ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: September 2012

[dad4dis]

We requested Samoa in Feb. Is there supposed to be construction at that time? I will want to change our request if they're going to be working on it then.

 

[maiapapaya]

We just booked a sort of last-minute trip to Poly for the end of next month!!! I'm so excited. We will be celebrating both of my kids' birthdays there. We tried to get CL but nothing was available with the 35% room discount. It's okay...I love the Poly no matter where we are! I requested Tokelau though

I haven't been keeping up with the latest news...what and where are the renovations?

All of the longhouses at the Poly will be undergoing complete refurbs in 2013. They are starting work in January on Hawaii, that's why there was no CL available.

We requested Samoa in Feb. Is there supposed to be construction at that time? I will want to change our request if they're going to be working on it then.

Tikiman just updated his page with dates of each longhouse's refurb. According to the site, Samoa will be under construction starting Feb. 3. Just a heads up on your request (the date for each longhouse's refurb is listed on their individual information page).

 

[jandkmom]

All of the longhouses at the Poly will be undergoing complete refurbs in 2013. They are starting work in January on Hawaii, that's why there was no CL available.

Ah, that makes sense. Well, I'm disappointed that we can't get an upgrade but I'm glad that Hawaii is getting some much needed renovations.

 

[KNJWDW]

I wonder how long the refurbs will take? We have requested Samoa for our stay in June. Even if we don't get Samoa, I would love a refurbished room.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

All of the longhouses at the Poly will be undergoing complete refurbs in 2013. They are starting work in January on Hawaii, that's why there was no CL available.




Tikiman just updated his page with dates of each longhouse's refurb. According to the site, Samoa will be under construction starting Feb. 3. Just a heads up on your request (the date for each longhouse's refurb is listed on their individual information page).

I'm not meaning to be obtuse, but I can't find the refurb info and we were hoping for Fiji and are going Feb 23. Is there any news of a pool refurbishment? That's "crucial" in the words of my 9-year-old DD. We are in a room-only reservation so only have a few more days before the special expires.

 

[maiapapaya]

I wonder how long the refurbs will take? We have requested Samoa for our stay in June. Even if we don't get Samoa, I would love a refurbished room.

I'm going to guess about 2 1/2 months. For example, Hawaii is blocked out for CL for Jan. & Feb. I was just playing with WDW website and they have availability again for CL around mid-Mar (that's 2 1/2 months). So, based on that, if they stay on schedule and Samoa starts in Feb, they should be done by June.

I'm not meaning to be obtuse, but I can't find the refurb info and we were hoping for Fiji and are going Feb 23. Is there any news of a pool refurbishment? That's "crucial" in the words of my 9-year-old DD. We are in a room-only reservation so only have a few more days before the special expires.

According to Tikiman's site, Figi isn't scheduled for refurb until mid-May. To find the info, when you're on each longhouse's page there is a little area with stats, eg. "Native Name", "Built", etc. The refurb date is under "Next rehab".

I think the only rumoured work on the pool for the near future is a hot tub installation at some point. The last I heard about that is that a new design is being tested at another resort and if it's good they will install similar at the Poly. I have no idea when that would be, but it sounds like you will be fine for Feb.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

I'm going to guess about 2 1/2 months. For example, Hawaii is blocked out for CL for Jan. & Feb. I was just playing with WDW website and they have availability again for CL around mid-Mar (that's 2 1/2 months). So, based on that, if they stay on schedule and Samoa starts in Feb, they should be done by June.



According to Tikiman's site, Figi isn't scheduled for refurb until mid-May. To find the info, when you're on each longhouse's page there is a little area with stats, eg. "Native Name", "Built", etc. The refurb date is under "Next rehab".

I think the only rumoured work on the pool for the near future is a hot tub installation at some point. The last I heard about that is that a new design is being tested at another resort and if it's good they will install similar at the Poly. I have no idea when that would be, but it sounds like you will be fine for Feb.

Thank you! We have stayed at the BC & AKL the past four trips and DD chose the Poly this time, so I've been out of touch. Stormalong Bay was under pretty heavy reno last year and we would like to avoid that this time.

 

[Senor Tortuga]

Hi there!! Big shout out to SeaSpray, a nice couple from New England who really helped us decide on the Polynesian and boy has it worked out. Guitarrob deserves a big thanks too. I'm really grateful because I haven't gone anywhere in 12 years and this is a BIG DEAL for my family and I. REALLY appreciate all the information.

