ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: January 2012

[pas130]

Love ya sis!

Love ya back sis

 

[auprincess]

Yes, you should get a questionnaire from the IPO for your ADR's and any other reservations that you need made (golf, rentals, tours, etc). You should receive it before your 180 day mark so they can make your ADR's for you right on your 180 day date. If you haven't received it and that day is getting close just email them and they will send it to you (you must have a reservation already before they can book stuff for you).
Polynesian.Itinerary.Planning@disneyworld.com




The "real" coffee is available from the Kona cafe. DH & I aren't coffee drinkers, but have travelled with them. My sister said Kona restaurant serves Kona coffee in a french press and a Kona blend. She says the coffee at 'Ohana comes in a pot, but doesn't think it's Kona coffee (maybe the blend). Unfortunately the CS serves nescrape.

Thanks for the clarification about the coffee!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I LIKE NESCAFE!!!

Don't discount the coffee YET. Try it first. Granted, I take my coffee with cream so it really mellows out the taste but I like Nescafe coffee (reminds me of backpacking around Greece and I would drink Nescafe frappes all day).

I know a lot of folks on the DIS boards don't particularly like it, but it isn't bad (IMO)! In fact, I got coffee (not the press pot though) at the Kona Coffee bar in the morning (the coffee bar) and it was HORRIBLE.

But there are a bunch of places at WDW that don't serve Nescafe if you really hate it. For instance, Starring rolls at HS uses beans roasted onsite. The water parks serve up Joffrey's coffee. And there are good coffee carts around Epcot and AK. Boma has a Kenyan press coffee. And SUPPOSEDLY Kona Coffee bar serves up 'real' coffee (but I didn't think so - it has been the ONLY time I've ever asked for my money back at WDW).

I'm sure there are other places too!

 

[DelBeachGrl]

Hi - I am new to this site and forums, but I am already getting so much from this thread.

I am staying at the Poly (1st time) this September with DH and 3 year old DD. We reserved a Garden View room and I requested a ground floor room so that while she naps or goes to sleep we can hang out on the patio a bit and run to get drinks or whatever without having to go through the room.

After reading through some of these posts I think I should be more specific in my request and include a building request as well. Any thoughts on which buildings are the best for a Garden View Ground Floor request?

Thanks for your feedback!

 

[pas130]

I LIKE NESCAFE!!!

Don't discount the coffee YET. Try it first. Granted, I take my coffee with cream so it really mellows out the taste but I like Nescafe coffee (reminds me of backpacking around Greece and I would drink Nescafe frappes all day).

I know a lot of folks on the DIS boards don't particularly like it, but it isn't bad (IMO)! In fact, I got coffee (not the press pot though) at the Kona Coffee bar in the morning (the coffee bar) and it was HORRIBLE.

But there are a bunch of places at WDW that don't serve Nescafe if you really hate it. For instance, Starring rolls at HS uses beans roasted onsite. The water parks serve up Joffrey's coffee. And there are good coffee carts around Epcot and AK. Boma has a Kenyan press coffee. And SUPPOSEDLY Kona Coffee bar serves up 'real' coffee (but I didn't think so - it has been the ONLY time I've ever asked for my money back at WDW).

I'm sure there are other places too!

I don't mind Nescafe at all....but I am one of those weirdos that doesn't care for Starbucks so I usually don't offer my 2 cents re: coffee. I LOVE coffee though. DH was also SO happy to get to Disney because he didn't like the coffee at US/IoA

 

[HalloweenNut]

The "real" coffee is available from the Kona cafe. DH & I aren't coffee drinkers, but have travelled with them. My sister said Kona restaurant serves Kona coffee in a french press and a Kona blend. She says the coffee at 'Ohana comes in a pot, but doesn't think it's Kona coffee (maybe the blend). Unfortunately the CS serves nescrape.

Looking forward to trying the Kona coffee however we'll be bringing along our own personal stash of Tim Horton's coffee to brew up in the room. Gotta have my Timmies! (the Canadians on the DIS will understand - it's practically our national place of worship! )

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Hi - I am new to this site and forums, but I am already getting so much from this thread.

