ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: January 2012

[Tess]

We're only six days away from our first stay at the Poly, and I am so excited! We've got a garden view, and I would like to be able to hear the Luau if at all possible. Should we be requesting Fiji? Really, we're not too picky, but since this is the first and maybe only time we've been able to swing the cost, I'd hate to spend our romantic weekend looking at the service shack I know it's just a request, but it would seem to me that most folks would rather be closer to the GCH... so we might get it, right?

Figi would be a good request if you want to hear the Luau. Another good option would be Aotearoa with a north facing view. The latter would also give you a lovely view of the lagoon and it is not considered lagoon view. Since you are going at a "lower" season--the Tiki Gods could be shining. Good luck!

 

[chimo2u]

Hey everyone, I am back in the real world after a wonderful, WONDERFUL week-long stay at the Poly. All in all it was a truly magical vacation. My parents pulled out all of the stops for DD and I and we were really truly treated like royalty all week.

The weather was hot, the food was good, the resort was beautiful. Our room was immaculate, with a beautiful 3rd floor GV room in the Tahiti building, and asides from not having hot water for one night, we have no complaints.

The bad weather stayed away until the very end of the day yesterday (rain came at 5 pm, our driver picked us up at 6 pm - in a LIMO Mercedes Van! RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING!!!!) so DD and I were able to go to the MK for the morning and then we were in the Mauna Loa Cabana for the remainder of our day.

I will be doing a trip report very soon!

So happy to hear this See, Jenny...,I think we've made the PERFECT choice for our trip and I can't wait!

 

[Carrie772]

Request Fiji Marina view (3rd floor if you want a balcony). You will not be sorry! It's our favorite longhouse and so close to the GCH. Marina view is considered "Garden View" so no extra charge. Enjoy!!

Figi would be a good request if you want to hear the Luau. Another good option would be Aotearoa with a north facing view. The latter would also give you a lovely view of the lagoon and it is not considered lagoon view. Since you are going at a "lower" season--the Tiki Gods could be shining. Good luck!

I prefer Fiji with the beach side, ground floor. The kids complained about being able to hear the volcano slide instructions from our patio when we had Fiji marina side. Plus, beach side means you can run out to the beach and play!

I also love Tokelau since all the floors have a balcony/patio!

 

[jalaine]

I have read through all of Tikiman's website, the first few pages of this thread, and any other information I could find on the longhouses so that I can make a request (unless it's too late to make a request because we leave in 13 days) and I think Rapa Nui would work well for us because we will have our car there and I'd like to be close to a parking lot.

Could someone with small children tell me how long it took you to walk to the GCH, TTC and the volcano pool? Our children are 7, 5, 3 and 9 months.

We stayed in Rapa Nui twice. First trip the kids were 3, 6, and 9. Just a couple of minutes to walk to the TTC, about 5 minutes to get to the GCH. Realistically, 10 minutes or less to get to either one of those places. It was a really convenient location for us since we wanted to be close to the TTC...doesn't get any closer than Rapa Nui Hope you have a great trip!

~~Oops, and sorry, Volcano Pool takes as long as it does to get to the GCH. Coming from Rapa Nui, it'll be right before you get to the GCH!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

I have read through all of Tikiman's website, the first few pages of this thread, and any other information I could find on the longhouses so that I can make a request (unless it's too late to make a request because we leave in 13 days) and I think Rapa Nui would work well for us because we will have our car there and I'd like to be close to a parking lot.

Could someone with small children tell me how long it took you to walk to the GCH, TTC and the volcano pool? Our children are 7, 5, 3 and 9 months.

Congrats on choosing the Poly. Our children USED to be small--lol--so I can take a stab at this. From Rapa Nui to both the GCH and the Volcano pool should take about 4-5 minutes. From Rapa Nui to the TTC will be a little shorter but you still have to walk up to the Epcot monorail once you are there(assuming that is your main reason for asking.) So from room to Epcot monorail platform would be about 5-7 minutes. Have fun!

 

[Tess]

I prefer Fiji with the beach side, ground floor. The kids complained about being able to hear the volcano slide instructions from our patio when we had Fiji marina side. Plus, beach side means you can run out to the beach and play!

I also love Tokelau since all the floors have a balcony/patio!

Tokelau would be my choice IF I didn't want to hear the Luau. Centrally located with a pool outside the doors and the bus stop nearby. Equidistant to GCH and TTC--great location. If you can get the east side, still a romantic area, but the Figi longhouse (without the marina view) or Aetearoa is a nice choice IF you can get the north facing view from the latter--beach, Luau on the north side and if you aren't lucky and get the south view--the monorail running by your patio or balcony. After all, Disney used that photo for its promotional photos.

 

[PHLtoMCO]

Figi would be a good request if you want to hear the Luau. Another good option would be Aotearoa with a north facing view. The latter would also give you a lovely view of the lagoon and it is not considered lagoon view. Since you are going at a "lower" season--the Tiki Gods could be shining. Good luck!

We stayed in Fiji our last 3 trips to the Poly and never heard the Luau but we always get Marina view. Still if we did hear it, we wouldn't mind. All part of the experience.

 

[KisanMcG]

Thanks for all the tips! We put in our request for Fiji beach side, and I'm crossing my fingers for some good luck.

