ALOHA! The Poly FAQ: Winter 2011 Edition

[Dylcal]

LorieDisneyLover, I hope your son arrives safe. The storm finally passes after an hour and we finally got off the danged plane. ME whisked us here and we are now in our beautiful LV room in Tuvalu. I am so exhausted--it feels so relaxing walking into the GCH then finally collapse into those soft beds.

DD11 is putting up the window clings while I veg on the bed and drool about what's for dinner at Kona tonight.

Hopefully I'll run into some DISers soon!

We also had plane issues yesterday! Only ours were with the bathroomsFinally arrivedto rain. Suitcases got a little wet as well as some clothes -- must have been out in the rain. Did get a sprinkling of Pixie dust --- in an upgrade!!! Paid for club garden view -- have Park view and an unobstructed view of the beach, the castle, and the lagoon!!! Beautiful!

 

[TinkPirateMom]

We also had plane issues yesterday! Only ours were with the bathroomsFinally arrivedto rain. Suitcases got a little wet as well as some clothes -- must have been out in the rain. Did get a sprinkling of Pixie dust --- in an upgrade!!! Paid for club garden view -- have Park view and an unobstructed view of the beach, the castle, and the lagoon!!! Beautiful!

That sounds like a beautiful view. I'm glad you received some pixie dust

 

[bluejasmine]

God Im so jealous of everyone at the Poly right now!! I hope the weather co-operates and everyone has magical stays! I guess I will content myself with knowing my trip is paid and today DH and I are having a "date night" and day..

 

[WDWKOOK]

God Im so jealous of everyone at the Poly right now!! I hope the weather co-operates and everyone has magical stays! I guess I will content myself with knowing my trip is paid and today DH and I are having a "date night" and day..

You'll be there soon and don't forget that, at least for me, the anticipation/planning is half the fun!

Have fun with DH today

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Can anyone tell me how large the in-wall safe is? Would it hold a laptop or netbook? TIA!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Can anyone tell me how large the in-wall safe is? Would it hold a laptop or netbook? TIA!

The GF, CR and the Poly have huge floor safes:

It definitely holds a laptop AND a netbook. I love those floor safes.

 

[dfarner]

We also had plane issues yesterday! Only ours were with the bathroomsFinally arrivedto rain. Suitcases got a little wet as well as some clothes -- must have been out in the rain. Did get a sprinkling of Pixie dust --- in an upgrade!!! Paid for club garden view -- have Park view and an unobstructed view of the beach, the castle, and the lagoon!!! Beautiful!

Good for you! What a way to start your vacation .

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The GF, CR and the Poly have huge floor safes:

It definitely holds a laptop AND a netbook. I love those floor safes.

Oh, thank you so much for the photo too! Dh will be happy; he's not a big pool person so he'll love the free wifi poolside.

 

[cmac609]

Good morning,

Just sitting in the lounge eating breakfast and looking at the castle. What a great view. Boys headed off to Hollywood this morning for Tower of Terror, Star Tours and fast passes for Toy Story Mania. I decided to stay behind since being pregnant I can't do any of those rides and we will be back tonight for dinner at Sci-fi and some shopping . And hopefully a meet and greet with phineas and ferb.

Beautiful weather only in the 80s however the past two days we have been having storms starting around 2 for about 2 hours almost. I can deal with that though.

Some information about the lounge, they have muffins, fruit, croissants, bagels, and oatmeal which is very good and I am not a big oatmeal person. Also orange juice, cranberry juice, skin milk, and regular milk. Also have fruit loops, special k, corn flakes and raisin bran.

For the afternoon they have cookies, gummy bears, goldfishes, different kind of yogurt covered raisins or pretzels, and chips one day.

I haven't been seen any dinner appetizers yet because I have been to the parks at that time. Evening I only ben arriving about 5minutes before wishes and they had only a few deserts left (cookies, brownies, white chocolate, and coconut something).

Off to some shopping at the contemporary while I am alone.

 

[dizneechic]

Can anyone tell me how large the in-wall safe is? Would it hold a laptop or netbook? TIA!

Here is it open:

In there we have a laptop, 2 DS's w/ nerf covers, my Nikon D90 in a bag w/ the 18-200 lens on, my Lumix P&S camera in a small case, 2 MP3 players and our keys from back home (and still had some room).

 

[nick v2]

First post on DIS Boards, heading to Disney from July 15-18 and staying at the Poly for the first time. DW and I have stayed at CBR once and ASM once but last year when we had dinner at Kona and saw the Poly we knew we had come back.

Does anyone have any tips for a Poly first timer?

 

[crostorfer]

First post on DIS Boards, heading to Disney from July 15-18 and staying at the Poly for the first time. DW and I have stayed at CBR once and ASM once but last year when we had dinner at Kona and saw the Poly we knew we had come back.

Does anyone have any tips for a Poly first timer?

#1. Make sure to try the Lapu Lapu.

#2. You don't need a reservation to eat on the sushi bar side of Kona. Just pull up a stool, watch the chef's roll, and a waiter will come by and drop off a menu, you can order anything from Kona without a reservation there. (Try the Kona Crab Cake Roll, it's AMAZING!)

#3. Make time to just sit on the beach in a hammock, preferably in the evening before the Wishes crowd shows up and a lot of families have left for dinner.

#4. Bring your resort ID's for everyone staying with you to the pool area since they are wristbanding now.

