ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: June 2013

[karriealex]

We spent a lot on this trip and I was seeing time after time where people were getting upgraded and hoped that it would happen to us also. It didn't and I realize that it was just a hope. I did offer to pay for an upgrade when I got here. I hadn't quite realized the view was a little more important to me than I thought until I got here. I am not even as much upset about no pixie dust upgrade as i am the way the entire day went and where our room is. I am now literally trapped into using my wheelchair at all times. I wanted to be able to do at least a little walking. No matter where I want to go, the lounge, the quiet pool, the volcano pool I must use my wheelchair as there is no way I could walk to any of it. We also had money free up right before we left which made being able to pay for a room view change possible for us.

 

[bluejasmine]

We spent a lot on this trip and I was seeing time after time where people were getting upgraded and hoped that it would happen to us also. It didn't and I realize that it was just a hope. I did offer to pay for an upgrade when I got here. I hadn't quite realized the view was a little more important to me than I thought until I got here. I am not even as much upset about no pixie dust upgrade as i am the way the entire day went and where our room is. I am now literally trapped into using my wheelchair at all times. I wanted to be able to do at least a little walking. No matter where I want to go, the lounge, the quiet pool, the volcano pool I must use my wheelchair as there is no way I could walk to any of it. We also had money free up right before we left which made being able to pay for a room view change possible for us.

I'm so sorry honey! Sending pixie dust for a wonderful vacation!!!!

Sept 2013 Poly, 2012 Disney Fantasy, BC CL, GF CL, POR, 2011 Poly CL, CR, Poly CL, AKL, 2010 Poly CL, ASMu 2009, SSR 2008, Pop 2006, POR , Asmo 2005, Asmo 2003, offsite 2000, 1999,1989, Poly 1980, offsite 1979

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

Have a great time and post some pics if you have time

Trying to post pics from my iPhone is a pain, but I'll try later today!

 

[DznyCrzy11]

Boy we are missing that Kona Press pot!!! Anyone make it at home? Can you easily Find good Kona coffee?

I should have looked at the gift shop before leaving!!!

Yep, I buy 100% Kona Coffee while at home. If you have a Kroger near you, you can buy the 100% Kona in whole bean, it does not come ground. It is WAY cheaper than the bag of Kona that you can buy at Kona Cafe!!! The brand is Hawaiian Gold. It's $15 and some change for a 10 oz bag. Another thing you can do, if you can't find Kona locally, google the Kona Coffee Farms in Hawaii and order a bag of coffee to have shipped directly to you.

We spent a lot on this trip and I was seeing time after time where people were getting upgraded and hoped that it would happen to us also. It didn't and I realize that it was just a hope. I did offer to pay for an upgrade when I got here. I hadn't quite realized the view was a little more important to me than I thought until I got here. I am not even as much upset about no pixie dust upgrade as i am the way the entire day went and where our room is. I am now literally trapped into using my wheelchair at all times. I wanted to be able to do at least a little walking. No matter where I want to go, the lounge, the quiet pool, the volcano pool I must use my wheelchair as there is no way I could walk to any of it. We also had money free up right before we left which made being able to pay for a room view change possible for us.

I honestly think their upgrades are very few and far in between. My DH and I have stayed at Poly 3 times the past 3 years and have never been offered an upgrade. I'm fine with that. I go in expecting just what I booked so I'm not disappointed. As far as the location they placed you at, when you booked did you let them know you needed a closer room? One thing I would do, is let them know that if a closer room becomes available during your stay that you would like to move.

Sent from my Galaxy SII

 

[mickeynut1]

Back home from our trip. Of course salt in the wound of our other Poly issues there was a problem with the bill at the end. It appears when they rebooked to fix the dinning plan issue they ended up charging us twice. So glad it was our credit card that we only use for vacation that was on file and not our day to day bank cards. Now in 10 days we have to make sure our card statements reflect the refund.

The parks part of our trip was wonderful but next time I'm going I try Beach Club or Boardwalk.

I'm sorry about the troubles you had during your stay and with the bill at the end. Glad you had a great time and enjoyed the parks .

