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

[Divaofdisney]

Thanks to the both of you for answering my questions. I always wondered about this and how and who decides who gets what category of seating. Thanks I surely will call on the day I am allowed to.

 

[logpey]

Thanks to the both of you for answering my questions. I always wondered about this and how and who decides who gets what category of seating. Thanks I surely will call on the day I am allowed to.

I booked online the exact category I wanted Category 1 under WDW dining reservations and they charged my cc in full. It shows you what category is available and you pick it. As far as DDP, I would just call WDW and speak to dining representative, just to make sure everythings correct and just tell them what category you want.

 

[1971DBday]

Wow-- count me in the Big 40 Club this year too! Woo hoo!!

Big 40 for me also April 2012! WAHHHHHH!

Me too in April 2012! I'm the 9th!

Thankfully it is a leap year so we get an EXTRA day being 39

Happy 40th Future Bdays to everyone!!!! Mine is next week and I am just grateful that I won't be at work....thinking of heading to downtown Chicago and lay on the beach with the kids and their last day of summer vacation!!!! It's a shame there are no tropical cocktails to keep me happy!

 

[BeeBeeCee]

I have a question regarding the Spirit of Aloha Show...we have this planned on our trip to WDW next year. I see here there are 3 seating categories...could someone explain to me exactly how one goes about getting the best one which I think is 1. We will have the Deluxe Dining Plan so I don't know if this helps or not. We will not have concierge...to me this is just an expense not worth the cost given the dining plan we have. Any information on how this works would be greatly appreciated and thanks.

We have the deluxe dining plan for our trip...i called the first day at 185 days out and did all of my ressies by phone. The lady who helped me told me that with the plan, we could not have cat 1 seats...so she gave us Cat 2 seats. She took my cc info just to hold the reservation in case we cancel...we would have to pay anyway

Looking forward to the SOA show, we haven't been in years

 

[princssdisnygina]

We have the deluxe dining plan for our trip...i called the first day at 185 days out and did all of my ressies by phone. The lady who helped me told me that with the plan, we could not have cat 1 seats...so she gave us Cat 2 seats. She took my cc info just to hold the reservation in case we cancel...we would have to pay anyway

Looking forward to the SOA show, we haven't been in years

What do you mean you'd have to pay anyway?

 

[BeeBeeCee]

What do you mean you'd have to pay anyway?

I know ....but even on the WDW site, it says that a cancellation policy applies and may result in charges if you cancel with insufficient notice....

 

[guitarob]

We have the deluxe dining plan for our trip...i called the first day at 185 days out and did all of my ressies by phone. The lady who helped me told me that with the plan, we could not have cat 1 seats...so she gave us Cat 2 seats. She took my cc info just to hold the reservation in case we cancel...we would have to pay anyway

What do you mean you'd have to pay anyway?

If you cancel inside of a 48 (Possibly 24, I'm not totally sure) hour window. They will charge you. If you cancel before that window, you will not be charged.

 

[rcraw45425]

Just made reservations the other day, it's 48 hours. Oh, and my card has already been charged.

 

[BeeBeeCee]

If you cancel inside of a 48 (Possibly 24, I'm not totally sure) hour window. They will charge you. If you cancel before that window, you will not be charged.

Thanks for that clarification

I did five days (X 3 meals) ressies on my lunch break at work one day ....needless to say ...i was a little overwhelmed and may have missed that

 

[princssdisnygina]

Just made reservations the other day, it's 48 hours. Oh, and my card has already been charged.

You must not be using the dining plan to pay for yours. If you are, then there shouldn't be a charge for it at all unless you cancel too late or don't show up.

 

[rcraw45425]

No DDP and we booked tier 1.

 

[logpey]

Happy 40th Future Bdays to everyone!!!! Mine is next week and I am just grateful that I won't be at work....thinking of heading to downtown Chicago and lay on the beach with the kids and their last day of summer vacation!!!! It's a shame there are no tropical cocktails to keep me happy!

Thank you and a very soon Happy Birthday to you, enjoy yourself relaxing at the beach! Just picture that cocktail in hand, preferably in mouth!!!!

 

[maryj11]

I have a couple of questions about the monorail. We havent used the monorail except one time on one day years ago, If I want to go to MK where do I go ? On the map I see the monorail in the GCH and I see TTC . Or if we decide to take the water taxi, Im not even sure where that is lol ? I'm trying to get familar with the place so we wont be wasting time trying to figure out which way to go . To go to Epcot I go to the TTC right ?
Here are the places I need to know how to travel to and from
To MK from Poly either monorail or boat
To Epcot from Poly
From Epcot to 1900 Park Fare
From Park Fare to Poly
I believe the rest we take the bus

 

[logpey]

I have a couple of questions about the monorail. We havent used the monorail except one time on one day years ago, If I want to go to MK where do I go ? On the map I see the monorail in the GCH and I see TTC . Or if we decide to take the water taxi, Im not even sure where that is lol ? I'm trying to get familar with the place so we wont be wasting time trying to figure out which way to go . To go to Epcot I go to the TTC right ?
Here are the places I need to know how to travel to and from
To MK from Poly either monorail or boat
To Epcot from Poly
From Epcot to 1900 Park Fare
From Park Fare to Poly
I believe the rest we take the bus

1. Monorail, water taxi or ferry from TTC to Magic Kingdom
2. TTC to monorail or bus from POLY to Epcot
3. Monorail from Epcot to TTC (depending on time) or get on bus from Epcot towards the Grand Floridian which is the same bus stop as POLY to Park Fare.
4. From Park Fare to POLY you could walk (lovely 10-15 minute), take monorail (loop) or water taxi.


