ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: September 2012

[Tinkerbellie16]

I apologize if this has already been asked (I did search the thread and didn't find this info)...

Can anyone tell me what other resorts the Poly shares buses with? Particularly going to AK, HS, and DTD (or what stops are between DTD and they Poly, for example: Typhoon Lagoon)? I'm thinking it may be worth driving to those locations...

TIA!

If you have a car, I highly recommend driving to the water parks and Downtown Disney - and I recommend that for ANY Disney resort!!! The Typhoon Lagoon/DTD bus is one of the longest bus rides due to the amount of stops and sometimes the traffic near DTD. And while the Blizzard Beach bus is a tad better (sometimes and if so, not by much), the parking is really easy at the water parks. At the water parks and DTD, parking is free and adjacent to the area you are visiting.

I have not driven to AK or HS from the Poly - I have only taken the bus. I would like to get some feedback on this as well. No matter what, I take the buses for the evenings but for the morning park, I wonder if it would be better. But I'm not a rope drop person - I arrive within an hour of park opening.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Can anyone tell me the dinning options for the premium cabanas?

I have only rented a regular cabana so I can only give you feedback on the regular cabana (but I believe its the same for the premium as well). The cabana comes stocked with cold sodas and water in a small fridge and they also have a HUGE fruit plate - all of this is included in the rental. They do offer dining service to the cabana but it is just done through their room service so the prices and menu were similar to the room service menu. But with anything at Disney, you can arrange for any sort of dining in your cabana - for the right price

Since the pool area and cabanas are so close to Captain cooks, I went there and ordered and brought it back to the cabana for everyone. There is also a pool bar (which is practically right next to the premium cabana) that serves drinks and some chips but not much else for food.

Your attendant can help you with more sodas and water or towels but they don't get food for you (like at the bar). I personally think they should. I also remember back in 2007 sitting by the volcano pool (pre-cabana days) and they had a nice pool waitress that took orders. I miss that! Universal resorts still provide this service though...just saying...

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Not sure if I should post this here or on the restaurant board but I thought I'd try here first.

I know Capn Cooks has a Dole Whip machine but do they have pineapple juice so I can make my own float? Just wondering if I need to add pineapple juice to my grocery list.

I don't recall Captain Cooks or the shop upstairs having pineapple juice. On the first page of this thread, guitarob also posted the pictures of the drink coolers next to the dole whip machine and there is no pineapple juice in the picture. That does not mean that they won't add this to their menu but based on past experience, I have not seen it there. But you could get a cup of pineapple juice at the pool bar or Tambu lounge. I'm not sure of the cost, but they do use pineapple juice for their drinks.

If you really need it, then add it to your grocery list. If you are flying and bringing things from home, Dole has these small cans (maybe 6oz?) that you could pack in your suitcase.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Aloha everyone,

I am going to be surprising my kids with a Poly GVCL stay for 5nights in June. It is their favorite place in the world. They think we are staying the whole time in the condo at Reunion Resort. Any Ideas on how to surprise them once we are there. Although I would like to wait until the day of checkout, my DS 16 gets the Disney blues a couple of days before we have to leave, and I do not want to have to put him through that, I think.

Thanks for your help!!!

Do you mean you are staying at the Reunion condo then switching to the Poly? Is the surprise just the Poly or CL or the extra days?

 

[Alli76]

Hi here now everything is great. But heads up One of the regular cabanas is gone. I walked by and noticed because we had both booked for Wednesday (we have a large party). The club staff didn't even know had to walk out to confirm. so they are workin with me now.

 

[chasgoose]

Aloha everyone,

I am going to be surprising my kids with a Poly GVCL stay for 5nights in June. It is their favorite place in the world. They think we are staying the whole time in the condo at Reunion Resort. Any Ideas on how to surprise them once we are there. Although I would like to wait until the day of checkout, my DS 16 gets the Disney blues a couple of days before we have to leave, and I do not want to have to put him through that, I think.

Thanks for your help!!!

I mean the easiest solution would be to just make the surprise going to the Poly, that way your DS won't go through the trip is ending blues twice. There are two other reasons to recommend this. First, springing surprise extra days on teenagers can backfire if they have made plans with their friends back home or something. You might not get the reaction you were expecting. Second, an 11 day trip (with some of those nights at an on-site resort) is a very different beast than a 6 day trip. The luxury of that length of a trip is you get time to relax and not have to go crazy at the parks every day you are there. If your kids don't know about the extra days, they might try to cram everything they want to do into the first six days and/or get frustrated when you try to slow things down and don't satisfactorily explain why. That's why I would probably tell them to plan for an 11 day trip at the Reunion Resort and then surprise them when the time comes to head over to the Poly.

