ALOHA! The Poly FAQ~ Spring 2010 Edition

[BCV23]

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.

Our daughter uses a power chair. She has stayed many times at the Polynesian over the years. Many of the accessible rooms are in Rapa Nui. Rooms there are huge. There is a parking lot directly in front of the longhouse with a porte cochere which helps if it's raining. The TTC is about a minute's walk away. It's very easy to take the large ferry there to/from the MK....just roll on. The Epcot monorail is so convenient, too. The GCH is farther away but not bad at all.

A few years ago, more accessible rooms were added in other longhouses. The only one of these she's been in is a club level room in Hawaii....lovely bathroom. Much nicer than the ones in Rapa Nui unless those have been rehabbed in the last year or two.

 

[Aristocath]

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!!!

Have a great trip! We expect a report when you get back!

 

[Capt. Barbosa]

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.

We have been at both these resorts, although not in a powerchair but in a standard WC. So far these are our favorite two resorts for both their theme and for ease of use in a WC. (we will be at WL Nov. 25th to Dec 2nd) both of our stays at the poly we stayed in Tahiti the rooms were excellent, push button door openers on the inside nice wide door ways and excellent roll in showers. The proximity to the TTC was a blessing and DW never minded the distance to GCH and neither did our 11 and 8 yr old.

Our other good stays in HC rooms AKL,POR,POFQ, the not so good BC and OKW, the hotels were wonderful but just were not as functional as the others.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Our daughter uses a power chair. She has stayed many times at the Polynesian over the years. Many of the accessible rooms are in Rapa Nui. Rooms there are huge. There is a parking lot directly in front of the longhouse with a porte cochere which helps if it's raining. The TTC is about a minute's walk away. It's very easy to take the large ferry there to/from the MK....just roll on. The Epcot monorail is so convenient, too. The GCH is farther away but not bad at all.

A few years ago, more accessible rooms were added in other longhouses. The only one of these she's been in is a club level room in Hawaii....lovely bathroom. Much nicer than the ones in Rapa Nui unless those have been rehabbed in the last year or two.

Thank you so much for the information, we are so excited. The Poly is Bill's dream resort and I am so happy we get to try it this trip.

We have been at both these resorts, although not in a powerchair but in a standard WC. So far these are our favorite two resorts for both their theme and for ease of use in a WC. (we will be at WL Nov. 25th to Dec 2nd) both of our stays at the poly we stayed in Tahiti the rooms were excellent, push button door openers on the inside nice wide door ways and excellent roll in showers. The proximity to the TTC was a blessing and DW never minded the distance to GCH and neither did our 11 and 8 yr old.

Our other good stays in HC rooms AKL,POR,POFQ, the not so good BC and OKW, the hotels were wonderful but just were not as functional as the others.

Thank you!! I read last night about the push button door openers, that sounds wonderful, I don't have to worry as much about getting my toes run over . We have stayed in HC rooms at Pop, POR, and POFQ. I can't wait to see both the Poly and WL at Christmas.

 

[carlnix30]

Now time has stopped!! 21 more days!! I have been saying that for at least 80 days now!! Uugh

 

[Sunshine1987]

::We are leaving in a few hours! Yay! I am supposed to be sleeping right now but I am not ready! How is it that you plan for a trip for 6 months and still are NOT ready with only a few hours to go! ARG!

I will post some pics when we return. Supposed to be 6 days of rain. Could be very interesting! But I will be praying for some sun! sunny:

 

[Nicole786]

When you check in, if your room isn't ready do they tell you what building you are in? I have a couple of preferred longhouses in mind and am curious If I can wait to request one after I hear where our room is

 

[iloveeeyore]

When you check in, if your room isn't ready do they tell you what building you are in? I have a couple of preferred longhouses in mind and am curious If I can wait to request one after I hear where our room is

We checked in once before our room is ready. We had requested first or third floor and location close to GCH for mobility limitations. When we checked in, we asked where our room was, and the CM said something like "I can't tell you exactly, but you are on the first floor in this general area" and she circled the north side of Rarotonga on the resort map in our packet.

 

[lillykat]

Our trip is finally here!!! We leave tomorrow!! I'm so excited my DD (almost 3) has been talking nonstop about seeing the castle and kissing mickey, minnie etc. We are also celebrating DD#2's 1st birthday!

Is there anything that anyone wants me to try to check out if I get time?

 

[DisneyBarlans]

13 more days until our 10th Anniversary trip to the Poly!!!!

Time to start packing!!!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

When you check in, if your room isn't ready do they tell you what building you are in? I have a couple of preferred longhouses in mind and am curious If I can wait to request one after I hear where our room is

That is my plan. I request full balcony, but no specific location. I figured if I don't like our room, I will just ask about switching. Thought maybe I will luck out and get something great by chance...I mean pixie dust.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

::We are leaving in a few hours! Yay! I am supposed to be sleeping right now but I am not ready! How is it that you plan for a trip for 6 months and still are NOT ready with only a few hours to go! ARG!

I will post some pics when we return. Supposed to be 6 days of rain. Could be very interesting! But I will be praying for some sun! sunny:

Our trip is finally here!!! We leave tomorrow!! I'm so excited my DD (almost 3) has been talking nonstop about seeing the castle and kissing mickey, minnie etc. We are also celebrating DD#2's 1st birthday!

Is there anything that anyone wants me to try to check out if I get time?

