Disney's POLYNESIAN VILLAGE RESORT Information & Questions

[trishadono]

Oh my! So excited, just booked an anniversary trip for late june at the poly villas (std view)!! We were booked for Swan, but was able to get poly for a reasonable rate, so I'm excited to make the switch.
Now, we've never stayed here before...so i need some help. With it being a trip with just DH and I we'll take things slower, enjoy the resort, trader sams , etc...
Since its coming up soon (less than 60 days!!!) I need a crash course in what we should NOT miss at the resort.
Thanks so much, i would appreciate any tips or advice.

The simple things really are my fav,

A walk at night enjoying the tiki lights

Watching wishes or the electric water pageant from the beach

A lapu lapu (rum drink served in a pineapple)

I also enjoy walking to The Grand at least once per trip even when I don't stay at those resorts. The view on that pathway is pretty and relaxing

Oh and getting a dole whip!!!

 

[trishadono]

We just experienced our first stay at the poly and loved it! Booked a bounce back for 8 nights in December in the Hawaii building and absolutely can't wait. I'm wondering if like the other long houses, the 2nd floor of the Hawaii building only has rails rather than patios? Do you think we have a good chance of getting a first or third floor room if we request that in advance?

You are correct. I request floor 1/3 and have always gotten it. I think many request 2 for mobility issues or ease with a stroller.

Although I find I spend so much less time on my balcony because of the wonderful view from the lounge!

In case you didn't know, put Christmas trees and decorations in the lounge. Very beautiful!

Enjoy!

 

[jerseygal]

The simple things really are my fav,

A walk at night enjoying the tiki lights

Watching wishes or the electric water pageant from the beach

A lapu lapu (rum drink served in a pineapple)

I also enjoy walking to The Grand at least once per trip even when I don't stay at those resorts. The view on that pathway is pretty and relaxing

Oh and getting a dole whip!!!

Being able to ENJOY BOTH pools now, Lava pool and Oasis pool and Oasis food service and bar will be awesome! DH and I enjoy long walks, so as a change to Captain Cooks, we usually walk on the pretty path, past the wedding chapel over to Gasparillos at the Grand for either breakfast or my favorite is to go for quickservice lunch(the made to order salads are SO GOOD if you are into salad(you order whatever fresh vegetables you like and the CM's mix it for you, very large and so fresh). Last October we were lucky enough to see the horse drawn carriage "waiting" for the bride and groom in the wedding chapel . Don't forget delicious Dole Whip at the Pineapple Lanai right by the Lava Pool and Captain Cooks! ENJOY!

 

[jerseygal]

Oh my! So excited, just booked an anniversary trip for late june at the poly villas (std view)!! We were booked for Swan, but was able to get poly for a reasonable rate, so I'm excited to make the switch.
Now, we've never stayed here before...so i need some help. With it being a trip with just DH and I we'll take things slower, enjoy the resort, trader sams , etc...
Since its coming up soon (less than 60 days!!!) I need a crash course in what we should NOT miss at the resort.
Thanks so much, i would appreciate any tips or advice.

ENJOY the Poly, Happy Anniversary!

 

[jerseygal]

I think anyone posting on this Poly thread is VERY fortunate...we're not posting if we're not staying (or haven't stayed) at this glorious resort.

109 days and counting...

Eeeek!!!

VERY FORTUNATE!

 

[kayteekt]

The simple things really are my fav,

A walk at night enjoying the tiki lights

Watching wishes or the electric water pageant from the beach

A lapu lapu (rum drink served in a pineapple)

I also enjoy walking to The Grand at least once per trip even when I don't stay at those resorts. The view on that pathway is pretty and relaxing

Oh and getting a dole whip!!!

Thanks! Sounds laid back...I'm relaxing already

 

[TJA]

We just experienced our first stay at the poly and loved it! Booked a bounce back for 8 nights in December in the Hawaii building and absolutely can't wait. I'm wondering if like the other long houses, the 2nd floor of the Hawaii building only has rails rather than patios? Do you think we have a good chance of getting a first or third floor room if we request that in advance?

I believe your question has been answered, but I just wanted to add that after many stays at Poly CL, we have always requested and received either 1st or 3rd floor. I just word request "full patio/full balcony." I think what might be in your favor is that in the Hawaii building, some people do request the 2nd floor because that's where the food is (no worries - it's not a long walk to the lounge even from furthest room on 1st and 3rd floors).

