Disney's POLYNESIAN VILLAGE RESORT Information & Questions

[AngiTN]

Is there any real advantage to doing online check-in at the Poly? Would you have a better chance at receiving an upgrade by doing it in person? (not that I expect an upgrade of course but you never know). I kind of enjoy the experience of checking in at the lobby at a resort we've never stayed at for the first time, and it would seem like doing it all beforehand would take away a little bit of the Poly experience. However, if it's a better way to go overall, sign me up.

I don't let doing online check in replace stopping at the front desk to physically check in. I do both. I do not believe there is anything you can do to help or hurt your chances of an upgrade.
I like online check in so they know the approximate time of my arrival. I think it does help your chances of getting in your room prior to 3:00 (if you arrive early)

 

[Tikiman]

A group of 8 (4 adults, 4 kids ages 4-7) are considering staying at the poly for a few nights before our Disney cruise. We are considering which longhouse to stay at and looked at Tikiman website, the only info I cannot seem to find is where you actual catch the monorail or boat to MK, is it near the GCH or the TTC. Trying to figure out which longhouse is the closest location to where you catch the monorail or boat to MK. Thanks for your help!!

http://www.tikimanpages.com/poly/transportation

 

[marinejjh]

Looking to stay here in late January with 2 kids. I am gonna try to suprise my wife. Not sure if that is going to be possible. Have been saving for a year and if they offer the 30% off like they have in the past we will definitely be staying there.

 

[shaynar]

sorry if this has been asked before, but do all studios have balconies or patios?

 

[JenniBB]

Awesome!! We're heading down next Wednesday, but won't be to the Poly until the 26th, so we'll probably miss you. Have a fantastic vacation

Yep - we head home the 25th. You have an amazing time too!

 

[JenniBB]

Asked my TA last week sometime if any CL rooms were available during our stay. DH had wanted to upgrade. TA said "Disney advised her that no CL rooms were available during our stay". Should I ask at check in anyway?

 

[goofydisney2015]

They refill them each day. You can also leave a note to ask for more. They usually will

Is there some where to buy the coffee pods ? We like strong coffee and wanted see if we could find some .

 

[AngiTN]

Is there some where to buy the coffee pods ? We like strong coffee and wanted see if we could find some .

I found these using a Google search. Not many came up
http://www.coffee.org/miss-ellie-s-coffee-pods-100-colombian.html
http://www.hotpodscoffee.com/c-coffee-pods.aspx?catid=1

 

[Sue M]

Asked my TA last week sometime if any CL rooms were available during our stay. DH had wanted to upgrade. TA said "Disney advised her that no CL rooms were available during our stay". Should I ask at check in anyway?

It never hurts to ask.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

So I am back!

I don't want to be negative, but feel it is only fair to say..for my DD and I, we didn't feel Poly CL was very good. I would have rather had a TPV in a regular room.
To be fair, we stayed at GF CL in February and BC CL in May..so maybe we are spoiled. The offerings just were "Eh" and breakfast was only bagels, Croissants, small muffins, oatmeal and cereal. GF and BC both offer meats and cheeses in the AM.

The staff is great and better than we experienced at BC for the CL desk, but the Poly had this one CM that was there each day and it seemed she wasn't happy that you were there, eating in her area.

We had Room 1503 which had a fantastic view and we could see the castle between the bungalows but the people above us apparently had an elephant in their room every night about midnight till 2 am! I swear they were moving furniture.

The pool really needs to have the same thing as SAB where they check your MB and give you a bracelet because people were there that were not guests ( we saw them walk through an open gate and looked like they had all their belongings with them) and when another guest and I reported them, we were told "hmm..we will let a manager know" and nothing was done all day.

Towels on chairs is rampant, but I did notice on Monday, they were going and picking up towels without any personal belongings left at the chairs.

The east pool closing really didn't hurt our stay..Yesterday it was noisy with the beeping of the lifts, but not terrible.

I would recommend anyone in Hawaii, get a room with LV or TPV like we had..it was very busy and not pretty looking South toward the pool.


ETA - I was surprised the room looked a bit worn. There were lights burned out in the bathroom that they replaced right away, but the fridge cabinet door was broken and the bathroom wallpaper had been scrubbed so hard the print had worn off.
Lots of small things that I noticed because I am in construction..plugs not working, clock set to the totally wrong time ( i looked up the manual online and removed the plate to correct )

 

[SeaSpray]

So I am back!

