ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: September 2012

[maiapapaya]

I just went to My Disney Experience and on the lower right hand side there is a little blue box and it says Get Set! Click on pre-arrival check list and at the bottom it should say, "Guests at Walt Disney World Resort hotels may also:
Check-in online up to 60 days before arrival". I got 17 more days

Unfortunately if you are connecting to WDW's website from a non-American URL you can't even access My Disney Experience online. It just automatically goes to the old website. There is no way to manually redirect yourself (unless you get a fake URL generator program like heidia suggested - which didn't seem to work for me either, gah!) If nothing else I'd like to at least be able to check things out.

 

[kpitarresi]

Hi Polys!
This is our first time going to Disney as a family and we have decided to stay at Poly (So Excited!!!!). Are there any beachside standard rooms? Also, what longhouse would you recommend for two young boys (2 & 6)? TIA

 

[Elinor Dashwood]

Is the walkway from the Polynesian to the Grand Floridian open with all of the construction now? We have a breakfast planned for the Grand Floridian and prefer just walking the path there.

 

[maiapapaya]

Hi Polys!
This is our first time going to Disney as a family and we have decided to stay at Poly (So Excited!!!!). Are there any beachside standard rooms? Also, what longhouse would you recommend for two young boys (2 & 6)? TIA

No. These are rooms that used to be known as "garden view" and there are none that are on the beach side of any of the long houses. Those are all either the lagoon view or theme park view rooms.

If you have standard view, with two young kids I would suggest requesting Samoa, volcano pool side. In that location you are right near the GCH (shops, restaurants, monorail platform) and the pool/beach. It is currently under refurb, but *should* be reopening near the beginning of April if they keep on time with the work.

Good choice in picking Poly! Most people who stay there love it!

 

[heidia]

Excellent!

I'm a little bummed/concerned though ... I tried your suggestion heidia and it didn't work - got the same old WDW site plus a lot of annoying pop-up ads!

Sometimes I have to disconnect and reconnect a time or two to get it to work (it uses US and I think Australian?? IP addresses, so sometimes it takes a few tries to get a US one).

But I only have the free version too and dont get any popups, so that part is weird. Maybe I have an older version. I know there are other programs out there that will do the same thing that might be better (less popups).

Honestly, you aren't missing much! The new site sucks too! Hopefully they will roll it out for everyone soon!

 

[KingSpeedy]

My online checkin went fine on the new site. Requested Samoa (for May). Was hoping to request a King room as well (the renovated Samoa is rumored to have them), but that might just be something I have to ask for at the desk.

 

[PixieMama]

We will be staying at the Poly for the first time in October... since I've never stayed there I've been doing lots of reading up on the resort. Forgive me if this has already been asked/addressed:

I *think* I want to request Rapa Nui or Tokelau for our stay. The info I found regarding the renovations has Rapa Nui scheduled to start Aug 11, and that makes me nervous they won't be done in time for our trip (if there are any delays, that is). But with 5 people (3 of which are adults!) I'm thinking not a good idea to have just one sink, as I've read Tokelau has. Once the room renovations have been done, will there still be only one sink in Tokelau? Or will there be two? TIA!

 

[kpitarresi]

No. These are rooms that used to be known as "garden view" and there are none that are on the beach side of any of the long houses. Those are all either the lagoon view or theme park view rooms.

If you have standard view, with two young kids I would suggest requesting Samoa, volcano pool side. In that location you are right near the GCH (shops, restaurants, monorail platform) and the pool/beach. It is currently under refurb, but *should* be reopening near the beginning of April if they keep on time with the work.

Good choice in picking Poly! Most people who stay there love it!

Thanks for the info! I think I am gonna take your advice and request Samoa, 1st floor, volcano pool side. If they can't fill my request at check in can you request something else? What do you think of Tokelau? Thanks again!!!

 

[princessap]

We stayed at Tokelau and it was a great location and the room was very spacious....my first choice would have been Samoa but it was under renovations...we will request Tokelau again next year...my girls loved seeing the CR and space mountain from our balcony and I cannot count how many times we walked to the stairs at the end of the hallway outside to look at the castle!

