ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: September 2012

[maiapapaya]

That sounds real good right about now!

not

(I live in New York -- weather hasn't been horrible, but not drink on the beach either)

We're in Ontario, so I know of what you speak! We live right on the beach and as I look out my window I'm seeing chunks of ice on the water (despite our recent thaw) Would much rather the palm trees and lagoon with the castle off in the distance ...

 

[cricketgirl]

We leave on Jan 22, 2013 and I am so excited I can hardly sleep. We stayed at the Poly last Jan and it was great. We stay CL but since it wasn't available we are staying Garden View. My son (26 years old) has never been to Disney and frankly had no interest until this year. So I canceled my solo trip and made it a mom and son trip. I have been with Hubby 3 times, took my niece and nephew last year and now my son. Next year I am gonna do a solo. But I am so excited about this trip. Hoping my son will love the Poly as much as we did. We requested Tokelau building. Have all my ADR made that we had planned on making. even got a CRT reservation last week. Yep, he wanted his picture taken with the princesses. I guess all I have left to do is order my water and his Dr Peppers for the week and we are ready to go. Gonna try a Dole Whip this time and he's wanting to try a lupa lupa? I don't know something like that. His boss told him to check it out.
Hoping for a little pixie dust to make his vacation extra special.

Any last minute tips, tricks, advice or anything?

Thanks,
Lori

 

[pixarmom]

Thanks for the reply. I like the idea of checking out Tambu Lounge. I hadn't thought about checking out another resorts or going to MK! I was thinking of staying at the Poly but you've given me something to think about.

Have you ever seen the parade? Any suggestions of where to be?

Oh yes! The EWP is really one of my favorite Disney memories. I remember running out to the Poly beach with my brother as a child/teen, watching it from River Country with friends on a high school trip, and sitting on the beach with my three boys to see it pass by. I'm not sure if it's really good or maybe my adoration is based entirely on nostalgia! For a viewing spot, I really like the beach right in front of the volcano pool (although my favorite spot is our balcony in the Samoa building, but that doesn't apply since you'll be out of your room by then!)

Hope you enjoy and please report back on your trip and your Poly stay!

 

[gaildmoody]

You will have to let them in - mention to the concierge that your friends are visiting and they will likely offer to allow them use of the lounge while they are there. That is exactly what hooked us - we visited a friend in the lounge one evening/were invited to stay for dessert and ended up staying many times in CL Lagoon View at Hawaii. I know of many repeaters who ended up as visitors of guests.

Liz

That is how it was for us. As long as your guests aren't in the lounge on a regular basis they had no problem letting us take them in there. I did ask first and she said absolutely!

 

[SeaSpray]

Do the new cabanas take up a lot of patio space? Is there a map that shows their locations around the pool? Thanks.

 

[lindsroc]

We stayed at the poly on our last trip and loved it! It was myself, husband and 2 kids. This year we are traveling with my brother and his family as well and booked the boardwalk inn. Now I'm second guessing myself! We had such a nice relaxing time at the poly, I hope I don't regret switching it up this year!

To everyone who is going soon, have a great vacay!

 

[somehta]

I've been lurking on this board for years, but I am posting for the first time to say:

I finally booked a stay at Poly!

We will be there from 8/23-8/31 and I was able to use a PIN code for 35% off. It will be me, DH, DS6, and DS4. I put in a request for Samoa 1st or 3rd floor so hopefully we get one of those.

This is the first time I have stayed on-site since a trip in 2000 (stayed at All-Star Sports). The two trips I took in between I stayed at a Marriott time share since I was travelling with extended family. I have always wanted to stay at Poly and after going to the O'Hana character breakfast in May 2011, I was determined that I would for my next trip. DH stayed at the Poly twice when he came to WDW as a kid so he is excited to go back. This is also a special trip because this is the first time we are going to Disney with our boys and no other extended family members - it will be just the four of us.

I know my trip is still months away, but I have some questions:

1. Has anyone used the Neverland Club for their kids? DH and I were thinking of leaving the boys there for a few hours so we could enjoy an adults-only evening at Epcot.

