ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: September 2012

[ajh88]

Ah, a new Poly thread for my paid in full/30 day dance!

The closer I get to vacation, the more I seem to dance!

As always, thanks to Rob for migrating us.

 

[guitarob]

Glad to see everyone settling in for another 250(ish) page chat about the greatest place I've ever been.

The realization really just hit me (it's been a long summer) that I'm only 2 WEEKS away! 14 little tiny days from now, I'll be going insane and trying, unsuccessfully, to get some sleep before we leave at 4:30 AM. It has yet to happen. Even after my all-day wedding day and lack of sleep the night before that, I can. not. sleep. on Disneyeve.

In a little over 2 weeks, I'll be waking up on the Seven Seas Lagoon and listening to WDW come to life on an early morning photo excursion. The MK music starting up, the train whistle, boat horns, waves gently hitting the beach, then having breakfast at the Kona and starting off on a day of Disney magic.



Sorry, had to get that out!!


​

 

[disneydreamin247]

Glad to see everyone settling in for another 250(ish) page chat about the greatest place I've ever been.

The realization really just hit me (it's been a long summer) that I'm only 2 WEEKS away! 14 little tiny days from now, I'll be going insane and trying, unsuccessfully, to get some sleep before we leave at 4:30 AM. It has yet to happen. Even after my all-day wedding day and lack of sleep the night before that, I can. not. sleep. on Disneyeve.

In a little over 2 weeks, I'll be waking up on the Seven Seas Lagoon and listening to WDW come to life on an early morning photo excursion. The MK music starting up, the train whistle, boat horns, waves gently hitting the beach, then having breakfast at the Kona and starting off on a day of Disney magic.



Sorry, had to get that out!!


​

While I am VERY happy for your, this just made me so sad because it wil be 332 days until we experience this again.

 

[ireneryan]

Glad to see everyone settling in for another 250(ish) page chat about the greatest place I've ever been.

The realization really just hit me (it's been a long summer) that I'm only 2 WEEKS away! 14 little tiny days from now, I'll be going insane and trying, unsuccessfully, to get some sleep before we leave at 4:30 AM. It has yet to happen. Even after my all-day wedding day and lack of sleep the night before that, I can. not. sleep. on Disneyeve.

In a little over 2 weeks, I'll be waking up on the Seven Seas Lagoon and listening to WDW come to life on an early morning photo excursion. The MK music starting up, the train whistle, boat horns, waves gently hitting the beach, then having breakfast at the Kona and starting off on a day of Disney magic.



Sorry, had to get that out!!


​

Thank you Rob for all your hard work! And I know exactly what you mean by not being able to sleep the night before! I can never sleep the night before any vacation and this will be our first Disney trip, I can only imagine how bad the "can't-wait-to-get-thereitis" will be, I'm about 2 months out and I'm already have tossing and turning nights just from the excitement!

Have a great trip in just 2 weeks!!!!

 

[mykidsrock76]

Just did online check-in!!! Only 10 more days!!!!!!

 

[disneylovr1]

I only made it through page 30-something in the last thread, and now it's already to a new one!

We're at 2 1/2 weeks for a quick weekend off site stay, and just under 2 months for our 8 night Poly stay! Just subscribing.

 

[wmoon]

Maiapapaya. Thanks for the tip. The Lilo and stitch breakfast looks really good and my son would love it. x

 

[mickeynut1]

Awesome information! We are staying at the Poly in June 2013 for the first time. Yeah!

The Poly is an amazing resort.....you will love it .

Ah, a new Poly thread for my paid in full/30 day dance!

The closer I get to vacation, the more I seem to dance!

As always, thanks to Rob for migrating us.

Congrats on being paid in full. You will be at the Poly before you know it .

In a little over 2 weeks, I'll be waking up on the Seven Seas Lagoon and listening to WDW come to life on an early morning photo excursion. The MK music starting up, the train whistle, boat horns, waves gently hitting the beach, then having breakfast at the Kona and starting off on a day of Disney magic. ​

The sounds are one of the many things we love about the Poly. One of my favorite things to do is lay by the pool or in a hammock on the beach listening to everything going on around the Poly as it's so peaceful .

Just did online check-in!!! Only 10 more days!!!!!!