Yay! Have a great time! Soooo jealous!

 

[princessreilly]

Just have a quick question. Sorry if this has already been asked, I have yet to get through every page of this thread. GV rooms near monorail--is it noisy? TIA

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Just have a quick question. Sorry if this has already been asked, I have yet to get through every page of this thread. GV rooms near monorail--is it noisy? TIA

I haven't stayed at Poly yet, but I can tell you that the monorail isn't loud when you are standing directly under the track, so probably not. HTH!

 

[lillykat]

I haven't stayed at Poly yet, but I can tell you that the monorail isn't loud when you are standing directly under the track, so probably not. HTH!

Last trip we were in Roratonga - facing the monorail 1st floor and with the door closed we NEVER heard it at all - in fact unless we had the blinds open we would have no idea it was going by.

 

[rcsilverspring]

13 more days until our 10th Anniversary trip to the Poly!!!!

Time to start packing!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

START packing?? I was packed for over a MONTH last time WE went ('cept for "seat covers" and socks) !!

Sending pixie dust for a magical time!

 

[jjwampler]

That is my plan. I request full balcony, but no specific location. I figured if I don't like our room, I will just ask about switching. Thought maybe I will luck out and get something great by chance...I mean pixie dust.

That's what I am doing. Requested full balcony, but not a specific longhouse. I kind of like the idea of being surprised

 

[Anna114]

So we just got back Tuesday from our CL stay at the Poly The resort is just as lovely as when we stayed there 22 years ago, trees were a lot taller, though The gardenias around the resort are second to none! The smell brought us right back to our honeymoon. One of the best parts was that from our balcony, this stay, we could see the room we stayed at all those years ago.

Here are my thoughts on CL, please don't flame me, they are just MHO. The best part was Wishes in the lounge, good grief, the only better place is at the California Grill. It made me cry every time, pathetic, I know. Also, I loved having breakfast each morning. Something nice and light and not having to vie for a table amongst the rest of the rabble (I am one of the rabble ) As for the rest of it, I'm not sure I will ever have to stay CL again. It had really great parts to it but as for the value for the dollar, not so much. I forgot to pack my husband's sneakers. I went down to the desk, she was no help at all and didn't even try. The woman and the bou-tiki was very helpful even though I never could find sneakers in size 12 Also, our first night we came back from DHS, we were standing at the counter to get a beer. The CM served people standing in front of us, as we got to the front she said "sorry it's 10:00 you're too late" Us being dorks started to just walk away, the guy behind us says could I get a Bud and she got him one?? huh?? So we said something and with some hesitation she finally got us a beer. I know they have to shut it down at 10 but we were standing there before 10, I was very unimpressed. Other times we found food was put away before the serving time was up. We hardly took advantage of anything but breakfast but when we went out of our way one day to go grab a little something, it was already gone. I know that may sound petty but if it should be there to a certain time, it should be, just that.

In hind sight, I'm so glad we stayed CL. We really did enjoy it and some of the perks and since we are now DVC we probably will never stay CL again but I don't think we would ever do it again, anyway.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

So we just got back Tuesday from our CL stay at the Poly The resort is just as lovely as when we stayed there 22 years ago, trees were a lot taller, though The gardenias around the resort are second to none! The smell brought us right back to our honeymoon. One of the best parts was that from our balcony, this stay, we could see the room we stayed at all those years ago.

Here are my thoughts on CL, please don't flame me, they are just MHO. The best part was Wishes in the lounge, good grief, the only better place is at the California Grill. It made me cry every time, pathetic, I know. Also, I loved having breakfast each morning. Something nice and light and not having to vie for a table amongst the rest of the rabble (I am one of the rabble ) As for the rest of it, I'm not sure I will ever have to stay CL again. It had really great parts to it but as for the value for the dollar, not so much. I forgot to pack my husband's sneakers. I went down to the desk, she was no help at all and didn't even try. The woman and the bou-tiki was very helpful even though I never could find sneakers in size 12 Also, our first night we came back from DHS, we were standing at the counter to get a beer. The CM served people standing in front of us, as we got to the front she said "sorry it's 10:00 you're too late" Us being dorks started to just walk away, the guy behind us says could I get a Bud and she got him one?? huh?? So we said something and with some hesitation she finally got us a beer. I know they have to shut it down at 10 but we were standing there before 10, I was very unimpressed. Other times we found food was put away before the serving time was up. We hardly took advantage of anything but breakfast but when we went out of our way one day to go grab a little something, it was already gone. I know that may sound petty but if it should be there to a certain time, it should be, just that.

In hind sight, I'm so glad we stayed CL. We really did enjoy it and some of the perks and since we are now DVC we probably will never stay CL again but I don't think we would ever do it again, anyway.

Thanks for the review. I kind of felt like upgrading to CL might not be worthwhile for us, so I am glad to read about your experience. We drive so we can bring our own continental breakfast, beer, alcohol, snacks. I like to book my own dining, etc, so that per is not useful either. I am glad I am saving the $$ instead.

 

[mom2mek]

We leave tomorrow on our "work" trip! Lagoon View so I requested Tuvalu, 1st floor. We'll see.

Even though I will be in classes from 8 until 5 every day, I can't wait to step into the lobby and smell the Poly lobby and walk the grounds. Not to mention sitting in our room staring at the lagoon! It's gonna be real hard to concentrate at the conference knowing that that is what I have to go "home" to!

Sara