ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: January 2012

[vbarry]

Just returned from the Poly! Actually, I had cancelled our reservation and decided to stay at Portofino Bay. We stayed there two nights. I was not at all happy with the resort. We called Disney, checked out of the Portofino and we were sitting in the Hawaii building checking in within an hour. I must say we LOVED it and plan to return next March!!

We had a GV CL room on the first floor. The view was not the greatest but I still loved it! We decided to stay CL since they would not allow us to add the dining plan since we made the reservation the same day as our stay. I loved the lounge and the convenience of drinks etc. It was perfect!

Any questions...please let me know! LOVE the Poly and it is my NEW favorite resort!!

 

[cobbler]

I am 32 days out from my trip and have not heard from IPO yet. I made my reservation last week and contacted them yesterday. I don't really need them to make dining reservations as I have already done that. Is there anything that I need IPO for, or anything they need to know from me?? When should I expect to hear from them?

 

[i_heart_the_mouse]

I am 32 days out from my trip and have not heard from IPO yet. I made my reservation last week and contacted them yesterday. I don't really need them to make dining reservations as I have already done that. Is there anything that I need IPO for, or anything they need to know from me?? When should I expect to hear from them?

They should be contacting you very soon, or you could get the ball rolling yourself and email them using the contact info on page 1.

They will want to know your approximate arrival time and how you will be arriving (ME/car, etc) so that they can plan to be ready for you to check in.

I have found Poly's IPO to be wonderful. I hope you do too. Have fun at the Poly!

 

[carlnix30]

I am 32 days out from my trip and have not heard from IPO yet. I made my reservation last week and contacted them yesterday. I don't really need them to make dining reservations as I have already done that. Is there anything that I need IPO for, or anything they need to know from me?? When should I expect to hear from them?

I would email them with your ADR reservation numbers. They will put your itinerary together and it will be printed when you check in. I find it convenient to have all my ADR's together when we get there. Don't be afraid to call them or email them with any changes or questions you have.

 

[204charity]

I just wanted to pop in and say - "I'M GOING TO DISNEY THIS MONTH!!!!!"

 

[Mousemommy1]

Just returned from the Poly! Actually, I had cancelled our reservation and decided to stay at Portofino Bay. We stayed there two nights. I was not at all happy with the resort. We called Disney, checked out of the Portofino and we were sitting in the Hawaii building checking in within an hour. I must say we LOVED it and plan to return next March!!

We had a GV CL room on the first floor. The view was not the greatest but I still loved it! We decided to stay CL since they would not allow us to add the dining plan since we made the reservation the same day as our stay. I loved the lounge and the convenience of drinks etc. It was perfect!

Any questions...please let me know! LOVE the Poly and it is my NEW favorite resort!!

Glad you had a great trip!

I just wanted to pop in and say - "I'M GOING TO DISNEY THIS MONTH!!!!!"

Lucky....(in my best Napolean Dynamite voice).

 

[cobbler]

They should be contacting you very soon, or you could get the ball rolling yourself and email them using the contact info on page 1.

They will want to know your approximate arrival time and how you will be arriving (ME/car, etc) so that they can plan to be ready for you to check in.

I have found Poly's IPO to be wonderful. I hope you do too. Have fun at the Poly!

I would email them with your ADR reservation numbers. They will put your itinerary together and it will be printed when you check in. I find it convenient to have all my ADR's together when we get there. Don't be afraid to call them or email them with any changes or questions you have.

Thanks, that is helpful. I did contact them yesterday via email since I hadn't heard from them and just gave them my reservation number but haven't heard from them yet. How long should I wait before I try to contact them again.

 

[carlnix30]

Thanks, that is helpful. I did contact them yesterday via email since I hadn't heard from them and just gave them my reservation number but haven't heard from them yet. How long should I wait before I try to contact them again.

They don't work on the weekend. You should have gotten the "thank you for contacting us" email if not check your spam folder. If its not there PM me and I will give you the email address. Make sure you put your resort reservation number in the subject field

 

[KAA1972]

Cabana dilemma resolved! Boy, I just couldn't make up my mind! I really wanted regular cabana afternoon of May 17th but all was available was premium. We have Gardens of the World tour from 9-12:30 and I didn't want to pay for premium and miss the first three hours of cabana time.

