ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: September 2012

[Chicago Mo]

No they don't. You can find good coffee at Kona Island Cafe Coffee Bar.

stupid question.. has to be asked... can you use your mug for the Coffee bar???

I have SUCH butterflies! We have a 6 a.m. flight tomorrow-and my girls still don't know!

Keep the tips coming! We are staying CL TPV. I still feel so out of the "poly loop" b/c we had originally planned for the GF CL.

i'm trying really hard to do our trip as a surprise.. i have a long way to go and it is SO HARD!

 

[tobin04]

stupid question.. has to be asked... can you use your mug for the Coffee bar???

I am pretty sure you can NOT use it!




i'm trying really hard to do our trip as a surprise.. i have a long way to go and it is SO HARD!

I know-it's been hard. I have whispered it to my 2 year a couple times-but she doesn't quite understand! LOL! I just keep reminding myself how awesome it will be to wake them up in the morning and tell them we are going to Disney!!! They love going!

 

[uagirl]

I know-it's been hard. I have whispered it to my 2 year a couple times-but she doesn't quite understand! LOL! I just keep reminding myself how awesome it will be to wake them up in the morning and tell them we are going to Disney!!! They love going!

We've been telling our 2 year old about it for months. For the last 2 weeks, she has been asking daily to go to Disney World. It's making these last few days that much harder!

 

[Chicago Mo]

I know-it's been hard. I have whispered it to my 2 year a couple times-but she doesn't quite understand! LOL! I just keep reminding myself how awesome it will be to wake them up in the morning and tell them we are going to Disney!!! They love going!

Going ON their birthday next year! so i hope it makes for a nice 9th birthday!! Funny because they brought it up yesterday about going... IT WAS SO HARD not to say anything!

We've been telling our 2 year old about it for months. For the last 2 weeks, she has been asking daily to go to Disney World. It's making these last few days that much harder!

Whisper it ALL now when they learn to talk and listen it's over and impossible to keep anything from them!

 

[mom_of_3_mousketeers]

I have SUCH butterflies! We have a 6 a.m. flight tomorrow-and my girls still don't know!

Keep the tips coming! We are staying CL TPV. I still feel so out of the "poly loop" b/c we had originally planned for the GF CL.

HOW exciting!! I wish I could have kept it from my kids but I couldn't have handled the rejection if they didn't want to go. But then again, they are Disney nuts like their mom. I hope you have a great trip! We leave for the airport at 4:30 Saturday morning. My kids are so excited they can barely stand it!

 

[DrDoodle]

I just had to post in the new thread to say how excited I am to be going in 26 Days!!! For my first POLY CL stay!

I was wondering if you had any idea of the pricing for the poolside massages in the cabanas? That would be pretty luxurious!

Please let us know how the poly club level stay goes. We have never stayed there before and are really looking forward to our 10/13/12 arrival

 

[guitarob]

Just a gorgeous photo! Hope you and thenewmrsb are having a fabulous time! I wish I was there to bump into you at the pool this year Or after Ohana!

Sorry folks but its been hard to visit the disboards -I'm in total Disney withdraw - you know the feeling. And I have no planned trips and most likely we won't go next year due to other vacations. I pop in and every so often I tell DH I'm going to book a quick trip with just me and DD but I can't bring myself to do it since we are saving for a big trip next year. DH will give in to me (and he has) but I know it isn't fair to do it. Sucks when I have an AP burning a hole in my pocket!!!

We are having a blast. Lots of rain, but that's ok

I know how you feel, this is going to be our last trip for a couple of years. I'm not looking forward to the withdrawal. Not even thinking about it right now though.

absolutely Breathtaking!!!
where is artist point so i know where to go!!! nighttime at 80?!?? I better go now and practice!!

Artist Point is at Wilderness Lodge, and it's absolutely AMAZING!! More on that when I get home.

