Disney's POLYNESIAN VILLAGE RESORT Information & Questions

[mickeynut1]

Just returned from another lovely visit to the polynesian! Stayed in Rarotonga which is our favorite for its location. Ground floor which we requested was unavailable when we checked invut they kindly moved us the next day to our requested location! Mousekeeping was outstanding! Truly the best we have experienced. We walked in to our room which was orderly and clean each day. Even got towel animals one day! On 2 occasions we were in the room when they came and they always came back later at our request. Every CM we met was friendly and helpful. Food was great and atmosphere even better! We had our first visit to trader sams which was so fun! Everything surpassed our expectations which is tough considering this is like our 5th or 6th stay! My only complaint which is the same one I had last year is the lack of shade at the pool! Please Disney! It is summer in Florida and I only want a few more umbrellas! Lol! Can't wait to go back next year! Staying at the poly truly makes our WDW vacations extra magical

Thanks for your review. Glad you had another great trip and enjoyed the Poly. Enjoy planning your next trip .

We arrive at the Poly tomorrow! Happy to read @jaz0308 post about Raratonga. That is our favorite too. Will miss the ceiling fans ( we were just there in May and they still had them then!) but looking forward to everything else!

Have a great time!

We just got back from our first stay at the Poly. We rented DVC and were in the Tokelau building, on the 2nd floor. The entire stay was absolutely perfect! We had previous stayed at POR, POFQ, Pop, AsSp, and AKL. While we have enjoyed all of our resorts, Poly was on another level and we all agreed (DH, DS's ages 14,8, and 5, and me) that we never want to stay at another resort again.

I can't imagine a more perfect atmosphere. Everyone, from CMs to other guests, was so friendly and welcoming. We loved having the monorail as a transportation option. We watched the fireworks and swam every night. It was just wonderful and I hope to be back soon! We are hooked!

Glad you enjoyed your first stay at the Poly. We have tried several resorts and have loved every one, but the Poly will always be our favorite for all of the reasons you stated .

We are headed to the Poly in September. We have a standard room booked. If we have the opportunity to request a specific longhouse, which would you recommend and why?

I think any where at the Poly is great, but we love Samoa. It's centrally located and is just steps from both pools, the GCH, Captain Cooks, and the beach. With that said, Fiji gets a lot of great reviews and would be my second choice. Have a great trip .

 

[Surgie2]

Are Lilo and Stitch ever wandering the Poly lobby or grounds or is 'Ohana the only place to meet them? Do they or other characters come to Lilo's Playhouse in the evenings?

 

[maryj11]

Both Tambu Lounge and the Trader Sam's outdoor patio are your best bet for later at night to go drinks.

I personally like the Backscratcher at Tambu Lounge, that's one of my favorites. A Lapu Lapu is always a good choice too, but I find it a bit too fruity. The Lapu Lapu is the one served in a pineapple, so already in a natural to go cup!

The Shrunken Zombie Head is good at Trader Sam's but has cinnamon which is a strong flavor in a beverage - I like it because it's not overwhelmingly fruity.

But really lots of great tiki choices at both places. And standard beer/wine menu as well.

Hope that helps!

Thank you!

 

[maryj11]

When we were in traders we had a beverage . Then dd asked for one to-go for when we went to the room to pack. I know I have asked for to-go drinks at Tambu too. It's nice to stroll the grounds or just enjoy the balcony/patio.

At traders I loved the spikey pineapple! It's dolewhip with rum. Dd gets strawberry daiquiris all the time at Disney. Usually not on the menu but she still gets them.

The menu has good descriptions so check it out at Tambu.

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[maryj11]

We are headed to the Poly in September. We have a standard room booked. If we have the opportunity to request a specific longhouse, which would you recommend and why?

Samoa is my first pick and is also very popular but hard to get. It is a great location to everything and has good views.
Fiji has really nice views and is requested a lot. Most request 3rd floor at Fiji because of the views.
Rarotonga is also a good choice because it is centrally located, but views are not as good as Samoa and Fiji.
Try this link it will help
http://www.tikimanpages.com/poly/the-resort/longhouses

 

[kungaloosh22]

Both Tambu Lounge and the Trader Sam's outdoor patio are your best bet for later at night to go drinks.

I personally like the Backscratcher at Tambu Lounge, that's one of my favorites. A Lapu Lapu is always a good choice too, but I find it a bit too fruity. The Lapu Lapu is the one served in a pineapple, so already in a natural to go cup!

The Shrunken Zombie Head is good at Trader Sam's but has cinnamon which is a strong flavor in a beverage - I like it because it's not overwhelmingly fruity.

But really lots of great tiki choices at both places. And standard beer/wine menu as well.

Hope that helps!