So, I was able to book full day of regular cabana on my parents arrival date. We will be there the day before so we will get to use cabana at start of day. Parents will arrive around lunch. Can't wait to have a Lapu Lapu and some Captain Cooks at the Cabana on the first day. Then, we have Hoop Dee Do at 7:15 that night. So, we will probably not use the last hour of the cabana.

Thanks for the cabana advice everyone! Now, I just need to update my counter.

 

[auprincess]

I'm so excited to be able to say I will be at the Poly in LESS than 2 weeks

Quick question ~ when we stayed at WL there was a photopass person in the lobby. Do they have this at the Poly? We are actually getting the photopass CD this time, and I'd love to have someone take a family pic or 2 our first night when we have ressies at O'hana (since we aren't going to a park we might actually wear something nice)!

 

[Carrie772]

Well they say it's to help with the overloading of the main pool. (little ones couldn't swim in the quiet pool. No lifeguards)

But in reality it's due to resort regulations. If they wanted to keep the quiet pool deep they MUST have lifeguards stationed.. Which they didn't.

Huh! I wish the resort could have made that known somehow. Folks over here and elsewhere (including me!) were baffled by the change!

Just returned from the Poly! Actually, I had cancelled our reservation and decided to stay at Portofino Bay. We stayed there two nights. I was not at all happy with the resort. We called Disney, checked out of the Portofino and we were sitting in the Hawaii building checking in within an hour. I must say we LOVED it and plan to return next March!!

We had a GV CL room on the first floor. The view was not the greatest but I still loved it! We decided to stay CL since they would not allow us to add the dining plan since we made the reservation the same day as our stay. I loved the lounge and the convenience of drinks etc. It was perfect!

Any questions...please let me know! LOVE the Poly and it is my NEW favorite resort!!

I am so glad you loved it! Isn't it great when things like that turn out so beautifully!

I'm so excited to be able to say I will be at the Poly in LESS than 2 weeks

Quick question ~ when we stayed at WL there was a photopass person in the lobby. Do they have this at the Poly? We are actually getting the photopass CD this time, and I'd love to have someone take a family pic or 2 our first night when we have ressies at O'hana (since we aren't going to a park we might actually wear something nice)!

I would like to know that as well. All my side of the fam is going when we go so would like some family pix!

 

[1971DBday]

Take a long weekend away with no internet and see all that I've missed....

Congratulations Carl!!!!!

We were up near Traverse City, MI with 30 - 40ish degree weather making bonfires down by the beach trying to stay warm. We kept getting sad every time we checked to weather for WDW. I really didn't want to see snow over spring break.....

Only 73 more sleeps over here! My DD15 and I kept the time going by on the 6 hour car ride home discussing the upcoming trip and all of the must do's!

 

[carlnix30]

Huh! I wish the resort could have made that known somehow. Folks over here and elsewhere (including me!) were baffled by the change!



I am so glad you loved it! Isn't it great when things like that turn out so beautifully!



I would like to know that as well. All my side of the fam is going when we go so would like some family pix!

Resorts don't really like to say "we don't want to spend extra money on lifeguards" so it was to "improve" the resort by allowing more people to enjoy the quiet pool.

Take a long weekend away with no internet and see all that I've missed....

Congratulations Carl!!!!!

We were up near Traverse City, MI with 30 - 40ish degree weather making bonfires down by the beach trying to stay warm. We kept getting sad every time we checked to weather for WDW. I really didn't want to see snow over spring break.....

Only 73 more sleeps over here! My DD15 and I kept the time going by on the 6 hour car ride home discussing the upcoming trip and all of the must do's!

lol!! Your DD15 sounds like ours!! If there is a day that she doesn't mention Disney.. We are in trouble.
Thanks for the congrats! Not sure I am happy being a grandpa at 42!

 

[brajfamily]

How strict are they at the Poly with pool use from outside guests? We stayed at the BC on our last two trips and they require wrist bands and have lifeguards checking. We went to the Poly for dinner and walked down to the beach/pool area before and a lifeguard asked us to not sit at the tables, they were for resort guests. I don't mind this idea since the pool does get very crowded. Just curious to know if they are doing bands and/or checking when you go to the pool. Thanks!!