 

[Lita]

I will be able to check in online for my first Poly stay in 5 days! I will be there from May 23-29th. I would like to request Rarotonga. I am guessing that it should be ready by then. I would also like Samoa, but I am seeing that Samoa is a popular longhouse. I would like to increase my chances of getting a refurbished room, so I am a choosing Rarotonga. My question about Rarotonga is are the rooms that are on the monorail side noisy? That is my only concern with that longhouse. The reviews that I've seen for Rarotonga have been positive. I do know that all requests don't get granted, so I will be happy with whatever I get.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[bjs1228]

We are checking into the Poly on May 21st for 4 nights and then we will move on to Universal for 2 nights. This is our second time to stay at the Poly and third Disney trip. Last March, we stayed in Rarotonga and really like the location. We spend from morning until night in the parks so location to the GCH for monorail service was our main priority. I am also debating which longhouse to request during online checkin. I am hopeful Rarotonga will be finished! Samoa sounds wonderful too.

 

[digdoug]

My online checkin went fine on the new site. Requested Samoa (for May). Was hoping to request a King room as well (the renovated Samoa is rumored to have them), but that might just be something I have to ask for at the desk.

I'm hoping that's possible. I just did it for my May 19th trip. I'd rather have a King sized bed in any longhouse, but it wasn't an option.

 

[gmi3804]

I'm hoping that's possible. I just did it for my May 19th trip. I'd rather have a King sized bed in any longhouse, but it wasn't an option.

I just booked a room yesterday at Poly for 9/28-10-6, and the King Bed request box was on the CM's Request list.

 

[digdoug]

I just booked a room yesterday at Poly for 9/28-10-6, and the King Bed request box was on the CM's Request list.

I just did the checkin from My Disney Experience, and it wasn't on those checkboxes. I'll have to trust my travel agent requested that.

 

[hollygolitely93]

We are going last week October...first time at poly...my six year old requested this resort as the tiki torches fascinate him. Ha!

I am wondering about long houses to request...

Our priority is:

1. Room condition (have any been remodeled recently)
2. Proximity to counter Service
3. Proximity to main pool

We will be walking to monorail or buses every day, swimming two afternoons, and napping in the room with toddler! Hence my priorities!

 

[JackStraw]

Are you able to purchase adult beverages from Tambu Lounge to go? Would like to make a cocktail run after kids are drift off to sleep so that my wife and I can watch fireworks from room and decompress

 

[sjs314]

Booked our November stay at be Poly yesterday now the planning can commence! We are so excited, first time staying at the Poly!

228 Days to go!

 

[trishadono]

Are you able to purchase adult beverages from Tambu Lounge to go? Would like to make a cocktail run after kids are drift off to sleep so that my wife and I can watch fireworks from room and decompress

Tambu lounge is one of my fav spots! I have often asked to have my drink put in plastic so I can walk the grounds. I do this instead of getting it outside because they make the drinks better. You can also order some drinks via room service.
Enjoy!

 

[maiapapaya]

We are going last week October...first time at poly...my six year old requested this resort as the tiki torches fascinate him. Ha!

I am wondering about long houses to request...

Our priority is:

1. Room condition (have any been remodeled recently)
2. Proximity to counter Service
3. Proximity to main pool

We will be walking to monorail or buses every day, swimming two afternoons, and napping in the room with toddler! Hence my priorities!

Samoa is what I would recommend for you too! It meets all of your requirements ... it's currently under refurb, it's very close to the GCH and right beside the volcano pool and the quiet pool (you should specify which side if you make a request)!

Tambu lounge is one of my fav spots! I have often asked to have my drink put in plastic so I can walk the grounds. I do this instead of getting it outside because they make the drinks better. You can also order some drinks via room service.
Enjoy!

We've also taken drinks in pineapples to go from Tambu!

 

[trishadono]

We've also taken drinks in pineapples to go from Tambu![/QUOTE]

Well, aren't you fancy? Sounds good to me!