ALOHA! The Poly FAQ: Winter 2011 Edition

[rcsilverspring]

Woo Hoo!!!! I just made a payment on our May trip!!!!
My friend told me she paid hers with gift cards, which I had never even thought of, PLUS our Giant Eagle has double fuel perks on Disney cards until March 2!! SO, I now have most of my package paid off and enough fuel perks for 5 or 6 tanks of gas (maybe less if things don't settle down in the Middle East)! I hoping DD can pick up some gift cards at her Kroger so she can get some fuel perks, too. I'm not sure I can use all mine before they expire. PLUS I'll get cash back for using my credit card to buy them!!!!! Maybe I can afford TWO Lapu Lapus now!!!! haha.
Down to 81 days and 19 hours now! Making this payment makes it even more real. It's getting hard not to start putting things in the suitcase already!

 

[guitarob]

I have to compliment Guitarob on his TR! Awesome pictures!!! I just finished reading it last night. If you Poly lovers haven't seen those pictures, you need to check them out! The early morning shots are my favorite...IMO that's the best time to walk around the Poly and take in all the great sights...it's almost like you have the entire resort to yourself. Great job, Guitarob!!!!

Thank you so much!!

I really should get around to finishing that and summing it up. There's one day that just kind of got lopped off the end there. That's now my goal for the weekend. Let's see if it happens .

 

[momtobrynncess]

Just booked Poly for the first time! Going in early August!

woohoo!!!!

So happy for you!!!! You will LOVE Poly!!!

 

[momtobrynncess]

Thank you so much!!

I really should get around to finishing that and summing it up. There's one day that just kind of got lopped off the end there. That's now my goal for the weekend. Let's see if it happens .

Thanks so much for all our hard work!!! We sure appreciate it!!! Fantastic photos too! One of them is my new background photo! It replaced a photo of dd7 sitting on the fireplace mantle at Minnie's House in Toontown (rip), and I feared she would be upset that I replaced her photo with one of Poly. She was not, as she loves Poly as much as I do (thankfully), and just said, "WOW!!!! POLY!!!!

 

[kimgof]

Paid off our Poly stay ! ADR's are made .....now if only we could fast forward to August!

 

[s&k'smom]

Just switched to Poly!!! Can't wait for October.

 

[disneysuncat]

Thanks so much for the shower head information everyone! Hopefully we'll get one of those newer ones so that I don't whack my head or anything.

After much debate (as always) we have set our dates...November 7 through November 18th. The 15th is my Mom's actual birthday, so she's pretty excited about being there on the real day! My daughter wasn't too upset we won't be there for Halloween, but Halloween here will be great knowing we'll be leaving for Disney a few days after!

11 days of Polynesian fun! We'll be staying in a garden view room, unless I hit a jackpot between now and then. That Lapu-Lapu is calling me already.

 

[pmaurer74]

Woo Hoo!!!! I just made a payment on our May trip!!!!
My friend told me she paid hers with gift cards, which I had never even thought of, PLUS our Giant Eagle has double fuel perks on Disney cards until March 2!! SO, I now have most of my package paid off and enough fuel perks for 5 or 6 tanks of gas (maybe less if things don't settle down in the Middle East)! I hoping DD can pick up some gift cards at her Kroger so she can get some fuel perks, too. I'm not sure I can use all mine before they expire. PLUS I'll get cash back for using my credit card to buy them!!!!! Maybe I can afford TWO Lapu Lapus now!!!! haha.
Down to 81 days and 19 hours now! Making this payment makes it even more real. It's getting hard not to start putting things in the suitcase already!

I am doing the same thing but my Disney cc put a hold on my account for suspicious activity... it took me 45 minutes on the phone to get it worked out. I was thinking of doing it again by March 2 the deadline but I'm not sure I want to go through that again.

 

[rcsilverspring]

I am doing the same thing but my Disney cc put a hold on my account for suspicious activity... it took me 45 minutes on the phone to get it worked out. I was thinking of doing it again by March 2 the deadline but I'm not sure I want to go through that again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I called ahead of time so that wouldn't happen, but the first time she tried to put it through, it got rejected. I called Chase from the check-out line (DH will NEVER go shopping with me again!) & they said it was fine. The check out lady forgot she had to put my driver's license # in since the amount was so high. Then I got an e-mail from the credit card company the next day advising me of an unusually high charge and to call if I hadn't made it. Nice to know they are looking out for me.

Definitely was worth it for the free gas and cash back I will get!! Call the CC people before you try it next time. I might be back for more if DD can't get some at her store in Virginia and I will definitely call ahead again.

BTW, when are you going? Looks like it's around when we will be there, May 19-25.

