ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: June 2013

[Tink1073]

I am also a Disney TA & the last word I got was it was pushed back to Jan this was also confirmed by tikiman BUT you never know.. I'm really hoping tho b/c we will be there 9/7-9/15 & I have a cabana booked!

ASMU/POR Dec 16-22, 2012 & CR Sept 8-15, 2013

Thanks. What would you recommend for a room request (std view)?

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[SRUAlmn]

We were given a free upgrade from GV CL to TPV CL. It was on the 2nd floor. We quickly learned that there is a "hidden" bonus to being on the 2nd floor in Hawaii. Its the same floor that the lounge is on! Normally we would not want to be in that floor but we found it to be extra convenient to not have to use stairs or the elevator to get to the lounge.

That's always the decision...

Patio (first floor)
Same Floor as the Lounge (second floor)
Balcony (third floor)

It's a tough call sometimes!

 

[princessap]

just wondering if there is a splash pad area at the poly??

 

[Tikiman]

just wondering if there is a splash pad area at the poly??

There is a wet play area next to the volcano pool but it maybe going away for a hot tub to go in.

 

[bluejasmine]

Thanks. What would you recommend for a room request (std view)?

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I think Fiji ( one side marina, one side luau), Tuvalu (back of building is GV front faces lagoon), and Samoa have some great standard room views! Tokelau is a favorite of many for its proximity to GCH. Aoetorea is loved for GV of the monorail..

If I cant come up with the cash to upgrade to CL this trip I have asked for Fiji or Tuvalu myself..

 

[Koh1977]

Can you upgrade to CL upon arrival if it's available? Would it be the regular difference in cost between the rooms or would there be any sort of discounted rate since they have the room available? (Does that make sense?)

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Anyone ever book concierge room but got a no balcony or no patio room? I'd really like to try concierge/club level but at same time would be disappointed if we didn't get balcony or patio as that is a must have for us.

Do you know if they could put us in another building but give us access to club lounge, still paying club level price of course?

Thanks.

I'm not sure what would happen if you refused your 2nd floor room and asked for another building. They might do it if that is really what you want, but remember, even with gold key access to the Hawaii building having your room somewhere else will probably change the level of service and amenities you would normally have in CL. We were given a room at the YC that was on a different floor (the CL floor was full when we checked in) and we noticed a big difference by not being on that floor. We didn't have the bath robes, or the nightly turndown that are standard on CL, and when we tried to get those things it was nearly impossible. Luckily after 2 days a room opened up for us on the CL so we could move. I completely understand what you are saying about not wanted the 2nd floor, I wouldn't want it either, but I'm not sure you'd be happy in another building. To me that is a downgrade in what you have already paid for. I think if you have 1st and 3rd floors requested on your reservation and you remind them again at check-in how important it is to you to not be on the 2nd floor, your chances are good. Sometimes if they are really packed they might not be able to get you in until the second day, but if you're staying several days it would be worth the wait. Good luck!

 

[mickeynut1]

One more thing...

Our plane doesn't land on Thursday evening until 6:17 pm, so we probably won't get to the Poly until 8:00 or so. Our only request is 3rd floor because we would love a balcony (we will be in the Hawaii building, TPV).

Does anybody have any experiences to share in terms of getting to the hotel late in the day and still having your requests met?

I don't want them to give all the good rooms away before we get there

I know every situation is different, but when we stayed at the Poly, we had a late flight and didn't check in until around 1:00 a.m. and the first 2 of our 3 requests were granted (Samoa, first floor, facing volcano pool), with the 3rd being fulfilled if we wanted to move the next morning. We decided to stay put as we wanted to get settled and we had a pretty view of the quiet pool, but I thought it was great how the CM offered to accommodate all requests, even with such a late check in .

Im at the Poly now and did online check-in. I had a two room reservation and one was ready at 8:00 a.m. and they texted me that the other one was ready at 11:00 a.m. worked out perfectly. Got all my requests , having a great time .

How nice that your rooms were ready early. Glad you are having a great time .

68 days til I get to smell that wonderful Poly lobby scent

I love the smell of the Poly lobby .