I agree with you on these recommendations. I love tiki drinks, but sometimes they're just too sweet for me. The Backscratcher is my favorite drink at Tambu, though I'll sometimes have a Lapu Lapu. You might be able to get a different drink in the pineapple, though we haven't this for a while (so not sure). I also like the drinks at the pool bar, especially the Painkiller.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I agree with you on these recommendations. I love tiki drinks, but sometimes they're just too sweet for me. The Backscratcher is my favorite drink at Tambu, though I'll sometimes have a Lapu Lapu. You might be able to get a different drink in the pineapple, though we haven't this for a while (so not sure). I also like the drinks at the pool bar, especially the Painkiller.

Yeah, that's a good point. I've read you can get any drink at Tambu in a pineapple, but have never tried that myself. Not sure how much extra they charge for the pineapple.

on the Painkiller too.

 

[maryj11]

Yeah, that's a good point. I've read you can get any drink at Tambu in a pineapple, but have never tried that myself. Not sure how much extra they charge for the pineapple.

on the Painkiller too.

What is in the painkiller? Is the island sunset any good? It sounds good to me.

 

[1983DisneyFanatic]

Here's another one; on a resort-only day with our kids - 4yo boy and 7yo girl...

Spirit of Aloha or O'Hanna - this would strictly be a dinner thing to do in the early evening.

We've never done either as a family so it'd be a first for everyone...

Loved OHana, the kids options satisfied my picky kids and my husband and I loved all the food and the kids enjoyed the entertainment (coconut race and music).

My husband and I did the SoA and did not enjoy the food or the sangria. The show was ok. We enjoyed seeing the dances and fire show, but the rest of the show was meh.

 

[Surgie2]

What is in the painkiller?

Pago Pago Painkiller
Myer's Original Dark Rum, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, and Cream of Coconut

$10.25

 

[brookmey]

DH and I are coming in late October for our first ever Poly stay! Sounds cliche, but getting to stay at Poly is a dream come true for me. I've been coming to WDW pretty regularly since 1976 when I was 3 years old. The Poly has always been my favorite resort and I've been wanting to stay there for as long as I can remember.

This is also our 15th anniversary and our first ever vacation without kids, so Poly was the only place I wanted to stay at. We're DVC owners at SSR, so at our 7 month mark (in March) I tried to make our reservation but everything was booked for our dates. I was so disappointed. I got on a waitlist, but didn't have much hope since we needed 6 nights. We got a room at Kidani Village, which was OK since we've never stayed there, but not getting Poly did put a damper on my excitement for the trip. But we were still going and staying someplace new so I tried to focus on the positives.

A couple months later I got an email saying our waitlist came through for the entire 6 nights! I thought it was a mistake so I checked our DVC account and there it was! I was so excited and shocked I couldn't get the words out to tell DH so I just shoved my iPad at him to show him. Then I started crying! It's kind of embarrassing to admit I was in tears because in all the years I've been coming to Disney I've only gotten teary twice before and that was because of an experience each of my kids had. But here I was, crying because a lifelong dream finally came true! I'm so impatient for October to get here, DH teases me that I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa!

Almost everyday since then I check our DVC account to make sure the reservation didn't change.

So, my question is about Trader Sam's, which we definitely want to checkout since we're right there. How busy does it get in the evenings, generally? We'll be arriving at Poly around 6 pm on a Saturday. Is it usually really busy Saturday nights, like people lining up to get in? Is there a patio we can sit at instead of inside the bar? How close is it to Capt. Cook's?

Thank you so much for all the information in this thread. I love looking at everyone's pictures!

 

[caliope]

DH and I are coming in late October for our first ever Poly stay! Sounds cliche, but getting to stay at Poly is a dream come true for me. I've been coming to WDW pretty regularly since 1976 when I was 3 years old. The Poly has always been my favorite resort and I've been wanting to stay there for as long as I can remember.

This is also our 15th anniversary and our first ever vacation without kids, so Poly was the only place I wanted to stay at. We're DVC owners at SSR, so at our 7 month mark (in March) I tried to make our reservation but everything was booked for our dates. I was so disappointed. I got on a waitlist, but didn't have much hope since we needed 6 nights. We got a room at Kidani Village, which was OK since we've never stayed there, but not getting Poly did put a damper on my excitement for the trip. But we were still going and staying someplace new so I tried to focus on the positives.

A couple months later I got an email saying our waitlist came through for the entire 6 nights! I thought it was a mistake so I checked our DVC account and there it was! I was so excited and shocked I couldn't get the words out to tell DH so I just shoved my iPad at him to show him. Then I started crying! It's kind of embarrassing to admit I was in tears because in all the years I've been coming to Disney I've only gotten teary twice before and that was because of an experience each of my kids had. But here I was, crying because a lifelong dream finally came true! I'm so impatient for October to get here, DH teases me that I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa!

Almost everyday since then I check our DVC account to make sure the reservation didn't change.

So, my question is about Trader Sam's, which we definitely want to checkout since we're right there. How busy does it get in the evenings, generally? We'll be arriving at Poly around 6 pm on a Saturday. Is it usually really busy Saturday nights, like people lining up to get in? Is there a patio we can sit at instead of inside the bar? How close is it to Capt. Cook's?

