ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: January 2012

[Mousemommy1]

When DD and started our countdown, we were at around 275 days or so. So, not quite as long as your's, but long nonetheless. I will say this though - time has just FLOWN by!! I can't believe how close we are to actually going to the airport! I have been finalizing the packing already since we have a pretty busy week ahead of us, and everything except toiletries & underclothes is packed!

We started this countdown 348 days ago!!!! that is tortuous!!!! We had booked in July originally for Feb, but then DH work schedule made us change our trip to July....don't get me wrong, I'm still greatful we get to go, but the wait has been painful....

I am hoping to book our April 2013 trip before we even go on our July trip (if the new rates are out by then), and I think I will book a BB while down there (if offered) for Oct this yr.

That should take the sting out of leaving...

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

The CSR was very nice. The high points are definately the pool area and Siesta's, the pool bar. I also liked that unlike the other mod's, you can close off the sink/vanity area with sliding doors, not just a curtain. This worked well for us, as my daughter and I are early risers and the hubs slept in most of the time. We didn't bug him with noise and light.

The pool and the pool slide are really fantastic. I love that there is a QS place right there, so no trekking up to the main building. The chicken strips they serve there are yummy. The bar is rather large too, and they Blue Moon on tap. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the volcano pool and the beach, but the pool at CSR is twice the size and the gals that do the afternoon pool games are great. The kids have lots of room to spread out for the games. They are always kind of cramped there at the Poly.

That said, there are a few drawbacks that make the Poly far superior in every way. We really missed having a balcony. I love to sit outside in the early morning and drink my coffee in peace. Not happening there. The other real issue was the size. I think it may be 3/4 of a mile from El Centro back to the Ranchos where we were stuck. In the heat, that walk was MISERABLE. It was quite a trek to go and get breakfast food in the mornings. I love how compact the Poly feels, I never feel like I need to pack a Sherpa bag and don hiking boots to go and get coffee and donuts.

My advice about the CSR is to DEMAND to be in the Cabanas section. If the room isn't ready, wait for one. If you are Cabanas you are closest to the pool and in decent proximity to El Centro. You don't want to be stuck back in Ranchos, and Casitas is where most of the business travelers stay. It's closest to El Centro, but quite a hike from the pool.

Most of all, I missed my morning Tonga Toast, LOL!

I would agree with most of this. We stayed at CSR in Oct for a budget vacay. It was a very nice resort. The main pool was fantastic--even liked it better than SAB--and having Siestas there poolside was the bomb. The pool even has REALLY nice bathrooms and lockers....so clean and large--something I wish the Poly would improve. I would disagree about Tinkerbellie16 demanding Cabanas though. She has a large family group going and chances are they will not end up in rooms near each other unless they all book preferred. We stayed in preferred Casitas 3 and loved the location. We only went to the pool once a day and because everything is "self-contained" there---pool, food, bar, bathrooms--it worked better for us to be closer to El Centro as we made 2 or more trips there per day for food or Panchitos to shop or pick up packages sent from the parks. It is also the first bus stop for pick up/drop off.

The rooms at CSR are beautiful but we felt really cramped by day 4. I did bring extra organizers that trip: pop-up clothes hampers, shoe organizers, hanging shelves to help fit the space. At Poly we never have those issues.

Although we loved the resort, we decided next trip MUST be Poly. We missed the balcony, the tiki torches, the monorail, the boats, the beach overlooking the castle with the boat horns and train whistles..... And the clencher was the night before we were supposed to leave, I got food poisoning and we had to extend our trip an extra day. Worst 36 hours ever, stuck in a small room, front desk kept messing up our new room keys and giving DH wrong info. Even while half-delirious from no sleep and hugging the porcelain throne, all I could think was "I wish I was sick at the Poly" instead of here.

Thank you both for the CSR vs. Poly info! We do have a large family group coming with the oldest being 69 and the youngest being 1. I did get us all preferred rooms. This way, I at least feel comfortable knowing we will be close to El Centro so my 69 year old mother doesn't have to walk too far for her morning iced tea. (Although she is extremely mobile - I still worry )

She did LOVE the Poly but on this trip, we had to budget (WHAT???).

 

[204charity]

You are going to have a fabulous time. Our favorite time to visit is about a week after Easter. Crowds are low(beginning the Sun after Easter), weather is warm but not too hot or humid, very little--if any--rain, the WDW gardens are spectacular, and the Poly is in full bloom with free-flowing Pina Colavas I think the CMs are a little more relaxed too since the Easter crowds are gone and they can take a deep breath.

