ALOHA! The Poly FAQ: Fall 2010 Edition

[dizneechic]

I torture myself by keeping an eye on this thread I'm staying at WL in May. I have this overwhelming desire to go back to the Poly (for the 4th time) but each time we've stayed, I see WL and tell my DH that's where I want to go next! So I'm finally going and am happy to be staying in a 1 bdr villa but I will miss the Poly I'll report back after my trip and let you know if I survived!

Aww Tink, If it helps you any we LOVE the WL too. It's where DH and I preferred to stay before kids and even with my youngest but as a family of 5 it doesn't work for us anymore. The pools and geyser are great and we enjoy walking the grounds there, not to mention the QS there is more "us", but the Poly does have it beat transportation and view wise (by a mile ). I'm sure you'll really enjoy WL, it's a beautiful resort! Of course it's still ok to pine for the Poly (who doesn't ), it will be great to hear what you think of WL once you've been.

 

[carlnix30]

I had connecting rooms on the first floor of Hawaii last February

Our room in Aug was connecting (3530), our room this month (1520) was not.

Thank you very much! I was hoping there were no connecting rooms, king kamehameha suite would be better fit for us

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Aww Tink, If it helps you any we LOVE the WL too. It's where DH and I preferred to stay before kids and even with my youngest but as a family of 5 it doesn't work for us anymore. The pools and geyser are great and we enjoy walking the grounds there, not to mention the QS there is more "us", but the Poly does have it beat transportation and view wise (by a mile ). I'm sure you'll really enjoy WL, it's a beautiful resort! Of course it's still ok to pine for the Poly (who doesn't ), it will be great to hear what you think of WL once you've been.

Thank you! It's so good to hear that someone who loves the Poly likes WL! I absolutely love the Poly but we really wanted to try a villa with the kids.

That monorail can NOT be beat though! I'm so glad I've been able to stay at the Poly - peeling bathroom paint and all. Don't go there, it's just so 70s (That was a joke. I just find the negative Poly comments so funny. Each to their own, but I do like my tiki torches!)

 

[pmaurer74]

Ahhh the ups and downs this morning..... I was on the phone with my mom and she mentioned that she got "some discount" info from Disney. Turns out she had a 40% pin code!!! YIPPIE! She is going on the trip with us - so I thought we would be able to apply her discount. And now for the down.... turns out - the offer is sold out for the Polynesian. We thought about it - but really don't think that we want to move resorts. Think we will stick with our current 25% off

If you move your trip by one day it is available for theme park view or if you can change your dates to a week or two later there are tons of options open. That is when we are going.
Date Rate per Night
Sun, May 08 $ 354.00
Mon, May 09 $ 354.00
Tue, May 10 $ 354.00
Wed, May 11 $ 354.00
Thu, May 12 $ 354.00
Fri, May 13 $ 369.00
Sat, May 14 $ 369.00

 

[Tess]

Our room in Aug was connecting (3530), our room this month (1520) was not.

We have stayed in both those rooms over the years dizneechic! There are a good number of connecting rooms in Hawaii carlnix30.

 

[phinz]

Don't go there, it's just so 70s (That was a joke. I just find the negative Poly comments so funny. Each to their own, but I do like my tiki torches!)

This is exactly why we are going to the Poly. We're Tiki aficionados ( we go to tiki conventions, collect vintage mugs and have a 600 square foot tiki bar in the basement) so what better place to stay? Granted, the Poly was built at the end of the Tiki movement, but it's still so '70s, and that's the appeal. It's the same reason I love the Contemporary.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

CL has a machine that you press a number for what you wanted. I think it made latte and hot chocolate too. I am not a coffee drinker but my husband got coffee out of it several times and said it was good.

The coffee in the CL lounge is gross. They have a machine that makes lattes I think but I never tried it because I have heard nothing good about it on this thread. As a matter of fact, it is known as NesCrape by a few people.