I use 80 at night, on a tripod (pocket sized). I use shutter priority mode, which pretty much locks the aperture at f2.0. Then I just adjust the shutter speed until enough light gets to that sensor. The low ISO keeps the noise out as much as possible. I bracket my shots often as well, taking the shot I think I want, then one at a higher and one at a lower setting to make sure Digital is a beautiful thing for someone like me who doesn't quite know what he's actually doing

GuitarRob ~ What wonderful photos! I think we are in for a treat, when we have our first Poly stay in April!!!

Thanks for the compliment!!!

You are in for SUCH a treat. I'm sure you're going to love it!

guitarob......Hope you're having a great trip. Love the beautiful photos.....thanks for posting them . The Poly is our favorite resort.....we love everything about it and can't wait to try CL next summer .

Thank you for the compliment. CL is a whole new level of awesome! You're going to have a blast!

I have SUCH butterflies! We have a 6 a.m. flight tomorrow-and my girls still don't know!

Keep the tips coming! We are staying CL TPV. I still feel so out of the "poly loop" b/c we had originally planned for the GF CL.

Have a safe and magical trip! You're going to have a great time!!

 

[mickeynut1]

I have SUCH butterflies! We have a 6 a.m. flight tomorrow-and my girls still don't know!

Keep the tips coming! We are staying CL TPV. I still feel so out of the "poly loop" b/c we had originally planned for the GF CL.

How exciting . You are going to love the Poly.....have a great trip .

Thank you for the compliment. CL is a whole new level of awesome! You're going to have a blast!

You're welcome......your pics make me wish I was at the Poly now . We are excited to try CL next summer. I've read alot of negative reviews about Poly CL, but I also read many bad reviews about the Poly overall prior to our stay in 2007 and that stay was one of the best stays we have had at Disney......so I think CL will be just as great .

 

[kath2me]

Hi, Just switched from Por to the Poly,, have a garden view room,, some help please,, What bldg. to request, don't want to be far from the main bldg. as I use a scooter, have problems walking, everything seems to be spread out, any suggestions?

 

[lovemymac]

Tokelau is close
Rarotonga is closest to GCH
NIUE is also very close
TONGA is close on the other side
RAPA nUI is the cloeset to the TTC.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/polymap.htm
This map will help you

 

[chimo2u]

ROB: your pictures are breathtaking! And bring butterflies to my stomach when I think of my first time checking into POLY CL....only 1 WEEK to go until I depart!!!!

I know how you feel about wanting to hold onto every minute! That's why I'm trying to slow down and savor even the buildup because I don't want it over too soon! It'll be 2014 (if I'm lucky) and 2016 (for sure for my 25 anniversary) before I get back again!!!! I need to make my memories from this trip to last me a long time! enjoy your remaining days!

 

[xipotec]

i know-it's been hard. I have whispered it to my 2 year a couple times-but she doesn't quite understand! Lol! I just keep reminding myself how awesome it will be to wake them up in the morning and tell them we are going to disney!!! They love going!

have fun tomorrow!

 

[PHLtoMCO]

Hi, Just switched from Por to the Poly,, have a garden view room,, some help please,, What bldg. to request, don't want to be far from the main bldg. as I use a scooter, have problems walking, everything seems to be spread out, any suggestions?

Fiji! Fiji is right across from the GCH and Marina. Less than a 1 min walk (or ride ) to the GCH! You can also request Marina side and overlook the Marina and it's still considered "garden view." We have never gone wrong with Fiji

 

[guitarob]

You're welcome......your pics make me wish I was at the Poly now . We are excited to try CL next summer. I've read alot of negative reviews about Poly CL, but I also read many bad reviews about the Poly overall prior to our stay in 2007 and that stay was one of the best stays we have had at Disney......so I think CL will be just as great .