 

[maiapapaya]

How strict are they at the Poly with pool use from outside guests? We stayed at the BC on our last two trips and they require wrist bands and have lifeguards checking. We went to the Poly for dinner and walked down to the beach/pool area before and a lifeguard asked us to not sit at the tables, they were for resort guests. I don't mind this idea since the pool does get very crowded. Just curious to know if they are doing bands and/or checking when you go to the pool. Thanks!!

Enforcement at the Poly is sporadic. They do have a wrist banding policy, it just isn't always in effect, usually only during busier periods.

 

[Debrn]

We were there 3/5-3/12. Only one day during our stay they went around and gave us bracelets

 

[kimberwee]

If you want to order a meal from kona regular menu and have it delivered to the cabana there is a minimum of $200 but you can still order from the room service menu.

The premium cabana is next to the barefoot bar. Behind the volcano. If you have any experience with the poly pool area, it is located where the hair wrap station used to be.


If you have a huge family the premium cabana is perfect (it accommodates up to 10 people.) or your like us and really enjoy privacy and the ability to stretch out, it would be a great decision to rent the premium cabana. You can rent it for half day for $320 day or night or rent it all day and night for $640 (they don't offer a discounted all day rate.) I did a review from our last stay on the website that is not allowed to be mentioned (tiki) and said that we would not rent it again all day.. But alas we booked again for an all day rental. the experience was relaxing. We did order a meal from kona and ate at that beautiful glass table beside the beach.. LOVELY! The furniture was sooo very comfortable. I posted pics of our last cabana rental somewhere on here but if you want I will post them again.

Thanks for all of the info CARL!!! Your pics made my day! I have a half day regular cabana reserved for our last day there. SO EXCITED!

I started making my packing list for DD and I...what clothes, shoes, accessories, etc, we will need...I am one of those neurotic planners who likes to make lists of minute details. It isn't like I freak out when things go wrong though so I havent sought help for it yet...

 

[crostorfer]

How strict are they at the Poly with pool use from outside guests? We stayed at the BC on our last two trips and they require wrist bands and have lifeguards checking. We went to the Poly for dinner and walked down to the beach/pool area before and a lifeguard asked us to not sit at the tables, they were for resort guests. I don't mind this idea since the pool does get very crowded. Just curious to know if they are doing bands and/or checking when you go to the pool. Thanks!!

This is one area where the YC/BC gets it right over the other resorts. Last May they were kicking non-resort guests off of the tables in front of the Barefoot as well. They also wristbanded us at the pool after 2pm every day.

 

[disneyfan67]

Thanks to those who posted the cabana pictures and I have a regular one booked for my last day there due to a late night flight. I booked the 10 am to to 2pm slot and it will give us a few hours to relax and enjoy the downtime before the flight.

We're doing 5 days in late July and it's been a couple years since I did the Polynesian and I'm looking forward to it. It's kind of funny and ironic because 10 years ago around this time frame, my wife and I booked the Polynesian for our first family trip ever. My two sons were just 5 at the time and we made a lot of memories that trip and became frequent visitors and later, DVC owners. Now we're going back to where it all started for us, 10 years later.

 

[kimberwee]

Thanks to those who posted the cabana pictures and I have a regular one booked for my last day there due to a late night flight. I booked the 10 am to to 2pm slot and it will give us a few hours to relax and enjoy the downtime before the flight.

We're doing 5 days in late July and it's been a couple years since I did the Polynesian and I'm looking forward to it. It's kind of funny and ironic because 10 years ago around this time frame, my wife and I booked the Polynesian for our first family trip ever. My two sons were just 5 at the time and we made a lot of memories that trip and became frequent visitors and later, DVC owners. Now we're going back to where it all started for us, 10 years later.

How cool!!

Hopefully after this visit for DD's 5th Birthday we follow the same path!

Just checked in to changing an ADR and noticed that there was a message at the top of my screen: "Reminders:
On April 30, 2012, in 28 day(s), you can save time, skip the line and check in online. "

WOOOHOOO!!!

Are there any downsides to checking in online? We know that we wont get a king size bed and dont really have any preferences.

Would we have a better chance at Pixie Dust if we just wait and check in when we get there?