ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: January 2012

[AlohaLily]

OMG! This is a BEAUTIFUL picture! I hope you don't mind if I steal it!

Thank you!!! I don't mind if you steal it at all! There is a special setting on the camera that I use that brings you the colours of the sunrise.

 

[kimberwee]

Sooo...
DD's Handmade Autograph Book - check
DD's "Going to WDW" tshirt - check
Growing excitement - check

I am still missing out on the sporks though...went to a Taco Bell yesterday for lunch and didn't find them...

Less than 3 weeks to go!

I have changed our itinerary again...with DD (5), and not being huge thrill ride people, do you think we could make it through DHS from 9 to 4? I think I want to take the boat over to Epcot afterwards so that we can do the World Showcase at night. Also, what time does the "movie on the beach" typically start? I want to do that at least 1 night.
Thoughts?

 

[maiapapaya]

Sooo...
DD's Handmade Autograph Book - check
DD's "Going to WDW" tshirt - check
Growing excitement - check

I am still missing out on the sporks though...went to a Taco Bell yesterday for lunch and didn't find them...

Less than 3 weeks to go!

I have changed our itinerary again...with DD (5), and not being huge thrill ride people, do you think we could make it through DHS from 9 to 4? I think I want to take the boat over to Epcot afterwards so that we can do the World Showcase at night. Also, what time does the "movie on the beach" typically start? I want to do that at least 1 night.
Thoughts?

You could definitely make it through DHS from 9 - 4. Our kids were 9 & 6 on our last trip. We never do ToT or RR and we find they are starting to get bored at the Studios after a couple of hours. We ride TSM & Star Tours, watch Muppets 3D, usually catch Disney Channel Rocks, do a few meet & greets and that's it. We've seen a couple of shows, but they aren't that into the ones at DHS. If you aren't trying to see every show you should be fine. We always arrive for rope drop and by mid afternoon the kids have had enough.

 

[kimberwee]

You could definitely make it through DHS from 9 - 4. Our kids were 9 & 6 on our last trip. We never do ToT or RR and we find they are starting to get bored at the Studios after a couple of hours. We ride TSM & Star Tours, watch Muppets 3D, usually catch Disney Channel Rocks, do a few meet & greets and that's it. We've seen a couple of shows, but they aren't that into the ones at DHS. If you aren't trying to see every show you should be fine. We always arrive for rope drop and by mid afternoon the kids have had enough.

Yeah, we probably wont bother with the Muppets (Dont kill me, but they creep me out) and we wont do Star Tours (again, not our thing). We will want to catch Beauty and the Beast, American Idol and either the Indiana Jones Show or the other stunt show...depending on schedule. TSM and lunch at Pizza Planet are big on our list.

 

[nonnasally]

Yeah, we probably wont bother with the Muppets (Dont kill me, but they creep me out) and we wont do Star Tours (again, not our thing). We will want to catch Beauty and the Beast, American Idol and either the Indiana Jones Show or the other stunt show...depending on schedule. TSM and lunch at Pizza Planet are big on our list.

Want to do idol also. Anyone know how long it is. Always passed right bye it but think we will give it a try this time.

 

[Tebrown96]

Thanks for the recent burst of pictures - 2 weeks from tomorrow we'll be boarding the plane for our first family trip to Disney and first Poly stay! I didn't think our excitement could grow any more (or my obsession with reading every Disney-related site I can find) between now and then, but the pictures certainly increase it!!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

The Palmetto Bug is a type of cockroach. They prefer to live outside. I rather deal with these instead of the German Cockroach.

Yuck. Here I thought it wasn't a cockroach after all. I'm getting the heebie jeebies all over again!

Hi! I saw that the cabanas are available to rent 180 day in advance. Does anyone know how many there are and how quickly they fill up?

I wanted to rent a cabana for a full day for our trip last October. We didn't decide on the trip and book it until August. You have to have your room ressie to make the Cabana ressie. Anyway, the day I wanted it, the two standard ones were booked (and I didn't want the premium cabana). I did have to rearrange our schedule to pick another day for the cabana. So I recommend booking it as soon as you know when you want it.

So. Very. Tired.

But I love it here and never want to leave......

Had a great day at MK. It was completely magical being there for the opening of MK and also for the closing of it later in the night. Lots of fun had by all. Resort is beautiful and quiet. No complaints, CM's are helpful and happy. Weather is hot and beautiful.

Tomorrow is our sleepin day and then world showcase.

Coffee makers are stupid. That is all. Lol

Nice update - enjoy the rest of the trip!

Ahh, the trip is paid in full and I'm passing the time while I wait for my Mickey Mail by reading some of the Poly thread.

I have a question too - I have never made a room request before, ever, in our 9 trips. But this time, I do have a request and I don't know how to make it. I am pretty sure I read that you aren't supposed to fax them anymore. So, do I call the regular reservation line, or is there a "better" way to go about it? We are booked TPV and I just want to make sure we have a balcony (unless all TPV rooms have a balcony, then I won't worry about it - but I'm pretty sure there are a few that don't).

Call the central reservations line and put in your room request. Then a few days before you check in, call again and ask if your room requests are noted.