I have read those negative reviews as well. We have been Club Level guests in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and also as I type this. We have never had a bad experience with the Hawaii longhouse, the staff, the offerings in the lounge, mousekeeping or anything else. Although to be fair, our room in 2010 was in need of a little work, but nothing that would be detrimental to a trip. The trip report in my signature has the details. They have cut back on the offerings in the lounge as well over the years, but I believe that this is "World-wide" and not limited to the Polynesian. There is still plenty of good food and beverage to be had.

I'm eating a yummy chocolate chip cookie as I type this . We watched Wishes! from the balcony again tonight, with beer from the lounge. It is just something completely special that we have been blessed to be able to experience so many times, and I highly recommend it.

You will love CL. Be prepared to get spoiled and become addicted. It's actually kind of scary, the hold this place has on us.

Perfect example: We're leaving on Saturday morning at 7 am. In the interest of saving money we thought we'd do a split stay, and not spend CL money for Friday night, so we booked a room-only at the POP Century, figuring that we'd just head over there at the end of the night, sleep and head to the airport. Today I decided, while sitting on the balcony and staring at the castle, that the plan as it existed would not stand. I went down to the CL lobby explained my situation to the wonderful CM, and was very lucky to be able to add another night in this room at the discounted price that I originally paid. After 4 nights here, the POP just wasn't going to do, even if only for a couple of hours. A-d-d-i-c-t-e-d.

ROB: your pictures are breathtaking! And bring butterflies to my stomach when I think of my first time checking into POLY CL....only 1 WEEK to go until I depart!!!!

I know how you feel about wanting to hold onto every minute! That's why I'm trying to slow down and savor even the buildup because I don't want it over too soon! It'll be 2014 (if I'm lucky) and 2016 (for sure for my 25 anniversary) before I get back again!!!! I need to make my memories from this trip to last me a long time! enjoy your remaining days!

Thank you for the compliments! I'm glad to help build your anticipation. You're going to have a great trip!

We're probably looking at 2014 or '15 as well for our next trip, and I can't even be certain about that. It'll be a heck of a withdrawal since we've had such a good run for the past few years. The trick is to not think about that while you're here. I caught myself a couple of times, and immediately switched my train of thought to a new track. Savor, savor, savor every moment that you are blessed enough to be a part of this world. I should be sleeping right now, MrsB surely is. But, I just can't while I'm here. Even if I'm just sitting on the laptop trying to be quiet, I'm still awake, and still staring at that castle.

TONGA is close on the other side

Please take note that Tonga consists solely of Club Level Suites.

 

[ajh88]

Guitarob - I'm convinced my DH does not sleep AT ALL when we are in our room at the Poly. We have an unbelievable amount of videotape in pre-dawn hours from our TPV balcony. Sometimes I even catch him with the DVD playing as white noise when he is working on something around the house.

We haven't sprung for CL yet because I'm afraid that once we do, we will never settle for anything else.

Enjoy the rest of your stay...I'm extremely jealous, but looking forward to our check in that is only 16 days away!

 

[mickeynut1]

Hi, Just switched from Por to the Poly,, have a garden view room,, some help please,, What bldg. to request, don't want to be far from the main bldg. as I use a scooter, have problems walking, everything seems to be spread out, any suggestions?

We stayed in Samoa and loved the location. It's conveniently located to everything as it's very close to the GCH, the beach, volcano/quiet pool, and Captain Cooks . Have a great trip and enjoy the Poly .

ROB: your pictures are breathtaking! And bring butterflies to my stomach when I think of my first time checking into POLY CL....only 1 WEEK to go until I depart!!!!

Have a great trip .

I have read those negative reviews as well. We have been Club Level guests in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and also as I type this. We have never had a bad experience with the Hawaii longhouse, the staff, the offerings in the lounge, mousekeeping or anything else. Although to be fair, our room in 2010 was in need of a little work, but nothing that would be detrimental to a trip. The trip report in my signature has the details. They have cut back on the offerings in the lounge as well over the years, but I believe that this is "World-wide" and not limited to the Polynesian. There is still plenty of good food and beverage to be had.

