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

[Tinkerbellie16]

Aloha...the poly is packed!!!!! 98% full and the heater for the volcano pool is broken . Anyway we are getting by and checking for wristbands at pool.

How is your family feeling? Hopefully everyone is peachy-keen now Enjoy! And I hope they get the pool heater fixed soon!!!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

So for those on site now, has there been any news on when they will fix the pool heater? And how chilly is it without the heater? Thanks!

Oh, is the east pool heater working? Thanks again!

 

[Pookasaurus]

I think the pool heater must have been broken for a while - we were there sept 15-23 and the volcano pool was always chilly. A few times we'd swim in the quiet pool because the volcano pool was so cold, especially in the evening, though a few times the quiet pool was pretty chilly, too. We also were never able to find the warm spot in the volcano pool, either. The whole thing was the same temp and it wasn't warm!!

 

[momtobrynncess]

Good evening my fellow Poly lovers. Since I haven't seen any recent posts from Tikiman about changes to the Poly I am going to believe that no news is good news.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Hi Everyone!

I'm posting live from our cabana at the Polynesian!

We are having an amazing time so far. We were upgraded to Theme Park View Club Level!

There is plenty of food, and it is replenished frequently during each service. They no longer have glass bottles of evian, but they do have refillable glass bottles of natura filtered water that they encourage you to take back to the room.

The weather is great and the resort doesn't seem too crowded. Today was the first time I've seen wristbands at the Volcano pool during our stay.

The Volcano pool is pretty chilly and we were told my our cabana attendant, Seth, that new heaters were installed last week and they are still working on the temperature.

Congratulations on your upgrade!! That's fabulous!! Hope you have a great trip, and I hope the pool heater gets fixed quickly! The cabanas are great, aren't they?? I really enjoyed doing that! Try the Banana Cabana at the outdoor bar! They're fabulous!! I had a few!

 

[LilyU]

We were there 9/23 - 9/30 and the Quiet Pool was like bathwater! And it had quite a few kids...guess the volcano pool being cold explained that!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Hmm, this whole thing about the cold water at the volcano pool has me worried. We arrive in 6 days to the Poly and one of the main reasons we stay at the Poly is for the pool. We spend about 4 hours per day at the pool and it is important to our vacation. If it is so chilly that you don't want to swim in it, I will not be happy. Ugh, usually these things that are happening at resorts don't bug me but the pool is the 2nd reason we chose the Poly (monorail is the first). Nothing I can do about it. I guess I'll see for myself how swimable it is! Maybe I'll have to drink more so I don't feel the cold....

 

[goofybabe]

if someone thinks of it could you tell us if they have upgraded coffee makers in regular rooms thanks all

 

[1971DBday]

Okay...update.....weather is awful right now. No news as to when the heater w
ill be fixed. No one here has heard of any poly rumors..... I will be looking into booking a grand gathering for june hopefully before we leave so we will see if they say anything. Our room could use a little TLC....but they have checked for wristbands every day since they are almost at capacity!

Everyone healthy here and I have had enough laps lupus for the trip!!!

 

[DebbyLof428]

Okay...update.....weather is awful right now. No news as to when the heater w
ill be fixed. No one here has heard of any poly rumors..... I will be looking into booking a grand gathering for june hopefully before we leave so we will see if they say anything. Our room could use a little TLC....but they have checked for wristbands every day since they are almost at capacity!

Everyone healthy here and I have had enough laps lupus for the trip!!!

No you haven't, alcohol kills germs you know Hope the weather improves quickly. Are there new coffeemakers at the Poly (please)?

 

[1971DBday]

No you haven't, alcohol kills germs you know Hope the weather improves quickly. Are there new coffeemakers at the Poly (please)?

We are in Nieu....I miss being in Samoa...I really like the building. Our room is good for the most part but the bathroom door needs a little TLC. I've requested turndown service and haven't gotten it yet. Also the air outage vent is so noisy and keeping me up....I have been up sine 1:30!!

