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

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Hello Poly Fans!
I am in the early stages in planning a March 2012 vacation to the Poly! It will be over DD20's 21st birthday weekend! My DD20 and I are planning this together. Her dream resort has always been the Poly, and now we will finally be staying there! We are looking at March 1-5, 2012. We are going for a week in January, so we will just go for a quick girls weekend trip in March. Traveling with DD20 and I will be DD18 and DD9. DH will be staying home, so we can make this a girls trip! It was DD20's idea to also make this a surprise trip for DD9!!!
As you can probably tell, we are very excited! We are torn between staying CL or not. We will definitely be staying theme park view, whether it is CL or not.
Is there anything special that, if we stay CL, the Poly can do for DD's 21st birthday? I am going to probably be booking today or tomorrow.
Thanks all, I look forward to reading up on this thread!
Lauren

Can't speak of CL as I have never stayed CL(not my bag of tea really).....BUT!!!! You MUST get a poolside cabana for DD's birthday. What better way for a group of ladies to spend time together around the pool? You will get nice chairs, shade, fruit, cool drinks, an attendant for fetching drinks and such. Pure heaven

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

2 more sleeps until we're at the Poly! Our flight leaves at 5:50 a.m. on Wed., so we'll be getting the kids up at the crack of dawn to get to the airport. It'll be sooo worth it though when we arrive in Orlando at 11:00 a.m. on day 1of our trip! I can't wait to explore the Poly for the 1st time!!!

 

[jdd]

I'm so jealous of everyone leaving soon - have wonderful trips!!

Question - has anyone recently taken a taxi from the Poly back to the airport at the end of their stay? I'm trying to figure out the $$ for that. We're thinking about getting a rental car - but really just want it for the trip back to the airport (ME picks up a little too early, and visits too many other resorts - we're planning a short trip and want to max our time at the parks .) Any ideas??

 

[WJD2011]

2 more sleeps until we're at the Poly! Our flight leaves at 5:50 a.m. on Wed., so we'll be getting the kids up at the crack of dawn to get to the airport. It'll be sooo worth it though when we arrive in Orlando at 11:00 a.m. on day 1of our trip! I can't wait to explore the Poly for the 1st time!!!

Hope you have a great time. The last time we went Disney World three years ago we had a hard time waking up our 4 year old son around 4:30 am for a similar early flight, until I said "Hey, do you still want to go to Disney" and he immediately got up. We are going to the Poly in less than two weeks, but my wife insisted we don't schedule a flight before 8:30 am as we now have a 1 year old who will be taking his first flight. Should be an interesting trip as he is a handful. Got portable DVD (for him) and I-Pod (for me) ready. :

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

Hope you have a great time. The last time we went Disney World three years ago we had a hard time waking up our 4 year old son around 4:30 am for a similar early flight, until I said "Hey, do you still want to go to Disney" and he immediately got up. We are going to the Poly in less than two weeks, but my wife insisted we don't schedule a flight before 8:30 am as we now have a 1 year old who will be taking his first flight. Should be an interesting trip as he is a handful. Got portable DVD (for him) and I-Pod (for me) ready. :

This will be our first early morning flight. When our kids were 3 and 7, we brought along our portable DVD player them. Last year, when they were 5 and 9, we got all high tech and uploaded movies to our Ipod Touches for them with earbuds. That worked great! We're repeating that for this trip, although both of them already have a backpack full of books (they're both BIG readers) and will probably read most of the way! Of course, I'm thinking that on this early morning flight, they may be SLEEPING most of the way (yeah, wishful thinking on my part ! Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Smile_4213]

I absolutely LOVE this thread! My family isn't going to WDW until 2013 (DH's and DD's FIRST TRIP EVER AND FOR THEIR BIRTHDAYS!), but we already decided we will definitely stay at the Poly. I try to get my fix by reading anything I can (books, blogs, etc.) and watching videos on you tube since I can't even book anything until next year. It's funny, but I get so much enjoyment out of reading everyone's posts and I get excited for them too, which helps to keep the excitement going and pass the time. For those who travel every other year--how do you handle the excitement and anticipation of planning that next trip so far out? I feel like I'm busting at the seams!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Ya - Its really funny we used to go exclusively in November over thanksgiving break...we bought into the line that "its too hot" to go in the Summer...BUT after 5 years in November - we often found it wasnt warm enough to swim. I also didnt like having to pack winter coats!

