ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: June 2013

[apocalyps3]

So, we loved Poly CL and would definitely stay there again!

I'm trying to decide if its worth the money for our family or not. We're going mid-January and have gone overboard with the ADR's. So most of our dining for breakfast/lunch/dinner is already booked up.

Given that, do you think going CL is worth the extra money? I just can't see us taking advantage of the food in the lounge (but we probably would for the drinks and some snacking).

 

[karriealex]

Well back from the vet with my dish headed kitty. He has a pressure sore without abscess. The vet was very sweet and was the first to day no charge for anything. He was very pleased actually that I listened to him yesterday when he told me if the cat gets a cut or sore or anything to call right away because of his leukemia and aids. Poor kitty has a cone, needs liquid and topical meds three times a day for the next week. I am sure he will be fine. The doc did agree that next time they will be padding his cage for sure.

My dog is a mixture of Maltese and Shih-tzu and the vet did say she was of the flatter faced variety. She doesn't look it but internally it may be that way. We all agreed that the sound she was making last night was probably nerves but I was told that if it keeps up he wants to see her.

I would have to agree with going for a Dole Whip, or a snack and then a Lapu Lapu. We didn't get the chance to try the Lapu Lapu this trip but definitely next time. A dip in the pool would be good too depending on when you were going. You didn't say but when you asked if it would be warm enough I assumed you are going during our fall or winter. The pool is heated but if it is cold outside you will get nasty cold when you get out of the pool. We had our first Dole Whip on this vacation and we all loved it. It was so refreshing. Even though the resort was mega busy when we were there we had no problems getting a table at Kona for lunch when we walked up.

CT Disney we might have been there at the same time. I remember the night they had the beef wellington and the empanada's unless this is something they do every week. We didn't notice people taking huge amounts of food while we were there but I am sure some did. I did notice that the selections for the little ones was lacking also. Mine are older so they just ate what we did. I absolutely loved the orange sangria they had also. It was so good. I also loved getting a cup of coffee later in the evening with a little Grand Mariner (sp) in it. I also liked being able to go up any time day or night and being able to get coffee or soda's. The CM's were very sweet when we came in with our water bottles that we were going to fill at the fountain in the lobby. They asked to take them and filled them up with ice and filtered water for us. I found the staff to be superb and extremely friendly. I was also very shocked at how many CM's and guests noticed our Tshirts and wished us a happy birthday and happy anniversary. Happened both at the resort and in the parks. One thing I think they do need to do though is to have a couple of CM's down at the beach during Wishes to keep the kids out of the water. A lot of parents were not heading the signs and letting their kids sit down and splash around in the water. Doing that is dangerous because of the amount of bacteria in that water.

 

[karriealex]

Since getting back I found an awesome seller on Ebay who has guaranteed 100% Disney tradeable pins. I bought 200 of them for the kids for an awesome price and also got them some of the finishing pieces to some of the sets they hadn't completed yet. They are going to have a blast when we go back in December and we wont go broke buying pins. I think all tolled we spent about 400.00 in pins on this trip. The people I bought from had a perfect rating and feedback. I was warned about bogus pins so I was very careful when I did my research. I also bought the first edition of the Disneyana pin guide as we have a lot of very old pins from when I first started collecting and it would be interesting to see if they are worth anything and also it shows all the pins in any collection of pins so the kids know what to look for. It was so fun and sweet to watch my two boys working together on something and having a really good time doing it.

 

[karriealex]

I'm trying to decide if its worth the money for our family or not. We're going mid-January and have gone overboard with the ADR's. So most of our dining for breakfast/lunch/dinner is already booked up.

Given that, do you think going CL is worth the extra money? I just can't see us taking advantage of the food in the lounge (but we probably would for the drinks and some snacking).

