Just got back from POLY!

[MOMOFMNM]

We just returned last night from our stay at the Poly! It was wonderful. I can't believe it is over already. I did not request a longhouse and we were given a room in Rarotonga, room 1824. I was definitely more concerned with location rather than view, so this location was perfect...close to everything! Both pools, the GCH was literally steps away, close to the bus stop, etc...I have heard some negative things about this longhouse considering one side faces the parking lot...I didn't even notice the parking lot...we had beautiful landscaping right outside our window and a view of the monorail going by. It was very convenient having the monorail outside of our window since the parks were closed on Monday morning....we were looking out the window Monday around 12:30 and saw the monorail going by and knew the parks must be opening!

My birthday dinner at Ohana's was wonderful...sat near a window and we saw Wishes. I thought Captain Cook's was good too. Even if it was very busy, they had quick, polite service and there was always a table available inside or outside.

The one complaint I have is to the people who left their trays and their trash all over their table and under the table Captain Cooks. It made me so mad...who do they think they are? I guess they thought they had personal maid service or something. There was a trash can a few feet away!! I saw this more than once while I was there. But, a castmember always came out to clean up quickly. I saw this in the parks as well...a huge pet peeve of mine.

I agree about the trash at CC...we had a great breakfast there our last morning, stuffed ourselves with mickey waffles, pastries, muffins and I had a yummy egg n cheese crossaint!! The staff was very very helpful with the dining plan and allowed us a lot of choice on the plan, IMO...the lunch was ok too although I thought the chicken sandwhich was too dry but then again we took our food to the airport to eat it, so it could have just been cold and old...I wish more guests were courtious when eating at the CS places...I saw many people leave thier trash everywhere... once I saw the trash just overflowing with junk and food and people kept shoving stuff in there, I went up to the man behind the counter and told him and he took care of it right away...my point is someone could have said something instead of throwing food all over this cute little CS place where others are trying to eat!!

Glad your trip went well despite Wilma!!

I agree, nowhere I'd rather be...
than the POLY!!!

 

[alohaguy]

Pepe of Ohio,

One thing that many people do not realize about WDW resorts is that the 3p.m. check-in time is not gauranteed. Unlike many (actually most) other hotels that gaurantee your room to be available at a specified 'check-in' time, Disney hotels do not. 3 p.m. is actually when check-in begins, but it does not mean your room will be ready. I have gone over this issue at the front desk several times myself. I forget how their policy is specifically worded, but the 3 p.m. time is only a guideline (i.e. don't even remotely expect your room to be ready any earlier than 3, but don't expect it to definitely be ready at 3 either.... though I have checked in as early as 9 a.m. and my room has been ready - it all depends upon occupancy levels). I believe, as in most hotels at WDW, that they are understaffed - and this is a result of decisions made at the top. I wish it would change, but it seems unlikely. It has actually frustrated me in the past. On one trip our room was not ready until 7 p.m. At any other hotel, I would have been able to ask for some form of remedy, but since Disney does not guarantee a check-in time, I couldn't do anything about it.

As for everything else in your report, I have had different experiences that lead me not to agree with most of what you stated, but you are certainly more than entitled to your opinion and I'm sorry you had a disappointing stay.

 

[Sammie]

Several things about the negative post:

1. Checkout is 11AM, Checkin is 3PM so that they can get the room cleaned with a diminished Mousekeeping staff. Almost all hotels and motels are doing the same with their staffs. Wilma has made the Poly quite full and they were certainly waiting for rooms to get cleared.

2. The desk staff will take care of you. You could've left your bags with the handlers and they would've been delivered to your room when it was ready. Standing in front of the desk isn't going to get it ready any faster.

3. Disney does NOT guarentee any request except nonsmoking. If you have stayed onsite that many times, you should know that, and this should've been a nice surprise, not a bad thing.

4. If you had house/business damage from Wilma, I feel sorry for you. However, a Disney experience is mostly about what you bring to the table. If you hope for it to cheer you up, that only happens when you invest energy into the magic.

5. Concierge isn't about free food. It's about a little more magic at a very premium price. If you had let the staff know about Wilma, they might have done something to make you feel a bit better. Or was upgrading you, how they tried to make you feel special?

Actually Disney does not guarantee NS either. They will guarantee they will try their best to give you a NS room but it is no fool proof guarantee.

And as Alohaguy stated check in is "after" 3pm and is noted in writing on your confirmation.

 

[imatoad]

I guess I'm one of the lucky one's, after 8 trips to Poly in the cours of 33 years, never one bad trip, not to say it's always been perfect, but wonderful vacations each and every time.