We're at 2 1/2 weeks for a quick weekend off site stay, and just under 2 months for our 8 night Poly stay! Just subscribing.

Two months will go by fast and then you will be able to enjoy 8 days in Poly paradise .

 

[boundfordisney]

Well thanks to this thread I have finally made my mind up on where to stay for our 2 night pre cruise in March! The Poly it is! We have stayed here once before on our last pre cruise stay in Jan. 2011 and enjoyed our stay, I did have the yacht club booked for March but have now changed our plans, booked a garden view with a patio request, stayed in lagoon view last stay in Taihiti and had a great view of the castle from our balcony! This trip to save a little money opted for gv. Will be much more easier to just hop on the monorail to magic kingdom and epcot which are the 2 parks we will do. Hopefully I get get a cabana rental at my 180 mark for our arrival day, look forward to one day of just relaxing around the pool. Does anyone have a map of the cabanas around the pool? Trying to get as much info about them as possible so any info from others that have rented them would be so helpfull!

 

[disjseag]

Wow! Thank you so much for providing all of this info. We are staying at the Poly for the first time in January. Since it is an anniversary trip without the kiddos (first time), can anyone recommend a particular longhouse or floor? we are looking for a lovely and quiet experience at our resort. Thanks!

 

[mebbradley]

Joining this mix! We're booked for Poly Garden-View for our honeymoon next summer!!

Considering upgrading to CL...Going to wait a month and see if it's still available. if it is...Here we come!!!

 

[mebbradley]

Does the poly have windows that we can decorate from the inside?

I just want to sit two stuffed animals in the window really.

 

[Fruto76]

A little late, but I'm here! Subbing

 

[Gina99]

Hi there!
You folks have made an amazing community! I've never been to Disney before and all of your tips have helped out so much.

I'm wondering if someone would happen to know if you can actually see any fireworks from a Cabana rental?

I have 2 young ones and would love to just sit there and watch them instead of going to the park.

Thank you so much!!!

 

[ireneryan]

Hi there!
You folks have made an amazing community! I've never been to Disney before and all of your tips have helped out so much.

I'm wondering if someone would happen to know if you can actually see any fireworks from a Cabana rental?

I have 2 young ones and would love to just sit there and watch them instead of going to the park.

Thank you so much!!!

Someone else here would be able to answer you more definitively but I'm pretty sure the latest you can get a cabana rental is 7pm so even if you could see the fireworks from there it would be too early for them to be going off. Good idea, though...

 

[disneydreamin247]

Hi there!
You folks have made an amazing community! I've never been to Disney before and all of your tips have helped out so much.

I'm wondering if someone would happen to know if you can actually see any fireworks from a Cabana rental?

I have 2 young ones and would love to just sit there and watch them instead of going to the park.

Thank you so much!!!

If you rent the premium cabana you can rent it until midnight and would be able to view the fireworks. I'm not sure how the view is, as we didn't rent the premium one. I'm not sure how much longer the premium cabana will be available since I've been told that's where they are putting the hot tub.

 

[ireneryan]

If you rent the premium cabana you can rent it until midnight and would be able to view the fireworks. I'm not sure how the view is, as we didn't rent the premium one. I'm not sure how much longer the premium cabana will be available since I've been told that's where they are putting the hot tub.

Ooh I didn't know that about the premium cabana. That's why you guys are sooo awesome!!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Awesome- off to read it!

Question Poly lovers... we are going to spend 8 days in WDW next August. Pretty sure it will be August (ugh, the heat! But I think it might be the best timing option for us)

We know we are going to the Poly. My first thought was to stay there the entire time. Then I started getting real... I have 4 kids! One is a 2 year old- she's the one I worry about. The other kids are awesome hotel stayers- they really are GREAT. the Poly would be fine with them since there's the spare bed. But she's the wild card. Just not sure she will settle down with everyone in the room at night.

Legally, we can all be in 1 room at the Poly until she's 3. And the rooms are pretty good size (at least Tahiti had a little extra space) so I'm ok with that in theory. But I'm beginning to think that for *that* long I will end up regretting us all being in one room.

Getting 2 rooms at Poly is too cost prohibitive for us.

Thinking maybe a split stay- first 5 days at Poly and 3 days somewhere else (either a value with 2 rooms, like the new little mermaid rooms, or the mods would even be the same as one room at Poly I think) or the cabins (which we stayed at before and LOVED) Just thinking that after a few days of closeness, we may want to have more space.

