ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: January 2012

[MercMom]

Just booked our trip to Disney for October 2013...10 days at Poly, can't believe it's going to happen.

Last time I stayed there I was 7 and on this trip my son will be the same age!!!

 

[Masonmj84]

I should also add that the standard room cost is $474 every night of our stay which includes weekends. There was no variance.

BTW, I'm not complaining, we'll pay for it. But it does seem like a big change to me. I called my Dad (who will be joining us with his own room and reservation) to warn him and he was okay with it. This is the first time he's vacationed with us, and the first time to Disney for him in 25 years so I was worried he'd bail. But he's all in.

LOL! I'm worried about trying to sell the Poly to my dad (who, FWIW, teaches finanical planning) and I'd be treating him and my mom (on a separate room and reservation from ours).

If I end up going through with it, I'd very much prefer that he never finds out how much I spent (even if a substantial discount is involved). Otherwise, I'd never hear the end of it (it would be like that Seinfeld episode where Jerry tries to buy his dad a Cadillac).

 

[Alli76]

Well it is official - booked the Poly club for our April 2013 trip this morning!!! (Fingers and toes are crossed for discounts) Next step - waiting for JetBlue to release flights for those dates! Oh and working out the plans for ADRs with my sister - "The Non-Planner"

 

[maiapapaya]

So the 2013 package prices came out today and since have absolutely no patience and can't wait for my TA to get back to me on pricing, I decided to go to Disney's site and model the pricing myself.

A couple things popped up that I think are changes. But since you all are the experts, I'll leave it to you to tell me if this is indeed a change.

First I don't think they have the class "garden view" in 2013. Here are the classifications that I see:

Standard view
Lagoon view
Garden view - club level
Theme park view
Lagoon view - club level
Theme park view - club level

Does that seem like a change? If so, since I wanted a "garden" view (aka least expensive) room then I guess the standard view is what I would get. Here's the description of the standard view provided on Disney's website.

All rooms have 2 queen-size beds and a day bed, small table, chair, ceiling fan and bathroom. All rooms are non-smoking. Wheelchair-accessible rooms are available. Amenities include complimentary wi-fi, TV, in-room wall safe, voice mail, hairdryer, iron, ironing board, coffeemaker and refrigerator. Garden View Rooms are located in all buildings and offer views of a parking area, garden, pool, marina or monorail.

Since the room description still refers to this class of room as Garden View (the last sentence when describing the the location & views) I think that maybe they just slipped up with the labelling when calling them "Standard View". Otherwise it sounds like they are the same rooms.

Just out of curiosity I looked on allears for what costs were for that room category for June of this year. The rooms are currently cheaper on weeknights ($465), but more expensive on weekends ($510). It looks like maybe they are just levelling out the cost across the week?

 

[princssdisnygina]

Just out of curiosity I looked on allears for what costs were for that room category for June of this year. The rooms are currently cheaper on weeknights ($465), but more expensive on weekends ($510). It looks like maybe they are just levelling out the cost across the week?

this is pretty normal. Friday & Saturday nights are typically a little more expensive.

 

[maiapapaya]

this is pretty normal. Friday & Saturday nights are typically a little more expensive.

Oh, I know. I was just commenting on latexscooter's post noting the prices for 2013 ($474/night for everyday of the week, including weekends) - that it looks like a change in the pricing format (but works out about the same for a week).

 

[latexscooter]

Since the room description still refers to this class of room as Garden View (the last sentence when describing the the location & views) I think that maybe they just slipped up with the labelling when calling them "Standard View". Otherwise it sounds like they are the same rooms.

Just out of curiosity I looked on allears for what costs were for that room category for June of this year. The rooms are currently cheaper on weeknights ($465), but more expensive on weekends ($510). It looks like maybe they are just levelling out the cost across the week?

The leveling is a good point. I played with the math and looked at the dates comparing 2012 vs. 2013. If I figured this right I'm actually going to save $108 in 2013 over 2012 with the change to the Friday, Saturday night rates. Now, if I did the math incorrectly I do not want anyone to correct me. I'm blissfully happy in my (maybe) mistake.

 

[maiapapaya]

The leveling is a good point. I played with the math and looked at the dates comparing 2012 vs. 2013. If I figured this right I'm actually going to save $108 in 2013 over 2012 with the change to the Friday, Saturday night rates. Now, if I did the math incorrectly I do not want anyone to correct me. I'm blissfully happy in my (maybe) mistake.

I actually got the same thing - it works out cheaper in 2013 for a full week, but I didn't want to mention it in case my math was wrong! I guess they make up the difference with the increases in ticket prices!

 

[Masonmj84]

I actually got the same thing - it works out cheaper in 2013 for a full week, but I didn't want to mention it in case my math was wrong! I guess they make up the difference with the increases in ticket prices!

Did they level at other resorts or just the Poly?

If so, I wonder if the cheaper average rate (as the result of the leveling) might have something to do with the rumored construction at the resort.

 

[Alli76]

Absolutely not wanting to be a pessimist.... but I am also hoping the "price leveling" and the lack of an overall increase does not mean less discounts next year

 

[BreezysMom]

I'm back

Hi Poly peeps!