Can you upgrade to CL upon arrival if it's available? Would it be the regular difference in cost between the rooms or would there be any sort of discounted rate since they have the room available? (Does that make sense?)

Yes, you can upgrade to CL at check in if there is availability . I don't have personal experience with upgrades at check in, but I have heard that the upgrade will be quoted at rack rate and that discounts don't usually carry over. But hopefully someone will be able to verify that or correct me if I'm wrong .

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

One more thing...

Our plane doesn't land on Thursday evening until 6:17 pm, so we probably won't get to the Poly until 8:00 or so. Our only request is 3rd floor because we would love a balcony (we will be in the Hawaii building, TPV).

Does anybody have any experiences to share in terms of getting to the hotel late in the day and still having your requests met?

I don't want them to give all the good rooms away before we get there

I don't want to freak you out but we have not had good luck when arriving late. There have been trips when I have talked to the IPO about room requests, told them we were on a later flight, and they've practically given a 100% guarantee we would have the room we want (sometimes they even give me the room #) but then when we arrive we aren't anywhere near where they said we would be. It's very perplexing. I'm not sure what happens in the line of communication, maybe IPO doesn't have much say in what room you will have as they think they do. Also I think the squeaky wheel gets the grease when it comes to check-in. If someone checking in early doesn't like their room location I think they can move people around as long as they aren't changing anyone's room category. This is the main reason we stopped taking later flights. I hate dragging in tired and late in the evening only to have to deal with "this is the only room we have left". People can argue with me if they want but I have had this happen on many occasions and I'm basing it totally on first hand experience. Read the trip report in my signature if you want to hear a check-in nightmare. And that trip wasn't even late, I think we got to the hotel mid-afternoon. This next trip we are flying in very early, plane lands at 8:45 AM so I am very hopeful to get the 3rd floor. (fingers crossed!!!)

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Can you upgrade to CL upon arrival if it's available? Would it be the regular difference in cost between the rooms or would there be any sort of discounted rate since they have the room available? (Does that make sense?)

Yes you can upgrade at check-in if they have a room available (rarely they do these days because CL is so popular) and it will be at rack rate. Bummer I know but they don't access old discount codes at the front desk. Only if you can get a manager to manually adjust the rate for you, and typically they only do that if you've had some kind of problem. If you want CL it is best to book it immediately when the discount comes out. Those discounted CL rooms are a hot commodity!

 

[KandD]

Your welcome!! Do you have a Poly trip planned?

Yes! GV SL in September. Can't wait!! First time at the Poly and first time on the monorail line!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Having never done online check in, I'm wondering if a request isn't met, is there a way to go chat with someone at the desk to see if you can get a different room? I ask because my father recently had back surgery, and we'd prefer whatever the longhouse, that it be close to GCH to save him some steps. I'm tempted by online check in, but worry that once you're assigned, you're assigned and that's it.

Of course you can always ask The worst that can happen is they say no rooms are available. What building are you planning to request? Nuie is very close to the GCH.

 

[Tikiman]

I don't want to freak you out but we have not had good luck when arriving late. There have been trips when I have talked to the IPO about room requests, told them we were on a later flight, and they've practically given a 100% guarantee we would have the room we want (sometimes they even give me the room #) but then when we arrive we aren't anywhere near where they said we would be. It's very perplexing. I'm not sure what happens in the line of communication, maybe IPO doesn't have much say in what room you will have as they think they do. Also I think the squeaky wheel gets the grease when it comes to check-in. If someone checking in early doesn't like their room location I think they can move people around as long as they aren't changing anyone's room category. This is the main reason we stopped taking later flights. I hate dragging in tired and late in the evening only to have to deal with "this is the only room we have left". People can argue with me if they want but I have had this happen on many occasions and I'm basing it totally on first hand experience. Read the trip report in my signature if you want to hear a check-in nightmare. And that trip wasn't even late, I think we got to the hotel mid-afternoon. This next trip we are flying in very early, plane lands at 8:45 AM so I am very hopeful to get the 3rd floor. (fingers crossed!!!)

