ALOHA! The Poly FAQ: Fall 2010 Edition

[Tess]

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

Great news! Hope you have a spectacular time!

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!

The driving down wouldn't be so bad--it's the coming back drive that stinks driving or flying! Have a great trip!

 

[leane]

I must be missing something - not sure what the thrill of the golf cart ride is

Well my kids are 7 and 8, they are easily ammused

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.

Thanks for the info

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

Welcome back! I am glad everything went well!

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!!

Thank you for taking the time to post a review

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!

We leave in 4 days! I am ready but not ready if that makes any sense


I am extremely busy at work. I am packed and have everything ready to go but I am a tour guide mike tour'er... I need to double check my plan and cancel extra ADRs ... still lots to do. I hope I get it done.

 

[DisneyDoc5]

Drive safe PixiePoppings, not sure if your checking this, but I know driving there is usually not too bad due to the excitement! See ya tomorrow!


Thanks a bunch Tess!!!


LAST POST BEFORE WE LEAVE, thanks for answering all of my questions and making our trip preparation so much fun! I know you all 'get it'!!! I will do a little trip report when we get back. Have fun for those of you that will be there at the same time! ALOHA!!!

 

[ShesALovebug]

Just a few questions from a newbie


How long does it take to get from the airport to the Poly?

Is the Volcano pool heated?

If you had to choose between Tokelau and Tahiti, Garden View, which would you choose. Our only real concern is wanting to be not too far from GCH and the monorail.

Thanks

 

[Tess]

Just a few questions from a newbie


How long does it take to get from the airport to the Poly?

Is the Volcano pool heated?

If you had to choose between Tokelau and Tahiti, Garden View, which would you choose. Our only real concern is wanting to be not too far from GCH and the monorail.

Thanks

The trip from MCO to the Polynesian will be around one half an hour to 45 minutes depending upon traffic.

The pools are heated in the winter months.

Since you want to be closer to the GCH and monorail, I would go with Tokelau. It is also very close to the bus stop.

 

[BelleRocks]

I know we have to pay for internet, but is it wireless? or if it's not, do we have to have something to plug into?

 

[mom2travel]

I know we have to pay for internet, but is it wireless? or if it's not, do we have to have something to plug into?

When we were at the Poly a few weeks ago I used the USB cable that was hanging in a bag in the closet to connect my laptop. The outlet was behind the desk and tricky to reach, but did work.

We were in Hawaii bldg. We never brought a laptop w/ us on other trips so can't comment on other buildings, if they are different or not (would think all would be wired or all wireless, unless a change is being installed one bldg at a time).

 

[Kurby]

excellent post

thank you for sharing.

 

[Chelley00]

We're here now. The grounds are beautiful, especially at night. Every CM has been very friendly and welcoming. No wear and tear that we've seen. Ohana dinner was great tonight!

However. :-(. I'm so disappointed.

Last night we were given a room at the far end of aoretorea. We were so close to the monorail that the whole room shook everytime it went by. Between that and the road traffic,'it was hard to sleep,'even with a fan running all night.

The front desk was more than happy to move us to a quieter room and today they checked us in to a room in Fiji.....right across from the elevator and vending machine. The monorail room was quieter

Determined to make the best of it, I unpacked everything, if nothing because the marina view is pretty.

Tonight turning the beds down,'one had blood on the sheets and an eyelash in it. I called housekeeping who said they would send someone down to change the sheets. I pulled the other cover back and the blanket had dried food crusted on it. Right now mousekeeping is here changing both the beds and I'm just frustrated. I'm so glad I Lysol our room when we get in one. Its just nasty. There is no way the sheets were changed after he last guest left. I'm just thankful my mom, who is here on her first visit,'was with her friend and not here to see all this :-(

 

[maiapapaya]

We're here now. The grounds are beautiful, especially at night. Every CM has been very friendly and welcoming. No wear and tear that we've seen. Ohana dinner was great tonight!

However. :-(. I'm so disappointed.

Last night we were given a room at the far end of aoretorea. We were so close to the monorail that the whole room shook everytime it went by. Between that and the road traffic,'it was hard to sleep,'even with a fan running all night.

The front desk was more than happy to move us to a quieter room and today they checked us in to a room in Fiji.....right across from the elevator and vending machine. The monorail room was quieter

Determined to make the best of it, I unpacked everything, if nothing because the marina view is pretty.