I have been staying off the DIS for various reasons. The main one is that our trip for this year was a maybe and I was really trying not to get all excited and then be disappointed. Today a final decision was made and while it is exciting, if you look at my ticker, we are going in 37 days as opposed to the end of October as originally planned.

This is a bittersweet compromise as we were to meet back up with maiapapaya and her family again this year and be able to spend some time with them. But with my DH job conflict and other issues this last minute change in plans seems to be the best for us this year. We are only staying 4 nights but we have early arrival flights and late departing flights so we will have five full days. I have never been in August so it should be interesting. It has been hot as heck here so I am not worried about the heat.

This morning has been a whirlwind of changing reservations, booking flights and transport to the airport. The good thing about us is we usually just wing it as far as plans so I will do a little reading and checking out the hours. Since we are staying CL I will let the IPO worry about any ADRs.

So I guess I can do the happy dance! If I'm going to get to go, I guess this is the way to go!

I will be popping in some more now that we are booked and getting ready to go!

Happy planning everyone

 

[disneydreamin247]

I'm back

Hi Poly peeps!

I have been staying off the DIS for various reasons. The main one is that our trip for this year was a maybe and I was really trying not to get all excited and then be disappointed. Today a final decision was made and while it is exciting, if you look at my ticker, we are going in 37 days as opposed to the end of October as originally planned.

This is a bittersweet compromise as we were to meet back up with maiapapaya and her family again this year and be able to spend some time with them. But with my DH job conflict and other issues this last minute change in plans seems to be the best for us this year. We are only staying 4 nights but we have early arrival flights and late departing flights so we will have five full days. I have never been in August so it should be interesting. It has been hot as heck here so I am not worried about the heat.

This morning has been a whirlwind of changing reservations, booking flights and transport to the airport. The good thing about us is we usually just wing it as far as plans so I will do a little reading and checking out the hours. Since we are staying CL I will let the IPO worry about any ADRs.

So I guess I can do the happy dance! If I'm going to get to go, I guess this is the way to go!

I will be popping in some more now that we are booked and getting ready to go!

Happy planning everyone

Yay we will be there at the same time!!!

 

[walt's assistant]

I'm a LONG TIME WDW patron (since 1971) but this next visit in August will be the FIRST time for me staying at the Poly.

OK Poly vets...Give me one MUST DO thing at the Poly. GO!!!

 

[guitarob]

I'm a LONG TIME WDW patron (since 1971) but this next visit in August will be the FIRST time for me staying at the Poly.

OK Poly vets...Give me one MUST DO thing at the Poly. GO!!!

Only one? Oh, ok... I won't hog them all...

A sunrise stroll of the grounds while listening to the World wake up.

 

[njchilds]

We are leaving in 5 days and are so excited. Can anyone confirm that all rooms have the coffee pod machines? Last time we stayed, they had small reg. pots and if they are the pods is it possible to request the old type of machine?

 

[disneydreamin247]

We are leaving in 5 days and are so excited. Can anyone confirm that all rooms have the coffee pod machines? Last time we stayed, they had small reg. pots and if they are the pods is it possible to request the old type of machine?

It seems all rooms have the new machine. I doubt they have any other models anymore.

 

[jenneth79]

Hello, everyone!

We just decided to change our 3 night stay at the Grand Floridian this coming October (the construction madness is just getting a wee bit out of control!) and decided on a TPV in the Hawaii building. Just looked at a lot of the information and pictures on this thread and I'm getting rather excited now!

Are there any caveats or gotchas that I should know about regarding Hawaii? As in, don't get this room because <> or GET this room because <>? I did request a top floor room because we're not fans of ground level access and I heard 2nd floor rooms don't have balconies?

TIA, off to do a bit more picture-ooogling!

 

[pixarmom]

Hello Poly Fans! Just booked Poly as part of a split stay for January! We really wanted CL for this stay, but there is currently no CL availability for our dates. So I'll be checking back frequently for availability. (I started a thread about the lack of CL availability at Poly throughout the month of January - does anyone here have any information?)

Our last stay at Poly was January of 2011, and Poly was my WDW "home" throughout my childhood, so we're just excited to return!

P.S. Hi Jenneth!!!

 

[WLfamily]

We're Wilderness Lodge vets, I guess you could say. Been to Disney four times and stayed at WL each time. I've almost (like 99.99%) decided to book the Poly for 2013.
I was hoping someone could answer a couple of questions. I see that Capt. Cook's is open 24 hrs, is that where you fill your refillable mugs? If it is, can you refill your mug 24/7? My dh takes his refillable mug seriously.
Also, I'll be booking standard view and was wondering if any one longhouse is better than another as far as location to transportation and the main house. I realize everyone may have a different answer and reason and would love to hear each one. I also am aware it's just a request, but a girls gotta try.
Last question, the longhouse's look like each building contains hallways and separate rooms. I guess what I'm saying is that they aren't like your moderates where you enter your room from the outdoors. Am I correct about this and are the longhouse's one story? Sorry if this sounded confusing.

 

[Alli76]

Wow - no availability the whole month? Wonder if they will be updating the rooms. I remember reading on here that room updates would be starting this fall - maybe they will be doing the Hawaii building in Jan?