Honestly swimming is what my kids want to spend the majority of their time doing on vacation...going in August ensures that every night we are there...its ok to swim! Therefore, we look at the HEAT as a PLUS...and the discounts as an extra big PLUS

I hear ya. It's not really the heat I mind but just the fact that I'm wishing the summer away. LOL
We used to go every April vacation. The weather was perfect warm enough to swim but not HHH.
My kids also love swimming. We spend every afternoon back at the resort to swim b/c it is PART of the vacation. You would know being from VT summers are not very long and we want to make the most of it.
Have a great trip!

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

I absolutely LOVE this thread! My family isn't going to WDW until 2013 (DH's and DD's FIRST TRIP EVER AND FOR THEIR BIRTHDAYS!), but we already decided we will definitely stay at the Poly. I try to get my fix by reading anything I can (books, blogs, etc.) and watching videos on you tube since I can't even book anything until next year. It's funny, but I get so much enjoyment out of reading everyone's posts and I get excited for them too, which helps to keep the excitement going and pass the time. For those who travel every other year--how do you handle the excitement and anticipation of planning that next trip so far out? I feel like I'm busting at the seams!

Pretty much the same way you are - reading everything Disney! I LOVE having our Disney trips booked far out. The anticipation and planning are the best part for me - almost even better than the trip itself! We leave in 2 days and I'm already getting depressed because that means all the anticipation is almost over! Yep, I'm nuts...

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Pretty much the same way you are - reading everything Disney! I LOVE having our Disney trips booked far out. The anticipation and planning are the best part for me - almost even better than the trip itself! We leave in 2 days and I'm already getting depressed because that means all the anticipation is almost over! Yep, I'm nuts...

You're not nuts I think a lot of people feel that way. Especially b/c you know the vacation FLIES by once you get there. I think that's one of the reasons I love these boards so much- everyone understands you lol
Have a great trip!! It's also our first time staying at the Poly so exciting

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I looked on FAQ pages but didn't see a recent schedule.

Does anyone know the movies schedule for August?
How long of a walk is it to the GF beach? (that's where the movies are right?)
What time do they start?
TIA

 

[plwheel]

2 more sleeps until we're at the Poly! Our flight leaves at 5:50 a.m. on Wed., so we'll be getting the kids up at the crack of dawn to get to the airport. It'll be sooo worth it though when we arrive in Orlando at 11:00 a.m. on day 1of our trip! I can't wait to explore the Poly for the 1st time!!!

I'm so jealous! We're 25 days and a wakeup until we're at the Poly for the very first time. Looking forward to staying at this resort that I've been lusting after since I was a kid in the 70s. Hope you have a great time! Leave some fun behind for us.

By the way, we're thinking of chancing it with the room ... just requesting a balcony. Has anyone else done this? Did you get a good room? I'd love to have theme park view, but I think that's probably like winning the lottery ... not very likely. But one can hope!

 

[maiapapaya]

I looked on FAQ pages but didn't see a recent schedule.

Does anyone know the movies schedule for August?
How long of a walk is it to the GF beach? (that's where the movies are right?)
What time do they start?
TIA

They now have movies on the Poly beach, I'm not sure what time they start, but I would think around dusk (we were there in Oct/Nov so it would have been darker earlier). They usually have the schedule on a board by the volocano pool.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

I'm so jealous! We're 25 days and a wakeup until we're at the Poly for the very first time. Looking forward to staying at this resort that I've been lusting after since I was a kid in the 70s. Hope you have a great time! Leave some fun behind for us.

By the way, we're thinking of chancing it with the room ... just requesting a balcony. Has anyone else done this? Did you get a good room? I'd love to have theme park view, but I think that's probably like winning the lottery ... not very likely. But one can hope!

We decided to request Tokelau. That was Tikiman's suggestion when I told him what we were looking for - going with GV and not upgrading. We also want a balcony. Hopefully we'll get our wish granted. If not, we'll roll with whatever we get! I'll be sure to leave lots of fun behind - IF dh can get dd, ds and I to leave that is!!