 

[princssdisnygina]

Well I am coming to WDW in 2 weeks and I am sad to say... I won't be at the Poly this time! My bff wanted to stay in the new Princess Rooms! No worries... I will be back in September! I will be coming to visit to have dinner at Ohana of course!! I will try to remember to take some pictures!

 

[IcedMudd]

So excited to see my ticker! Almost there!

 

[cheer34]

Hey all-

Thanks so much for weighing in on the balcony vs patio debate. I figured I'd leave it up to chance and simply requested 1st or 3rd floor. That, way, I figured it doubled my chances of not having a 2nd floor room!

But, I remember having read something about the way the room assignments work. I now have the option of checking in online (one week to go...yippeeee!), but if I do that, will the automatic room assignor just assign me upon online check in, ignoring the request?

Thoughts?

 

[204charity]

Holy downpour! Just had a torrential downpour with thunder and lightening come through Disney Workld. Poly pool was closed and so we came to the room to shower only to discover we have NO HOT WATER! Ugh. I called the front desk half an hour ago and still no maintenance man. Annoying. Plan on finishing up our souvenir shopping tonight with a late check out for 1 pm tomorrow and a full day cabana rental. Our driver picks us up at 6:00, and our flight leaves at 8:30. All in all, it has been a totally magical trip.

 

[AlohaLily]

Holy downpour! Just had a torrential downpour with thunder and lightening come through Disney Workld. Poly pool was closed and so we came to the room to shower only to discover we have NO HOT WATER! Ugh. I called the front desk half an hour ago and still no maintenance man. Annoying. Plan on finishing up our souvenir shopping tonight with a late check out for 1 pm tomorrow and a full day cabana rental. Our driver picks us up at 6:00, and our flight leaves at 8:30. All in all, it has been a totally magical trip.

Glad to hear that it was a good trip! I read on a weather website that there were supposed to be torrential rain today (3 inches). Safe travels!!

 

[Tess]

Holy downpour! Just had a torrential downpour with thunder and lightening come through Disney Workld. Poly pool was closed and so we came to the room to shower only to discover we have NO HOT WATER! Ugh. I called the front desk half an hour ago and still no maintenance man. Annoying. Plan on finishing up our souvenir shopping tonight with a late check out for 1 pm tomorrow and a full day cabana rental. Our driver picks us up at 6:00, and our flight leaves at 8:30. All in all, it has been a totally magical trip.

Thanks for all of the updates. I am hoping that the weather forecast I have seen for tomorrow is not accurate.

 

[tsme]

Holy downpour! Just had a torrential downpour with thunder and lightening come through Disney Workld. Poly pool was closed and so we came to the room to shower only to discover we have NO HOT WATER! Ugh. I called the front desk half an hour ago and still no maintenance man. Annoying. Plan on finishing up our souvenir shopping tonight with a late check out for 1 pm tomorrow and a full day cabana rental. Our driver picks us up at 6:00, and our flight leaves at 8:30. All in all, it has been a totally magical trip.

Last September, we were staying in Hawaii & for two days we didn't have hot water! We discovered it when we got back late from the parks, hot & stinky to jump into a very cold shower! The next day still no hot water, that afternoon they finally offered to send us to another building to bath. So we bagged up our stuff & went somewhere else to get cleaned. Wasn't great, but at least we were at Disney!

 

[Mynamewastaken]

I miss the Poly so much! One year from this week we will be back in happy land!!!

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

When you call the front desk you are talking to the call center not your resort.

 

[DznyCrzy11]

We just finished our first ever stay at the Poly. We normally stay at Pop or CBR and I was sooo leary of spending the money on the room. Worth every penny, and it is where we'll be staying from now on.
We found so many things to do at the resort, and I loved watching Wishes from the beach in the evening. And the CMs there were fantastic. Can't wait to go back.

I know that feeling!!! My husband and I stayed at the ASM, CBR and then Poly. We also plan on staying at the Poly from now on! This September will be our 3rd year in a row staying there and we love it!!

 

[204charity]

Hot water is back in Tahiti building, but water pressures sputtering and inconsistent. I so badly want to go to the MK tonight, but my legs will no cooperate. Shower and bed for me!

 

[DznyCrzy11]

OK, so possibly a silly question but...on our last stay at the Poly, we did not get to experience a press pot of coffee from Kona Cafe. This time...yes I do want some!! So, how does it work, do you have to get a table (which is probably next to impossible) or can you get one to go (highly unlikely I would think)? Any info would be great!

Last time we stayed at the Poly we ate breakfast at Kona and ordered the press pot of 100% Kona Coffee. MY DH and I both agreed that it's the best coffee we have ever had. I actually tried to find the 100% Kona Coffee when we came back home and could not find any, just the Kona Blend. Finally about 3 months later we found the 100% Kona Coffee at one of the stores here and that's the only coffee we buy. We had never had coffee from a press pot so also found that interesting.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Last time we stayed at the Poly we ate breakfast at Kona and ordered the press pot of 100% Kona Coffee. MY DH and I both agreed that it's the best coffee we have ever had. I actually tried to find the 100% Kona Coffee when we came back home and could not find any, just the Kona Blend. Finally about 3 months later we found the 100% Kona Coffee at one of the stores here and that's the only coffee we buy. We had never had coffee from a press pot so also found that interesting.

You can actually order Kona coffee online ... although it's not cheap by any means