We think it is worth it if you are going to do at least some breakfasts there or sometimes the appetizers if you have a late ADR or for desserts and wine or liqueurs. The staff is also wonderful and if you need anything they are there to help. We forgot part of our charge cord to my wheelchair and they had a runner go out and find and purchase one for us. They also were able to get a charge card guaranteed ADR changed for us without us getting charged for not coming at the original time. Because of the problem with the wheelchair we were never going to be able to get our vouchers traded out for our tickets and get to the restaurant on time. They were able to change it to a later time for us at no charge. If we had any questions on where something was or what time something took place they were right there with the answer. They even found out the information on the beds at Disney for us. They are sooooooooo comfortable. I have a wicked bad back and neck and I have never been so comfortable in a bed before. They actually got me the information on where we can go to inquire about purchasing one. Having the beach right there is wonderful too. The lounge is also a great place to go to just relax and get out of your room especially if you have little ones that are napping. I have heard of parents taking a baby monitor into the lounge to listen in on their little ones while they relaxed and the kidlets slept. Even if you don't have kids its a great place to go relax. It is also a wonderful place to watch Wishes from especially if it is raining. You can see them perfectly and they pipe the music in.

 

[Spunky946]

Just read tikiman's post on fb that construction could start at the poly next month! Hope it doesn't interfere with my October stay!! ;(

Me too.

 

[CT Disney]

I'm trying to decide if its worth the money for our family or not. We're going mid-January and have gone overboard with the ADR's. So most of our dining for breakfast/lunch/dinner is already booked up.

Given that, do you think going CL is worth the extra money? I just can't see us taking advantage of the food in the lounge (but we probably would for the drinks and some snacking).

That is a really tough question. I guess when I consider whether CL is 'worth it' I look at it two different ways: Is it worth it from a monetary perspective? is it worth it from an 'intangible' perspective?

As far a monetary perspective, that's pretty easy to figure out. Just calculate what you would spend extra per night for CL and compare that to what you would spend in purchasing your own food. Since you said that you would only use it for drinks and snacks, I am guessing that CL would not be worth it to you monetarily.

However, CL does provide a lot of non-monetary, intangible benefits. You get the prime Hawaii location...convenient to everything. You get an extra space to relax in and hang out. You get the Club level cast members who will go the extra mile to help you with any problems you may have...much easier than trucking down to the GCH and standing in line to receive help. You get assistance with ADRs and other reservations. You get the convenience of breakfast right in your own building...very convenient if you have multiple people getting ready at different times. You get DVDs and games on loan. You get the ability to grab a few snacks and drinks before heading down to the pool. You get turn-down service. You get Wishes in the lounge while munching on snacks. You get that pampered feeling.

So, my suggestion is this. If you are the type of person who will be bothered that you aren't getting your money worth of food and drink, then I would probably skip it since you already have a lot of ADRs. To be honest, I am a pretty conservative person. And when we stay CL we use it to the fullest. We make sure that we are there to enjoy the breakfast and appetizers. My DH enjoys the beer offering every day also. For me, CL probably would not be worth it if I wasn't in the lounge much to enjoy the food and such.

However...if you have some extra funds and would truly enjoy the CL experience and pampering, and the loss of money because you didn't partake in the food as much wouldn't bother you, then I would say go for it.

Staying CL really does add that extra specialness to the vacation.

Hope that helps.

 

[mickeynut1]

My puppa is better today but now we are worried about our cat. He is feline leukemia and feline aids positive and I just noticed he has a nasty sore on the bottom of his foot from the cage he was in. I am not a happy camper about this. We are bringing him back to the vet as we were warned that if he gets a sore we are to do this. They had better not charge us to see him as it came from him being boarded there. When I called I got the we looked him over and he was fine speech but I told her unless he was laying down when they looked him over they would not have seen it. Just bothers me that he got a sore from being boarded. This should not happen. That cage should have had a blanket down in it or something and apparently it did not. I will think twice about boarding him there again even if it is our vet.

I agree that something should be put down in the cage .

It will be almost 4 months since she passed away, she was 15.
:'(

I'm sorry .

OK so today I'm just daydreaming about our trip to the Poly. We've only been to Disney World once, and we stayed off-site. This time we're bringing our 3 little girls and their grandparents - the grandparents have NEVER been to Disney World. Our first day we'll get in about 1pm and have nothing going on except Chef Mickey's at 6:30 and then hopefully watching fireworks from the beach. Sooo.... any advice from you Poly veterans about what we should do when we get there? We're going all out and on the Deluxe Dining Plan, so I'm thinking those snack credits will be burning a hole in our pockets and we ought to head straight for the Dole Whip machine after we get settled in our rooms. (I've never had one but they sound great - and Poly-like. ) And then maybe a dip in the pool if it's warm enough? (We'll pack our suits etc. in our carry-ons.) Is there any certain spot I should make sure and walk the grandparents through? Should we head straight for the beach to get a glimpse of the castle? Are there really flower Leis? Do I need to request these? Should I take them to the bar (I think there's a bar?) for a tropical drink? I just really want to wow my sweet in-laws with a fantastic vacation.

