ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: January 2012

[MikeRx]

We check in around 5:30pm on Saturday 4/21/12 (got to love the 3 hour time difference this time of year from AZ). Can anyone tell me what lines we may face at the POLY check-in at this time of day (TPV, non CL)? I’m debating online check-in as we have a building request and floor request, but want to get over to Epcot as quickly as possible….dinner and illuminations awaits!

Mike DW DS (4) DMIL

First visit 1976, last visit WDW 2/2010 BC CL and DL GC 12/2010, future WDW 4/2012 POLY TPV, 7/2012 (off site meeting), 4/2013 POLY with Disney Dream cruise!

 

[cobbler]

Wow! Just looked at my countdown and I'm 26 days away!!! First stay in club level and first time at the Poly - very excited!!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Its funny. we all know Disney world is so much better than Disneyland! there its a land.. here its a WORLD!

there is no doubt where your loyalties lie! you are way closer to Disneyland but you prefer coming to the world! I wouldn't mind seeing Disneyland but I don't think I could stay 9 days there!

I agree - land vs. world! And my totally non-Disney obsessed husband put it perfectly (he just wants a vacation with a pool and beer and always says 'Disney again?' but he gives in anyway). He said, DL felt like a hotel where WDW feels like a resort. And we stayed on property at DL (at DLH) and while we adore the Poly, we've stayed at quite a few other resorts as well at WDW so he wasn't talking just about the Poly.

Did I mention at DL you can't take a beer from your room to the pool??? The security guard stopped both of us That alone told us that it wasn't the same

There's always rumors, but don't count out the main building (GCH) and a maybe the few longhouses right near it, be torn down to make way for a DVC tower. Disney could kill two birds with one stone by doing this. They build a new tower or (GCH), but make it several stories high and add DVC rooms that way. It would take care of the existing problems with the GCH and add more space and much more revenue to a very popular resort. Then after that's built, they could move on to the other longhouses. DVC is a huge cash cow for Disney and I should know, I bought into it and I'm very happy.

It's no coincidence that the Contemporary had the BLT expansion built and now the Grand Floridan is adding a wing too. People said years ago that was wild rumors too and look how that turned out? It only makes sense that Disney cashes in with the Polynesian DVC which would sell out quickly. I would buy into it and make it my home resort, instead of AKL, which I own now.

I love the Polynesian and the vintage WDW history behind it, but it is 41 years old and showing it's age in some ways. Disney charges a premium to stay there and can't expand due to land limitations. Imagine what they could do if they had a 10 story tower (GCH) with modern DVC studio and suites to play with? It's guaranteed to make money and that's why you can bet it's going to happen. The sources I rely on tell me look for the fall of 2013 for a big announcement and they haven't told me wrong yet.

Oh, I like rumors! This is an interesting one. I wouldn't doubt it at all! Although in my heart of hearts, I hope they maintain the integrity of the GCH and the surrounding longhouses. I mean, tear down whatever and build it up right, but hopefully a big tower would only go over the GCH and they would still have the surrounding longhouses with all the neat views. Of course, a big tower over the GCH might cast a big shadow over the pool....

Carl - where does the sun go up and down at WDW? I dont' pay attention! Me thinks Cindy's castle is North, but since there are no mountains in Florida to orient me, I haven't a clue Would a tower over the GCH cause shadows over the pool at any time of day?

 

[alex9179]

I mean, tear down whatever and build it up right, but hopefully a big tower would only go over the GCH and they would still have the surrounding longhouses with all the neat views. Of course, a big tower over the GCH might cast a big shadow over the pool....

The GCH is on the south side of the resort, so the longhouses on either side would be in shadow but not the pools.
It's neat to think about what it could be, but I'm happy that we're able to spend our vacation at the original I'm a nostalgic sap, though, and I'm looking forward to experiencing it.

Can you imagine the rack rate of the "new and improved" Poly!?!

