Just back from 1st trip to the Poly!

[Jasminetigger]

We just returned today from our first trip to the Poly. All I can say is WOW!

We checked in around 4:30 p.m. Check-in was smooth and hassle free. We had a very knowledgeable CM and check-in only took about ten minutes. The lobby is just amazing and beautiful. Even before we reached the front desk we were greeted with many Alohas.

We were in Tokeleau, room 3941. Our room over looked the quiet pool. The room was very clean when we arrived and housekeeping did a wonderful job during our stay. We always had plenty of extra towels and toletries. The room was always cleaned by early afternoon. I had absolutely no complaints about housekeeping.

The grounds of the Poly are absolutely gorgeous. The lush flowers and vegetation seem to transport you to a tropical island. The grounds were also immaculate. I did not see any trash anywhere.

The pool is just beautiful. It is amazing to be able to see the castle while you are in the pool. We were always able to find a chair and it never seemed too crowded. The quiet pool was also nice and relaxing. We watched Wishes from the beach. There was plenty of seating for everyone. I was amazed after Wishes, most everyone put their towels and chairs away.

We really liked the restaurants here. We ate breakfast at Kona twice, dinner at 'Ohana and several late night snacks at Captain Cooks. I really liked the selection at Captain Cooks. The noodle bowl was extremely good. So was the hawaiin flat bread.

We went to our 1st MNSSHP. We had a blast. The parade was awesome. My girls thought the headless horseman was amazing. We went Thursday night. We received tons of candy. I didn't think it was that crowded. Most rides were a 10 minute wait, including space mountain.

A couple words of advice about things I learned this trip. Keep trying for those ADR's you want even when you get there. We really wanted 'Ohana but couldn't get an ADR before we left home. I kept trying everyday. Friday I called three times. On my 4th try at 5:00p.m., I was able to snag a 6:30 ADR. Somebody had just cancelled. So don't give up.

Always check your room charge/room printout very carefully. We had charged some things to the room. Friday night I went down to pay our room charges in cash so it wouldn't be charged to our credit card. The nice CM took the cash and gave me a room printout that showed a zero balance. No problem. The next morning when we got the final bill on our door it showed a zero balance but it also showed it was charged to our credit card. I pulled out the one I got the night before and sure enough it showed the payment went to our mastercard. I had to go to the front desk to get it straightened out. I had nothing to prove I had paid cash. So I was very nervous. The CM got her supervisor and they took care of it for me. I did hear her say this was the 4th time this had happened this week with the new CM's. It wasn't enough for me to check for a zero balance. I will make sure next time I make sure it also shows that I paid cash.

All in all we had a great stay. Every CM we encountered was very friendly and helpful. Both at the resort and at the parks. Every guest we encountered was also very friendly. Not a rude one in the bunch. I am very torn, because I really love the Wilderness Lodge, but I believe the Poly might have it beat. It is going to be very hard next summer to decide where to stay. Oh well, I can't imagine having a better problem than having to decide where to stay at WDW.

 

[MainStreetFireman]

Jasminetigger,

We are doing the exact mirror of your trip. Our family are Poly fanatics, and we are trying Wilderness Lodge for the first time!

Since we already know that we love the Poly, we wanted to have an "Undiscovered Disney" trip. So we are eating at places that we have not eaten at before, riding and seeing attractions that all of us have not been on together before (our DS is now old enough and tall enough for everything), and staying in a new place. We were thinking about either WL or AKL since theme is important to us, but the bunkbeds and Northwest theme won the DKs over.

We know that we will return to the Poly again, but there is still a whole lot of undiscovered Disney left to see.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Glad you had a great stay! The Poly is a nice hotel.

I want to second your advice to GET A RECEIPT when you pay cash and hold on to it. There are some dishonest folks out there and every hotel hires one or two now and then. They pocket the cash people give them and charge the credit card. It's an old trick.

 

[disneyag]

So glad you had a great trip. We love the Tokelau building, too!

 

[carrie1626]

I love reading positive reviews about the Polynesian Resort. Monetary reasons have kept me from returning but I always find my way there to eat. My kids first trip was at the Poly when they were 10/7. They are 17/14 now and they would LOVE TO GO BACK. Hopefully someday!!

 

[PrincessPaczki]

Thanks for the review. It sounds like a wonderful stay. Would you choose to stay in that particular building again or choose another one?

 

[Jasminetigger]

Thanks for the review. It sounds like a wonderful stay. Would you choose to stay in that particular building again or choose another one?

We really liked the Tokelau longhouse. We had the quiet pool right next to our building. It was about a 2-3 minute walk to the GCH. We had easy access to the bus stop. I definitely wouldn't mind staying there again.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks for you're great review. I hope that my families 1st stay there this December goes as well as you're stay was.

 

[TnTWalter]

and are staying Poly first time! Woo Hoo....

We're also going to MNSSHP for our first time...hoping for 10 minute max waits.

So glad you had a wonderful time.


Trish

 

[flagrandma]

Thanks for the great report on the Poly. I would like to stay at the Poly on our next trip (don't have a trip planned at this time). We stayed at CR on our first trip in May. We loved CR but would like to try other hotels.

Glad you had a great trip.

 

[LoriZH]

Sounds like you had a beautiful time!!

PS if it were me, I would choose Poly (even though I've never stayed at neither, lol) it just looks prettier than the WL.

 

[wildzootv]

so awesome!!

