Aloha! ***Welcome to the NEW Poly FAQ***

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I am 34 days away from my Disney trip and I just realized I am STAYING AT THE POLY.....

This has been a crazy Disney planning year for me

I started the year with no Disney trip plans since we did 2 very expensive, very rack rate trips in 2008 (yes it was pre DISboards) So I cheated, and agreed to start running (which I did on Jan 17th, 2009) JUST to do the Disney HM and get a trip out of it. Hello... CRAZY... I was 40lbs overweight and I am starting to run just to get my DH to agree to a Disney trip 12 mths away.

So I am signed up for the half marathon and then family talks about a Christmas Trip, so in March I started planning a family Christmas grand gathering that went from 10-12 down to just 6 of us. We started at Poly Club Level, then I changed it to BLT, then I changed it to Saratoga as we really wanted to all be together. My 90 day ADR window opened while I was in Virginia Beach supporting my DH in his 1st half marathon and I will never forget cheering on runners while booking ADR's BUT I got everyone I wanted and was on cloud 9.

Then like a week later, friends ask about a summer trip and I was instantly sold and surprising so was DH. I enjoyed a week at Disney this past June with 14 of my closest friends and actually survived and enjoyed being off site for this time. I was sole planner for this and loved every minute of it.

Then in September - we get the news that we need to cancel the Dec Disney trip due to military conflicts ...:: It was painful canceling my perfect ADR's..- oh and check in was in 2 days..

Somewhere in the next month or so, I managed to get a great room rate at the Poly for marathon weekend.. I am paying $199 per night and grabbed it so quickly for the 2 rooms that I need that weekend that it never really sunk in.

Well today, many months later from signing up for this crazy Half Marathon my Magical Express tags come and the POLY and I realize OMG - I am staying at the POLY.... And everything that I read back in March when I thought I was staying there has been forgotten and now I need to catch up.


Oh and about that spur of the moment half marathon crazy idea I had, I am pleased to say that I have lost 30 of my 40lbs and have gone from barely running around the block to doing an 11 miler this weekend. I guess Disney does make dreams come true..

Well - if you are still reading - I thank you but this rambling has helped me

I hope you have a great time.

 

[wdwluver]

As long as you have a "modern" iPod with the dock opening on the bottom - it just plugs in.

Just be aware -- not all iHome units charge ALL iPods/iPhones. It depends on the model of each -- older iHomes don't charge newer iPhones - we have this problem at home with a number of different speaker things. So make sure you bring a plug to charge just in case.

Thanks for the info. I'll bring the wall plug. I think I would die if my phone ran out of power.

 

[wdwluver]

I am 34 days away from my Disney trip and I just realized I am STAYING AT THE POLY.....

This has been a crazy Disney planning year for me

I started the year with no Disney trip plans since we did 2 very expensive, very rack rate trips in 2008 (yes it was pre DISboards) So I cheated, and agreed to start running (which I did on Jan 17th, 2009) JUST to do the Disney HM and get a trip out of it. Hello... CRAZY... I was 40lbs overweight and I am starting to run just to get my DH to agree to a Disney trip 12 mths away.

So I am signed up for the half marathon and then family talks about a Christmas Trip, so in March I started planning a family Christmas grand gathering that went from 10-12 down to just 6 of us. We started at Poly Club Level, then I changed it to BLT, then I changed it to Saratoga as we really wanted to all be together. My 90 day ADR window opened while I was in Virginia Beach supporting my DH in his 1st half marathon and I will never forget cheering on runners while booking ADR's BUT I got everyone I wanted and was on cloud 9.

Then like a week later, friends ask about a summer trip and I was instantly sold and surprising so was DH. I enjoyed a week at Disney this past June with 14 of my closest friends and actually survived and enjoyed being off site for this time. I was sole planner for this and loved every minute of it.

Then in September - we get the news that we need to cancel the Dec Disney trip due to military conflicts ...:: It was painful canceling my perfect ADR's..- oh and check in was in 2 days..

Somewhere in the next month or so, I managed to get a great room rate at the Poly for marathon weekend.. I am paying $199 per night and grabbed it so quickly for the 2 rooms that I need that weekend that it never really sunk in.

Well today, many months later from signing up for this crazy Half Marathon my Magical Express tags come and the POLY and I realize OMG - I am staying at the POLY.... And everything that I read back in March when I thought I was staying there has been forgotten and now I need to catch up.


Oh and about that spur of the moment half marathon crazy idea I had, I am pleased to say that I have lost 30 of my 40lbs and have gone from barely running around the block to doing an 11 miler this weekend. I guess Disney does make dreams come true..

Well - if you are still reading - I thank you but this rambling has helped me

Way to go! I wish I had that motivation.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I am 34 days away from my Disney trip and I just realized I am STAYING AT THE POLY.....