My suggestion to just walk around the resort grounds and take in the beautiful atmosphere .

Good Morning Everyone! I hope you're in the mood for a review and some pics from the Poly CL Lounge

I have to say, we thought the Poly CL Lounge was awesome! The only other CL we have stayed at was YC and from a lot of perspectives the Poly blew it away.

Great pics....thanks for sharing .

So, we loved Poly CL and would definitely stay there again!

Wishes from the lounge was great! They did dim the lights to cut down on the reflection off the windows.

And, finally, I have to give a huge shout-out to all the CL CMs. They were all so friendly and welcoming! A special nod to Ivette...she was spectacular...a true gem!

Glad you enjoyed CL and would stay there again. Your review is just another one of many that I have read recently that makes me even more excited to try it in December .

I'm trying to decide if its worth the money for our family or not. We're going mid-January and have gone overboard with the ADR's. So most of our dining for breakfast/lunch/dinner is already booked up.

Given that, do you think going CL is worth the extra money? I just can't see us taking advantage of the food in the lounge (but we probably would for the drinks and some snacking).

We stay CL mostly for the lounge. The food offerings/drinks throughout the day/evening are a nice perk, but I love the lounge for someplace else to go and relax other than in our room or other parts of the resort. Everyone has their own definition of worth, but for us, just having the lounge is worth the extra cost for us, although we do still enjoy the appys, drinks, etc.

Well back from the vet with my dish headed kitty. He has a pressure sore without abscess. The vet was very sweet and was the first to day no charge for anything. He was very pleased actually that I listened to him yesterday when he told me if the cat gets a cut or sore or anything to call right away because of his leukemia and aids. Poor kitty has a cone, needs liquid and topical meds three times a day for the next week. I am sure he will be fine. The doc did agree that next time they will be padding his cage for sure.

Poor kitty.....I hope he'll be ok once the meds kick in.

 

[bluejasmine]

One warning.. Once you stay club level youll never want to stay with out it!! lol its addicting!

 

[karriealex]

Originally Posted by DznyCrzy11
It will be almost 4 months since she passed away, she was 15.
:'(

I am so very sorry, We lost a dog suddenly about a year ago and we still miss her too. I can very much relate to this.

I am really missing Disney and the Poly today. I guess when I get back from my appointment I will have to set up our December trip so I have something to look forward to and plan for. I think even though we will be going non-CL for that trip that it will be just as good because I will be at my beloved Poly. No matter where you go there everyone is just so nice and sweet. We have never run into a surly or nasty person there. I miss the Aloha's. I had to giggle at Portofino Bay. They kept saying Aloha Caio. LOL I guess we were in the Hawaiian section of Italy.

 

[bluejasmine]

Thank you CTDIsney for the wonderful pics and review! I cannot wait for our stay in 23 days!!!

 

[monorailsilver]

I think I am in vacation let down mode....sigh...

We just came home Monday night after 10 wonderful days at the poly. That was our longest yet. I am hoping to go next time for 11-12 days but next time won't be for at least 3 years, well minus the possible pit stop in April when we get off the auto train. And by pit stop, I mean no more then 3 hours. But I have from now until then to really decide if I want to get a dooney cell phone wristlet.

I don't do CL since it isn't worth it for me money wise. I requested Tokelau and a balcony but I really just wanted Tokelau. We got Tokelau 1st floor. We faced the Hawaii staircase.

I think I wrote last week about the bathrooms and lacking of a towel holder close to the shower and no line for wet bathing suits. I think they need to put shelves in opposite the toilet and on one side of the shelf a hook. We could put all our bathroom counter crap on that and reach the towels from the shower.

I am also thinking that the carpet around the closet doors is going to get mildewy wet/stinky because I am sure we weren't the only ones putting wet bathing suits there to dry. Most of the time they weren't dripping wet. I would of put them outside bit we were 1st floor.

Housekeeping missed our room twice. Mainly because we came back to our room after 1, even later one day and we needed a nap.

