Aloha! ***Welcome to the NEW Poly FAQ***

[maiapapaya]

Not jammed pack if I can help it. I have been playing with all sorts of dates. If I had it my way I would fly out t-giving day and stay until the 5th of Dec but DH refuses to travel during the holiday period.

I really want to come earlier as I am trying to avoid the parade taping at Pop Warner if not be there for a bot before those crowds come in. For now the airfares have jumped through the roof so no decision is made yet. We do have a reservation for 12/4-12 LVCL as of now.

I am hoping DH wanting to see Harry Potter will wane over time. Me and DD, not HP fans so we clearly out vote him
I am trying to scare him off with the threat of crazy crowds because it will be so new. We will see

If your DH is anything like my DH playing up the big crowds at a new attraction should be a good deterent!

I'm not thrilled about flying on a big American holiday weekend, but I'm hoping that since we are arriving on Sunday that we'll be going against the big crowds.

We'll be leaving the morning of the 5th. Sounds like me might have a 18 hr. overlap!

I hear ya about the airfares. While it's still early to book & not a lot of deals are to be had yet, I priced out flights from Toronto & Detroit. Delta wanted $1300 (taxes incl) pp out of Toronto!! Same flight, out of Detroit was only $300. I think we'll be departing from south of the border! Just waiting for some better rates.

 

[SeaSpray]

That is so great! I love Meg She was great help with our last trip.

I am so excited for you

Life is just plain better when planning a trip to the Poly and WDW

Thanks!! She was able to get our ADR for dinner at the castle!

I hear ya about the airfares. While it's still early to book & not a lot of deals are to be had yet, I priced out flights from Toronto & Detroit. Delta wanted $1300 (taxes incl) pp out of Toronto!! Same flight, out of Detroit was only $300. I think we'll be departing from south of the border! Just waiting for some better rates.

I just booked our airfare for our July trip, and it cost more per person than any other time we've flown! Boston to Orlando, non-stop, $280 per person! I booked Delta because all of the other airlines were over $300, plus the flight times on Delta are perfect. 7am flight down, and 7pm flight home! Gives us more time at WDW on our first and last days!

 

[paras4ri]

I agree with others - I don't like to leave the property when we're there. Slightly off-topic but IMO Universal is a bit late to the table with Harry Potter. The books are done and there are only 2 movies left and the original fans of the series are now in their 20's. Even DD, who is 15 has moved on from HP. I just think they would have done better with it if they had done it sooner.

Back to the Poly. We're so looking forward to spending a morning there next week to stroll the grounds - and get excited to finally stay there in December.

 

[DisneyFunx3]

Cool! What room did you book?

We have a Garden View, but that's all I know. When do you find out which Longhouse and floor you are on? Do you think I can still request a certain place or floor?

 

[mmmears]

Here are some night time pics.....I don't want to disappoint

So has any of you Poly lovers left the Disney bubble and headed over to the Universal? DH is insisting on the seeing Harry Potter and I am getting a headache trying to figure out how to do it?

I was thinking of heading there first and staying a night or two at one of their hotels so we can get their express pass thing and then heading to the Poly for the remainder of our stay.

Our other option is to just rent a car for a day and head over there?? I was really trying to wait a few more years before visiting Universal. I hope DH changes his mind. There is so much to do during a holiday trip and there is only so long we can visit with taking DD out of school.

Stupid Super Bowl commercial

Thanks again for all the photos! These definitely did NOT disappoint!!!

About IOA, if you're going during school vacations, IMO it's going to be crazily crowded -- I would spend a night there so you can get the VIP thingy.

If it's during regular school days, then you could probably just go there for the day. We left WDW property on our last trip and spent a wonderful day at Discovery Cove. It wasn't too bad to just go for the day and then come back to a quiet GF in the evening...

I would think you'd only need 1 day at IOA to see all the new HP stuff (more if you're really into IOA, which I wouldn't be...). We'd be headed over there, but it's not opening until after our trip to WDW.

 

[mmmears]

Okay... I just realized I we are booked June 4th through 12th and the gay days are June 1st through the 7th! Is this event as crazy as some are saying? I have teen kids and do not want to expose them to the Mardis gras sans the beads! Let me know if you have experience with this! I do not have a problem with people being gay! I have a problem with the ones that have to prove it in innapropriate ways!

I understand your concern. It's a touchy subject, and I don't mean to offend anyone either.

My understanding, like a PP said, is that they pick a specific park to be in each day. You can just avoid that park. Honestly, I'd avoid the park no matter what the focus of the organized group was -- from cheerleaders to conventioners to marathoners -- just because I like to visit whichever park is the least crowded anyway. We missed DL when Oprah took a bunch of kids there (& camera crews and a ton of people) by one day and we were SO glad we weren't there that day.

I'm pretty sure that some of this was covered in a past DIS podcast, so may want to look through the archives.

Hope this helps!

 

[mmmears]

Thanks for the pics!

Yes! Finally!

We added a few days onto the beginning of the trip and are staying at Poly LV CL from the 4th through the 8th and then at BC LV CL from the 8th through the 12th.

Sounds like the best of both worlds!!! You know you love the Poly and the kids will love the pool at the BC!!!

 

[mmmears]

So has any of you Poly lovers left the Disney bubble and headed over to the Universal? DH is insisting on the seeing Harry Potter and I am getting a headache trying to figure out how to do it?

I was thinking of going to Seaworld.. Maybe take a cab? I don't think it is too far of a drive. We may decide to drive, so we would have our car anyway.

We used a towncar service last summer. It was actually about the same price as renting a car since the car rental rates at WDW were crazy!!! Plus, it was less hassle than either a rental (and having to find our way there, park, and pick up and return the car), or a taxi since we had a pre-set time to be picked up. I also think it ended up costing less than a cab would have. Just another thing to consider. Of course, if you have your car, that wouldn't be a problem. I think it took less than 30 minutes to get there.