We are here and I have to say things have been less than magical and to the point that I have been in tears a couple of times. We got here at 8:30 and had to find someone to find someone to take us back to Hawaii. At first the girl said Oh just go walk inside and find bell services to help you. Umm really? Finally someone comes to get us and takes us back. We check in and find that nope no pixie dust I got what I paid for and couldn't even pay to be upgraded. I am also told our room is not read. We go to get my wheelchair to go to MK for our noon ADR. We go out to the car to get m wheelchair and someone forgot one whole length of my charge cord and I now couldn't recharge m battery and the chair would last maybe a day. We ask bell services if they know of someone we could buy a length of the cord from. Hands us a paper and says call all of these. We go back to Hawaii because we are now running late and I figure cant make our ADR. Talk to Lawrence who reschedules the lunch to 2:30 and says he will try and get a runner to go buy a length of cord. I thank him and we go to MK. Stand in the blazing heat 1 hour to get our tickets and TIW card and she does give us a GAC card ans she sees I am wicked pale from being in the heat. We are set go.. Within two minute4s we lose both sons because they didn't do as they were told and stay together. Meanwhile the floodgates of heaven open up and we all get soaked. Where are our poncho's?? In the car in our luggage back at the resort. We round up everyone. Go to buy youngest a shirt as he is soaked to the bone. We finally make our ADR now I have to say it we enjoyed Crystal palace. The food was good as was the character interaction. I finally get a call 1.5 hours after the resort states is their check in time and we are told our room number. We finally make our way back to the resort I find out that not only did I not get pixie dust which I know is a gift but our room is completely on the other end of the longhouse in the very last room. I was not happy. So we go all the way down there and the keys DON'T WORK. So we go back up. They remake the keys and we go to our room. Have to call maintenance because our TV does not work. I cannot believe what went on yesterday. They have basically sealed my fate as to whether I have to use my wheelchair on the entire trip or if I could do some things without it. There is no way I am getting to either the lounge, quiet pool or main pool without my wheelchair because of room placement. Now I know pixie dust is not guaranteed but really the last room in the longhouse when you are celebrating something as special as we are. With all that happened this is not the trip I planned nor envisioned. Very disappointed.

I'm sorry your trip didn't start out very well. Sending pixie dust that the rest of your stay is magical .

 

[BelleBway]

We are here and I have to say things have been less than magical and to the point that I have been in tears a couple of times. We got here at 8:30 and had to find someone to find someone to take us back to Hawaii. At first the girl said Oh just go walk inside and find bell services to help you. Umm really? Finally someone comes to get us and takes us back. We check in and find that nope no pixie dust I got what I paid for and couldn't even pay to be upgraded. I am also told our room is not read. We go to get my wheelchair to go to MK for our noon ADR. We go out to the car to get m wheelchair and someone forgot one whole length of my charge cord and I now couldn't recharge m battery and the chair would last maybe a day. We ask bell services if they know of someone we could buy a length of the cord from. Hands us a paper and says call all of these. We go back to Hawaii because we are now running late and I figure cant make our ADR. Talk to Lawrence who reschedules the lunch to 2:30 and says he will try and get a runner to go buy a length of cord. I thank him and we go to MK. Stand in the blazing heat 1 hour to get our tickets and TIW card and she does give us a GAC card ans she sees I am wicked pale from being in the heat. We are set go.. Within two minute4s we lose both sons because they didn't do as they were told and stay together. Meanwhile the floodgates of heaven open up and we all get soaked. Where are our poncho's?? In the car in our luggage back at the resort. We round up everyone. Go to buy youngest a shirt as he is soaked to the bone. We finally make our ADR now I have to say it we enjoyed Crystal palace. The food was good as was the character interaction. I finally get a call 1.5 hours after the resort states is their check in time and we are told our room number. We finally make our way back to the resort I find out that not only did I not get pixie dust which I know is a gift but our room is completely on the other end of the longhouse in the very last room. I was not happy. So we go all the way down there and the keys DON'T WORK. So we go back up. They remake the keys and we go to our room. Have to call maintenance because our TV does not work. I cannot believe what went on yesterday. They have basically sealed my fate as to whether I have to use my wheelchair on the entire trip or if I could do some things without it. There is no way I am getting to either the lounge, quiet pool or main pool without my wheelchair because of room placement. Now I know pixie dust is not guaranteed but really the last room in the longhouse when you are celebrating something as special as we are. With all that happened this is not the trip I planned nor envisioned. Very disappointed.

I am so sorry you had a bad day. I think sometimes we spend so much time planning the most magical trip that it's natural to feel disappointed when the reality doesn't work out quite as perfectly we hoped.

I am sure it wasn't a personal slight that they gave you the last room; as you said, concierge was fully booked. You are not clear if you made any requests for a particular location, but even if you had, sometimes they can't fulfill all the requests they receive. It's also natural to hope for pixie dust upgrades when you see it happen to others, but the reality is that they obviously cannot always give everyone upgrades- it doesn't mean your celebration is less special; it's just the luck of the draw.

If you want to try to focus on the positive... you're at Disney World at one of the most beautiful resorts on concierge level (which many, many people cannot even dream of!) It sounds like the concierge team tried to be helpful in rescheduling your lunch and sending someone to buy the cord (did they actually make the purchase?) As others suggested, if you are unhappy with the room location, try talking to someone at the concierge to see if you can switch sometime during your stay.

Hope the rest of your trip is better!

