ALOHA! The Poly FAQ: Fall 2010 Edition

[weHEARTmickey]

.....weHEARTmickey...thos pics are amazing! Thank you for sharing

Thank you!! It was the most amazing night ever! We'd spent most of our trip in Nuie & Thanksgiving night was our very last night, in Tuvalu. We used to stay value for 10-11 days. Now, I think we'd give up a few days just to stay here! Ahhhh, I think I'll have to set one of the pics as my desktop background & dream. We aren't going back for about 5 yrs.

 

[woodkins]

Just booked 5 nights at the end of October for a Club Level Room!!! Had the 40% off pin, but there was no availability for the dates we were looking for and when I looked online again tonight.....there it was. Snatched it up before it was gone again. So happy we will be heading back to our Hawaiian themed home away from home.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Yes--I am glad this thread has turned back more positive. There is still alot of bashing on other threads but, oh well, less people to compete with my room reservations next trip. It's not all bad. teehee

I felt the same way about the sushi. SSSOOOoo tasty but pricey. I only ate there once as I couldn't justify the extra $$. I think the sushi bar is overlooked by many but it is quite the bees knees for CS. I took mine back to my room and ate it on the balcony while people watching and listening to the luau music. good times....

Amen, sister!! I'm all for people NOT booking at the Poly. More beach for us!

I tried to sushi bar for the first time this trip, and I thought it was pretty yummy, too!!

For those who stay club level at the Polynesian, do you book your own adrs or do you have concierge book them for you. I always book my own but wasn't sure if I wanted to pass it off to ipo for our upcoming trip.

I'm a slight bit (or A LOT...whatever) controlling over our trips and plans, but I forced myself to let the IPO book my ADRs. I woke up on 180 days to all of my ADRs booked within 15 minutes of my request but mostly right on the mark. I plan to do the same on this year's trip.

 

[Alli76]

For those who stay club level at the Polynesian, do you book your own adrs or do you have concierge book them for you. I always book my own but wasn't sure if I wanted to pass it off to ipo for our upcoming trip.

I wish we had known and booked club 180 days out it would have saved me some stress!!! I booked them all myself as we were waiting for a discount to book club.

 

[woodkins]

I'm a slight bit (or A LOT...whatever) controlling over our trips and plans, but I forced myself to let the IPO book my ADRs. I woke up on 180 days to all of my ADRs booked within 15 minutes of my request but mostly right on the mark. I plan to do the same on this year's trip.

That is sooo good to hear. I just booked CL and am a total ADR control freak, waking up at 6am etc. and I was debating on if I should chance it to let IPO make them for me or not. I think I will give it a try.

How far in advance did you send in your request and did you do it by email or fax?

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Some Kona dessert porn

OMG, was this the fruit and chocolate fondue dessert? I had this and posted a 'food porn' shot of it here some months back. Yummy!

Speaking of food, just finished making our ADRs for our July 2011 trip. Can't wait until DD and I are back at the Poly, enjoying macadamia nut pancakes and Kona Cofee.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Amen, sister!! I'm all for people NOT booking at the Poly. More beach for us!

Did they get the memo about all the bugs in the Tuvalu longhouse?

I tried to sushi bar for the first time this trip, and I thought it was pretty yummy, too!!

The sushi bar always looks & smells yummy but I've never brought myself to try it. Not a big fan of 'raw fish' and I feel like if I get something cooked I'm not trying 'real' sushi.

I'm a slight bit (or A LOT...whatever) controlling over our trips and plans, but I forced myself to let the IPO book my ADRs.

I have to say, even if we were staying CL (we're doing LV) I'm too much of a control freak to let the IPO handle it. Yes, I'm crazy like that.

 

[dizneechic]

OMG, was this the fruit and chocolate fondue dessert? I had this and posted a 'food porn' shot of it here some months back. Yummy!

Yes and I remember your post! We specifically booked a dinner at Kona to split a few meals and sample a bunch of the desserts because of that!

Speaking of food, just finished making our ADRs for our July 2011 trip. Can't wait until DD and I are back at the Poly, enjoying macadamia nut pancakes and Kona Cofee.