We will be at the Polynesian from Jan 7-12 staying in the Tonga house.

I notice there are not too many pictures of the Tonga house, so I'm going to try and fill in the blanks with some pics and videos. Maybe I'll help someone the same way that all the posters helped me.

Thanks again, and God bless.

Ian
p.s. If I put this reply at the wrong location, forgive me. Still learning my way around this thing.

 

[MichelinMan]

Anybody used the concierge service to book ADRs 180 days in advance? It would be less hassle for me to leave it to them, but I would like to know how reliable they are. Would I be better doing it myself (I would make sure I was online as soon as ADRs open for example - I cant see how the concierge service can do that unless they do it in advance).

I will be staying in the busy July period, so I know getting ADRs will be more difficult.

 

[princessap]

We are staying at the poly from March 4-6 and have requested Samoa. Should I switch my request as refurb begins feb 3 and I doubt they will be done by then right?
We would like a balcony, close to monorail and pool so was recommended Samoa, anyone have any suggestions?
thanks
This is our first time staying onsite and I want it to be perfect as it took a lot of convincing to get dh to stay onsite and I want to keep staying onsite so this needs to go well....lol

 

[dad4dis]

Thanks for the info! Looks like we'll be changing our request.

 

[princessap]

Thanks for the info! Looks like we'll be changing our request.

When are you going? what are you switching to??

 

[Megsie1000]

Tikiman just updated his page with dates of each longhouse's refurb. According to the site, Samoa will be under construction starting Feb. 3. Just a heads up on your request (the date for each longhouse's refurb is listed on their individual information page).

This is great news. Our trip is 1/24-1/31. I feel like I can still request Samoa.

Is that a good choice for our group? My elderly father will be joining us on this trip. He won't be going to the parks but I would like him to have fairly easy access to the main building.

Would you request Samoa, ground floor facing the volcano pool? Is that too specific? I think our kids would love to be close to the pool. I would love to have easy access in/out on the ground floor.

 

[Megsie1000]

Sorry to serial post but I want to avoid the 2nd floor if we request Samoa. How would you phrase your request? I would prefer ground floor but if we can't get it I don't want to end up on the 2nd floor with no balcony OR patio.

 

[pixarmom]

Sorry to serial post but I want to avoid the 2nd floor if we request Samoa. How would you phrase your request? I would prefer ground floor but if we can't get it I don't want to end up on the 2nd floor with no balcony OR patio.

For our last stay, I decided not to request a longhouse or location. I just requested "balcony or patio, please." When we arrived, the front desk CM asked which we would prefer. I said that we'd prefer a balcony, and that if it's possible to avoid a parking lot view (although they aren't even that bad.) We ended up with 3rd floor Samoa, facing the volcano pool. Loved it so much that I requested it again, but won't get my hopes up too high!

 

[maiapapaya]

Anybody used the concierge service to book ADRs 180 days in advance? It would be less hassle for me to leave it to them, but I would like to know how reliable they are. Would I be better doing it myself (I would make sure I was online as soon as ADRs open for example - I cant see how the concierge service can do that unless they do it in advance).

I will be staying in the busy July period, so I know getting ADRs will be more difficult.

I'm usually a control freak, but since we started staying CL I've let IPO book our ADR's. I've had no problems at all. We always end up with everything we request, within 15 minutes of the time we've asked for.

That being said, we have always had to follow up on recreation requests, ie. golf tee times, cabana rentals ... we've always gotten our requests, but they've been bad about sending us confirmation emails for these things for some reason. Again, never a problem with dining reservations, just poor follow up with recreation (probably because that is booked separately)

We are staying at the poly from March 4-6 and have requested Samoa. Should I switch my request as refurb begins feb 3 and I doubt they will be done by then right?
We would like a balcony, close to monorail and pool so was recommended Samoa, anyone have any suggestions?
thanks
This is our first time staying onsite and I want it to be perfect as it took a lot of convincing to get dh to stay onsite and I want to keep staying onsite so this needs to go well....lol

It is a safe bet that Samoa won't be done in only a month, so you should probably change your request. A good alternative might be Figi. You can request "marina side" and this will give you a water view, even though the rooms are GV. The view will be of the little marina and you will probably be able to see part of the lagoon & the CR (not the castle though, and probably not the fireworks). It is very close to the GCH & pool. This is a picture of your possible view:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34243944&postcount=789

This is great news. Our trip is 1/24-1/31. I feel like I can still request Samoa.

