ALOHA! The Poly FAQ~ Spring 2010 Edition

[kaffinito]

8 more days and one more week of work til we head to the POLY

I just wanted to say "Yeah you!" Another week and you'll be there!

On our way home from 7 wonderful nights at the Poly. Can't wait to post pics plus do a longhouse comparison review of Tokelau vs. Fiji. Will hopefully be able to do that tomorrow, plus start a dining review thread that
will include Ohana bfast and
dinner, Capt. Cook's lunch and Kona bfast!

I can't wait! Include lots of pics please!

I have to just say that all this time I was wondering why everyone loved Tahiti's views and no-one ever mentioned Tuvalu -- I always thought that it looked so neat since it was sitting right over the water. At least now I understand that it's because Tuvalu is just plain yucky! Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Another week left for you too! I bet right now you're doing and running around like trying to get ready to go - but pretty soon you'll be

 

[sandym718]

When is the torch lighting? We miss it every year and we'd really like to catch it. We watched it on Youtube and it looks amazing!

6 PM, Tuesday - Saturday (weather permitting). Meet by the main entrance!

 

[mmmears]

Another week left for you too! I bet right now you're doing and running around like trying to get ready to go - but pretty soon you'll be

Bags are all packed, laundry's all done... Now we just have to wait... and wait... and wait...

Are you still going to be Poly CL when we are there???

 

[maiapapaya]

I think it took about 45 minutes total. We arrived at the Poly about 11:30 AM. Checked in and got our room (not much unpacking as we moved to our beloved Tokelau the next day), took a monorail ride, ate lunch at CC's, swam for a bit. Then Jessi and I showered and went to the GF to the salon. DH and DS stayed at the pool a while longer, then showered, etc. We met back up at the Poly for the Torch Lighting and dinner at Kona. As you can see, if you have a resort day, or 1/2 day, it's pretty easy to squeeze in with a lot of other things !

Thanks! I showed DD7 your pic and she's definitely interested. Maybe on our arrival day, depending on when our flight arrives. We just plan on checking in and heading to the MK (we at least need to see the castle from Main Street to officially start our trip ) We aren't even planning on an ADR that day - our only must-do is to see the castle lighting, so hopefully I can make it work!

 

[5inwonderland]

All this Poly talk has gotten me so excited! I am leaving Monday for a trip to Portland, OR ... but all I can think about is Polynesia!
Only 4 months away

 

[aceys_h0ney]

Don't go given Disney any new ideas

oops I will keep those ideas to myself with 4 kids it's getting hard enough for me to take Disney trips anyway!

 

[kaffinito]

Bags are all packed, laundry's all done... Now we just have to wait... and wait... and wait...

Are you still going to be Poly CL when we are there???

I hope so! We'll be there from the 4th through the 8th.

 

[vinotinto]

Yep, it was 6PM last May as well. We saw it our arrival night - when we had 6:15 or 6:20 (can't remember) ressies at Kona! If you're planning on dinner at either Kona or Ohana on the trip, get an ADR around that time and do it that night.

That's a great idea! Let's see if I can make it work....How long will it take us to eat at Ohana? If I get a 6:15 ressie at Ohana, could we make it to MK in time to see Spectro at 8 pm? Or would that be cutting it too close to Spectro?

 

[woodkins]

For those of you who request a specific longhouse, when do you make your request (how far in advance) and how do you go about doing so?
Thanks

 

[iloveeeyore]

But if I do stay GV I won't want to stay in Figi! That place is horrible

I hear Fiji has a snake problem. I would absolutely avoid it at all costs!

I have to just say that all this time I was wondering why everyone loved Tahiti's views and no-one ever mentioned Tuvalu -- I always thought that it looked so neat since it was sitting right over the water. At least now I understand that it's because Tuvalu is just plain yucky! Thanks for clearing that up for me.

It's funny. Really, I did think Tuvalu must be crappy since no one ever talked about it. Then I stayed there and now I really think they were just trying to keep it all to themselves!

That right-over-the-water situation can make people feel very seasick...plus I hear the water pressure is terrible!

Good point -- I could see them doing that!

I could swear I remember when I was a kid, they DID charge extra for a balcony. I'm pretty sure this was around the time they had so many different view categories, like standard, garden, pool, marina, lagoon and castle. In each category you could pay extra for a balcony. Does anyone else have any memory of this, or did I make it up?

 

[maiapapaya]

I could swear I remember when I was a kid, they DID charge extra for a balcony. I'm pretty sure this was around the time they had so many different view categories, like standard, garden, pool, marina, lagoon and castle. In each category you could pay extra for a balcony. Does anyone else have any memory of this, or did I make it up?[/COLOR]

Shhhhh ... Disney really seems to be into the nostalgia thing lately and bringing back all those old faves ... Captain Eo, the Main Street Electrical Parade, Tron ... don't give them any ideas while they're on this stroll down memory lane!!

 

[Veals_Family]

OK! So everyone that is JOKING about trying to get all us worried about the longhouses.....YOU ARE CONFUSING ME!!!

I'm going to request all of THEM! Fiji, Tuvalu and Tahiti....and instead of doing split stays between resorts, I'm doing it WITHIN the POLY!!!!