I am staying at the Poly (1st time) this September with DH and 3 year old DD. We reserved a Garden View room and I requested a ground floor room so that while she naps or goes to sleep we can hang out on the patio a bit and run to get drinks or whatever without having to go through the room.

After reading through some of these posts I think I should be more specific in my request and include a building request as well. Any thoughts on which buildings are the best for a Garden View Ground Floor request?

Thanks for your feedback!

Oh, you will get lots of varied responses because we all have our favorites! Mine is Tokelau. I like it because the rooms here are a tad bigger than the 'older' longhouses, there is only one sink (I prefer more counter space), and all the garden views are GREAT! You either face the east (i.e. quiet) pool through some landscaping (that gives you some privacy on your patio) or you face the lagoon or other longhouses and walkway (my favorite view actually). We love ground floor rooms too - it's like you have all that room outside to claim as your own

I don't mind Nescafe at all....but I am one of those weirdos that doesn't care for Starbucks so I usually don't offer my 2 cents re: coffee. I LOVE coffee though. DH was also SO happy to get to Disney because he didn't like the coffee at US/IoA

Oh, I HATE Starbucks coffee too!!!! I like the espresso drinks but their coffee is nasty. Maybe I've got a funky mixed up coffee gene

 

[princssdisnygina]

Does anyone know whether the premium cabana is still there? If so did they raise the price? It was $620 for the full day or $319 for half.

Yes its still there and as of 2 months ago the price was the same.

When staying club level, is it true that Conceirge sends you a personal email/survey to find out your likes,etc? If so, when do you receive this email(6 months before travel, 90 days before travel,etc) Thanks!

I have stayed CL twice and never received an email like this? The only emails I received were copies of my reservations.

Hi - I am new to this site and forums, but I am already getting so much from this thread.

I am staying at the Poly (1st time) this September with DH and 3 year old DD. We reserved a Garden View room and I requested a ground floor room so that while she naps or goes to sleep we can hang out on the patio a bit and run to get drinks or whatever without having to go through the room.

After reading through some of these posts I think I should be more specific in my request and include a building request as well. Any thoughts on which buildings are the best for a Garden View Ground Floor request?

Thanks for your feedback!

As was said before... you will get many responses to this. However, I can tell you I left it up to the Poly Gods a few weeks ago and won't be doing that again. I will be requesting Tokelau or Niue.

 

[Belle915]

My DF and a I are going down in Sept (17-23rd) to the Poly and got free dining booked! We are so excited!

anyone else going around that time and book free dining? The wait was crazy this morning but totally worth it for us!

 

[MushLRC]

My DF and a I are going down in Sept (17-23rd) to the Poly and got free dining booked! We are so excited!

anyone else going around that time and book free dining? The wait was crazy this morning but totally worth it for us!

We are going in June but I just had to giggle when I read your post. I totally forgot they were releasing Free Dining today and I called in to make payment on my June trip. After being on hold for 20 minutes I realized what the problem was. Instead of hanging up and calling back later I continued to hold for another 40 minutes on speaker phone so I could listen to their FABULOUS hold music while I cleaned my kitchen and picked up the house. It made the mundane a bit Magical! LOL

 

[rao363]

Hi - I am new to this site and forums, but I am already getting so much from this thread.

I am staying at the Poly (1st time) this September with DH and 3 year old DD. We reserved a Garden View room and I requested a ground floor room so that while she naps or goes to sleep we can hang out on the patio a bit and run to get drinks or whatever without having to go through the room.

After reading through some of these posts I think I should be more specific in my request and include a building request as well. Any thoughts on which buildings are the best for a Garden View Ground Floor request?

Thanks for your feedback!

If you were going to be there the same time as me, I would keep this a secret but I am not going until October, and for the moment staying club level, so I can share Last year was the second time booking a garden view at the Poly. With that being said, I knew exactly where I wanted to request from prior visits...We always request ground level for the convienence of walking out the patio to the GCH, Pool,etc. Request Samoa Ground Level, facing Volcano Pool...Or even more specifically, Room 1607-1605. I requested room 1607 because from viewing the room view photos on tikiman pages, that room had a direct view of the waterfall at the volcano pool with no shrubs in your way(on that path, their are shrubs planted, but their is one section that has a break because of a walk thru to the pool) I ended up getting room 1606 and couldn't have been happier It was close to the kids water play area, a very short walk to the pool bar, beach, GCH,etc. I loved this room so much that when booking this years trip(with a PIN) I tried getting a garden view room, and unfortunately their were no more available under the PIN, so I booked GV-Club level. I did ask though, even with paying club level price, if I don't like the view, many I switch to that room and the CM said, if available I can Enjoy!

