ALOHA! The Poly FAQ: Fall 2010 Edition

[LaniesMom]

Getting excited for everyone who's trips are here or nearly here! We leave one month from today!

Have a quick question: After reading reviews, I am thinking of doing Mickey's Backyard BBQ on our arrival night as a fun "welcome" to WDW for DD...so...

Here's my stupid question of the day: are the Fort Wilderness Cabins near WL? I feel stupid for asking.
How do we get to Fort Wilderness from the Poly? I was thinking of taking the Monorail/Boat to the MK then go to Fort Wilderness from there. ???

 

[Tess]

How do we get to Fort Wilderness from the Poly? I was thinking of taking the Monorail/Boat to the MK then go to Fort Wilderness from there. ???

That would most likely be your quickest trip. Monorail to MK and launch from MK to FW. You could even monorail from Polynesian to Contemporary and take the launch from there to FW as well.

There is a walking path from WL to FW, but I have never taken it.

 

[leane]

I just got an email from Disney about online check-in. We are arriving on Saturday. I thought that I read that if you are staying CL you shouldn't use online check-in. Does anyone know?

i have read that if you do online check in with CL you won't get the golf cart ride to the Hawaii building.

Getting excited for everyone who's trips are here or nearly here! We leave one month from today!

Have a quick question: After reading reviews, I am thinking of doing Mickey's Backyard BBQ on our arrival night as a fun "welcome" to WDW for DD...so...

I can't help with getting there but I can tell you I have been trying to get a ressie there for 3 months with no luck.

 

[moscow]

I have a dumb question -- we have booked a "theme park" view room at the Poly. Where are those rooms located in the hotel? I've never been to the Poly and am curious.

Also, has anyone else seen the recent bad reviews of the Poly here on the board? Should I be worried about our upcoming trip? We booked the Poly specifically for the "theme park" view room and now I am second guessing myself.

Thanks for any info!

 

[LaniesMom]

I can't help with getting there but I can tell you I have been trying to get a ressie there for 3 months with no luck.

oh dang! I guess I will just roll the dice and see if there is any availability when we get there. No biggie either way.

Thank you for the info, and thank you Tess for confirming my route to FW if we do end up going!

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

I have a dumb question -- we have booked a "theme park" view room at the Poly. Where are those rooms located in the hotel? I've never been to the Poly and am curious.

Also, has anyone else seen the recent bad reviews of the Poly here on the board? Should I be worried about our upcoming trip? We booked the Poly specifically for the "theme park" view room and now I am second guessing myself.

Thanks for any info!

I'm not sure about the theme park view, but most likely they would be in Tahiti. There may also be theme park view rooms in a few other buildings as well. Tikiman's website probably has that information.

I don't worry about the recent bad reviews. I have been staying at the Poly since 1996, and have had many, many trips over the years. We have always been very happy with our stay, or we wouldn't keep going back. I don't doubt that others have had bad experiences, but the way I see it is there are a lot more positive reviews than bad. The Poly seems to have a loyal following of repeat guests.

 

[mom2travel]

i have read that if you do online check in with CL you won't get the golf cart ride to the Hawaii building

I asked the Poly IPO about this and they told me that if we did online check-in we should stop in GCH for our KTTW and then head over to Hawaii; if we did not, then we should stop by valet desk. DH & I did not do online check-in, but opted to walk back to Hawaii after stopping by valet, who called over to Hawaii to let them know we had arrived (they did offer us a ride). We've stayed at the Poly before and are familiar w/ the resort and how to get around; plus after traveling, walking felt great. I must be missing something - not sure what the thrill of the golf cart ride is

I don't worry about the recent bad reviews. I have been staying at the Poly since 1996, and have had many, many trips over the years. We have always been very happy with our stay, or we wouldn't keep going back. I don't doubt that others have had bad experiences, but the way I see it is there are a lot more positive reviews than bad. The Poly seems to have a loyal following of repeat guests.

I 2nd this! We always take bad reviews with a grain of salt, and prefer to make the decision based upon our own experiences

 

[clanmcculloch]

I asked the Poly IPO about this and they told me that if we did online check-in we should stop in GCH for our KTTW and then head over to Hawaii; if we did not, then we should stop by valet desk. DH & I did not do online check-in, but opted to walk back to Hawaii after stopping by valet, who called over to Hawaii to let them know we had arrived (they did offer us a ride). We've stayed at the Poly before and are familiar w/ the resort and how to get around; plus after traveling, walking felt great. I must be missing something - not sure what the thrill of the golf cart ride is

It's more about not having to wait in the line at the GCH and checking in at our convenience. I do like the cart rather than carrying our flight bags but it really is more about where we check in. The CM who drove us to Hawaii escorted us directly into our room and handed us our KTTW. We could then go to a concierge desk in Hawaii to take care of paperwork at our convenience rather than having to wait in a line in the GCH.

If you do online checkin, you have to get in the online checkin line in the GCH. Checking in at a desk in Hawaii at our convenience is one of the little intangibles that I like about staying CL.

 

[coopersmom]

We always take bad reviews with a grain of salt, and prefer to make the decision based upon our own experiences

I don't totally disagree with this sentiment but, in terms of the Polynesian, the complaint that worries me is the one that come up again and again: rooms in poor condition. Surly cast members or other service issues can happen anywhere, to anyone, at any time. (Anyone can have a bad day.)

But since I first found these boards in July I have read dozens of complaints with basically the same issues: peeling paint, broken furniture, threadbare upholstery, damaged/stained carpet, etc. with rooms, of all types, at the Polynesian. This is extremely worrying.

