ALOHA! The Poly FAQ: Fall 2010 Edition

[mom2travel]

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!

We have stayed at the Poly a number of times, in both the Tahiti and Hawaii buildings, and have never had an issue w/ mousekeeping or anything else. Same for when we've stayed at the CR and GF. I think every resort, at WDW and anywhere else in the world, is going to have random reviews that are less then 100% perfect. I tend to read lots of reviews (more so when I travel to places other than Disney) and take each one w/ a grain of salt - it is all personal opinion/experience. I myself believe that more people post bad reports than good (not necessarily just here on the DIS) and would guess that if prior guests were polled, many many more of them have had good experiences than bad.

 

[Heatherwags]

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.

Oh no!! I hope your daughter feels better. We are just getting over the flu here- it sucked. I hope that everyone gets better quickly and it doesn't move it's way around the house.

So when you do online check-in, they give you your room at that point? Can you call and have it changed if need be?

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

We are headed to the Poly on Saturday. Does anyone know if the love bugs are still around?

 

[grace&philipsmom]

We are going in 11 days! I hope the love bugs have gone. I also hope no one in our party gets sick either - it seems like there is some sort of bug going around DD's school right now. If she is going to get it I hope she gets it now, and not in 10 days!

 

[princssdisnygina]

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

I email her. We go back and forth. You can call her too though. She is really great!! She will work with your budget and create something great! I got on disneydirect.com to look at some of the park things for ideas. And her basket samples do a great job of giving you ideas. YAY! Let me know how it goes!

 

[princssdisnygina]

So when you do online check-in, they give you your room at that point? Can you call and have it changed if need be?

No, they don't give you your room. You won't know your room number until you actually arrive, and neither will they.

 

[Tess]

We are headed to the Poly on Saturday. Does anyone know if the love bugs are still around?

We are going in 11 days! I hope the love bugs have gone. I also hope no one in our party gets sick either - it seems like there is some sort of bug going around DD's school right now. If she is going to get it I hope she gets it now, and not in 10 days!

They were few and far between last week. You should be fine.

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

They were few and far between last week. You should be fine.

That's great news! Thanks!

 

[DisneyDoc5]

Thanks for the thoughts and well wishes for DD. Dr. said likely a virus, but did strep test, negative in the office but will send it to the lab just to be sure. She said good news was if it's just a virus, and anyone else gets it, at least we won't feel the need to go to the medi-center down there AND if the strep test comes back positive in a few days, she would give us meds for all the kids (only to be used if they come down with something of course). So, I feel better that we have a plan. I'll just stock up on ibuprofen for this trip!

Just to clarify, from what I understand the rooms are assigned in advance regardless and separate from anything to do with online check in. I've read several threads regarding on line check in, mostly positive. I decided to do it since we will be checking in mid afternoon during the busier time. I have read that if you are not happy with your room assignment, you can request a change even if you have done online check in. So, I'm staying positive and hoping for a great room and a quick check in process, I'm not going to worry about it unless I have to. I hope that clears up any questions.

Packed all 3 kids into 1 suitcase this afternoon, coming in at 45 lbs, still room for the crocs! Now for me and DH, more challenging!

 

[DISNEY1975]

Thanks for the thoughts and well wishes for DD. Dr. said likely a virus, but did strep test, negative in the office but will send it to the lab just to be sure. She said good news was if it's just a virus, and anyone else gets it, at least we won't feel the need to go to the medi-center down there AND if the strep test comes back positive in a few days, she would give us meds for all the kids (only to be used if they come down with something of course). So, I feel better that we have a plan. I'll just stock up on ibuprofen for this trip!

Just to clarify, from what I understand the rooms are assigned in advance regardless and separate from anything to do with online check in. I've read several threads regarding on line check in, mostly positive. I decided to do it since we will be checking in mid afternoon during the busier time. I have read that if you are not happy with your room assignment, you can request a change even if you have done online check in. So, I'm staying positive and hoping for a great room and a quick check in process, I'm not going to worry about it unless I have to. I hope that clears up any questions.

Packed all 3 kids into 1 suitcase this afternoon, coming in at 45 lbs, still room for the crocs! Now for me and DH, more challenging!

Thats mostly great news! Im sorry that shes not feeling well, but hopefully shell be feeling 100% by Saturday.