Oh wow - thanks for that great visual. We are all so excited to get there, and now you have just made me that much more excited! Just so everyone knows, I will be reporting live from DW next week. Here on the Poly boards and also on the April boards if anyone is from there as well.

We started this countdown 348 days ago!!!! that is tortuous!!!! We had booked in July originally for Feb, but then DH work schedule made us change our trip to July....don't get me wrong, I'm still greatful we get to go, but the wait has been painful....

I am hoping to book our April 2013 trip before we even go on our July trip (if the new rates are out by then), and I think I will book a BB while down there (if offered) for Oct this yr.

That should take the sting out of leaving...

Wow. I WISH I could even go to DW once more in my life, let alone so many potential trips. You are so lucky you get to do that!!!!

 

[jennyjinx3]

Oh wow - thanks for that great visual. We are all so excited to get there, and now you have just made me that much more excited! Just so everyone knows, I will be reporting live from DW next week. Here on the Poly boards and also on the April boards if anyone is from there as well.



Wow. I WISH I could even go to DW once more in my life, let alone so many potential trips. You are so lucky you get to do that!!!!

Can't wait to read your live reports!! Living vicariously through you!!

 

[auprincess]

6 more days!! I'm so excited ~ we told our girls today and it was great, they are thrilled! 2 quick questions, if anyone can help ~

1. Do we need to bring our own towels to the pool?

2. I remember reading awhile back that the a/c turns off at night? Can anyone confirm if this is true or not? And, I think some ppl had some tips about how to make it stay on...

 

[Mousemommy1]

Oh wow - thanks for that great visual. We are all so excited to get there, and now you have just made me that much more excited! Just so everyone knows, I will be reporting live from DW next week. Here on the Poly boards and also on the April boards if anyone is from there as well.



Wow. I WISH I could even go to DW once more in my life, let alone so many potential trips. You are so lucky you get to do that!!!!

Woohoo! Can't wait to read your live trip report!!

And yes, I feel lucky to have gone to Disney as many times as I have and am always grateful for every trip. I'm just lucky that my DH has gone along with it all.

 

[jennyjinx3]

Woohoo! Can't wait to read your live trip report!!

And yes, I feel lucky to have gone to Disney as many times as I have and am always grateful for every trip. I'm just lucky that my DH has gone along with it all.

I know what you mean....DH got me started with our first Disney trip but has been super supportive and positive about my new addiction! I would almost use the word "compliant" !! Insert Maniacal Laugh!!

 

[Mousemommy1]

I know what you mean....DH got me started with our first Disney trip but has been super supportive and positive about my new addiction! I would almost use the word "compliant" !! Insert Maniacal Laugh!!

Muahahahahahahahaha!!!!

 

[jennyjinx3]

Muahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Nice! As he puts it "Hey I got you started... and now you control it!!"

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

6 more days!! I'm so excited ~ we told our girls today and it was great, they are thrilled! 2 quick questions, if anyone can help ~

1. Do we need to bring our own towels to the pool?

2. I remember reading awhile back that the a/c turns off at night? Can anyone confirm if this is true or not? And, I think some ppl had some tips about how to make it stay on...

1. There are towels at the pool.

2. The A/C has a motion detector so when there is no movement for a certain period of time when you are at the parks or asleep, it turns off. There are instructions around the board on doing an override but we usually just buy a few helium balloons. We put them where the vent blows so that they move around and it helps with the sensors....although it can be kinda scary if you wake up and see them looming in the dark

Have fun at the Poly and don't forget those Pina Colavas....DELISH!

 

[jennyjinx3]

1. There are towels at the pool.

2. The A/C has a motion detector so when there is no movement for a certain period of time when you are at the parks or asleep, it turns off. There are instructions around the board on doing an override but we usually just buy a few helium balloons. We put them where the vent blows so that they move around and it helps with the sensors....although it can be kinda scary if you wake up and see them looming in the dark

Have fun at the Poly and don't forget those Pina Colavas....DELISH!

Ha! This would be enough to send my dream prone eldest DD into a full blown nightmare!! We did notice that it was super warm in the room when we woke up! This explains it! Good tip though!

 

[ChristineOH]

I know what you mean. I can book anywhere else on property, intending to stay there, but I always end up changing back to the Poly. I know better now though, on our last trip I think I initally booked the Boardwalk, then waited too long to try to switch back to the Poly and there was no room for us :-(. We ended up at CSR instead. CSR was nice, but it sure wasn't the Poly.

We stayed at the Poly last summer. It was our first WDW visit, and our first family vacation that was just our immediate family. (We live away from our families, so our trips are always to visit them.) We figured we would live it up, because we didn't know if it would be our only trip WDW.

