ALOHA! The Poly FAQ: Fall 2010 Edition

[Bolebrothers]

So after upgrading to club this past week I sub'd the club/concierge thread just in case there were other little pieces of information. Wow - there are a lot of negative comments about the Poly on there... I don't like to read that! (especially since Poly only had a 25% code and the other deluxes had 30%)

We also booked CL for April/May and was a bit stressed at negative comments, but after looking at several forums and realy digging in to this my feeling is that for the past 6 months, more than 70 % was positive and would recomend it. So I got more confident after that, with all the guests staying CL that are extremly happy, very few ever post a report or a comment, those that are not so happy more often tend to write about it. We see this every time we go to Disneyland Paris, bad hotellreviews but for all our stays we have never been other than very,very pleased with the Newport Bay club there. So I guess there is a formula for this, trust your instinct, travel to your vacation with happy thoughts in your heart and I am sure you will rarely be dissapointed anywhere.

 

[j9psu]

I know there are many people who do NOT love the loud music being played by the volcano pool, but my 8 y.o. daughter is not one of them! When we stayed at the Poly in Nov., she LOVED the poolside music and activities. (Who needs the MK when you've got an awesome activities director at your resort?!? ) She would actually like to recreate the scene with a luau birthday party in Feb., and for the life of me, I can't remember most of the songs being played at the Poly (over and over and over )... We need some sweet tunes to accompany our hula hoop contest , freeze dance, and twister games. Thanks for your help!

 

[Clochette nordique]

Just a bit over $1000 for 8 days! Wow!
And we decided to fly from Buffalo instead of Toronto = another $1000!

Maybe, just maybe, we'll be back in a couple of years ... since we'll keep the $ in the bank!

1000 thanks to T.A.

Poussière de fée

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

We were in club level, so didn't go to the main check-in desk, but we didn't get leis at all during our stay, except at 'Ohana breakfast before the photo. The kids didn't even get leis at the lei-making demonstration which I, frankly, thought was a little odd. Though the whole "demo" was pretty half-hearted, so I guess I wasn't really surprised. Lilo and Stitch coloring pages were handed out.

We were CL in December, and we received leis at check-in. Barbie actually stopped the rest of my group from going to the lounge so she could give them all leis first to "welcome them properly." We've also always received leis at regular check-in and sometimes even when just visiting (and not staying at) the Poly. We also received them at 'Ohana. We came home with a lot of leis this time. They just kept popping up everywhere.

 

[BreezysMom]

Can anyone tell me about the leis at check-in? We will be visiting the poly for the first time this April and it sounds like my girls would love them! Can we respectfully ask for them if they are not offered at check in? Thanks for all the expert info!

From our trips to the Poly I have a enough leis to fill a suitcase. If they forget to give you one upon check in, just ask. Sometimes with all the check in process the CMs may forget.

We stay CL and when we arrived to the resort they gave us our leis as soon as we stepped off ME before they wisked us off to Hawaii. When we got to Hawaii, DD noticed they had pink ones which she preferred to our yellow ones and the CM gave her a ton of them

They are always available in the lobby at the check in/concierge desk

 

[mommylovespoly]

We need some sweet tunes to accompany our hula hoop contest , freeze dance, and twister games. Thanks for your help!

We have had two luau birthday parties, and I made a Luau party mix for the first one that we used again the second time-- and that we listen to a lot when we want to get into that polynesian mood.

This is *not* official Poly music. For that you might want to check out that tiki person's site.

I got ALL of these from iTunes. they should also be available on Amazon (cheaper!)

I am looking at the cd label which only lists title, and not artist but from what I recall, there will be several versions of each if you search by title and then listen to the sample and pick what you like best.

