ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: Summer 2011 Edition!

[travelforfun]

I know there's a thread elsewhere about this, but I wanted to ask here... For those who have recently returned: Any sightings of the old cartoon loop channel? My kids are, well, addicted to it, so I want to be prepared if it's gone. Thanks!

We stayed in Hawaii Building in August. The cartoons were gone from room TV. However, my children we able to watch them on the CL lounge TV's. Last Summer 2010 at the Poly, the cartoons were on the room TV's. We were disappointed they were not on the room TV this past Summer.

 

[cricketgirl]

We stayed in Hawaii Building in August. The cartoons were gone from room TV. However, my children we able to watch them on the CL lounge TV's. Last Summer 2010 at the Poly, the cartoons were on the room TV's. We were disappointed they were not on the room TV this past Summer.

Did you feel the CL was worth the price? I'm having buyers remorse I guess now very worried about it.
Lori

 

[travelforfun]

Did you feel the CL was worth the price? I'm having buyers remorse I guess now very worried about it.
Lori

I can only explain it this way. We had stayed at the Polynesian 2x before, 10 nights each in regular Garden View Rooms. It is one of our favorite Deluxe Resorts. We wanted to try CL and we did for 14 nights. CL was worth the experience to our family one time, not the price. If we did not do it at least once, we would have always regretted not staying CL. So I guess it was worth the price for one trip. Go with your gut. This way you won't have any regrets. We are glad we stayed there.

 

[sargenca]

Glad to hear you had a fantastic trip!!! Question about adding your tickets...normally we buy a package that includes tickets but with the military discount we can only do room and dining...we are actually buying our tickets through AAA with a slight discount...would they be able to add those to our KTTW cards. I've been annoyed by the fact that we would have to carry the KTTW and park tickets separately.

I do think you can add any ticket to your KTTW except for some packages. I like doing it for the same reason...one less item to carry. I would highly suggest making copies of the back of the tickets just in case something were to happen to them prior to getting them added to your room key (speaking from experience here!!)

Here is the info from a "sticky" post on the theme park thread. Look at entry #12. It explains how it works in more detail. I hope it works for you!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

 

[padawans]

Glad to hear you had a fantastic trip!!! Question about adding your tickets...normally we buy a package that includes tickets but with the military discount we can only do room and dining...we are actually buying our tickets through AAA with a slight discount...would they be able to add those to our KTTW cards. I've been annoyed by the fact that we would have to carry the KTTW and park tickets separately.

Can't you get discounted military tickets? Are planning on returning in 2013? Annual passes would be a great way to save money on a future trip if your able to return a few weeks before your AP's expire.

 

[cricketgirl]

I can only explain it this way. We had stayed at the Polynesian 2x before, 10 nights each in regular Garden View Rooms. It is one of our favorite Deluxe Resorts. We wanted to try CL and we did for 14 nights. CL was worth the experience to our family one time, not the price. If we did not do it at least once, we would have always regretted not staying CL. So I guess it was worth the price for one trip. Go with your gut. This way you won't have any regrets. We are glad we stayed there.

Thanks.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I just emailed Poly IPO and this is what they said about the coffee makers as of today:

The coffee makers in our King Kamehameha Club rooms still have the standard coffee makers. The coffee makers in the Tonga Suites building have the keurig single shot makers, which may be why you have read conflicting reports. You have booked the King Kamehameha Club, so your rooms will have the standard coffee pot.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Can't you get discounted military tickets? Are planning on returning in 2013? Annual passes would be a great way to save money on a future trip if your able to return a few weeks before your AP's expire.

Yes, we could get the discounted tickets, but they only come as 4 day hoppers and you can only buy 6 at a time, and there are 4 of us...and we would need 8...and...yeah, just easier to buy elsewhere. We aren't planning on going back until Feb 2014 after this next trip - unless we get a sweet bounceback deal while we are there...

 

[esmerelda51]

Are the laundary machines still using quarters? Itought I read someplaces had switched over to the KTTW card?

 

[travelforfun]

Are the laundary machines still using quarters? Itought I read someplaces had switched over to the KTTW card?

I was hoping for the same this past Summer. In August, they were still using quarters. It is 8 quarters for the washer and 8 quarters for the dryer. There is a machine that will convert a dollar bill to quarters.

 

[huntconn]

Has it been announced officially that there is going to be an announcement tomorrow regarding the possible changes at the Poly? I personally am freaking out at the prospect of the Poly changing. If they are rebuilding the Poly, I sure as hell hope they keep the same design or the Poly will be losing much of what has made it such a unique resort.

 

[crostorfer]

Has it been announced officially that there is going to be an announcement tomorrow regarding the possible changes at the Poly? I personally am freaking out at the prospect of the Poly changing. If they are rebuilding the Poly, I sure as hell hope they keep the same design or the Poly will be losing much of what has made it such a unique resort.

I'd bet dollars to donuts that they are going to make an Aulani clone. I'm sad too. I actually adore the whole "Brady Bunch goes to Hawaii" feel there. It's nostalgic and original. I will miss it immensely. We'll find out tomorrow.