 

[tinkermommyof3]

We are here and I have to say things have been less than magical and to the point that I have been in tears a couple of times. We got here at 8:30 and had to find someone to find someone to take us back to Hawaii. At first the girl said Oh just go walk inside and find bell services to help you. Umm really? Finally someone comes to get us and takes us back. We check in and find that nope no pixie dust I got what I paid for and couldn't even pay to be upgraded. I am also told our room is not read. We go to get my wheelchair to go to MK for our noon ADR. We go out to the car to get m wheelchair and someone forgot one whole length of my charge cord and I now couldn't recharge m battery and the chair would last maybe a day. We ask bell services if they know of someone we could buy a length of the cord from. Hands us a paper and says call all of these. We go back to Hawaii because we are now running late and I figure cant make our ADR. Talk to Lawrence who reschedules the lunch to 2:30 and says he will try and get a runner to go buy a length of cord. I thank him and we go to MK. Stand in the blazing heat 1 hour to get our tickets and TIW card and she does give us a GAC card ans she sees I am wicked pale from being in the heat. We are set go.. Within two minute4s we lose both sons because they didn't do as they were told and stay together. Meanwhile the floodgates of heaven open up and we all get soaked. Where are our poncho's?? In the car in our luggage back at the resort. We round up everyone. Go to buy youngest a shirt as he is soaked to the bone. We finally make our ADR now I have to say it we enjoyed Crystal palace. The food was good as was the character interaction. I finally get a call 1.5 hours after the resort states is their check in time and we are told our room number. We finally make our way back to the resort I find out that not only did I not get pixie dust which I know is a gift but our room is completely on the other end of the longhouse in the very last room. I was not happy. So we go all the way down there and the keys DON'T WORK. So we go back up. They remake the keys and we go to our room. Have to call maintenance because our TV does not work. I cannot believe what went on yesterday. They have basically sealed my fate as to whether I have to use my wheelchair on the entire trip or if I could do some things without it. There is no way I am getting to either the lounge, quiet pool or main pool without my wheelchair because of room placement. Now I know pixie dust is not guaranteed but really the last room in the longhouse when you are celebrating something as special as we are. With all that happened this is not the trip I planned nor envisioned. Very disappointed.

I am sorry your trip started out disappointing. We have not received any pixie dust as far as room upgrades. We have had our room ready when we arrived--that I consider pixie dust! I am very familiar with the layout of the Hawaii building--just returned a week ago. We were in a room that was far down the hall (practically next to Tokelau). This was a first as our last two stays were closer to the elevator and the lounge. It was a long walk to the elevator and the lounge from our location. However, very convenient to the quiet pool using the door with the steps leading outside (which we used 99.9% of the time due to the crowds at the volcano pool). It worked for us. For your situation with a wheelchair, I cannot imagine how difficult this would be to function. I would hope that someone has some empathy toward you and gives you a location closer to the elevator should a room become available before you check out.

Hope your trip gets better!

 

[ocalla]

Thanks everyone for the Kona Coffee tips!!!

I will begin my search, and hopefully soon DH and i will be spending weekend mornings pretending to be siting at Kona Cafe!!!

 

[leannak]

What is this kona coffee press you all are speaking of? Is it the coffee in club level? I've never had french press coffee... wondering if that's how they are preparing this stuff? Where do I get it??

karriealex - how is today going??

 

[DznyCrzy11]

Thanks everyone for the Kona Coffee tips!!!

I will begin my search, and hopefully soon DH and i will be spending weekend mornings pretending to be siting at Kona Cafe!!!

Yep, that's what I do sometimes, hehe.

What is this kona coffee press you all are speaking of? Is it the coffee in club level? I've never had french press coffee... wondering if that's how they are preparing this stuff? Where do I get it??

karriealex - how is today going??

You can get the french press pot of 100% Kona Coffee at Kona Cafe. When you order it, they bring out the press pot with the Kona beans already in it. They also have a Kona Blend, I don't think that tastes as good though.

Sent from my Galaxy SII

 

[fractal]

Why do people have such high expectation of being upgraded when odds are you are not?


I've never been upgraded on any of my trips, but I never expected to and it's never made me feel like I've missed out on "pixie dust". If someday I do it will be wonderful but I won't let the absense of something unlikely to happen bring me down.

 

[Koh1977]

SO behind! But doing laundry and the pool is closed due to weather SO...plenty of time for a quick update. DS had his pirate cruise at GF this morning and now he and DD are napping with DH while I do laundry. Then it's on to Le Cellier for dinner and boat to HS for EMH. DS does NOT want to do Rock n Roller Coaster again, but DH and I both got to go on it yesterday with the rider swap ticket. Went to MK after a brief stop at the Poly to shower and had dinner at Tony's Town Square. stayed at MK until about midnight. did Buzz, Speedway, Dumbo/Barnstormer, and 2 times on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in a matter of a couple of hours!