1. Aloha Oe
2. Hawaiian Paradise
3. Somewhere Over the Rainbow (this is a great version by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. If you cannot find it on one of his albums try searching soundtracks, it has been used in a lot of TV shows and movies)
4. Tiny Bubbles
5. Hawaiian War Chant
6. Hukilau
7. Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride
8. Humahuma etc from HS Musical 2 soundtrack
And these were just for the dancing part of our party-- not totally Hawaiian/ Polynesian:
9. Limbo (technically not Hawaiian, but my daughter wanted to dance limbo so we did. I found one that was less reggae/ calypso sounding to stay in theme. I think I actually used the Chubby Checker version!)
10. Kiss the Girl (Ashley Tisdale)
11. Miracles Happen (Mya, from Princess Diaries 1)
12. GNO (Hannah Montana)

That was a list that made my Disney loving Poly princess very happy!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

3. Somewhere Over the Rainbow (this is a great version by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. If you cannot find it on one of his albums try searching soundtracks, it has been used in a lot of TV shows and movies)

Bonus points if you can actually pronounce "Kamakawiwo'ole" ... He also goes by "Bruddah (Brother) Iz"

 

[MagicStitch]

Hey All! I am heading down to the Poly next month from the 10th-15th (after a 2 day stay at Universal to see my friend Harry Potter ). But I need some advice....I have been in love with the Poly since I was a kid... the sounds, the smells, the feel...I know you all understand what I mean ! But I haven't stayed at the Poly since 2004 when I was on my honeymoon (split stay with CR) and at that time I was a Disney Store CM. I got great rates and stayed TPV CL. Ok fast forward 7 years... I am divorced and in a new fantastic relationship. I let my DF choose the resort as he has really never experienced Disney properly. He knows that I stayed at the Poly during my honeymoon but he picked it anyway because he loves all things tropical and it really suited him. Plus he loved the idea of the monorail being right there... However, I am worried (and honestly have been since I booked) that when I get down it may be weird. I was going to book CL due to amazing rates when I booked back in Oct. but honestly for 2 adults I didn't feel it was worth it and instead we took GV and added Deluxe dining (we are both MAJOR foodies ). But I am just wondering if anyone has any advice? Or am I really overthinking this?!

Now that question out there.... if I do stay at the Poly I am having the hardest time deciding on what longhouse! I have read pros/cons on each building and done a ton of research but I am really undecided and although I know requests aren't guaranteed, I want to put something in... in case we get lucky

Thanks!!

 

[RemembertheMagic98]

MagicStitch~
My vote is for Tahiti Longhouse....but only with the TPV. I stayed there last February and loved the short walk to TTC as well as the empty beach. We are balcony people so I requested third floor and had an AMAZING view every morning of MK and could actually hear the music from rope drop

As a fellow foodie, I sucked it up and took DB to Victoria and Alberts for dinner (ala Valentines Day). It was $$$ but the best meal of my life (3 hours later) and it was really sweet to dress up for eachother

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Figment1990]

RemembertheMagic98 - I just wanted to say that I love your screenname! I remember the magic and even have the theme song on my ipod!

 

[dizneechic]

RemembertheMagic98 - I just wanted to say that I love your screenname! I remember the magic and even have the theme song on my ipod!

I have to as well... We were married in Disney in 99 and it was the theme (and theme song) for our Wedding.

 

[coopersmom]

... However, I am worried (and honestly have been since I booked) that when I get down it may be weird. I was going to book CL due to amazing rates when I booked back in Oct. but honestly for 2 adults I didn't feel it was worth it and instead we took GV and added Deluxe dining (we are both MAJOR foodies ). ...

If you are anything even close to a foodie, you're unlikely to enjoy much about dining at Disney. The food--less so in the so-called 'signatures,' but it's still not actual fine dining by any stretch of the imagination--is highly processed, much of it pre-cooked in a central location, wildly over-priced and generally mediocre, at best.

Expect the quality of food you'd get a Chili's or Applebee's, at best, but about five times the price. If you're lucky, you'll get an Outback-quality meal at, say, Le Cellier.

