ALOHA! The Poly FAQ: Fall 2010 Edition

[paras4ri]

It's time to gear up for DD's birthday celebration! I'd love to hear suggestions from all you wonderful Poly fans to make this trip memorable - but affordable too!

I'd like to have a surprise waiting for her one day when we return to our room but I'm not sure a cake is our best option. I've seen some threads that mention chocolate-covered strawberries and other treats.

 

[princssdisnygina]

It's time to gear up for DD's birthday celebration! I'd love to hear suggestions from all you wonderful Poly fans to make this trip memorable - but affordable too!

I'd like to have a surprise waiting for her one day when we return to our room but I'm not sure a cake is our best option. I've seen some threads that mention chocolate-covered strawberries and other treats.

You could order something from private dining like the white chocolate figure and chocolate strawberries. OR... you could have Betsy from Memories by Betsy make her a basket and she will deliver it to your resort and they will deliver it to your room. www.memoriesbybetsy.com
Here are some pics of baskets she has done for me!

She will do whatever you want! Except she can't do food!
You could also use the disney florist for flowers or candy. I prefer Betsy but they both do a great job!

 

[paras4ri]

Those baskets are great - and definately something I'll check out. Thanks!

 

[Purple Opal]

Hi there,

Looking for help from some of the experts We are staying for a few days at the Poly at the end of November, and we definitely want to spend some time checking out the holiday decorations and the decor, etc., of the monorail resorts.

I heard that there is a band that plays in the GF lobby sometimes - does anyone know the best time of day to catch this?

Thanks in advance!

 

[leane]

Hi! We are going to the 10/24 party too!! We will be dressed as 3 ghostbusters and one little white ghost!

i will probably be wearing a halloween headban and my DD's will be Belle and Snow White DH won't be anyone but my handsome DH

 

[leane]

OR... you could have Betsy from Memories by Betsy make her a basket and she will deliver it to your resort and they will deliver it to your room.
She will do whatever you want! Except she can't do food!
You could also use the disney florist for flowers or candy. I prefer Betsy but they both do a great job!

I can second Betsy. She did a great job for DDs

 

[1971DBday]

It's time to gear up for DD's birthday celebration! I'd love to hear suggestions from all you wonderful Poly fans to make this trip memorable - but affordable too!

I'd like to have a surprise waiting for her one day when we return to our room but I'm not sure a cake is our best option. I've seen some threads that mention chocolate-covered strawberries and other treats.

The kids have loved getting this from www.disneyflorist.com in the past:

It lasts longer then a real birthday cake. The center is usually stuffed with gummies, pretzals and some other treats. We actually brought some home after a 9 day trip with 3 kids!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Hi there! I think you will be there the same time as us and we have an almost three year old as well!! (boy) I have found he best way to secure last minute reservations is to subscribe to the Oct 2010 Cancelled ADRs thread on the restaurants board.

we will be there the same time as both of you guys too and have an almost 3 yr old boy too! i am going to have to head to home depot and get some lime green mickey heads. hope to run into some 3 yr old playmates at the pool!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Yes. I cracked and did it today before the system goes down tomorrow. I was 50/50 over doing it. I thought if I did it when I got there, I might have more of a chance requesting the building I want, considering my KTTW would not be made. But...I read a post where a bellhop looked angry after hearing the person did not do online checkin! I also want to keep this vacation as much of a "go with the flow" as possible. Wherever I end up will be fine with me. Every other trip has been full blown 8 day commando mode. This time its 11 days at, hopefully, a slower pace. Yeah..who am I kidding I already have a plan for a 2am orange soda stop! I know, its an illness

so if you do online checkin you can't change your room if you don't like it? i know it is based on availability...but I didn't think about they key being made already...

 

[paras4ri]

I can second Betsy. She did a great job for DDs

How have you placed your orders with her - do you do it by sending her emails or do you actually call?

 

[DISNEY1975]

so if you do online checkin you can't change your room if you don't like it? i know it is based on availability...but I didn't think about they key being made already...

Its a lot more hassle to get your room changed after the key is made than before. It can be done, but I wouldnt go through the trouble. As many have posted, your room is assigned days in advance. Even without the key being made, its not as easy as just looking in the computer and seeing if something else is open. The room that may be empty one day, someone may be checking into the next, then they have to find another room available for that persons length of stay etc...etc...

 

[leane]

How have you placed your orders with her - do you do it by sending her emails or do you actually call?

SHe has a website you can put your order in by email or calling her. I emailed her.

I gave her what each dd liked best (tink and ariel) with a price limit and she created a great basket for each of them.

 

[lilybrooke14]

Just got back and thought I'd do a quick review. We were in Tokelau on the second floor. The grounds and the room were lovely. Loved all the little touches. Watching the fireworks from the beach was fantastic. Our whole family loved the volcano pool. Had dinner and breakfast at Ohana and both were awesome. Had breakfast at Kona Cafe. It was good, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.

Had a just a few gripes.

There was black mold in the shower tiles and on the shower curtain. Major ick.

