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

[iloveeeyore]

Did I hear a nasty rumor that they are going to be working on the Volcano Pool during Feb. 2012??

One of the drawbacks to visiting WDW during the slower winter months is that much "routine maintenance" is done during this time, as it effects fewer guests. This happens particularly with the pools at just about all the resorts. There was a report that the volcano pool slide would be done over a 2-week period in January, but then it was postoned until February. There doesn't seem to be any official info coming directly from Disney, but it is likely that routine maintenance will occur on the volcano slide at some point during the winter. I think it's unlikely it will happen during President's Week.

The good news is that WHEN the volcano slide is "down," guests of the Poly will be allowed and encouraged to use the pools at the GF. In fact, quick transportation, in the form of speedboats, is often provided to shuttle guests back and forth.

 

[iloveeeyore]

We booked our vacation about 10 days ago, and it's taken me about that long to catch up on my favorite DisBoard thread!!

We are so thrilled to be going back to the Poly this summer, checking in on Saturday August 4 for one week GV with deluxe dining! For those who don't remember us, we did a huge celebration trip in the summer of 2010, a split stay at the Poly/AKL CL. We loved AKL CL, but it didn't compare to our beloved Poly! This is the view we had on the third floor of Samoa, and we have requested this view again:

We thought this was a FANTASTIC view and location for a GV price! We know it's only a request, we will be happy with ANY room at the Poly!

We are flying into MCO on Friday, because it is actually cheaper to fly in a day early and stay at a value resort than to fly in on Saturday...plus we can be at the Poly bright and early on Sat. to check in. We've always wanted to try a value resort, but not for a whole week, so this is the perfect opportunity. I booked ASMu and requested Jazz section as both of our teens love Jazz music.

This will be our first DxDDP, so we're excited about that too!

For those Poly 1st timers who have been asking about things not to miss...I agree with all above responses, plus here are a few things I'd like to add or emphasize:

EWP from dock or beach
Torch Lighting Ceremony
Hammocks on beach
Relaxing in Tambu Lounge
Rent Water Mice at Marina SO MUCH FUN!
Wishes from beach (Before you pick a spot, make sure you are standing or sitting near a speaker from which you can hear the Polynesian background music. The Wishes soundtrack is supposed to be played on these speakers.)

ALOHA, friends!!! So thrilled to be back!

 

[shinez]

We booked our vacation about 10 days ago, and it's taken me about that long to catch up on my favorite DisBoard thread!!

We are so thrilled to be going back to the Poly this summer, checking in on Saturday August 4 for one week GV with deluxe dining! For those who don't remember us, we did a huge celebration trip in the summer of 2010, a split stay at the Poly/AKL CL. We loved AKL CL, but it didn't compare to our beloved Poly! This is the view we had on the third floor of Samoa, and we have requested this view again:

We thought this was a FANTASTIC view and location for a GV price! We know it's only a request, we will be happy with ANY room at the Poly!

We are flying into MCO on Friday, because it is actually cheaper to fly in a day early and stay at a value resort than to fly in on Saturday...plus we can be at the Poly bright and early on Sat. to check in. We've always wanted to try a value resort, but not for a whole week, so this is the perfect opportunity. I booked ASMu and requested Jazz section as both of our teens love Jazz music.

This will be our first DxDDP, so we're excited about that too!

For those Poly 1st timers who have been asking about things not to miss...I agree with all above responses, plus here are a few things I'd like to add or emphasize:

EWP from dock or beach
Torch Lighting Ceremony
Hammocks on beach
Relaxing in Tambu Lounge
Rent Water Mice at Marina SO MUCH FUN!
Wishes from beach (Before you pick a spot, make sure you are standing or sitting near a speaker from which you can hear the Polynesian background music. The Wishes soundtrack is supposed to be played on these speakers.)

ALOHA, friends!!! So thrilled to be back!

Holy Cow what a view!!!! Samoa, huh? Hmmm...looking good! Never rented the mice... think this might be the year! Any other tips? How did you go about 'requesting' this room??

 

[shinez]

Hi Polys!
How do you go about requesting a certain longhouse? Clue me in on this one, I would love to try and request a top 2... girl can dream, right??

 

[iloveeeyore]

Holy Cow what a view!!!! Samoa, huh? Hmmm...looking good! Never rented the mice... think this might be the year! Any other tips? How did you go about 'requesting' this room??

We used a travel agent, so I told her to make the request for me at the time that I booked. If I had booked directly through Disney, I would have told them to note my request on my ressie at the time of booking. If you are already booked, you can call either your TA if you used one, or call WDW central reservations to add your request to your reservation.

We wanted a balcony, that was our #1 priority, but we also wanted a lovely view. I had researched (on the Dis and through Tikiman) the kind of view we wanted and requested like this:

"Third floor balcony, preferably in Samoa on the volcano pool side or in Fiji on the marina side." We were thrilled that our request was granted and were on the whole week! We sat on that balcony watching pool games and boats sail and monorail glide. It was awesome! Honestly, there are so many wonderful rooms at the Poly, it's hard to know what's best!

Hope this helps.

ETA: Regarding the water mice, we thought that the price we paid for 30 minute rental of these was some of the best "extra" money we ever spent in WDW. Our faces were hurting from all the smiling we did in that half hour!

 

[sarahb74]

Hi, we have booked our first ever stay at the Poly for this August, and I was wondering how many sockets there are in the room for charging mobiles/cameras/laptops etc as we seem to have a huge number of things that will all need charging at once!

