ALOHA! The Poly FAQ~ Spring 2010 Edition

[jjwampler]

The Poly is beautiful at the holidays, but I will share a story.

My family spent Christmas 1989 at the Poly and it went down in family history as one of the most memorable Christmases, but not for the best reasons! There was a severe cold spell with a hard freeze. My cousin and I went to the parks, but my mother and aunt wouldn't leave the resort (we were from Tampa, so we were really cold weather wimps). They hated that they had to go outside to get from the longhouse to the GCH. I think they even had room service one time so they wouldn't have to leave!

There were frost-damaged plants everywhere. We were so impressed by how quickly the landscaping staff pulled them out and replaced them with new plants once the freeze broke.

The WL had not been built then, but what a great place that would have been in super-cold Florida weather. It would have felt so much more seasonal.

Of course, it rarely gets that cold in Florida, so the chances of experiencing something like this are slight!

Jackie

 

[jkstewart1800]

there are dvd players in the club level rooms right?
do you have to bring your own dvds....
rent them or just borrow them?

what types of movies do they have?
is there a large selection?

thanks!

 

[Tess]

there are dvd players in the club level rooms right?
do you have to bring your own dvds....
rent them or just borrow them?

what types of movies do they have?
is there a large selection?

thanks!

Yes, DVD players are in CL rooms and you can bring your own or borrow them from the CL CMs. There is a list available and it is a good number of pages long. You might guess there are a lot of Disney movies.

We've never found the time for a movie, but have perused the list. Nothing other than Disney or Disney partner titles really comes to mind though.

 

[DVC Mary]

Poly experts please help me:

How long does the 8pm Spirit of Aloha show last?

Is their time to go out to the lagoon & see the fireworks at 10 pm?

If yes, where would you suggest going if we are just finishing up at the show?


I've never stayed at the Poly & I'm surprising the kids w/ the luau & a 2 night stay Concierge before going over to AKL.

Thanks!

 

[NUguyinCrew]

Subbing.

Great thread. Ive thoroughly enjoyed all the comments, pictures and info supplied by everyone.

We're headed to Poly for the first time ever (besides just eating at Ohana's) and cant wait! September cannot get here soon enough!

 

[jkstewart1800]

Yes, DVD players are in CL rooms and you can bring your own or borrow them from the CL CMs. There is a list available and it is a good number of pages long. You might guess there are a lot of Disney movies.

We've never found the time for a movie, but have perused the list. Nothing other than Disney or Disney partner titles really comes to mind though.

Thanks! I figured that the movies were probably all disney titles. I am happy to hear that the list sounds long... I was worried there were like 10 movies sitting on a shelf somewhere to choose from.

Normally I wouldn't think of renting a movie and staying in while at WDW but we go in August and it never fails that one night there is a HUGE rainstorm, the heavens just open up and dump buckets of water .... it's usually over in an hour or so, but I have learned to just wait it out and do room service instead of trying to brave the storm... I thought adding a movie to the mix would be fun.....

Hey - are there microwaves to use in the lounge? maybe I'll bring some popcorn!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Hey - are there microwaves to use in the lounge? maybe I'll bring some popcorn!

They don't have one in the lounge but you can always use the one at Captain Cook's.

 

[kaffinito]

So Poly peeps, I'm having a dilemma.

I can book Poly for the last four days of our August trip, or keep our current ressie at BWV in a 2 bedroom villa. I'm doing either one on points, and the Poly stay would only be 12 points more than the BWV stay.

So should I go for it? Or should I just wait until next April for our usual Poly stay over Spring Break?

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Thanks! I figured that the movies were probably all disney titles. I am happy to hear that the list sounds long... I was worried there were like 10 movies sitting on a shelf somewhere to choose from.

Normally I wouldn't think of renting a movie and staying in while at WDW but we go in August and it never fails that one night there is a HUGE rainstorm, the heavens just open up and dump buckets of water .... it's usually over in an hour or so, but I have learned to just wait it out and do room service instead of trying to brave the storm... I thought adding a movie to the mix would be fun.....

Hey - are there microwaves to use in the lounge? maybe I'll bring some popcorn!

We've always requested a microwave for the room. It's on a first come, first serve basis, but we've always been able to get one.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Poly experts please help me:

How long does the 8pm Spirit of Aloha show last?

Usually around 90 minutes total from what I remember. I did the 'early' show with DD (who was 7 at the time).

