Back from the Poly-our first trip with 9mth old!

[mlg32]

Hi everyone we just got back yesterday from a 7 night stay(May 13-20) at the Poly. It was our 3rd trip and our 2nd stay at the Poly. The cast of characters me(36),DH(36), DD1(6 1/2),DD2(5),DD3(9mths). I am just going to give general thoughts and observations on our trip with hopes that it will help some of you disers out after all the help I have received from these boards! Anyway--we arrived at the Poly around 11:30am on Sat the 13th. I booked our trip this time with AAA and requested Samoa first floor. I had a nice CM checking in and I asked him about my request and he checked --no rooms in Samoa at all and before I could say Fiji he asked(he was on the phone about the room not sure who he called?) and they had one first floor available. Off to MK and to have fun and our room was ready around 4:30pm. I guess IMOP I will probably always request Samoa on my ressie but I really think it doesn't make a bit of difference because last year I requested the same thing and the only reason I received my request is because I asked again at the desk. Anyway Fiji was a lovely room with beautiful view out on to the marina. Also the beach on the other side was really peaceful and I loved walking to the GF. It is maybe a 5 minute walk to GF spa and around 10min to the GF lobby? I am guesstimating here but it really was a short nice walk. Going to the pool was not bad I guess with 3 kids in tow I loved the convenience of Samoa but truly I was not put out at all by the walk to Fiji. The weather was beautiful but chilly for swimming at times, I wished the Poly pool was a little warmer the week we were there but will probably feel great this week since the temps will be in the 90s. Usually I don't pay any attention to other guests activites but saw a couple of things this year so I guess I am voicing my opinion. I don't think you should lay your child down at the end of the pool chair and change a diaper. There are rooms and restrooms. Enough said. All children should wear swimsuits in the pool and for that matter have the suit on when they get to the pool. Change in the restroom not at the pool bar. There were 2 DDS I would guess around 7 or 8 swimming in bottoms no tops. One of the girls might have been wearing only underwear. I am sorry if you lost luggage I don't know what the other reason could be but there are swimsuits for sale in the Boutiki. Other than that the Poly was much the same as I left it last year. Captain Cook's was still in place on Sat the 20th. I am definetly looking forward to that renovation. Although snacks and such were fine. I brought along juice boxes and cereal but next year I am bringing bottled water and that's it. My girls loved going and picking out their snacks and half the time we forgot to grab drinks at the room and they loved eating breakfast by the pool, So It was more hassle to have food in the room. Which reminds me when we first got there our Fridge didn't work and it was replaced promptly and the CM installing the new fridge said not to close the cabinet doors because the fridge overheats. I am wondering if they will have to rethink that design??
I wavered back and forth so many times on whether to bring my 9mth old on the trip but she did really great. We ended up carrying her alot because she got sick of the stroller and that was hard. I also brought to much extra stuff for her that I didn't use. I really need to stop overpacking our room was overflowing! I didn't push her with long days either, I made sure she had a few hours in the room everyday either sleeping in , afternoon nap or back after super and it worked ok for me because I was more tired this year just from taking care of her! She also cat napped alot instead of her usual long afternoon nap.
Anyway as usual we had a wonderful time and enjoyed our stay at the Poly so much! We are hoping to go back next year we will probably have to go in August because of DH work but he decided we are doing a 2 week vacation a week at WDW and a week at the beach so I think I am ok with that We were on the DP so I am going to post on the restaurants forum with that info-

 

[kaysmommie]

Glad to hear you had a good trip. We are staying at Poly too in september. I also requested Samoa with our little ones it seem like the best location. I'm a little disapointed to hear about people changing by the pools or not wearing bathing suits. Sounds like alot of pool hoppers to me. Did you like the location of Fiji?

 

[mlg32]

I loved Fiji. It was really close to GCH and the setting is just beautiful especially looking at the marina view at night. I would probably make Fiji my number one pick if my kids were bigger. It is maybe a 3min or less walk to the pool and I didn't find it inconvenient at all but Samoa is still closer and with little ones that wins hands down for me---

 

[srdipert]

Oopps sorry guilty of the changing baby on the lawn chair. But it is not dirty just a wet little swimmer that I don't want to leave on baby and don't want to drag ds1 away from the pool to change!

Glad you had a great time.

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

DH, DD8, DS8 and I stayed at the Poly. from May 14-19th, so our paths probably crossed. We stayed 3rd floor Tokelau (had requested this, and figured we'd get, as the building was not yet renovated -- which was fine with us). Thought it was a great location to get to the beach, GCH, volcano pool and TTC. Samoa also looked good, but as you said, it's all good. Last year we stayed concierge, and the Hawaii building is a super location (but we're glad we didn't pay the extra concierge $$ this year)

We always hit the volcano pool mid to late day and thought the temp. was refreshing -- a tad cool, but not a problem. DH and kids did go one morning without me and thought it was brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Never saw the diaper changing or other stuff that you described; were happy that we were always able to get a table and chairs.

We had such a wonderful trip, thanks in part to the Poly. We also were there last year!

 

[Claddagh.dis]

Hi MLG32!

We were down at the Poly almost the same exact time as you! We arrived on Friday, May 12 / checked out Sunday, May 21. I too requested Samoa -- thankfully upon check in we got a room in Samoa, third floor, facing the Volcano pool. Sorry that you did not get your request -- it definitely sounds like your location worked well for you.

Anyhow, I have never posted a message and only replied once but I had to reply about proper pool etiquette to your message -- mainly because your reactions were the same as mine (and we must have hit the pool at the same times)! I too saw the rather large girls (large / meaning in age). I kept my opinion to myself until one of my girls (who turned 8 while in WDW) came out and said that she was "creeped out". I did not make a big deal about it but agreed with her and told her to either go back swimming or stay out for a while -- she's 8, she skipped away off to the slide! Thankfully, I did not see the diaper change! I was amazed at how many people, who were obviously not staying at the hotel, were camped out in prime spots. In any case, the Poly is a great place to stay and the pool is a great spot to cool off and relax!

 

[java]

Hanging head in Disney shame. I too have changed a very small baby at the pool-just a wet diaper. I used my changing pad on the chair- and also was at the pool alone with 4 children. Didn't want to drag everyone to the bathroom when it took all of 2 seconds. This year he will be one and I will change him in the bathroom. Promise.
Oh and I am glad to hear a little about the Poly we will be staying there for the first time this summer. And yes what is up with underwear at the pool? It is not swimwear. I have seen this several times and always can't believe my eyes.

 

[OhMari]

Thanks for sharing.

Someone posted on your thread that people were camping out at the Poly Pool that didn't belong there. I can't figure out how anyone knows who belongs and who doesn't?