ALOHA! The Poly FAQ: Winter 2011 Edition

[carlnix30]

Quick question..
I want to add hoppers to my tickets when I get there. Can I do that at the Poly? Or does it need to be done at guest services in one of the parks?

You can do it at the Poly they have guest services.

 

[pigletto]

You can do it at the Poly they have guest services.

Thank you carlnix

 

[carlnix30]

We leave Friday too!!!! First time at Poly. Twins are turning 7 on Sunday and my hubby and I are celebrating our 17th Anniversary of our Grand Floridian Fairytale Wedding.

Can't wait to order Lapu-Lapu's and watch Wishes on the beach.

Here's to hoping for lower crowds and higher FUN in the parks.

Congrats on your GF fairytale anniversary!

I am jealous! We are almost in our double digits.

 

[carlnix30]

Thank you carlnix

not a problem! You sound like you are about planned out and ready to go..

Just to let everyone know.. All the times we have stayed in the Poly have been CL. After reading all these reviews, we have decided to stay GV. I just cants see spending $2000 more for our rooms. We are getting two because my daughter is bringing a friend. Since Nina and chef dick have left it seems that staying in CL has become impersonal. We never stayed CL due to the food or the drinks. It has always been because to the personal greetings the smiles and the occasional juicy story. So with that said I am gonna gamble and hope that my location and view is not that of a parking lot or dumpsters!
they can take all the food and libations out.. Just bring back the Good Happy CL staff that we have come to know and love! One exception.. Chef Dick.. Eat drink and fish your way to your hearts content.. Enjoy your retirement my friend!

 

[TinyDancer]

Joining in here... we'll be visiting the Poly for the FIRST time ever this coming September!! VERY excited!!!

 

[guitarob]

Joining in here... we'll be visiting the Poly for the FIRST time ever this coming September!! VERY excited!!!

You picked a great time to be going. September is a beautiful month at WDW! Let us know if you have any questions about the Poly.

 

[POLYFAN4LIFE]

If I wasn't a Poly fan 4 life, I would be after finding this thread! LOVE it!! Gonna show it to my brother who just booked on site (CBR) for first time.

 

[The crowd]

Lol I'm also leaving on friday! Maybe there should be a club? lol

 

[disneysuncat]

Shower head question.....I was reading some reviews (at Allears.net) and noticed a couple of people saying the shower head was too low in their room (and that they were not all that tall). Is this common, or just in certain rooms/buildings?

We're debating the end of September or the end of October. We'd prefer the end of October, but we might book that general public code that's out now for the end of September just to make sure we do have some sort of discount. (and of course we could always move it if an end of October code comes out.) I did get a pin for the end of October, but it just covers 7 nights and we're staying 11.

ANYWAY...I'm rambling...the other thing we are debating is club level. In theory it sounds nice, but then I read something about a kid licking a spoon and sticking it back in a dish, or people taking whole trays of stuff, and I get freaked out. But maybe there are more people taking the time to write down their bad experiences than there are people taking the time to write down their great experiences?

 

[guitarob]

Shower head question.....I was reading some reviews (at Allears.net) and noticed a couple of people saying the shower head was too low in their room (and that they were not all that tall). Is this common, or just in certain rooms/buildings?

I believe they're the same all over the resort. I'm 5'6" and I think they're a little low. DW who is 5'9" said that it didn't bother her at all, so... I dunno . But my opinion is that they're a bit low.

ANYWAY...I'm rambling...the other thing we are debating is club level. In theory it sounds nice, but then I read something about a kid licking a spoon and sticking it back in a dish, or people taking whole trays of stuff, and I get freaked out. But maybe there are more people taking the time to write down their bad experiences than there are people taking the time to write down their great experiences?

Club Level is very nice. I do believe you're right about people taking more time to write about a bad experience than a good one. I've personally never (in staying club level four times) seen anything like some of the people say they've seen, not that I call honesty into question, I've just not personally seen it.

