The *NEW* Polynesian Resort FAQ thread - *2008*

[Cinderella_17]

I actually have NO idea!! But I think the hula is hula lessons I'm not sure what the plush demonstration is. Our DSs were a little older the first time we stayed at the Polynesian so they weren't interested in any activities. Now I'm really curious and I'll find out when I'm there next month. Which dates will you be there in May??

Thank you so much for replying=) I am even more curious to know what the plush demonstartion is lol!! We are leaving May 19th for WDW so we will be down there about the same time! Maybe someone else will read this post and be able to tell us what it is!! I just have to know now!!
Thank you so much again for relpying I really appriciate it!!

 

[Marc A.]

Just made ressies for a garden view in Nov for 11 nights. Will try in about a month to see if we can upgrade. We are using DVC points so not that much was available.
First time for the Poly!!!! Very excited.

 

[disneydreamin247]

Seaspray, those pics were great. Thanks so much for them! I haven't seen any pics of the 'Ohana breakfast so they are much appreciated.

 

[BreezysMom]

I think the plush demonstartion maybe the towel animals that they make in the lobby and give to the kids.

My DD got a cute bunny on our trip and it still adornes her bedroom dresser.

 

[uncspin]

I have a question regarding the Handicapped Accessible rooms at the Poly...

Would love to know what the availability is of accessible rooms in categories other than garden view... and building locations for Type One--accessible rooms with grab bars & tub, vs. Type Two--fully wheelchair accessible rooms with the roll in shower.

I am aware of the accessible GV rooms in Rapa Nui & Tokelau. And I have heard that there were plans to convert additional rooms to 'accessible', in Hawaii (club level) and some of the other long houses, beginning in mid-2007. Last year we did stay in a standard GV room in Tahiti, and met a family with multiple wheelchair users who were staying on the first floor of that building--but I honestly don't know if they had an 'accessible' room of one type or the other, or not.

We originally had a Lagoon View room reserved for December, 2008... but needed to switch over to a fully wheelchair accessible room (with roll in shower) to accommodate a family member's specific needs. Since I booked through a TA, we had to have our TA contact Special Reservations and make the changes for us--thus I did not have the opportunity to speak directly with SR myself. A fully accessible room has been blocked for us... but I have no idea what building, or if we have been downgraded to GV (or possibly even pixie dusted with an upgrade).

If anyone has occasion to speak with Special Reservations in regards to the Poly, we would love to know what buildings/views might have been updated to provide additional accessible rooms during 2008.

i was skimming the post that contains all kinds of FAQs about the polynesian and saw your question about rooms with roll-in showers. my husband uses a wheelchair and requires a roll-in shower. it was our understanding last year that all rooms with roll-in showers are located in rapa nuie, with a garden view. we were in 1125 rapa nuie last year and loved it. we walked out one end of the building to get to the grand ceremonial house and the transportation center was out the other door. enjoy your trip!

 

[disneydreamin247]

I know when you check in they load your stuff (or just you) on a golf cart and take you to your room. What happens if your room isn't ready when you get there? I am directionally impaired and worried I won't be able to find my room!

I can just see DS and I wandering around the Poly with a map trying to find where we should be.

 

[Tink rules]

I know when you check in they load your stuff (or just you) on a golf cart and take you to your room. What happens if your room isn't ready when you get there? I am directionally impaired and worried I won't be able to find my room!

I can just see DS and I wandering around the Poly with a map trying to find where we should be.

The Poly is surprisingly easy to get around... it looks spread out, but it's a nice spread out....

If you get there and your room isn't ready yet, they will store your luggage and let you head out to the parks or such and they will give you a card with a number to call and check on your room....

& don't worry...if you get back and you need someone to help you find the room, they will give you a map and if you need... ask and they will get someone to take you there...

Good luck and enjoy!!!

 

[BCV23]

i was skimming the post that contains all kinds of FAQs about the polynesian and saw your question about rooms with roll-in showers. my husband uses a wheelchair and requires a roll-in shower. it was our understanding last year that all rooms with roll-in showers are located in rapa nuie, with a garden view. we were in 1125 rapa nuie last year and loved it. we walked out one end of the building to get to the grand ceremonial house and the transportation center was out the other door. enjoy your trip!