 

[Armycavprincess]

We will be at the poly May 19-25 GVCL !! How many people go to the beach to watch the fireworks? I want to know how crowded it will be? Should I plan to watch from the beach or the club area? How is the pool this time of year? Will it be crazy? This is our 2nd trip to wdw and poly. We camr in Oct 2010, but never went to the pool or saw the fireworks. I hope with the kids being older (6&4) we might get to do more this trip.

 

[rcraw45425]

I mean the easiest solution would be to just make the surprise going to the Poly, that way your DS won't go through the trip is ending blues twice. There are two other reasons to recommend this. First, springing surprise extra days on teenagers can backfire if they have made plans with their friends back home or something. You might not get the reaction you were expecting. Second, an 11 day trip (with some of those nights at an on-site resort) is a very different beast than a 6 day trip. The luxury of that length of a trip is you get time to relax and not have to go crazy at the parks every day you are there. If your kids don't know about the extra days, they might try to cram everything they want to do into the first six days and/or get frustrated when you try to slow things down and don't satisfactorily explain why. That's why I would probably tell them to plan for an 11 day trip at the Reunion Resort and then surprise them when the time comes to head over to the Poly.

You are so right about springing surprises on teenagers! When we came home from AKL in January I booked a surprise trip for June 2-6 at the Polynesian for our older daughter's graduation (6/1) and 18th birthday (6/19). Made my ADRs , had everything lined up, etc. Let my younger daughter in on it. Decided to tell older daughter about it and didn't get the response I hoped for. She did not want to leave on 6/2, the Poly was tacky (our last stay there in '04 was less than stellar), blah, blah, blah. Then she says let's not go until 6/3 so she can spend time with her friends. fine, moved everything around. Then I booked a room only at POR for 6/2 so we could get an early start on Monday morning in a park. Then she says, wait, lets just go on 6/2because I have to be home on 6/6 so I can go to the airport on 6/7 to see my friends off. So many changes!

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I mean the easiest solution would be to just make the surprise going to the Poly, that way your DS won't go through the trip is ending blues twice. There are two other reasons to recommend this. First, springing surprise extra days on teenagers can backfire if they have made plans with their friends back home or something. You might not get the reaction you were expecting. Second, an 11 day trip (with some of those nights at an on-site resort) is a very different beast than a 6 day trip. The luxury of that length of a trip is you get time to relax and not have to go crazy at the parks every day you are there. If your kids don't know about the extra days, they might try to cram everything they want to do into the first six days and/or get frustrated when you try to slow things down and don't satisfactorily explain why. That's why I would probably tell them to plan for an 11 day trip at the Reunion Resort and then surprise them when the time comes to head over to the Poly.

Great points. I think I will tell all of them about the duration and save the moving to the Poly till we are there. Thanks!!!!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

I did call 407-W-Disney. The first agent told me since my mom was handicapped she would request the Hawaii building for us with rooms adjacent to each other. After doing research on my own I learned the Hawaii building was the club building so we had no chance of getting that requested building. I then learned 2 handicapped rooms will never be adjacent that they are spread out. The agent also suggested I get a handicapped room incase my mother wanted to come into my room with her scooter that the handicapped rooms are bigger. When my wife called another day, got another agent she was told all rooms are the same size and the chance of getting 2 handicapped rooms together were not possible and we would possibly not even be on the same floor. My wife called back because she felt bad requesting and taking a handicapped room away from someone who may actually need it when we do not and my mother-in-law can have her own handicapped room why take 2 rooms? I then called back again to take the Hawaii request off and I asked for a building where construction was done already since my mother would surely rest during the day and I wouldn't want her next to construction. The agent told me she didn't have the construction list so whe couldn't tell me which rooms were done but assured me it wasn't heavy construction so my mom wouldn't be bothered. Then I came across Tiki Man website and he has the total list of construction! How is that possible when a Disney agent doesn't have the list? Very misled, they need to better train these Disney travel agents because they are giving false information, requesting rooms for people they have no chance of getting and it's a shame Tiki man can't book reservations he seems to be the most knowledgeable!!

The Cast Members that answer the Disney reservations line are not Travel Agents - they are sales agents at a call center. It's unfortunate, but many of them do not have all the information they need to do their jobs properly.