Congrats on the packing. I havent even started DDs, but I already know shell be taking up an entire suitcase by herself! I normally go with 2 cases each, but now that I have to pay for them, Im trying for 4..one each and we'll share the 4th with anything leftover. I also need to leave a little room for souveniers. I already have a request from a coworker...hopefully its not as big as it looks in the picture! Hubby has a request from a friend..just a stuffed Mickey for his new grandchild. We can get that into a carry-on if need be.

I have a question for the Poly experts. Do you if I can get an antenna topper at one of the shops at the Poly? I see so many around MA but never see them at Disney!

2 more days !

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

Thats mostly great news! Im sorry that shes not feeling well, but hopefully shell be feeling 100% by Saturday.

Congrats on the packing. I havent even started DDs, but I already know shell be taking up an entire suitcase by herself! I normally go with 2 cases each, but now that I have to pay for them, Im trying for 4..one each and we'll share the 4th with anything leftover. I also need to leave a little room for souveniers. I already have a request from a coworker...hopefully its not as big as it looks in the picture! Hubby has a request from a friend..just a stuffed Mickey for his new grandchild. We can get that into a carry-on if need be.

I have a question for the Poly experts. Do you if I can get an antenna topper at one of the shops at the Poly? I see so many around MA but never see them at Disney!

2 more days !

I have bought antenna toppers at the upstairs gift shop at the Poly. For some reason I can't recall the name right now.

 

[SugarSpice]

Silly question no. 1
Do you think sunscreen is needed the last week of October?

 

[SugarSpice]

Silly question no. 2
Do you think housekeeping might give me a bit of Dawn so that I can clean DS's sippy cup each day?

Can you tell I'm trying to pack light?

 

[1971DBday]

Silly question no. 1
Do you think sunscreen is needed the last week of October?

They have it when we go in Nov/Dec, so they should have it.

 

[1971DBday]

Silly question no. 2
Do you think housekeeping might give me a bit of Dawn so that I can clean DS's sippy cup each day?

Can you tell I'm trying to pack light?

No. We have tried in the past, no one carries it at WDW. I have packed mine in the past in a tupperware container and then in a zip lock bag since I couldn't put it in my carry-on bag. They offered us regular bar soap the first time we didn't have dish detergent.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Silly question no. 1
Do you think sunscreen is needed the last week of October?

Yes, but not too much. The sun is bright from around 11am to 3 pm..then not so much. I personally dont use it for myself, but I use it on my kids so I dont have to hear complaining about being burned. I usually just apply to the face/neck and if shoulder are exposed...or at the pool. Once you have a good base, no need for it anymore. (Unless its an unually hot week)

 

[DISNEY1975]

I have bought antenna toppers at the upstairs gift shop at the Poly. For some reason I can't recall the name right now.

Thanks. Ill keep an eye out for it!

 

[jenjersnap]

I would like to third the Memories by Betsy suggestion. She did an awesome job on the 5 baskets she put together for us (and she arranged for me to surprise DH and for him to surprise me!).

Totally different subject but the ducks seem to be found at all the MK resorts, at the very least, and I am pretty sure we saw them in the AKL pool too. They were very aggressive at WL. To avoid them, I think you'd have to avoid the pools at Disney entirely.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

I would like to third the Memories by Betsy suggestion. She did an awesome job on the 5 baskets she put together for us (and she arranged for me to surprise DH and for him to surprise me!).

Totally different subject but the ducks seem to be found at all the MK resorts, at the very least, and I am pretty sure we saw them in the AKL pool too. They were very aggressive at WL. To avoid them, I think you'd have to avoid the pools at Disney entirely.

Agreed! We've seen them at every resort we've stayed at WDW. That's what the chemicals are for, I suppose.

 

[paras4ri]

I email her. We go back and forth. You can call her too though. She is really great!! She will work with your budget and create something great! I got on disneydirect.com to look at some of the park things for ideas. And her basket samples do a great job of giving you ideas. YAY! Let me know how it goes!

I would like to third the Memories by Betsy suggestion. She did an awesome job on the 5 baskets she put together for us (and she arranged for me to surprise DH and for him to surprise me!).

Thanks for the positive words - I'm going to conspire with DD's Godmother, who's traveling with us. I'll definately share the result.