Upon first arrival we found the Disney ducks charming. Then we noticed them swimming in the quiet pool. That was cute for a second until we realized that they were toileting in it as well. Every time we passed the quiet pool it had duck poo in it. And not a little. We would have used it if it had been clean, but we were all skeeved out by the whole "cement pond" thing they had going there, so we just stuck with the volcano pool.

The monorail was so handy! We loved that and the short walk to the TTC for the EPCOT monorail was relaxing. The Disney bus system was a giant pain in the butt though. We never waited less that 30 minutes for the bus, and generally waited over 40. I think we'd just rather drive in the future.

We enjoyed the Poly and I'm glad we stayed there. I think we're going to try something a little different next time and rent a house that's got a pool. This was our second trip to Disney, we also went in 2008. Now that we've got a feel for the parks and our preferences, we're going to spend less time getting up early and running all over Disney and more time relaxing and exploring more of Orlando and the beach.

Hope all of you that have vacations coming up have a great time! Hallowishes from the beach is AMAZING!

 

[hstrickland]

I have a question for all you Poly experts....does anyone know anything about the Neverland Club for kids? We are thinking about letting our 3
children stay there while we go to Victoria and Alberts (our 2011 trip). DS9 is worried that he will be bored. Any thoughts?

 

[DisneyDoc5]

I have a question for all you Poly experts....does anyone know anything about the Neverland Club for kids? We are thinking about letting our 3
children stay there while we go to Victoria and Alberts (our 2011 trip). DS9 is worried that he will be bored. Any thoughts?

Hi Heather! Go back a bit in this thread, maybe a search, a fellow diser did a nice review and posted some great pics. From the sounds of it, everyone who has done it says it's great! Have a great trip next week!

 

[hstrickland]

Hi Heather! Go back a bit in this thread, maybe a search, a fellow diser did a nice review and posted some great pics. From the sounds of it, everyone who has done it says it's great! Have a great trip next week!

Thanks! I will search the thread and see what I can find. I think we will actually go by the Neverland Club before we go to dinner at Kona's. Maybe they will let us look around and ask questions. Y'all have a wonderful trip! I know you are super excited!!!

 

[chimo2u]

Just got back and thought I'd do a quick review. We were in Tokelau on the second floor. The grounds and the room were lovely. Loved all the little touches. Watching the fireworks from the beach was fantastic. Our whole family loved the volcano pool. Had dinner and breakfast at Ohana and both were awesome. Had breakfast at Kona Cafe. It was good, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.

Had a just a few gripes.

There was black mold in the shower tiles and on the shower curtain. Major ick.

ICK is for sure!!!! I really am discouraged reading room reviews like this! Especially when we are paying a premium to stay at the POLY. I have stayed at AKL my last 2 trips and rooms/service where amazing!
I chose the POLY this time for something new, and to experience staying at a monorail resort. Reviews like this make me second guess my decision to stay at the POLY. I am staying in the Hawaii blg....so don't know if these cleanliness issues are prevalent in that building as well, but I am very picky about the cleanliness of my room. I want a room that is clean and functioning properly...no broken sinks, lights, fans, door knobs....that is just stuff that I don't want to see in my room.
I hope that these issues are not the norm, as it is discouraging to think we are paying so much to stay Club level at the POLY, when we could be paying a little less and stay at AKL where I KNOW things are in great order, and houskeeping/service is at a high standard.
It really makes it hard for me to be excited thinking that I may have moldy bathroom or some other room issues that diminish the resort experience!

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Upon first arrival we found the Disney ducks charming. Then we noticed them swimming in the quiet pool. That was cute for a second until we realized that they were toileting in it as well. Every time we passed the quiet pool it had duck poo in it. And not a little. We would have used it if it had been clean, but we were all skeeved out by the whole "cement pond" thing they had going there, so we just stuck with the volcano pool.

Just had to laugh at this because we've seen the ducks do the same thing, as well as a duck...ummmm, regurgitate in the volcano pool. We were often by the volcano pool later at night, and the ducks were very at home there, too. I had a picture somewhere (gross, right?!?!), but I can't find it!!

P.S. I'm not sick, I was taking a picture of the ducks just when it started revisiting dinner.

And on that pleasant note, how 'bout them Dole Whips?!?

 

[DisneyDoc5]

I did online check in last night, really easy, hope it was the right move.

Need a little pixie dust and a prayers, DD6 has a terrible sore throat and 102.5 fever this am, off to the Dr. I'm actually hoping for strep only so I know we can treat it with antibiotics, ugh! I think we will be good by Saturday, but I really wasn't planning on this situation this week.

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

I did online check in last night, really easy, hope it was the right move.

Need a little pixie dust and a prayers, DD6 has a terrible sore throat and 102.5 fever this am, off to the Dr. I'm actually hoping for strep only so I know we can treat it with antibiotics, ugh! I think we will be good by Saturday, but I really wasn't planning on this situation this week.

I hope your daughter gets well soon! We are arriving on Saturday, and I'm praying no one gets sick.