 

[padawans]

I agree - land vs. world! And my totally non-Disney obsessed husband put it perfectly (he just wants a vacation with a pool and beer and always says 'Disney again?' but he gives in anyway). He said, DL felt like a hotel where WDW feels like a resort. And we stayed on property at DL (at DLH) and while we adore the Poly, we've stayed at quite a few other resorts as well at WDW so he wasn't talking just about the Poly.

Did I mention at DL you can't take a beer from your room to the pool??? The security guard stopped both of us That alone told us that it wasn't the same



Oh, I like rumors! This is an interesting one. I wouldn't doubt it at all! Although in my heart of hearts, I hope they maintain the integrity of the GCH and the surrounding longhouses. I mean, tear down whatever and build it up right, but hopefully a big tower would only go over the GCH and they would still have the surrounding longhouses with all the neat views. Of course, a big tower over the GCH might cast a big shadow over the pool....

Carl - where does the sun go up and down at WDW? I dont' pay attention! Me thinks Cindy's castle is North, but since there are no mountains in Florida to orient me, I haven't a clue Would a tower over the GCH cause shadows over the pool at any time of day?

Your dh sounds like mine. Pool and beer is all that matters. We are a 5 hour drive from Dl(we live in Phoenix), and we never go. I grew up 20 minutes from Dl, and never went after age 12. It just doesn't have that "vacation feel" to me. The no bringing your own beer to the pool thing just seals it for us. I'm glad you mentioned that.

 

[princssdisnygina]

So many questions about the refurb to the Poly especially the GCH. I can tell you... I was at DL last October and they were doing a serious overhall on the main building of the Disneyland Hotel. It wasn't very pleasant to come into as there were walls up everywhere blocking the construction and there was a little side area for check in and then a walkway of walls around to the gift shops and the back side of the building. When I think of them refurbing the Poly I think of what I saw at DL. They will not shut it down completely but will recreate areas to make up for what they are working on. That is my theory anyway...

 

[carlnix30]

I agree - land vs. world! And my totally non-Disney obsessed husband put it perfectly (he just wants a vacation with a pool and beer and always says 'Disney again?' but he gives in anyway). He said, DL felt like a hotel where WDW feels like a resort. And we stayed on property at DL (at DLH) and while we adore the Poly, we've stayed at quite a few other resorts as well at WDW so he wasn't talking just about the Poly.

Did I mention at DL you can't take a beer from your room to the pool??? The security guard stopped both of us That alone told us that it wasn't the same



Oh, I like rumors! This is an interesting one. I wouldn't doubt it at all! Although in my heart of hearts, I hope they maintain the integrity of the GCH and the surrounding longhouses. I mean, tear down whatever and build it up right, but hopefully a big tower would only go over the GCH and they would still have the surrounding longhouses with all the neat views. Of course, a big tower over the GCH might cast a big shadow over the pool....

Carl - where does the sun go up and down at WDW? I dont' pay attention! Me thinks Cindy's castle is North, but since there are no mountains in Florida to orient me, I haven't a clue Would a tower over the GCH cause shadows over the pool at any time of day?

No beer at the pool!!!!
The castle is NW of the GCH so an UGLY tower rising above the "serene and perfect the way it looks now" GCH would not foreshadow the pool. But the problem they are having to fix (eventually) is the marsh land is sinking the GCH. And compliance issues (ADA) so building a tower above GCH would more than likely feed the marsh monster even more.

The GCH is on the south side of the resort, so the longhouses on either side would be in shadow but not the pools.
It's neat to think about what it could be, but I'm happy that we're able to spend our vacation at the original I'm a nostalgic sap, though, and I'm looking forward to experiencing it.

Can you imagine the rack rate of the "new and improved" Poly!?!

Disney loves rumors.. That's why they don't throw out all their cards on the table! Their tactic is like Apple.. "oops we lost a new phone" but it's always fun trying to figure out what they are doing!