I don't want to be negative, but feel it is only fair to say..for my DD and I, we didn't feel Poly CL was very good. I would have rather had a TPV in a regular room.
To be fair, we stayed at GF CL in February and BC CL in May..so maybe we are spoiled. The offerings just were "Eh" and breakfast was only bagels, Croissants, small muffins, oatmeal and cereal. GF and BC both offer meats and cheeses in the AM.

The staff is great and better than we experienced at BC for the CL desk, but the Poly had this one CM that was there each day and it seemed she wasn't happy that you were there, eating in her area.

We had Room 1503 which had a fantastic view and we could see the castle between the bungalows but the people above us apparently had an elephant in their room every night about midnight till 2 am! I swear they were moving furniture.

The pool really needs to have the same thing as SAB where they check your MB and give you a bracelet because people were there that were not guests ( we saw them walk through an open gate and looked like they had all their belongings with them) and when another guest and I reported them, we were told "hmm..we will let a manager know" and nothing was done all day.

Towels on chairs is rampant, but I did notice on Monday, they were going and picking up towels without any personal belongings left at the chairs.

The east pool closing really didn't hurt our stay..Yesterday it was noisy with the beeping of the lifts, but not terrible.

I would recommend anyone in Hawaii, get a room with LV or TPV like we had..it was very busy and not pretty looking South toward the pool.


ETA - I was surprised the room looked a bit worn. There were lights burned out in the bathroom that they replaced right away, but the fridge cabinet door was broken and the bathroom wallpaper had been scrubbed so hard the print had worn off.
Lots of small things that I noticed because I am in construction..plugs not working, clock set to the totally wrong time ( i looked up the manual online and removed the plate to correct )

Thank you so much for your report! I was hoping that you'd let us know how things were at the Polynesian right now. We'll be there in 39 days, staying CL in a garden view room, so I just emailed IPO to ask them about the noise during the day (my DH and I have chronic health issues and a midday break/nap at the resort is a "must" for us). I'll see if they are able to give me any information.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Thank you so much for your report! I was hoping that you'd let us know how things were at the Polynesian right now. We'll be there in 39 days, staying CL in a garden view room, so I just emailed IPO to ask them about the noise during the day (my DH and I have chronic health issues and a midday break/nap at the resort is a "must" for us). I'll see if they are able to give me any information.

My 17 year old DD took a few naps. She was just back from camp and exhausted from the lack of sleep.. She said she could hear the beeping at she was facing the lagoon.

They also would mow at 8 am while we were trying to eat breakfast on the patio

 

[BabyFu18]

So I am back!

I don't want to be negative, but feel it is only fair to say..for my DD and I, we didn't feel Poly CL was very good. I would have rather had a TPV in a regular room.
To be fair, we stayed at GF CL in February and BC CL in May..so maybe we are spoiled. The offerings just were "Eh" and breakfast was only bagels, Croissants, small muffins, oatmeal and cereal. GF and BC both offer meats and cheeses in the AM.

The staff is great and better than we experienced at BC for the CL desk, but the Poly had this one CM that was there each day and it seemed she wasn't happy that you were there, eating in her area.

We had Room 1503 which had a fantastic view and we could see the castle between the bungalows but the people above us apparently had an elephant in their room every night about midnight till 2 am! I swear they were moving furniture.

The pool really needs to have the same thing as SAB where they check your MB and give you a bracelet because people were there that were not guests ( we saw them walk through an open gate and looked like they had all their belongings with them) and when another guest and I reported them, we were told "hmm..we will let a manager know" and nothing was done all day.

Towels on chairs is rampant, but I did notice on Monday, they were going and picking up towels without any personal belongings left at the chairs.

The east pool closing really didn't hurt our stay..Yesterday it was noisy with the beeping of the lifts, but not terrible.

I would recommend anyone in Hawaii, get a room with LV or TPV like we had..it was very busy and not pretty looking South toward the pool.


