ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: October 2013

[neoscarecrue]

Easily my favorite WDW hotel. Love the Kona Cafe and the fact it's on the monorail.

 

[jandkmom]

We are making a somewhat last minute (well, still a month out, but it feels late!) switch and willbe staying at Poly in February. Two adults and a three year old.

Justtryig to decide if cub level would be worth it for us--it looks like it would be about $120 more per night, including taxes. I am pregnant and DH isn't a big drinker, so we wouldn't reallybe saving much on drinks. I had planned to order some groceries and have breakfast in our room most days, so breakfast in the lounge wouldn't be a big savings either. I could see us doing appetizers instead of dinner some nights, though, and being able to watch the fireworks in the lounge might be nice.

I am leaning towards just doing standard this trip and saving club level for when we have older kids. But wanted to make sure I'm not missing any great reason to do it with a young child.

And then for longhouse requests...I was thinking maybe Rarotonga, my son might like a monorail view room,and with the lobby construction being done that seemed like it might be fairly quiet? Otherwise probably Fiji? Looking for quiet at night and an easy walk to dining and monorail/TTC as priorities, I think.

If you are going in Feb and avoiding the holidays, the lounge isn't very crowded (we go at the end of Jan and have never seen it too crowded). We have done CL and non-CL a few times at Poly and we definitely prefer CL. There's no need to buy breakfast stuff in your room if you CL…my kids most of the breakfast offerings in the lounge. We love the lounge to relax and grab a snack during the day and the desserts at night are delicious. We hate to fight the firework crowd at MK so the lounge is perfect for us. The kids can watch the fireworks then be in bed 5 minutes later. And the music is piped in to sync with the show! To us, it's more about convenience than cost.

 

[nickle831]

So with the bungalows blocking a portion of the beach view for the fireworks, is there still any space from the beach that you can see the fireworks?

 

[WaterLinds]

Thanks to everyone who weighed in. Staying at the Poly is already a bit of a splurge for us, so we've decided for now that we will save Club Level for another trip with older/more kids, when we would appreciate it even more. Plus, I figure if we set the standard TOO high on this trip, my son will always expect that level, right? I'm just excited to be at a monorail property, since it didn't look like we could fit that into our budget when we first booked.

Now I'm trying to rearrange the rest of our week, too, so that it makes more sense...but of course now that I've changed my mind about things, the ADRs I want aren't available on the new dates I was thinking of. Oh well, we can't have it all!

 

[pixarmom]

Plus, I figure if we set the standard TOO high on this trip, my son will always expect that level, right?

Too funny! Yes, that's exactly what happens. We usually stay CL now, and the boys love it. On those two occasions we received complimentary upgrades to a 2-bedroom suite our youngest didn't quite understand how that was pixie dust and not something we booked. Now, he asks "do we have a suite?" Um, no!

 

[pixarmom]

pixarmom, if Wayne is still working as a CL CM, he is wonderful. The first trip I took with my son, we decided to pin trade. Wayne say Liam had a lanyard but no pins yet, so he let Liam pick one from his collection so he'd have one to start. And he was always giving our kids small treats. Just a really great guy. That's my favorite lounge in terms of being cozy but not too close. I think it helps that it overlooks the lobby so the space feels much bigger.

Wonderful to hear! We'll look for him! For the first year in several years, we're not staying at BWI and our boys love Jackie and Pete there - wonderful when CMs make such a lasting impression. Now I'm regretting that our stay at AKL is so short!

 

[whiporee]

So with the bungalows blocking a portion of the beach view for the fireworks, is there still any space from the beach that you can see the fireworks?

Depends on when you're asking about. While the pool is under construction, a third of it is screened off. There's about 100 or so feet from the edge of the screen to the edge of the bungalows where you can see the castle on the east side. On the west side, I think the view is pretty much not affected. So when the screen comes down, the only parts that will be blocked will be from Hawaii. The bungalows stop soon after Hawaii, so the former Tahiti should still be able to see them from its beach -- I don't know how it will work when DVC kicks on in full.

And my constant griping aside, you can see the fireworks on the beach behind the bungalows. You just can't see the castle. The bungalows affect the boat parade more than the fireworks, IMO.

 

[Travellerman]

Decided to extend my stay at Disney this spring and spend a couple nights at the Poly (staying at Yacht/Beach Club the rest of the time) But extending my stay a bit to enjoy it at Poly (which is first hotel I ever stayed at in Florida many years ago) It is late April/early May when I'll be there so I'm assuming that the pool won't be open (not a big deal as I rarely swim lol) and Trader Sam's likely won't be open either? If it isn't I'll just perch myself over at the Tambu Lounge for a Lapu Lapu (which i'll probably do anyway)

 

[tarak]

Too funny! Yes, that's exactly what happens. We usually stay CL now, and the boys love it. On those two occasions we received complimentary upgrades to a 2-bedroom suite our youngest didn't quite understand how that was pixie dust and not something we booked. Now, he asks "do we have a suite?" Um, no!

