ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: October 2013

[ashnjam]

It has been too quiet here. I find myself checking tikiman on facebook instead.

Only 20 days

Good idea I keep forgetting about his site.

 

[Bamagirl43]

Another month down, only 13 more to go!

 

[Cluelyss]

108 days to go! LOL have our ADR's booked and got everything we wanted except Chef Mickey's, which upsets me just a little. Really wanted to have breakfast there but not going to ruin our trip at all. Love checking this thread although wish there was more activity on it but with the construction going on I otally get it. Not really checking the theme park threads to much these days due to people complaning about FP+ etc. Which I totally get and I'm sure are valid, I just don't want to read about it day after day. I am thankful for the usual posters that keep this thread alive. Thanks peeps!

Watch the ADR cancellation threads....and keep checking back for that CM ressie! I saw lots of ADRs open up the last few weeks before our trip!

 

[HappyMomma]

Oh, the prom would be pretty hard to miss. I think that's something a lot of people look back at as they get older. I think I would just leave everything alone and go with what is planned. Just MHO.

Yeah, I think he should go too. But if you knew him........LOL. But I think we'll play it safe and just stick to our original plan. Thanks for the input! I'm booking with the agency next time though!!

 

[ashnjam]

Watch the ADR cancellation threads....and keep checking back for that CM ressie! I saw lots of ADRs open up the last few weeks before our trip!

I most certainly will thanks!

 

[paul16451]

I got back yesterday from my nine-day visit. And I'd dreamt about staying here for a long time, and I really wanted to be thrilled with the place. And it was a great place to stay overall, but there are definitely a few things you should know. And now I'll share what I've learned from my experience this past week, none of which has anything to do with the construction going on:

1. The 1800/2800 wing of Rarotonga is closest to the monorail stop. If you want convenience, ask for a room there. We got one out of sheer coincidence and it was great, due to having a disabled person in the party.

2. In reference above, wheelchairs are given out free of charge to the guests. However, the chairs are not great quality...uncomfortable handles for the pusher (cramped and sore after about an hour of pushing), don't roll well, and the brakes didn't always work. We ended up renting an ECV from the parks instead after 2 days of that.

3. This is truly the "low end" of the deluxe resorts. They don't provide services that the other two deluxe resorts do. Contemporary and Floridian will deliver purchases directly to your room, but you need to pick up gift delivery from the Boutiki at the Polynesian, and they are only open between the hours of 7am-11pm. Also, there is no postal delivery service located at the Polynesian, so if you want to send something back home by mail, you have to travel to one of the other two deluxe resorts.

4. This resort is at the tail end of the bus stops, no matter which direction you are traveling. I'm honestly not sure how that works, but the park buses not served by the monorail stop at other resorts first before coming to the Polynesian, which means the buses can already be crowded by the time they stop here. Further, the Polynesian is not the first stop for any of the transportation back from the parks. Boats and buses leaving the parks stop at the other resorts first before finally going to the Polynesian, so you'll be the last one off.

So keep all that in mind before you book a stay here. Yes, it's a lot more convenient than the other resorts, but it's the least convenient of the deluxes.

 

[trishadono]

Thanks for the feedback.

We got lucky and stayed in Rarantoga our first trip. We liked that location too.

 

[trishadono]

Another month down, only 13 more to go!

 

[5bound4wdw]

Our first trip with the kids was at the Poly in 2009. Since then we've been to BC YC and CR. Our next trip is August 2015, back at the Poly....and I can hardly wait!! I am trying to figure if CL would be a good fit for us. I REALLY want to try it! So hard to decide!

I am also thinking about the construction that will prob be going on at the quiet pool. If we booked CL it would be garden view. I'd really hate to see a green construction fence from my room yes, I am spoiled....maybe I can book CL garden view and hope for an upgrade?!

 

[Skywise]

3. This is truly the "low end" of the deluxe resorts. They don't provide services that the other two deluxe resorts do. Contemporary and Floridian will deliver purchases directly to your room, but you need to pick up gift delivery from the Boutiki at the Polynesian, and they are only open between the hours of 7am-11pm.

I was under the impression that ALL purchases (made in the Disney parks) could be delivered back to your room regardless of the resort?

Although I will say that when I stayed at the GF they never managed to figure out the purchase delivery either and I had to go their Boutiki equivalent as well.

 

[hddanis]

I was under the impression that ALL purchases (made in the Disney parks) could be delivered back to your room regardless of the resort?

Although I will say that when I stayed at the GF they never managed to figure out the purchase delivery either and I had to go their Boutiki equivalent as well.

No.. Most resorts you have to pick them up in the gift shop.