I agree with another poster on the current thread (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2575989) in that if I discover such issues with my $375+/night room I will immediately be requesting, politely but firmly, a change, to another resort if need be. I just can't pay that sort of money for subpar conditions ... and no one should have to.

I'm trying very hard NOT to go in expecting problems, but I am concerned. I certainly hope to find my fears unfounded.

 

[maiapapaya]

I have a dumb question -- we have booked a "theme park" view room at the Poly. Where are those rooms located in the hotel? I've never been to the Poly and am curious.

Also, has anyone else seen the recent bad reviews of the Poly here on the board? Should I be worried about our upcoming trip? We booked the Poly specifically for the "theme park" view room and now I am second guessing myself.

Thanks for any info!

There are theme park views in Tahiti & Tuvalu.

I don't totally disagree with this sentiment but, in terms of the Polynesian, the complaint that worries me is the one that come up again and again: rooms in poor condition. Surly cast members or other service issues can happen anywhere, to anyone, at any time. (Anyone can have a bad day.)

But since I first found these boards in July I have read dozens of complaints with basically the same issues: peeling paint, broken furniture, threadbare upholstery, damaged/stained carpet, etc. with rooms, of all types, at the Polynesian. This is extremely worrying.

I agree with another poster on the current thread (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2575989) in that if I discover such issues with my $375+/night room I will immediately be requesting, politely but firmly, a change, to another resort if need be. I just can't pay that sort of money for subpar conditions ... and no one should have to.

I'm trying very hard NOT to go in expecting problems, but I am concerned. I certainly hope to find my fears unfounded.

I think the problem with rooms with excess wear & tear is hit & miss and not just at the Poly. I read a post the other day on the CR thread in which someone had a room at BLT that was in terrible condition. There were marks all over the screen of the tv, big scratches in the furniture, a big stain on the couch and tons of dust (they had pictures). BLT is only 2 years old!! Unfortunately inconsistent maintenance & rooms in poor repair isn't limited to any specific resort.

 

[maiapapaya]

I should also add that we had a room last October in Tuvalu and there we no issues wrt maintenance/wear & tear except for a blown out light bulb over the fridge (which can happen any where). The room IMO was in good condition, not worn or dated at all.

 

[SugarSpice]

I know the "front desk" number on the room phones don't really go to the front desk but rather a call center instead. Does anybody know if there is a "true" front desk number for the poly?

 

[kdunkle904]

So I know that I am incredibly late posting my review but in my defense I came home to a crashed computer so I have been in the dark ages until recently. Oh well, here goes;

We did not do online check-in and arrived at the Polynesian around 9 AM the morning of the 8th. We immediatly got "Aloha's" all around and there was no line for check in. Our room was not ready which was fine but they said that they would call us when it was ready. We were assigned Samoa bldg. 3rd floor room 3604.
We headed to Animal Kingdom and got a call at 11:30 saying that our room was ready (yea!) so we headed back to freshen up before lunch. The room was clean, none of the horror stories that I had been hearing about and it was in a great location. Our mousekeeper's were great and my daughter got towel animals 4 or 5 days that we were there. The only complaint that I had about the room (and this goes for the pool as well) is the music. I was somewhat prepared for this as I had read on this board about the loud music playing but I had hoped it was exaggerated a bit. It wasn't. We could hear it in our room with the door and curtains closed. Thank goodness we are all heavy sleepers, my 3 year old included or it could have been a real problem. It was also quite annoying trying to go to the pool or beach to relax. It pretty much lasted all day.
Other than that, we had a wonderful trip. The grounds were beautiful as usual and I really loved walking the grounds in the evening when the tiki torches were all lit up and it was nice and quiet.
Cant wait to go back! Hoping for a discount come next year!
For all those leaving soon, have a great trip!!

 

[Carrie772]

I think the problem with rooms with excess wear & tear is hit & miss and not just at the Poly. I read a post the other day on the CR thread in which someone had a room at BLT that was in terrible condition. There were marks all over the screen of the tv, big scratches in the furniture, a big stain on the couch and tons of dust (they had pictures). BLT is only 2 years old!! Unfortunately inconsistent maintenance & rooms in poor repair isn't limited to any specific resort.

We were at WL in June and the room was covered in dust. Every wall edge of the carpet and on the tops of posts. It was just downright furry. But, I just looked the other way and thought, "Hey! My house is furry too!"

 

[BelleRocks]

Wa -hoo! We are going Oct 20-26. Have been watching the weather and there was about 2 days of rain predicted. Checked today and changed to sun! Keeping fingers crossed

 

[DisneyDoc5]

I know how you feel, it seems like my kids or myself gets sick right before a trip. Good luck I hope she feels better soon and that its something like allergies. Wishing you lots of Pixie dust. Have a great trip, things can only get better.

happy to report we are all back to healthy (and beyond excited!) Thank you SOOOOO much for the pixie dust!

 

[logpey]

happy to report we are all back to healthy (and beyond excited!) Thank you SOOOOO much for the pixie dust!

You are very welcome!

 

[PixiePoppins]

Woohoo!! We leave today and arrive at the Poly tomorrow!!!

So much to do before the kids get home from school and we start driving...and driving...and driving!

Thanks for all the great info here!

 

[mom2travel]

Woohoo!! We leave today and arrive at the Poly tomorrow!!!

So much to do before the kids get home from school and we start driving...and driving...and driving!

Thanks for all the great info here!

Have a great trip!

 

[PamelaKay]

Woohoo!! We leave today and arrive at the Poly tomorrow!!!

So much to do before the kids get home from school and we start driving...and driving...and driving!

Thanks for all the great info here!

I am green with envy. I hope you have safe travels and a magical vacation.