That said PLEASE let the construction not start until late 2012 or Jan 2013. I want to squeeze in one more trip in it's current state.

 

[padawans]

Are the laundary machines still using quarters? Itought I read someplaces had switched over to the KTTW card?

In May they were still using quarters.

 

[padawans]

I'd bet dollars to donuts that they are going to make an Aulani clone. I'm sad too. I actually adore the whole "Brady Bunch goes to Hawaii" feel there. It's nostalgic and original. I will miss it immensely. We'll find out tomorrow.

That said PLEASE let the construction not start until late 2012 or Jan 2013. I want to squeeze in one more trip in it's current state.

That would stink. Then it would be like AKL(Aulani and akl have the same architect) where you have to walk a mile through the long confusing hallways to get to your room. A pool like the one at Aulani wouldn't be such a bad thing.

 

[mickeynut1]

Has it been announced officially that there is going to be an announcement tomorrow regarding the possible changes at the Poly? I personally am freaking out at the prospect of the Poly changing.

I hope something comes out tomorrow because I can't stand the waiting. We love the Poly and I am in the beginning planning stages for a July 2012 trip, but it concerns me about the time frame for when things will start....not to mention wondering what they are going to do the resort .

I'd bet dollars to donuts that they are going to make an Aulani clone. I'm sad too. I actually adore the whole "Brady Bunch goes to Hawaii" feel there. It's nostalgic and original. I will miss it immensely. We'll find out tomorrow.

I will be very sad if they do that . We love the Poly the way it is and depending on what they do and how they do it, we may be finding a new favorite resort .

 

[crostorfer]

That would stink. Then it would be like AKL(Aulani and akl have the same architect) where you have to walk a mile through the long confusing hallways to get to your room. A pool like the one at Aulani wouldn't be such a bad thing.

The pool like Aulani's would be great, but they are so cramped for space right there, I have no idea how they would do it unless they leveled Samoa as well and reduced the width of the new GCH. They don't have any space to move outward in either direction, I think all they can do is go up and make it a high rise there.

*SIGH* I understand change has to come, but seriously, this makes me sad. I'm sure when it's all said and done it will be beautiful, (and $800 a night for a lagoon view peak season.) But no Poly, and no 'Ohana or Lapu Lapu's for a year while they are building is going to push me to stay on site at Universal.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

The pool like Aulani's would be great, but they are so cramped for space right there, I have no idea how they would do it unless they leveled Samoa as well and reduced the width of the new GCH. They don't have any space to move outward in either direction, I think all they can do is go up and make it a high rise there.

*SIGH* I understand change has to come, but seriously, this makes me sad. I'm sure when it's all said and done it will be beautiful, (and $800 a night for a lagoon view peak season.) But no Poly, and no 'Ohana or Lapu Lapu's for a year while they are building is going to push me to stay on site at Universal.

You are a diehard Poly fan for sure! I don't think anything could keep me completely away from WDW. We love the Poly but we also love YC/BC and AKL/Kidani. We did Universal last summer and got pretty bored after 3 days. Maybe you guys could find another resort you like?

 

[204charity]

I am so anxious to hear the big announcement tomorrow on the Anniversary! Hoping it's nothing TOO serious, but with surveyors being spotted all over the resort measuing etc, it's hard to imagine otherwise.

This will be our only trip to Disney for at least another 5-10 years, so we don't want to be dissapointed in any way.

 

[1971DBday]

Are the laundary machines still using quarters? Itought I read someplaces had switched over to the KTTW card?

Still quarters in early October.

Can anyone tell me what posts have discussion or recomendations on which cabanas would be best to request. We are going late February, do you think it will be too cold to think about a cabana? Or too late to book one if we decided we wanted to try? Haven't stayed at the Poly in at least 5 - 6 years. SO GLAD we are going now, hopefully before any changes are made. Thanks so much everyone!

I didn't like the hour options, so I waited until we got there and I was so glad I did! The weather ended up being awful the majority of our trip (only 5 1/2) days this time.

Our last day ended up being gorgeous so we rented from noon to 4 p.m., which worked well for us. We rented Mauna Kea and had more sun then Mauna Lea from noon to 4 p.m..

Our cabana:

Views (standing - I couldn't see the pool slide when laying down)

Other cabana:

 

[stm61]

Yes, we could get the discounted tickets, but they only come as 4 day hoppers and you can only buy 6 at a time, and there are 4 of us...and we would need 8...and...yeah, just easier to buy elsewhere. We aren't planning on going back until Feb 2014 after this next trip - unless we get a sweet bounceback deal while we are there...

have you checked the Stars and Stripes length of stay tickets? We were in a similar situation last June. I worked out cheaper for us to buy the 6 tickets, have 3 people each use 2 of those, then buy a Stars & Stripes pass for the 4th person. Unless you're staying longer then 8 days, then I'd probably just buy the Stars tickets for everybody.