 

[Tess]

Just checking in folks--we have been without power for five days and I have some catching up to do! Looks like you have all been busy.

 

[rcsilverspring]

Just checking in folks--we have been without power for five days and I have some catching up to do! Looks like you have all been busy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FIVE days??!! I would go insane! Five days without my Poly "fix". That's cruel and unusual punishment.
Welcome back!

 

[carlnix30]

Just checking in folks--we have been without power for five days and I have some catching up to do! Looks like you have all been busy.

Holy peanut butter.. You must have been frozen! I was wondering where you were!

 

[s&k'smom]

My son loooooves the monorail and I know they can't guarantee views but does Rarotonga have a monorail view, I know Aerot???? does. We just switched yesterday and I am most excited about have access to the coffee bar I do believe it's located upstairs next too Kona Cafe.

 

[Luvamouse]

Do you know if they are checking them for the beach area as well? We are leaving for the Poly in a week and are hoping the beach won't be overcrowded during Wishes.

Didn't see that. Somehow I doubt it. The bar is right there, and I don't think they'd refuse access to the area. Also, beach is so extensive and Wishes after dark, it would be impossible to police. That said, the beach wasn't crowded (bar area/end a BIG noisy party scene though) the one night we watched from the beach (in front of Tahiti) ... On our last night there, I was VERY suspicious of the young man getting on the resort launch FROM the Poly wearing a swimsuit and towel. And no wristband...

You can always get Mickey Waffles at Captain Cooks as well.

And we got at least 2 each day there!!

This is good news! I hope they do it all the time. Is it wrong to feel this way about using the hammocks on the beach too???

It's difficult to make the decision to stay at the Poly in the cheapest room (garden view) for a week and only pay about 20 bucks less than if you get a one bedroom villa at Beach Club, Boardwalk, or WL!! (That's just an example of what the difference is for my upcoming trip - not a generalized statement.) So yes, when you pay that much for one standard room, you'd like to think you get some benefits of the resort that no one else can get unless staying there. There, I said it. I feel better.

I do agree on the price vs value compared to other resorts. Checked out AKL. Really liked it, pool astonished us in its size! Loved The Mara. It is all soooo huge! (I know it is 40% more rooms, but most are only for 4 people, not 5 like the Poly, so the capacity can't be quite so disparate. But the rooms? Tiny in comparison. Can't do... Sigh. I really do feel as if we don't get Deluxe for the money at the Poly, yet we love it so much...

I am doing the same thing but my Disney cc put a hold on my account for suspicious activity... it took me 45 minutes on the phone to get it worked out. I was thinking of doing it again by March 2 the deadline but I'm not sure I want to go through that again.

The first two trips with my DH and DDs, I received a phone call AT HOME to make sure I was the one in FLORIDA charging on my card. Really. And they thought I'd answer if it WAS me? Luckily I had bothered to check my home voice mail... This time I called C1 ahead and told them we were traveling and where. So far, so good!

 

[Luvamouse]

Arrived at 10 p.m. on Sunday from the Daytona 500. Quick checkin, got Tahiti, 3rd floor as requested (Tahiti 2nd or 3rd.) Concierge WAY to slow to add tickets-- two parties before me, 2 CMs, 20 minute wait. Mousekeeping good, all restocked daily, 6 towels for 4 of us. Room very clean, AC worked great, left doors cracked for fridge cabinet due to past experience. Only one day was mousekeeping poor, from the looks of things, she was interrupted as one bed had DD's animals arranged, the other in a heap-- dirty glass left by sink-- still there--o shampoo/conditioner (had Aussie too, but we love the WDW smell), no clean glasses, just a general oops moment No big deal, but a tad bit disappointing I guess.

Overall trip review... Smokers!! Wow. So many, so inconsiderate. I saw more people walking around the Poly grounds, cigarette in hand, than I have seen in the last 15 years up North here! Our original adjoining room family left and the first morning we were enjoying coffee on the balcony when the smoke drifted right over. Speaking clearly in French, I realize it might be a cultural difference, but WDW makes it QUITE clear that rooms are non-smoking. Called Front Desk, CM lovely, took notes, said they will contact later in day to mention a CM saw them smoking and it is not allowed. He was hanging right over the balcony, so that wasn't a stretch...

Epcot-- line for bag check. Older man in ECV smoking right there in front of us, and it was very annoying. Threw cigarette on ground for his wife to put out. Sigh... In parks? Same thing! Not just smoking areas, which are better than strolling around. I saw at least 1/2 dozen people strolling and smoking at the Poly, and probably as many or more in the parks. Big change from our norm. Big disappointment.

Good? Crowds not bad using Touring Plans Best/Worst and easyWDW. Very workable. Major FPs too! Overall great trip-- but nice to be headed home too

 

[Tess]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FIVE days??!! I would go insane! Five days without my Poly "fix". That's cruel and unusual punishment.
Welcome back!