The food is very homogenized, even at the signatures, and little of it is fresh or tasty. The focus is a lot more on presentation (things that look good but taste blah), and cost effectiveness, than taste. I went in with VERY low expectations for food quality, and was still somewhat disappointed.

The exception is Victoria and Albert's which was a truly sublime experience.

I'm not such a food snob that I can't eat a Chili's and find something that's totally acceptable, but I draw the line at bad food that is also wildly expensive, and that's what Disney delivered for us.

My friend and I are planning another trip to Disney and, while she is big on convenience food and eats a lot of takeout from chain places, also finds Disney dining just plain blah. Our plan is to either leave Disney for dining (if I'm gonna' have Applebee's quality food, at least I'd rather do so paying Applebee's prices) or just eat a lot in the room with deli stuff and the like. She's VERY un-picky and her exact words were that a turkey sandwich in the room is just about as good as anything she's had at Disney, and this from someone who goes every year and choose Chipolte for her birthday dinner, so not a dining snob.

And if you're on your own and not worrying about kids, Orlando does have plenty of TRUE fine dining experiences you could enjoy off-property. (Even as close as the Waldorf, which has a very highly-rated steak restaurant.)

Club level at the Polynesian was 'eh' at best and, again, don't do it for the food or service. Again, just not very good and, unless you're willing to wait in line the minute it opens, usually gone very quickly and not refilled, at least in our experience.

The benefit for us was the lounge, which gave you someplace besides your room to sit and relax or have a snack, even if it's one you bring/bought yourself. The rooms, often described as "huge" here, are very standard hotel size and don't have a table or anywhere, minus one chair, to eat a snack or sit other than the bed. We also met a lot of great people there, with whom we ended up having long chats, and my son played with other kids. He loved that part and I will say it had a very nice community feeling.

 

[BreezysMom]

Good Morning Poly lovers

I just had to see my ticker...tomorrow I will be at my 4 month mark Anyone else going at the same time?? Anyone? Anyone?

I am in full blown winter blahs! I can't remember the last time I saw the sun?? So I think it is about time we get this board hopping again. Guitarrob started this new thread at the end of July and we are only 50 pages away from a new inception....

If you are planning a trip and lurking...come out and say hello

If you have pics you have been meaning to post...please post now Help your fellow Poly lovers out!

So here are some of my favorite pics...which I have probably posted a thousand times before but I love looking at them

This pic is for my friends who like this rat infested longhouse

Three things that make me love the Poly...

1. The Poly feels like home for my little family of three. DH is always so relaxed, DD is always happy, smiling and excited while we are there and we all enjoy the atmosphere. I get spoiled with a vacation of no cooking, cleaning, car pooling, working and so on while in paradise

2. The Proximity of the Poly to our two favorite parks, MK and Epcot and the ease to get to both.

3. I have made some really good friends from being a Poly lover

This is what happens when I get a random day off ....Happy Thursday Poly lovers. Feel free to play with me...especially you lurkers...come on out and plan your trips with us.

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

I've been lurking for a while now. We are anxiously awaiting our second stay at the Poly in mid-June. It's been 5 years since we were there last and we are excited to get back. Our last onsite stay was at the WL. Although it was lovely, my husband vowed that he would only stay at the Poly from now on . Love that man

 

[BreezysMom]

I've been lurking for a while now. We are anxiously awaiting our second stay at the Poly in mid-June. It's been 5 years since we were there last and we are excited to get back. Our last onsite stay was at the WL. Although it was lovely, my husband vowed that he would only stay at the Poly from now on . Love that man

I knew the first time we stepped in the Poly we would never stay anywhere else I was sure hubby would get hooked

Five years! Wow, you must really be excited? This is the longest I have gone in between visits since our first visit and I am in major withdrawal Oh poor me

 

[Alli76]

BreezysMom - I think that we will be there the same time as you exactly... 4 months and 1 day for me too!!!