I was amazed at how quiet if that is even possible the main pool was on the weekend thanks to the poly police wrist banding people. They really need to do that all week.

Monday was our last day and I had the pleasure of being the only person In The pool for a good 1/2 hour. It was so peaceful! My kids were still sleeping and my Dh wanted a shady spot so he could see the pool so I went out early.

I hate the buses but I will say we never waited more then 15 min if that in either direction.

Thankfully we were not on the broken monorail returning to Epcot. We did head to Epcot that evening (I am thinking it was last Thursday) and we saw all these people walking down the monorail ramp in the wrong direction. I was like what the heck? Then we got up there and found out and high tailed it to the bus. We issued the first one, well it was there but we couldn't fit and got on the next one. We saw the stranded monorail yellow. And when returning from Epcot we saw the stranded monorail orange, or we think it was stranded close to the ttc.

Both those monorails were running the next day on the MK/resort loop (can't remember which was where).

Two of my kids were obsessed with dole whips, my daughter built a few leaning towers of whip last week! I'd say they were at least 8 inches high and she ate the whole thing.

On our pool days, my son made sure he was done with lunch by 1. He loved playing the games.

I miss my favorite spot in the pool. I liked to claim it. If looking at the river that runs into the pool, I liked to sit to the right. If they could only trim the trees on the island and around the MK.

I requested a microwave which was great. My so. Has a few food allergies so I had oatmeal for him and I was able to make him Rice Krispie treats.

We had little cartons of milk that froze in the fridge (Dh took it out of the cabinet because he did think it was cool enough). So we popped back in our ice packs and they froze too.

I wish samoas snacks still sold bigger cartons of milk. That was a disappointment. We use it for our cereal in the am.

I didn't do the dining plan since it wasn't cost effective for us. We had water and my kids had the thermos metal water bottles that they carried around. We refilled after our mid day break and they still had ice in their bottles even with the temps. Dh and I had the insulated plastic ones we use for the bike. The ice melted much quicker. Next time Dh and I are going to he the thermos ones.

My goal was $40/meal for lunch and dinner for the 5 (45, 41, 12, 9 3/4 & 7)of us not including chef mickeys and the WCC. And it worked. I think we went over 2-3 times by a few dollars (once it was $50.01). We didn't buy soda In The parks for lunch and dinner and used our water instead which is really what we needed.

Food from captain cooks was a hit or miss. I tried the pork nachos one day and the pork was good but it wasn't a favorite. I had a burger from there too and it wasn't great. The last day I had a Polynesian salad and I guess if I liked that sweet flavor I'd like it more but with out the pineapple chunks it was good. I also tried the cheese flatbread pizza and it wants that great either. I shod of got the turkey sandwich in the fridge!

My son loved the dairy, peanut, tree nut and I think egg free chicken nuggets. I wanted to try them but I resisted.

So reading about the possibility of gating the pool would be nice, who am I kidding it would be freakin' wonderful!

I loved looking at the faces of the new arrivals with their leis as they walked out to the pool and the kids saw the slide and just wanted to go down. Or when they saw the view of the MK.

I do think I am going to go the 2nd-3rd week of August when we go back in a few years. We went that week a few times and that was great but I couldn't pass up the rate from the TA so I switched weeks.

So now I get to live vicariously thru all of you who are planning trips until I am able to plan a trip again.

240 ish more days til the beaches of the Ft. myers area for me so I have to stay positive knowing its not Disney but Ft. myers beach, sanibel and captiva are waiting for me!

Oh and one last thing, I am so glad we upgraded our return flight on jet blue to the even more space seats. We didn't have to wait in that long line at MCO Monday night at about 6:30. It was worth the extra $$$$.

Oh and I met huntconn's??? Wife in the pool on Monday.

 

[shellypaige]

I think I am in vacation let down mode....sigh...

We just came home Monday night after 10 wonderful days at the poly. That was our longest yet. I am hoping to go next time for 11-12 days but next time won't be for at least 3 years, well minus the possible pit stop in April when we get off the auto train. And by pit stop, I mean no more then 3 hours. But I have from now until then to really decide if I want to get a dooney cell phone wristlet.

I don't do CL since it isn't worth it for me money wise. I requested Tokelau and a balcony but I really just wanted Tokelau. We got Tokelau 1st floor. We faced the Hawaii staircase.

