ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: October 2013

[travelgirl06]

Room request advice, please. We're going this Fall with a preschooler and a toddler. Anticipating naps and potential early bedtimes, we've requested Fiji (to be away from the East pool, but relatively close to GCH) and 1st or 3rd floor (balcony or patio so DH and I can relax outside if the kiddos conk out).

Does this seem like a good way to go or would you all recommend somewhere else/ be less specific (I.e. Anything with a balcony/patio NOT near the east pool)? And have you had decent luck getting room requests in the past? I'm usually not too too picky, but given the construction and nap/bedtime element, I'll definately have my fingers crossed for this trip .

 

[Koh1977]

If we had gone SV, I probably would've requested Aotearoa.

 

[volfan1978]

I did online check-in last night and saw something interesting I haven't seen discussed here. At the time I made the reservation, I requested Samoa first floor on the main pool side (good central location and we aren't concerned about the East pool construction). When I logged in to check in last night, the Samoa option was already checked for me. In fact, it was grayed out and even if I wanted to change it I wouldn't have been able to. Anyone else already have boxes checked/grayed out when they first logged in for online check-in?

 

[Ferrentinos]

We were at the Poly last year over the 4th of July. Actually our dates were something like June28-July7. Even with all the construction it was still a great time at the Poly. On the third we were in the MK for the fireworks and we will never do that again. With the way the fireworks are designed it is much better to watch it from outside the park- the Poly beach. Plus the amount of people was just insane. So instead of going to DHS for the 4th like we planned, we stayed at the Poly and watched the fireworks from the beach. It was fantastic.

However, if we were to go to the Poly over the 4th of July again we would only stay club level. They had a roped off section with chairs and towels for club level guests. All other Poly guests were on their own. The Poly had been practically deserted that week because of construction and so many rooms out of inventory. They were coming in by the busloads and monorail loads that evening. (Why yes, i was annoyed by people saying "What kind of fool would pay money to stay here with all this construction?" while sitting on the beach kicking sand on my towel and taking up my space. HaHa!)

Have a great trip!



They did not scan MB's on the beach last 4th of July or have wristbands.

I thought that I had read last year that there was a roped off section on the beach for CL - thank you so much for verifying that! We are staying CL so we will definitely take advantage of that! We have NO PLANS to be in a park on the 4th of July - just pool time at FW at Mickey's Backyard BBQ! Thanks for your reply!

 

[peaches0313]

Travelgirl: We are planning on early 2016 and just in case East pool construction is still going on, I have requested Fiji building as well. I also plan to request 1st or 3rd floor, as we also have two young children and always enjoy sitting on balcony while they nap! Fingers crossed!

 

[calismic]

Looks like we are going to be cutting it "really" close as to whether the Lava Pool is open. New e-mail states "mid-April" and we arrive the 17th. Thats mid right?

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Hi all!
Currently thinking of going to the poly at the end of aug/beginning of sept (with hopes of free dining). In terms of construction, where do you think they will be at? Do you think it will be a major inconvenience? Which house do you recommend? Not sure if we want to be closer to GCH or TnTC.
Any tips or tricks you can share for a first timer there? A few years back I asked for some tips about BC and ended up with a sweet room with awesome view of fireworks and close to that secret door that puts you footsteps away from WS. Everyone's input on these boards has always been so helpful! Thanks!

 

[maiapapaya]

Hi all!
Currently thinking of going to the poly at the end of aug/beginning of sept (with hopes of free dining). In terms of construction, where do you think they will be at? Do you think it will be a major inconvenience? Which house do you recommend? Not sure if we want to be closer to GCH or TnTC.
Any tips or tricks you can share for a first timer there? A few years back I asked for some tips about BC and ended up with a sweet room with awesome view of fireworks and close to that secret door that puts you footsteps away from WS. Everyone's input on these boards has always been so helpful! Thanks!

I believe in August/Sept. the majority of the work going on will be the refurb on the east pool. Any longhouses closer to the TTC will be on that side of the resort. The Polynesian isn't a huge resort and really it's not a major inconvenience to walk over there. In reality you really only need to head over to the TTC for the Epcot monorail anyways.

If you are booking standard view I would recommend Figi. It is very close to the GCH, has views of either the marina (with some limited views of the lagoon/CR) or the beach and Luau Cove area, and should be completely removed from any work going on at that time.

 

[AquaDame]

I believe in August/Sept. the majority of the work going on will be the refurb on the east pool.

Do you happen to know when they are aiming to be done? My husband is excited to see the construction going on, lol but we are going late October, so I am not sure how many cranes he will be able to see! We'll be in a standard view DVC villa so I think thats in the thick of it, right?

 

[maiapapaya]

Do you happen to know when they are aiming to be done? My husband is excited to see the construction going on, lol but we are going late October, so I am not sure how many cranes he will be able to see! We'll be in a standard view DVC villa so I think thats in the thick of it, right?

It depends on which building they put you in! Moorea and Pago Pago won't have a view of the construction, one side of Tokelau will (though they may avoid filling those rooms unless they have to?) I'm not sure how long the pool work will go on. There are conflicting reports as of this morning. The original plan was to redesign the east pool and add a grill and bar. Today some people are saying they have been told that those plans have been cut and they will only do a quick refresh of the pool area. With WDW plans are always fluid and rumors abound, so it will be interesting to see if the original plan is carried out (would love to see that) or if cuts really have been made.