Thank you so much for all the information in this thread. I love looking at everyone's pictures!

Congrats on getting the reservation at Poly! It really is amazing.

We've not been to Trader Sam's since last December, but on that trip we noticed it was busiest on Saturday night. That said, you could check on the wait when you get there and may have no trouble getting in, especially with a party of 2. There is a patio outside. And it's right next to Capt. Cook's.

Enjoy your trip! We will be back at Poly end of August.

 

[Surgie2]

Is there a patio we can sit at instead of inside the bar?

We totally loved the patio on a beautiful evening last January. We didn't even try going inside because we really wanted a quieter atmosphere. It was so pretty sitting by the marina and watching the boats come in from the MK. We had drinks and shared an appetizer before moving on to the GF for dinner. It was great! Enjoy your trip!

 

[maryj11]

Pago Pago Painkiller
Myer's Original Dark Rum, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, and Cream of Coconut

$10.25

Thank you

 

[brookmey]

Congrats on getting the reservation at Poly! It really is amazing.

We've not been to Trader Sam's since last December, but on that trip we noticed it was busiest on Saturday night. That said, you could check on the wait when you get there and may have no trouble getting in, especially with a party of 2. There is a patio outside. And it's right next to Capt. Cook's.

Enjoy your trip! We will be back at Poly end of August.

Thank you! Enjoy yours, too!

We totally loved the patio on a beautiful evening last January. We didn't even try going inside because we really wanted a quieter atmosphere. It was so pretty sitting by the marina and watching the boats come in from the MK. We had drinks and shared an appetizer before moving on to the GF for dinner. It was great! Enjoy your trip!

Thank you! Sitting on the patio sounds great. I'm not a big bar person so a quieter atmosphere would be wonderful.

 

[JodyLynC]

Hi friends, I have started a trip report at https://www.disboards.com/threads/austin-family-blowout-aug-2017.3622185/

We will be at Poly Aug 1st thru 4th. I will post pics once we hit the world. I will also do my best to stay on top of the report.

 

[Shellyb84]

What alcohol drinks would any of you recommend and where can we get them after 9:00 pm? I know they have the lapu lapu, is it good? I want ones we can get to go and take out to the pool area.

My favorite is the Shrunken Zombie head from Trader Sam's. I've tried the Lapu Lapu a couple of times, and I just don't really enjoy it. Its just overwhelmingly strong (and I'm not a light-weight by any means lol).

 

[GADisneyDad14]

My favorite is the Shrunken Zombie head from Trader Sam's. I've tried the Lapu Lapu a couple of times, and I just don't really enjoy it. Its just overwhelmingly strong (and I'm not a light-weight by any means lol).

Funny enough, a good example of different tastes. I don't really like Lapu Lapu's all that much because they aren't strong enough!

 

[Shellyb84]

Funny enough, a good example of different tastes. I don't really like Lapu Lapu's all that much because they aren't strong enough!

Maybe it's just been my luck to get an extra heavy handed bartender, or maybe I had one too many Zombie Heads before the Lapu Lapu

 

[mickeynut1]

DH and I are coming in late October for our first ever Poly stay! Sounds cliche, but getting to stay at Poly is a dream come true for me. I've been coming to WDW pretty regularly since 1976 when I was 3 years old. The Poly has always been my favorite resort and I've been wanting to stay there for as long as I can remember.

This is also our 15th anniversary and our first ever vacation without kids, so Poly was the only place I wanted to stay at. We're DVC owners at SSR, so at our 7 month mark (in March) I tried to make our reservation but everything was booked for our dates. I was so disappointed. I got on a waitlist, but didn't have much hope since we needed 6 nights. We got a room at Kidani Village, which was OK since we've never stayed there, but not getting Poly did put a damper on my excitement for the trip. But we were still going and staying someplace new so I tried to focus on the positives.

A couple months later I got an email saying our waitlist came through for the entire 6 nights! I thought it was a mistake so I checked our DVC account and there it was! I was so excited and shocked I couldn't get the words out to tell DH so I just shoved my iPad at him to show him. Then I started crying! It's kind of embarrassing to admit I was in tears because in all the years I've been coming to Disney I've only gotten teary twice before and that was because of an experience each of my kids had. But here I was, crying because a lifelong dream finally came true! I'm so impatient for October to get here, DH teases me that I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa!

Almost everyday since then I check our DVC account to make sure the reservation didn't change.

Congrats on the waitlist coming through! Hope you have a great anniversary trip .

Hi friends, I have started a trip report at https://www.disboards.com/threads/austin-family-blowout-aug-2017.3622185/

We will be at Poly Aug 1st thru 4th. I will post pics once we hit the world. I will also do my best to stay on top of the report.

Have a great time! Looking forward to your reports and pics .