Thanks,
Sarah

 

[Venomhatch]

Hi, we have booked our first ever stay at the Poly for this August, and I was wondering how many sockets there are in the room for charging mobiles/cameras/laptops etc as we seem to have a huge number of things that will all need charging at once!

Thanks,
Sarah

I plan on bringing a surge protector as we are the same.

 

[Tess]

Hi, we have booked our first ever stay at the Poly for this August, and I was wondering how many sockets there are in the room for charging mobiles/cameras/laptops etc as we seem to have a huge number of things that will all need charging at once!

Thanks,
Sarah

There is a power strip on the desk at the Polynesian with the typical amount of outlets--6 I am thinking. There are outlets throughout the rooms, perhaps four with a double outlet. You may have to unplug a lamp from one of those for more outlet access. Hopefully, you won't need more electricity than that--if so--I am thinking you have way too many toys.

I am sure your electronic needs will be accommodated and I hope you enjoy your stay. FYI, there is an Ipod docking station within the clock radio on the nightstand. That might save on some space.

 

[iloveeeyore]

Hi, we have booked our first ever stay at the Poly for this August, and I was wondering how many sockets there are in the room for charging mobiles/cameras/laptops etc as we seem to have a huge number of things that will all need charging at once!

Thanks,
Sarah

I don't remember how many, but I do remember there weren't enough! I recommend bringing a power strip.

 

[disneydreamin247]

We have three iPhones, an ECV, an iPad, and a MiFi to charge and managed just fine everyday.

 

[shinez]

Hi again!!
Looking to see if anyone who had made room/longhouse requests before and then did the online check-in if this interfered with the requests?? How does this all work? Does making requests even work anymore? Thoughts?

 

[disneydreamin247]

Just added an 8th night to our August trip.

 

[maiapapaya]

Hi again!!
Looking to see if anyone who had made room/longhouse requests before and then did the online check-in if this interfered with the requests?? How does this all work? Does making requests even work anymore? Thoughts?

On two previous trips we made requests and did online check-in. Both times we had requested three things - a particular longhouse/third floor/connecting. Both times be did online check-in and received two of or three requests (which I think is pretty good and wouldn't have made a difference if we had done regular check-in.

Yes, making requests still works, although it is never a guarantee. The room assigners will do their best to accommodate you. Figure out what your requests are, prioritize them and then make them in the order of importance, so that the room assigners know which item is the priority for you. For example: "Samoa, volcano pool side, third floor."

Some people won't do online check-in because they think they have a better chance of getting their request (ie. they can try to negociate the room with the front desk CM when checking in). If you don't like the room you are assigned, even with online check-in you still have the ability to try to get a more preferential room. In either case it all depends on availability. Hope this helps!

 

[Debrn]

Last trip stayed in Tokelau loved it. Lagoon view this trip requested Tahiti not sure if I should request 1st or 3rd floor. Usually 3rd for noise factor. But thinking 1st floor would be nice??

 

[204charity]

Last trip stayed in Tokelau loved it. Lagoon view this trip requested Tahiti not sure if I should request 1st or 3rd floor. Usually 3rd for noise factor. But thinking 1st floor would be nice??

I for one only have one real request - 3rd floor! Just for the main reason you said - noise factor. Nothing would bug me more than being exhausted and having a ridiculously excited bouncing around toddler a floor above me that can't sleep! (My cousin just stayed at AKL and had this happen to her not 1, but 2 nights in a row.....really affected her energy level the next day I'm afraid)

 

[204charity]

Here are my shirts I had designed by OrcaPotter and RustManFan! They turned out incredibly well, it was much easier than I thought it would be. OrcaPotter designed the beautiful Polynesian shirt for me, my daughters name is Johanna (pronounced Yo-Hanna) so we wanted to do a play-on-words and incorporate the name of the restaurant into our shirt. Hoping it will help us get a table when we are there, because we have NO ADR's! LOL

[/IMG]

 

[princessbride6205]

Charity - Fun shirts!

I am getting so excited for our trip. DH and I were never sure if the Poly would be to our taste. We mostly stay at the Epcot resorts or Animal Kingdom. But the more I learn about the Poly, the more wonderful it seems! We will definitely check out the EWP and Wishes from the beach. I think we will try the Neverland Club also. DD has never been to any of the kids clubs before. Do they do an open house every day before operating hours? It would be great to have DD see it in person before just dropping her off.

 

[carlnix30]

"hello everyone and welcome to Polynesian resort. Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas."

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[jennyjinx3]

Charity - Fun shirts!

I am getting so excited for our trip. DH and I were never sure if the Poly would be to our taste. We mostly stay at the Epcot resorts or Animal Kingdom. But the more I learn about the Poly, the more wonderful it seems! We will definitely check out the EWP and Wishes from the beach. I think we will try the Neverland Club also. DD has never been to any of the kids clubs before. Do they do an open house every day before operating hours? It would be great to have DD see it in person before just dropping her off.

When we dropped off our kids there in September, it was last minute. We just took them over to peek in the doors (no one was there until 3:45 p.m. approx.)
The front desk said we could bring them to the club around that time to check them in. The club didn't actually open until 4 pm.
We just filled out paperwork in the front, were given a pager, and the kids went in through Wendy's window and were off to play! We didn't go in but could see from the entrance all the different play areas.
We were nervous leaving them but it turned out great. They all had dinner there, made some take home crafts and asked to go back the next night! I would recommend it, it's nice to have a night out with DH. We will do it again too for our 10th anniversary trip in Sept, we just have to decide where to go eat!!

 

[maiapapaya]

"hello everyone and welcome to Polynesian resort. Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas."

​