2. Are the fridge's big enough to fit a 1/2 gallon of milk or do we have to get a smaller size? Also, is there enough room to freeze a couple bottles of water in the freezer section?

3. Is there usually a long wait to do laundry at the laundry facilities?

I'm sure I will have more questions as time goes on, but thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Mommy2TwoMickeys]

I was on Tikiman's Website and was looking at the room views for room# 1914 and #1915 in Tokelau. Which one, in your opinion has the nicer view of the 2? also, do the ground floor rooms have just grass in front of them or shrubs too? We LOVE samoa ground floor, not only for the view of the volcano pool, but also for the fact that we were able to literally walk out of our patio with the stroller instead of having to go through the hallway. We stayed Hawaii ground floor last year-garden view and we were not able to do that since trees and shrubs etc made it a bit difficult.

 

[polyfor4]

Sorry for the blank post- accidentally reposted an old message! Happy Monday everybody- here's to wishing I was eating Tonga Toast right now!

 

[mickey1510]

Is anybody going to the Poly soon that can post pictures of what the refurb/construction looks like? I know it's internal but I'm just wondering if there's a lot of materials outside of the building. Thanks.

 

[DznyCrzy11]

Sorry for the blank post- accidentally reposted an old message! Happy Monday everybody- here's to wishing I was eating Tonga Toast right now!

With some 100% Kona Coffee!!! Happy Monday to you too!!

Sent from my Galaxy S II

 

[hebbynan]

I know my trip is still months away, but I have some questions:

1. Has anyone used the Neverland Club for their kids? DH and I were thinking of leaving the boys there for a few hours so we could enjoy an adults-only evening at Epcot.

I'm sure I will have more questions as time goes on, but thanks in advance for your help!

Seeing as this is our very first stay at the Poly, I can't answer the last 2, but I CAN answer the first one. We used the Neverland Club one time when we stayed at ASMo a few years ago. Our boys were 4 and 8 at the time. We left them there for 4 hours while we went to Downtown Disney and had a very romantic dinner. Mind you, our children never minded us leaving them before, but OH MAN! They both literally ran up the steps to the little window and that was it - no goodbye hug, kiss or even a see ya later! And when we came to pick them up - DS4 cried....because he didn't want to leave!!! Neither one of them shut up about it the entire way back to the resorts. They loved it. In fact, for this coming trip we mentioned DS now 13 can watch the youngest DS, who will turn 9 before we go, in the room for a bit so we can get some 'adult alone time'. Man they were both so bummed now that the oldest is too old for Neverland. I don't really know exactly what they did in there, as it's a 'kid only' place, but they loved it! If you can afford the $$$, I say it's worth it!

-Heather

 

[GinChicago]

I've been lurking on this board for years, but I am posting for the first time to say:

I finally booked a stay at Poly!

We will be there from 8/23-8/31 and I was able to use a PIN code for 35% off. It will be me, DH, DS6, and DS4. I put in a request for Samoa 1st or 3rd floor so hopefully we get one of those.

This is the first time I have stayed on-site since a trip in 2000 (stayed at All-Star Sports). The two trips I took in between I stayed at a Marriott time share since I was travelling with extended family. I have always wanted to stay at Poly and after going to the O'Hana character breakfast in May 2011, I was determined that I would for my next trip. DH stayed at the Poly twice when he came to WDW as a kid so he is excited to go back. This is also a special trip because this is the first time we are going to Disney with our boys and no other extended family members - it will be just the four of us.

I know my trip is still months away, but I have some questions:

1. Has anyone used the Neverland Club for their kids? DH and I were thinking of leaving the boys there for a few hours so we could enjoy an adults-only evening at Epcot.

2. Are the fridge's big enough to fit a 1/2 gallon of milk or do we have to get a smaller size? Also, is there enough room to freeze a couple bottles of water in the freezer section?

3. Is there usually a long wait to do laundry at the laundry facilities?

I'm sure I will have more questions as time goes on, but thanks in advance for your help!

We're scheduled for a Neverland Club visit in 3 weeks for DD age 5 so I'll let you know.

