Here'sTigger2U
Isn't is time to go?
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2000
- Messages
- 75
I (hope to) do a brief trip report and dining report, but first I wanted to do one about the resort.
The cast:
Me (Bob): 12-times @ WDW
DW, Julie: 6-times (all w/me
)
DD Nikki: 7, her 3rd trip.
DS Ethan: 6, his 3rd trip.
DS Zak: 5, his 2nd trip (in utero for Nikki and Ethan"s 1st
)
After a quick flight, we landed at MCO at 4:15pm and hopped on Magical Express. This is awsome. Very quick and easy. Can't remember the driver's name but a quick "Woop-Woop" to him...If you get him you will get it!
Check in was also relatively quick and easy...I have stayed at the Poly one other (non Christmas) time, and thought it looked great. Our last trip (December 04) we stayed at the Boardwalk, and my DW felt the Christmas decorations were lacking (this would be an ongoing opinion).
But I digress...as I was typing, check in was relatively easy...we had booked a garden view room and that was exactly what we got...in Fiji! Knowing what I did about room size and 2-sink bathrooms (we are 5, after all) I asked if something was available in a building w/ the larger rooms (I slyly hinted that if none was available, we could get by in a smaller room overlooking the lagoon, or we would somehow manage in Hawaii, if at all possible
). Such was not to be the case, however. The CM looked at me and smiled (you know what smile) and said she had a garden view room with a balcony in Rapa Nui. After confirming it was not overlooking the parking lot, we happily walked to our room, #2116 in the Rapa Nui building (2nd floor).
Now first, let me say this...the Poly at night is DARK, even with the lights and tiki torches going. It is also peaceful, that is until my three decide to take off running and hollering. The beauty of this resort is most definitely lost on the younger set.
The room itself was very nice. Clean, quiet, and everything working (the fridge cranked aout some seriously cold bottled water!!) I liked the new TV (a flat panel) and how it was set up into the furniture. DD liked her fold-over couch bed and having tested it, I could sleep on it for a night or two w/o complaint; it's pretty comfy. Mousekeeping took good care of the room; fresh towels were always plentiful and everything looked inviting after a long day out, no towel animals but no big deal; we were too tired to care.
At the Great Ceremonial house: What a beautiful lobby. Looks and smells great. The shops were fun. We ate at Kona one night, Captain Cooks for snacks and breakfast. Did not do Ohana. Sat in the lounge one evening; the kids had shirley temples and we tried the Poly's signature drink, the Lapu Lapu. Do NOT drive after this one!!
Crowds...was a very busy week. Did not see any of the pop warner groups at the Poly at all (not saying some familys were there, I don't know.) At 9:00pm we saw lines of people still waiting to eat at Kona and Ohana. Heard one cast member comment that they were booked throught the end of the month, I can believe it! The resort's GCH was always hopping!
Weather: Did not rain on us at all. The best swimming days were Monday and Friday; we (of course) went Tuesday in the volcano pool...great slide! and froze...so much for "heated pools"
!! isn't it fun arguing with children who are shivering and have blue lips to get out of a pool? "I Don't Wanna Get Out"...
Oops...here's a little something I forgot...remember how awesome I said ME was? They were...But Sunday at 9:30 pm and still no luggage was uncool. Like I said...they were busy! Went down to get my luggage myself, my DW was a little irked by this because of what you pay to stay here. I understand busy. Still...
Final thoughts: Great resort. Monorail convenience is huge plus. Value for our family? This is the part that gets me down. My three kids really did not care that they stayed at the Poly. They liked the great pool that we only went into one time because we were at the parks and really did not budget alot of "swim time". That's my fault for only having 5 full vacation days. Sunday and saturday were travel. Had a great time but I don't believe for a second that if we'd stayed at POR (a moderate that can handle 5) it would have made any difference to them. This is a great couple's resort. I would have liked to have stayed here when all the kids were in strollers (We were at either the BWV or WLV when they were in strollers...the boats are great, buses not so much) for the monorail alone.
Months ago while we were planning this trip, we had considered POR, ASM, and the Poly for our resort. The Poly easily one out over ASM and it's family suite because of it only being $800 more and it had the prestige of the monorail and it being a "deluxe" resort. POR vs ASM was a wash because cost difference was negligable and the ASM was a much larger room. I can only say I am glad we did not stay at ASM because it was PW week, but since I never even went to the resort, I don't know what it was like. I guess I would like to say that "I got a good value" staying at the Poly, but all I really did was eat and sleep there. I think if you want to pay the premium of staying at a deluxe resort, budget some time to enjoy it. Otherwise, it's one expensive roof!!!
Any questions? Fire away! The Poly is decked out and ready to handle the holidays! The microwave at Capt. Hooks had an out of order sign while we were there...the only thing I saw not working. All the parks looke great, and we had a nice time. If you are a very early riser, on your way to Capt Hooks for that danish to go with your coffee, stop and listen, you can hear the howling wolf from the haunted mansion even at 6:30 am!
Last little thought...If you are doing your flight check-in at the resort, do it as early as you can...got in line at 8:00am Saturday (we were leaving at 9:45) and had to wait 30 minutes in line! And when I commented about having a busy morning, the CM said "Oh we're not busy...come see us in 2-3 weeks!!" Yipes!!
Bob.
PS: My DW wants to start planning a 4-day 3-night Mommy/Daddy trip with no kids!! I can't believe it!
She's finally coming around!!!
The cast:
Me (Bob): 12-times @ WDW
DW, Julie: 6-times (all w/me