I'm eating a yummy chocolate chip cookie as I type this . We watched Wishes! from the balcony again tonight, with beer from the lounge. It is just something completely special that we have been blessed to be able to experience so many times, and I highly recommend it.

You will love CL. Be prepared to get spoiled and become addicted. It's actually kind of scary, the hold this place has on us.

Perfect example: We're leaving on Saturday morning at 7 am. In the interest of saving money we thought we'd do a split stay, and not spend CL money for Friday night, so we booked a room-only at the POP Century, figuring that we'd just head over there at the end of the night, sleep and head to the airport. Today I decided, while sitting on the balcony and staring at the castle, that the plan as it existed would not stand. I went down to the CL lobby explained my situation to the wonderful CM, and was very lucky to be able to add another night in this room at the discounted price that I originally paid. After 4 nights here, the POP just wasn't going to do, even if only for a couple of hours. A-d-d-i-c-t-e-d.

Thanks for your input on Poly CL . After I booked our first Poly stay in 2007, I almost changed resorts after reading alot of negative reviews of the resort overall. In the end, I decided to keep our ressie and see what WE thought of it. I am so glad I didn't change because if I did, we would have missed out on one of the best trips we ever had. After debating back and forth about trying CL at the Poly, I'm really excited to try it and have no doubts about it whatsoever .

I'm glad you were able to change from POP to the Poly for your last night. I would have done the same thing as I know how hard it is to leave the Poly when a trip is over, so I don't think I'd be able to leave to go to another resort for just 1 night.

We haven't sprung for CL yet because I'm afraid that once we do, we will never settle for anything else.

Enjoy the rest of your stay...I'm extremely jealous, but looking forward to our check in that is only 16 days away!

You should give CL a try on as it's a great addition to a trip . I understand about getting hooked as that's what happened to us with the deluxe resorts. We don't stay CL every trip, but now we can't stay anything but deluxe. With that said, we are trying 2 CLs next summer . Have a great trip.....16 days will fly by and you will be checking into the Poly before you know it .

 

[Chicago Mo]

Artist Point is at Wilderness Lodge, and it's absolutely AMAZING!! More on that when I get home.

I use 80 at night, on a tripod (pocket sized). I use shutter priority mode, which pretty much locks the aperture at f2.0. Then I just adjust the shutter speed until enough light gets to that sensor. The low ISO keeps the noise out as much as possible. I bracket my shots often as well, taking the shot I think I want, then one at a higher and one at a lower setting to make sure Digital is a beautiful thing for someone like me who doesn't quite know what he's actually doing

if your bracketing you do KNOW what your doing! Great to know and will be following in your footsteps when i go! I will be killing you with questions!
Have a great time and enjoy every minute!

 

[Mousemommy1]

if your bracketing you do KNOW what your doing! Great to know and will be following in your footsteps when i go! I will be killing you with questions!
Have a great time and enjoy every minute!

Wow!!! I'm jealous of all of you photography pros...my camera arsenal consists of an iPhone, and a Canon Sure Shot that's about 8 years old.

I wish I knew what I was doing!

 

[gaildmoody]

Hello from the Poly!! I have pics to post when I get home! We had a great stay in Hawaii! Great week now we are off to the Disney Dream for a quick cruise fix!

There was a discussion a while back about the bread pudding at Ohana. I ate there twice this week and it's pineapple coconut bread pudding with a banana fosters caramel sauce. I asked 3 different times just to make sure since many of you swore it was banana bread pudding. I don't care what it is... It was yummy!

 

[Chicago Mo]

Wow!!! I'm jealous of all of you photography pros...my camera arsenal consists of an iPhone, and a Canon Sure Shot that's about 8 years old.

I wish I knew what I was doing!

The point and shoots take just as good as the DSLR!!! i had both last trip!!
The lingo is harder to understand then taking awesome pictures i swear!!!
My Iphone took a better picture of the castle during Christmas then my DSLR.. that's sad.