ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: September 2012

[polyfor4]

I have a few CL questions! How strict is CL with guests coming over? We have a friend staying at a different resort who always comes to see us at the Poly. And is it possible to eat only one counter service and snack in the parks and rely on CL snacks for the rest? And last question (I promise ) does the IPO help with getting tough to get reservations? In other words, is there a chance the IPO reservation could get a reservation I can't get over the phone?

[maiapapaya]

Originally Posted by polyfor4

I have a few CL questions! How strict is CL with guests coming over? We have a friend staying at a different resort who always comes to see us at the Poly. And is it possible to eat only one counter service and snack in the parks and rely on CL snacks for the rest? And last question (I promise ) does the IPO help with getting tough to get reservations? In other words, is there a chance the IPO reservation could get a reservation I can't get over the phone?

The Hawaii building is secured & only a CL key card will let you in (although I think all of the longhouses are like this now with the RFID cards?) Someone in your party would have to let your guests in. I don't think there is an issue with someone visiting you in your room, however the lounge & the food/beverage offerings there are meant strictly for paying CL guests. There is no one enforcing this, it's on the honour system.

We try to eat our big meal of the day at lunch (we aren't big eaters) and then breakfast and dinner time "snacks" in the lounge. We manage pretty well with this. We do have a few TS meals during our week, but that's more because of preference than need. I think we could do it just on CS. BTW, there are snacks out in the afternoon when the actual food service isn't on - gold fish crackers, homemade cookies, fruit (apples, bananas), soda, etc. - so you don't have to do all of your snacking in the park. Of course we always have to have our Mickey bars & a dole whip or two

We have used the IPO for our ADR's for our last two trips and have always gotten the reservations we've wanted, within 15 min. of our requested time, including CRT & 'Ohana. Mind you we book at 180 days. I don't know how much pull they have if you are trying to book something last minute, although I think they would have a better chance of success than someone just calling up on their own.

[polyfor4]

Thank you maiapapaya- that completely answered all of my questions! We will have a few TS throughout the week but will be without the dining pan. If all goes according to plan- a GV CL and no dining is cheaper or equal to GV with dining. We have always wanted to stay CL and since we are going in May CL also ensures we will have a remodeled room- it's a win win.

[aboveH20]

Originally Posted by pixarmom

Hello! Just a few thoughts regarding your questions:

1) What to do between 5:30pm and 9pm. So many choices and depends on so many factors. Will you have energy at that point, or will you want to relax? Will you have park admission? Have you explored the monorail resorts yet? But first, dinner. I'd probably grab appetizers and a drink for my dinner at Tambu Lounge. After dinner, if you have energy and park admission, I'd do some shopping on Main Street in MK. (I rarely have the opportunity to do that and if I were on my own and that close to MK, that sounds nice.) If you have energy but no park admission or are interested in touring the monorail resorts, I'd hop on the monorail and explore GF and CR. (When staying at Poly, we like to hop over to GF, even though we've walked through many times before.) But without energy, I'd probably sit out by the pool or on the beach with a book until it gets too dark to read, do some final shopping at the Poly and then watch the parade.

2) Which resort? If not on the monorail, I'd say cab. Just go to the front where your son caught ME and the CM at the desk there should be able get a cab for you. When we do this, they rarely have to call - there are often cabs stopping by looking for passengers. And if they do need to call, it's usually just a few minutes.

Have a great time!!!

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?

[hulagirl87]

I can't believe that we leave in 11 days! My friend is there right now and ran the full marathon this morning and has been sending me pictures. I'm so anxious to go!

My question is this, to anyone that might know... Does Samoa Snacks sell a 1/2 gallon of milk? DD is definitely a milk drinker and I would love to be able to purchase a 1/2 gallon and keep it in our room fridge. Thanks!

[Traveliz]

Originally Posted by polyfor4

I have a few CL questions! How strict is CL with guests coming over? We have a friend staying at a different resort who always comes to see us at the Poly. And is it possible to eat only one counter service and snack in the parks and rely on CL snacks for the rest? And last question (I promise ) does the IPO help with getting tough to get reservations? In other words, is there a chance the IPO reservation could get a reservation I can't get over the phone?

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

[maiapapaya]

Originally Posted by polyfor4

Thank you maiapapaya- that completely answered all of my questions! We will have a few TS throughout the week but will be without the dining pan. If all goes according to plan- a GV CL and no dining is cheaper or equal to GV with dining. We have always wanted to stay CL and since we are going in May CL also ensures we will have a remodeled oom- it's a win win.

You're welcome! The last two years we have stayed CL with no DP. If you calculate in costs for extras for the 5 of us (eg. alcohol - our oldest is 21, so for 3 adults, snacks & soda, etc) it works out to about the same or actually less for us to do CL with one daily out of pocket meal, including a few TS, than to do the dining plan and stay non CL.

We can't wait to see the new rooms & lounge too! You'll have to post pics!

Originally Posted by aboveH20

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?

We watched the parade last fall from a porch over in the Liberty Square area (I think it may have been part of the Liberty Tree Tavern building?) and the view was nice - it was a bit elevated, and away from the crowds!

[aboveH20]

Originally Posted by maiapapaya

We watched the parade last fall from a porch over in the Liberty Square area (I think it may have been part of the Liberty Tree Tavern building?) and the view was nice - it was a bit elevated, and away from the crowds!

Thanks for the reply. I was actually referring to the Electrical Parade. I'm hoping to see it for the first time since I'll be at the Poly.

[maiapapaya]

Originally Posted by aboveH20

Thanks for the reply. I was actually referring to the Electrical Parade. I'm hoping to see it for the first time since I'll be at the Poly.

haha, sorry! I thought you meant MSEP since the pp had mentioned hitting the MK, although I wondered how you were going to manage that and see the EWP!
Any where along the main Poly beach is great. In February there shouldn't be a ton of competition for a chair. You could even get a drink from the Bare Foot Bar and take it down to the beach with you (or sit at one of the tables on the patio by the bar)

[aboveH20]

Originally Posted by maiapapaya

Any where along the main Poly beach is great. In February there shouldn't be a ton of competition for a chair. You could even get a drink from the Bare Foot Bar and take it down to the beach with you (or sit at one of the tables on the patio by the bar)

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)

[maiapapaya]

Originally Posted by aboveH20

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]

Originally Posted by aboveH20

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]

Originally Posted by Traveliz

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.