 

[Sue M]

I got back yesterday from my nine-day visit. And I'd dreamt about staying here for a long time, and I really wanted to be thrilled with the place. And it was a great place to stay overall, but there are definitely a few things you should know. And now I'll share what I've learned from my experience this past week, none of which has anything to do with the construction going on:

1. The 1800/2800 wing of Rarotonga is closest to the monorail stop. If you want convenience, ask for a room there. We got one out of sheer coincidence and it was great, due to having a disabled person in the party.

2. In reference above, wheelchairs are given out free of charge to the guests. However, the chairs are not great quality...uncomfortable handles for the pusher (cramped and sore after about an hour of pushing), don't roll well, and the brakes didn't always work. We ended up renting an ECV from the parks instead after 2 days of that.

3. This is truly the "low end" of the deluxe resorts. They don't provide services that the other two deluxe resorts do. Contemporary and Floridian will deliver purchases directly to your room, but you need to pick up gift delivery from the Boutiki at the Polynesian, and they are only open between the hours of 7am-11pm. Also, there is no postal delivery service located at the Polynesian, so if you want to send something back home by mail, you have to travel to one of the other two deluxe resorts.

4. This resort is at the tail end of the bus stops, no matter which direction you are traveling. I'm honestly not sure how that works, but the park buses not served by the monorail stop at other resorts first before coming to the Polynesian, which means the buses can already be crowded by the time they stop here. Further, the Polynesian is not the first stop for any of the transportation back from the parks. Boats and buses leaving the parks stop at the other resorts first before finally going to the Polynesian, so you'll be the last one off.

So keep all that in mind before you book a stay here. Yes, it's a lot more convenient than the other resorts, but it's the least convenient of the deluxes.

I have to disagree on a few points, I've stayed at most of the deluxe resorts, and none deliver purchases to your room unless you are staying CL. We were at GF in August, and I had to get my purchases from gift shop.
I was able to mail from Boutiki, but things may have changed since my stay with mailing? I'll find out next August, we just booked to return.

Also at GF, we were never first bus pick up, nor is BC or AKL. At GF bus first stopped at either WL or CR depending on park we were going to. At BC, first pickup is YC, and Kidani is picked up first at AKL.

One nice thing is the Boat goes directly to MK from Poly dock.

In all my resort stays my experience is that Poly had the best transportation. With boat or monorail option to MK, short walk to TTC for Epcot monorail, and I never waited more then 10 minutes for a bus to DHS or AK.

 

[Sue M]

I'm the same way, I never use a TA, but I couldn't resist using this particular one for next August as it was too good of a deal to pass up. With that said, I'm glad you were able to take advantage of a discount .



You're welcome .

I get what you mean about going a little crazy. I feel like I bothered my TA to no end as I had so many questions and requested several different quotes before booking for next August and started to get a little confused myself....lol. However, she has been great and I will definitely book with her again should any of their future deals work into our schedule .

I booked Poly for August too . Great deal. Labour Day has the best discounts.
I'm also booked in January for POR . I never used to use a TA, but I'm getting quite spoiled. No long phone waits, and all I have to do to make a payment is send an email.

 

[nanhol]

Our first trip with the kids was at the Poly in 2009. Since then we've been to BC YC and CR. Our next trip is August 2015, back at the Poly....and I can hardly wait!! I am trying to figure if CL would be a good fit for us. I REALLY want to try it! So hard to decide!

I am also thinking about the construction that will prob be going on at the quiet pool. If we booked CL it would be garden view. I'd really hate to see a green construction fence from my room yes, I am spoiled....maybe I can book CL garden view and hope for an upgrade?!

Hi 5bound4wdw! Your story is just like mine! We started with the Poly in 2010 and have stayed at & scouted out the other deluxe resorts since then. We did not love the BC/YC, but we really like CR. However, for our relaxing club level stay next August we're returning to the Poly!

This will be our first full length club level stay...and I'm still questioning the cost...but since it's my 40th birthday trip I keep telling myself that I'm worth it! Our first experience with club level was due to pixie dust on part of a split stay, and of course Disney made me fall in love with it! We're planning a relaxing trip, so I think we'll be around the lounge more often than we would be on our go-go-go trips.

Like you, I also have some qualms about the construction at the quiet pool and what that might do to our garden view...but having the lounge with views of MK must balance it out, right? (I hope!) I wish I knew more about what the reno at the quiet pool will be, but I haven't seen much about it yet.

 

[tim123]

Hi 5bound4wdw! Your story is just like mine! We started with the Poly in 2010 and have stayed at & scouted out the other deluxe resorts since then. We did not love the BC/YC, but we really like CR. However, for our relaxing club level stay next August we're returning to the Poly!

This will be our first full length club level stay...and I'm still questioning the cost...but since it's my 40th birthday trip I keep telling myself that I'm worth it! Our first experience with club level was due to pixie dust on part of a split stay, and of course Disney made me fall in love with it! We're planning a relaxing trip, so I think we'll be around the lounge more often than we would be on our go-go-go trips.

