ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: October 2013

[2manypets]

We are checking in Dec 5 as well! (is it sad that I know your check-in date based on days to go?! LOL!!!) See you there!

I'm Dec. 5th too!

Maybe we can all plan a meet up?

Congrats on your first trip to the Poly, I'm sure you'll have a great time .



I can't help with information or pics of LV CL, but wanted to say congrats on booking another Poly trip . December 2015 seems far away, but I'm sure the time will go fast .



Enjoy your planning .

Thanks Mickeynut, we were originally booked for February 2015 so only had 100 days left. Well today found out I'm having a procedure done next month that'll take 6 months to 'scar in' meaning no fun rides. So as of today I added 300 more days to wait. I'd rather wait then have to be sedate on the trip.

 

[mickeynut1]

I'm Dec. 5th too!

Looks like a lot of you will be there at the same time....maybe you can all meet .

Maybe we can all plan a meet up?

Thanks Mickeynut, we were originally booked for February 2015 so only had 100 days left. Well today found out I'm having a procedure done next month that'll take 6 months to 'scar in' meaning no fun rides. So as of today I added 300 more days to wait. I'd rather wait then have to be sedate on the trip.

You're welcome .

Hope your procedure goes well without any complications . I agree about pushing your trip back, it will give you more time to recover .

I hope it works out that those of you at the Poly in December are able to meet up .

 

[BlackMagicWoman]

I've also booked my magical deal for August 17-24th. I'm very excited. It's a family group of 23 with quite a few first timers so looking forward to being at the poly.

 

[dchi]

Has anyone heard when and if ohana and kona may close for a remodel? I mentioned this earlier but will mention it again, as I am not sure if anyone has heard when the restaurants may close? Hubby and I were at the tambu lounge about three weeks ago, hubby asked the bartender if the tambu lounge will close for a refurb, the bartender said not in the beggining since they service both kona and ohana. Has anyone heard when the tambu lounge will close?

 

[mhconley]

What is the Disney 30% discount people are combining with the Orbitz discount? How exactly do I combine the discounts?

Thanks,

Martin

 

[5bound4wdw]

I know I keep talking about possibly booking CL ...........but I wanted to ask if anyone had particular issues with guests "filling" their plates; treating the appitizers as meal replacements? I was reading another thread about CL in WDW and it was something that was seen by others staying atPoly CL. Apparently, sushi night is a big hit Everyone here seems positive about Poly CL, so I'd thought I'd ask! Is it common? Will last week of August be less crowded, so this won't be much of an issue? Anyone have any thoughts about this?! Thanks!

 

[dreaming4disney]

We've stayed at Poly, BC and YC- CL and that can happen at any of them. Most people do not treat the snacks as a meal but there is always the potential. We have enjoyed our stays with CL. It's nice to have a place to hang out and have a snack after being in the parks. My favorite is the Poly for food and lounge. You could see the castle. (not sure if the new dvc bungalows will change the view)

 

[Sunshine11]

Hi - new to this thread, and haven't read every page yet but will soon, we are considering changing our Yacht Club reservation for late August to the Poly but have questions about the balcony rooms for a standard room. We are a family of possibly 4 - 5 rooms and I am wondering if anyone knows what the possibility is that we will get rooms first all together and second either the ground level (first choice) or third floor as my family may kill me if I move them all to the Poly from the YC and they don't have a balcony or patio. Lastly, worst case scenerio, how far would the furthest standard room longhouse be from the quick service dining/monorail and main pool. I intend to read everything I can about the Poly and am excited about the possible switch from YC, but am worried I may let my family down in the switch. Thanks

 

[trishadono]

Glad to hear such nice things about CL. We recently booked a last minute Nov. trip and all that was available was CL, but it was such a reasonable price we just went for it. First trip to the Poly and really looking forward to it despite the construction. We're glass half full folks, so anticipate having a great time.

You are going to love CL at poly! The view from the lounge is amazing

Hi everyone!

My DH & I and possibly our adult DD's will be going back to the Poly in Dec. 2015. It'll be our 5th time staying there and 2nd time staying CL. This time it'll be the LV CL category and we're so looking forward to it. The atmosphere is so relaxing it's hard to think about staying anywhere else. We've met the friendly people there too. I'm also looking forward to seeing the changes especially the hot tub addition!

Does anyone have any view pictures from the LV rooms? Will we be looking at the water through palm tree branches? The only think that concerns me is we really don't want the second floor. There seems to be only 2 LV's on the 3rd floor and only 9 on the ground floor.

Anyway, just coming over to join everyone. Only 400 days to go.