Talk about a long time between visits - I think that it will be 18 years for me (longer since the Poly)!! I am sooo excited and can't wait. Plus I am hoping that my husband likes it as much and wants to visit over and over again... just don't know if we will be able to afford the Poly over and over again

 

[rcsilverspring]

I knew the first time we stepped in the Poly we would never stay anywhere else I was sure hubby would get hooked

Five years! Wow, you must really be excited? This is the longest I have gone in between visits since our first visit and I am in major withdrawal Oh poor me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think we will be at the Poly right after you. I WILL have one "Dis-meet" while we are there. My dear Dis-friend, Jane & I overlap 2 days and are planning to meet.

As you can see by my ticker, I waited 17 years between my 2nd & 3rd stays at the Poly. I know, I know. How could I last that long? There were many things that got in the way: DDs each took 2 trips with the band in hs, (which Mom & Dad were nice & let them do on their own), my bout with breast cancer, 2 daughters in college with all the associated expenses and the list goes on. Two years ago we celebrated my 10 years as a bc survivor and DH's retirement by taking our DDs (now grown & on their own) and their boyfriends on a wonderful "adults only" trip to the Poly. This year's trip was postponed due to DD#2's surgery, so we are now planning another trip "home" to the Poly May 19th, grown daughters, boyfriends and all!
Visiting my Poly Dis-friends every day sure is helping us get prepared. DD#2 & I are e-mailing back & forth today tweaking plans, deciding what all we are going to eat, what we promise not to miss this time, what pictures to take... What a nice way to dream on a cold, snowy day, only THIS dream will soon come true!!

 

[OhdahLolly]

Aloha fellow Poly lovers!

Looks like we will finally get our poly trip after years of wanting to go! We are going down the second week in April (which seems when a lot of you are going!) for our daughters 3rd birthday.

Peak rates. But really, I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be right now.

Hey All! I am heading down to the Poly next month from the 10th-15th (after a 2 day stay at Universal to see my friend Harry Potter ). But I need some advice....I have been in love with the Poly since I was a kid... the sounds, the smells, the feel...I know you all understand what I mean ! But I haven't stayed at the Poly since 2004 when I was on my honeymoon (split stay with CR) and at that time I was a Disney Store CM. I got great rates and stayed TPV CL. Ok fast forward 7 years... I am divorced and in a new fantastic relationship. I let my DF choose the resort as he has really never experienced Disney properly. He knows that I stayed at the Poly during my honeymoon but he picked it anyway because he loves all things tropical and it really suited him. Plus he loved the idea of the monorail being right there... However, I am worried (and honestly have been since I booked) that when I get down it may be weird. I was going to book CL due to amazing rates when I booked back in Oct. but honestly for 2 adults I didn't feel it was worth it and instead we took GV and added Deluxe dining (we are both MAJOR foodies ). But I am just wondering if anyone has any advice? Or am I really overthinking this?!

Now that question out there.... if I do stay at the Poly I am having the hardest time deciding on what longhouse! I have read pros/cons on each building and done a ton of research but I am really undecided and although I know requests aren't guaranteed, I want to put something in... in case we get lucky

Thanks!!

We also booked CL with the 40 percent discount. The first time that's been available to do that for us!

We are currently waffling back and forth if we want to downgrade the room and do the Deluxe Dining Plan, or if we want to keep our CL and do the regular. The difference is little under 100 bucks.

 

[Bolebrothers]

BreezysMom - I think that we will miss the same time by our last day.
We are leaving May 7th. So if my math is right that will be the day you and Allie arrives.

 

[maiapapaya]

Thanks for the picture of the rat-hole BreezysMom!

I just posted a bunch of pictures last week, so I'll refrain from adding more.

Here's my three favorite things I love about the Poly:
1. The feeling of being right in the heart of Disney ... the castle off in the distance, the CR & GF off to the sides, the boat horns & train whistles, the EWP, the fireworks ....

2. The monorail ... so easy to get back & forth to the MK with the kids.

3. My Poly pals too!