Is that a good choice for our group? My elderly father will be joining us on this trip. He won't be going to the parks but I would like him to have fairly easy access to the main building.

Would you request Samoa, ground floor facing the volcano pool? Is that too specific? I think our kids would love to be close to the pool. I would love to have easy access in/out on the ground floor.

I think Samoa is a great location for what you're looking for. I would word my request just like you have, but keep in mind you may not get everything you are asking for (they do their best to accommodate though). I have been told to request in order of importance, so the room assigner knows what is your priority, ie. if you want Samoa for sure, request that first, then what is next important, ie. ground floor or facing the volcano pool. If location is most important, but not necessarily Samoa specifically you could just request "first floor, near GCH". Most longhouses near the GCH are still going to put you near the volcano pool (though not necessarily right beside it)

 

[princessap]

I'm usually a control freak, but since we started staying CL I've let IPO book our ADR's. I've had no problems at all. We always end up with everything we request, within 15 minutes of the time we've asked for.

That being said, we have always had to follow up on recreation requests, ie. golf tee times, cabana rentals ... we've always gotten our requests, but they've been bad about sending us confirmation emails for these things for some reason. Again, never a problem with dining reservations, just poor follow up with recreation (probably because that is booked separately)



It is a safe bet that Samoa won't be done in only a month, so you should probably change your request. A good alternative might be Figi. You can request "marina side" and this will give you a water view, even though the rooms are GV. The view will be of the little marina and you will probably be able to see part of the lagoon & the CR (not the castle though, and probably not the fireworks). It is very close to the GCH & pool. This is a picture of your possible view:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34243944&postcount=789



I think Samoa is a great location for what you're looking for. I would word my request just like you have, but keep in mind you may not get everything you are asking for (they do their best to accommodate though). I have been told to request in order of importance, so the room assigner knows what is your priority, ie. if you want Samoa for sure, request that first, then what is next important, ie. ground floor or facing the volcano pool. If location is most important, but not necessarily Samoa specifically you could just request "first floor, near GCH". Most longhouses near the GCH are still going to put you near the volcano pool (though not necessarily right beside it)

thank you, just wondering how I should word my request. Balcony is important to us and I would like to be close to monorail and pool. The view you posted from fiji looks great!! just wondering if i should leave out longhouse altogether?!

 

[pixarmom]

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34243944&postcount=789

And with that, 3rd floor Fiji, marina side is officially our backup request if 3rd floor Samoa, volcano pool side is not available during our stay. Many thanks, maiapapaya!

 

[pixarmom]

thank you, just wondering how I should word my request. Balcony is important to us and I would like to be close to monorail and pool. The view you posted from fiji looks great!! just wondering if i should leave out longhouse altogether?!

Here's the thing - I do think it helps to make certain requests in advance. And I wish there were some way to book exactly the room we want before we arrive. But there are some things we can't control, so here's what I do. Based on the info I have, I make the best request I can (and sometimes, I make no request at all.) When I arrive, I tell the CM at the front desk (or at the CL check-in) what I'd like, and add "if possible" along with "totally OK if that's not available now - we're off to the parks and entirely willing to wait." You can see from my signature that we've stayed in a number of resorts over a number of years, and I can tell you that I haven't ever been disappointed. Not once! You'll have lots of info and backup requests by the time you arrive. If your first choice is not available, you can talk with the front desk CM about the factors that are important to you and I'm sure they will do their best to help!

 

[maiapapaya]

m

thank you, just wondering how I should word my request. Balcony is important to us and I would like to be close to monorail and pool. The view you posted from fiji looks great!! just wondering if i should leave out longhouse altogether?!

As I mentioned earlier I would figure out what is the most important thing you are looking for in a longhouse and put those things first in the request (eg. "balcony, near GCH). It can't hurt to also mention a specific location if you have a preference.

Pixarmom has a good idea in chatting up the CM at the front desk. You will already have a room assigned to you, but they can move you around if they have the availability. If you plan on doing this maybe don't do online check-in though. They will already have your key cards made up and it will take a bit longer to change things (they will have to print new cards, etc)

And you're welcome about the picture! There's some great locations at the Poly that sometimes get overlooked!