Those rooms are now garden view due to fences. Tikiman has an updated chart on Tikimanpages.com

One thing to consider, the time I had a 3rd floor balcony GV room I didn't use my balcony. I loved the lounge and view so much I prefered to be there. Also even of you have a tree blocking you you can hear the sounds of the boats etc and see sideways views of gf and lagoon.

If you get a 2nd floor you can sit in front of the sliders and open them. My dd was afraid of spiders and prefered to sit inside our room in the lounge chair this summer (I was brave and sat on the patio)

Has anyone heard when and if ohana and kona may close for a remodel? I mentioned this earlier but will mention it again, as I am not sure if anyone has heard when the restaurants may close? Hubby and I were at the tambu lounge about three weeks ago, hubby asked the bartender if the tambu lounge will close for a refurb, the bartender said not in the beggining since they service both kona and ohana. Has anyone heard when the tambu lounge will close?

I haven't seen amything yet either. Love that spot

What is the Disney 30% discount people are combining with the Orbitz discount? How exactly do I combine the discounts?

Thanks,

Martin

First you have to look on orbitz when disney sale is in effect. Next you have to keep looking on orbitz. Once in a while they have a promo code. In the last few days I posted HOTEL10 and REVIEW15. I tried both codes with January dates and they worked.

It's hard to describe but here I go! On first page on bottom put the Promo code.

Towards top don't put ORLANDO put Disney world for hotel search.

When looking at resort options you can see some will say disney 30% for deluxe and then look if in blue it says "promo code eligible" . Pick one and continue to next page to see the discount (go until full balance with taxes). Then go to disneys site for same dates and go to end with taxes included and see if amounts are different.

Also you want to make an account!!! I earned $ 124 from May trip and $34 from my August trip. Each time you book you earn and then can use on next trip!!

Also you can still cancel up to 5 days prior right on their site easy. You still get 'MB's, DME and ME too!

I know I keep talking about possibly booking CL ...........but I wanted to ask if anyone had particular issues with guests "filling" their plates; treating the appitizers as meal replacements? I was reading another thread about CL in WDW and it was something that was seen by others staying atPoly CL. Apparently, sushi night is a big hit Everyone here seems positive about Poly CL, so I'd thought I'd ask! Is it common? Will last week of August be less crowded, so this won't be much of an issue? Anyone have any thoughts about this?! Thanks!

I stay CL often. I think worst is usually the parents that don't watch their kids. Most are great but some don't care and the kids use their hands to get the food. Of course they change mind and put back too!

I find it easier just to ask if they need help. Often they just can't use the tongs or reach a top plate and are glad for the help.

I do use CL as meal replacement. I eat 3 hot appetizers a little fruit and that's all I need. Most kids meals are the size I want and I order those in the QS too.

Hi - new to this thread, and haven't read every page yet but will soon, we are considering changing our Yacht Club reservation for late August to the Poly but have questions about the balcony rooms for a standard room. We are a family of possibly 4 - 5 rooms and I am wondering if anyone knows what the possibility is that we will get rooms first all together and second either the ground level (first choice) or third floor as my family may kill me if I move them all to the Poly from the YC and they don't have a balcony or patio. Lastly, worst case scenerio, how far would the furthest standard room longhouse be from the quick service dining/monorail and main pool. I intend to read everything I can about the Poly and am excited about the possible switch from YC, but am worried I may let my family down in the switch. Thanks

My guess from experience is they try to give at least one request. So which is more important? Being together or balcony? You could get lucky if they are not busy but when near capacity it's harder.

Distance wise the buildings aren't too far from anything

Good luck deciding.

*******************************************************

Wow lots of you going in December


I'm at 15 days

 

[Eastern]

If you get a 2nd floor you can sit in front of the sliders and open them. My dd was afraid of spiders and prefered to sit inside our room in the lounge chair this summer (I was brave and sat on the patio)

Is Poly known for its spiders?

 

[Willabea]

Staying at the Poly 11/12-17 and really, really want to try 'Ohana for dinner, mainly because of the great things I hear on this list and elsewhere. So far, the earliest ADR I've managed to snag is for 9:15. My kids are 3 and 5 and are usually asleep by 8:30, so this would be really late for them. For the resident 'Ohana experts - if our reservation is 9:15, what time would we realistically be finishing up and heading back to our room? Hopefully an earlier reservation will magically appear, but want to have a plan just in case. Thanks!

 

[Cluelyss]

Staying at the Poly 11/12-17 and really, really want to try 'Ohana for dinner, mainly because of the great things I hear on this list and elsewhere. So far, the earliest ADR I've managed to snag is for 9:15. My kids are 3 and 5 and are usually asleep by 8:30, so this would be really late for them. For the resident 'Ohana experts - if our reservation is 9:15, what time would we realistically be finishing up and heading back to our room? Hopefully an earlier reservation will magically appear, but want to have a plan just in case. Thanks!

