Aloha from the Polynesian!!!!

[BCV23]

We came back from 9 days at the Polynesian two weeks ago and I think I know the construction to which Erika refers. The sidewalk that runs between Raratonga and Niue was blocked sometimes during the day. The work they are doing there is on the pipes that carry the cold water to air condition the longhouses. They are redoing the entire system. We WERE in Rapa Nui and it was pretty much a non-issue then. It didn't affect us at all going to the beaches, pools, launches or of course the TTC. If I was going to Captain Cooks I took the path between Samoa and Niue which is just as fast anyway. To the GCH side door it probably took an extra 30 seconds to take that path. If I was in a hurry I'd cut through Raratonga.

Does anyone know where the bus stop is going to be? I did see them lay a new sidewalk from the sidewalk on the south side of Raratonga to the driveway.

Erika, is your son's ear infection better? How did he do on the flight?

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Me again!


The construction is right under the monorail tracks there in front of Rapa Nui and stretches all along that side down to where the entrance is to the resort and back down toward the little booth where you enter the parking area. They have tall green walls all around it except on one section where you can see in. Right now it's just a big hole in the ground, but there are construction trailors all over that far end of the parking lot, so they are definitely going to build something. It has also limited the parking availability because that whole lot is closed. I will take some pictures but I won't be able to post them until I get home.

Yes, there is an elevator in Fiji.

We really enjoyed watching the EWP from our balcony last night. I'm telling you this has to be the best garden view. It's great! I took a buch of pictures today.

We were very surprised to see the Pooh ride closed already for rehab. I had read somewhere that it was going to be May 1, but it's closed now. Luckily we rode it yesterday or my kids would be really upset.

The crowds at MK are terrible today, lots of high school kids here already. I wasn't expecting them until tonight. It's a mess. We left MK early and won't be going back until next week. But I'll save all those details for the trip report.

We did not request anything on our reservation except non smoking. All of our specific requests were in the fax we sent 4 days prior to arrival.

Oh, we have towel animals out the ying yang!!! You guys are going to flip out when I post the pictures. Last night we must have had 10 different ones at least. Our mousekeeper Maria is awesome. She is always asking us if we need anything or if she can do anything special for us. She's the best we've ever had at WDW.

OK.... I'm not going to have anything left for my trip report!

We were the 100th family at the Plaza restaurant today!!!! OMG it was so awesome!!! I can't wait to post the picture. And the free dessert was the best EVER!!!! We are really overloaded on special magic moments for this trip already and we've still got another 7 nights. LOL

Let me know if you have anymore questions about anything. I'll see what I can find out about the construction. Oh, and I think Samoa is done because when we walked by there were people in every room I could see. Oh, and Hawaii is still open... I'm not sure when it's closing for rehab.

Aloha!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tikiman]

Thanks for the report. Yes that is where the new bus stop is going so they must have started on the construction. I figured that was the area you were talking about.

The Hawaii longhouse does not close till June. It is good to hear Samoa is back open.

Aloha

Steve

 

[BCV23]

OK now I'm really confused. Two weeks ago there were green walls up in the main part of the parking lot in front of Raratonga but nothing in the small lot by Rapa Nui. Are they putting the bus stop in that little parking lot?

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Also, I wanted to add that I witnessed a pool hopping today! We got on the monorail at MK and 3 guys got on at CR with towels around there necks, then got off at the Poly and went to the pool. I wanted to turn them in!!!

Haven't seen anyone filling up illegal mugs yet though. But I've got my eyes open.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

The green walls I saw yesterday weren't around any parking lots, they were around a grass area under the monorail and where the walkway use to be. The parking lot was enclosed with a chain link fence.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Glad you're having a great time! I'm thinking we are going to have to stay at the Polynesian again!

 

[Tikiman]

I heard the new bus stop was supposed to go in near the walkway next to the Neverland Club and Rapa Nui. This sounds like where they have it walled off.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

One more thing I wanted to add before my kids wake up and we head back out. I finally understand why people like the Polynesian. It never appealed to me at all and the only reason we even stayed here this time was because we got a great deal, BUT I am really enjoying our stay. It's very laid back..... you can walk around in your flip flops and bathing suit, nobody cares.... you don't have to DRESS really for anything. DH hasn't even used any of his polos that he usually wears, we've been blending in with the natives and going low maintenance. I'm wearing silly Mickey Mouse tshirts and carrying around my Poly mug!!! LOL I really have a whole new attitude here. It has been a nice change.

But I still love YC and GF. But I'd say the Poly is definitely in my top 4 or 5 Disney resorts. I recommend that everyone should try it at least once.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

BCV23 - Thank you for asking about my son. I think his ear is much better. He's only one, so he can't really say, but I can tell because he's not as grumpy. Oh, and housekeeping did give us the fridge for free since his medicine needs to be keep cold. Which was really nice of them. I am loving the CM's here at the Poly. They are so friendly I just can't get over it. Even my 3 year old is walking around saying Aloha to everyone. I can't wait to show you guys all my pictures.