That used to be true but last year accessible rooms were added to several other longhouses. I know Hawaii has a rollin shower room. There is also another accessible room there but I don't know if it's with a tub or rollin. As I recall, Tokelau, Niue and Tahiti also have accessible rooms now.....maybe some others.

But I agree that Rapa Nui is great. We've stayed there many times and love it too.

I also suspect that the plush demostration is how to make towel animals.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

I know when you check in they load your stuff (or just you) on a golf cart and take you to your room.

Unfortunately they only do this if you're staying concierge level. If you're using ME, the golf cart will take your luggage to your room when it's arrived.

What happens if your room isn't ready when you get there? I am directionally impaired and worried I won't be able to find my room!

LOL! No worries! If your room isn't ready (you'll be given a card with a phone number to call after an appointed time), you can check your things with bell services and then go to the pool, one of the parks or go eat. You call the number, and if your room is ready (which it should be) they'll tell you the room number and your KTTW card you got a check-in should work.

The one time our room wasn't ready, the Terror Squad and I checked our carry-ons with bell services and then went to have lunch at Captain Cooks before heading to the MK for awhile. I wanted to go to the pool but they were all about to pee on themselves if we didn't go to the MK right after we ate.

I can just see DS and I wandering around the Poly with a map trying to find where we should be.

Trust me, you guys won't be the only ones! LOL! There are lots of maps posted around the resort so you can get your bearings. All paths eventually lead to the GCH so just use that as your point of reference. Here's a link to the map over on AllEars.net just so you have it.

 

[Matt'sMom]

...it was our understanding last year that all rooms with roll-in showers are located in rapa nuie, with a garden view.

My apologies if I failed to come back and post this info earlier on this specific thread... but there are now accessible rooms with the roll-in showers in Tahiti longhouse, with both lagoon & MK views. We have the lagoon view room blocked out for our December vacation. If the info I have received is correct, this room is located on the first floor & towards the end of the longhouse that sits closest to Sunset Point. There is a 'regular', connecting room on one side of the accessible room(s), for those who might need this option. I will try to remember to post photos of the room & view after we return home from our trip.

There is also an accessible room now in the Hawaii longhouse, garden view club level, with a roll-in shower. The Poly has done a nice job of updating the resort in recent years, in order to provide full accessibility to rooms in nearly every possible category (GV, LV, MKV & GVC).

 

[mickeymotto]

Hello everyone! We just love staying at the Poly on our last trip to WDW. It was amazing as most of you already know.

My question is: Does anyone know the name of the singer who plays and sings most evenings outside of the restaurant area?

He was wonderful! We enjoyed sitting and relaxing with a drink before dinner just to listen to him. My DH loved his music very much, I was wondering if he had a CD I could get DH for his B-day to remind him of our trip he loved so much. If anyone has any info, please let me know. Thanks!

BTW...love this thread!

 

[Pirate at Heart]

Thanks Seaspray for such a wonderful thread. My family and I are headed to the Poly LVC in July. Can't wait!!

 

[csaribay]

Hello everyone! We just love staying at the Poly on our last trip to WDW. It was amazing as most of you already know.

My question is: Does anyone know the name of the singer who plays and sings most evenings outside of the restaurant area?

He was wonderful! We enjoyed sitting and relaxing with a drink before dinner just to listen to him. My DH loved his music very much, I was wondering if he had a CD I could get DH for his B-day to remind him of our trip he loved so much. If anyone has any info, please let me know. Thanks!

BTW...love this thread!

Kaleo is typically out in the Tambu Lounge area singing to the crowd... he's contributed to a few other artist's commercial collections, but to my knowledge doesn't have a CD released of his own. Next week I'll ask him if he has any commercial work available, and I'll post back here.

 

[disneydreamin247]

The Poly is surprisingly easy to get around... it looks spread out, but it's a nice spread out....

If you get there and your room isn't ready yet, they will store your luggage and let you head out to the parks or such and they will give you a card with a number to call and check on your room....

& don't worry...if you get back and you need someone to help you find the room, they will give you a map and if you need... ask and they will get someone to take you there...

Good luck and enjoy!!!

LOL! No worries! If your room isn't ready (you'll be given a card with a phone number to call after an appointed time), you can check your things with bell services and then go to the pool, one of the parks or go eat. You call the number, and if your room is ready (which it should be) they'll tell you the room number and your KTTW card you got a check-in should work.

