ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: September 2012

[mickeynut1]

We'll be at the Poly for the first time at the end of May! So excited! Our TA put in a room request for Samoa, first floor but I don't think I told her Volcano pool side. Does anyone know what the odds are of getting a request that specific - (Samoa, first floor, volcano pool side)? If we can't get pool side, we really don't need first floor. I don't like to cause problems at check in and have them change things around and I don't usually do room requests. Any advice?

Don't feel bad about asking for a different room at check in if your requests aren't met with the original room. If a room that meets your requests will be available later on and you're willing to wait, the CMs are usually willing to accommodate you. For our Poly stay, I requested exactly what you want (Samoa, first floor, volcano pool side...in that order). Upon check in (which was very late, around 1:00 a.m.), the first two requests were met, with the 3rd being met if we wanted to change rooms the next day. Since we had a late flight and got in very late, we decided to stay put and get settled, but I thought it was very nice of the CM to offer to move us the following morning. While we didn't have a view of the volcano pool, we had a great room with a pretty view of the quiet pool. Good luck .

 

[RaniNTink]

We just got back form staying at Aotearoa for three nights. It was our first stay and we enjoyed the room, view and CM's. IT was cold and e could not enjoy the pool, we did not see signs of remodeling which I was nervous about. Great time, ould do it again.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Can anyone currently or soon to be, staying in the Hawaii building let me know if king beds are now part of the remodel?
Thanks!

I'm checking in on Saturday for one night before we go on the Disney Dream. I didn't request a King bed just third floor (we have CL Garden). I don't recall there being an option for online check-in to request that? I wasn't looking for it so I can't say for sure..sorry!

 

[disneydreamin247]

I'm checking in on Saturday for one night before we go on the Disney Dream. I didn't request a King bed just third floor (we have CL Garden). I don't recall there being an option for online check-in to request that? I wasn't looking for it so I can't say for sure..sorry!

I believe they would be considered a handicap accessible room, however and not just a king sized bed.

 

[disneydreamin247]

This is good to know. A few years ago when I was booking our first trip I asked the CM on the phone about AAA discounts and they said they didn't have any (although I had read about them on the DIS, so thought you had to deal directly with AAA for them). Fortunately we've had a few pins/BB's so it has worked out ok. I'll keep this in mind for possible future use though.

If you need a package it has to be through them, but a room only can go straight through Disney! I booked through AAA once and luckily Disney offered a better discount so I could drop the terrible agent I was linked to. I didn't know they charged a cancellation fee though! I think it was around $25, but it was 5 years ago so I could be wrong.

 

[DelaneyJ]

20 days until our trip!! Woohoo. I am really liking the renovations. I requested the Samoa Longhouse. I wonder what the chances are that it will be done by April 7th?

 

[hebbynan]

6 months from today we will be checking in and heading off to Typhoon Lagoon!! Cannot wait!!

Now we just need to decide if we're going to fly or drive. Hmmm....

 

[clanmcculloch]

I just saw mention about what was called " Dessert & Fireworks" at Captain Cooks as if it was something like the Dessert Party in MK at TT??? They were asking about using the DP.

My question is .......Is there a thing? I am so confused since Cap'ts Cooks is not a place you make ADRs at.

The only thing I can think of is that quite some time ago earlier in this thread (I think it was earlier in this thread anyway) somebody was asking if it's possible to get some desserts to go from Captain Cook's and bring them down to the beach to create their own personal dessert party while watching the fireworks. This would not be anything organized by Disney. It's just somebody buying their own selection of desserts from Captain Cook's and sitting down eating them while watching Wishes from the beach.

 

[pixarmom]

We'll be at the Poly for the first time at the end of May! So excited! Our TA put in a room request for Samoa, first floor but I don't think I told her Volcano pool side. Does anyone know what the odds are of getting a request that specific - (Samoa, first floor, volcano pool side)? If we can't get pool side, we really don't need first floor. I don't like to cause problems at check in and have them change things around and I don't usually do room requests. Any advice?

We don't make requests at most resorts. At BC, we just have one request (full balcony) and at BWI, we have just one (BW view for standard CL.) In January, we requested Samoa, balcony (which means 3rd floor in Samoa), volcano pool side. So I was wondering if there was any way Poly could accomodate such a specific request, and it worked out. We asked for Samoa, balcony, facing volcano pool, and that's precisely what Poly assigned!