Most of the people we've come across in the lounge have been very courteous, and have always taken reasonable amounts of food, kept their kids in check, etc... I have seen people there in their pajamas and such, and I figure, hey, if they're comfortable with it, good for them!

I believe that if you choose Club Level for the right reasons, and have reasonable expectations about what you will and will not receive as a result of your choice (this is Disney's Polynesian Resort, not the Waldorf Astoria), then you will enjoy every minute of it.

 

[disneysuncat]

Thanks Guitarob!

I'm 5'7", so hopefully I can manage that shower just fine.

We're considering the club level for convenience more than anything, I think. It'll be my Mom's birthday trip, and she thinks it would be great for just jetting over for coffee, juice, sodas, whatever. Plus, as she says, since she KNOWS it exists, she wants to try it! (ha!) I think she knows how lazy I am, and that I'll be saying "Hey Mom, why don't you go over and grab me a coke?" (could happen!) I do know we'll be doing deluxe dining (again, a request of hers) so we're not depending on the lounge for food, although we'll certainly partake sometimes.

Does anyone know if late September is very rainy? (end of hurricane season, isn't it?) I am thinking that the end of October is supposed to be drier, but we were there over Halloween one year and it rained hard for days. Heck, I don't really care if I'm wet as long as I'm at Disney, but my hair would appreciate a few dry days. (or at least people looking at my hair.)

 

[guitarob]

Thanks Guitarob!

We're considering the club level for convenience more than anything, I think... ...I do know we'll be doing deluxe dining (again, a request of hers) so we're not depending on the lounge for food, although we'll certainly partake sometimes.

Does anyone know if late September is very rainy? (end of hurricane season, isn't it?)

For convenience it's amazing. I love, love, love that every time I go back to the room or when heading to the pool or wherever, I can grab a quick drink or snack that's already paid for.

We do Deluxe Dining as well, we use the lounge offerings in the afternoon (and possibly a snack credit) for lunch every day. Some days we have breakfast in the lounge as well. This opens up a wonderful opportunity to use those dining credits for Signature meals and shows.

We have been blessed in September. In our past 3 trips it rained for one afternoon on each trip, and even then only for an hour or so. We love going toward the end of September, it's cooler, there's less waiting on rides, just less people in general (we usually clear out right before the Food & Wine crowds show up). Last year it was a little busier though. I'm not quite sure if it was a fluke or a trend, but it still wasn't busy enough to cause an inconvenience.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Shower head question.....I was reading some reviews (at Allears.net) and noticed a couple of people saying the shower head was too low in their room (and that they were not all that tall). Is this common, or just in certain rooms/buildings?

Didn't I read back in the old thread about the poly getting new shower heads? I think there was a picture too. It has sort of an "S" curved arm so the head is higher now? Am I hallucinating or did someone else read this too? maybe someone who is there now or going this weekend will post about it.

 

[disneydreamin247]

For convenience it's amazing. I love, love, love that every time I go back to the room or when heading to the pool or wherever, I can grab a quick drink or snack that's already paid for.

We do Deluxe Dining as well, we use the lounge offerings in the afternoon (and possibly a snack credit) for lunch every day. Some days we have breakfast in the lounge as well. This opens up a wonderful opportunity to use those dining credits for Signature meals and shows.

We have been blessed in September. In our past 3 trips it rained for one afternoon on each trip, and even then only for an hour or so. We love going toward the end of September, it's cooler, there's less waiting on rides, just less people in general (we usually clear out right before the Food & Wine crowds show up). Last year it was a little busier though. I'm not quite sure if it was a fluke or a trend, but it still wasn't busy enough to cause an inconvenience.

Thanks for the end of September info. We usually go mid October or early June and I was wondering just how rainy our trip would be. We definitely experience more rain in June than October, but it wasn't anything that would keep us from going during that time. We were usually back in our room by the time the rain came, and it was over by the time we were heading back out.

 

[dizneechic]

Shower head question.....I was reading some reviews (at Allears.net) and noticed a couple of people saying the shower head was too low in their room (and that they were not all that tall). Is this common, or just in certain rooms/buildings?