Like you, I also have some qualms about the construction at the quiet pool and what that might do to our garden view...but having the lounge with views of MK must balance it out, right? (I hope!) I wish I knew more about what the reno at the quiet pool will be, but I haven't seen much about it yet.

I hope that you will have great time and this is not meant to be a downer….but I find it hard to justify $200 plus more bucks for some or'derves and some oatmeal. The garden view room is the exact same room as all the others in fact you can get a great king room in Fiji facing a beach and the water and with the $200 plus you save you can eat breakfast lunch and dinner….or eat an amazing meal at California grill every night. And next August you can get the Poly standard view for $220 total….
Just a thought. A beer is a beer. And garden view isn't Theme Park view.
I hope you don't think I am spoiling your fun.

 

[Eastern]

No.. Most resorts you have to pick them up in the gift shop.

That has been my experience as well.

 

[mikkithemouse]

Hi all.

I have never stayed on site before, but have been to the Poly for breakfast earlier this year and thought it was a lovely hotel. There was construction work going on in the lobby, but I didn't really notice.

We are going on honeymoon next May, and we have a few days at Disney before picking up a Disney Cruise. I have booked the Poly for our stay, but I’m worried how much the construction will put a dampener on our honeymoon. We don't plan on using the pool as we have limited time, and this will be spent in the parks, but we do want to enjoy our stay and probably would use other amenities. I don't want to come home and think ahhh we should have stayed somewhere different!
It's really important to us that we are near Magic Kingdom, so I don't know if to change to the Grand Floridian? However I do really like the Poly, but wondering if the GF would be better for convenience? But if the construction is going to be minimal then would it be better to stay at the Poly?

Ahhhh I am so indecisive! Sorry! I can tell you now, it's hard planning a wedding when you second guess all the decisions lol!

 

[mommyrosa2]

I hope that you will have great time and this is not meant to be a downer….but I find it hard to justify $200 plus more bucks for some or'derves and some oatmeal. The garden view room is the exact same room as all the others in fact you can get a great king room in Fiji facing a beach and the water and with the $200 plus you save you can eat breakfast lunch and dinner….or eat an amazing meal at California grill every night. And next August you can get the Poly standard view for $220 total….
Just a thought. A beer is a beer. And garden view isn't Theme Park view.
I hope you don't think I am spoiling your fun.

You bring up a good point and it was something we debated back and forth before we made our decision to stay CL at the Poly under the magical deal.

For us, it came down to two things: bottomline numbers and guaranteed location.

For our family, the difference between the two offers came to CL being $162 more per night over the std vw. BUT, once I started adding up costs for daily breakfast items, drinks, snacks, etc. that gap quickly started shrinking. That combined with knowing that room requests are never guaranteed and we could end up with a parking lot view (which I never book when staying deluxe, deal or no deal) the decision to go CL was an easy one for us.

 

[trishadono]

I hope that you will have great time and this is not meant to be a downer….but I find it hard to justify $200 plus more bucks for some or'derves and some oatmeal. The garden view room is the exact same room as all the others in fact you can get a great king room in Fiji facing a beach and the water and with the $200 plus you save you can eat breakfast lunch and dinner….or eat an amazing meal at California grill every night. And next August you can get the Poly standard view for $220 total….
Just a thought. A beer is a beer. And garden view isn't Theme Park view.
I hope you don't think I am spoiling your fun.

My Cl visit in May and again this month I was able to book on Orbitz ,Disney 30% with additional 20% off. Then Orbitz gives me "credits" each time I book to use on my next visit.

Both trips were only $90 a night more for CL

 

[Tikiman]

Club level is not for everyone but I can easily save with our family. Even if we don’t save as much as the cost of Club Level I have to agree that it is nice to know where we will end up and not worry about being in a longhouse we don’t prefer. I did a breakdown of cost we would have spent if we had not stayed Club Level back in 2009.

http://www.tikimanpages.com/poly/the-resort/planning/item/56-concierge-or-standard?

We would not pay full rate to stay club level. I don’t think those costs are reasonable but we get some great discounts so it makes it worth it. Also for the first time we are booking Garden View because now the rooms we like on the lagoon side of Hawaii on the ground floor are Garden View. First time in the history of the resort that a room facing the lagoon was every considered garden view.

If you have kids, club level is even better because there is an area in the lounge just for them to relax and watch cartoons and get snacks all day. Also they can get in their pjs and watch wishes from the lounge with the music piped in. The rooms have DVD players and you can check out movies from the concierge to watch. Also when there has been a storm and we are trapped in the room we have the lounge to relax in and not just stuck in the room. Anything we want to have taken care of can be done from the concierge desk in the building, no need to walk back to the lobby.

I do think you can have a great stay without club level and there are much better garden views in the standard longhouses but there really are not any bad views in Hawaii except the last room on the garden side towards the west end.