ETA LOVE the location of Tokelau and the Poly in general! only 3 more full days here...where did the time go??

 

[mickeynut1]

SO behind! But doing laundry and the pool is closed due to weather SO...plenty of time for a quick update. DS had his pirate cruise at GF this morning and now he and DD are napping with DH while I do laundry. Then it's on to Le Cellier for dinner and boat to HS for EMH. DS does NOT want to do Rock n Roller Coaster again, but DH and I both got to go on it yesterday with the rider swap ticket. Went to MK after a brief stop at the Poly to shower and had dinner at Tony's Town Square. stayed at MK until about midnight. did Buzz, Speedway, Dumbo/Barnstormer, and 2 times on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in a matter of a couple of hours!

ETA LOVE the location of Tokelau and the Poly in general! only 3 more full days here...where did the time go??

Sounds like you're having a great time. Glad you love the Poly....it really is an amazing resort .

 

[mirage0306]

Why do people have such high expectation of being upgraded when odds are you are not?


I've never been upgraded on any of my trips, but I never expected to and it's never made me feel like I've missed out on "pixie dust". If someday I do it will be wonderful but I won't let the absense of something unlikely to happen bring me down.

I agree. We've actually been upgraded twice, which frankly I think is amazing, but I absolutely never expect anything other than the room I booked. The extra pixie dust is great, but the times we haven't been upgraded have been magical, too! There's a lot more to Disney than one's room view

 

[BigTex71]

Here at the Poly now. We arrived early yeaterday morning. We're in Samoa, third floor volcano pool side. The view is awesome!

We are, too! 3rd floor of Samoa with Volcano pool view. We leave tomorrow.

 

[jw50]

Why do people have such high expectation of being upgraded when odds are you are not?

Because they read the posts here on the DIS about other people that got upgraded so they feel that they are entitled to a free upgrade also (and then post for sympathy when they don't get it).

I just know that my trip in less than two weeks is going to be ruined when they don't give me a complementary upgrade to the King Kamehameha suite (others have gotten upgraded to the suites, I should too).

Note: This post is not referring to any specific poster in this thread or any other thread.

 

[bluejasmine]

I understand the disappointment of no pixie dust after you read about so many stories about it... You can't say most of us aren't just a little disappointed sometimes...

After 20 something trips the only upgrade we had happened after some major issues..

I try to book what I want so we won't be disappointed but sometimes you just can't always afford it..

It must be nice to be one of the lucky that get that great pixie dust.. Lol

Sept 2013 Poly, 2012 Disney Fantasy, BC CL, GF CL, POR, 2011 Poly CL, CR, Poly CL, AKL, 2010 Poly CL, ASMu 2009, SSR 2008, Pop 2006, POR , Asmo 2005, Asmo 2003, offsite 2000, 1999,1989, Poly 1980, offsite 1979

 

[Mousemommy1]

I understand the disappointment of no pixie dust after you read about so many stories about it... You can't say most of us aren't just a little disappointed sometimes...

After 20 something trips the only upgrade we had happened after some major issues..

I try to book what I want so we won't be disappointed but sometimes you just can't always afford it..

It must be nice to be one of the lucky that get that great pixie dust.. Lol

Sept 2013 Poly, 2012 Disney Fantasy, BC CL, GF CL, POR, 2011 Poly CL, CR, Poly CL, AKL, 2010 Poly CL, ASMu 2009, SSR 2008, Pop 2006, POR , Asmo 2005, Asmo 2003, offsite 2000, 1999,1989, Poly 1980, offsite 1979

It can eventually happen!

After many trips, we received our 1st upgrade this past April. We were upgraded to a lagoon view CL room at YC from our standard view CL room! I was pretty darn excited!!!

However, I too read stories of people getting upgrades, and I was always just happy for those people. I would never just expect it or set my expectations around it like some people do. That's just setting yourself up for disappointment.

Disney magic, or pixie dust, can't be just thrown around willy nilly or it's no longer magic. It's just expected at that point and takes the "special" out of it.

This honestly isn't directed at anyone in particular, but I just can't imagine your whole trip being ruined because you didn't get extras.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

So here's my attempt at posting pics from my iPhone. It's such a pain, so no promises! If they show, it's my kids by Tokelau, today at the pool, the kids by BeauTiki, and our elephant towel animal:

 

[leannak]

Yay!!! Pictures!!!! Thank you!


Hey - speaking of room requests... I have a question. Does it matter WHEN you make your room requests? Are they granted in order of when the requests are received or when you check in, etc.? I haven't figured out which longhouses to request yet and I'm wondering if I have a better shot if I get my requests in early or if that doesn't matter.