Tinkerbellie16
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2009
Woohoo - my son and I will be there at the same time too! I requested Tokela (sp?) but dont know anything for sure yet. I also requested top floor as we paid for GV and I read might get a glimpse of the castle....
I stayed in room 1915 (I THINK that was the number) and it was the far northeast room on the 1st floor. If we went out about 5 feet, we had a castle view but we could not see it from our room. I have heard that on the higher floors, you get a sideways glimpse of the castle in a few of the rooms. But these are very few and I would not expect to get one of these at all. If you really want a castle view, book it! But Tokelau is my favorite and I am fine with paying for a GV and walking out to the beach to see the castle if I need to.
Just booked our first stay at the Poly. I've heard the coffee at Kona Cafe is great. Can you get it 'to go'? Any other suggestions/must-do for a first timer?
There is a Kona Island Cafe Coffee Bar next to the Kona Cafe (and conveniently located next to the monorail entrance!) They are open in the mornings and in the evenings it turns into a sushi bar. Here is a menu from allearsnet:
Grown in Kona, Hawaii, Roasted in Orlando, Florida, Served in Disney's Polynesian resort at Kona Cafe
Kona Blend Coffee - Regular $1.99 Grande $2.59
Kona Blend Decaf Coffee - Regular $1.99 Grande $2.59
Espresso - Single $3.49 Double $4.49
Kappuccino - Regular $3.99 Grande $4.99
Kafe Latte - Regular $3.99 Grande $4.99
Kafe Mocha - Regular $4.49 Grande $5.49
Kafe Au Lait - Regular $4.29 Grande $5.29
Assorted Pastries and Desserts from the in-house bakery.
I HAVE tried getting take out from Kona Cafe (in the evenings) and they would NOT let me. Not sure if that is standard or I just got the wrong person to help me (they previously told me I could get take out and that is why I went back later for my dessert).
As for the espresso drinks here, they were horrible when I tried them a couple years ago so I won't buy coffee here. Then again, I'm actually ok brewing it in my room or the nescafe (I know, I am one of the few but it reminds me of when I backpacked around Greece and they served nescafe EVERYWHERE!)
I have 12 more days and I will be at the Poly. Can someone tell be about the online check in and the best place to request. GV near the GCH and not too far to go to see the water parade. A balcony too if not too much to ask. Thanks so much in advance
Check out tikiman's site for some VERY in depth views of the longhouses:
http://www.tikimanpages.com/tiki/quick-longhouses
I always book the cheapest (GV) and have always requested Tokelau based on several things (slightly larger rooms, recently remodeled, located close to the pools and GCH but still an easy walk to TTC, all rooms have balconies or patios, one sink in bathroom...) We also prefer a ground floor room to have room to walk around in the mornings on our patio.
We are going to be there in one week so I figure it is not time to unlurk!!! Looks like we will be there the same time as Brea, Preachermouse, Cricketgirl and others. We are only there for four nights -- it is a quick girls trip. Me, my dd (11) and a good friend and her dd (10) and dd (13). She hasnt been in years and her daughters have never been. We have a GV room so I requested Tokelua, third floor when I made the reservation. I am excited out of my mind about the trip and am hoping that her girls love WDW as much as my daughter does. The girsl all go to camp together in the summer so they know each other well and we should have good chemistry on the trip.
So, my question for all of you -- I have never done online check-in before but see that others going the same time period have already done that. Where do I go to do that? Since I made my longhouse request, should I see that on my reservation? Once you do online checkin -- do they send you a confirming email back with your longhouse on it? What is the advantage to doing this?
Thanks.
Lauren
They do not assign you to a room until a few days before you arrive but you really won't know the room or the longhouse until you get to the resort.
On-line check in helps you get through the check in process quicker when you get to the resort. They already have your credit card on file, have your packet ready, and just show you on the map where your room is. There is also a separate line for on-line check in. I have used it since they implemented on-line check in and have found it convenient at some times and just the same as regular check in others (because maybe there isn't any line at either or they have to redo buttons or whatever). I have also received all my requests at the Poly whether I have done online checkin or not. But that is lucky too!