This has been a crazy Disney planning year for me

I started the year with no Disney trip plans since we did 2 very expensive, very rack rate trips in 2008 (yes it was pre DISboards) So I cheated, and agreed to start running (which I did on Jan 17th, 2009) JUST to do the Disney HM and get a trip out of it. Hello... CRAZY... I was 40lbs overweight and I am starting to run just to get my DH to agree to a Disney trip 12 mths away.

So I am signed up for the half marathon and then family talks about a Christmas Trip, so in March I started planning a family Christmas grand gathering that went from 10-12 down to just 6 of us. We started at Poly Club Level, then I changed it to BLT, then I changed it to Saratoga as we really wanted to all be together. My 90 day ADR window opened while I was in Virginia Beach supporting my DH in his 1st half marathon and I will never forget cheering on runners while booking ADR's BUT I got everyone I wanted and was on cloud 9.

Then like a week later, friends ask about a summer trip and I was instantly sold and surprising so was DH. I enjoyed a week at Disney this past June with 14 of my closest friends and actually survived and enjoyed being off site for this time. I was sole planner for this and loved every minute of it.

Then in September - we get the news that we need to cancel the Dec Disney trip due to military conflicts ...:: It was painful canceling my perfect ADR's..- oh and check in was in 2 days..

Somewhere in the next month or so, I managed to get a great room rate at the Poly for marathon weekend.. I am paying $199 per night and grabbed it so quickly for the 2 rooms that I need that weekend that it never really sunk in.

Well today, many months later from signing up for this crazy Half Marathon my Magical Express tags come and the POLY and I realize OMG - I am staying at the POLY.... And everything that I read back in March when I thought I was staying there has been forgotten and now I need to catch up.


Oh and about that spur of the moment half marathon crazy idea I had, I am pleased to say that I have lost 30 of my 40lbs and have gone from barely running around the block to doing an 11 miler this weekend. I guess Disney does make dreams come true..

Well - if you are still reading - I thank you but this rambling has helped me

Phew... no wonder you forgot where you were staying.

I must say, other than a surprise trip, you HAVE to be the first person staying at the Poly who didn't realize it until getting ME tags

Have a great run

 

[jenbear123]

Hi Everyone! I'm booked to stay at the Poly, TPV for 2 nights at the end of April 2010 with my mom. The other 6 nights will be spent at Pop. This is a surprise for my mom who has always wanted to stay at the Poly. She has NO IDEA that we're going to be staying here, and I plan to keep it that way until we are checking out of Pop. I just have to figure out how to keep this a secret

This thread has been very helpful with all the information. Love all the pictures! My only question is, which building would be best for TPV? Should I even bother to make a room request? We're bound to have a good view, right?

 

[Uno Mas]

I'm looking to make my longhouse request for our January trip and I usually ask for one of the houses right next to the GCH. However, I heard that Tokelau's rooms are a bit larger - has anyone stayed there and can tell me a little bit about it? Thanks!

 

[koho]

Uno Mas, we just stayed in Tokelau this past October. There were 5 of us in one room (3 adults and 2 kids) and there was plenty of room for all of us. I am not sure how they compare with the other rooms at Poly, but the room seemed larger than those at the YC.

 

[vicki_c]

I'm looking to make my longhouse request for our January trip and I usually ask for one of the houses right next to the GCH. However, I heard that Tokelau's rooms are a bit larger - has anyone stayed there and can tell me a little bit about it? Thanks!

I don't think the minimal size differences of any rooms at the Poly are going to be that noticeable. The Poly rooms are all very large, they are the largest rooms (or one of the largest) on WDW property, I believe other than DVC and suites.

I really like Tokelau as a location though - nice and central, near the quiet pool.

 

[WDWKOOK]

I'm looking to make my longhouse request for our January trip and I usually ask for one of the houses right next to the GCH. However, I heard that Tokelau's rooms are a bit larger - has anyone stayed there and can tell me a little bit about it? Thanks!

I've read on the Tikimanpage that the rooms in all of the original longhouses (including Hawaii CL) are the same layout and size - 415 sq. ft (except the Tonga suites.) The newer longhouses: Tokelau, Tahiti and Rapa Nui are 476 sq. ft. The size difference is noticable primarily in the bathroom as they have double sinks.

The Tikimanpage has the room layouts pictured in the "Rooms and Rates" section.

The CR's (non-suite) rooms at about 440 sq. ft. are larger than the Poly's original longhouse rooms, but slightly smaller than the newer longhouse rooms.

Have a great vacation!

 

[DisneyBarlans]

We just booked our first "adults only" trip for next year-our 10th anniversary at the Poly!!! So excited!!!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We just booked our first "adults only" trip for next year-our 10th anniversary at the Poly!!! So excited!!!

Awesome! I've got one of those "first ever adults only" trips booked too (see my ticker). Is it wrong that I'm counting down to the trip instead of Christmas?