 

[Count Down to Disney]

Jasminetigger, Thanks for the Great Review! In 48 hours, we are headed to the Poly for the 1st time. There have been lots of mixed reviews lately so, I was excited to see your great review! Here's hoping we have 10 minute wait for MNNSHP and NO RAIN!

Did they give you a couple choices for a longhouse or just assigned you to Tokelau? I think that might be our desired longhouse if I don't get any pixie dust for a magical upgrade!

TnTWalter, looks like we are arriving on the same day! Hope you have a great time! We're from Michigan so, if you see any crazy U of M items, it just might be us!

 

[Jasminetigger]

Jasminetigger,

We are doing the exact mirror of your trip. Our family are Poly fanatics, and we are trying Wilderness Lodge for the first time!

Since we already know that we love the Poly, we wanted to have an "Undiscovered Disney" trip. So we are eating at places that we have not eaten at before, riding and seeing attractions that all of us have not been on together before (our DS is now old enough and tall enough for everything), and staying in a new place. We were thinking about either WL or AKL since theme is important to us, but the bunkbeds and Northwest theme won the DKs over.

We know that we will return to the Poly again, but there is still a whole lot of undiscovered Disney left to see.

MainStreetFireman,

I hope you have a wonderful time at the Wilderness Lodge. It is truly an awesome place. I am still in awe everytime I walk into that lobby.

Oh and you must try AKL one day. We had a wonderful time there as well.

I like your last line about "undiscovered disney." That is really a neat way to think about it.

 

[Jasminetigger]

Glad you had a great stay! The Poly is a nice hotel.

I want to second your advice to GET A RECEIPT when you pay cash and hold on to it. There are some dishonest folks out there and every hotel hires one or two now and then. They pocket the cash people give them and charge the credit card. It's an old trick.

The funny thing is not too long ago I remember reading here on the boards about someone buying tickets at the resort and paying cash for them. The tickets then ended up being charged to their room. I remember them getting it worked out in the longrun, but it was a hassle.

So I was trying to be very careful. I made sure I got a receipt and it said a zero balance. I just need to be extra careful next time and go one step further and make sure it says cash and not credit.

I do believe it was an honest mistake. The CM was training. She obviously just hit the wrong button. The way the surpervisor was talking it was just a mistake. But you are right, I can see it being very easy for a dishonest employee to pocket the cash.

 

[TnTWalter]

so if you see a group of 7 wearing daily matching t-shirts made from help here at CreativeDIS board, say ALOHA!!

I am BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS I am so excited!!

I have been stressing trying to make daily itineraries and I finally have the jist written down so I feel FANTASTIC....

all the clothes are laid out.....

if it rains, we'll have less crowds right? Just no thunderstorms....go away thunderstorms....

Trish

 

[mickey2minnie1]

So glad you had a wonderful time!!

We are supposed to leave soon as you can tell by my signature and stay at the Poly for kids ds 10, ds 7, and dd 5 first trip. My parents were supposed to go as well and my dad had to have immediate open heart surgery last week. He is doing very well, but the family decision to go ahead has been difficult for all of us.

I made my mom promise that we will do another shorter trip next fall.

 

[kaysmommie]

Thanks for posting your review! I wanted that building too but didn't get it.
Glad you had a nice stay.

Trish and Mickey1Minnie2, have fun on our trip and report when you get home. Hope your has a speedy recovery!

 

[Jasminetigger]

Jasminetigger, Thanks for the Great Review! In 48 hours, we are headed to the Poly for the 1st time. There have been lots of mixed reviews lately so, I was excited to see your great review! Here's hoping we have 10 minute wait for MNNSHP and NO RAIN!

Did they give you a couple choices for a longhouse or just assigned you to Tokelau? I think that might be our desired longhouse if I don't get any pixie dust for a magical upgrade!

TnTWalter, looks like we are arriving on the same day! Hope you have a great time! We're from Michigan so, if you see any crazy U of M items, it just might be us!

We were assigned tokelau from the beginning. Even at 4:30 there were other rooms he could have offered us. We took the room we were assigned. We were very happy with the location.

Don't worry about the rain. When we were getting ready to leave for the party, the sky was very dark and there was thunder and lightning. We went to the gift shop and purchased some rain ponchos. I told the girl I hope we don't need these. She said if we don't use them save the receipt and we can bring them back. When we left it was not raining at the Poly. When we got the the MK, it was not raining, but it had been. There were large puddles everywhere. It actually had cooled things off. The sky was gray most of the night, but no more rain. Florida weather is funny. When we were getting ready to leave the Poly yesterday, it was raining real hard. It looked like it would rain all day. By the time we were done with breakfast, it had stopped raining, they sky was blue and the sun was out. Go with the flow and have fun. Oh and by the way, we took those rain ponchos back to the gift shop and got our money back. Too cool.

 

[Jasminetigger]

So glad you had a wonderful time!!

We are supposed to leave soon as you can tell by my signature and stay at the Poly for kids ds 10, ds 7, and dd 5 first trip. My parents were supposed to go as well and my dad had to have immediate open heart surgery last week. He is doing very well, but the family decision to go ahead has been difficult for all of us.

I made my mom promise that we will do another shorter trip next fall.

I hope your dad is up and around real soon. I know it must have been a hard decision for you to make. I hope you can go and still have a good time. Hopefully the Poly will be very theraputic for you. It is a very relaxing and peaceful place.