 

[crostorfer]

How interesting because everyone says my DD is my mini-me Kind of hard to see in my avatar but that is me.

I tried to find a good one of my daughter at the pool like yours, but I had to settle from our balcony in Aotearoa.

 

[crostorfer]

UGHHH!!! I can't get my pics to post! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

 

[Belle915]

We are going in June but I just had to giggle when I read your post. I totally forgot they were releasing Free Dining today and I called in to make payment on my June trip. After being on hold for 20 minutes I realized what the problem was. Instead of hanging up and calling back later I continued to hold for another 40 minutes on speaker phone so I could listen to their FABULOUS hold music while I cleaned my kitchen and picked up the house. It made the mundane a bit Magical! LOL

haha that's about like me! I was getting ready for work and I had my phone on speaker and I was singing along to all my fave Disney songs

 

[jennyjinx3]

My DF and a I are going down in Sept (17-23rd) to the Poly and got free dining booked! We are so excited!

anyone else going around that time and book free dining? The wait was crazy this morning but totally worth it for us!

We will be there 12 - 21, but we had a 35% off which works out better for us! maybe our paths will cross!!

 

[princssdisnygina]

My DF and a I are going down in Sept (17-23rd) to the Poly and got free dining booked! We are so excited!

anyone else going around that time and book free dining? The wait was crazy this morning but totally worth it for us!

We will be there 12 - 21, but we had a 35% off which works out better for us! maybe our paths will cross!!

I will be there the 14th - 20th! Then off on the Disney Dream!

 

[204charity]

Looking forward to trying the Kona coffee however we'll be bringing along our own personal stash of Tim Horton's coffee to brew up in the room. Gotta have my Timmies! (the Canadians on the DIS will understand - it's practically our national place of worship! )

Lol we are bringing 16 individual packages (8 per box) bought at Timmy's last month! any idea what size/shape coffee filters we should bring? Do they have a 4 or 12 cup coffee maker in the room? And is it a cone or basket shaped filter?

 

[disneydreamin247]

Lol we are bringing 16 individual packages (8 per box) bought at Timmy's last month! any idea what size/shape coffee filters we should bring? Do they have a 4 or 12 cup coffee maker in the room? And is it a cone or basket shaped filter?

The coffee makers are now Cuisinart and take coffee pods. You can't make it with regular coffee with a filter.

 

[princssdisnygina]

The coffee makers are now Cuisinart and take coffee pods. You can't make it with regular coffee with a filter.

So they are like the keurig? When did they change those?

 

[princessbride6205]

Glad you are loving the Poly. (knew you would) and wishes will never be the same for you after watching it on the heavenly Poly beach! Now what are you gonna do when your booking your next trip and the Poly bug starts rolling around in your head? Nothing else will compare. Poly is an addiction!

I'm having this same feeling! We returned yesterday from 6 nights at the Poly. We had received the total opposite of what I requested at check in - the CM at the desk was perplexed because she said it was exactly what we had requested! I guess the request was mixed up. Anyway, she was able to get us 3rd floor (my 1st request) in Tokelau (one of the 3 buildings I had requested). It was perfect! I think I would request the same building on our next stay.
I loved everything about the resort. The large room, the CMs, the ease of getting everywhere, seeing the castle while walking back to our building each night, the gorgeous tropical greenery...

We were also POR Royal Room transplants, and now I feel even more fortunate that we were given the Poly upgrade.
DH was joking that I was going to sell off our DVC points so we would only stay at the Poly. I wasn't thinking quite that drastic, but I definitely want to return and soon. I've stayed in all 4 values, 2 of the moderates, 3 DVC villas, and 5 Deluxe resorts - out of all of those AKV and Poly are the ones that feel like "home".