Disney's POLYNESIAN VILLAGE RESORT Information & Questions

[_auroraborealis_]

Hey guys, I was wondering what the best New Year's Eve strategy would be to the see midnight fireworks from Poly? We have a 9:30pm Ohana reservation, as we're actually staying at PORS. What time should we make it down to the beach? Thanks!

Honestly, you won't be seated at Ohana until 10 at best. I would expect 30-45 minutes past your ADR to be seated.

You will not make it to the beach in time for the fireworks. Depending on your table, you may have a good, partial or no view from Ohana.

If you want to watch from the beach, I'd cancel the ADR and be at the beach by 8 at latest. Keep in mind that a large section of the "main" beach will be blocked off for Club Level guests, and the easier beach for a spot will be the Luau Beach. But people will be showing up to stake out spots starting early in the day.

 

[Aridge1]

Honestly, you won't be seated at Ohana until 10 at best. I would expect 30-45 minutes past your ADR to be seated.

You will not make it to the beach in time for the fireworks. Depending on your table, you may have a good, partial or no view from Ohana.

If you want to watch from the beach, I'd cancel the ADR and be at the beach by 8 at latest. Keep in mind that a large section of the "main" beach will be blocked off for Club Level guests, and the easier beach for a spot will be the Luau Beach. But people will be showing up to stake out spots starting early in the day.

Thanks for the info, if we won't be seated for at least 30-45 minutes then is it possible to actually watch them from Ohana if we have a window seat? I don't want to skip out on our reservation. We've never been to Ohana for dinner so I don't know what time to expect to be finished. Since their last ADR is 10:00pm will they even be open that late, for midnight fireworks, or will we be super rushed through our dinner?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thanks for the info, if we won't be seated for at least 30-45 minutes then is it possible to actually watch them from Ohana if we have a window seat? I don't want to skip out on our reservation. We've never been to Ohana for dinner so I don't know what time to expect to be finished. Since their last ADR is 10:00pm will they even be open that late, for midnight fireworks, or will we be super rushed through our dinner?

There are a limited number of window seats. As I said, realistically there are a few tables with a good view, but they're small tables, and there is an entire portion of the restaurant that will have no view at all. They do not let people wait for specific tables. If you do that ADR, there is a possibility you end up with a limited view of the fireworks, or have to run from the restaurant to standing-room only space on the sidewalks outside.

The restaurant will be open until everyone is fed.

 

[mickeynut1]

So, anyone have any great ideas for my 4 nights in a bungalow, what is the best and the worst?

I can't help with the best/worst bungalow, but wanted to say I hope you have a great stay .

Just got back from an AMAZING 4 night stay at the Polynesian Village!

"Pixie dust" was in full force and, because of some plumbing issues in our standard view room at Rarotonga, we were upgraded to a lagoon view room at Hawaii club level!!

Needless to say, it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip (esp after looking up the CL room $$ - yowza!!) and I look forward to figuring out which organs I can live without so I may sell one (or two) to stay club level again!!

Here's a couple of pictures. The Christmas Tree in the Hawaii lounge:
View attachment 210815
And our view from our room. I can survive easily with one kidney, right?:
View attachment 210816

Congrats on the awesome upgrade! Glad you had a great time .

39 days until we are back! Between getting ready for Christmas and work, I've lost track of time. By the time I've taken down the holiday decorations, it will be time to start packing. With three girls under 7, packing is a complicated affair, but I can't wait!

The trip will be here before we know it! Poly, here we come!

The time will go fast and you will be arriving at the Poly before you know it! Hope you have a great trip .

 

[DM Minnie]

Just booked the week before labour day with a sweet deal. We had a cruise booked in feb but Had to cancel it because my son (6) had doctors appointments with specialist he couldn't miss. We stayed last year for a few nights on a spilt stay but this time we are staying 8 days. So excited!!!!

 

[adisneygal]

Do they still play the music for the fireworks on the beach? We were there on Dec. 11 and there wasn't music.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Do they still play the music for the fireworks on the beach? We were there on Dec. 11 and there wasn't music.

12/11 was a Sunday which I'm assuming was a Christmas Party night (I didn't check, but most Sundays are party nights). I thought I had read reports of music not being played this year for the parties, but not sure???

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I am thinking of staying in a Poly Bungalow for one night and trying to get as much info as possible.

I have read that initially there were problems w/loud plumbing & a/c not keeping villas cool enough in the summer. Also that the boat horns are loud & start at 5:00 am. I heard Disney was trying to fix some of the issues & am hoping someone who has stayed there recently can shed light on this.

Also, please post any pictures from Bungalows.

Thank you!

Happy New Year to all!

 

[klmall]

The DVC buildings are the newer buildings and have bigger elevators and (seemingly, have not measured) wider halls.

There were multiple scooters parked in the hallway when we were there.

True, but can you charge them in the hallways as well?