 

[goofybabe]

Heres hoping for all of your upcoming Poly vacations to be magical ! I'm sure all of you will love it there.I know I can't wait to go back in March.This website here helps me thru each and every day.

 

[maryj11]

Definitely check out tikimans site because you can see the resort layout and he has pictures of the longhouses as well as room views. He also shows which longhouses' rooms are tagged for which view category so that you can get a good feel for the pool of rooms available in your view category.



Yes, there is a lovely walking path to the GF. We have used it many times for dinner ressies. We usually monorail there(to stay nice and fresh--LOL) and then take the path back. It is very lovely but be aware that they now have walls up for the beginning of the GFV construction. It may not be as picturesque in those areas.

The walk takes about 6-8 minutes depending on how fast you walk

Thank you I just wondered because we have reservation at Park Fare and I think we will be changing our resort to the Poly

 

[jkfandel]

Thank you for this awesome site. We can't wait till our girls only ~ mother/daughter two week stay!!

 

[goofybabe]

Hey were neighbors I live in Hampton NH!

 

[sandym718]

Hello Poly Fans!
I am in the early stages in planning a March 2012 vacation to the Poly! It will be over DD20's 21st birthday weekend! My DD20 and I are planning this together. Her dream resort has always been the Poly, and now we will finally be staying there! We are looking at March 1-5, 2012. We are going for a week in January, so we will just go for a quick girls weekend trip in March. Traveling with DD20 and I will be DD18 and DD9. DH will be staying home, so we can make this a girls trip! It was DD20's idea to also make this a surprise trip for DD9!!!
As you can probably tell, we are very excited! We are torn between staying CL or not. We will definitely be staying theme park view, whether it is CL or not.
Is there anything special that, if we stay CL, the Poly can do for DD's 21st birthday? I am going to probably be booking today or tomorrow.
Thanks all, I look forward to reading up on this thread!
Lauren

I'm no help with the CL stuff, but I agree with the poster below - cabana!!! Just wanted to say that we'll be there (for a few days) at the same time!! We leave home on Mar. 2, arrive at the Poly on the 3rd (till the 10th). We'll also be celebrating DD's bday - she turns 8 on March 1st!! We'll be part of a Grand Gathering with my BIL's family and a friend's family - they're staying elsewhere though. All of us will, God-willing, also be celebrating a mutual friend's new baby - she just found out her scheduled C-section will be on March 1st (which my DD LOVES of course and is hoping she has a girl, she'll be the unofficial big sister, which she really wants to be, but not happening, LOL). We told her we'll be sure to have drinks in WDW in the new baby's honor, LOL.

Can't speak of CL as I have never stayed CL(not my bag of tea really).....BUT!!!! You MUST get a poolside cabana for DD's birthday. What better way for a group of ladies to spend time together around the pool? You will get nice chairs, shade, fruit, cool drinks, an attendant for fetching drinks and such. Pure heaven

 

[princssdisnygina]

Hello Poly Fans!
I am in the early stages in planning a March 2012 vacation to the Poly! It will be over DD20's 21st birthday weekend! My DD20 and I are planning this together. Her dream resort has always been the Poly, and now we will finally be staying there! We are looking at March 1-5, 2012. We are going for a week in January, so we will just go for a quick girls weekend trip in March. Traveling with DD20 and I will be DD18 and DD9. DH will be staying home, so we can make this a girls trip! It was DD20's idea to also make this a surprise trip for DD9!!!
As you can probably tell, we are very excited! We are torn between staying CL or not. We will definitely be staying theme park view, whether it is CL or not.
Is there anything special that, if we stay CL, the Poly can do for DD's 21st birthday? I am going to probably be booking today or tomorrow.
Thanks all, I look forward to reading up on this thread!
Lauren

I LOVE CL! However, I would not spend the extra money UNLESS I was going to actually spend time at the resort. If you are only going for 4 nights I would guess that you are going to spend a lot of time in the parks? I would say skip CL. I think it is only worth it if you actually use it, and more than the turn down service. And I mean more than stopping in to get a soda or a bagel. Actually using the lounge and enjoying it.

 

[DT83097]

Dizneefamily+4

Have a great trip!!