ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: September 2012

[rcraw45425]

It's been ages since we've stayed at the Polynesian, our last visit was like two renovations back, lol. Wondering if they started Samoa now if it would be complete by June, I admit I haven't kept up with the time frame as it hasn't interested me. Will say that our prior stay did not bowl us over, we've been staying at the other deluxe properties since then but DH is ready to try the Poly again. Upcoming visit is first week of June, immediately after older daughter's high school graduation.

[polyfor4]

I would assume Samoa would ready by June, I've heard two months to remodel each long house. We've only stayed in Somoa and are staying at the Poly the end of May- we booked CL so we would be guaranteed a remodeled room. Samoa is also a very popular long house request and we were worried that the remodeled rooms would only amplify that request. I know we would be sad if we didn't get to stay there this time- no favorite building, no remodeled room.

[Hulles]

Hi everyone, We am going to be staying at BLT this coming april. We have an ADR at Cona Cafe on the day we arrive, I figured we would check out the Poly and have dinner there that night. Is there anything we should absolutely check out at the Poly before heading back to BLT for the night?

We have always passed by the Poly on the Monorail but have never been in there!

[angbuz]

I am super excited because I just booked our first Poly stay. We've been to several disney resorts (POFQ, AKL & BC), but Poly has always been on my resort "wish list"! I was able to get the 35% pin code for our stay in August 21-27th. Given this is our first time at Poly, my kids (DD13, DS 9), DH and I are not sure which longhouse we want to request or if we should request one at all. After reading this whole thread, I'm leaning towards Samoa, balcony, volcano pool side. We would like to be close to the pool and the GCH. Does that sound like a good request? Again, I'm just so thrilled to be able to stay at Poly......I don't think I'll care much which longhouse we're in.

[LollieFollie]

Do any of you know when the renovations are supposed to be complete at The Poly? I have friends trying to decide between 2 club level rooms at either Poly or GF for April. They have 4 kids, ages 2,4,6, and 8.
Thanks!

[ella6599]

We're considering the Poly for an early August stay this year. Loving looking at all the pictures and great info in this thread. One thing I'm wondering though...I read a rumor somewhere that they could be doing construction on the pool late summer to put in a hot tub. Anyone else hear anything about this? Is early August "late summer"? And if so, how much would it be likely to affect the pool? (My kids are daily swimmers when we're on vacation!)

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Originally Posted by LollieFollie

Do any of you know when the renovations are supposed to be complete at The Poly? I have friends trying to decide between 2 club level rooms at either Poly or GF for April. They have 4 kids, ages 2,4,6, and 8.
Thanks!

The Hawaii Bldg was the first longhouse to undergo renovations. They started work in January and with allowing approximately 2 months for each longhouse, they should be completed with the renos soon I would think

[LollieFollie]

Originally Posted by Cdn Friends of Pooh

The Hawaii Bldg was the first longhouse to undergo renovations. They started work in January and with allowing approximately 2 months for each longhouse, they should be completed with the renos soon I would think

Thanks!

[rcraw45425]

Love the knowledgeable phone CMs! I jsut called to add a request for a renovated room, don't really care about the building at this point. She replied, oh they're all renovated now! I explained that I didn't think so, had friends that had just been there and there were buildings being redone right now. I just hope she put in the request. I wanted to request Samaoa again but didn't want to push my luck with this one.

[angbuz]

Originally Posted by ella6599

We're considering the Poly for an early August stay this year. Loving looking at all the pictures and great info in this thread. One thing I'm wondering though...I read a rumor somewhere that they could be doing construction on the pool late summer to put in a hot tub. Anyone else hear anything about this? Is early August "late summer"? And if so, how much would it be likely to affect the pool? (My kids are daily swimmers when we're on vacation!)

We'll be there late August.....hoping this is not the case. My kids would be crushed if they couldn't use the pool/slide.