Mmmmm we never did get to try those pancakes, but I remember asking you what they were and I think you mentioned forgetting to ask for the macadamia nut butter on the side? Either way we head back the end of this week and WILL try them this time... That and torch lighting are on my short list of must do's!

 

[j9psu]

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.

Thanks for the great suggestions! Looking forward to partying Poly style!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Hey Poly Experts!

I posted this question a few pages back but it wasn't ever answered so I shall try again! We are heading to the Poly for 9 nights at the end of August/beginning of Sept. At what point of the afternoon does the Volcano pool get "too busy"? We are planning to do as many am emhs and do lunch around 1130 at the park and then go back to the Poly for a swim and a rest before our evenings activites.

 

[rcsilverspring]

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.

Thanks for the great suggestions! Looking forward to partying Poly style!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do an online search. I've downloaded in the past many wave & MP3 files of WDW and Poly Resort music. Even have monorail announcements. Can't remember off hand what sites they were, but I have all kinds of music to listen to when I get "homesick.

 

[Tess]

Hey Poly Experts!

I posted this question a few pages back but it wasn't ever answered so I shall try again! We are heading to the Poly for 9 nights at the end of August/beginning of Sept. At what point of the afternoon does the Volcano pool get "too busy"? We are planning to do as many am emhs and do lunch around 1130 at the park and then go back to the Poly for a swim and a rest before our evenings activites.

You probably won't have too much of an issue if you get there immediately after your lunch given you are there in late August or early September. The volcano pool is busy most of the day from around noon until 4:00 p.m. Folks tend to have their lunch around the pool and leave closer to dinner time. In late August/early September, you shouldn't experience the crowds that are present in the summer and later in October/early November (F&W).

You may have to ask to share a table, if that is your pleasure, but there are usually some chaise lounges that could be scrounged to hold your belongings. We prefer the quiet pool area and we walk over for a few trips down the slide when the mood strikes. It seems the seating there is more available throughout the day. The pool is generally more available for a dip, too.

I wouldn't be too concerned with space. . .there always seems to be someone leaving as others are arriving unless it is the high season.

 

[cmcinc]

Just booked out next Poly stay...Oct 28-Nov 2 and had a 30% PIN attached to my name when I called. Good news, but will still be looking for the 40% down the road.

 

[dizneechic]

Hey Poly Experts!

I posted this question a few pages back but it wasn't ever answered so I shall try again! We are heading to the Poly for 9 nights at the end of August/beginning of Sept. At what point of the afternoon does the Volcano pool get "too busy"? We are planning to do as many am emhs and do lunch around 1130 at the park and then go back to the Poly for a swim and a rest before our evenings activites.

I agree with Tess but also wanted to share since we were just there Aug 23-29th. We tend to do the parks for rope drop and then are back at the resort by 3 until dinner time. We would hit the pools around then and found the volcano pool busy but never crazy crowded, but mine much preferred the quiet pool. It was never busy there, chairs and tables available in abundance. The kids could run and jump into the deep end without worrying about someone swimming by, and most days we could even get a covered table. At the volcano pool tables always looked claimed (resort towels left on the tables or chairs) but if we didn't see anyone around we borrowed 2 chairs and would gladly move if the person whom they belonged to came back (they never did, we assume this was people leaving stuff there as placeholders hoping...). The only issue we had with going back to the resort is we never wanted to leave, so often ended up having dinner on site and relaxed on the beach or by the pool for the rest of the night.

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

You probably won't have too much of an issue if you get there immediately after your lunch given you are there in late August or early September. The volcano pool is busy most of the day from around noon until 4:00 p.m. Folks tend to have their lunch around the pool and leave closer to dinner time. In late August/early September, you shouldn't experience the crowds that are present in the summer and later in October/early November (F&W).

You may have to ask to share a table, if that is your pleasure, but there are usually some chaise lounges that could be scrounged to hold your belongings. We prefer the quiet pool area and we walk over for a few trips down the slide when the mood strikes. It seems the seating there is more available throughout the day. The pool is generally more available for a dip, too.

I wouldn't be too concerned with space. . .there always seems to be someone leaving as others are arriving unless it is the high season.