We have a Garden View, but that's all I know. When do you find out which Longhouse and floor you are on? Do you think I can still request a certain place or floor?

You get your room assignment when you check in. If your room isn't ready, they won't give you the room #, but usually will say which building and which floor it is on. If you don't like where they have placed you, yes you can ask to move.

 

[maiapapaya]

We have a Garden View, but that's all I know. When do you find out which Longhouse and floor you are on? Do you think I can still request a certain place or floor?

You still have lots of time to request a certain longhouse or floor. Just call the main reservation number and ask them to add a request to your reservation. Make sure you list your requests in order of preference, for example, "Tahiti, third floor ..." Just remember they can't guarantee any requests, but they do their best to accommodate them.

 

[kaffinito]

We have a Garden View, but that's all I know. When do you find out which Longhouse and floor you are on? Do you think I can still request a certain place or floor?

Sure you can! Just call CRO and have them add a request onto your ressie.

Is it going to be your first visit to the Poly?

 

[kaffinito]

Sounds like the best of both worlds!!! You know you love the Poly and the kids will love the pool at the BC!!!

I know! I'm a little nervous about the BC though, but I figure with the pool I can't really go wrong! I just hope I like CL there as much as I know I will at the Poly.

 

[johnsonet]

kaffinito - happy for you that you made a decision and also that you're doing a split stay.
Are you staying at Poly 1st or 2d??

We've stayed at GF a lot, Poly 7+ times and BC twice. I love them all - BC just doesn't have the rich theming but the rooms are very nice (and I guess nicer now, after the re-do) and the CMs are awesome and the pool is, well, you know and the location is FAN-tastic
You are NOT going to regret this split

 

[kaffinito]

kaffinito - happy for you that you made a decision and also that you're doing a split stay.
Are you staying at Poly 1st or 2d??

We've stayed at GF a lot, Poly 7+ times and BC twice. I love them all - BC just doesn't have the rich theming but the rooms are very nice (and I guess nicer now, after the re-do) and the CMs are awesome and the pool is, well, you know and the location is FAN-tastic
You are NOT going to regret this split

Thank you! I truly hope not - I'm looking forward to trying the BC. I just hope we have a warm spell in April so we can get some swimming in.

 

[mmmears]

I know! I'm a little nervous about the BC though, but I figure with the pool I can't really go wrong! I just hope I like CL there as much as I know I will at the Poly.

The BC is wonderful! I think you'll be happy there and at the Poly! The only thing that's hard is that the BC rooms are alot smaller than the Poly ones, so you'll notice the change -- but the pool is so much fun!

kaffinito - happy for you that you made a decision and also that you're doing a split stay.
Are you staying at Poly 1st or 2d??

We've stayed at GF a lot, Poly 7+ times and BC twice. I love them all - BC just doesn't have the rich theming but the rooms are very nice (and I guess nicer now, after the re-do) and the CMs are awesome and the pool is, well, you know and the location is FAN-tastic
You are NOT going to regret this split

Johnsonet is really right on this! The theming is good, but not as rich as the Poly theming. The rooms after the redo are beautiful. Hopefully you'll feel like you're getting 2 vacations in one! I love doing a MK/Epcot split since it simplifies the transportation so much!

 

[Sunshine1987]

If we are at MK with dinner ressies for 1900 Park Faire, how much time should we allot for the trip there, the dinner, and trip back to MK. I want to make sure to make it back for Spectro!

Thank you!

I think my DH is finally getting excited about the Poly. I know he had some reservations at first but he was off Friday and spent all day researching other "possibilities". When I got home from work, he said "let's stay with the Poly"! I was soooo happy and relieved!!!!!

 

[DisneyFunx3]

Yes, this will be our first Poly visit as well as our FIRST FAMILY DISNEY VISIT!!

We are so excited!!

 

[mmmears]

If we are at MK with dinner ressies for 1900 Park Faire, how much time should we allot for the trip there, the dinner, and trip back to MK. I want to make sure to make it back for Spectro!

Thank you!

I think my DH is finally getting excited about the Poly. I know he had some reservations at first but he was off Friday and spent all day researching other "possibilities". When I got home from work, he said "let's stay with the Poly"! I was soooo happy and relieved!!!!!

If you're already at the MK, then I would suggest taking the Poly/MK/GF boat instead of the monorail to get to the GF. It's a long trip on the monorail to the GF and a direct one on the boat.

I always buffer time-wise, but I'd allot 30 mins for the boat (getting there, waiting for it, the trip, etc.), 1 - 1 /2 hours for dinner. Getting back to the MK from the GF is about 5 mins -- a direct monorail trip.

If you're at the Poly before dinner, either take the monorail or walk to the GF -- it's a lovely walk and not very far -- 10 - 15 minutes at most.

Glad your DH is letting you keep your ressie for the Poly!

 

[Sunshine1987]

If you're already at the MK, then I would suggest taking the Poly/MK/GF boat instead of the monorail to get to the GF. It's a long trip on the monorail to the GF and a direct one on the boat.

Thank you!

 

[tr-ray]

I've read through much of this FAQ, Okay, maybe not the whole thing, but alot of it.


And I'm glad I can chirp in that my next trip we will be staying at the POLY!!!!!

I never thought I'd get a chance, but the PIN fairy blessed my family, so December 9-16, me, my DH, my DD, my sister & her son will be staying at the Poly GV!

 

[Princess_K]

Why yes you can! Or you can get one with a snack credit.

That's wonderful news! I'm not 100% sure that I'll like it, so I thought this would be a good way to try it out