Tikiman has an "in" with someone who has inside knowledge of things going on at Poly. That construction schedule is definitely not public, and I believe the CM that they didn't have the info. Disney also likes to keep their construction schedules private so that if they have delays they aren't held to previously announced dates. It seems everything else that CM told you was correct. The first one, however, should not be doing that job!!! It's a shame that all too often people here know much more than the people working there.

Exactly!

 

[Disney_Princess83]

The Cast Members that answer the Disney reservations line are not Travel Agents - they are sales agents at a call center. It's unfortunate, but many of them do not have all the information they need to do their jobs properly.

Exactly!

The problem is when you call Disney, you're usually calling a call centre. Often these aren't even in Orlando and more often then not the person you're speaking to has never even been on Florida, let alone Disney World.

 

[Alli76]

Hi here now everything is great. But heads up One of the regular cabanas is gone. I walked by and noticed because we had both booked for Wednesday (we have a large party). The club staff didn't even know had to walk out to confirm. so they are workin with me now.

Update... I love the club staff. They really helped me out. We are now booked for the premium cabana. Not exactly what I wanted but because it is farther from the pool. But at least we have something where we will all fit.

 

[PixieMama]

Update... I love the club staff. They really helped me out. We are now booked for the premium cabana. Not exactly what I wanted but because it is farther from the pool. But at least we have something where we will all fit.

Do you know if the "missing" cabana is just a temporary thing? Or will they now only have 1 regular and 1 premium? I just booked a "regular" one for a half-day on our October trip...

 

[sjs314]

Do you know if the "missing" cabana is just a temporary thing? Or will they now only have 1 regular and 1 premium? I just booked a "regular" one for a half-day on our October trip...

My first trip staying at the Poly in November and we are planing on reserving a Cabana for a half day also. I just called yesterday to get all the details so on 5/7 my 180 day I will be prepared. I had no idea there was only 1 regular and 1 premium I just sorta thought the Poly had 4 like CR

 

[disneymomma76]

I'm sorry if this has been asked before. I've read some of the 100+ pages, but decided to just ask.

What time do the Monorail, buses, and boats start and end? I am more thinking for EMH mornings and evenings. First time staying at the Poly!

Thanks!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

My first trip staying at the Poly in November and we are planing on reserving a Cabana for a half day also. I just called yesterday to get all the details so on 5/7 my 180 day I will be prepared. I had no idea there was only 1 regular and 1 premium I just sorta thought the Poly had 4 like CR

I believe they had 3 Sheila. Two regular - by the pool. And one premium - more on the beach. Not sure what's going on with one missing now...

 

[sjs314]

I believe they had 3 Sheila. Two regular - by the pool. And one premium - more on the beach. Not sure what's going on with one missing now...

I been thinking about the missing Cabana and maybe that is where they plan on putting the hotub that the Poly is suppose to get?

Thanks for the info that there use to be 2 regular Cabanas, will make sure to call now right at 7am to reserve it. Bob liked the idea of renting the cabana when I showed him the pictures and I really want him to fall in love with the Poly.

 

[Alli76]

I believe they had 3 Sheila. Two regular - by the pool. And one premium - more on the beach. Not sure what's going on with one missing now...

It is weird. The club staff didn't really know what is going on either so I don't know if it is a temporary thing or permanent. I hope that they don't put a hot tub there. I liked that the spot for the cabanas was kind of secluded. A hot tub there will really take away from the privacy and peacefulness of the cabana. I will try and find it more details as the week goes by.

 

[Mommy to Kayla]

Hi, I'm still very new to DIS and I have a quick question that I hope someone can answer. My family is headed to WDW for our first trip June 24-July 5. We are doing a split stay, half at the BC and half at the Poly CL theme park view. I was just wondering if anyone knows if all CL theme park views have a balcony? I looked around and it sounds like just the third floor rooms have a balcony? Is that true? Should I make a request for a 3rd floor room? And has anyone stayed in one of these rooms? I'm so excited for our first upcoming trip!!

 

[chasgoose]

Hi, I'm still very new to DIS and I have a quick question that I hope someone can answer. My family is headed to WDW for our first trip June 24-July 5. We are doing a split stay, half at the BC and half at the Poly CL theme park view. I was just wondering if anyone knows if all CL theme park views have a balcony? I looked around and it sounds like just the third floor rooms have a balcony? Is that true? Should I make a request for a 3rd floor room? And has anyone stayed in one of these rooms? I'm so excited for our first upcoming trip!!

Since the clearest sight lines to the MK are from the third floor I think the majority of the TPV CL rooms have balconies, but I would specifically request a balcony to make sure. Only requesting third floor might not make it clear to the room assigner that the balcony is what is important to you.