I agree with Tess but also wanted to share since we were just there Aug 23-29th. We tend to do the parks for rope drop and then are back at the resort by 3 until dinner time. We would hit the pools around then and found the volcano pool busy but never crazy crowded, but mine much preferred the quiet pool. It was never busy there, chairs and tables available in abundance. The kids could run and jump into the deep end without worrying about someone swimming by, and most days we could even get a covered table. At the volcano pool tables always looked claimed (resort towels left on the tables or chairs) but if we didn't see anyone around we borrowed 2 chairs and would gladly move if the person whom they belonged to came back (they never did, we assume this was people leaving stuff there as placeholders hoping...). The only issue we had with going back to the resort is we never wanted to leave, so often ended up having dinner on site and relaxed on the beach or by the pool for the rest of the night.

Thanks Ever so much! I have read lots about the quiet pool being a lot more relaxing! We ate breakfast @ 'Ohana last January and afterwards took a stroll around and my girls were totally in awe of the volcano pool! I think they will want to try that one out a few times but I can totally see us hanging out at the quiet pool a lot too!

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

That is sooo good to hear. I just booked CL and am a total ADR control freak, waking up at 6am etc. and I was debating on if I should chance it to let IPO make them for me or not. I think I will give it a try.

How far in advance did you send in your request and did you do it by email or fax?

Me, too. I'd get up to look at the online ADRs and be on the phone as soon as they opened. However, when I was chatting about ADRs with IPO, they mentioned they have access to tables the general public doesn't at 180 days, and I believe she said they booked earlier, too. Someone can correct me if that last part is wrong.

I sent an email as soon as I knew what we wanted, which was a couple months before our 180 days (see...control freak!!).

Did they get the memo about all the bugs in the Tuvalu longhouse?

The sushi bar always looks & smells yummy but I've never brought myself to try it. Not a big fan of 'raw fish' and I feel like if I get something cooked I'm not trying 'real' sushi.

I have to say, even if we were staying CL (we're doing LV) I'm too much of a control freak to let the IPO handle it. Yes, I'm crazy like that.

Well, and Hawaii is just ATROCIOUS!! Especially the TPV side. Horrid.

Theoretically I'm not into sushi, either, but I just don't poke around it too much or try to make anything out (you know, like fishy shapes ). I just grab 'em by my chopsticks and pop 'em in my mouth. I think there was only once or twice I just flat out didn't like what I had.

I thought I'd be that way, too!! I almost got up on my 180 days to make my own just in case but woke to an email saying everything had been secured, so they definitely set my (ever running) mind at ease.

 

[maiapapaya]

Soooo excited! Just got off the phone with CRO. We were able to upgrade our reservations to CL, TPV for our October trip!!! (thanks to my sister for sharing her pin!!!) So excited to have the use of the lounge!

 

[sonjaandsue]

I just wanted to give a quick report - the room is clean with no wear that I can see, mousekeeping has been prompt. No leis at check-in which was just fine with us. The food in the lounge has been replenished quickly so far - we are just at the start of our stay so I can't give a report on the offerings (other than the punch and chocolate ganache tarts which were excellent). The weather is great and the crowds have been light. The monorail was out of commission for a while the morning which was causing major issues for the marathon crowd but we chose the boat to MK and avoided the whole problem. This is our first visit and we are very impressed!

 

[BreezysMom]

Soooo excited! Just got off the phone with CRO. We were able to upgrade our reservations to CL, TPV for our October trip!!! (thanks to my sister for sharing her pin!!!) So excited to have the use of the lounge!

We will finally get to party at the Poly and I know I will be able to find you without a problem this time See you in the lounge!

I just wanted to give a quick report - the room is clean with no wear that I can see, mousekeeping has been prompt. No leis at check-in which was just fine with us. The food in the lounge has been replenished quickly so far - we are just at the start of our stay so I can't give a report on the offerings (other than the punch and chocolate ganache tarts which were excellent). The weather is great and the crowds have been light. The monorail was out of commission for a while the morning which was causing major issues for the marathon crowd but we chose the boat to MK and avoided the whole problem. This is our first visit and we are very impressed!

Thanks for the live report Have a great time!

 

[woodkins]

We will finally get to party at the Poly and I know I will be able to find you without a problem this time See you in the lounge!



Thanks for the live report Have a great time!

Just saw your ticker & it looks like we will be arriving on the same day. Looks like the disboards will be taking over the Hawaii lounge