I usually walk over and buy some Kona Coffee in the GCH. I like my morning coffee so I don't mind spending a little extra $$ for a good cup of coffee

it is nescrape! there is a coffee pot in the room that brews 2 small cups. we bring starbucks ground coffee, cream, and sugar with us. the small cone filters fit the machine. I am an early riser and Kona coffee bar didnt open until 7am so the starbucks is my life blood.

If you are really desperate, try to mix the espresso and then regular coffee from the nescrape machine. they will fit in the same cup that they provide. not bad but not the greatest!

Last year I would just hit the espresso button on the machine a couple times and then top off with milk. Kinda made my own latte. It was OK. We usually grind our own starbucks french roast here every morning so we like good coffee. But, a bad cup of coffee in the CL Lounge beats a good cup of coffee at home in my opinion.

We thought the coffee in the CL was decent. We normally got the latte or cappucino tho. It was a morning routine, I got up went down to lounge got to cups of coffee to wake DH and then we got dressed and went to CL for breakfast and then out to the parks or pool

We are going Sept 4-10th I normally go a bit later in Sept but we are taking our two teens and figured they would miss less school doing over a holiday week

Thanks for the coffee advice everyone! I will make sure to bring coffee filters and coffee from home and I'm sure I'll be indulging in numerous cups of Kona Coffee (Yummmmmmmy!!!) during our stay! I can't stand the NesCafe junk!

 

[lindsroc]

If you move your trip by one day it is available for theme park view or if you can change your dates to a week or two later there are tons of options open. That is when we are going.
Date Rate per Night
Sun, May 08 $ 354.00
Mon, May 09 $ 354.00
Tue, May 10 $ 354.00
Wed, May 11 $ 354.00
Thu, May 12 $ 354.00
Fri, May 13 $ 369.00
Sat, May 14 $ 369.00

Is the $354 before the discount or after????

 

[lindsroc]

Whats the coffee situation in the room? I was thinking of bringing packets of starbucks to my coffee in the morning, but not sure if we should just hit the GCH and grab a cup of Kona. I think we're going to do a grocery stop on the way so could pick up cream etc. Will housekeeping clean out the coffee pot etc?

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

Hello everyone! My sister, DH, and I are checking in to the Poly on Feb 9th! I am SOOOOOO excited. First time in CL too! Anyone else be there during our stay? (We'll be there till the 13th.)

We are checking in the 9th and leaving the 14th! Absolutely can not wait. This is our first stay at Poly. See you there!

 

[pmaurer74]

Is the $354 before the discount or after????

after

 

[Tess]

Whats the coffee situation in the room? I was thinking of bringing packets of starbucks to my coffee in the morning, but not sure if we should just hit the GCH and grab a cup of Kona. I think we're going to do a grocery stop on the way so could pick up cream etc. Will housekeeping clean out the coffee pot etc?

Standard hotel swill. Bring your own coffee and safe your stomach! We brought small (2-4 cup) filters, our own coffee, cream and made our own in room. Mousekeeping always gave us fresh cups, but I cleaned my own pot.

While we are certainly in the minority, we really don't care for the Kona coffee--it always tastes burned to me and we've tried it a number of times just to be sure we didn't get a bad pot. I use Kona coffee beans at home periodically (among other types) and we like our coffee good and strong, but we don't get the attraction for the Kona coffee at the coffee bar.

 

[carlnix30]

Whats the coffee situation in the room? I was thinking of bringing packets of starbucks to my coffee in the morning, but not sure if we should just hit the GCH and grab a cup of Kona. I think we're going to do a grocery stop on the way so could pick up cream etc. Will housekeeping clean out the coffee pot etc?

there is a coffee pot in the room. it brews 2 small cups of coffee. they provide this pre-measured uhhhm stuff they call coffee in these pods thingys. If you are bringing coffee with you get the small cone filters they fit the pot. wash your own pot. the pots look clean but... just wash your own..