 

[sandym718]

I was on Tikiman's Website and was looking at the room views for room# 1914 and #1915 in Tokelau. Which one, in your opinion has the nicer view of the 2? also, do the ground floor rooms have just grass in front of them or shrubs too? We LOVE samoa ground floor, not only for the view of the volcano pool, but also for the fact that we were able to literally walk out of our patio with the stroller instead of having to go through the hallway. We stayed Hawaii ground floor last year-garden view and we were not able to do that since trees and shrubs etc made it a bit difficult.

We have stayed in #1914 before, but not #1915. 4 stays in Tokelau, though, 2 on each side of the building. I don't remember the exact room numbers on the East (non-pool) side, but one was close down to that end, maybe 1918? There is a great picture of 1915 on Tikiman's site. I do prefer this side of the building because it DOES open to a nice grassy area where the kids can play, and it's easy to depart from. Also, the walkway is farther away from the patio. Last 2 stays have been quiet pool side and I have grown to love that side as well. However, #1915 was not my favorite. There is a lagoon view somewhat, but this patio IS surrounded by shrubs. We were able to exit by squeezing through between 2 shrubs, but probably wouldn't work with a stoller. Also, the walkway is very close to this patio, which I didn't like. It's also heading directly toward this patio/door, so if we had the heavy curtains open, I felt like people were looking right at us. We all know about the "darkness" of the Poly, so I like to keep those heavy drapes open as much as possible.

To summarize - if you're going to request one, I'd go with #1914, great grassy area and I'd say a better view! Definitely see Space Mountain and with just a step or two off the patio, you'll see the castle.

***I'll add this though - to request a specific room number could be risky. The chances of it being available for your entire stay, from the first day, are not great. I think it's OK to do, I'd just have back-up requests ready and be willing to "work with" the CM at check in to find something else good if it's not available. In the past, our requests have been: Tokelau, first floor, East side. We got the first 2 all 4 times (though we had to stay in Fiji the first night our 2nd trip), the East side 2x. Now that I know I like the Quiet pool side, I'll probably just request Tokelau, first floor and take what we get (except #1915, I'd probably ask to move further down if I get that).

 

[TaraPA]

Tikiman's FB page says some guests are reporting that 'Ohana is testing some menu changes...anyone know more about this?

 

[Wanna be Ariel]

Tikiman's FB page says some guests are reporting that 'Ohana is testing some menu changes...anyone know more about this?

Yep just read about this a couple days ago http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3043861

Not happy at all about this. I really hope that people do not like the changes and they keep it the way it was.

 

[TaraPA]

Yep just read about this a couple days ago http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3043861

Not happy at all about this. I really hope that people do not like the changes and they keep it the way it was.

Thanks for the link, I hadn't seen that before!

I am sooooo pysched for my 1st 'Ohana meal ni March, and we'll still go, but my kids (and myself) are huge sauce people - hope they don't implement having only peanut sauce!

Anyone there now that can comment on this trial?

 

[jandkmom]

Thanks for the link, I hadn't seen that before!

I am sooooo pysched for my 1st 'Ohana meal ni March, and we'll still go, but my kids (and myself) are huge sauce people - hope they don't implement having only peanut sauce!

Anyone there now that can comment on this trial?

From that link, it looks like they may only be trying this out for a month, so you should be okay. Unfortunately, we have an ADR in over 2 weeks. I'm fine with the changes other than the lack of sauce...maybe we should BYOS?

 

[TaraPA]

..maybe we should BYOS?

OMG I was seriously thinking "how can I get little packets of sauce in my carry-on & to 'Ohana without making a mess??"

 

[bethclayton]

just wanted to say hello. i used to post on this thread quite a bit but sheesh, that was nearly two years ago! time flies! we stayed at the poly in Dec 2010 and loved it there, and cannot wait to return. our next trip, last april, was to the GF because my parents were with us, so i was mostly posting on the GF thread for a while. we are planning to return to disney in august for my 40th birthday and we will be doing a split stay with 2 nights at the GF and the rest most likely at the poly. i am still deciding and will not make a final decision until i see what the deals will be. i have been watching this thread a lot again recently so i thought i should say hello since there are a lot of folks who are new to me!