I think I wrote last week about the bathrooms and lacking of a towel holder close to the shower and no line for wet bathing suits. I think they need to put shelves in opposite the toilet and on one side of the shelf a hook. We could put all our bathroom counter crap on that and reach the towels from the shower.

I am also thinking that the carpet around the closet doors is going to get mildewy wet/stinky because I am sure we weren't the only ones putting wet bathing suits there to dry. Most of the time they weren't dripping wet. I would of put them outside bit we were 1st floor.

Housekeeping missed our room twice. Mainly because we came back to our room after 1, even later one day and we needed a nap.

I was amazed at how quiet if that is even possible the main pool was on the weekend thanks to the poly police wrist banding people. They really need to do that all week.

Monday was our last day and I had the pleasure of being the only person In The pool for a good 1/2 hour. It was so peaceful! My kids were still sleeping and my Dh wanted a shady spot so he could see the pool so I went out early.

I hate the buses but I will say we never waited more then 15 min if that in either direction.

Thankfully we were not on the broken monorail returning to Epcot. We did head to Epcot that evening (I am thinking it was last Thursday) and we saw all these people walking down the monorail ramp in the wrong direction. I was like what the heck? Then we got up there and found out and high tailed it to the bus. We issued the first one, well it was there but we couldn't fit and got on the next one. We saw the stranded monorail yellow. And when returning from Epcot we saw the stranded monorail orange, or we think it was stranded close to the ttc.

Both those monorails were running the next day on the MK/resort loop (can't remember which was where).

Two of my kids were obsessed with dole whips, my daughter built a few leaning towers of whip last week! I'd say they were at least 8 inches high and she ate the whole thing.

On our pool days, my son made sure he was done with lunch by 1. He loved playing the games.

I miss my favorite spot in the pool. I liked to claim it. If looking at the river that runs into the pool, I liked to sit to the right. If they could only trim the trees on the island and around the MK.

I requested a microwave which was great. My so. Has a few food allergies so I had oatmeal for him and I was able to make him Rice Krispie treats.

We had little cartons of milk that froze in the fridge (Dh took it out of the cabinet because he did think it was cool enough). So we popped back in our ice packs and they froze too.

I wish samoas snacks still sold bigger cartons of milk. That was a disappointment. We use it for our cereal in the am.

I didn't do the dining plan since it wasn't cost effective for us. We had water and my kids had the thermos metal water bottles that they carried around. We refilled after our mid day break and they still had ice in their bottles even with the temps. Dh and I had the insulated plastic ones we use for the bike. The ice melted much quicker. Next time Dh and I are going to he the thermos ones.

My goal was $40/meal for lunch and dinner for the 5 (45, 41, 12, 9 3/4 & 7)of us not including chef mickeys and the WCC. And it worked. I think we went over 2-3 times by a few dollars (once it was $50.01). We didn't buy soda In The parks for lunch and dinner and used our water instead which is really what we needed.

Food from captain cooks was a hit or miss. I tried the pork nachos one day and the pork was good but it wasn't a favorite. I had a burger from there too and it wasn't great. The last day I had a Polynesian salad and I guess if I liked that sweet flavor I'd like it more but with out the pineapple chunks it was good. I also tried the cheese flatbread pizza and it wants that great either. I shod of got the turkey sandwich in the fridge!

My son loved the dairy, peanut, tree nut and I think egg free chicken nuggets. I wanted to try them but I resisted.

So reading about the possibility of gating the pool would be nice, who am I kidding it would be freakin' wonderful!

I loved looking at the faces of the new arrivals with their leis as they walked out to the pool and the kids saw the slide and just wanted to go down. Or when they saw the view of the MK.

I do think I am going to go the 2nd-3rd week of August when we go back in a few years. We went that week a few times and that was great but I couldn't pass up the rate from the TA so I switched weeks.

So now I get to live vicariously thru all of you who are planning trips until I am able to plan a trip again.

240 ish more days til the beaches of the Ft. myers area for me so I have to stay positive knowing its not Disney but Ft. myers beach, sanibel and captiva are waiting for me!

Oh and one last thing, I am so glad we upgraded our return flight on jet blue to the even more space seats. We didn't have to wait in that long line at MCO Monday night at about 6:30. It was worth the extra $$$$.

