Just Back From Swan(first time) & Poly...And A Surprise

[CamColt]

We arrived at the Swan on 12/20, and stayed for 4 nights. This was our first time staying here and I was a little worried about it not being "Disney". I have to say I was very happy staying there. The hotel itself was very nice. The Heavenly Beds were just that....HEAVENLY! Especially after being up at 3:00am on our first day, when I hit the bed around 11:00, I just melted into it. My only complaint about the room is I couldnt find any good lighting near a mirror to put on makeup. Not a big deal at all. The location of the Swan was perfect. The boat transportation was very convenient and the bus service was great. I did miss not having that tv channel, the one with the park hours, weather, etc... If it was there I couldnt find it. And I also missed not having the park maps & hours in the lobby. I could have used them since we had trouble getting a straight answer about park hours from CMS in the parks. The pool was a lot of fun for the kids, and we really liked the grounds between S&D(pool, hammock on the beach, etc...). While going back to the Swan wouldnt be my first choice, if a good rate came out again, I would not hesitate to stay there again....and I would be glad about going back.

The Poly is still my favorite. The view, the restaurants, the monorail, the pool, the whole atmosphere is just wonderful there. We got our request of Fiji, but not a balcony like I had wanted. We had a great view of the wedding pavilion and could hear the luau from our room. The beach was just steps from our patio. We had noted on our reservation that my birthday was during our stay there. I wasnt expecting anything, just hoping to give us an edge in getting our request met. On our first night there(12/24) we returned to our room to find a party waiting. There was a Mickey cake, balloons, party hats, tooters, even candles and matches. I thought that was a very nice touch. The kids were thrilled!

Now my big surprise. We did some resort hopping to check out the decorations. I am not an animal person and up until now I have had no interest in AKL at all. The whole theme never appealed to me. Well, I walked into that lobby and I was WOWed! It is beautiful. We went out on a balcony there and there were giraffes eating and some other animal out there. The pool area is really nice and the food from the little food court was great(awesome pizza). We got drinks from the pool bar which were delicious. The only thing that would hold me back from staying there is the transportation(Id want more from a deluxe)...but if a really good rate came out I could see myself giving it a try for a night or 2. And that is something I never thought I would say!

 

[Disney Fool]

Thanks for the report. Don't be afraid to stay at AKL if transportation is your worry. The buses run very frequently; just add a little extra time to get to the MK if you have a specific appointment. I found the transportation very, very good. If you look at a map, you'd be furthest away from the MK; but on the other hand, if you're staying at the Poly, you're furthest away from the Animal Kingdom! At this point, Disney has gotten so large, that sooner or later, you'll be a distance from something or other. Did you try the Pina Coladas at the pool bar at the AKL? They are the best!!

 

[Harambe]

Glad you enjoyed both the Swan and the Poly. And so glad to hear you were wowed by AKL. I am also nervous about staying there for our first time, but I love animals and African themes, so I figure I'll love it.

Happy New Year!

 

[DisneyFreaks]

We found the bus service at the AKL to be the best of all the onsite resorts we have stayed in. I didn't think I was an animal person either but I fell madly in love with this resort. All the CM's went out of their way to make everything special. We can't wait to go back.

 

[jacksmom]

CamColt, Welcome back! Glad you had a great trip! We also are staying at the Poly in Feb. and I have not made my room request yet! (can't make up my mind, lol!) Anyway, we also are thinking about Fiji. We'll have a gv room, and I liked the thought of being near the beach! Would you reccomend this location, or is there another suggestion? Also wondering if the building is in good shape (recent re-hab?) Thanks!

 

[CamColt]

Thanks for the info about AKL buses. I feel like there should be more being a deluxe, but considering AKL usually costs less than the other deluxes I guess it evens out...especially with really good bus service.

Jacksomom, I believe Fiji was rehabed in 2002 because we requested it for our trip then and upon check in we found out it was closed. I didnt noticed anything looking worn. The only downside to our room was that they were doing construction on the building next to it and occasionally we would see bobcats, or little trucks/golf carts driving by, and men working out there. At first I thought it would ruin the view, but in the end it didnt bother us. There was a swing out on the beach that looked right toward the castle. It was beautiful.

I forgot to add in my original post....I finally smelled the Poly smell! Ive always heard people saying that it smelled and I though they were crazy. The only thing Ive ever smelled was the tropical, humid smell from the atrium. Well, this time since we were on the other side of the resort we used the back door to the GCH often, and had to walk by the shops, Cpt Cooks, and that area. Thats where I noticed a really bad smell. DS thought it smelled like smoke, but I thought it was worse. I cant really place what it was, but it wasnt pleasant. Not much of a problem since it only takes a minute to walk through there, but I did finally notice it.