#5. Most times when traveling to DHS or the AK, it's faster to just walk over to the TTC and take the bus from there, rather than wait for the resort bus which can be spotty to those two places at times. It's a 10 minute walk max and it's worth it rather than wait another 25 minutes at times.

#6. Take the resort launch across the lagoon to the Magic Kingdom, rather than the monorail, especially at park closing time.

 

[FanniesDisney]

Newbie here and it's our first visit to WDW. Has anybody slept on the daybeds at the Poly? My 16 year old is going to sleep on it this trip. He's not as big as his older brother so we're hoping it will work. He's 5'10" but only 160 lbs

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

#2. You don't need a reservation to eat on the sushi bar side of Kona. Just pull up a stool, watch the chef's roll, and a waiter will come by and drop off a menu, you can order anything from Kona without a reservation there. (Try the Kona Crab Cake Roll, it's AMAZING!)

Don't forget just because you don't need ADR's when eating there if all the stools at the Sushi Bar and chairs by the window are taken, then you need to wait until some guests to leave before sitting down.

I would also recommend trying the Volcano Roll which is my favorite item on their Sushi menu.

 

[crostorfer]

Don't forget just because you don't need ADR's when eating there if all the stools at the Sushi Bar and chairs by the window are taken, then you need to wait until some guests to leave before sitting down.

I would also recommend trying the Volcano Roll which is my favorite item on their Sushi menu.

Well, yeah, because if all the chairs are taken obviously there is nowhere to sit.

You can also order sushi at the counter and take it to go. It's also available at Captain Cooks in the far right fridge.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You can also order sushi at the counter and take it to go. It's also available at Captain Cooks in the far right fridge.

My Dad tried the Sushi from there and when I asked him if it was like the Sushi Bar he said not even close. Maybe it had to do with the fact it was kept inside a fridge and at the Sushi Bar it's made fresh when you eat it.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Well, yeah, because if all the chairs are taken obviously there is nowhere to sit.

You can also order sushi at the counter and take it to go. It's also available at Captain Cooks in the far right fridge.

Yeah, we tried to sit on some people last time, and they weren't too thrilled. Where was their Disney magic???

We're three months away, and I can already taste it!!!

 

[sandym718]

First post on DIS Boards, heading to Disney from July 15-18 and staying at the Poly for the first time. DW and I have stayed at CBR once and ASM once but last year when we had dinner at Kona and saw the Poly we knew we had come back.

Does anyone have any tips for a Poly first timer?

Oh you'll love it!! No specific tips I can think of right now except to be sure to make time to just enjoy the resort. Staying at the Poly gives you the best of both worlds - a busy, fun, theme park vacation and also the laid-back, relaxed, beach-y, tropical vacation. Bring a good book and soak up the "island" atmosphere!!

Newbie here and it's our first visit to WDW. Has anybody slept on the daybeds at the Poly? My 16 year old is going to sleep on it this trip. He's not as big as his older brother so we're hoping it will work. He's 5'10" but only 160 lbs

Well my kids are a lot younger - but they share the day bed, by choice!!! For some reason they just love it. It's plenty big enough and they sleep at opposite ends (feet towards each other). They're a little over 100 lbs. combined, so smaller than your son, but I think he'd be just fine!! (oh, and DH and I love the fact that they do this because then we each get a queen bed, LOL, spread out and relax!)

 

[FanniesDisney]

Excellent! Thank you for the info. I can't wait to get there!

 

[nick v2]

First post on DIS Boards, heading to Disney from July 15-18 and staying at the Poly for the first time. DW and I have stayed at CBR once and ASM once but last year when we had dinner at Kona and saw the Poly we knew we had come back.

Does anyone have any tips for a Poly first timer?

#1. Make sure to try the Lapu Lapu.

#2. You don't need a reservation to eat on the sushi bar side of Kona. Just pull up a stool, watch the chef's roll, and a waiter will come by and drop off a menu, you can order anything from Kona without a reservation there. (Try the Kona Crab Cake Roll, it's AMAZING!)

#3. Make time to just sit on the beach in a hammock, preferably in the evening before the Wishes crowd shows up and a lot of families have left for dinner.

#4. Bring your resort ID's for everyone staying with you to the pool area since they are wristbanding now.

#5. Most times when traveling to DHS or the AK, it's faster to just walk over to the TTC and take the bus from there, rather than wait for the resort bus which can be spotty to those two places at times. It's a 10 minute walk max and it's worth it rather than wait another 25 minutes at times.

#6. Take the resort launch across the lagoon to the Magic Kingdom, rather than the monorail, especially at park closing time.

Thank you so much for all the great tips, I assure you they will be put to good use!

Don't forget just because you don't need ADR's when eating there if all the stools at the Sushi Bar and chairs by the window are taken, then you need to wait until some guests to leave before sitting down.

I would also recommend trying the Volcano Roll which is my favorite item on their Sushi menu.

Thanks!

Oh you'll love it!! No specific tips I can think of right now except to be sure to make time to just enjoy the resort. Staying at the Poly gives you the best of both worlds - a busy, fun, theme park vacation and also the laid-back, relaxed, beach-y, tropical vacation. Bring a good book and soak up the "island" atmosphere!!

We thought about going back to an all inclusive island resort (most likely a Sandals Resort) but like you said the Poly seems to be the best of both so we decided on WDW. Thanks for the help.


Any other tips? I love hearing about everyone's "best of" tips.