ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: October 2013

[Koh1977]

How about booking a villa? Apparently, each longhouse has its own laundry room!

I see only 1 listed in Moorea actually. Not sure if they indeed have one in the other 2 DVC longhouses.

 

[Koh1977]

Oh, 2 bus stops at the Poly?

?? No...just one.

 

[Trip planner]

How about booking a villa? Apparently, each longhouse has its own laundry room!

I wish a villa was in the budget this time! It would be nice to spread out since we will be there a week (my longest WDW trip yet!) Alas, I booked this trip instead of sending my kids to summer camp because it is more fun for me. Unfortunately my DH probably can't join us because of work so it is hard for me to justify to him spending all of our family vacation budget when the whole family is not there.

 

[trishadono]

Oh, 2 bus stops at the Poly?

No , just the one. See map for location.

It sometimes combines with cr or gf or both but does not stop at TTC.

 

[grecorj]

I see only 1 listed in Moorea actually. Not sure if they indeed have one in the other 2 DVC longhouses.

Are all 3 DVC long houses open already?

 

[Koh1977]

2 - Moorea and Pago Pago (formerly known as Tahiti and Rapa Nui). Tokelau will open later this summer I believe.

 

[WDWOswald]

Ugh. Tikiman just said on Facebook he will not be sharing any more updates about the resort except official info from Disney. He is being pressured by them to stop the updates and is weary of negativity (although he doesn't mention from whom.) He had posts up every few hours the past couple of weeks.

I have a bad feeling the lava pool will not be open in April at all. I check in the 13th and I need to know if it will be closed because I will switch resorts of it is. Without his updates I'm in the dark. Not many people post updates here.

 

[MouseMum]

I wish a villa was in the budget this time! It would be nice to spread out since we will be there a week (my longest WDW trip yet!) Alas, I booked this trip instead of sending my kids to summer camp because it is more fun for me. Unfortunately my DH probably can't join us because of work so it is hard for me to justify to him spending all of our family vacation budget when the whole family is not there.

The studio villa is only $4 more than the reg room! I had originally booked WLV studio because we wanted a kitchenette at a reasonable price, but when the Poly studio villas opened, I jumped at it. I had always wanted to stay at the Poly. It has a much bigger room...the kitchenette and the split bathroom. It just made sense with the 5 of us.

?? No...just one.

 

[MouseMum]

Hello @Trip planner, we would not be staying at the Poly at all if it were not for the discount I get from a cast member friend...(family and friends discount). We are middle-class vacationers. We're also Canadian travellers, so the number of vacations to Disney are scarce (but usually will be lengthy!) To recommend a villa, I only meant to inform you of the information that I was given re laundry.

 

[MrsHull]

Ugh. Tikiman just said on Facebook he will not be sharing any more updates about the resort except official info from Disney. He is being pressured by them to stop the updates and is weary of negativity (although he doesn't mention from whom.) He had posts up every few hours the past couple of weeks.

I have a bad feeling the lava pool will not be open in April at all. I check in the 13th and I need to know if it will be closed because I will switch resorts of it is. Without his updates I'm in the dark. Not many people post updates here.

I know. It is so sad. I look forward to Tikiman's updates each day.

 

[Sue M]

Ugh. Tikiman just said on Facebook he will not be sharing any more updates about the resort except official info from Disney. He is being pressured by them to stop the updates and is weary of negativity (although he doesn't mention from whom.) He had posts up every few hours the past couple of weeks.

I have a bad feeling the lava pool will not be open in April at all. I check in the 13th and I need to know if it will be closed because I will switch resorts of it is. Without his updates I'm in the dark. Not many people post updates here.

I didn't read anything about Disney asking him to stop, but have noticed some pretty stupid posts on his FB page, sadly.

 

[MouseMum]

My gosh! I just read Tikiman's latest facebook status!

 

[MouseMum]

I didn't read anything about Disney asking him to stop, but have noticed some pretty stupid posts on his FB page, sadly.

Actually, I just read one of his posts where he responds that Disney has asked him to stop and that they want to be the ones to notify guests.

 

[Trip planner]

Hello @Trip planner, we would not be staying at the Poly at all if it were not for the discount I get from a cast member friend...(family and friends discount). We are middle-class vacationers. We're also Canadian travellers, so the number of vacations to Disney are scarce (but usually will be lengthy!) To recommend a villa, I only meant to inform you of the information that I was given re laundry.

No worries. I am really lucky since This summer is a bonus trip for us. I have to go down to Orlando for family business and I thought while I am there.... I took advantage of the disney summer discount (stacked with orbitz discount) and villas didn't seem to be included. I did notice the rack rate was similar.

 

[princessap]

The studio villa is only $4 more than the reg room! I had originally booked WLV studio because we wanted a kitchenette at a reasonable price, but when the Poly studio villas opened, I jumped at it. I had always wanted to stay at the Poly. It has a much bigger room...the kitchenette and the split bathroom. It just made sense with the 5 of us.

Did you book through Disney?? I am debating between a regular room or studio for next year.

 

[KSR0330]

Did you book through Disney?? I am debating between a regular room or studio for next year.

I also saw that the studios were only slightly higher than the regular rooms. Why is this? Are they part of DVC or can anyone book them? What longhouses are the studios in? Are they ever included in the 30% discounts? Sorry for all of the questions, but I never looked into the studios because I assumed they would be a lot more expensive and I feel like I'm missing something!

 

[Sue M]

Actually, I just read one of his posts where he responds that Disney has asked him to stop and that they want to be the ones to notify guests.

Ugh so sad about this.

 

[Koh1977]

I also saw that the studios were only slightly higher than the regular rooms. Why is this? Are they part of DVC or can anyone book them? What longhouses are the studios in? Are they ever included in the 30% discounts? Sorry for all of the questions, but I never looked into the studios because I assumed they would be a lot more expensive and I feel like I'm missing something!

Yes, the studios are DVC, but you can either book them through Disney just like a regular room or rent points and do a "cash reservation" (which is usually much cheaper than booking through Disney). They are not included in the discounts (currently nor in the foreseeable future either).

They are on the east side of the resort. Moorea (formerly Tahiti) - Lake View and Standard View studios, Pago Pago (formerly Rapa Nui) - Standard View studios, and Tokelau (scheduled to open later this summer) - Standard View studios.

 

[kungaloosh22]

Actually, I just read one of his posts where he responds that Disney has asked him to stop and that they want to be the ones to notify guests.

Right, because they do such a good job of notifying guests in a timely fashion....

 

[MouseMum]

Did you book through Disney?? I am debating between a regular room or studio for next year.

I booked through Disney because I was fortunate enough to get a Family and Friends discount. Other than that, I read that the Poly villas were excluded from the March discounts (30%?). Not familiar enough to comment if that is the norm though. However, one way to get a cheap villa though is to rent points. When I started my trip planning, I found David's DVC Rentals (not sure if that's the right name...just google it). I was amazed at how cheap you could get a villa! The costs I found were very near the 40% discount mark. I know this because initially I was going to book WLV through David's, but later got a 40% from my cast member friend. The points rental was almost the same as my discount!