ETA: The "surprise" part of my trip was in jeopardy this morning. DW and I were having breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Over breakfast she notes that it's about time to start dreaming about another WDW trip for us and the kids -and that the MLK weekend might be nice. I told her I'd been keeping close watch on the internet for deals and that Disney just doesn't have any enticing offers for January at this time. I promised I'd keep checking. All the while, on the inside I was about to bust.

 

[DisneyBarlans]

Awesome! I've got one of those "first ever adults only" trips booked too (see my ticker). Is it wrong that I'm counting down to the trip instead of Christmas?

ETA: The "surprise" part of my trip was in jeopardy this morning. DW and I were having breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Over breakfast she notes that it's about time to start dreaming about another WDW trip for us and the kids -and that the MLK weekend might be nice. I told her I'd been keeping close watch on the internet for deals and that Disney just doesn't have any enticing offers for January at this time. I promised I'd keep checking. All the while, on the inside I was about to bust.

Too funny! DH and I talked about going somewhere else, but we've always wanted to go at least once without the kids. Then we got a bounceback flyer in our room Thanksgiving week for 40% off, so that sealed the deal! It'll be my first time at a Deluxe, DH stayed there a few times with his parents when he was growing up. Now we just have to tell the kids...

 

[WDWKOOK]

For those of you who would like to take a step back in time and see the Poly, umm, Polynesian Village Resort that is, of yesteryear, here is a fantastic site that I linked to through the Tikimanpage:

http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/poly.htm

It has many wonderful photos, videos and interesting facts and info. on much of WDW's attractions and resorts.

Enjoy!

 

[ladybugmom]

For those of you who would like to take a step back in time and see the Poly, umm, Polynesian Village Resort that is, of yesteryear, here is a fantastic site that I linked to through the Tikimanpage:

http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/poly.htm

It has many wonderful photos, videos and interesting facts and info. on much of WDW's attractions and resorts.

Enjoy!

Very cool!! Thanks for sharing!!!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Very cool!! Thanks for sharing!!!

You're welcome.

 

[freewill]

I have been lurking around this thread, learning more about the Poly and preparing for a surprise trip there next month. So excited!

At least I was excited until this morning, when my 6-year old and I were looking at our Disney maps and she pointed at the Poly and said that it was the dark, smelly place!!

I have no idea what she is remembering from our trip to the World last summer. We stayed at the GF and had dinners at Ohanas and Kona -- so something stuck in her mind that I just can't remember!

But it makes me worried about announcing a trip there when we get to the holidays -- any idea what on Earth she could have been talking about??

Thanks everyone!!

 

[vicki_c]

Well dark, I don't know. The other -- although I wouldn't call it smelly in a bad way, the Poly grounds do have a distinct smell, I think. It's just from all the foliage -- it smells kind of green and moist, IMO.

The funny thing is - I first stayed at the Poly in 1978 when I was 12. I don't remember all that much, but one of the few things I do remember is a smell! Again, not a bad smell - just what I consider the Poly smell.

I never noticed the rooms smelling at all!

 

[WDWKOOK]

I have been lurking around this thread, learning more about the Poly and preparing for a surprise trip there next month. So excited!

At least I was excited until this morning, when my 6-year old and I were looking at our Disney maps and she pointed at the Poly and said that it was the dark, smelly place!!

I have no idea what she is remembering from our trip to the World last summer. We stayed at the GF and had dinners at Ohanas and Kona -- so something stuck in her mind that I just can't remember!

But it makes me worried about announcing a trip there when we get to the holidays -- any idea what on Earth she could have been talking about??

Thanks everyone!!

Kids say the darnedest things, don't they?

Just yesterday, DD11 wrote-up her Poly Vs. CR "pro/con" list (yes, she is WDW OC like me) for our upcoming summer trip, and on it she wrote:

Poly Pros: "The cool, fresh smelling breeze in the Great Ceremonial House."

Our DD LOVES the Poly, but DH and I are on the fence because our last visit there we had less than acceptable room/longhouse cleanliness and those bathrooms are pretty dark and our room was dusty, but smelly? That's one complaint I guess we don't have

Has the moment been lost when you could simply ask your DD what was smelly and dark? Maybe it was a bathroom

 

[AGentlRose]

We just returned home Friday from 5 nights at the Poly, club level. I will be writing a trip report soon. I came home to sadness because my 16 year old cat passed yesterday and I'm so heart broken.

 

[IslandAdventure4]

You can have two very different experiences from the beaches at the Poly. The beach behind Figi, near the luau cove is almost empty of certain nights when the Luau is not running (Sunday and Monday). DH and I would get a beer from Samoa Snack and sit on lounge chairs while DD played in the sand and we watched the fireworks. On this beach we could not hear the music.

On a different night we stayed by the pool area and got a cocktail at the Barefoot bar and shared the chair swing while watching the fireworks and EWP. We could hear the music clearly here. DD played with the other kids on the beach while we relaxed and enjoyed the show

Have fun

Ok after reading that I want to be there right now!!! Especially since we had our first snow fall last night