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

[Spoisal]

Traditional torch lighting ceremony complete with authentic torch lighter, drums and chants is held each evening Tuesday through Saturday at 6:00pm.

Not to be dense, but is this inside or outside. I would assume outside, but at Disney you never know!

 

[Tess]

Not to be dense, but is this inside or outside. I would assume outside, but at Disney you never know!

The ceremony is held outside the GCH at the front entrance.

 

[sandym718]

Yep, just meet at the front entrance! It's really neat and one of those cool, FREE special Disney touches.

 

[Zuzu03]

Hi everyone! Home sick today so catching up on all of my subbed threads! Welcome back Dawgdad and have fun those of you leaving shortly!!!

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

We're checking out of the Gaylord Texan on our mini-trip this morning. It's very pretty and in a convenient location, but it's NOTHING like our home away from home. Disney service and that "welcome home" feeling just can't be beat! Can't wait to get back to the Poly this year!!!

 

[kaffinito]

Not sure I think we got lost in the longhouse shuffle

No matter we'll be at the Poly

Maybe no one knows?

 

[BreezysMom]

Hi all! I got an unexpected day off of work so I will be playing with the first page of posts as I get ready to start the next edition of the FAQ as we are approaching MEGA THREAD status

I am going to be back tracking looking for trip reports, longhouse view pics and so forth....if you remember when you posted a review or have the link and or page # let me know in a PM please.

We have about 20 pages until they lock this one so I will get the spring edition up as soon as I can.

Thanks for making our thread the best on the DIS! I Poly lovers

 

[disney pro]

Samoa may be an good option. The quiet pool is on one side and the volcano pool is on the other (so either way you're facing a pool!) The volcano pool side can have lovely views of the GF off in the distance. It is also close to the GCH. I haven't personally stayed there, but have read quite a few posts of ppl who've like the location.

We were in one of the "smaller" rooms and really, it wasn't that small! We were me, DH, DD18, DD7 and DD4 all in the room and we were fine. I had been really worried that we would feel like we were all on top of each other, but it wasn't like that at all.

Maiapapaya, I noticed your ticker and it looks like we will be at WDW at the same time, we will be at BC first of the week and then ending the week at Poly maybe we will run into each other.

 

[woodleygrrl]

Aloha everyone!

Just got back from a wonderful 7 nights at the Poly on Sunday. The trip was the best one that my DH and I have ever had, excluding our honeymoon to Hawaii 3 years ago.

we had booked a GV room. We did the on-line check in and found that when we got there we were assigned a second floor room with no balcony. That was no good for us, so we asked to be placed in a room that had a balcony or a patio. We ended up in Rarotonga, room 1817 which ended up being the best room ever. We were facing the monorail, second to last room of the hall closest to the TTC, first floor. we were about equidistant from the GHC and the TTC. PERFECT. in fact, we are going to specifically request a room in that area next year when we go.

The weather was good minus last Friday when it rained about 2 inches. But the volcano pool was warm. So warm that there was steam coming from the pool because it was 68 outside and the pool was about 83. The quiet pool on the other hand was FREEZING. got in and out in about 2 minutes.

We spent a lot of time at the Tambu lounge. Got that lapu lapu and it was delicious as ever. Our bar tab was the biggest bar tab that we have ever made. awesome.

One big complaint that I have is the bus transportation. On last thursday night we had reservations at the Flying Fish at the Boardwalk for dinner. it was cool that night and raining slightly. We called the front desk and asked how to get there via Disney transportation. They said take a bus to DTD and then transfer to a Boardwalk bus. Sounded convoluted to me. I had thought just take a monorail to the MK and a bus to the Boardwalk, but whatever, I am no transportation genius. So there we were 2 hours in advance of our reservation, at the bus stop (about 6 pm) waiting for a DTD bus. we waited. and waited. and waited some more

Finally, 48 minutes later a bus came to take us to DTD. I wish that was the end of it. it took another 45 minutes to get to the Boardwalk after the bus stopped at the Swan, the Dolphin, the YC, and then the BC. Holy hell, was that a long ride. We barely made it for our reservation. Moral of the story: take a cab!

other than the transportation, our trip was great and I plan on posting some pictures later. Only 362 days until our next vacation!

mahalo!