Tonight turning the beds down,'one had blood on the sheets and an eyelash in it. I called housekeeping who said they would send someone down to change the sheets. I pulled the other cover back and the blanket had dried food crusted on it. Right now mousekeeping is here changing both the beds and I'm just frustrated. I'm so glad I Lysol our room when we get in one. Its just nasty. There is no way the sheets were changed after he last guest left. I'm just thankful my mom, who is here on her first visit,'was with her friend and not here to see all this :-(

OMG that's terrible! I think you should complain to the manager as well. They need to know if mousekeeping isn't doing their job! You've got to wonder how changing the beds got missed - it must be obvious to the mousekeeper, without having to check their list, that the occupants of a room have checked out.

 

[BelleRocks]

We're here now. The grounds are beautiful, especially at night. Every CM has been very friendly and welcoming. No wear and tear that we've seen. Ohana dinner was great tonight!

However. :-(. I'm so disappointed.
-(

I'm so sorry to hear that! I can't help but wonder if there is a problem with the management. I'm looking forward to my stay next week, but that mousekeeping is unacceptable.

 

[Darkfirewolfe]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the forums here at DIS, but I'm a longtime fan-addict of the Polynesian resort.

I'm happy to report that in less than 72 hours I will be back at the Poly for October. It is my 11th anniversary with my partner and he & I are excited to celebrate it at WDW - one of our favorite places. ALSO, this trip is even more special as it is the first trip for us to go on with my parents. The four of us have never traveled together overnight! So it's also an 11 year reunion of sorts. (but don't worry, we have separate rooms)

I have a reservation for Theme Park view and I've requested the Tahiti longhouse (it's my favorite so far). I also requested a balcony - I hope we get both requests, but Disney is special no matter where you are.

Last trip I used the yellow DME tickets for the first time - I'm usually very paranoid about my luggage. That worked out great, so we are doing that again. This trip I'm going to try to use Mousekeeping. I'm also usually a little paranoid about having housekeeping in the room (bad past experiences - nonDisney). So our habit is to put the Do Not Disturb sign on the door for the whole of the vacation - then I just look for the carts and ask for towels & soap when needed. I'm going to try not doing that this time - mainly because I want the possibility of towel animals.

I hope everyone is well - I'm trying to catch up on the last 60 pages of this thread - I've read the first 90 pages! 0_o.


PIXIE DUST to you!

 

[DebbyLof428]

Welcome DarkfireWolfe! Hope you enjoy the Poly. We will be there in 3 weeks. I am a huge Poly fan but these reviews are starting to get me worried. Dirty sheets and bathrooms? Not acceptable! I can understand a little wear and tear in a room but not filth. A guest is entitled to a clean room whether at a value or deluxe. Few things bother me and I rarely complain when on vacation but there is just no excuse for blood/crusted food on sheets and urine smelling bathrooms. I'm hoping that management does something about this quickly.

 

[princssdisnygina]

Just a quick question... is there a hot tub?

 

[Darkfirewolfe]

Welcome DarkfireWolfe! Hope you enjoy the Poly. We will be there in 3 weeks. I am a huge Poly fan but these reviews are starting to get me worried.

Thanks for the welcome! Every time we go, I worry that I will get a room that resembles the horror stories I've read over the years. And ::knocks on wood:: it just hasn't happened. I chalk it up to the fact that tens of thousands of people stay at the Poly ever year and people who post on the Internet usually only post extremes - extremely good reviews and extremely bad. We don't see all the in-the-middle people, where things are just fine.

But I'll keep my ::fingers crossed:: for you and for me.

 

[Teeks]

We're here and can I just say my whole family loves the Poly! We have a beautiful theme park view in Tuvalu (room 3413). We were checked in and told our room wasn't ready, then got the text 5 minutes later that it was ready. But we got up here and it hadn't been cleaned. EW. Mousekeeping management called me right away when I reported it, apologized sincerely, and sent our mousekeeper up right away to clean. We went out for lunch at DTD to pass the time and when we got back, it was nice and fresh! There is some noticebale wear-and-tear, but nothing that's a deal breaker for us...we're pretty laid back about these things, and I realize in being here that we pay a premium for this amazing view and location. I am in love with it!

Bellerocks- internet is wired is the rooms through ethernet cable and is $10 per 24hrs of use. We brought a router with us so my dh and I, and our teenage son could be online at the same time

Thanks again to all you regular Poly posters for the great advice and info about this resort. It has made our first day here absolutely magical.

 

[maiapapaya]

Just a quick question... is there a hot tub?

No.

 

[grace&philipsmom]

We arrive on Saturday and I am currently debating doing the online check in. I am a little worried in light of the current issues with the online dining reservations getting "lost" and I don't want that to happen with our online checkin. Are they two completely different systems for dining and resort reservations?