Tess I could not agree with you more!!! I thought we were the only ones that thought Kona coffee tastes burnt.

 

[robeck]

I'll be at the Poly CL 5th-12th. I guess that I'll be seeing you there.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Standard hotel swill. Bring your own coffee and safe your stomach! We brought small (2-4 cup) filters, our own coffee, cream and made our own in room. Mousekeeping always gave us fresh cups, but I cleaned my own pot.

While we are certainly in the minority, we really don't care for the Kona coffee--it always tastes burned to me and we've tried it a number of times just to be sure we didn't get a bad pot. I use Kona coffee beans at home periodically (among other types) and we like our coffee good and strong, but we don't get the attraction for the Kona coffee at the coffee bar.

there is a coffee pot in the room. it brews 2 small cups of coffee. they provide this pre-measured uhhhm stuff they call coffee in these pods thingys. If you are bringing coffee with you get the small cone filters they fit the pot. wash your own pot. the pots look clean but... just wash your own..


Tess I could not agree with you more!!! I thought we were the only ones that thought Kona coffee tastes burnt.

We don't like Kona coffee either We bring our own pot, jugs of water, coffee, cream, sugar, disposable coffee cups, whipped cream & caramel for the top, the whole nine yards. Can't do rope w/out my froo-froo yummy coffee each am!

 

[carlnix30]

I'll be at the Poly CL 5th-12th. I guess that I'll be seeing you there.

What month are you going? Who will you see there?

 

[pigletto]

Glad to read the opinions on coffee. I will certainly try the Kona coffee with an open mind, but I'm going to bring back up for sure. Decent coffee is a necessity for this gal. I'm not so friendly without my morning coffee

I am just getting so excited for this trip. At least 3 times a day I think "Oh please get here quickly".
This winter is cold and grey and I am so excited at the thought of going outside for the day without 26 layers of clothes on I won't even care if it's jacket and gloves weather while we are there, as long as there isn't a foot of snow

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Glad to read the opinions on coffee. I will certainly try the Kona coffee with an open mind, but I'm going to bring back up for sure. Decent coffee is a necessity for this gal. I'm not so friendly without my morning coffee

I am just getting so excited for this trip. At least 3 times a day I think "Oh please get here quickly".
This winter is cold and grey and I am so excited at the thought of going outside for the day without 26 layers of clothes on I won't even care if it's jacket and gloves weather while we are there, as long as there isn't a foot of snow

I feel the same way about the coffee! I've Kona Coffee before both at Kona Cafe and at the coffee bar and I really liked it! I just wish the coffee bar gave you more! I don't think starting out a Disney day (or any day) without a cup or 2 of good coffee would be very magical!

Our trip is in 25 days and I keep thinking the same thing "Please get here quickly!" We've had a cold, icky, snowy winter so far and I'm so ready for FL warmth and sun! I'm praying for 70-75 degrees though! During our trip in December it was very, very cold and I don't wan't to walk around all bundle up again!

 

[Alli76]

If you move your trip by one day it is available for theme park view or if you can change your dates to a week or two later there are tons of options open. That is when we are going.
Date Rate per Night
Sun, May 08 $ 354.00
Mon, May 09 $ 354.00
Tue, May 10 $ 354.00
Wed, May 11 $ 354.00
Thu, May 12 $ 354.00
Fri, May 13 $ 369.00
Sat, May 14 $ 369.00

Thanks for the help.... unfortunately my DH has already set his vacation time and our flights have been booked for a long time. Frustrating as saving more money is nice - but we booked this package knowing what we were paying and that it was ok with us.... so it would have been just an added benefit!

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Here's MY theory on the NesCafe JUNK: They serve that disgusting mess on the dining plan so you'll spend your cold hard cash on the Kona Cafe and other latte kiosks (that don't accept DDP.) Why would they EVER get rid of NesCafe? It serves 2 purposes!