I now have NO IDEA what I WANT!!!! Except that I can't afford to pay for LV or TPV......UGH.

But seriously .....I may ask for a 1st floor Tokelau...so my DD1 can run around, and I can kinda look out the side to the MK......:

 

[Dawgdad]

Another perfect example is our TPV lovers who had to have Tahiti and got stuck in that awful Tuvalu Longhouse!

hey! I resemble that comment.

 

[Dawgdad]

We are staying at the Poly for the 1st time in May and we are so excited! I am looking forward on our non park days to enjoying a good book and a rest on the beach in a hammock but I wondered how many hammocks are there and how hard is it to get one? Do you people claim them early in the a.m. and never leave or will it be fairly easy to get one for an hour or 2? Thank you guys-I have learned so much!

We've never had a problem getting one whenever we wanted...

 

[maiapapaya]

OK! So everyone that is JOKING about trying to get all us worried about the longhouses.....YOU ARE CONFUSING ME!!!

I'm going to request all of THEM! Fiji, Tuvalu and Tahiti....and instead of doing split stays between resorts, I'm doing it WITHIN the POLY!!!!

I now have NO IDEA what I WANT!!!! Except that I can't afford to pay for LV or TPV......UGH.

But seriously .....I may ask for a 1st floor Tokelau...so my DD1 can run around, and I can kinda look out the side to the MK......:

Sorry for confusing you! But really, even without all of our joking around I'm betting you'd still be confused - I think longhouse-request angst is the biggest issue for Poly guests! It really depends on what's important to you. Figure that out and then go from there, ie. close to the TTC or close to the GCH, pool view, a GV with a hope of some sort of water view (a partial view of the lagoon or a view of the marina ...), newer longhouse (slightly bigger rooms & double sinks) etc.

I have not stayed there, but I think Tokelau is a good choice I don't ever recall reading about any complaints.

 

[maiapapaya]

Yet another beautiful pic Dawgdad!

 

[Dawgdad]

It's funny. Really, I did think Tuvalu must be crappy since no one ever talked about it. Then I stayed there and now I really think they were just trying to keep it all to themselves!

BTW, for a long time (until 2007 I believe), Tuvalu was a smoking allowed longhouse. Possibly not the whole thing (I think just 2nd floor), but nonetheless we could have never stayed there with my wife's asthma deal.

and for anyone who wants to know - it still smells like a stale ashtray that has been left outside in the rain for a week. might I recommend Raratonga for a similar, yet less saloon-like experience.

 

[Sunshine1987]

and for anyone who wants to know - it still smells like a stale ashtray that has been left outside in the rain for a week. might I recommend Raratonga for a similar, yet less saloon-like experience.

ooo I kinda like the idea of a saloon-like theme... hmmm maybe I will change my request...

Seriously, I have a non-long house question!!!!

Has anyone ever rented the Sea Racers? I think my kids would LOVE those but there is very little info on the Disney site about them. Are they fun? Are they worth the money? (we did MYW package so we have the coupon) Would renting some other type of boat be a better experience? But please don't suggest the canoe, we are not going to do the canoe! We would be the laughing stock of the Poly!!!

 

[carlnix30]

ooo I kinda like the idea of a saloon-like theme... hmmm maybe I will change my request...

Seriously, I have a non-long house question!!!!

Has anyone ever rented the Sea Racers? I think my kids would LOVE those but there is very little info on the Disney site about them. Are they fun? Are they worth the money? (we did MYW package so we have the coupon) Would renting some other type of boat be a better experience? But please don't suggest the canoe, we are not going to do the canoe! We would be the laughing stock of the Poly!!!

Awww the sea racers!! We rented them twice now! Are they worth the money?? I think not! They are really slow and really expensive! I would not have minded renting them if they would go at least 2 knots!
Now depending on the age of your kids... You may not get away from renting them! our kids saw them and wanted to do rent them! But after being out there for 15 minutes they wanted to go back to captain cook for more fries! It does give you a differnt perspective driving around bay lake! You can drive by magic kingdom or wilderness lodge by water by yourself! Kind of interesting!

With us we felt umm ripped off!

Renting a pontoon is fun but again you are just driving around the lake! The funnest activity we did was the parasailing!

 

[maiapapaya]

Has anyone ever rented the Sea Racers? I think my kids would LOVE those but there is very little info on the Disney site about them. Are they fun? Are they worth the money? (we did MYW package so we have the coupon) Would renting some other type of boat be a better experience? But please don't suggest the canoe, we are not going to do the canoe! We would be the laughing stock of the Poly!!!

Our kids really enjoyed them, but we ended up spending a bit of money on the rental even with the coupon. DH took each of the kids out separately (he split 2 rental periods between the three of them). He appreciated that he could let DD17 drive some sort of vehicle with a minimal risk of her actually crashing into something. I think he let DD7 try driving and DD4, the princess, just enjoyed being chauffeured around the lake. It was a bit pricey, but the kids really did have a great time. I also think they enjoyed it more than if we all went out as a group - they liked that they each got some exclusive daddy-time.