Oh and I met huntconn's??? Wife in the pool on Monday.

Thanks for the review! Did they charge you for the microwave? The CM I spoke with when I made our request said it is a $30 a day charge... We're staying 8 days so I figured it would be much cheaper to buy one on amazon & have it shipped to us at poly

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

The bad - three minor quibbles with the room.

1. there is no full length mirror in the rooms. Mom and 4 daughters missed it!

2. there is no towel rack within reaching distance of the shower. Inconvenient.

3. the bathroom fan is motion controlled but has a mind of it's own! It would click on for 3 seconds when you walked in but would randomly start and stop after that. By the end of the week it was driving us crazy!

Perhaps 2 and 3 were just our room I don't know...I mentioned 2 to Guest Services.

Also in the bad category - the pool! Well, "bad" is way to strong a word but we found the Volcano pool to be too small. We all agreed we much preferred the pools at the GF and WL (from prior stays). SAB was also preferred but that's not unusual I guess since it's the most popular pool generally. You can get tables around the pool sort of, but they aren't particularly close and blocked by bushes...but no lounge chairs at all except for a small row by the beach.

I too noticed the lack of a full length mirror after they did the refurb! It used to be on the back of the bathroom door where the glass is now. While I like the look of the glass (its not see-thru or anything like that), I miss the full length mirror!

Perhaps I got the only room that had a towel hook next to the shower??? Several others have mentioned the lack of a towel RACK next to the shower, but I just put my towel on the hook right next to it. I was in Tokelau in May.

Interesting about the fan. My biggest complaint prior to the refurb was that the fan did not really DO anything. After the refurb, I felt it worked better but I didn't notice the noise and there still isn't a switch to turn it on/off. But an improvement from the prior state

Hi all! New here

Do you think discounts will come out for Easter break [4/14-ish]? We really want to stay at Poly and never have before, but so far, prices are posted at on average $700/night!!! A little CRAZY, if you ask me. I know discounts ALWAYS comes out and Easter is a popular time, but just looking for some insider info

ALSO, if we book soon [w/o a discount] and then a discount comes out in a few months, can we apply that discount to our reservation?

Here is a link to historical rates - it can sometimes give a clue to future discounts

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

Also, you can switch to a discount without penalty BUT that discount must be available for your resort and dates (room type, etc).

In general though, Easter is a BUSY time and those dates may be blacked out for discounts.

We've only visited Poly to eat at Ohana (twice), but I just had to comment here to guitarob about how beautiful this thread and the photos are. Nice job. I really appreciate the time and effort that went into organizing this! Hope to stay at Poly soon!

Totally agree - guitarob does an excellent job on this thread

Starting to get a little bummed about our mid-January trip. If rumors are to be believed, we could be looking at closed pools and an under renovation beach and GCH?

I kinda feel like for the amount of money I'm spending I should be made aware of this well ahead of time or be provided a discount of some kind. All three of these things are big features of Poly, are they not?

I know anything can happen between now and then (and probably will), so I don't really expect anything at this point, but its a little disconcerting to know that this is a possibility. I'd rather not change resorts if I don't have to... GF and Contemporary don't hold much interest for us (we want to stay on a monorail resort).

What is everyone's 2nd favorite resort?

Without Tikiman or the Disboards or other folks with an ear to the 'possibilities', we wouldn't even know of any of this possible construction! The Polynesian by itself is awesome but the rates are more reflective of the LOCATION!!! Not only one of the best locations in WDW, but being onsite at WDW along (any onsite resort is going to be more than an offsite resort for WDW). Disney is REALLY good about minimizing impacts to guests in its parks and its resorts with any construction but it could happen at any time. You have to make a decision on whether you want to spend the money on a resort that may have construction and 'chance' it. Perhaps the construction won't be happening at the time you are there or it won't be a huge impact. And if it is, are you ok with dealing with that at the time? Disney wants you to be happy so if it is impeding your enjoyment, you can tell them you want to switch resorts. If you don't want to chance it or deal with some of these things when you visit, then book somewhere else for sure.

But as for a second favorite??? What is important TO YOU is really the question If you want an awesome pool, go to BC or YC (its also walking distance to Epcot and HS which is great if those are your primary parks). If you are looking for more bang for your buck, try a villa at AKL or WL. And I could go on but you get the idea. Unfortunately, you determine your favorite by what you need in your vacation at that time.