That is exactly what happens. Often your room number is already known but people that check in before others might not like their room location and ask to be moved so others can get bumped. Our friends who checked in late were assigned a room next to us on the ground floor. By the time they arrived they were bumped up to the second floor eventhough I was told their room was assigned to be next to us. This happened just from the time they landed until they arrived at the resort.

 

[Our3ps]

Did you get the answer to this? If they served better beer I would give some serious thought to upgrade to CL and drop our DXDP. I even called to find out if a room was still available with our discount and it is.

If you get a chance, can you report back on what kinds of beer they are serving in the lounge? Thanks!

We have a super late arrival (10:40!) I was scared of not getting our requests, so I booked us at the Hyatt at MCO for one night and then we will check in the next day nice and early.

One more thing...

Our plane doesn't land on Thursday evening until 6:17 pm, so we probably won't get to the Poly until 8:00 or so. Our only request is 3rd floor because we would love a balcony (we will be in the Hawaii building, TPV).

Does anybody have any experiences to share in terms of getting to the hotel late in the day and still having your requests met?

I don't want them to give all the good rooms away before we get there

 

[mickeynut1]

Yes! GV SL in September. Can't wait!! First time at the Poly and first time on the monorail line!

You're going to love the Poly......it's an amazing resort....and being on the monorail is great too .

 

[buckeyecinderella]

Yes you can upgrade at check-in if they have a room available (rarely they do these days because CL is so popular) and it will be at rack rate. Bummer I know but they don't access old discount codes at the front desk. Only if you can get a manager to manually adjust the rate for you, and typically they only do that if you've had some kind of problem. If you want CL it is best to book it immediately when the discount comes out. Those discounted CL rooms are a hot commodity!

I did have one experience at AKL. Booked 2 standard rooms for myself and a friend. Rooms had really bad views (didn't think that was even possible at DIS but there must be a few and we were the lucky recipients on that trip).

Went to front desk to see if anything else was available. There were no other standard rooms available but found upgraded rooms pool view and I believe we kept the same discount or to upgrade wasn't very expensive - 25$ per night. So perhaps sometimes they have some flexibility at front desk. I would say if you really want a particular room type, book before you arrive. But if it doesn't really matter if you get CL, and you are willing to take a chance on availability you MIGHT be able to upgrade to CL at a slightly reduced rate. I've not tried upgrade to CL before so perhaps there is less flexibility there.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I did have one experience at AKL. Booked 2 standard rooms for myself and a friend. Rooms had really bad views (didn't think that was even possible at DIS but there must be a few and we were the lucky recipients on that trip).

Went to front desk to see if anything else was available. There were no other standard rooms available but found upgraded rooms pool view and I believe we kept the same discount or to upgrade wasn't very expensive - 25$ per night. So perhaps sometimes they have some flexibility at front desk. I would say if you really want a particular room type, book before you arrive. But if it doesn't really matter if you get CL, and you are willing to take a chance on availability you MIGHT be able to upgrade to CL at a slightly reduced rate. I've not tried upgrade to CL before so perhaps there is less flexibility there.

We had a similar situation at the CR. we stayed there for our wedding trip and got to our room, opened the curtains, and saw a giant wall (the side of the other end of the wing.). We asked if there were any other options and we were upgraded to water view for free. So nice! I think Disney is always so helpful and willing to do what they can as long as you approach it with a positive attitude and don't act like you're owed something

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

Just did online check-in! It allowed me to make 2 room choices. We chose Tokelau as our 1st choice and ground floor as our 2nd. 16 days and counting!

 

[Tikiman]

Just did online check-in! It allowed me to make 2 room choices. We chose Tokelau as our 1st choice and ground floor as our 2nd. 16 days and counting!

If you get your request and are on the east side of Tokelau than you will be in great shape. If they have you on the west side (pool side) than see if any of the upper floors are available toward the beach end.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

If you get your request and are on the east side of Tokelau than you will be in great shape. If they have you on the west side (pool side) than see if any of the upper floors are available toward the beach end.

Can I ask why Steve? We stayed in Tokelau last Poly trip and loved it - ground floor east side. Just curious as to why we wouldn't want ground floor on the pool side. Thanks for your advice!