We loved it so much that one trip has turned me into a Disney addict, I'm afraid. All of those dang One Republic Disney commercials aren't helping one bit.

We can't take a vacation this summer due to DH's work schedule (and could not afford a trip this summer anyhow) so I'm planning for us to return in June '13. My husband thinks I'm crazy for already researching!!!

While part of me would love to try another resort to see more of what Disney has to offer, part of me is paranoid that I will regret it. So, I will be debating this for months, it looks like.

 

[carlnix30]

6 more days!! I'm so excited ~ we told our girls today and it was great, they are thrilled! 2 quick questions, if anyone can help ~

1. Do we need to bring our own towels to the pool?

2. I remember reading awhile back that the a/c turns off at night? Can anyone confirm if this is true or not? And, I think some ppl had some tips about how to make it stay on...

(I think someone answered this one) but there are LOTS of towel at the pool. Most times they are warm and yummy!

Hold the power and down arrow down at the same time, for a few seconds and the thermostat will display BP then set it for what ever temp you want. Make sure you do it every night or it will reset to default. If the thermostat is new you may not have to do that. You can also call maintenance if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself.

 

[SevenSeasLagoon5]

Hold the power and down arrow down at the same time, for a few seconds and the thermostat will display BP then set it for what ever temp you want. Make sure you do it every night or it will reset to default. If the thermostat is new you may not have to do that. You can also call maintenance if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself.

Thanks for the great tip!

 

[Carrie772]

2. I remember reading awhile back that the a/c turns off at night? Can anyone confirm if this is true or not? And, I think some ppl had some tips about how to make it stay on...

2. The A/C has a motion detector so when there is no movement for a certain period of time when you are at the parks or asleep, it turns off. There are instructions around the board on doing an override but we usually just buy a few helium balloons. We put them where the vent blows so that they move around and it helps with the sensors....although it can be kinda scary if you wake up and see them looming in the dark

Yes! It is scary! I get up at least once during the night and first night that balloon almost made me call out! The next night, I attached a lei to the ceiling fan chain and let it spin all night. I think it worked.

Hold the power and down arrow down at the same time, for a few seconds and the thermostat will display BP then set it for what ever temp you want. Make sure you do it every night or it will reset to default. If the thermostat is new you may not have to do that. You can also call maintenance if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself.

Now THIS should be on the front page! Much better than my method!

 

[crostorfer]

Carl, I'm going to need you to go ahead and move your trip up to, oh, say, RIGHT NOW so that I can live vicariously through your web cam, LOL!

Yesterday and today the weather is absolutely perfect for here in Seattle, and you would think that would quell some vacation fever. Nope, quite the opposite. I want to go more.

 

[maiapapaya]

Carl, I'm going to need you to go ahead and move your trip up to, oh, say, RIGHT NOW so that I can live vicariously through your web cam, LOL!

Yesterday and today the weather is absolutely perfect for here in Seattle, and you would think that would quell some vacation fever. Nope, quite the opposite. I want to go more.

It's funny, the same thing happens to me ... the nice weather makes me miss the Poly more!

And I agree. Maybe you could just take up permanent residence at the Poly Carl.

 

[Tebrown96]

26 more days for us!! Can.not.wait!!

Can anyone tell me when I can expect to get Mickey Mail? We booked our trip through a Disney travel agent, so I know she'll be receiving it and I will hear from her when she does. Just wondering when that will be?!?!

 

[maiapapaya]

26 more days for us!! Can.not.wait!!

Can anyone tell me when I can expect to get Mickey Mail? We booked our trip through a Disney travel agent, so I know she'll be receiving it and I will hear from her when she does. Just wondering when that will be?!?!

I think it would be any day now. We live in Canada & I know for our trip last year we received our stuff a few days before our friends in Chicago (we wondered if they sent the "foreign" packages out a little earlier), but I'm pretty sure it was about a month before our travel date.

 

[Tebrown96]

I think it would be any day now. We live in Canada & I know for our trip last year we received our stuff a few days before our friends in Chicago (we wondered if they sent the "foreign" packages out a little earlier), but I'm pretty sure it was about a month before our travel date.

Thanks! I am so excited for that packet!

I have another question, which I will also pose to my travel agent, but figured the pros here will know the answer. Is DD (4 1/2) allowed to use a Puddle Jumper life jacket in the pool at the Poly? It's like arm swimmies attached to a part that goes around her chest - it's a Coast Guard approved life jacket. She's not fully independently swimming yet. Thanks!