 

[lizzie64]

Oh my god Erika,

You are making me crazy. We leave in 13 days for 4 nights at the Poly and 5 nights at AKL.

We are staying Lagoon view, so I think I might request tahiti. I can't believe your kids are actually taking naps. I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old and was planning on going back to the room every day for a nap or swim break.

Glad to hear you're having a phenomenal time.


Liz

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Our kids almost always take a nap everyday. We usually go back around 1:00 or 2:00, hang in the room while they sleep or take turns leaving the room. Our kids can last until 10:00 or 11:00 pm when they take good naps. So the trip is better for everyone that way. We don't really feel we miss much because the parks are insane in the afternoons usually. Mornings and evenings seem to be the best time to get things done. Yesterday they didn't nap and they were both screaming by 7:00 pm. NOT fun!

 

[lizzie64]

That was my plan exactly.

Although we found on our last trip, they'd conck out in the stroller and sleep for 2 hours as well. But now that we'll be at the poly it will be all the easier to just hop the monorail back to the resort

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Has Fiji been redone already? Can you tell you have been in a newly rehabed room? (Does it still look new?) Any draw backs to fiji that you could think of? Are the rental boats noise bothersome? Thanks, MKY Have a great rest of your trip!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Supposedly Fiji was renovated last year, but the only thing I can tell is the paint and carpet. Everything else is the same. I wouldn't classify it as being better than any other building as far as rehab. I guess I was expecting it to be more like the rehab at YC/BC... but it's nothing like that. I think they just did the minimum.

We can't hear any of the boats from up here on the 3rd floor. Unless our balcony door is open, and even then it's not loud at all.

Also, last night we were already in bed by the time the fireworks went off at 10:00 pm and we could just barely hear them. It seemed much louder at the GF.

I can't think of any bad points to Fiji, except that we can't see the fireworks from our balcony. But we can see the EWP.

I really like being on the marina side. There is just enough activity to give us something to look at, but it's not noisey like it is over by the pool. I would imagine that the rooms in Samoa have more noise than we do.

One negative to the Poly, and also the GF, is that you have to walk in the rain to get back to your room. We had dinner over at Kona Cafe tonight, because it's been storming all evening, and we had to walk in the rain... not fun. But it's the same story at the GF. Maybe that's why YC is still my favorite??

 

[LAWalz23]

Hi, I feel silly asking this but do you get turn down service at night or do you have to ask for it? They do it automatically for concierge but this is the first time I will be staying in a regular room. Thanks for the info. We will be there on Tuesday for a week. We also found the last two years with my niece and nephew that it was best to go back to the room in the middle of the afternoon and avoid the crowds. Glad you are having a great trip.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We requested turndown service when we arrived.

I talked to a Poly CM today about the construction. He said that it is the new bus stop and that it should be done in 2 months. He said it will run all along the front there by Raratonga and down. Part of it will be covered and part will be open. He said it's going to be very nice and much safer.

We had some thunderstorms and rain last night. It was funny watching the marina workers frantically putting away all the water mice and trying to get all the people back to shore. Then all the luau people ran for cover in the GCH. It was chaos. We were going to go to DTD but decided to just eat at Kona and stay around the resort. I think it rained all night.

Anyway, I guess that's it from the Poly today. Keep those questions coming because we leave the Poly tomorrow and transfer over to BCV's for 5 nights.

Aloha!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Another thing I wanted to add. I LOVE the bathroom! I think it's great that the toilet, sink, and shower are all in one room with a door that can be shut and locked. Especially if you're traveling with friends or your children's friends. I like it because I can go in there and get a break from my kids! LOL I can get totally ready for the day without being bothered. Also, there is a light in the shower!!!!! And it's a bright one, I think it might be halogen. It's so nice to actually be able to shave my legs and see what I'm doing. It doesn't bother me at all that there is only one sink, I guess that is the only drawback if you're the type of person who really likes having two sinks. We haven't missed it because we've been taking turns in the bathroom anyway. Oh, also, the fan in the little toilet part has a sensor so it doesn't run unless someone is in there. So when you're in the shower it doesn't suck out all your steam. I like that.

Another thing I have noticed about the room itself. I think it's bigger than the rooms at the GF. At least it seems bigger to me. I can fit my suitcase at the foot of the bed without it getting in the way. Also the distance from the foot of the far bed to the daybed seems larger. And the distance from the far bed to the table and chairs seems bigger. I had read somewhere that GF was more square footage, but I don't agree. The closet here is also bigger. Oh, and the windows and balcony seem wider.

Anyway, I'm just hanging out here waiting for the kids to wake up from their naps. We're going to head down for the torch lighting ceremony and then to DTD. If the rain stays away.

 

[LAWalz23]

Thanks for the info! Sounds like you are having a great stay at the Poly. Hope your stay at BCV is just as nice.
Aloha!

 

[BigNana212]

Hi Erika...Glad to hear you are having a great time. Maybe I should have gone with you. After hearing about your trip, it seems much too long to wait until October when I go back.

Say hi to the boys for me.