As for the coffeemaker.....yes new Cuisinart. I took a photo and I'll post when I get back. I can't figure out how to post on DISboards with my phone.

A lot of rain and high winds with a flood warning until Monday .

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Okay...update.....weather is awful right now. No news as to when the heater w
ill be fixed. No one here has heard of any poly rumors..... I will be looking into booking a grand gathering for june hopefully before we leave so we will see if they say anything. Our room could use a little TLC....but they have checked for wristbands every day since they are almost at capacity!

Everyone healthy here and I have had enough laps lupus for the trip!!!

We are in NICU....I miss being in Samoa...I really like the building. Our room is good for the most part but the barroom door needs a little TLC. I've requested turn Dow service and haven't gotten it yet. Also the air outage vent is so noisy and keeping me up....I have been up sine 1:30!!

As for the coffeemaker.....yes new Cuisinart. I took a photo and I'll post when I get back. I can't figure out how to post on DISboards with my phone.

A lot of rain and high winds with a flood warning until Monday .

I'm so glad that everyone is healthy! And that's blasphemy to say you've had enough lapu lapus for the trip already Sorry the weather is bad. I hope they fix the issues with your room so you can get some rest. That's not cool to be kept up at night with that noise. Has the weather made you change your plans? As I was looking at the weather forecast, I figured I better have some back up plans if it rains so I did that. It makes me feel a bit better that if it rains (for certain events like SOA or the cabana) that I have a back up plan that would also be enjoyable. Hope the same is going for y'all!

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Hi Everyone,We just booked a 2 night stay at the Poly GV CL before we head to BLT for June 2012 as a surprise for our DS15. Now I will say that DH and I are not Poly fan's but our DS is and he has always wanted to stay there. We are looking into reserving a cabana and I have a few questions. I started to read the thread and I am running out of time so I thought it would be quicker to ask. Are the cabana's close to the pool like the GF and which one has the best location? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[momtobrynncess]

Hi Everyone,We just booked a 2 night stay at the Poly GV CL before we head to BLT for June 2012 as a surprise for our DS15. Now I will say that DH and I are not Poly fan's but our DS is and he has always wanted to stay there. We are looking into reserving a cabana and I have a few questions. I started to read the thread and I am running out of time so I thought it would be quicker to ask. Are the cabana's close to the pool like the GF and which one has the best location? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

They are close to the pool. There is a HUGE cabana that is more on the beach, and not close to the pool, and there are the two regular ones that are right near the pool. They both face the pool, so imo, either one of those is fine. Imo, they are WELL worth the money. We had one the first day we checked in, and I could easily get used to having one everyday. (If I won the mega millions of course). Have a nice stay!!

 

[hannahdrewmom]

So I think I brainwashed my 2 year old into being a Poly addict too! We got back a couple months ago and have been planning another trip. He of course knows the word from hearing it and says it so cute! Polly - Knees- Sand... Anyway, today we decided to add a day at the begining and my daughter request 1 night at AKL. I was fine with it and booked it. (I mean I get a week where I want... who am I to complain?!) At dinner tonight I mentioned to my husband something about it... and my sweet little boy started crying for the Polly-knee-sand! Apparently no other resort will do and he already has learned this at the ripe old age of 2! Guess next time there is a fight I know who will be on my side with staying there!

 

[disneydreamin247]

Hi Everyone,We just booked a 2 night stay at the Poly GV CL before we head to BLT for June 2012 as a surprise for our DS15. Now I will say that DH and I are not Poly fan's but our DS is and he has always wanted to stay there. We are looking into reserving a cabana and I have a few questions. I started to read the thread and I am running out of time so I thought it would be quicker to ask. Are the cabana's close to the pool like the GF and which one has the best location? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

We absolutely loved our cabana. They are right near the pool. I was able to sit in ours while the baby slept and still watch DS go up and down the slide and swim. We will definitely be booking a few cabana days next time.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

They are close to the pool. There is a HUGE cabana that is more on the beach, and not close to the pool, and there are the two regular ones that are right near the pool. They both face the pool, so imo, either one of those is fine. Imo, they are WELL worth the money. We had one the first day we checked in, and I could easily get used to having one everyday. (If I won the mega millions of course). Have a nice stay!!