 

[tnkrbell]

sounds likeagreat trip!!!!! I still think you should give theYachyt or beach a try! 1
Did you have a pina colada at the pool bar at AKL??? they are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CamColt]

Oops, I never did answer the drink question. We got Nyami Nyamis, I cant really remember what was in them, but they were great. I read about them on the online menu, but I cant find the menu anymore(it doesnt show up now). I know there was vanilla, and some sort of banana in them, but I forget exactly what alcohol...maybe baileys? Whatever it was, they were yummy!

I would be willing to try Y&B Club. I really liked that whole area.

 

[musicmom3]

CamColt, we are staying at the Dolphin in August, and I am concerned that it will not be "Disney" enough for us. You said you liked the Swan, and that was great to hear...did you happen to cruise the Dolphin? Any comments? Hope to stay at the Poly and AKL some day--thanks for the reviews!

 

[CamColt]

Musicmom3, yes we wandered over to the Dolphin a few times to do laundry and to go to Tubbis. From what I could tell it was very similar to the Swan. Both hotels are very close to each other and share the boat dock. The main pool which I mentioned is technically at the Dolphin I guess, but its all sort of together(for lack of a better way to explain it). From what I could tell I think I would feel the same way about the Dolphin as I did about the Swan.

 

[tjmw2727]

While the Poly is also my absolute favorite resort I love the Swan and Dolphin and will definately return to AKL very soon. fwiw the wdw desk in the Swan is around the corner where the car rental desk is and has the park maps and hours as well as park passes, e night info etc - for others benefit and future reference. I don't know why they don't just have a few at the front desk though.

I echo what others have said about the transportation from AKL, its very good although bus service. We love the Poly for family trips (mostly MK) and the Dolphin for adult trips (MGM and Epcot) but truly fell in love with the AKL last April. The atmosphere, service, restaurants, pool and great activities around the resort made us reluctant to hit the parks

For me it offered something different and truly unique that you don't find anywhere else.

TJ

 

[CamColt]

Ah-ha! Thanks tjmw272. I thought it was odd that they didnt have any of the info out on the counter(it was the first thing I looked for upon entering). I thought about asking but figured if it wasnt out, they probably didnt have it. I guess I was just looking in the wrong place.

 

[sweetp267]

Camcolt

I was wondering about your surprise in your room on your birthday. Without spoiling your surprise, did your family arrange it or did the hotel do it on their own? I'm asking because we will be there next month for my 6yr daughter's birthday. I am not going to arrange anything, paying for the trip alone is enough birthday present for her, but I hear stories that the resort does something and others say that nothing was done. I just would like to know which category you fall under.

Glad you had a good time.

Thanks

Jon

 

[CamColt]

Well the short version is, we think it was from the resort, LOL!

The long version is my mother had called to try to get one of those white chocolate glass slippers from the GF for me(Im a big white chocolate fan, heard about them here on the Dis and showed DH...while I was drooling, LOL!). But anyway, my mother was passed around from person to person, she talked to a bunch of people, finaly a chef over there, but got the answer the slippers cant leave the GF because they are filled with custard which could go bad. So she arranged through the Poly to have a cake delivered to my birthday dinner at the Kona Cafe on 12/28. She was very specific giving them my name, our PS time, etc... They gave her a price, including tax, and a handling charge.

So when I got the cake in the room on 12/24 DH just assumed that was from the resort. There was no card saying otherwise and on the Magical Moments certificate they left, it said something like "presented by the Polynesian". To me that sounds like it was complimentary.

Now, at dinner on my birthday, nothing was done. DH had to tell me about the surprise and ask the waitress. They had nothing about it on record and said they dont take orders like that, They ended up bringing me a cake over with tropical flowers on it(very pretty). The manager came over, apologized for not having anything ready and told us the cake was complimentary. She gave us her card and said if my mothers credit card is charged to call her and she will take care of it.

After that incident we got to thinking maybe the cake left in the room was really the one from my family, and they just didnt put a card with it. Confused as we were, DH asked at guest services when we checked out. The CM that he talked to said no, that should have been a complimentary cake. So, we really dont know what my mother was supposedly charged for, if she was at all.

So, if you follow that(I barely can), I got 2 cakes one in the room and one after dinner at the Kona. Both are supposedly complimentary, but we are waiting to see what shows up on my mothers credit card bill.

 

[musicmom3]

I LOVE this story! Please tell us that you'll update us when the credit card bill arrives!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Neat stories, CC. Glad you enjoyed the Swan. SO nice there. And glad TJ mentioned the map and times at the Disney desk there, I was going to. Our family trip was to the Poly, maybe someday we will return.