Jennifer

 

[woodleygrrl]

View from our porch

view looking out from the room

view looking up from the porch

 

[Tess]

Aloha everyone!

Just got back from a wonderful 7 nights at the Poly on Sunday. The trip was the best one that my DH and I have ever had, excluding our honeymoon to Hawaii 3 years ago.

we had booked a GV room. We did the on-line check in and found that when we got there we were assigned a second floor room with no balcony. That was no good for us, so we asked to be placed in a room that had a balcony or a patio. We ended up in Rarotonga, room 1817 which ended up being the best room ever. We were facing the monorail, second to last room of the hall closest to the TTC, first floor. we were about equidistant from the GHC and the TTC. PERFECT. in fact, we are going to specifically request a room in that area next year when we go.

The weather was good minus last Friday when it rained about 2 inches. But the volcano pool was warm. So warm that there was steam coming from the pool because it was 68 outside and the pool was about 83. The quiet pool on the other hand was FREEZING. got in and out in about 2 minutes.

We spent a lot of time at the Tambu lounge. Got that lapu lapu and it was delicious as ever. Our bar tab was the biggest bar tab that we have ever made. awesome.

One big complaint that I have is the bus transportation. On last thursday night we had reservations at the Flying Fish at the Boardwalk for dinner. it was cool that night and raining slightly. We called the front desk and asked how to get there via Disney transportation. They said take a bus to DTD and then transfer to a Boardwalk bus. Sounded convoluted to me. I had thought just take a monorail to the MK and a bus to the Boardwalk, but whatever, I am no transportation genius. So there we were 2 hours in advance of our reservation, at the bus stop (about 6 pm) waiting for a DTD bus. we waited. and waited. and waited some more

Finally, 48 minutes later a bus came to take us to DTD. I wish that was the end of it. it took another 45 minutes to get to the Boardwalk after the bus stopped at the Swan, the Dolphin, the YC, and then the BC. Holy hell, was that a long ride. We barely made it for our reservation. Moral of the story: take a cab!

other than the transportation, our trip was great and I plan on posting some pictures later. Only 362 days until our next vacation!

mahalo!

Jennifer

Welcome back and glad you had a lovely trip!

Any time you take a bus to DTD, it is a forever and a day affair. Did you not have admission media? If so, taking the monorail to EPCOT and walking through is really the quickest trip to get to the Boardwalk, at least in our experience. An FYI for future reference. . .I figured you would be returning since you had a grand time! Your other thought, monorail to MK and bus from MK to BWI, is another better alternative to DTD.

Nice photos too!

 

[marianos]

Just made our ARDS for our upcoming trip to the Poly I am happy to say we were able to get all but 1 of our requests so that really wasn't bad. Got the most important one Ohana first time there really looking forward to it. Love all the pictures and posts really gets me in the mood Thanks All

 

[heidijanesmith]

Aloha everyone!

Just got back from a wonderful 7 nights at the Poly on Sunday. The trip was the best one that my DH and I have ever had, excluding our honeymoon to Hawaii 3 years ago.

we had booked a GV room. We did the on-line check in and found that when we got there we were assigned a second floor room with no balcony. That was no good for us, so we asked to be placed in a room that had a balcony or a patio. We ended up in Rarotonga, room 1817 which ended up being the best room ever. We were facing the monorail, second to last room of the hall closest to the TTC, first floor. we were about equidistant from the GHC and the TTC. PERFECT. in fact, we are going to specifically request a room in that area next year when we go.

The weather was good minus last Friday when it rained about 2 inches. But the volcano pool was warm. So warm that there was steam coming from the pool because it was 68 outside and the pool was about 83. The quiet pool on the other hand was FREEZING. got in and out in about 2 minutes.

We spent a lot of time at the Tambu lounge. Got that lapu lapu and it was delicious as ever. Our bar tab was the biggest bar tab that we have ever made. awesome.