 

[DopeyDame]

Thanks to all the contributors on this thread! It's so full of useful info.
I've been to WDW dozens of times, but in exactly a month we'll be staying at the Polynesian for the first time - I'm so excited!
We're using rented DVC points.

I'm trying to decide if we should do online checkin or not. We definitely want the whole "experience" (do they still give out leis?) so I'm leaning towards not doing online and just checking in when we arrive (via Magical Express). Will I regret that decision? I realize we might have a line for checkin, but other than that is there a benefit for online check in?

Thanks!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thanks to all the contributors on this thread! It's so full of useful info.
I've been to WDW dozens of times, but in exactly a month we'll be staying at the Polynesian for the first time - I'm so excited!
We're using rented DVC points.

I'm trying to decide if we should do online checkin or not. We definitely want the whole "experience" (do they still give out leis?) so I'm leaning towards not doing online and just checking in when we arrive (via Magical Express). Will I regret that decision? I realize we might have a line for checkin, but other than that is there a benefit for online check in?

Thanks!

If there are any room requests you have not put through the owner you rented from, your best bet is to do online check in. Rooms are assigned 3-5 days prior to your arrival, and the DVC units are designed to operate at full capacity year-round. So it can be difficult to move you if you want a different location at check-in.

You can still get leis having done online check-in coming off ME. The main part of the "experience" you might miss is waiting in the queue to talk to the desk, and I assure you: You'll wait in enough queues at Disney that missing one shouldn't destroy the magic.

 

[DopeyDame]

If there are any room requests you have not put through the owner you rented from, your best bet is to do online check in. Rooms are assigned 3-5 days prior to your arrival, and the DVC units are designed to operate at full capacity year-round. So it can be difficult to move you if you want a different location at check-in.

You can still get leis having done online check-in coming off ME. The main part of the "experience" you might miss is waiting in the queue to talk to the desk, and I assure you: You'll wait in enough queues at Disney that missing one shouldn't destroy the magic.

Thanks for the perspective. I think you might have convinced me to go ahead and do online check in.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thanks for the perspective. I think you might have convinced me to go ahead and do online check in.

Cross my heart, waiting in queue at check-in is totally missable.

(FWIW, I did online check-in and did not get a text; when we got there, which was after 4, the room was not yet ready. So we still got to wait in line, even with online check-in.)

 

[mickeynut1]

Just booked the week before labour day with a sweet deal. We had a cruise booked in feb but Had to cancel it because my son (6) had doctors appointments with specialist he couldn't miss. We stayed last year for a few nights on a spilt stay but this time we are staying 8 days. So excited!!!!

Congrats on a great deal! Hope you enjoy your 8 days at the Poly .

I've been to WDW dozens of times, but in exactly a month we'll be staying at the Polynesian for the first time - I'm so excited!
We're using rented DVC points.

The Poly is a beautiful resort, you're going to love it! Have a great trip .

 

[Nikki0401]

Trader Sam's question. How hard is it for 2 to 3 people to grab a seat indoors after 10 pm, any night?

Thanks!

****Asked on restaurant forum and got an answer, it's always crowded!

I said that's okay, I'd rather drink a martini or wine anyways. We can go to Tambu Lounge later at night.

Not sure of the exact procedure for Trader Sam's but when we were there in August I thought we could just walk in and get a seat for a drink but I was told you need to make a reservation to be able to go inside to sit down, the outside part had seats first come first serve. It may have just been because it was so crowded and its pretty small inside. I was thinking for our next trip, I'll have to plan ahead and make a reservation to get inside.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Not sure of the exact procedure for Trader Sam's but when we were there in August I thought we could just walk in and get a seat for a drink but I was told you need to make a reservation to be able to go inside to sit down, the outside part had seats first come first serve. It may have just been because it was so crowded and its pretty small inside. I was thinking for our next trip, I'll have to plan ahead and make a reservation to get inside.

There is no way to make an advance reservation. People do queue up at 2 to get pagers and sign up on very busy nights.

 

[julluvsdisney]

Best long house to request with a standard view? Staying at the poly this summer! We usually stay in the villas side but are paying cash this time so I'm not sure what to request! We like to have the balcony! Not sure which longhouse have them! TIA!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Best long house to request with a standard view? Staying at the poly this summer! We usually stay in the villas side but are paying cash this time so I'm not sure what to request! We like to have the balcony! Not sure which longhouse have them! TIA!

Every longhouse has balconies on third floor, and patios on second.

The two most popular longhouses to request are Niue (1st floor) and Samoa. These can be hard to get because of the popularity of the request. Fiji has really nice views on both sides.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Every longhouse has balconies on third floor, and patios on second.

Not sure if you meant to say patios on the "first" floor, or our definition of patios is different?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Not sure if you meant to say patios on the "first" floor, or our definition of patios is different?

sigh. Yeah. FIRST. Patios on FIRST, bupkus on second.

I'm going back to bed.