We have been to 'Ohana twice and seated past our ADR time on both occasions. But the food comes quickly and continuously, so really up to you how long the meal becomes. Also, wanted to mention that I saw several spots open up for 'Ohana the week before and the week of my trip, so definitely keep checking! We had a 5:20 ADR and I was looking for something later right up to the day before, and saw several openings pop up that were in the 5 o'clock hour. Good luck!

 

[trishadono]

Is Poly known for its spiders?

IF you are outside you will see spiders but cute things like ducks and bunnies too. Its nature.

 

[emij]

We just got back from our first WDW trip with a stay at Poly and Port Orleans Riverside a couple days ago. We LOVED the access to the monorail, that was worth staying there, imo.

I will say that when we checked in on the 22nd, the construction in front, under the monorail and at check-in was VERY VERY loud almost every day we were there. The workers all had ear plugs in and it made it quite difficult to check-in, and when we wanted to check our bags with bell services to go to the park while waiting for our room to be ready, the front desk actually told us to trek back to our car since that would be "easier" than using bell services. (It really was THAT loud.)

They did say that they were booked full before we got there and during our stay - I know some mentioned that it was dead quiet during their stays - that was not our experience - it was a busy place!

I had ordered an Amazon Pantry box sent to the resort - it arrived the day before us, but nothing prompted them to tell me about it... they did have it when I asked about it, though.

I read so much on here about the special care the workers provide at Poly. I didn't know what to expect, but I'll admit I didn't see anything special, though at PORR the housekeeping always did fun things with the kids stuffed animals, towel animals etc - nothing like that at Poly.

We had a standard view room in Aotearoa. We requested a balcony, and had a lovely 3rd floor room with a view of the monorail, which was a hit with dh and the kids. DH and I enjoyed reading on the balcony while the kids fell asleep.

The beds were very comfortable and my kids appreciated the fold down couch bed so they didn't have to share. I really appreciated the large size room.

We watched WISHES from the GCH second floor one night - mainly b/c I couldn't figure out where an open beach was in time. There are A LOT of walls around the resort. A LOT. This didn't bother us much as we were in the parks from 9-9/10 each day. But some might be put off.

We never used the Blizzard Beach access - the hours of 10-5 are prime park hours! We probably would have used the pool in the evenings if it had been open, though.

My dh and kids all thought the PORR was the "deluxe" of the two hotels (though the beds were not as comfortable and the room smaller) but with the monorail access at Poly, it still won in my book.

Overall a good stay, but nothing special other than the monorail (which is a BIG deal, imo).

Thanks to all here who helped provide info to make our trip successful!

 

[BlondeAppetit]

I am totally torn on whether or not to make this show part of our plan for our Labor Day trip.

I really like to take advantage of everything that a resort has to offer and I would think that my girls (6 & 2) would enjoy the show.

However, it is expensive and gets mixed reviews. For $185, I could do lots of other things. We are already doing CRT and HDDR.

I plan on doing it as something special on our water park day. But we could do Ohana this night instead and then head to the Boardwalk and just eat CS on our MK day.

Thoughts?

For all of the Poly-lovers out there? Should we do it?

 

[BlueSkies]

We just got back from our first WDW trip with a stay at Poly and Port Orleans Riverside a couple days ago. We LOVED the access to the monorail, that was worth staying there, imo.

I will say that when we checked in on the 22nd, the construction in front, under the monorail and at check-in was VERY VERY loud almost every day we were there. The workers all had ear plugs in and it made it quite difficult to check-in, and when we wanted to check our bags with bell services to go to the park while waiting for our room to be ready, the front desk actually told us to trek back to our car since that would be "easier" than using bell services. (It really was THAT loud.)

They did say that they were booked full before we got there and during our stay - I know some mentioned that it was dead quiet during their stays - that was not our experience - it was a busy place!

I had ordered an Amazon Pantry box sent to the resort - it arrived the day before us, but nothing prompted them to tell me about it... they did have it when I asked about it, though.

I read so much on here about the special care the workers provide at Poly. I didn't know what to expect, but I'll admit I didn't see anything special, though at PORR the housekeeping always did fun things with the kids stuffed animals, towel animals etc - nothing like that at Poly.

We had a standard view room in Aotearoa. We requested a balcony, and had a lovely 3rd floor room with a view of the monorail, which was a hit with dh and the kids. DH and I enjoyed reading on the balcony while the kids fell asleep.

The beds were very comfortable and my kids appreciated the fold down couch bed so they didn't have to share. I really appreciated the large size room.