 

[monorailsilver]

Thanks for the review! Did they charge you for the microwave? The CM I spoke with when I made our request said it is a $30 a day charge... We're staying 8 days so I figured it would be much cheaper to buy one on amazon & have it shipped to us at poly

No they didn't and I went thru my check out list since we had no room charges and the bill was $0 on check out..

I asked for it on check it and it came with in minutes.

 

[shellypaige]

No they didn't and I went thru my check out list since we had no room charges and the bill was $0 on check out..

I asked for it on check it and it came with in minutes.

Great thanks!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Hey all we are home. I do have to say the Poly really spoiled us. We did club level at Portofino Bay and it was nothing like the Poly. Just mine and my dh's opinion but they seem to nickle and dime you even at club level. It is not a place we will stay again. The boys had a great time at Universal although it was blistering hot. We found that there wasn't really anything I could ride. If we do Universal again we will drop the boys off for the day and then go pick them up. I have to say the statement "This sure isn't like the Poly" came out of both dh's and my mouth on more than one occasion. Even the staff were not as nice as at the Poly. We got attitude on more than one occasion. Now I know two different theme parks and two different owners of resorts but they would do well by taking notes from Disney. Please don't flame me for my views on Portofino Bay but it's our experience and opinion and may not be the experience or opinion of others.

On the alcohol in Disney. I am totally not against people having a few drinks and having fun. Dh and I had a drink while we were up there. What bothers me is people getting totally hammered. I see at least one or two on each of our trips into Epcot at night. I know it is there prerogative to do as they wish. I guess I just don't get it. Also when it effects me as it did the night coming out of Epcot when the guy almost fell on me it is a bit upsetting.

I would not say our dog was upset about us being gone but dh just left to go get dinner and my tiny little multi-shu just let out a howl like I have never heard. She has cried in the past when we leave but never howled like that. Freaked me out a bit when she did it.

Everyone has their own opinion of every place and that is important to get all opinions to have a well-rounded view! So no worries - and you should post your information on the Portofino Bay thread. They don't get as much traffic as the Disney hotel threads and could use the info!!

We do Universal or other Orlando activities FIRST...then go to Disney Disney is always the more pleasureable experience so that way, we can enjoy the activities for what they are (cattle herd at Harry Potter) and then relax knowing we will do our Disney thing after. We initially had a great time at Portofino Bay, then had an incident that the front desk staff were not helping with. After I packed up our bags to leave, my absolutely wonderful husband had taken care of everything and I found out the next day they had comped our entire stay. So they turned the experience around for us and if we didn't have the 'incident', I would have given them a good review anyway. We felt they had a better pool atmosphere including food, service, chairs available, and room in the pool. The pool is really key for our family so that was the big reason we enjoyed it. And having that big bathroom and the TV sound in the bathroom was cool

OK so today I'm just daydreaming about our trip to the Poly. We've only been to Disney World once, and we stayed off-site. This time we're bringing our 3 little girls and their grandparents - the grandparents have NEVER been to Disney World. Our first day we'll get in about 1pm and have nothing going on except Chef Mickey's at 6:30 and then hopefully watching fireworks from the beach. Sooo.... any advice from you Poly veterans about what we should do when we get there? We're going all out and on the Deluxe Dining Plan, so I'm thinking those snack credits will be burning a hole in our pockets and we ought to head straight for the Dole Whip machine after we get settled in our rooms. (I've never had one but they sound great - and Poly-like. ) And then maybe a dip in the pool if it's warm enough? (We'll pack our suits etc. in our carry-ons.) Is there any certain spot I should make sure and walk the grandparents through? Should we head straight for the beach to get a glimpse of the castle? Are there really flower Leis? Do I need to request these? Should I take them to the bar (I think there's a bar?) for a tropical drink? I just really want to wow my sweet in-laws with a fantastic vacation.

What a fabulous vacation for the entire family! And a great resort for the grandparents too (if they need to walk less, but perhaps they don't).

The leis at check-in are not real flowers and sometimes you need to remind them to give you the leis.

You do not need to trek to get a 'glimpse' of the castle - you can see it anywhere from the beach or near the beach, including just past the lobby then the pool area.