ETA - I was surprised the room looked a bit worn. There were lights burned out in the bathroom that they replaced right away, but the fridge cabinet door was broken and the bathroom wallpaper had been scrubbed so hard the print had worn off.
Lots of small things that I noticed because I am in construction..plugs not working, clock set to the totally wrong time ( i looked up the manual online and removed the plate to correct )

Thanks for all the info, I have a question for you if you have a second, can you hear the construction noise from the main pool? I know it isn't fully underway so maybe that would affect things, just wondering if it'll be loud at the pool with all the machinery and such they might be using for the construction on the east pool. I'm thinking of switching to the GF because we have three older family members going who will spend a good deal of time in their room and around the hotel. We are booked at Poly for now in a standard room, but I'm worried because we might or might not be in a room near the construction, you just never know...

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Thanks for all the info, I have a question for you if you have a second, can you hear the construction noise from the main pool? I know it isn't fully underway so maybe that would affect things, just wondering if it'll be loud at the pool with all the machinery and such they might be using for the construction on the east pool. I'm thinking of switching to the GF because we have three older family members going who will spend a good deal of time in their room and around the hotel. We are booked at Poly for now in a standard room, but I'm worried because we might or might not be in a room near the construction, you just never know...

I could hear it for sure on Tuesday morning at the Pool. If I had a standard room, I would move to GF.. There isn't a bad view at GF

 

[dljacob]

Can anyone tell me about Raratonga monorail side patios or balconies? Can you see the parking lot from the balconies? What about use of the patio? I kinda imagine it like the patio is right on the parking lot but that seems unlikely. We have standard view rooms and really want king beds. Samoa only has king beds facing the new quiet pool construction. Raratonga has king beds on both sides, so some face quiet pool and some face monorail/parking lot. Trying to decide if it is worth it to ask for patio or balcony on monorail side. Thanks!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Can anyone tell me about Raratonga monorail side patios or balconies? Can you see the parking lot from the balconies? What about use of the patio? I kinda imagine it like the patio is right on the parking lot but that seems unlikely. We have standard view rooms and really want king beds. Samoa only has king beds facing the new quiet pool construction. Raratonga has king beds on both sides, so some face quiet pool and some face monorail/parking lot. Trying to decide if it is worth it to ask for patio or balcony on monorail side. Thanks!

Actually.. That is a nice building. My TA stayed there 2 years ago and because of the berm, I couldn't even see the cars

 

[BerardFam]

http://www.tikimanpages.com/poly/transportation

Thank you!! Your site is amazing and so informative, I missed the transportation link

 

[kittylady1972]

A much delayed quick report back on our trip in early July...but here goes!

Arrival Date was July 1st for four nights in a Poly Standard View Villa, checked out on July 5th. For online checkin I do believe the only request I made was for a high floor. We arrived around 11:30am on July 1st and had a text that our room was ready. I was not that familiar with the Poly Resort area, but we lucked out and walked in the right general direction...directly into the TOKELAU building:



We headed up to the 3rd floor and kept walking and walking down a long hallway...as we approached the end I realized...I could see the MK in the distance, and sure enough our room was at the very end of the building and THIS was the view from our balcony:



AND THIS:


Not quite as zoomed:


I can't tell you how much I was sqealing with excitement. It was just PERFECT!

So of course the room was pretty much brand new. We had a minor issue with the toilet at first, but I think it just needed some time to be used...because it was fine.

We went to run the sink in the kitchenette area and suddenly there was water EVERYWHERE in the cabinet below the sink. A pipe had come loose! We called maintenance and asked for more towels and somebody to fix the sink.

Well HALF that message got through as we get a ton of extra towels delivered quickly and we even told the guy that delivered them about the sink. We left and went to a park and a few hours later we returned...still no sink fixed.

I called maintenance and it rang off the hook and then I got housekeeping who said they would check on my issue. That time, somebody came up to fix it within I'd say maybe 30 minutes at most? Clearly the first time I didn't get the right people.

Other than that, I had no complaints but with that view...who would really? I did not want to leave but alas we spent our last 4 nights in a Standard View 1 Bedroom at Bay Lake Tower and that view wasn't nearly as nice.

We loved the location of Tokelau, so easy to walk to the TTC to catch the monorail and to return from the parks, and close to the parking lot as well. We used the grills our first night there to cook some hotdogs...that was nice.

I know we would probably never be lucky enough to get that room again, but for those who do get it...just WOW! It was just so perfect.