We watched WISHES from the GCH second floor one night - mainly b/c I couldn't figure out where an open beach was in time. There are A LOT of walls around the resort. A LOT. This didn't bother us much as we were in the parks from 9-9/10 each day. But some might be put off.

We never used the Blizzard Beach access - the hours of 10-5 are prime park hours! We probably would have used the pool in the evenings if it had been open, though.

My dh and kids all thought the PORR was the "deluxe" of the two hotels (though the beds were not as comfortable and the room smaller) but with the monorail access at Poly, it still won in my book.

Overall a good stay, but nothing special other than the monorail (which is a BIG deal, imo).

Thanks to all here who helped provide info to make our trip successful!

Thanks for your candid review..enjoyed reading it!

 

[trishadono]

We just got back from our first WDW trip with a stay at Poly and Port Orleans Riverside a couple days ago. We LOVED the access to the monorail, that was worth staying there, imo.

I will say that when we checked in on the 22nd, the construction in front, under the monorail and at check-in was VERY VERY loud almost every day we were there. The workers all had ear plugs in and it made it quite difficult to check-in, and when we wanted to check our bags with bell services to go to the park while waiting for our room to be ready, the front desk actually told us to trek back to our car since that would be "easier" than using bell services. (It really was THAT loud.)

They did say that they were booked full before we got there and during our stay - I know some mentioned that it was dead quiet during their stays - that was not our experience - it was a busy place!

I had ordered an Amazon Pantry box sent to the resort - it arrived the day before us, but nothing prompted them to tell me about it... they did have it when I asked about it, though.

I read so much on here about the special care the workers provide at Poly. I didn't know what to expect, but I'll admit I didn't see anything special, though at PORR the housekeeping always did fun things with the kids stuffed animals, towel animals etc - nothing like that at Poly.

We had a standard view room in Aotearoa. We requested a balcony, and had a lovely 3rd floor room with a view of the monorail, which was a hit with dh and the kids. DH and I enjoyed reading on the balcony while the kids fell asleep.

The beds were very comfortable and my kids appreciated the fold down couch bed so they didn't have to share. I really appreciated the large size room.

We watched WISHES from the GCH second floor one night - mainly b/c I couldn't figure out where an open beach was in time. There are A LOT of walls around the resort. A LOT. This didn't bother us much as we were in the parks from 9-9/10 each day. But some might be put off.

We never used the Blizzard Beach access - the hours of 10-5 are prime park hours! We probably would have used the pool in the evenings if it had been open, though.

My dh and kids all thought the PORR was the "deluxe" of the two hotels (though the beds were not as comfortable and the room smaller) but with the monorail access at Poly, it still won in my book.

Overall a good stay, but nothing special other than the monorail (which is a BIG deal, imo).

Thanks to all here who helped provide info to make our trip successful!

I don't spend that much time in the parks. 9-11am then 5:30-8 or 9pm. For us a deluxe is nice when you are shopping and eating along the monorail.

When I go with newbies that want to ride rides I usually do Value or Mod. However I do love the monorail!!

Thanks for checking in here.

 

[emij]

I can see your logic, trish. We did 3 of our 4 days while at Poly at MK with one dinner at 1900 PF, made the travel time SO easy.

 

[Cluelyss]

emij - thanks for the review! We are headed back to the Poly in December 2015 and hope it is more reminiscent of the Poly we fell in love with in 2013 than the one we saw when we had dinner there a few weeks ago! Just wanted to comment that mousekeeping at CR last month was always doing fun stuff with the kids' stuffed animals, too - they loved coming back to see what / where they would be each day! We never experienced that at the Poly in 2013, so that was a fun surprise (though we did get a few towel "sculptures" last year!) I agree that the location of the Poly is ideal, and still a huge selling point despite the construction. Hopefully you can come back one day and see it in all it's glory!

 

[Kristina4109]

I am totally torn on whether or not to make this show part of our plan for our Labor Day trip.

I really like to take advantage of everything that a resort has to offer and I would think that my girls (6 & 2) would enjoy the show.

However, it is expensive and gets mixed reviews. For $185, I could do lots of other things. We are already doing CRT and HDDR.

I plan on doing it as something special on our water park day. But we could do Ohana this night instead and then head to the Boardwalk and just eat CS on our MK day.

Thoughts?

For all of the Poly-lovers out there? Should we do it?

We did the Spirit of Aloha show on Thursday, June 12th of this year. We loved it and are glad we did it. We sat in Category 2 and had a great view. The food was delicious.

The first part of the show was kind of corny but my 9 year old loved it. The second part of the show is full of traditional dances from the different Polynesian islands, ending with the grand finale of a fire dancer, who is outstanding. I absolutely loved the second part of the show.