 

[mickeynut1]

We're here now on our first visit to Poly. I'm surprised at how compact this resort is. It's really small. I had been worried about requesting Fiji since its further away from things but sooooo not an issue (I may change my mind after walking to TTC tomorrow but we only do that one day).

We got the room two down from the one we requested in Fiji with Touring Plans. Third floor, luau facing with a nice view of the beach. You can hear the drums from the luau at night but it wasn't very loud.

Watching the water parade last night was very cool. Cute show and the kids enjoyed running around the beach while waiting. Ditto Wishes. I had no idea how high most of the fireworks fly from seeing them in the park. Sound quality wasn't awesome but I didn't really care about that.

Sounds like you're having a great time, the Poly is amazing! Being somewhat compact is one of the (many) things I love about it. Hope the rest of your trip is magical .

We just experienced our first stay at the poly and loved it! Booked a bounce back for 8 nights in December in the Hawaii building and absolutely can't wait. I'm wondering if like the other long houses, the 2nd floor of the Hawaii building only has rails rather than patios? Do you think we have a good chance of getting a first or third floor room if we request that in advance?

Congrats on the BB! It's always exciting to book a BB as you have something to look forward to before you even get home from your current trip . As others have posted, 2nd floor Hawaii rooms do not have balconies. Requesting 1st or 3rd floor is a good idea if having a patio or balcony is a priority. With that said, I think your chances are pretty good that your request will be met. If you do happen to end up with a room on the 2nd floor, you could always ask if a different room is available. It's not guaranteed they can move you, but it never hurts to ask .

109 days and counting...

Eeeek!!!

The days will go fast and you will be checking into the Poly before you know it .

In route now!! If we put 3:00 check in, is there any chance our room could be ready earlier? We may drive straight through.

Also, if you do online check in can you still get leis?

Thanks!!!

Hope you have a great trip .

Oh my! So excited, just booked an anniversary trip for late june at the poly villas (std view)!! We were booked for Swan, but was able to get poly for a reasonable rate, so I'm excited to make the switch.
Now, we've never stayed here before...so i need some help. With it being a trip with just DH and I we'll take things slower, enjoy the resort, trader sams , etc...
Since its coming up soon (less than 60 days!!!) I need a crash course in what we should NOT miss at the resort.
Thanks so much, i would appreciate any tips or advice.

Congrats on the switch, you are going to love the Poly! As others have posted, there are so many things to enjoy at the Poly. I love just walking the grounds taking in the beautiful tropical atmosphere, walking around at night under the lit tiki torches, watching Wishes from the beach, and relaxing in a lounge chair by the pool . Hope you have a nice, relaxing anniversary trip!

Being able to ENJOY BOTH pools now, Lava pool and Oasis pool and Oasis food service and bar will be awesome!

I agree as the Oasis pool/bar looks great!

Sounds laid back...I'm relaxing already

The Poly is very relaxing, IMO .

 

[kayteekt]

Being able to ENJOY BOTH pools now, Lava pool and Oasis pool and Oasis food service and bar will be awesome! DH and I enjoy long walks, so as a change to Captain Cooks, we usually walk on the pretty path, past the wedding chapel over to Gasparillos at the Grand for either breakfast or my favorite is to go for quickservice lunch(the made to order salads are SO GOOD if you are into salad(you order whatever fresh vegetables you like and the CM's mix it for you, very large and so fresh). Last October we were lucky enough to see the horse drawn carriage "waiting" for the bride and groom in the wedding chapel . Don't forget delicious Dole Whip at the Pineapple Lanai right by the Lava Pool and Captain Cooks! ENJOY!

That's great, we are more the "quiet pool" people anyway, so that sounds perfect. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply!
If it's not sweltering we will def walk to the Grand, maybe in the evening...how long would you say the walk is?