BUT... then I don't really want to start at the Poly and down grade, KWIM? I suppose we could start at the other resort and move over to the Poly, but I am concerned about going from bigger spaces to smaller one.

What would you do? Anyone have an extended stay in one room with the family? I'm not worried about moving everyone- that's not a huge issue to me. It's just trying to decide if we might need to have more space on this long of a trip.

Since it's August, we will be in the room for naps, and will be at the resort more than we were when we went in May. Then we were there literally to shower and sleep at night, with a mid day nap some days. We only hit the pools once or twice I think. Most of our trip was in the parks.

August though--- we will be in the room more, and swimming more, and just hanging at the resort more. And if it rains (like it does in August!) then I suspect it might even be more time than we first thought!

Anyone have experience with split stays- or wish you had done one?

Ideally, 2 rooms at the Poly is what I'd do. But I don't think we can budget for that. And still eat.

WOW! That is a conundrum. While I have no experience with split stays or large families in a hotel room......I will still offer my two cents. LOL

As much as I love the Poly, I cannot see two adults and four children crammed in one hotel room with one bathroom for 8 days..... Given you have 4 children, I will assume that MK is going to be a very frequented park both daytime and evening visits. AND it is the park with the biggest hassle when leaving after the fireworks. If I were choosing, it would be all 8 nts at Wilderness Lodge in 2 rooms standard view(hopefully with a discount--at least AAA disc with fingers crossed for bigger rate disc later).

Reasons: Boat service to MK and CR giving you extra transport options for MK and Epcot as well as lots of easy dining options.
Resort is all under one roof which will be a godsend when it is HOT and Humid or when it is pouring rain.
Two rooms will give you more space and 2 bathrooms.
Staying at one resort will eliminate packing up and wasting time switching resorts mid-trip.

Good luck planning

 

[longhorns2]

WOW! That is a conundrum. While I have no experience with split stays or large families in a hotel room......I will still offer my two cents. LOL

As much as I love the Poly, I cannot see two adults and four children crammed in one hotel room with one bathroom for 8 days..... Given you have 4 children, I will assume that MK is going to be a very frequented park both daytime and evening visits. AND it is the park with the biggest hassle when leaving after the fireworks. If I were choosing, it would be all 8 nts at Wilderness Lodge in 2 rooms standard view(hopefully with a discount--at least AAA disc with fingers crossed for bigger rate disc later).

Reasons: Boat service to MK and CR giving you extra transport options for MK and Epcot as well as lots of easy dining options.
Resort is all under one roof which will be a godsend when it is HOT and Humid or when it is pouring rain.
Two rooms will give you more space and 2 bathrooms.
Staying at one resort will eliminate packing up and wasting time switching resorts mid-trip.

Good luck planning

Thanks Amanda--- all very good points! And I know we would LOVE WL.

The problem is I'm not sure I can sell DH on them... he has his heart set on Poly as the main stop. He went there as a kid with his parents and it's his "dream" to take his kids back.

I'm leery about us all in one room too for any major time frame- looking at doing CL so there's the option of the lounge for more space and entertainment options.

We don't usually stick around MK (or Epcot) for fireworks unless there's EMH afterwards, and then we stick that out until the end, so the traffic isn't as bad. But the last time we did all this it was without the baby---- sooooo, that has to be factored in.

She's pretty go with the flow for the most part, but August and the heat and being 2... well, I'm not counting on her being the best late night traveler! But that's also why I wanted Poly- to be closest (and easiest with monorail- not interested in CR) to get her home if we need to get out earlier than the other kids.

It's going to be a pain, no matter how we work it out I suppose.

I may have to lay this out with DH and give him the WL option. It's not a hardship at all to stay there- we love it. But he's just kinda set on Poly. We have stayed long term in a one room situation before and it's not horrible --- but it's not ideal for sure.

 

[Gina99]

Someone else here would be able to answer you more definitively but I'm pretty sure the latest you can get a cabana rental is 7pm so even if you could see the fireworks from there it would be too early for them to be going off. Good idea, though...

Darn! They said on the phone I can stay as long as I like that day so that's great to know. Thank you!!!