly the staff encourages everyone to feel free to take some of the snacks to your room or take beverages with you to the park which comes in handy given the expense of bottled water.

And yes, 5 people can stay in one room...with 2 queens and a daybed. My family of five has tentative ressies there for Oct. One of the best features of the Poly is that it is a monorail resort which makes getting to and from the parks so much more convenient.

As far as "codes", the only discounts I'm aware of in October is either AAA or with membership of Disney Club. Disney Club membership costs $39.95 and I believe you can get 15% off rack rate for October not 100% sure, though. There is a thread at the top of this Resorts forum that links you to a page that lists available discounts and codes that is valid for anyone.

Two other sites you should also visit is www.mousesavers.com and www.tikiman2001.homestead.com. However, because tikiman's site has been "visited" beyond it's capacity this month, you won't be able to visit it until it resets at the beginning of March. Tikiman is DIS's "resident expert" on the Poly and has swayed many a DISer to change their ressie to the Poly!!

Hope this helps...Perhaps others have other comments to add.

[workin4vacation]

Thanks so much Vicki!
I appreciate the info you have shared.
I'm in the process of reading this site & learning as I go.
Thanks again! :)

[MAKmom]

This is a wonderful site to read to get started http://wdwig.com/faq_poly.htm It has lots of pictures.

The Poly is a very layed back vacation,everything is close togather compared to other resorts,Hawaii(Concierge building, quite pool, Main pool & The great Cerimonial house. I think a Lagoon view is part of this resorts charm.

The ONLY negative thing I can say is with 5 in a room the bathroom is a pain. Other deluxes have 2 sinks in a seperate area out side the shower & toilet area.

My mother would want to be in the Epcot area BWI would be her choice & I also after our last trip will Do the B/Y club next time

[Tikiman]

The Polynesian concierge has much to offer. It is also a great thing to do to add to the experience of the Polynesian, especially for special occasions. One thing that will help with letting them know about special occasions or any room requests you may have is to either call or fax the Polynesian before you go or you may receive an Personal Vacation Itinerary form the Polynesian.Personal Vacation Itineraries are mailed out to the concierge level guests and guests with packages that receive itinerary planning. If you are one of these types of guests you still may not get one only because the Polynesian can only mail one to you if they have your address. Some reservations are made with out the address or phone number of the guests being given to the Polynesian. Reservations done by many wholesalers and sometimes Walt Disney Travel Company do not give out this information so that the confirmation slips can be mailed to them directly. Other times the travel agents computer does not interface well with the Polynesian's data base. These may be the reason you never receive a call or a Personal Vacation Itinerary. If you are a concierge guest you can -mail the Polynesian at wdw.polynesian.island.planning.office@disney.com (DO NOT E-MAIL THIS ADDRESS IF YOU ARE NOT STAYING IN THE CONCIERGE LEVEL ROOM! Your information will not get to the correct system if you do). Concierge guests can also call 407-824-2466 opt.3. All guests can call the Polynesian at 407-824-2000. Dinner reservations can be made ahead of time by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

You can go with a suite (located in Tonga longhouse) which are larger rooms that sleep 4 to 6 adults with plenty of room, or you can do a standard room with concierge sevice. The concierge desk and lounge are open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. This front desk and lounge are located on the second floor, west end of the Hawaii building. In the Hawaii building you have your choice of garden view or lagoon view (additional charge for lagoon view). While staying at the concierge level you will have personalized front desk and guest services for all your needs. Your room will have robes, phone in the bath area, data port on phone line, coffee maker (upon request) minibar (small empty refrigerator) and nightly turndown service. You are also located right next to the beach and both pools.
Your building will be secure and entry will only be possible with a concierge room key. You will have access to the lounge area for:

Kakahiaka (morning service) 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. offering muffins and pasteries, tropical fruit, croissants, english muffins, bagels, cream cheese, cereal, milk, orange juice, pineapple guava juice, ice tea, Kona coffee, bottled water, and toasters are available.

Auinala (afternoon service) 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. offering fruit juice, bottled water, soda, ice tea, cookies, tropical fruit, gummy worms and m&m's for the kids.

Ahiahi (evening service) 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. offering different themes each day. This may change but this is what they offered when we were there.

Sunday Mexican: Taco salad, tortilla chips, cheese, salsa, grilled vegetables, and tropical fruit with caramel dipping sauce.

Monday Asian: Sushi, noodles, shrimp, fruit salsa, and eggrolls.

Tuesday Luau: Sesame chicken pasta with sweet garlic soy, tropical fruits, noodles, and cheese platter.

Wednesday 'Ohana: Vegetable springrolls with sweet chili sauce, apple pasta salad, and tropical fruit.

Thursday Kona: Sticky chicken wings, chicken fajitas with char sui sauce, potato and macaroni salad, and tropical fruits.

Friday Italian: Lasagna, meatballs in sauce, antipasto salad, pasta, and tropical fruits.

Saturday Moroccan: Cous Cous with vegetables, spicy bean dip, pita bread, cucumber and tomato salad, and tropical fruits.

Aumoe (late evening service) 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. offering wine and cheese as well as cordials and desserts.



For more pictures and info my web pages will be back up on March 4th.

Aloha

Steve