DD Nikki: 7, her 3rd trip.
DS Ethan: 6, his 3rd trip.
DS Zak: 5, his 2nd trip (in utero for Nikki and Ethan"s 1st

After a quick flight, we landed at MCO at 4:15pm and hopped on Magical Express. This is awsome. Very quick and easy. Can't remember the driver's name but a quick "Woop-Woop" to him...If you get him you will get it!
Check in was also relatively quick and easy...I have stayed at the Poly one other (non Christmas) time, and thought it looked great. Our last trip (December 04) we stayed at the Boardwalk, and my DW felt the Christmas decorations were lacking (this would be an ongoing opinion).
But I digress...as I was typing, check in was relatively easy...we had booked a garden view room and that was exactly what we got...in Fiji! Knowing what I did about room size and 2-sink bathrooms (we are 5, after all) I asked if something was available in a building w/ the larger rooms (I slyly hinted that if none was available, we could get by in a smaller room overlooking the lagoon, or we would somehow manage in Hawaii, if at all possible

Now first, let me say this...the Poly at night is DARK, even with the lights and tiki torches going. It is also peaceful, that is until my three decide to take off running and hollering. The beauty of this resort is most definitely lost on the younger set.
The room itself was very nice. Clean, quiet, and everything working (the fridge cranked aout some seriously cold bottled water!!) I liked the new TV (a flat panel) and how it was set up into the furniture. DD liked her fold-over couch bed and having tested it, I could sleep on it for a night or two w/o complaint; it's pretty comfy. Mousekeeping took good care of the room; fresh towels were always plentiful and everything looked inviting after a long day out, no towel animals but no big deal; we were too tired to care.
At the Great Ceremonial house: What a beautiful lobby. Looks and smells great. The shops were fun. We ate at Kona one night, Captain Cooks for snacks and breakfast. Did not do Ohana. Sat in the lounge one evening; the kids had shirley temples and we tried the Poly's signature drink, the Lapu Lapu. Do NOT drive after this one!!
Crowds...was a very busy week. Did not see any of the pop warner groups at the Poly at all (not saying some familys were there, I don't know.) At 9:00pm we saw lines of people still waiting to eat at Kona and Ohana. Heard one cast member comment that they were booked throught the end of the month, I can believe it! The resort's GCH was always hopping!
Weather: Did not rain on us at all. The best swimming days were Monday and Friday; we (of course) went Tuesday in the volcano pool...great slide! and froze...so much for "heated pools"


Oops...here's a little something I forgot...remember how awesome I said ME was? They were...But Sunday at 9:30 pm and still no luggage was uncool. Like I said...they were busy! Went down to get my luggage myself, my DW was a little irked by this because of what you pay to stay here. I understand busy. Still...
Final thoughts: Great resort. Monorail convenience is huge plus. Value for our family? This is the part that gets me down. My three kids really did not care that they stayed at the Poly. They liked the great pool that we only went into one time because we were at the parks and really did not budget alot of "swim time". That's my fault for only having 5 full vacation days. Sunday and saturday were travel. Had a great time but I don't believe for a second that if we'd stayed at POR (a moderate that can handle 5) it would have made any difference to them. This is a great couple's resort. I would have liked to have stayed here when all the kids were in strollers (We were at either the BWV or WLV when they were in strollers...the boats are great, buses not so much) for the monorail alone.
Months ago while we were planning this trip, we had considered POR, ASM, and the Poly for our resort. The Poly easily one out over ASM and it's family suite because of it only being $800 more and it had the prestige of the monorail and it being a "deluxe" resort. POR vs ASM was a wash because cost difference was negligable and the ASM was a much larger room. I can only say I am glad we did not stay at ASM because it was PW week, but since I never even went to the resort, I don't know what it was like. I guess I would like to say that "I got a good value" staying at the Poly, but all I really did was eat and sleep there. I think if you want to pay the premium of staying at a deluxe resort, budget some time to enjoy it. Otherwise, it's one expensive roof!!!
Any questions? Fire away! The Poly is decked out and ready to handle the holidays! The microwave at Capt. Hooks had an out of order sign while we were there...the only thing I saw not working. All the parks looke great, and we had a nice time. If you are a very early riser, on your way to Capt Hooks for that danish to go with your coffee, stop and listen, you can hear the howling wolf from the haunted mansion even at 6:30 am!
Last little thought...If you are doing your flight check-in at the resort, do it as early as you can...got in line at 8:00am Saturday (we were leaving at 9:45) and had to wait 30 minutes in line! And when I commented about having a busy morning, the CM said "Oh we're not busy...come see us in 2-3 weeks!!" Yipes!!
Bob.
PS: My DW wants to start planning a 4-day 3-night Mommy/Daddy trip with no kids!! I can't believe it!