Is their time to go out to the lagoon & see the fireworks at 10 pm?

There should be. I remember DD and I running back to use the bathroom in our room in Tuvalu so we could catch the EWP and the fireworks.

If yes, where would you suggest going if we are just finishing up at the show?

Watch the fireworks from the beach in front of Aoteroa/next to Tuvalu. It's the first beach you come to immediately after leaving Luau cove. Nice hammocks, swings and isn't as crowded as the main beach in front of the Volcano pool.

I've never stayed at the Poly & I'm surprising the kids w/ the luau & a 2 night stay Concierge before going over to AKL.

Thanks!

How exciting! Should be a great time for all.

 

[DVC Mary]

Thanks for the tips!!

For anyone who has stayed Concierge/Club level:

Do you enjoy watching fireworks from the lounge? The description made it seem like it was designed for special viewing.

Any tips on Concierge/Club level???

 

[luvthemouse71]

Thanks for the tips!!

For anyone who has stayed Concierge/Club level:

Do you enjoy watching fireworks from the lounge? The description made it seem like it was designed for special viewing.

Any tips on Concierge/Club level???

The lounge does have a big glass window facing the lagoon and the music is piped in..it's nice to watch from there. Last trip, we had a LV-CL room(3502) and it was gorgeous..we used to sit on our balcony and watch Wishes and the EWP.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

It is official! I upgraded with my 40% code to the Poly for Nov 30-Dec 5.

This is my proposed schedule. We have 2 park days and the party planned. What do you think? The Christmas taping will be somewhere in the mix I am sure. We want to avoid that if possible.

Tues - Arrive
Wed - MK
Thurs - DHS or MVMCP
Fri - MVMCP or DHS
Sat - Resort Day
Sun - Home

I am sooooo excited to take my kids back there. It is a mommy and kids trip. They think we are going for 3 nights, which was the original plan during reg season. Now we have upgraded and I am extending it so I can relax a little too.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

Thanks for the tips!!

For anyone who has stayed Concierge/Club level:

Do you enjoy watching fireworks from the lounge? The description made it seem like it was designed for special viewing.

Any tips on Concierge/Club level???

I have watched it from the lounge and from the beach. I prefer the beach because I love the feeling of the resort outside and being a part of the experience. I used the lounge to watch if the weather was not great.

 

[carlnix30]

Thanks for the tips!!

For anyone who has stayed Concierge/Club level:

Do you enjoy watching fireworks from the lounge? The description made it seem like it was designed for special viewing.

Any tips on Concierge/Club level???

Watching wishes from the club lounge makes us feel a bit unattached from the action. On the beach is soo much better. Or if you have TPV CL you can go out to your balcony and hear wishes music kinda like a private show!

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

It is official! I upgraded with my 40% code to the Poly for Nov 30-Dec 5.

This is my proposed schedule. We have 2 park days and the party planned. What do you think? The Christmas taping will be somewhere in the mix I am sure. We want to avoid that if possible.

Tues - Arrive
Wed - MK
Thurs - DHS or MVMCP
Fri - MVMCP or DHS
Sat - Resort Day
Sun - Home

I am sooooo excited to take my kids back there. It is a mommy and kids trip. They think we are going for 3 nights, which was the original plan during reg season. Now we have upgraded and I am extending it so I can relax a little too.

Welcome to the club!! There are, what now...52 of us going that week?

 

[JulieAnn]

8 hours until our flight and our first stay at the Poly!

We are just like that family in the Disney commercial - I can't sleep... I'm too excited!!!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

8 hours until our flight and our first stay at the Poly!

We are just like that family in the Disney commercial - I can't sleep... I'm too excited!!!

So jealous. Have a wonderful vacation

 

[mrsksomeday]

Thanks for having this great thread. We will be in WDW Nov. 28 - Dec.10th. Up until the 7th we will be at WL, then going to the Poly for the first time Dec. 7-10th. We are so excited!!

Has anyone stayed there using a power wheelchair? I would love some perspective.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Thanks for the tips!!

For anyone who has stayed Concierge/Club level:

Do you enjoy watching fireworks from the lounge? The description made it seem like it was designed for special viewing.

Any tips on Concierge/Club level???

We did like watching the fireworks from the lounge mainly because we went during Christmas/New Years and it was a comfy and uncrowded place to watch things. The usual m.o. is for us to watch it from the beach or from our LV room.

The only tip I have about Club level is...mix some Chambord in with your latte. It's wonderful!