Thanks,
K

 

[BCV23]

Just got back from a 3-Night stay at the Poly following the transatlantic Magic cruise. I loved every minute of it and esp. the convenience of the monorail. We didn't take a bus the entire time I was there ( went only to MK and Epcot this time around). We were in Raratonga this time after previously staying in what is now Tokelau and loved this location being right next to the GCH- we had a monorail view on the first floor (I have a service dog so this was great). Saw the electrical water parade one night from the beach and just relaxed with the gorgeous tropical ambience. We had the QSDP and enjoyed several ( ahem...several) of the pulled pork sandwiches at Captain Cooks. OMG they are delicious! I have a CL room booked for 2 nights at the Poly in mid-December before our DVC stay at AKL and can't wait to be back.---Kathy

Kathy, we must have been there at the same time. How was your cruise?

Wow BCV, I didn't know you were there this past weekend. We just flew back Saturday night. We were at BC and didn't make it up to the Polynesian as planned. Sounds as if you are enjoying your stay and interesting news about the cabanas. That must have developed while I was gone. I had heard rumors, but saw no sign of them this past summer.

F&W was fantastic--hope you enjoy it as well!

Tess, it would have been fun to meet you after all these years on the DIS. DS2 and I were at the Polynesian from the 6-10, then BCV from the 10-15. My DH arrived on the 10. We're ending our trip at SSR and return to reality tomorrow.

I hear you about the rumors of cabanas. It seems like those have been floating around for a year or two at least. The cabanas are now reality and look fantastic.

A CM from Recreation told me they are planning on another even larger cabana. I think he called it a premium cabana. At any rate, it will be where hair wraps used to be done several years ago...that largish pavilion. It will have an even larger TV. I think he said 54". It will be available to rent for fireworks, too. They're planning to build a little bamboo fence around it. Nothing happening there as of last Sunday and I know plans do change. Wouldn't that be neat though?

Someone asked about a Lilo plush. There were none there last week. Sorry.

We had breakfast at Kona twice and lunch once. Each meal was great. It's been a couple years since we had lunch there I think and I'm so glad we did it this trip. We also had room service twice for breakfast...good as well.

We had an accessible room with tub in Rapa Nui. We didn't need an accessible room this trip as our daughter wasn't with us so at first I was disappointed. Our last two stays in rollin shower rooms in Rapa Nui, the bathrooms were in great need of some TLC. But this bathroom was great. It had the newish tiles unlike the rollin shower baths which had the old, green, small tiles. I wonder if they've redone the rollin bathrooms by now? I almost knocked on one of those doors to inquire. j/k. Anyway, I loved our room.

Someone mentioned that the plug for internet connection was hard to reach. There's actually one right on the surface of the desk. There are multiple outlets in the power strip including one for the ethernet cord.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We're here now. The grounds are beautiful, especially at night. Every CM has been very friendly and welcoming. No wear and tear that we've seen. Ohana dinner was great tonight!

However. :-(. I'm so disappointed.

Last night we were given a room at the far end of aoretorea. We were so close to the monorail that the whole room shook everytime it went by. Between that and the road traffic,'it was hard to sleep,'even with a fan running all night.

The front desk was more than happy to move us to a quieter room and today they checked us in to a room in Fiji.....right across from the elevator and vending machine. The monorail room was quieter

Determined to make the best of it, I unpacked everything, if nothing because the marina view is pretty.

Tonight turning the beds down,'one had blood on the sheets and an eyelash in it. I called housekeeping who said they would send someone down to change the sheets. I pulled the other cover back and the blanket had dried food crusted on it. Right now mousekeeping is here changing both the beds and I'm just frustrated. I'm so glad I Lysol our room when we get in one. Its just nasty. There is no way the sheets were changed after he last guest left. I'm just thankful my mom, who is here on her first visit,'was with her friend and not here to see all this :-(

We're here and can I just say my whole family loves the Poly! We have a beautiful theme park view in Tuvalu (room 3413). We were checked in and told our room wasn't ready, then got the text 5 minutes later that it was ready. But we got up here and it hadn't been cleaned. EW. Mousekeeping management called me right away when I reported it, apologized sincerely, and sent our mousekeeper up right away to clean. We went out for lunch at DTD to pass the time and when we got back, it was nice and fresh! There is some noticebale wear-and-tear, but nothing that's a deal breaker for us...we're pretty laid back about these things, and I realize in being here that we pay a premium for this amazing view and location. I am in love with it!

Bellerocks- internet is wired is the rooms through ethernet cable and is $10 per 24hrs of use. We brought a router with us so my dh and I, and our teenage son could be online at the same time

Thanks again to all you regular Poly posters for the great advice and info about this resort. It has made our first day here absolutely magical.

OMGosh!!! There seems to be a theme forming...WTHeck?

If I have 2 unacceptable rooms in a row...we will switch resorts!