LOL, that is my family. When we all go, we're a party of six, so we need a suite or two rooms. My husband can only take the world every two years or so, so I take turns with the kids. The last two trips, we rented DVC points. My son saw the one BR villa at Kidani village and asked where the place with the Cheerios was. He could not have cared less about that huge bathroom or massive balcony. He wanted the lounge with the Cheerios. Of course, now I'm spoiled by the villa with the in-room washer and dryer.

 

[ashnjam]

Is there any longhouse not facing construction or is that a dumb question considering the renovations going on. I think I read somewhere that Fiji might be a good choice? Also first floor you have a little patio type area and third floor has a balcony, second floor nada? We arrive Feb 14th thanks.

 

[nickle831]

Depends on when you're asking about. While the pool is under construction, a third of it is screened off. There's about 100 or so feet from the edge of the screen to the edge of the bungalows where you can see the castle on the east side. On the west side, I think the view is pretty much not affected. So when the screen comes down, the only parts that will be blocked will be from Hawaii. The bungalows stop soon after Hawaii, so the former Tahiti should still be able to see them from its beach -- I don't know how it will work when DVC kicks on in full.

And my constant griping aside, you can see the fireworks on the beach behind the bungalows. You just can't see the castle. The bungalows affect the boat parade more than the fireworks, IMO.

Yep that answered my question thanks.

 

[kjmollypup]

ashnjam, from what I've read (haven't seen in person though), all three long houses in Luau Cove - Fiji, Aotearoa, and Tuvalu - would be away from construction, as well as Rarotonga. Fiji might have some of its views on the Marina side affected, because I believe it has some views of the Nanea pool and obviously that's still under construction. Rarotonga is away from the pool construction but closer to the new DVC area, but from what I've read that is more inside finish work happening and not anything that would affect your views from the longhouse.

Someone who's been there recently can correct me if I'm wrong, but those I think would be the least affected currently.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[kjmollypup]

Oh, sorry, forgot the second part of your question. Yes, for the most part, the first floor has a patio and the third floor has a balcony. The second floor, I believe, the doors open but there's no room to go anywhere outside of the room.

And if you are looking for more info on the long houses beyond what I put, Tikiman's page (just search for it) is an excellent resource for pros and cons.

 

[kallanach]

Happy New Year!! We just booked Poly for Aug 13-20. Quick question: do rooms have mini fridge or is this something we need to request? Our stays at other deluxes (AKL, WL, BC) All had them in the room. Tx!

 

[Cluelyss]

Happy New Year!! We just booked Poly for Aug 13-20. Quick question: do rooms have mini fridge or is this something we need to request? Our stays at other deluxes (AKL, WL, BC) All had them in the room. Tx! dde0a

All rooms have them. Enjoy your stay!!!

 

[kallanach]

All rooms have them. Enjoy your stay!!!

whew! Great! Thank you! We are super excited!!

 

[ashnjam]

ashnjam, from what I've read (haven't seen in person though), all three long houses in Luau Cove - Fiji, Aotearoa, and Tuvalu - would be away from construction, as well as Rarotonga. Fiji might have some of its views on the Marina side affected, because I believe it has some views of the Nanea pool and obviously that's still under construction. Rarotonga is away from the pool construction but closer to the new DVC area, but from what I've read that is more inside finish work happening and not anything that would affect your views from the longhouse.

Someone who's been there recently can correct me if I'm wrong, but those I think would be the least affected currently.

Enjoy your stay!

Oh, sorry, forgot the second part of your question. Yes, for the most part, the first floor has a patio and the third floor has a balcony. The second floor, I believe, the doors open but there's no room to go anywhere outside of the room.

And if you are looking for more info on the long houses beyond what I put, Tikiman's page (just search for it) is an excellent resource for pros and cons.

Thanks for the help!

 

[BellsFam]

Alright...construction or no...we're going! April 12-18th!!! I figure it's April and if we need a pool we'll figure something out!

Couldn't resist the deal from Orbitz... SUPER EXCITED!!!

 

[kjmollypup]

Thanks for the help!

You're welcome! Enjoy!

 

[Lalalyn]

Need some planning help from the Poly experts. We are staying Feb. 1-7. We planned a rest day, but turns out DH and DD are now doing Pirate League at 9:50 -- and the rest will start after they are done. (Glad I bought tixs for every day even with a "rest" day planned).

What time should we leave Poly to be at the Pirate League check-in stand at 9:40?