I called in my requests to CRO and double checked them about a week before arrival. Then I checked "Samoa" and "balcony" during online check-in about a week in advance, just to reiterate.

We've been very fortunate that our requests at Poly, BC and BWI have always been granted, or the CM at the front desk lets us know that our request can be granted if we are willing to wait a little bit for our room. If you have that flexibility and don't need your room ready right away, that might help!

 

[angbuz]

6 months from today we will be checking in and heading off to Typhoon Lagoon!! Cannot wait!!

Now we just need to decide if we're going to fly or drive. Hmmm....

We're going in 5 months and we're debating whether to drive or fly. We live in NJ and have never made that drive before.....about 16 1/2 hours. Where are you from and how long of a drive for you???

 

[buzzmom12]

We're going in 5 months and we're debating whether to drive or fly. We live in NJ and have never made that drive before.....about 16 1/2 hours. Where are you from and how long of a drive for you???

We are in south Jersey and decided to drive this year. It will be our first time driving. I am getting some good tips from 2000+ miles thread.

 

[angbuz]

We are in south Jersey and decided to drive this year. It will be our first time driving. I am getting some good tips from 2000+ miles thread.

Ah, we're in South Jersey too! . Thanks for the thread suggestion.....I'll definitely be checking that out!!

 

[princessap]

I have fallen in love with the poly! I am pricing out next years trip and even though I can go offsite for 1/2 the price I don't think I can....I want to see the poly again!

My daughter keeps telling everyone how she saw the castle from the pool at disney! It was one of Rhee favourite parts!

I am counting the days until we can go back!

To everyone heading there soon...enjoy!

 

[hebbynan]

We're going in 5 months and we're debating whether to drive or fly. We live in NJ and have never made that drive before.....about 16 1/2 hours. Where are you from and how long of a drive for you???

It's about 18 hours for us. We're in south central PA. We've driven before. It's not bad. We stop overnight. It's cheaper for the 4 of us to drive than to fly. How sad is that!?

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

For those of you who've done the 60 day online check-in, were your requests met at arrival? Tomorrow is our 60 day mark (woo-hoo!) and we really want to stay in Samoa due to the room renovations and the pool being so close by. My kids love that pool! Thank you.

 

[mickeynut1]

20 days until our trip!! Woohoo. I am really liking the renovations. I requested the Samoa Longhouse. I wonder what the chances are that it will be done by April 7th?

We loved Samoa.....I hope it's finished for your stay .

I called in my requests to CRO and double checked them about a week before arrival.

I do this too. I put requests in when I make our reservation, but I always call a few days prior to arrival to make sure my requests are still there .

I have fallen in love with the poly! I am pricing out next years trip and even though I can go offsite for 1/2 the price I don't think I can....I want to see the poly again!

My daughter keeps telling everyone how she saw the castle from the pool at disney! It was one of Rhee favourite parts!

I am counting the days until we can go back!

To everyone heading there soon...enjoy!

The Poly is hard to resist. We are excited to be returning to the Poly in December .

 

[maiapapaya]

For those of you who've done the 60 day online check-in, were your requests met at arrival? Tomorrow is our 60 day mark (woo-hoo!) and we really want to stay in Samoa due to the room renovations and the pool being so close by. My kids love that pool! Thank you.

Unless things have changed very recently online check-in is at 10 days, not 60 That being said, the one time that we used online check-in we had 2 of our 3 requests met (these requests had been previously made on the phone with CRO - at that time there wasn't anywhere on the online check-in form to specify requests)

 

[sjs314]

Unless things have changed very recently online check-in is at 10 days, not 60 That being said, the one time that we used online check-in we had 2 of our 3 requests met (these requests had been previously made on the phone with CRO - at that time there wasn't anywhere on the online check-in form to specify requests)

I read where they changed it to 60 Days which seems insane to me since so much can happen in 2 months, plus many don't even pay until the 45 Day before

 

[dansdad]

I read where they changed it to 60 Days which seems insane to me since so much can happen in 2 months, plus many don't even pay until the 45 Day before

It has changed to 60 days. The change has been made for the rollout of FastPass+. After they roll out FP+, you will be able to make your FP+ reservations 60 days out as long as you have completed online check-in.

 

[Ferrentinos]

Last night we gave in to the extreme desire to return to the Poly! We changed our July trip from POFQ to the Poly! So excited to go back!! Hoping that most of the renovations will be complete and we will actually get a new room in Rarotonga!!! That's where we stayed in December and it was perfect for us!