When we stayed CL in Aug the shower head was low, in Jan it was replaced with a new higher one. I'm 5'3" and either time it didn't bother me, but because I had read about it I took note, and my 6' dh certainly commented in Aug. In Jan I pointed out the higher shower heads and he said he had noticed (but also noticed the gap in the marble where the cap didn't fully cover the hole where the pipe went into the wall ). Anyhow I believe I read a while back they were in the process of swapping them out at all buildings.

ANYWAY...I'm rambling...the other thing we are debating is club level. In theory it sounds nice, but then I read something about a kid licking a spoon and sticking it back in a dish, or people taking whole trays of stuff, and I get freaked out. But maybe there are more people taking the time to write down their bad experiences than there are people taking the time to write down their great experiences?

I have never seen that type of behavior and my kids are the ones that would lick the spoon. I went over with my very explicitly the manners expected and they did great. I will say that CL staff hovers behind the food area and are there to swap out food as necessary and when needed did provide gentle reminders to kids to use utensils or offered to help them. Some people might think their presence is a turn off, but I appreciated the watchful eye (I did see whole plates removed/replaced occasionally but never saw/asked why).

Does anyone know if late September is very rainy? (end of hurricane season, isn't it?) I am thinking that the end of October is supposed to be drier, but we were there over Halloween one year and it rained hard for days. Heck, I don't really care if I'm wet as long as I'm at Disney, but my hair would appreciate a few dry days. (or at least people looking at my hair.)

Weather can vary any time of year. If you look at this chart on the link below the bottom graph shows average rainfall by month:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USFL0615
You can see Sept is no worse then June/July/Aug and from what I recall over the years it was the mid day showers and most of the day was fine (typical summer rainy pattern in FL). Of course a hurricane would drastically change the rainfall but I wouldn't plan my vacation around expecting one.

 

[dianne1974]

"ghetto toast" Too funny!

ghetto toast

 

[stm61]

Didn't I read back in the old thread about the poly getting new shower heads? I think there was a picture too. It has sort of an "S" curved arm so the head is higher now? Am I hallucinating or did someone else read this too? maybe someone who is there now or going this weekend will post about it.

I think I had the same hallucination The first time we stayed Poly CL was about 3 years ago. I'm 5'9" and I definitely remember the low shower heads. The next year we went back and the shower heads were higher and had that S curve We didn't stay at Poly last year so I don't know if they've changed them again.

 

[mom2randj]

Hopping on this train.
Just booked the Poly for our first trip to WDW in late October.
Now, back to reading this entire post from start to finish to make sure I don't miss anything...alll 24 pages of it. lol.

 

[Luvamouse]

I wanted to report that my DH and 2 DDs were asked for room keys at the Volcano pool today! My DH told the CM that his wife (me ) would be very happy to hear that! He smiled and said, "Here's one for her then", and gave my DH a blue wristband for me. The guy said it wasn't fair when the people from their own resort can't find room at the pool because people are coming out of the parks and stopping to use the pool. Amen!!!!

Shower head question.....I was reading some reviews (at Allears.net) and noticed a couple of people saying the shower head was too low in their room (and that they were not all that tall). Is this common, or just in certain rooms/buildings?

so.... I just headed in to look. Tahiti, 3rd floor. Old style shower head-- very wide spray pattern. Fine for me, but I'm 5'4". DH is 6'4", and he said it's a bit annoying, but he's used to it. No big deal. Newer would be nice for him.

Weather here is gorgeous! So warm Met a DISer in MK today in line for Woody and Jesse MIMI on her LGMH attached to her lime green backpack

 

[cinmell]

I wanted to report that my DH and 2 DDs were asked for room keys at the Volcano pool today! My DH told the CM that his wife (me ) would be very happy to hear that! He smiled and said, "Here's one for her then", and gave my DH a blue wristband for me. The guy said it wasn't fair when the people from their own resort can't find room at the pool because people are coming out of the parks and stopping to use the pool. Amen!!!!

Good to hear!