One big complaint that I have is the bus transportation. On last thursday night we had reservations at the Flying Fish at the Boardwalk for dinner. it was cool that night and raining slightly. We called the front desk and asked how to get there via Disney transportation. They said take a bus to DTD and then transfer to a Boardwalk bus. Sounded convoluted to me. I had thought just take a monorail to the MK and a bus to the Boardwalk, but whatever, I am no transportation genius. So there we were 2 hours in advance of our reservation, at the bus stop (about 6 pm) waiting for a DTD bus. we waited. and waited. and waited some more

Finally, 48 minutes later a bus came to take us to DTD. I wish that was the end of it. it took another 45 minutes to get to the Boardwalk after the bus stopped at the Swan, the Dolphin, the YC, and then the BC. Holy hell, was that a long ride. We barely made it for our reservation. Moral of the story: take a cab!

other than the transportation, our trip was great and I plan on posting some pictures later. Only 362 days until our next vacation!

mahalo!

Jennifer

I am going to try the Online Check in for our stay in July. I am nervous about getting the location we asked for when we made our ressie, as my DH has medical issues with walking long distances. We asked to be close to the monorail. When you were assigned a room that did not work for you, how did the CM's resolve the issue at the Online Check in que?

Any problems with bus transportation to AK and DS?

THanks!!

 

[DreamnDisney]

Welcome back and glad you had a lovely trip!

Any time you take a bus to DTD, it is a forever and a day affair. Did you not have admission media? If so, taking the monorail to EPCOT and walking through is really the quickest trip to get to the Boardwalk, at least in our experience. An FYI for future reference. . .I figured you would be returning since you had a grand time! Your other thought, monorail to MK and bus from MK to BWI, is another better alternative to DTD.

Nice photos too!

How long does it take to walk from Epcot to DTD? Are there any signs that show you which way to walk?

Thanks!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

How long does it take to walk from Epcot to DTD? Are there any signs that show you which way to walk?

Thanks!

Do you mean EPCOT to the BoardWalk? 10 minutes, tops.

 

[DreamnDisney]

Do you mean EPCOT to the BoardWalk? 10 minutes, tops.

Is there any way to get to DTD from Epcot, rather than waiting forever for a bus to pick up at the Poly?

 

[woodleygrrl]

Welcome back and glad you had a lovely trip!

Any time you take a bus to DTD, it is a forever and a day affair. Did you not have admission media? If so, taking the monorail to EPCOT and walking through is really the quickest trip to get to the Boardwalk, at least in our experience. An FYI for future reference. . .I figured you would be returning since you had a grand time! Your other thought, monorail to MK and bus from MK to BWI, is another better alternative to DTD.

Nice photos too!

We did have admission media, but it was so cold and rainy and we were dressed for dinner. I really didn't want to walk too far outside. That walk from the front of Epcot to France is kind of a long one. And then you have to walk from there or wait for a boat to get to the BW. This is all fine on a sunny, park-clothes day. Not when we were freezing and dressed up.

 

[mmmears]

Is there any way to get to DTD from Epcot, rather than waiting forever for a bus to pick up at the Poly?

You could catch a DTD bus from Epcot, I suppose. I don't think it's faster than taking the DTD bus from the Poly, though. We were told that there weren't DTD buses from the parks, but there were. There is no way to walk -- no sidewalks even. DTD is very close to Typhoon Lagoon, and there was no safe way to walk from one to the other.

 

[mmmears]

Just made our ARDS for our upcoming trip to the Poly I am happy to say we were able to get all but 1 of our requests so that really wasn't bad. Got the most important one Ohana first time there really looking forward to it. Love all the pictures and posts really gets me in the mood Thanks All

Sounds great! 'Ohana is a huge restaurant but it has become very popular -- you're lucky to get a reservation there! Dinner at 'Ohana is a tradition for us -- yummy!

 

[Tess]

Is there any way to get to DTD from Epcot, rather than waiting forever for a bus to pick up at the Poly?

You could catch a DTD bus from Epcot, I suppose. I don't think it's faster than taking the DTD bus from the Poly, though. We were told that there weren't DTD buses from the parks, but there were. There is no way to walk -- no sidewalks even. DTD is very close to Typhoon Lagoon, and there was no safe way to walk from one to the other.

Theme park buses do not go to DTD. There used to be stops many moons ago, but they were removed when folks staying offsite began parking at DTD to avoid paying for parking and riding to the parks.

You could pick up a bus from the theme parks to Port Orleans or French Quarter and take the boat from one of these resorts to DTD and a bus back to your resort from DTD. While it may not be any less time consuming, you do get the benefit of resort hopping and the ability to stop and smell the roses versus the exhaust of the bus!