Being without the computer was the worst!

Holy peanut butter.. You must have been frozen! I was wondering where you were!

We didn't freeze Carl, luckily we have a generator and our neighbor wired our furnace into it. On the downside, the gennie only powers so much and the power isn't stable. I was afraid to plug the computer into it. Plugging and unplugging electrical things and rotating fridge and freezer, Rinnai for hot water to shower, etc. was a major pain. I had to completely empty the primary refrigerator and store contents in the chest freezer and non-frozen items outside to God's refrigerator.

Thankfully, those five days are behind us!

 

[disneydreamin247]

Being without the computer was the worst!



We didn't freeze Carl, luckily we have a generator and our neighbor wired our furnace into it. On the downside, the gennie only powers so much and the power isn't stable. I was afraid to plug the computer into it. Plugging and unplugging electrical things and rotating fridge and freezer, Rinnai for hot water to shower, etc. was a major pain. I had to completely empty the primary refrigerator and store contents in the chest freezer and non-frozen items outside to God's refrigerator.

Thankfully, those five days are behind us!

For some reason when things like this happen in this day and age I'm always shocked lol. I don't know what I would do without power for 5 days!

 

[momtobrynncess]

Arrived at 10 p.m. on Sunday from the Daytona 500. Quick checkin, got Tahiti, 3rd floor as requested (Tahiti 2nd or 3rd.) Concierge WAY to slow to add tickets-- two parties before me, 2 CMs, 20 minute wait. Mousekeeping good, all restocked daily, 6 towels for 4 of us. Room very clean, AC worked great, left doors cracked for fridge cabinet due to past experience. Only one day was mousekeeping poor, from the looks of things, she was interrupted as one bed had DD's animals arranged, the other in a heap-- dirty glass left by sink-- still there--o shampoo/conditioner (had Aussie too, but we love the WDW smell), no clean glasses, just a general oops moment No big deal, but a tad bit disappointing I guess.

Overall trip review... Smokers!! Wow. So many, so inconsiderate. I saw more people walking around the Poly grounds, cigarette in hand, than I have seen in the last 15 years up North here! Our original adjoining room family left and the first morning we were enjoying coffee on the balcony when the smoke drifted right over. Speaking clearly in French, I realize it might be a cultural difference, but WDW makes it QUITE clear that rooms are non-smoking. Called Front Desk, CM lovely, took notes, said they will contact later in day to mention a CM saw them smoking and it is not allowed. He was hanging right over the balcony, so that wasn't a stretch...

Epcot-- line for bag check. Older man in ECV smoking right there in front of us, and it was very annoying. Threw cigarette on ground for his wife to put out. Sigh... In parks? Same thing! Not just smoking areas, which are better than strolling around. I saw at least 1/2 dozen people strolling and smoking at the Poly, and probably as many or more in the parks. Big change from our norm. Big disappointment.

Good? Crowds not bad using Touring Plans Best/Worst and easyWDW. Very workable. Major FPs too! Overall great trip-- but nice to be headed home too

That really stinks (literally) about the smoking thing. I hate that. There are designated smoking areas, I wish people would stick to those. That said, they should also place those designated smoking areas not right there in the middle of the main walkway outside the GCH. Each time we walk past it, I have to tell dd7 to hold her breath as she walks by so that she doesn't breathe in the 2nd hand smoke.

I think I would lose my mind if there were people in the adjoining room smoking, so good for you that you called. But I have seen tons of people strolling and smoking as well. At Poly and in the parks.

Thanks for the review! I can't wait for August!

 

[rcsilverspring]

Aren't those magical words? After getting a bunch of Disney gift cards with double fuel perks for myself Friday, DD was able to get most of the rest at her grocery store (yes, single fuel perks, but probably a free tank of gas plus half off a second tank. Every little bit helps.) and I just paid off the upcoming trip!!!! My, oh my, what a wonderful day! Makes May seem even closer! Thanks to my friend Cathy for telling me you could use these. I never even thought of it!

 

[housetomouse]

Aren't those magical words? After getting a bunch of Disney gift cards with double fuel perks for myself Friday, DD was able to get most of the rest at her grocery store (yes, single fuel perks, but probably a free tank of gas plus half off a second tank. Every little bit helps.) and I just paid off the upcoming trip!!!! My, oh my, what a wonderful day! Makes May seem even closer! Thanks to my friend Cathy for telling me you could use these. I never even thought of it!

How does that work, do you just pay over the phone with the gift cards? Is it good for lodging and any other expenses you rack up on your room key bill? Thanks! and congrats on paying off your trip!