Back to the Poly after 16 years!

[cinderellawannabe]

My family and I will be staying at the Poly this July for 8 days. The last time we visited, my older son was 2 - we're visiting this time to celebrate his high school graduation! We are insanely excited!

I was hoping to get some tips or advice about visiting there with an elderly family member. My grandmother is coming with us, and she uses a wheelchair (not completely confined, but can not walk more than a few steps with her walker). I got the impression that Tokelau or Tahiti would be the best longhouses to stay in. Is that correct? And has anyone had experience with using medical equipment supplied by WDW? We requested one of the raised toilet seats for handicapped visitors, but I'm still feeling maybe we should rent one from a seperate company.

Finally, what about transportation? I know we can take the monorail directly to MK but ae the boats accessible for wheelchairs? And when we go to EC, how do we transfer from the resort monorail to the EC monorail - will we have to go back down to ground level and then up another ramp? Does anyone know if there is an elevator at the TTC or the Contemporary Resort - I know there's one at the Poly and the GF. And if we're taking a bus to MGM or DD, are the buses less crowded at the Poly rather than the TTC?

Thanks so much for any advice folks can offer. This trip is so important to us (it will probably be our last big family vacation all together) and I know people who post here are real experts! Thanks again

 

[copper68]

Congrats on the trip!!!

I don't know all the answers to your questions, but this will serve as a bump so that maybe someone else will see and be able to help...

I am not sure about the whole handicap thing at the POLY....When you made the reservations did you let the person know your situation??...I would hope they would try and get you the best building for your needs...

Pretty much all disney transportation is handicap friendly...

If you take the monorail from Poly to the TTC, you usually have to walk down a ramp and then up another ramp to get to the Epcot monorail...I am not sure if there is an elevator there at the TTC...I know that there is an elevator at the CR that will get you right next to the entrance of the monorail...

I would just take the bus from the Poly to get to DD, MGM or AK...the buses are very wheelchair friendly...we were there a few weeks ago and there was a wheelchair rider on our bus...there is a lift by the rear door that will get them in and out quickly...

just be prepared for the heat...I was there with my parents two years ago in august and was pushing my mother around on the first day...I thought I was going to die from the heat...I was completely drenched in sweat...My mother felt so bad that for the rest of the trip she and my Dad rented the ECV's...the little electric scooter things...

hope this helps a bit...good luck!!!

 

[Tikiman]

Aloha,

Tahiti or Tokelau will not be a few steps from anything. If you want to be close to the main lobby, food, bus stop and the monorail station there is only one longhouse close to all. That would be Rarotonga. The accessable rooms with the different bathrooms are in Rapa Nui which would be good if you are going to have your own car because there is a parking lot right next to this longhouse. The motor launch to the MK has quite a step down into it but there is the ferry from the TTC that is accessible. They also have a wheel chair at the pool made to go in water that you can use to wheel your grandmother into the pool at the zero entry end.

I hope this helps.

Aloha

Steve

 

[YCFAN]

We're returning in July after a 13 year absence from the Poly. My 16 year old was 3 when he was last here. Maybe July's going to be a "reunion" month!!

 

[erikthewise]

Even before reading Tikiman's post I was thinking "Rarotonga". We ended up there last Dec as a random room assignment (room 1803), but it was great because we were literally just a few steps from the Great Ceremonial House.

It has since been renovated and I think it would the perfect place for you. Just keep in mind that requests are just that and not guaranteed.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Have a great time! My first and still my favorite....the POLY!

 

[SueM in MN]

Finally, what about transportation? I know we can take the monorail directly to MK but ae the boats accessible for wheelchairs? And when we go to EC, how do we transfer from the resort monorail to the EC monorail - will we have to go back down to ground level and then up another ramp? Does anyone know if there is an elevator at the TTC or the Contemporary Resort - I know there's one at the Poly and the GF.

The boats that go from the resorts to MK are sometimes wheelchair accessible, sometimes not. It depends on the water level. If they have had a lot of rain, sometimes the boats are floating too high compared to the dock. If it's been dry, the boats are too low. They can sometimes make up the difference with a portable ramp. The boat from TTC to MK is wheelchair accessible.
There are elevators from all the resorts up to the monorail boarding area. There are NOT elevators at the TTC or at MK, but there is an elevator at Epcot.

 

[eeyore45]

i'm going in July too!! I've only been around the boards tho, and visited several disabilty sites (ours is a hard of hearing issue) but I was fascinated with some of the reports on wheelchairs and busses - apparently you can call and let them know, some bus drivers have posted that they are not allowed to force people off their bus to make room for wheel chairs, some people will voluntarily get off to make room for the party with the wheel chair, but it just depends...

so I would suggest you head over to the earsnet and this site and read up on the disablity ie wheelchair, or maybe someone here can point you in the right message board to be of more help - its out here - this world wide web is amazing!!

 

[cinderellawannabe]

Thanks everyone for your help! I think we're going to have a great time and I feel like I've learned so much over the last week or so by reading these boards. What a great way to share info! What did we ever do before we had access to all this technology

Thanks again!

Hope

 

[TwingleMum]

Another poly fan. Just wanted to mention the dis abilities BB they give great advice, and to wish you a great trip.

 

[BCV23]

Just wanted to add that if you are going to EPCOT, the easiest way is to use the path by Rapa Nui to the TTC. Then you will deal with only one ramp and it's faster than taking the resort monorail loop all the way to the TTC.

I agree with Tikiman (well, who wouldn't)..if you will have a car request Rapa Nui. If not, Raratonga. From Rapa Nui, your mother would need to use her chair to get to the GCH but that parking lot helps so much for the Studios, AK, DTD, resort hopping. The rooms are larger too which is nice with a chair.

Finally the small launches that make the circuit from MK>GF>Polynesian are never truly accessible...there is always a step down into them. If your mother is able to step down a foot or so, it is a delightful way to travel. You can fold the wheelchair. If not, you can go to the TTC (again close to Rapa Nui) and take the ferry as Tikiman and Sue said. The ferry is much more stable than the launches too.

We love the Polynesian and find it the easiest place to stay with our daughter who has CP.

 

[Dana49]

Originally posted by WDW LifeLong Fan
Have a great time! My first and still my favorite....the POLY!

Me too!

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

Tikiman happens to have the BEST Polynesian site on the 'net. I would suggest you click on his website (in his signature line) to find out more than you'd ever want to know about this resort. He has personally helped me in the past month or so in my Poly quest.

 

[christianweecare]

Have a wonderful trip with your family! May you make many wonderful memories! I know our family has many, many wonderful memories together at WDW

It's funny how you can mark time by your WDW trips. DH & I will be returning to the Poly after 30 years next year. We honeymooned there. Many trips in between with family since then.