Thanks so much. I have read and heard that the Poly pool gets very crowded so having a place to relax and put our things is a must for us.

We absolutely loved our cabana. They are right near the pool. I was able to sit in ours while the baby slept and still watch DS go up and down the slide and swim. We will definitely be booking a few cabana days next time.

So glad to hear that you loved your cabana. We are only there for 2 nights before heading to BLT but we are the type of people that really like to enjoy our resort. So we will be booking them for two days while we are there. Who knows, maybe DH and I will become Poly lovers. I am excited for our DS as he will be so surprised when he finds out he will be staying there. I booked a GV CL room and saw the pictures at the beginning of the thread and the view's look so lovely. Thanks for your help.

I am sure there will be more questions that I will have.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Hi Everyone,We just booked a 2 night stay at the Poly GV CL before we head to BLT for June 2012 as a surprise for our DS15. Now I will say that DH and I are not Poly fan's but our DS is and he has always wanted to stay there. We are looking into reserving a cabana and I have a few questions. I started to read the thread and I am running out of time so I thought it would be quicker to ask. Are the cabana's close to the pool like the GF and which one has the best location? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

There are 2 regular cabanas and 1 premium cabana (check out post #6 on this thread on the first page). The premium cabana is not in a good view of the pool but the regular cabanas have a view of the entire pool. It is important to me to see the pool because I like to watch my kids like a hawk still (they aren't teenagers...yet!) I have not rented one (yet) but heard that Mauna Kea has a bit better location/view than Mauna Loa although they are right next to each other. I'm renting a cabana and I said I wanted to request one but they would not let me over the phone so we'll see what I get!

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

There are 2 regular cabanas and 1 premium cabana (check out post #6 on this thread on the first page). The premium cabana is not in a good view of the pool but the regular cabanas have a view of the entire pool. It is important to me to see the pool because I like to watch my kids like a hawk still (they aren't teenagers...yet!) I have not rented one (yet) but heard that Mauna Kea has a bit better location/view than Mauna Loa although they are right next to each other. I'm renting a cabana and I said I wanted to request one but they would not let me over the phone so we'll see what I get!

Oh you guys are so great. With all this information, I am ready to go tomorrow. This is what has always been told me as well when I reserved a cabana at the GF but when I got to the resort, I was able to get the one that we wanted. Hope you will too. Have a fantastic vacation and happy birthday to the birthday person.

 

[Maddie's Nana]

I have a question about tipping. When you arrive by car - the person from bell services unloads your luggage. Is he (she) the same person who takes you and your luggage to your room? If they are not the same person do you tip both of them? If so do you tip them both equally? TIA

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I have a question about tipping. When you arrive by car - the person from bell services unloads your luggage. Is he (she) the same person who takes you and your luggage to your room? If they are not the same person do you tip both of them? If so do you tip them both equally? TIA

I've always had different people. Usually the valets and folks outside just help the flow of traffic, get folks in and out of their cars, load up the luggage on the carts, and valet if needed. The cart usually gets handed off to a bell person for transport to your room and they don't always come with you to your room but may deliver the luggage after you get to your room.

Tipping is always optional in the USA (and I hope I don't cross the tipping guidelines here so keep me honest!) but these types of positions in the USA are typically tipped positions. So both valets and bell services are typically tipped positions. How much you tip is up to you but there are websites out there that can give you an idea of what is typical. Unfortunately, I don't think I can give specific advice because it is against the tipping guidelines for the DIS boards! Maybe if I wrote it in yen ...