You would go out the second floor door of the GCH to the monorail, you will see it. The water taxi is past the marina, you will see the walkway going towards Seven Seas Lagoon take it to get on the water taxi, it will take you to Magic kingdom and Grand Floridian. The TTC is about a 7-10 minute walk and there you can load a Ferry to get you to Magic Kingdom or buses to parks or monorail to Epcot! Hope this helps, I was very sleepy when I wrote this, sorry if its confusing...

 

[thptrek]

When we stay at the Poly we try to take advantage of all the transportation options. One day take the monorail to MK, the next time take the water taxi, the next time walk over to TTC and take the big ferry. Its fun to try it all out.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I have a couple of questions about the monorail. We havent used the monorail except one time on one day years ago, If I want to go to MK where do I go ? On the map I see the monorail in the GCH and I see TTC . Or if we decide to take the water taxi, Im not even sure where that is lol ? I'm trying to get familar with the place so we wont be wasting time trying to figure out which way to go . To go to Epcot I go to the TTC right ?
Here are the places I need to know how to travel to and from
To MK from Poly either monorail or boat
To Epcot from Poly
From Epcot to 1900 Park Fare
From Park Fare to Poly
I believe the rest we take the bus

Check the map of the resort on the first page of this thread. It shows where the ferry, monorail station, and walk to the TTC is located.

The monorail station at the Poly is located on the 2nd floor of the Great Ceremonial House and you can not miss it. It will stop at the Grand Floridian (for your ADRs I see!), then at MK, then at the Contemporary, then at the TTC, then back to the Poly. If you walk to the TTC, it is only about 5 minutes or longer if you have a slow pace. From there, you can catch the resort monorail (which I just described) or the direct monorail to MK or the direct monorail to Epcot.

If you stay at the Poly and want to go to MK, the fastest way is to take the monorail from the Poly to MK. The ferry is nice and unique but it definitely takes longer!

Good luck!

 

[LuzzBightyear]

Hello
Aside from taxi, what would be quickest and easiest way back and forth from Poly to Wilderness Lodge? It looks pretty close on Google Earth, is it walkable?

 

[maryj11]

1. Monorail, water taxi or ferry from TTC to Magic Kingdom
2. TTC to monorail or bus from POLY to Epcot
3. Monorail from Epcot to TTC (depending on time) or get on bus from Epcot towards the Grand Floridian which is the same bus stop as POLY to Park Fare.
4. From Park Fare to POLY you could walk (lovely 10-15 minute), take monorail (loop) or water taxi.


You would go out the second floor door of the GCH to the monorail, you will see it. The water taxi is past the marina, you will see the walkway going towards Seven Seas Lagoon take it to get on the water taxi, it will take you to Magic kingdom and Grand Floridian. The TTC is about a 7-10 minute walk and there you can load a Ferry to get you to Magic Kingdom or buses to parks or monorail to Epcot! Hope this helps, I was very sleepy when I wrote this, sorry if its confusing...

Ok I think I understand lol except Im kind of confused on the monorail that is on the second floor of GCH. Does that take you to MK or where all does it go ? And are there 2 ferrys, one at the Poly and one at the TTC ?

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Unfortunately, it is not walkable. There are no sidewalks at WDW as it isn't a pedestrian friendly place when getting from resort to resort or park to park.

Other than a taxi, I would suggest taking the monorail to the MK and then the boat to WL.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Ok I think I understand lol except Im kind of confused on the monorail that is on the second floor of GCH. Does that take you to MK or where all does it go ? And are there 2 ferrys, one at the Poly and one at the TTC ?

The monorail station at the polynesian is located on the 2nd floor of the Great Ceremonial House. The WDW monorail system has 3 loops.

1. The Resort Monorail (this is the loop that the Polynesian is on). It stops at the Transportation and Ticket Center, the Polynesian, the Grand Floridian, the Magic Kingdom and the Contemporary Resort before continuing back to the TTC to start the loop over.

2. The Express Monorail. This monorail stops only at the Transportation and Ticket Center and the Magic Kingdom.

3. The Epcot Monorail. This monorail stops only at the Transportation and Ticket Center and Epcot.

As far as water transportation, there are two options:

1. The Ferry. These are very large, double decker ferry boats that go back and forth between the Transportation and Ticket Center and the Magic Kingdom. This runs from 1 hour prior to park opening if I'm not mistaken.

2. The Resort Boats. These are small boats that seat approx 20-30 people. The boat that services the Polynesian also stops at the Grand Floridian and the Magic Kingdom. The boats begin running at 10am I believe.