The one time our room wasn't ready, the Terror Squad and I checked our carry-ons with bell services and then went to have lunch at Captain Cooks before heading to the MK for awhile. I wanted to go to the pool but they were all about to pee on themselves if we didn't go to the MK right after we ate.



Trust me, you guys won't be the only ones! LOL! There are lots of maps posted around the resort so you can get your bearings. All paths eventually lead to the GCH so just use that as your point of reference. Here's a link to the map over on AllEars.net just so you have it.

Thanks!

It's amazing I don't get lost around here (NYC), however Google Maps on my phone and hopstop.com do WONDERS to get me where I have to go.

They should really make a Disney version!

 

[mickeymotto]

Kaleo is typically out in the Tambu Lounge area singing to the crowd... he's contributed to a few other artist's commercial collections, but to my knowledge doesn't have a CD released of his own. Next week I'll ask him if he has any commercial work available, and I'll post back here.

That would be great! I appreciate your help....I hope he has a CD, I think it would make a great gift for DH. If he doesn't have one, do you mind asking what CD he would recommend with the same or similar music for me to get?

Thank you! Thank you!

 

[huntconn]

Hello everyone! We just love staying at the Poly on our last trip to WDW. It was amazing as most of you already know.

My question is: Does anyone know the name of the singer who plays and sings most evenings outside of the restaurant area?

He was wonderful! We enjoyed sitting and relaxing with a drink before dinner just to listen to him. My DH loved his music very much, I was wondering if he had a CD I could get DH for his B-day to remind him of our trip he loved so much. If anyone has any info, please let me know. Thanks!

BTW...love this thread!

Kaleo is fantastic. My wife and I Honeymooned at the Poly in 1998. Back then Kaleo was the entertainer at 'Ohana. We had dinner there our first night and immediately fell in love with the place. Kaleo was one of the major factors in our love for 'Ohana. I was extremely dissapointed when I found out that he was no longer the performer there. However, it's great to see him performing outside of 'Ohana in the evenings. We've gone to hear/see him many nights, even when we were not dining at 'Ohana. I look forward to seeing him again when we are at the Poly in July. One other note: Kaleo regularly does the musical part of the torch lighting ceremony (singing/drumming) each evening. Mahalo Kaleo!

 

[SeaSpray]

Have any of you ever stayed in this longhouse? It has some accessible rooms and my Travel Agent has just requested one for me. I took a look at the Polynesian map and Niue looks like it's in a great, central location. I don't remember reading any reviews about it!

Well, if nothing else, if I do get to stay in that building, I'll come back and give my review not only on the longhouse itself, but also on the experience of staying in an accessible room there.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Kaleo is typically out in the Tambu Lounge area singing to the crowd... he's contributed to a few other artist's commercial collections, but to my knowledge doesn't have a CD released of his own. Next week I'll ask him if he has any commercial work available, and I'll post back here.

Thanks!

I didn't know his name but I do know that listening to him sing 'Mele Kalikimaka' on Christmas Day was magical to me and my family. My DD8 was singing at the top her lungs along with him. It was a great start before our Christmas dinner at 'Ohana listening to him.

I may be imagining things but I swore I've seen/heard him perform at 'Ohana a few times.

 

[csaribay]

Thanks!

I didn't know his name but I do know that listening to him sing 'Mele Kalikimaka' on Christmas Day was magical to me and my family. My DD8 was singing at the top her lungs along with him. It was a great start before our Christmas dinner at 'Ohana listening to him.

I may be imagining things but I swore I've seen/heard him perform at 'Ohana a few times.

Yeah, Kaleo used to be the full-time entertainer at 'Ohana for a while, and he was featured on a clip for the Food Network at around that time. He filled in once last year, but he's typically out in the lounge (which works for me- a lot of the time I'm out there ).

And huntconn is right- Kaleo participates in the torch lighting ceremony most nights out of the week.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I stayed at the Poly in '94 and loved it! We were in Tahiti which is not the same longhouse as what is NOW Tahiti. Anyway, I'm surprising DFi with a stay at the Poly for our honeymoon (he thinks we're staying at the WL!)

My questions is.....
Are the longhouse, Tahiti, Rapa Nui and Tokelau (the one side, anyway) as far as they look on the map? It would seem that those are the most undesireable locations but maybe it's just the map. Can you request a longhouse? And which is the best one, in your opinions. We're planning on garden view.