i swear i had answered this and then realized i was in the middle of posting it on a plane back from seattle to dallas when my computer died in flight. lol! anyhow- so here we go.....
So we haven't used ME, but i did research it because we considered it last trip in December 2009. We just prefer to rent a car usually. I have heard folks that got in late say they asked the hotel to NOT deliver their luggage until the next morning, as not to wake the sleeping kids etc. However, i have heard the hotel often doesn't pay attention and still delivers it anyhow at like 10pm or whenever and might wake you guys up. So if you want to be absolutely sure there is no late night knocking at the door, then get it yourself.
on room requests, i think a week before is standard. the more generic you are, the better your chances. the more specific you get, they probably won't do it. like if you want first floor or close to food court, find, but don't ask for a specific room or something. We've had fairly good luck so far (with requests at POR- asking for AB near food court). Our last trip in Dec to WL- we had paid for pool view and hoped for views of the main pool, but didn't get it, even with our request. you just never know. i don't think they take them over the phone either, i think you have to fax, but you can always follow up your fax with a phone call to ensure they got it. i woldn't send in anything earlier than a week out- it simply won't get looked at.
also- if you find you are extremely unhappy with the room you are given, just call the front desk or head back up there and complain or ask for another room- it can't hurt, all they can say is no, right?
on heading tot he Poly for lunch and trying to check out the GF decor..........you will want to board the RESORT monorail from the MK. There are two monorails as you know- one is the express, it goes direct from the MK to the TTC. The resort monorail goes to all the resorts and the flow is like this- MK to Contemporary, to TTC to Poly to GF back to MK. So you wouldn't stop at the GF until after your Poly stop. you could check it out after lunch on the way back to the MK though.