Definitely go to Tambu lounge!!! Try the Island Sunset for a fruity, frozen and lighter-weight concoction or get a lapu lapu in a pineapple or a backscratcher - both of these are stronger and oh so good!!

For some free WOW at the Poly -

Take the monorail from the Poly to GF in the evening and have a drink (ok, the drink costs $) in Mizner's lounge and listen to the fabulous band - the grandparents will LOVE this! Then take a drink to go (if you want) and walk back to the Poly along the beach. Put your toes in the sand and watch the fireworks.

Check out the Tiki torch ceremony in the evening. Maybe some free hula lessons as well.

Walk around the Poly in the evening when the tiki torches are lit and there is gentle music. Ahhhh.... Stop and relax in the hammock on the beach.

Watch the Electrical Water Pageant from the beach.

Talk with cast members - there are some that have been around for years and know the Hawaiian language.

Check out the beautiful artwork in Wyman's gallery.

For some $$ WOW at the Poly - Reserve a cabana for the day or half day, rent some watercrafts or even reserve an evening fireworks cruise, book a daytime fishing excursion, go to Contemporary and parasail (loved it!), or book small kids at the Neverland Club and have an adult evening - dinner or Epcot or whatever!

And I think you asked about Kona Cafe - you SHOULD be able to get in here without a reservation for lunch - but sometimes you might not be able to. I love Captain Cooks and one person can order and bring it to the others. They have touch screens that are really cool so you can take time and figure it out without taking up a CM's time. I like the grown up grilled cheese sandwich (wheat panini bread, fancy cheese and tomatoes - yum!). You can also get sushi to go from here although I do prefer it from Kona Island. Unfortunately they don't open until 5pm but they do let you order it to go! At least they did for me. We got a bunch of sushi and watched a movie in our room one night and it was great

 

[DebbyLof428]

Tinkerbellie.... what you said

 

[monorailsilver]

I too noticed the lack of a full length mirror after they did the refurb! It used to be on the back of the bathroom door where the glass is now. While I like the look of the glass (its not see-thru or anything like that), I miss the full length mirror!

Perhaps I got the only room that had a towel hook next to the shower??? Several others have mentioned the lack of a towel RACK next to the shower, but I just put my towel on the hook right next to it. I was in Tokelau in May.

Interesting about the fan. My biggest complaint prior to the refurb was that the fan did not really DO anything. After the refurb, I felt it worked better but I didn't notice the noise and there still isn't a switch to turn it on/off. But an improvement from the prior state

.

I hate the frosted door too. It made the room bright at 2 am when one of us went in there.

We were in Tokelau and while there was a towel hook across from the toilet/next to the shower I still have to get out and reach for it. There was no way for me to get it from the shower and my kids and dh too.

 

[karriealex]

Club level problems refer to Portofino Bay not the Poly

I never noticed the lack of a towel hook thingy. I just put my towel on the counter across from the shower, got out of the shower onto the mat and grabbed the towel. Never dawned on me that there should be one there.

I didn't notice the lack of a full length mirror either. Of course I am heavy set so I avoid looking in mirrors at all costs so the lack of one was kind of a plus for me. LOL

My son hung his swim suit over the shower curtain rod in the bathroom and it dried pretty fast.

I liked the frosted doors in the bathroom because I cannot sleep in a totally dark room and I could turn the bathroom light on, shut the door and it didn't effect my families sleep like having the TV on did.

Tinkerbellie16 we had an issue on check in also and got major attitude when I nicely called six hours later about our room. We kind of got attitude the whole time and sort of were made to feel like we didn't belong there. The topper was when they escorted our 19 year old son out of the CL lounge, walked the dessert out to us and then stood in the doorway of the lounge so that we could not pass to get in to get coffee, soda, or water. We were dress appropriately also. I was so taken aback I couldn't say anything. I said to dh yesterday that it wouldn't be a good idea for them to send me a survey because I would have to tell them what I really felt. LOL guess what I got today. I did tell them of our experience in all the different areas. I was not nasty but was very clear. I hope they take some of what I said into consideration for future guests.

 

[bluejasmine]

Why would they escort your son out? Was it close to closing time? Even then I'd be pissed..

They use to have the long Mirrors on the bathroom doors but I guess since they are now frosted there isn't anywhere for them?

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