 

[kayteekt]

Anyone have suggestions for room request on the DVC side (std view)? Besides a higher floor...is one building better/more convenient that the others..from the map, looks like Tokelau would be closest to pool and main resort areas. TIA

 

[DisneyMomma1216]

10 days!!! 10 days until we leave!! I am soooo freaking excited!! I ordered a specialty cake for our anniversary dinner at CG, online check in and such is done for our stay at the Poly, and I'm finishing up packing this week!! I am soooo excited to come back home and to finally fulfill our dream of staying at the Poly!! This week is going to go slow- and next week, even slower, but that's okay!! Thank you all for your amazing ideas, and suggestions/advice! I definitely wouldn't have been able to book this trip as well as I have without this thread!!!

 

[Cluelyss]

That's great, we are more the "quiet pool" people anyway, so that sounds perfect. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply!
If it's not sweltering we will def walk to the Grand, maybe in the evening...how long would you say the walk is?

Less than 10 minutes at a leisurely pace.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Just back from our 2016 trip, and it was fabulous! We stayed at AoA, sailed on the Disney Dream and then stayed at the GF. It was a fantastic trip!!

Now, to start planning for 2017!!! We are planning for Poly CL for August!!! Ready to dive into everything Poly in preparation for our 2017 trip!!

 

[dreamseeker9]

11 days until I'll meet my parents at the Poly, and I paid off the room with Disney gift cards and still have some left to spend!

I am beyond excited. I'm calling this the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Trip, AKA the T5 Trip. This will be our first time staying at the Poly, our first time experiencing Trader Sam's, and my parents' first time at the Enchanted Tiki Room and at the Flower and Garden Festival! We're eating at Liberty Tree Tavern our first evening, another first. I really can't wait!!

 

[trishadono]

Being able to ENJOY BOTH pools now, Lava pool and Oasis pool and Oasis food service and bar will be awesome! DH and I enjoy long walks, so as a change to Captain Cooks, we usually walk on the pretty path, past the wedding chapel over to Gasparillos at the Grand for either breakfast or my favorite is to go for quickservice lunch(the made to order salads are SO GOOD if you are into salad(you order whatever fresh vegetables you like and the CM's mix it for you, very large and so fresh). Last October we were lucky enough to see the horse drawn carriage "waiting" for the bride and groom in the wedding chapel . Don't forget delicious Dole Whip at the Pineapple Lanai right by the Lava Pool and Captain Cooks! ENJOY!

I love the salads too! Add taking the boat from CR to WL at Roarin Forks for the apple walnut salad, yummy!

I always loved the Oasis pool and now with beverages I am going to love it more.

 

[Dariansue]

Doing the DOUBLE Digit dance!!!!! WWWWOOOOOO HOOOOOO!

 

[abja09]

Don't forget to use the laundryview mobile app to tell you when machines are open or when your clothes are done! That came in handy.

http://m.laundryview.com/disneyworld/index.php

This is awesome!! Never knew about it before. Thanks!

 

[geekbri]

Anyone have suggestions for room request on the DVC side (std view)? Besides a higher floor...is one building better/more convenient that the others..from the map, looks like Tokelau would be closest to pool and main resort areas. TIA

I used tikiman's pages to help decide. http://www.tikimanpages.com/poly/the-resort/planning/item/60-which-longhouse? In particular that page was very helpful. I decided we would try to get Tokelau. I myself am hoping to get a view from the castle with our standard view studio, I'm not sure what to request to try to help make sure that happens. If you figure it out, or anybody else has any info I would be all ears!

 

[Coconut8473]

Looking forward to our split stay (with BC) in August! It'll be our first time at Poly, and we'll only be doing MK days when where there (so not concerned about Epcot or other transportation). That said, I know that my DS (who is a train freak) would love a monorail-view room. I've looked at the stickies here, and Tikiman's pages, and did a search, but curious - is Aotearoa the only monorail-view option among the longhouses? It seems to be the lowest "ranked" per Tikiman, but wondering if anyone has any first-hand experience?

 

[richkaryn]

All this talk about the Monorail on a extended closure... Man all the times I have came to Disneyworld and stayed in a non-monorail resort and dreamed of staying in a monorail resort...
Now I finally am staying at the poly and the Monorail is not running all the time... BUMMER I am so angry.... and sad

I know! Any word on if this will still be the case in fall? We are going in October and I made several early breakfast ADRs at other monorail resorts.....and DH said when I was booking "if you can't get the poly at least get another monorail resort." Kind of defeats the purpose if it isn't running at the times we are going to need it.