 

[AquaDame]

It depends on which building they put you in! Moorea and Pago Pago won't have a view of the construction, one side of Tokelau will (though they may avoid filling those rooms unless they have to?) I'm not sure how long the pool work will go on. There are conflicting reports as of this morning. The original plan was to redesign the east pool and add a grill and bar. Today some people are saying they have been told that those plans have been cut and they will only do a quick refresh of the pool area. With WDW plans are always fluid and rumors abound, so it will be interesting to see if the original plan is carried out (would love to see that) or if cuts really have been made.

Oh that would be a pity! I am a big fan of having a BBQ available at the condos we rent in Hawaii, its part of the fun! I assume Trader Sams will be as nuts as the one in Cali too so having a quieter bar would be nice too... I hope they don't scrap the ideas.

 

[huntconn]

Oh that would be a pity! I am a big fan of having a BBQ available at the condos we rent in Hawaii, its part of the fun! I assume Trader Sams will be as nuts as the one in Cali too so having a quieter bar would be nice too... I hope they don't scrap the ideas.

That's a great point. There really isn't a relaxing, quiet place to have a drink at the Poly. The Tambu Lounge is always packed and noisy with the 'Ohana crowd. I think Trader Sam's is going to be amazing but an absolute madhouse. I've spent plenty of time in that space when it was the arcade and I can't even fathom how packed in people are going to be. A nice, relaxed bar and grill over at the quiet pool (or whatever name they are calling it this week LOL) would be really cool.

 

[maiapapaya]

Oh that would be a pity! I am a big fan of having a BBQ available at the condos we rent in Hawaii, its part of the fun! I assume Trader Sams will be as nuts as the one in Cali too so having a quieter bar would be nice too... I hope they don't scrap the ideas.

That's a great point. There really isn't a relaxing, quiet place to have a drink at the Poly. The Tambu Lounge is always packed and noisy with the 'Ohana crowd. I think Trader Sam's is going to be amazing but an absolute madhouse. I've spent plenty of time in that space when it was the arcade and I can't even fathom how packed in people are going to be. A nice, relaxed bar and grill over at the quiet pool (or whatever name they are calling it this week LOL) would be really cool.

I agree. It's always nice to have a drink while relaxing by the pool. It would be great to have that opportunity by both pools, especially since the Lava Pool will be hopping with the new kids' area and Trader Sam's right there. A lot of people will probably want to use the east pool now for the quieter atmosphere.

 

[corvair]

What. I thought the lava pool was opened April 1.
I just rearranged my other vacations to have enough points to stay in the villas.
My sister is not getting a park pass and just hanging at the pool the whole time.
I am going April 14.

I haven't got any emails about the pool.

 

[dansdad]

What. I thought the lava pool was opened April 1.
I just rearranged my other vacations to have enough points to stay in the villas.
My sister is not getting a park pass and just hanging at the pool the whole time.
I am going April 14.

I haven't got any emails about the pool.

They were shooting for April 1st. Guess they got behind.

 

[maiapapaya]

What. I thought the lava pool was opened April 1.
I just rearranged my other vacations to have enough points to stay in the villas.
My sister is not getting a park pass and just hanging at the pool the whole time.
I am going April 14.

I haven't got any emails about the pool.

It was supposed to be open by then, but based on what we saw when we were there last week we doubted it would happen.
The letters they are sending out now say "mid-April". Maybe you didn't get an email because they are expecting the pool to be open for your stay?

 

[PAdislover]

if staying in figi or aotearoa, is the only way to get there from the GCH to exit in the back where Trader Sams is? I'm wondering if that will make getting to those longhouses difficult. I saw some pics online of when the CM's were waiting to get in Trader Sam's the other day for their preview and that hallway looked super narrow.

 

[maiapapaya]

if staying in figi or aotearoa, is the only way to get there from the GCH to exit in the back where Trader Sams is? I'm wondering if that will make getting to those longhouses difficult. I saw some pics online of when the CM's were waiting to get in Trader Sam's the other day for their preview and that hallway looked super narrow.

Right now when having an event like the CM preview people are having to gather in the hallway while they are checked in. I'm sure once they are open people entering Trader Sam's won't be having to line up in the hall. There doesn't seem to be a spot for a podium area, so I don't think they will be having people waiting out there for a table. We passed through there a few times last week when a group of CM's were lined up on either side of the hall "guarding" the door and it wasn't that bad. If they do end up having people milling around the door waiting to get in it could get congested though. Hopefully they will direct people outside to the entrance to the patio if they have to wait. There is a small area out there where people could possibly queue up.

 

[trishadono]

I did online check-in last night and saw something interesting I haven't seen discussed here. At the time I made the reservation, I requested Samoa first floor on the main pool side (good central location and we aren't concerned about the East pool construction). When I logged in to check in last night, the Samoa option was already checked for me. In fact, it was grayed out and even if I wanted to change it I wouldn't have been able to. Anyone else already have boxes checked/grayed out when they first logged in for online check-in?

Hmm, that's new for me. I go several times a year and that hasn't happened. Maybe they finally getting better with requests?


Hey poly peeps! I just booked at GF for 8/16-20. Is anyone going to be at poly then? I got Sugar Loaf for the same price as Poly CL with the Orbitz coupon stacking so I am going to give up view for scones this trip. I will still visit poly for meals, shopping, dole whip and Traders!!!

Been absent from the boards due to kitchen remodel. Hope all is well and happy planning!!

 

[PolyAddict]

May 15-18th for us! Celebrating DH's bday again. starting to see a pattern lol