As for other aspects of our stay...the pool I concur was crowded and needs more shade/umbrellas but we found that was the same situation at BLT as well. I loved the main pool at the Contemporary Resort (main resort) when we visited my in-laws there. Lots more umbrellas it seemed...but no mini tables. Our Magicbands worked at the pool MOST of the time. The gate closest to the beach seemed to have issues but the others seemed to work. Didn't eat at Captain Cooks but the kids got meals there one day and enjoyed them. Oh and glad we found the DVC laundry room because the ONE morning I sent the kids to the larger public Poly laundry room to put our tennis shoes in to dry after a wet night the night before at Magic Kingdom, kids returned about 30 minutes later to find somebody had opened up ALL of the dryers in the room...and one of my shoes was missing. Ended up running out to Target the morning to buy myself new tennis shoes (because we were doing the Animal Kingdom Backstage Safari tour that day...closed toed shoes required) and later that evening we returned to find the shoe on a shelf in the laundry room. Suspect somebody thought they would be funny that morning and open up everybody's dryers and maybe tossed my shoe in one of them and somebody found it later, because DH and the kids looked EVERYWHERE around the laundry room that morning when it was missing and found nothing. I will say my kids did say they ended up closing up all of the other people's dryers and restarting them because they felt bad that somebody had done that, but they never checked those dryers to see if the shoe was there initially. Who knows??

Anyway that's the "bad" and the good of the trip overall. Watched fireworks on July 3rd at MK and on July 4th at EPCOT as planned and both were fantastic!

 

[Sue M]

So I am back!

I don't want to be negative, but feel it is only fair to say..for my DD and I, we didn't feel Poly CL was very good. I would have rather had a TPV in a regular room.
To be fair, we stayed at GF CL in February and BC CL in May..so maybe we are spoiled. The offerings just were "Eh" and breakfast was only bagels, Croissants, small muffins, oatmeal and cereal. GF and BC both offer meats and cheeses in the AM.

The staff is great and better than we experienced at BC for the CL desk, but the Poly had this one CM that was there each day and it seemed she wasn't happy that you were there, eating in her area.

We had Room 1503 which had a fantastic view and we could see the castle between the bungalows but the people above us apparently had an elephant in their room every night about midnight till 2 am! I swear they were moving furniture.

The pool really needs to have the same thing as SAB where they check your MB and give you a bracelet because people were there that were not guests ( we saw them walk through an open gate and looked like they had all their belongings with them) and when another guest and I reported them, we were told "hmm..we will let a manager know" and nothing was done all day.

Towels on chairs is rampant, but I did notice on Monday, they were going and picking up towels without any personal belongings left at the chairs.

The east pool closing really didn't hurt our stay..Yesterday it was noisy with the beeping of the lifts, but not terrible.

I would recommend anyone in Hawaii, get a room with LV or TPV like we had..it was very busy and not pretty looking South toward the pool.


ETA - I was surprised the room looked a bit worn. There were lights burned out in the bathroom that they replaced right away, but the fridge cabinet door was broken and the bathroom wallpaper had been scrubbed so hard the print had worn off.
Lots of small things that I noticed because I am in construction..plugs not working, clock set to the totally wrong time ( i looked up the manual online and removed the plate to correct )

Thank you for your review. It's disappointing that rooms are worn already and not maintained since it hasn't been that long that they were refurbed. Or that pool towels aren't dealt with or pool crashes . You'd expect better maintained rooms & common areas for what it costs to stay there.
Don't even get me started on the pigs who can't be bothered to take their used towels to the bin they have to walk past to leave!!

 

[Sue M]

A much delayed quick report back on our trip in early July...but here goes!

Arrival Date was July 1st for four nights in a Poly Standard View Villa, checked out on July 5th. For online checkin I do believe the only request I made was for a high floor. We arrived around 11:30am on July 1st and had a text that our room was ready. I was not that familiar with the Poly Resort area, but we lucked out and walked in the right general direction...directly into the TOKELAU building:



We headed up to the 3rd floor and kept walking and walking down a long hallway...as we approached the end I realized...I could see the MK in the distance, and sure enough our room was at the very end of the building and THIS was the view from our balcony:



AND THIS:


Not quite as zoomed:


I can't tell you how much I was sqealing with excitement. It was just PERFECT!

Wow!! Fantastic!