 

[handustmom]

I'm very excited, we just found out we get a theme park view room at the Poly for October! We have only stayed at Pop so I am expecting to be very spoiled by the end of our trip

 

[maiapapaya]

I'm very excited, we just found out we get a theme park view room at the Poly for October! We have only stayed at Pop so I am expecting to be very spoiled by the end of our trip

prepare to become addicts!

 

[1971DBday]

I'm very excited, we just found out we get a theme park view room at the Poly for October! We have only stayed at Pop so I am expecting to be very spoiled by the end of our trip

This will be our 4th year not being able to go anywhere else but the Poly. We were supposed to go to the WL (which we stayed at on our honeymoon many moons ago) but I had a panic attack and talked everyone in going to the Poly and paying more.

 

[1971DBday]

We check in around 5:30pm on Saturday 4/21/12 (got to love the 3 hour time difference this time of year from AZ). Can anyone tell me what lines we may face at the POLY check-in at this time of day (TPV, non CL)? I’m debating online check-in as we have a building request and floor request, but want to get over to Epcot as quickly as possible….dinner and illuminations awaits!

I don't think anyone can predict a line at a particular day or time. Personally I like online check in. Even when using it we could modify our room if they have the availability. When we get there I let DH handle whatever luggage and the ME and then I make a beeline inside the GCH to get to online check-in. I do not wait for someone to escort me in - don't need it. There is no special place to check-in for your view, only if you are CL.

 

[Mousemommy1]

99 DAYS UNTIL I ARRIVE AT THE POLY!!!!!!!

Double digit dancing!!!!!!

 

[crostorfer]

99 DAYS UNTIL I ARRIVE AT THE POLY!!!!!!!

Double digit dancing!!!!!!

Rub in in, why don't ya.

Congratulations! Double digit dance day is a great feeling!

 

[crostorfer]

This will be our 4th year not being able to go anywhere else but the Poly. We were supposed to go to the WL (which we stayed at on our honeymoon many moons ago) but I had a panic attack and talked everyone in going to the Poly and paying more.

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.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Rub in in, why don't ya.

Congratulations! Double digit dance day is a great feeling!

too much???

 

[jennyjinx3]

too much???

Not too much at all! Yay for you....the time will fly by now I bet! DH shut down any plans from moving from the Poly....Poly it will stay! Like you said it might be our last chance before any major changes. Other resorts will always be there next year!!

 

[crostorfer]

too much???

Of course not! It's Disney World! It's never too much! LOL!!! If I were you I'd just keep making that post throughout the day, whenever you feel you need a little pick me up. ;-) Double digits is an acheivement day. We plan these trips for so long and then just have to sit and wait, we need milestones to celebrate, for sure!

 

[Mousemommy1]

Not too much at all! Yay for you....the time will fly by now I bet! DH shut down any plans from moving from the Poly....Poly it will stay! Like you said it might be our last chance before any major changes. Other resorts will always be there next year!!

Your DH has the right idea! . I really can't wait to just be there and finally stay at the Poly, which I've wanted to do since I was 7.
Now, I feel like we're getting close!!! This trip has been booked since last July!!!

 

[Mousemommy1]

Of course not! It's Disney World! It's never too much! LOL!!! If I were you I'd just keep making that post throughout the day, whenever you feel you need a little pick me up. ;-) Double digits is an acheivement day. We plan these trips for so long and then just have to sit and wait, we need milestones to celebrate, for sure!

I might just post it several more times today!!!

DH thinks I'm nuts because I keep putting my iPad in his face that has my countdown ticker app on it!!

 

[jennyjinx3]

Your DH has the right idea! . I really can't wait to just be there and finally stay at the Poly, which I've wanted to do since I was 7.
Now, I feel like we're getting close!!! This trip has been booked since last July!!!

A whole year of waiting...I know how that feels! We booked this September trip in Aug 11, BEFORE we even came down in September 2011! Originally booked at POR, but then after getting back from the Poly we knew we had to stay there again instead. The clincher for us was when we heard the girls talk about "the Polynesian" all the time after we got back. Oh what we do for our !!