This time next week, we'll be sitting in the beach swing with a lapu-lapu either way! I'm so excited!

 

[auprincess]

Just returned from our first stay at the Poly ~ and I have to say, for those on the fence about "is it worth it"...IMO, it is worth every penny!! I was so worried that I would be disappointed ~ this trip was quite a bit more than our previous trips and we really had to budget in several areas, but I am so glad we stayed at the Poly. We had a wonderful room in Tokelau, first floor, on the corner with an amazing beach view. I loved going out on the patio and seeing baby ducks and rabbits! How fun is that?! The room was so spacious and didn't feel dark at all; and it was nice and clean!

 

[kimberwee]

So I am going to do it... I am going to call and request fiji 3rd floor or maybe Samoa....or maybe Tokelau...they all sound great!!!

 

[jennyjinx3]

So happy to hear this See, Jenny...,I think we've made the PERFECT choice for our trip and I can't wait!

I think so too!! I am thinking about it everyday!! Multiple times....ok, all day long!!

 

[PHLtoMCO]

So I am going to do it... I am going to call and request fiji 3rd floor or maybe Samoa....or maybe Tokelau...they all sound great!!!

 

[iRy]

I have a quick question-

How well does the underwater music work?

 

[Spoisal]

Are any of the rooms on the "beach side" of Hawaii actually classified as Garden View? (due to foliage or trees or something?) Or is that just a silly question?

 

[Tess]

Are any of the rooms on the "beach side" of Hawaii actually classified as Garden View? (due to foliage or trees or something?) Or is that just a silly question?

No, there are no GV on the lagoon side of Hawaii. There are two classifications: LV and TPV. The rooms that are slightly obstructed on the lagoon side carry the LV classification.

 

[Carrie772]

Just returned from our first stay at the Poly ~ and I have to say, for those on the fence about "is it worth it"...IMO, it is worth every penny!! I was so worried that I would be disappointed ~ this trip was quite a bit more than our previous trips and we really had to budget in several areas, but I am so glad we stayed at the Poly. We had a wonderful room in Tokelau, first floor, on the corner with an amazing beach view. I loved going out on the patio and seeing baby ducks and rabbits! How fun is that?! The room was so spacious and didn't feel dark at all; and it was nice and clean!

Oh I am so glad you had a great time! Isn't it a lovely place to stay? How was the transportation while you were there?

 

[Kimi313]

So I am going to do it... I am going to call and request fiji 3rd floor or maybe Samoa....or maybe Tokelau...they all sound great!!!

I have never requested a longhouse and I have loved everyone of them, I always leave it up to the Poly Gods,

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

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!

Oh - I know how you love the Poly - don't we all Have fun in the new royal rooms and let us know what you think and how the two resorts compare!

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?

There is great debate about online check in. I have found that we have always received our room requests using online check in BUT we've also received our room room requests NOT using online check in! I'll continue to use online check in - it gets me excited about the trip and it's just one less thing to deal with when you get to the resort. If I get a room I really don't like, I'll ask if there is another available. Although I have never had this happen at a DISNEY resort.

Hey everyone, I am back in the real world after a wonderful, WONDERFUL week-long stay at the Poly. All in all it was a truly magical vacation. My parents pulled out all of the stops for DD and I and we were really truly treated like royalty all week.

The weather was hot, the food was good, the resort was beautiful. Our room was immaculate, with a beautiful 3rd floor GV room in the Tahiti building, and asides from not having hot water for one night, we have no complaints.

The bad weather stayed away until the very end of the day yesterday (rain came at 5 pm, our driver picked us up at 6 pm - in a LIMO Mercedes Van! RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING!!!!) so DD and I were able to go to the MK for the morning and then we were in the Mauna Loa Cabana for the remainder of our day.

I will be doing a trip report very soon!

Welcome back and can't wait to read all about it!

I have a quick question-

How well does the underwater music work?

I'd like to know if anyone has ever heard it. I've been to the Poly several times and never heard it. I don't know if it is because there are a lot of people in the pool at the time or if they just haven't played it while I am there.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

We went to dinner with friends of ours this weekend. They came to the Poly with us in Sept 2010. It was their first and only visit to WDW. They have been on a couple vacations since to other places and they were comparing it to WDW. They want to go back and of course, stay at the Poly DH said no problem and that I would plan everything (uh, thanks honey). But that's ok, DH said WE COULD GO AGAIN!!! So they loved the time of year we went (late Sept) and they are going to tell me if they want to go this year or next. But I get to plan a Poly vacation!

I'm excited for my trips this year (solo at CBR for a work conference next month, CSR with lots of family in July with a post-vacation-vacation with just DH and the kids at BWV) but none of them are at the Poly. I've been trying to figure when I can get back and how to convince DH. Well, thank you friends for convincing him for me

Don't get me wrong, DH loves the Poly but he does say things like 'Disneyworld AGAIN???' You know the type

 

[auprincess]

Oh I am so glad you had a great time! Isn't it a lovely place to stay? How was the transportation while you were there?

It was great! We only used the monorail, and had no problems. Well, one night the monorail to the TTC was down, so the resort monorail was stopping at TTC as well, so it was very crowded (we took the ferry). We had a car, so I only used the bus once to Typhoon Lagoon and I only waited for about 5 minutes.