[Tropical Wilds]

Just got back from Poly on Sat... The hotel was gorgeous, though the bus system wasn't all that great, but a lot of the shine was taken off when bell services lost my laptop bag which had my laptop, a Surface tablet, my DS, and my MP3 player. We checked it in with them to hold so we could go do the parks one last time and when we claimed our carryons, we noticed it wasn't with our stuff. They said they remembered seeing it, remembered seeing it in the baggage room, but couldn't "put their hands on it" at this time. After 1.5 hours of looking and a missed Magic Express, it finally turned up in the hotel itself somewhere... Somebody had taken it out of baggage services and it somehow got back into the hotel by mistake. They suspect they mis-delivered it to a room with somebody's arrival baggage...

I know that isn't typical, it's certainly never happened to me before, but I have to say it put a damper on the Poly experience.

I'd also suggest to those staying there that they think twice about using their bell services. In the process of trying to locate the bag, they let us into their baggage room to look around... There were laptops EVERYWHERE, just on shelves, some near the door, all within eyesight of guests passing by, not secured in their cage. That was very, very different from our experience at Pop, where they lock all of that up while you're out and about. If I were to go again, I'd be really, really hesitant about using that service there.

[angbuz]

Just wanted to see my ticker!!!

[maiapapaya]

Originally Posted by Dominion

Wow - thank you so much for this information and the room layout! So helpful. Just three follow-up questions...

First, if you stay in a first floor room, can you go in and out of your room through the patio door? Can you lock the sliding glass door from the outside?

Second - can you enter the lounge directly from any floor?

IF you are staying in either the first or second floors, can you hear people walking around above you? I'm wondering if 3rd floor might be better for that reason??

Clearly, I am way overthinking this and taking advantage of this group's vast and detailed information!! Thank you!

Yes, if you have a first floor room you can go in & out through the patio door to your patio and the lawns, but you cannot lock the sliding door from the outside.

You cannot enter the lounge directly from the first floor. There is a set of stairs at the concierge desk end. You can enter directly from the second floor. From the third floor you can enter the upper level of the lounge, but you have to go down a set of stairs in the lounge to access the food & beverages.

We've only had the third floor, so I can't comment on overhead noise for the 1st/2nd floors

[Tinkerbellie16]

Originally Posted by Tropical Wilds

Just got back from Poly on Sat... The hotel was gorgeous, though the bus system wasn't all that great, but a lot of the shine was taken off when bell services lost my laptop bag which had my laptop, a Surface tablet, my DS, and my MP3 player. We checked it in with them to hold so we could go do the parks one last time and when we claimed our carryons, we noticed it wasn't with our stuff. They said they remembered seeing it, remembered seeing it in the baggage room, but couldn't "put their hands on it" at this time. After 1.5 hours of looking and a missed Magic Express, it finally turned up in the hotel itself somewhere... Somebody had taken it out of baggage services and it somehow got back into the hotel by mistake. They suspect they mis-delivered it to a room with somebody's arrival baggage...

I know that isn't typical, it's certainly never happened to me before, but I have to say it put a damper on the Poly experience.

I'd also suggest to those staying there that they think twice about using their bell services. In the process of trying to locate the bag, they let us into their baggage room to look around... There were laptops EVERYWHERE, just on shelves, some near the door, all within eyesight of guests passing by, not secured in their cage. That was very, very different from our experience at Pop, where they lock all of that up while you're out and about. If I were to go again, I'd be really, really hesitant about using that service there.

That is not right. I'm so sorry to hear of it. I don't like using bell services anywhere only because I prefer to have my luggage in view but occasionally it is necessary - especially when your room isn't ready!

[Tinkerbellie16]

Originally Posted by angbuz

We'll be there late August.....hoping this is not the case. My kids would be crushed if they couldn't use the pool/slide.

All rumor until it happens or Disney officially announces it (which is generally at the same time). Best 'rumors' are from Tikiman but even he has received misinformation.